Today's Protagonist

When Siyoon suddenly stood up, Choi Tae-wook, mid-meal, gave a start of his own.

"Manager?"

Before anyone realized it, Siyoon had drifted toward the TV. Unbelievable news was scrolling across the screen.

Up 12.3%?

When he'd left for lunch, the stock hadn't shown so much as a twitch. He couldn't help but be startled by the news of a sudden surge.

Siyoon fixed his eyes on the financial broadcast.

So it's actually happened?

None of it had shown up in the public filings, but Jain Tech had already secured a buyer for its new shares the moment they were issued.

Then how much am I making?

Siyoon pulled out his phone and opened his brokerage app, checking Jain Tech's returns immediately.

Even as he checked his gains, Jain Tech's stock was climbing straight up. With the company's funding now secured, there was nothing strange about the day closing at the upper limit.

While Siyoon sat staring blankly at the TV, an employee from another brokerage at a nearby table glanced over at him.

"You interested in this stock?"

"Sorry?"

"You've been glued to the Jain Tech news for a while now."

"Oh... ah."

Only then did Siyoon remember he'd left his meal half-eaten. Across the cafeteria, Tae-wook was watching him with a flustered expression.

The man spoke up again.

"I haven't been in this industry long, but if you're thinking of buying Jain Tech, I'd have to talk you out of it. Good news everybody already knows isn't really good news."

"......"

The man dispensing his advice had no idea Siyoon worked for Hansan Securities. In his work coveralls, Siyoon must have looked like someone a world away from finance.

"It's way too late to buy in now. That's just how stocks are — buy and it drops, sell and it rises... Haha."

The man gave a rueful smile.

Siyoon shot a glance at the TV screen, then turned to the man.

"You're telling me."

Back in the warehouse office, Siyoon was buried in Jain Tech's price movement and the fresh wave of news. Tae-wook, having finished the last of his deliveries, brewed a coffee at the machine and set it in front of him.

"Oh, thanks."

"Manager, are you all right?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's just — you've seemed off ever since lunch."

Siyoon's behavior had struck Tae-wook as odd all afternoon, and worry had settled over the young man's face. In truth, the occasion called for congratulations, not concern.

"It's nothing. There's a stock I've been watching, and it turned up on the news, so I was checking it out."

"Ah, Jain Tech? Actually, I bought a small position in that one myself..."

"Hm? How much?"

"Five hundred thousand won. It was the small- and mid-cap battery maker I was most interested in. Honestly, I never expected it to take off this fast. Looks like I'll make some pocket money out of it, at least."

Siyoon studied Tae-wook's face carefully for a moment before asking.

"Jain Tech was one of the value-investment candidates you mentioned, wasn't it?"

"Yes, sir. I bought in after I got discharged from the military. It's been almost a month now."

A month ago — meaning Tae-wook had identified the stock and bought it even before Siyoon did. He'd said his dream was to join Hansan Securities, and from the looks of it, that dream wasn't going to be hard to achieve.

"Good for you. Congratulations. Once you're done with your work, hit the books. Nobody here is going to say a word against it."

"Thank you, sir."

Tae-wook drifted off, and Siyoon turned back to his monitor. Ten minutes to the close. Jain Tech was still pushing through fresh highs.

But the resistance was formidable.

Up 18.3% on the previous session.

Currently 39,500 won.

Unable to crack the 40,000-won wall, Jain Tech backed off again and again.

It has to break 40,000 if it's going limit-up...

The good news had been confirmed beyond doubt, yet precisely because it was a small-cap, the rally risked stalling. Fortunately, that worry didn't last long.

Three minutes to the close.

Jain Tech finally punched through the 40,000-won barrier and kept climbing.

That's it. Rise.

While he was quietly cheering it on, the market closed.

Jain Tech had finished the day with a commanding +23%. Siyoon's profit window turned a deep red along with it.

It had been in the red just this morning, and now he was up 581 million won. That was serious money, of course — but with tomorrow's session ahead, there was no telling how much further it could climb.

It had broken the 40,000-won wall right before the close. Given enough time, it might even have finished at limit-up. Tomorrow's market looked just as promising.

Siyoon rolled his stiff neck a few times, then closed the chart on his monitor and murmured to himself.

"...Not bad."

Evening, back home. He'd just stepped out of the shower when his phone rang.

"Well, if it isn't Siyoon!"

"Ah — Father?"

He recognized Bang Yo-han's father instantly. That unmistakable husky rasp.

"That's right. The hanwoo beef you sent was delicious. I suppose that's what you get with TwoPlus grade — the meat was so tender it practically melted. Hahaha."

"I'm... glad you enjoyed it."

