Double Life
The moment Ahn Hyeoksu spoke, the other two employees couldn't hide their excitement either.
—It's done. We did it!
—Our profits are already past 900 million won!
Total Return Rate: +18.7%
Total Profit: +933,000,000 won
Having just checked the current returns, Siyoon turned his gaze to the employees on his monitor. All three were cheering as if they'd just won an Olympic gold medal.
He had made nearly 20 billion won through personal investing, yet he'd never once celebrated like this. Perhaps that was why the scene left him a little bewildered.
—At this rate, don't you think we'll hit the limit-up again tomorrow?
—Exactly. Looking at the buy orders stacking up, we might even get a dot circuit.
The employees exchanged opinions back and forth, and only after their cheering finally died down did Siyoon speak.
"Good work, everyone. Twenty minutes until market close. Looks like we'll wrap up just like this, so take a breather."
At that moment, Ko Guhyeon shoved his face right up to the camera. His dumpling-like face filled the entire screen.
—Team Leader.
"Yes?"
—There's something I'm curious about... Would it be all right if I asked?
"Of course. Anything."
—Will we never get to see your face, even going forward?
The question left Siyoon lost in thought for a moment.
What if the accident had never happened when I was young?
Would I have been able to sit across from them and work with them, comfortable and at ease?
It was a pointless line of thinking.
Either way, the conclusion was the same.
"Is there any real reason you need to see my face? We're posting incredible returns on our very first trade, and if we keep this up, we'll be writing a new chapter in Hansan Securities' history. What more could you want?"
—Ah, no, sir... Nothing.
Once Ko Guhyeon's genial face finally receded from the screen, Siyoon spoke.
"All right, then. See you all tomorrow."
After the market closed, the call came from the Head of Division.
Knock knock knock.
He knocked and opened the door to find two men inside. The Head of Division and Kwak Yong-hoon, Team Leader of the Risk Management Team, were seated on the sofa.
"There he is—the treasure of our company. Come over here and have a seat."
Siyoon faltered at the Head of Division's words.
The word treasure startled him, but what struck him as stranger still was the handkerchief perched atop Team Leader Kwak's head.
"Good afternoon, sir."
As Siyoon approached and turned to Team Leader Kwak, the man hastily snatched the handkerchief away.
"Oh, my—I completely forgot I had that on. I just perspire so easily... haha... ha."
Yeah, I can see that.
Anyone could tell that Team Leader Kwak had the look of a small, anxious man. When Siyoon took his seat, the Head of Division crossed his legs and began.
"The reason I've made it this far is precisely this: an eye for people. I was born with it. I know it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn, but haven't I proven it yet again? Am I wrong?"
The Head of Division glanced at Team Leader Kwak.
"Of course not, sir. Unearthing talent with real ability is hardly something anyone can do. Although—buying 5 billion won of a single stock in one day like today is—"
"How high do you think Juil Express will go?"
Cutting off Team Leader Kwak mid-sentence, the Head of Division turned to Siyoon.
"I can't give you a definitive answer on the peak, sir. What I can say with certainty is that the Nambu Terminal redevelopment catalyst isn't a one- or two-day story. The fact that it resumed climbing even after being designated a high-risk investment stock shows just how much anticipation is being priced in. Whether the additional upside will be 100 percent or 200 percent, no one can promise."
"Right. I agree—responding in real time is the way to go."
The Head of Division seemed far more relaxed than he had back in the warehouse. He gave a small nod and asked,
"How are the SST employees working out? Are they clicking with you?"
"It was only the first day, but all three performed without a hitch. Employee Yang Miyoung in particular was so seasoned you'd never guess she was new."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, sir. Even though it was her first time handling sums in the tens of billions, she barely wavered. Her hands were quick and her eye was precise."
"Hmm... good. Raise them well, Director Kang. Who knows? Maybe one day those friends of yours will become Kang Siyoon's people."
I doubt that's possible.
We won't even be meeting face to face.
As if wrapping up the conversation, the Head of Division turned to Team Leader Kwak.
