Tell Me This Isn't a Dream

The team leaders' gazes prickled like needles against his skin.

Even with the Head of Division's trust behind him, not everyone in the room was ready to acknowledge Siyoon. Just as the Head of Division had said, Siyoon had no real track record — he was nothing more than a warehouse worker with no connection to trading. Siyoon swept his eyes across the room.

The most conspicuous one was Team Leader Oh, mouth opening and closing like a gasping fish. From this distance Siyoon couldn't make out the words, but he was almost certainly cursing. That he could ignore. It was the derivatives team leader's stare that gnawed at him. He'd had no intention of making Team Leader Joo eat dirt — he had simply, as it happened, voiced the opposite opinion.

And of all things, the money he'd invested this time was in theme stocks. He'd been watching the market closely, having put five billion KRW into renewable energy-related shares.

"Oho... and why do you think that?"

The Head of Division rested his chin on both hands and asked.

"There are several reasons, but the one visible on the surface is the movement of the small-cap stocks."

As if to refute Siyoon's words, Team Leader Joo's voice cut in.

"I don't claim to know much about theme stocks, but small caps move because so few shares are in circulation. It's obviously market operators playing games — you can't just insist that's genuine market movement."

"Even the operators don't move without a pretext. Theme stocks have always seen the operators move first, and the market follow after them."

Perhaps Siyoon's flat, unbothered tone grated on him, because Team Leader Joo's voice grew louder.

"Don't tell me you're basing this on that brief policy announcement? Trusting that charade when neither the budget nor the timeline has been confirmed? It's nothing but a one-day news ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cycle. We've seen this before — when the government rolled out its hydrogen economy roadmap, there was the same frenzy, and it all ended in a crash. Until the blue chips move, you can't judge the market."

"KOSDAQ is driven by small-cap movement. The mid- and large-caps aren't moving because the money is scattered. Which means right now simply isn't the time for blue chips to move."

Amid the exchange between Siyoon and Team Leader Joo, the Head of Division wore a pleased expression. Team Leader Joo's face, by contrast, was slowly flushing red. He shot Siyoon a glare and demanded,

"And what's your basis for saying that?"

"Eight stocks are currently hitting the daily upper limit, and seventy-two percent of renewable energy-related sectors have begun climbing. The blue chips aren't failing to move — they simply don't need to move yet."

"Hahaha!"

The Head of Division's laughter suddenly filled the conference room.

"You know, Director Kang, it's like you reached into my head. Theme stocks come in all kinds — judging whether this is a mere one-off event or genuine market ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠movement comes down to a razor's edge. Team Leader Joo, anything further?"

At the Head of Division's question, Joo lowered his head again.

"No... nothing."

After the meeting ended, Siyoon was heading down toward the basement warehouse when he found someone waiting for him.

Oh Joo-han.

"Come with me," the man said in a firm tone.

The place they went to was the outdoor rest floor. Once again Oh clamped a cigarette between his lips and lit it, and while he puffed out smoke in heavy drags, Siyoon spoke first.

"I know why you called me up here."

"......"

"Just in case there's a misunderstanding — I hold no grudge against Team Leader Joo. I'd been keeping a close eye on theme stocks lately, and it just so happened that..."

"Do you even know what you've done?"

He knitted his brow with genuine seriousness and went on.

"Why are you sticking your nose into things that have nothing to do with you? Now the Head of Division is going to push Team Leader Joo to act on your advice. This theme isn't a one-time thing, so he'll be told to build positions around it. And if the KOSDAQ market drops instead... whose neck do you think that failure lands on?"

Siyoon tilted his head as he studied the grave look on Team Leader Oh's face.

"Wait. Are you... worried about me right now?"

"You little punk!"

Oh raised his fist, then lowered it again. Forcing his anger back down, he spoke.

"I told you before, didn't I? The company's got its eye on you. I said this is exactly when you need to watch your step. When the Head of Division asked, you should've just played dumb!"

There was no mistaking it — the man was worried about him. But Siyoon had no intention of lying low the way Oh wanted.

"You know what I am, Team Leader. A weirdo."

"Yeah. I know! A certified lunatic among lunatics!"

"Old habits die hard, I guess."

"Aigoo! I swear, I can't kill you and I can't leave you alone."

If the Head of Division pushed, the derivatives team would change their original plan. They'd set their positions not for a KOSDAQ drop, but for a rise.

If the KOSDAQ market revived exactly as Siyoon predicted, the Head of Division's trust would only deepen. But if the opposite happened, there was no telling what would follow. He could lose his job.

The thought of having to leave the warehouse he'd grown attached to made his chest tighten. Oh quickly steadied his emotions and asked,

"Have you been tracking this theme stock the whole time? Confident about it?"

The answer didn't come easily. Siyoon weighed his words before replying.

"It's true the government's announcement was vague. They haven't confirmed when the money comes or how much. But they did lay out a clear direction — and the small caps are proving it."

Oh Joo-han pulled out another cigarette and let the words fall flat.

"We'll see. I don't trust you."

The next day.

When Siyoon arrived at the basement warehouse, Choi Tae-wook was standing by the entrance.

"Director."

"What is it? Why are you standing out here?"

"Well, it's..."

When Choi Tae-wook cautiously opened the door, the sound of pounding construction noise spilled out from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inside. A moment later, the General Affairs Team Leader emerged from within.