"You moved to Yeouido, you say? When am I ever going to get a chance to drop by..."

"Oh, honestly. Listen to yourself."

That was Mrs. Bang, cutting her husband off.

"Never mind what that old fool says, dear. He's always been shameless."

"It's no trouble at all. Whenever you have the time, come by and I'll at least treat you to a proper meal."

"Oh no, no. You said work keeps you busy these days, didn't you? Busy or not, never skip your meals. You hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."

Then Bang Yo-han's voice came back on the line.

"Haha. My parents wanted to hear your voice — I didn't have much choice. Off work yet?"

"Just now."

"You had such a rough time back in college, so seeing you do well has made them happier than anything."

"I wouldn't call it success."

"Anyway, swing by the house some time. Mother says she's going to lay out a proper feast for you."

"Yeah... thanks."

Even after hanging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up, his head was still spinning — but the unexpected encouragement left him feeling lighter than he cared to admit.

At some point, Jeombak-i had padded up to his feet. Sensing Siyoon's mood, the robot dog rolled over and turned on the charm. Siyoon crouched down to rub his belly, and Jeombak-i barked up at him, beside himself with delight.

Woof woof!

He got to the office early the next morning. From eight o'clock, he sat in the warehouse office going through the financial news. He had to check ahead for any hidden bad news — a risk could come from anywhere. Thankfully, nothing noteworthy had broken overnight.

As he sat there, Tae-wook appeared at the office door. Seeing Siyoon already at work — earlier than usual — the young man looked startled.

"Good morning, sir! You're in early today, I see."

"Yeah. Had some things to check."

Siyoon handed him the documents he'd printed out in advance.

"There isn't much to deliver today, so take it slow."

"Understood, sir. I'll get ready for work then."

"Go ahead. Thanks."

Once Tae-wook headed out to the warehouse, Siyoon turned his full attention back to the monitor, holding his breath over the charts until the market opened.

Even before the opening bell, Jain Tech's pre-market matched trades were forming noticeably high. Yesterday's closing momentum looked set to carry over.

Only one question remained.

Would it go limit-up today?

Nobody could know until the cards were laid on the table.

9:00 AM.

The market opened — and watching the order book, Siyoon's whole body went rigid.

"What the—?"

The order book he'd expected to churn violently was frozen on a single point.

The Jjeom-sang — the fabled dot on the candlestick chart, a stock opening pinned at its upper limit without trading a single tick below it.

Jain Tech had gone limit-up straight out of the gate.

Slowly, like a man thawing out of ice, Siyoon reached out and closed his hand around the mouse.

Click.

He decided to check his profits ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to date.

"One point six five billion won..."

As the words left his lips, the color drained from Siyoon's face. He had cautiously predicted a limit-up for Jain Tech today — but he had never imagined it would open at the ceiling from the very first minute.

Buy orders piled up in the order book without end.

Everyone wanted Jain Tech.

Who knew how much time had passed — before he realized it, Tae-wook had come back into the warehouse.

"Manager? Are you all right?"

"Huh? Ah. I'm fine."

"You look rather pale, if you don't mind my saying."

Siyoon hurriedly closed the profit window on his monitor, then said,

"When has my face ever looked good? Don't worry. I'm fine."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Deep into the afternoon, Jain Tech's limit-up showed no sign of loosening. If things held, another ceiling tomorrow was well within reason.

Sitting in front of a computer all day had left his body feeling petrified. Making money was fine and good, but at this rate his health was going to suffer.

Sometimes the best remedy was simply to move.

Siyoon asked Tae-wook, "Anything left to deliver this afternoon?"

"Just one printer for the Research Team, sir."

As Tae-wook made to head for the warehouse, Siyoon rose from his chair.

"I'll take that one."

"Sir? No, I'll go."

"Sitting still too long has my legs aching. I'll do it — you stay here and rest."

"Oh... understood, sir."

He loaded up the printer the Research Team had requested and headed for the elevator. Handing it over and heading back out, he pulled the cart along slowly, rolling out his shoulders and neck as he walked.

That was when it happened.

Waaaah—!

A roar of cheers erupted from one of the offices. The sound had come from the Trading Room — where Siyoon himself used to work.

He was passing by with a puzzled tilt of his head when someone pushed the door open and stepped out.

It was Director Jeong Chan-soo, head of the Trading Division.

Spotting Siyoon, the Director looked pleasantly surprised.

"Well, I'll be. They say speak of the tiger and it shall appear — and here comes the star of the show himself."

"......"

Tiger? Star of the show?

Before Siyoon could make sense of it, the Director swung the Trading Room door open again and beckoned him inside.

Why would I go in there?

As Siyoon hesitated, the Director said,

"What are you waiting for? Get in here."