"Well then. Anything from you, Team Leader Kwak?"
As if he'd been waiting for exactly that opening, Team Leader Kwak fixed his eyes on Siyoon and unleashed a rapid-fire burst of words.
"Director Kang, was it? You need to liquidate 50 percent of the position starting tomorrow. Juil Express has already climbed as far as it can climb. Today's buying is chase-buying—meaning we're sitting at a level that could collapse at any moment. This is not normal investing. If this keeps up—"
"You must be busy. Why don't you head out."
Once again, the Head of Division cut him off.
"Sir, if I could just say a word—"
Siyoon rose from his seat.
"I'll be on my way, then."
That evening, Siyoon headed to a samgyeopsal restaurant near the office with Kim the Senior Associate and Choi Tae-wook.
He felt a twinge of guilt knowing he'd be leaving all the warehouse work to the two of them from now on, and he also wanted to celebrate the day's successful trade.
On any ordinary night he'd have ordered delivery at home and nursed a scotch, but tonight he didn't want that.
Sizzle—!
"Let's eat!"
Watching over his two colleagues, Siyoon grilled the pork belly with care.
"Let me do that, sir."
"You two just worry about eating. You worked hard today—I heard the deliveries piled up."
"Thank you, sir."
Soju glasses circulated around the table, and Choi Tae-wook asked,
"Director. Did something go well for you today?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I caught a brief glimpse of you from a distance, and you just seemed... like things were going your way."
"Hmm...?"
Siyoon tilted his head.
The SST team had indeed launched a successful first investment—but could the man have noticed even that?
"Ah, no, it's not that. It's your habit, sir."
"My habit?"
"You tap your fingers on the table, see. And whenever you do that, it always turns out to be a day when things go well for you."
I had a habit like that?
It had been an unconscious gesture, and yet Tae-wook had read it perfectly.
"You're something else, Tae-wook. In my whole life, no one's ever been able to read my moods."
"I'd like to say it's my powers of observation, but honestly, I think it's just from being around you for so long."
Which reminded him—Bang Yo-han had been the same way.
At first, Yo-han had watched him intently, trying to figure out what went on in his head, but after enough time together he'd reached the point where he could gauge Siyoon's mood at a glance.
'Being around someone for a long time, huh...'
The words hit home.
Up until now, everything had been decided by first impressions.
Before he could ever show anyone who he was, or what kind of life he lived, they had all walked away.
Is that all it takes—time spent together?
He was still turning the thought over when his head snapped to the side.
It was the voice of the man sitting at the next table.
"Whoa—is this for real or what?!"
"Right? Limit-up on our very first day."
"Shh. Someone will hear us."
It was the SST team, of course.
Only after Yang Miyoung shot them a cautionary look did the employees lower their voices.
"We're a secret team, remember? Every single word has to be careful."
"Ah, sorry. I got carried away."
Ko Guhyeon scratched his head.
Excitement had his dumpling face looking puffier than ever. He made a show of directing his gaze at the warehouse workers, but his ears couldn't help drifting sideways.
"Still... what kind of person do you suppose the Team Leader is?"
Ahn Hyeoksu murmured the question, and with every word, Siyoon leaned further toward the next table.
"No matter how I look at it, he's no ordinary employee. If the Head of Division is secretly running a team, there has to be a reason for it, right?"
"Like what kind of reason?"
"Well, for instance, maybe he's the Head of Division's nephew."
"Oh, come on! Who's going to hear us? Don't even joke about that."
Me? The Head of Division's nephew?
That's way past too far.
"It can't be connections or anything like that. You saw today's trading, didn't you? That voice was ice-cold and razor-sharp. He sounded like a man with no emotions at all. And that's what stock investing demands, isn't it? You can't let your feelings toss you around. But the Team Leader—his voice itself was like a machine's. He's a born gambler, no question."
"That reminds me—what if it's an AI voice or something? Like, someone types the words on a keyboard, and the computer speaks them out loud."
"Hmm... you know, that could be it."
