Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Samhyun Securities.
One of the Samhyun Group affiliates, ranked among the top three securities firms in South Korea.
The traders’ group chat at Samhyun Securities was noisy.
The reason: yesterday’s incredible GameHub call option trade.
Upon hearing the news, Trading Director Lee Hak-soo urgently convened a meeting of all team leaders.
“Have you heard about the 18,000x return from the mock account at Future Securities yesterday?”
Heads nodded.
“What do you think?”
“Are you suggesting we scout him?”
Lee Hak-soo nodded.
“Mock trading is a bit of a concern, but his potential is undeniable.”
The team leaders’ words drew a smirk from Lee.
“Among you, can anyone achieve that return on a mock account?”
The team leaders lowered their heads.
“What about a manager-level person?”
“Excuse me? A manager?”
“Even then… placing a Future Securities intern as a manager at Samhyun Securities seems… improbable.”
“I doubt your team losing 1.5 billion KRW last month… is… normal??”
One leader scratched his head nervously.
“The group chairman instructed to build a team around that guy. I only managed to place him at manager level. That’s how you should see it.”
“Ah, understood. But will he even come?”
“Who in their right mind would refuse Samhyun Securities? World-class information networks, top analysts, the best traders in the industry. Would you reject it?”
“Not exactly… but maybe he purposely joined Future Securities?”
“Purposely?”
“At that return, he wouldn’t be just an intern.”
“??”
“Probably an underground expert. Given the rumors about his age, maybe a seasoned trader hiding his strength?”
“An expert?”
It sounded plausible.
Judging by the returns, this wasn’t a mere intern.
If he were an expert, he could have deliberately chosen Future Securities.
But an underground expert in a securities firm? Preposterous.
Yet if he rejected our offer… maybe he really is an expert intentionally at Future Securities.
Then why choose Future Securities?
Questions piled up.
Lee Hak-soo shook his head.
“Why would an underground expert do an intern job at a securities firm?”
“No idea.”
A baseless speculation.
“If he comes, treat him well. In this field, money makes the king. A few months from now, he might even be above you. No weird territorial behavior. Meeting adjourned.”
Finishing the meeting, Lee picked up the phone, heart pounding.
“Who’s this?”
“Hello? This is Lee Hak-soo, Trading Director at Samhyun Securities. You—”
“I’m sorry, I have to decline.”
“I… what?”
“You’re offering to scout me, right?”
“······how did you know?”
“Sorry, I’m busy. Goodbye.”
“Listen! Listen!!”
The call had already ended.
Within a minute, he had been refused.
The confident Lee was dumbfounded.
“Truly… an expert?”
From his firm rejection, Lee sensed the aura of mastery.
Who could this expert be?
Curiosity filled his mind.
I wanted to throw my phone.
I’d lost count of how many calls I’d received.
Reputable securities firms called to offer me positions.
The offers were attractive.
Annual salaries up to 100 million KRW, performance bonuses up to 20%.
For a moment, I was tempted. But I realized staying here was best.
I had been at the firm less than a month.
Despite my astronomical returns, I was still a beginner in finance.
I didn’t want to face a stormy market alone.
Sure, I’d go independent eventually, but for now, having a supportive team leader felt right.
“Deok-su, you’ve had a lot of calls today. Where’s this one from?”
“Oh, Samhyun Securities. Trading Director called.”
“What? Samhyun’s director?”
My team leader’s voice trembled slightly. Surprised?
“You’re surprised it’s Samhyun?”
“Why would I be?”
“I thought you’d worry I might leave for Samhyun.”
“Why would I? If you move to a better company, I’d congratulate you.”
“Really? Good.”
“What’s good?”
“I said I was moving next month.”
-Bang!
“What!!”
My team leader slammed the desk and jumped up.
Startled.
Better not joke here.
“J-Joke! Just kidding.”
Embarrassed, she laughed awkwardly.
“Just joking, right? Our Deok-su wouldn’t betray us.”
“You said it’s okay to move.”
“No, I meant it’s not okay… I said that out of concern for you.”
“Anyway, I refused.”
“Refused?”
Her lips curved slightly, then relaxed.
“Yes. I don’t want to change companies now. I want to learn more here. You promised to teach me properly.”
“Of course. I will. Expect it.”
For some reason, I felt a chill.
The phone rang.
“This is Intern Kim Deok-su of Asset Management Team 9.”
“Report to the CEO’s office. Someone’s looking for you.”
“The CEO’s office? Got it.”
Startled, I hung up.
“Team leader, the chairman wants me upstairs.”
“Why?”
“No reason was given.”
“Hmm… alright.”
“I’ll go.”
I went to the chairman’s office.
Opening the door, I saw a stern elderly man on the top seat of the sofa.
I froze.