"Ah, Director Kang! You're in!"

"Sir, why are you..."

"Haha. Your old office was a bit cramped, wasn't it? The new employee starts today, so while we were at it, we expanded the space for you."

"......"

"We brought in desks, chairs, and computers for the staff separately, too. It just needs finishing touches now, so give us a few more minutes."

Team Leader Han beamed with pride.

That smile was a heavy burden to bear.

After waiting thirty minutes, even the final touches were complete. Siyoon and Choi Tae-wook opened the office door and stepped in together. The room used to be about ten pyeong; the renovation had expanded it by roughly half again.

Desks and chairs had been prepared for Choi Tae-wook and the incoming employee. Siyoon quietly surveyed the office before turning to Choi Tae-wook.

"You should take this desk, Tae-wook."

"The desk? Me?"

"Yes. From now on, stop hunching over the sofa when you study — sit at a proper desk."

"Wow... a desk. I never even imagined it. Thank you, Director!"

The new employee was to receive orientation with the General Affairs team in the morning and start in the afternoon. All morning, Siyoon sat in front of his computer monitoring the theme stocks' movements.

"Green Nature hit the daily limit, and Wave Energy looks like it'll close at limit-up today too..."

Renewable energy small caps climbed all morning. Siyoon's own holding, meanwhile, stayed frozen in place.

Inflow had increased since yesterday, edging the stock up slightly, but it was hardly a meaningful move.

"The news needs to break..."

Since the brief policy announcement, the government had offered barely a whisper. If the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy would just release some progress update, things might move — but that seemed unlikely anytime soon.

In the afternoon, a man appeared at the warehouse office.

"Good afternoon, sir! Kim Chil-sung, reporting in!"

The new employee stood stiff as a board. A high school graduate who'd been out of the military for years now — why so rigid?

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kang Siyoon."

"Speak casually with me, sir! I'll work hard at whatever you assign me!"

"Working hard is fine and all... but did something happen with the General Affairs team?"

"N-no, sir!"

Something had clearly happened.

"What did the General Affairs Team Leader say about me?"

"Sir? N-nothing, sir. He didn't say anything at all..."

The man's face betrayed him instantly. Siyoon pressed once more.

"It's fine, you can be honest with me."

Only then did he stammer out an answer.

"It wasn't anything bad, sir... just that you're an important figure at Hansan Securities, so I was told to treat you with the utmost respect..."

"Hmm..."

A stream of saliva dripped from the corner of Siyoon's mouth.

An important figure? What on earth kind of rumors were being spread about him?

"This place does manage all of Hansan Securities' equipment and supplies, so it's fair to call it an important department. But I'm not some great figure, so don't worry about that talk."

"Y-yes, sir."

"Your name is Kim Chil-sung?"

"Yes, sir. I've heard it's a rather unusual name ever since I was a kid."

"I see. I'll call you Assistant Manager Kim. Let's do good work together."

"Yes, sir! Looking forward to working with you!"

Before long, Siyoon introduced him to Choi Tae-wook.

"From your résumé, it looks like you're a year older than Tae-wook. Don't look down on him just because he started as a part-timer — help each other out and run the Inventory Management office well."

"Yes, sir, understood!"

"I'll show you the inventory management system tomorrow. Today, just shadow Tae-wook and get familiar with where each department is."

"Yes, sir!"

With that, the two men headed out into the warehouse, and Siyoon settled in front of his monitor to watch the KOSDAQ market.

A week later.

On his way to work, fresh out of his apartment, someone came hurrying toward him in a fluster.

And that someone was Team Leader Joo Ji-myung of the derivatives desk.

What now. Is he looking to pick a fight?

Sensing an uneasy energy, Siyoon quickened his pace. Team Leader Joo's footsteps sped up in turn. In the end, the man chased him to within arm's reach.

"Director Kang!"

Siyoon turned back with practiced nonchalance.

"Hm? Well, if it isn't Team Leader Joo. What brings you out this early in the morning...?"

He kept his face composed, but inside, he was bracing for whatever the man might pull.

"Why are you walking so fast?"

Contrary to expectations, Joo's face was bright.

A week ago in that conference room, he'd looked half dead.

"Is something the matter...?"

"Something the matter? I came to thank you."

"Sir?"

"You saw it too, didn't you? The KOSDAQ index rising last week. If we'd taken a loss this time, my head might've rolled. Make some time whenever you can — dinner's on me."

"Oh... yes, sir."

And with that, Joo Ji-myung was gone.

Siyoon had braced himself for a mouthful of curses — instead, he'd walked away with gratitude.

The KOSDAQ index had climbed all week. The derivatives team had apparently turned a profit on the Head of Division's push, following Siyoon's read.

He was glad to have helped, of course — but the news Siyoon was truly waiting for still hadn't come.

Back at the office, he booted up his computer and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pulled up his stock window on the monitor.

The KOSDAQ market was in the green — but Siyoon's Jinju Energy position alone was struggling to break free.

"Should I have gone with a small cap after all?"

A flicker of regret crossed his mind as he opened an economic news site. A freshly posted article sat at the top, still warm.

It was the news he had been waiting for all this time.

Even staring straight at the headline, he couldn't quite believe it.

Tell me this isn't a dream.

Siyoon rubbed both his eyes.