Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Translation: Godtl
Newly listed stocks didn't appear frequently, but they emerged steadily.
And these newly listed stocks were incredibly volatile.
That's precisely why they were the perfect playground for day traders.
Since the offering price and market price differed, and they bounced between upper and lower limits like a seesaw, this was where the infamous 'upper limit chasing' strategy occurred most frequently.
There were even day traders who deliberately waited for new listings, keeping their bullets ready.
Naturally, Team Leader Park and many other traders today must have been fully prepared to capitalize on KK Bank's newly listed stock.
After all, if you knew how to get in and out at the right moments, the profits could be sweet.
"..."
But Team Leader Park hadn't invested a single penny in KK Bank.
Not because he feared being unable to exit in time.
It was because of Jeong Jin-ho, who had charged straight into KK Bank the moment the market opened.
'This time, he sells after just 30 seconds, then buys back a minute later. What on earth is his reasoning?'
Technical analysis.
It wasn't created by any single individual but developed over a long period by numerous investors and analysts.
Prop traders first conducted fundamental analysis before moving on to technical analysis.
Technical analysis was based on the premise that all market data was reflected in prices, allowing traders to analyze human psychology and predict market volatility by studying charts.
But everyone knew this.
Technical analysis might sound plausible in theory, but using it to perfectly predict stock prices was impossible.
If supercomputers could do that, there wouldn't be so many traders in the first place.
That's why even when countless veterans jumped into newly listed stocks, most ended up losing money, deceived by charts muddled with human frenzy and erratic psychology.
You could see it just by looking at his team's order books right now.
No one was making profits—everyone was just losing.
'But how do I explain this?'
Among them, only one person was making money.
Jeong Jin-ho.
And not just that—he had plunged headfirst into this gamble by investing his entire 5 billion won capital.
On top of that, he was executing buys and sells by the second, steadily accumulating small profits.
No matter how many times he watched, it made no logical sense.
Was he analyzing based on the charts?
Or was there something else at play?
Whatever it was, the most crucial fact was that Jeong Jin-ho was making money right now.
And at an insane speed!
'Already past 5%...'
But shortly after breaking 5%, the numbers climbed again.
'7%... 10%... 12%... This is insane.'
Even though he wasn't the one trading, Team Leader Park's hands trembled uncontrollably.
If it were him, he would've been satisfied at 5% and stopped pushing further.
He wouldn't have gone all-in on a single newly listed stock in the first place, and even if he had, he would've cashed out quickly at this point.
But Jeong Jin-ho was showing absolute madness—instead of securing profits, he kept reinvesting everything back into the stock.
'If he makes even one wrong move now, all that hard-earned profit will vanish in an instant.'
Should he stop him now?
Forgetting that he himself needed to make trades, Team Leader Park agonized over it.
He wanted to tell him to stop this madness and invest that money elsewhere instead.
'But how do I even stop him?'
From the moment the market opened until now.
Jeong Jin-ho hadn't lost a single penny.
How could he describe this spectacle?
Right. The impossible.
He was witnessing something that shouldn't be happening right before his eyes.
"..."
Time passed.
To Team Leader Park, it felt like it had flown by as fast as a bullet.
And before him, the profit rate Jeong Jin-ho had pulled up was gleaming.
[+20%]
"Fucking madman."
Unable to contain his surging emotions, Team Leader Park let out an involuntary curse.
Is there any expression more precise and straightforward than this?
It's rare enough to buy a stock and see it rise 15% the next day.
But in the Korean market, where the upper limit is capped at 15%—and for someone to pull off a 20% return purely through day trading?
I've never seen anything like it.
Sure, if you're skilled at chasing the upper limit, you can make money.
But going all-in on those notoriously volatile newly listed stocks, buying and selling repeatedly to hit 20%?
Is that even possible?
'He finally stopped.'
A little past 1 PM.
Jeong Jin-ho suddenly withdrew all his money.
He even closed the order book entirely.
And then—he just stopped trading.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes closed.
'Is he... sleeping? No way.'
The market was still in full swing.
Yet Jeong Jin-ho didn't move an inch.
I thought he might push further, unsatisfied with just 20%—
'Ah. Just as I thought.'
The newly listed stock, which had been wildly fluctuating up and down, finally began to stabilize.
The frenzied trading volume tapered off, settling into a calmer rhythm.
That was why Jeong Jin-ho had stopped trading.
The moment signs of normalization appeared, he took his profits without hesitation.
His timing—both entering and exiting—
Was flawless.
No. It was terrifyingly perfect.
'This is like seeing the future—'
[Team Leader Park Hong-seo. The CEO is summoning you.]
The market wouldn't close for a while yet.