Excuse me—what could be?
These people, honestly...!
"Whatever the case, one thing's certain—he's incredible. He nailed the entry point exactly, and the stock took off from that very point, didn't it?"
At Yang Miyoung's words, the other two nodded along. Before long, the meat was sizzling at the next table too. They were celebrating the day's trade in their own way.
"Thank you for the meal, sir."
At Kim the Senior Associate's words, Siyoon picked up the check.
"Right. Let's call it a night."
He got home at eight in the evening.
Perhaps because he'd come home later than usual, Jeombak-i trotted over and tilted his head.
"What? Was I out too late for you?"
Woof!
"Eight o'clock isn't late. Can't a man see some people once in a while?"
Woof woof!
Jeombak-i nodded his head as if to say, Well done.
"Right. Thanks for the compliment."
He finished his shower and came out, spread his laptop open on the terrace, and dug through the financial news. Thankfully, there was nothing that could spell trouble for the stock.
Looks like it'll climb again tomorrow.
The fact that it had hit limit-up even after the trading halt meant the buying pressure had real weight behind it. He'd have to watch the market, but he figured he'd be holding again tomorrow.
As he stared at the charts, the SST employees' words drifted back to him.
—Do you think the Team Leader's voice is an AI?
Am I really that bad?
He knew expressing emotion was hard for him, but surely he didn't sound like a robot.
Tap! Tap!
Jeombak-i, who had been circling the terrace, came trotting over.
Hah-hah-hah-hah!
He'd run around too much—he looked winded.
And to think a robot comes with a function like that. Watching Jeombak-i's antics closely, Siyoon asked,
"Do you think I sound like a robot too?"
Woof woof!
The little guy nodded his head vigorously.
"That does it. You're getting thrown out."
Grrrrr.
When Siyoon stroked his head, he perked right back up. Siyoon turned to look out—the Han River was rippling gently in the evening light. After a long moment taking in the view, he murmured,
"Perfect weather for making money."
The next morning, Siyoon arrived at the warehouse office and headed for his booth. Kim the Senior Associate handed him a fresh cup of coffee on the way in.
"Thanks."
"Good luck today, sir."
He slipped inside and logged into the SST system. On the messenger, all three employees appeared at once.
—Good morning, Team Leader! A fine morning to you!
"Good to see you all. A fine morning indeed."
Maybe it was the team dinner last night, but everyone seemed more relaxed today. None of them looked worse for wear, thankfully—they hadn't overdone it.
As Siyoon studied his employees, he tapped the microphone lightly.
"Quick mic test, everyone."
—Yes, sir!
"Does my voice sound strange to you at all?"
—Ah... no, sir. Not strange in the slightest!
"Not stiff? Not robotic or anything like that?"
—N-no, sir... Not at all!
"Good to hear. I do get that misunderstanding sometimes."
At those words, the three employees' eyes went wide.
He hadn't meant to fluster them.
He simply wanted it on the record that he was not an AI.
"Five minutes to the open. Get ready, everyone."
—Yes, sir!
Siyoon's eyes shifted to one side of his monitors.
He wanted to check the after-hours trading.
+11.2%
+15.1%
These weren't definitive indicators, but judging by the momentum, targeting another limit-up today seemed well within reason.
Then, nine o'clock.
The moment the market opened, the order book began climbing at a blistering pace.
Whoosh!
Three minutes into the session, Juil Express hit the limit-up in a flash.
But then—
—Team Leader... are we still holding?
The order book was trembling uneasily.
The price kept slamming into the limit and falling back, over and over.
That's a danger signal.
Yang Miyoung had sensed it too.
Today's limit-up was different from yesterday's. A trend like this could break the uptrend and send the stock careening into a freefall.
—Team Leader. Say the word...
Answering right now would be ideal.
But Siyoon was just as torn as they were.
Push the profits higher—or watch yesterday's gains evaporate entirely? He had to choose, and he had to choose now.
He scanned the charts in a flash, then spoke to Yang Miyoung.
"Hold."