Unless something major had happened, there was no reason for the CEO's office to call before then.
And honestly, Team Leader Park wasn't someone who usually got summoned to the CEO's office.
If it were routine business, they'd call a department head, not a team leader.
So for a sudden summons like this—
'It's because of Jeong Jin-ho.'
＊＊＊
The lineup of members gathered in the CEO's office was impressive.
Directors, managing directors, executive directors, department heads, deputy heads, team leaders—everyone was there.
After the last of them had filed in, CEO Hwang Dae-un furrowed his brow.
"What's with this crowd?"
"You ordered all responsible personnel to assemble, sir."
"Might as well have dragged the vice president here too."
"The vice president is overseas, so we couldn't reach him."
"...Get out."
"Yes, sir."
Hwang Dae-un shook his head as he watched the secretary bow and leave. Still, the guy was diligent at his job.
"Everyone, take a seat. It's a lot of people, but that's why I had the office built big."
At least half the people here probably had no idea why they'd been summoned so abruptly.
"I'll cut to the chase. You all know the guy I handpicked, right? That's why I called you."
"Huh? You handpicked an employee, sir?"
"Well, Managing Director Woo and Executive Director Tak might not know. Same for deputy heads. But the department heads have some idea, don't you?"
There were two department heads present.
One from the prop trading division.
The other from risk management.
Both nodded as if they'd expected this.
"I know you were all concerned because he was a parachute hire. But turns out, someone gave this fresh recruit 5 billion won in investment capital."
"What? A rookie? Even if he's your pick, sir, what kind of thinking—!"
As Executive Director Tak Jae-ho began to protest, CEO Hwang raised a hand to calm him.
"I'm not here to scold anyone. Just curious. Who was it?"
"It was me, sir."
"Right. Team Leader Park Hong-seo, correct? You're the supervisor for Jin-ho's team."
Our Jin-ho—
Just that phrase alone gave Team Leader Park a rough idea of the relationship between CEO Hwang and Jeong Jin-ho.
"I saw potential in him."
"Potential? Or were you just trying to read the room because the CEO endorsed him?"
When Executive Director Tak scoffed, Team Leader Park shook his head.
"No. It wasn't just potential. He's already proven himself with results."
"Haha. Anyone hearing that would think he made a 5% return in a day."
A prop trader who consistently pulled 5% daily returns would be considered the ace of their team—no exaggeration.
"Even more than that."
"What?"
"Yesterday's daily return was 10%. And today's return is a staggering 20%."
Executive Director Tak's momentarily shocked expression quickly twisted into a scowl.
"This guy's pulling our legs right now. 10% yesterday and 20% today? That's beyond ridiculous. Does he think none of us have ever traded before? And as a prop trader, he must've done day trading, right? Yet he claims to have made 20%?"
It wasn't just Executive Director Tak.
Everyone unaware of Jeong Jin-ho's today's performance wore identical expressions.
Because by any common sense, it was an impossible story.
"I fully understand how difficult this is to believe. But it's an indisputable fact. Why would I lie before such esteemed executives?"
His face showed not a trace of humor—only absolute seriousness.
"CEO. No. What on earth is this guy saying—"
"What he said is true."
"Excuse me?"
"Jin-ho's return today was indeed 20%."
"!?"
The CEO had given his official confirmation.
Only then did the executives' eyes bulge wide open.
"Th-that can't be right! 20%? Through day trading!?"
"Apparently he kept buying and selling newly listed stocks."
"But even so! That's not a figure you can achieve just by being lucky, is it?!"
"Which is precisely why I called you all here today. Originally, I'd planned to meet quietly with just the department heads overseeing Jin-ho's team."
Leaving the still shell-shocked executives behind, CEO Hwang turned his gaze to Team Leader Park.
"So you entrusted that much capital to a rookie based solely on his ability, is that it?"
"I heard he's not actually related to you, sir."
"Well... that's true."
CEO Hwang's guild had its own motto:
[A Guild Like Family]
Some might call it overblown, but games contain their own romance and human lives.
And among them, Jeong Jin-ho had been the closest to him.
Of course, he hadn't explicitly mentioned they'd met through gaming.
"But does blood relation really define family?"
This made the executives flinch again.
For the CEO to speak this way meant his relationship with Jeong Jin-ho was extraordinarily close.
"Yes. Even considering their personal connection, I sensed you didn't recruit him solely out of friendship. You must have recognized Chief Jeong Jin-ho's capabilities."
Jin-ho's abilities...
CEO Hwang had observed Jin-ho for years.
Without him, the guild would have disbanded long ago.
In gaming—especially while managing a guild with countless members—forming raid parties and leading them successfully is incredibly difficult.
The slightest miscommunication between party members can collapse the entire team, and with it, the guild itself.
Yet Jin-ho had excelled at communication and management in place of Guild Leader Hwang.
That wasn't something one could learn.
It had to be innate.
"Jin-ho does... possess certain abilities."
Though their personal connection had been the decisive factor in hiring him.
"Everyone knows your discernment is exceptional, sir, so I placed my faith in that judgment. And sure enough, the young man displayed remarkable investment skills. Only... his abilities far exceeded even my expectations."
"Ahem. Is... is that so?"
"My word! You snatched him up before another firm could poach him? Your eye for talent remains as sharp as ever, CEO."
Without meaning to, CEO Hwang found himself receiving praise for his discernment.
"What does Risk Management think?"
"I... consider it extremely reckless. Trader Jeong Jin-ho's transactions violate our securities firm's regulations. It's no different from walking a tightrope alone. He's charging forward without a shred of risk management, isn't he?"
"I disagree."
But immediately, Team Leader Park countered.
"There must be a valid reason why he operates that way. If you observe his investment methods, it's clear he has his own algorithm."
"And what exactly is this algorithm?"
"Apologies for saying this, but even if Jin-ho spent an entire day explaining it, no one would understand."
"Of course not. Because it doesn't make sense. What kind of algorithm could that possibly be?"
"This is someone who generates 10% returns in a day, then 20% the next—through day trading alone. Didn't Executive Director Tak say it himself earlier? These aren't results achievable through luck. Which means it must be skill."
"..."
Jin-ho's own algorithm.
Something no one could comprehend or explain, yet undeniably existed.
"Well? What does everyone think?"
They all exchanged silent glances.
A parachute appointment handpicked by the CEO himself.
Yet this parachute's abilities weren't just exceptional—they bordered on the monstrous.
"Still... I believe we should observe further. It's barely been two days, hasn't it? Moreover, this Friday is when the final performance metrics come out, so until then..."
Typical of the Risk Management Director.
Doubting to the very end.
"And if the results remain strong?"
"Then shouldn't we promote him immediately to the next tier? Even if it means making an exceptionally unconventional personnel decision."
Traders had ranks.
Beyond the basic Senior level—what came next?
Elite.
That tier granted access to greater capital and more diverse investment opportunities.
The profit-sharing ratio changed too.
Meaning they'd take home significantly larger portions of what they earned.
"Any objections?"
Silence.
Who would oppose elevating someone so clearly capable?
"Then it's settled."
CEO Hwang gave a hollow laugh.
This wasn't why he'd brought Jin-ho into the company.
Somehow, the kid had become someone who could shake the entire firm with his mere presence.
＊＊＊
My eyes stung and my head ached, so I closed them briefly.
Just to relieve some eye strain.
"Jin-ho! Guess how much I made today~? Huh? Jin-ho. Jin-ho!"
"Gah!"
But that momentary eye-closing turned into an unintended nap.
It was clearly 1 PM when I shut my eyes earlier.
"What. Jin-ho. Did you actually fall asleep?"
You slept sprawled out until market close? At the office!?
This insane bastard!
Even if I wrote an incident report—no. Even if I got disciplined, I'd have no excuse.
Why did I fall asleep anyway?
Was the overload too much?
"How could you possibly sleep? Since when were you out?"
"W-well, you see..."
"I worked so hard analyzing and investing until market close today and made a full 3%! You're the one who told me to jump into KK Bank today. So I threw myself into it, but you just..."
Even with ten mouths, I'd have no defense.
"But it's okay. Prop trading ultimately judges by profit margins, right? As long as you generate returns, it's a place where you don't even need to show up. Let's see how much you made. If you didn't earn anything and just slept, today you'll learn why your senior is so—... Huh?"
Assistant Manager Lee Hye-rin scrutinized my trading screen, tilting her head.
"Jin-ho. I think this must be glitched. 20%? This makes no sense."
But I knew it wasn't a malfunction.
So I'd made 20% today.
"It's not a glitch."
"Th-this isn't a g-glitch!?"
Assistant Manager Lee froze solid on the spot.
"Assistant Manager? Are you okay?"
Completely petrified—she didn't react even when I waved my hand.
Only after I grabbed her shoulders and shook her did Assistant Manager Lee snap out of it.
"Jin-ho."
"Yes?"
"Please stay right here. I'll bring you a blanket and brew some warm tea. No. I shall brew it."
"Pardon?"
"How dare I disturb your esteemed nap. My deepest apologies."
"No, what's suddenly—"
"I'll buy snacks too! Just wait a little!!"
Before I could stop her, Assistant Manager Lee was already sprinting into the distance.