It was Kim Tae-sung, Chairman of Future Group.
His presence here meant he had summoned me.
Why?
Was it because of my mock trading returns?
Perhaps…
I bowed.
“You’ve been looking for me?”
The CEO guided me in.
“Meet Chairman Kim Tae-sung.”
Better-looking in person than in photos.
Square-shaped face, rugged features. Didn’t quite look like a chairman, but impressive.
A man who built Future Group from scratch.
“Ahem.”
The CEO’s cough snapped me from my thoughts.
“Ah, I’m Kim Deok-su, intern at Future Securities. Nice to meet you.”
“Sit.”
I sat.
A secretary brought three cups of instant coffee.
“Drink first.”
“Thank you.”
I sipped the hot, sweet coffee nervously.
I took another sip when the chairman spoke.
“Finished? Let’s talk business.”
“??”
I glanced at my cup—empty. Surprised I drank it so quickly.
“You must wonder why I called you.”
“Yes.”
“Straight to the point. I heard your mock trading returns. 43,000%, right?”
“Yes, 43,000%.”
“Amazing performance, even if mock trading. So, I want you to lead Asset Management Team 10.”
“Team 10?”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
Team 10 didn’t exist.
Team 9 had just been newly formed around Kim Yuri.
I wasn’t the only one shocked; the CEO looked surprised too.
“C-Chairman, appointing an intern as a team leader… suddenly…”
The chairman raised his hand, stopping the CEO.
“Don’t apologize. I don’t look at anything but results. Your performance exceeded expectations, so I’m taking extraordinary measures. Build a team around yourself. Start with 10 billion KRW in funds. Performance bonus: 20% of profits.”
I was speechless.
I kept repeating his words in my mind.
Silence lingered.
“Hm, hm. True to your genius. We’ll increase funds gradually and adjust performance bonuses: 25% of profits.”
What? Suddenly 5% more?
Probably misinterpreted my silence as a negotiation tactic.
“30%! No more than that.”
“….”
With no reply, their eyes fixed on me.
Chairman and CEO. Who else would I meet like this?
The chairman’s presence alone was intimidating.
I needed to clarify.
“Chairman, I think there’s a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“I’m not ready to be a team leader. I’ve never managed 100 million KRW, let alone 10 billion. I want to stay in Team 9 for now.”
“Team 9? Any particular reason?”
“Before joining as an intern, I knew little about finance. Team leader taught me a lot. I want to learn more.”
“You like your team leader?”
“She’s excellent.”
“A good person…”
The chairman’s expression sharpened briefly.
Probably because I refused.
Though capable, I wasn’t ready to take the lead.
I could use my scent ability, but skill would amplify it.
I needed more experience and to wait for the right moment.
“So you want formal employment but to stay in Team 9?”
“Yes.”
“Then, I offer two options. One-year contract with 100 million KRW, or two-year with 500 million KRW. No quitting during the contract.”
“Contract money?”
I’m not an athlete… why contract money?
“Don’t you understand? Celebrities, athletes get signing bonuses.”
“Unusual for an office worker.”
“It’s rare here, but common on Wall Street. A system to secure talented individuals.”
“Ah… I see.”
Am I really that remarkable?
I felt like bowing to the chairman.
A 100 million vs 500 million difference.
Yesterday, I might have taken 2 years without thinking.
But now, I had 16.3 billion KRW.
Freedom mattered more than money.
“Sorry, I don’t want a fixed-term contract. I want permanent employment.”
“What?”
The chairman furrowed his brow, suspicious.
“You mean you want to quit whenever you wish?”
“Yes, I don’t want restrictions.”
“What?”
The chairman’s expression hardened slightly.
“But not just for that. A 1-2 year contract is temporary. I want someone to stay long-term. Your current performance is just the beginning.”
“Just the beginning? Hahaha.”
The chairman laughed heartily.
“Fine. Permanent employment it is. Instead of a signing bonus, you’ll get 30% of your profits. Team profits separate.”
“30%?”
“Too little?”
“No, sir.”
No reason to refuse.
“Thank you.”
“Then, let’s sign the contract.”
I officially signed the employment contract with the group chairman and CEO.
“Employee Kim Deok-su.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“You don’t need to work hard or be diligent!”
“Excuse me?”
“Just generate profits. That’s all you need to focus on.”
“Understood.”
I stood, saluted, and left.
“Did you hear him? He doesn’t want to be restricted by a term.”
“Yes.”
“He’s extraordinary. How long has it been since I’ve seen someone say that to me? I should have offered a more shocking contract to secure him for 2 years. My mistake.”
The chairman looked regretful.
“Wanting permanent employment instead of a huge salary… probably means he’s not greedy.”
“Hahaha. Someone not greedy wouldn’t trade so obsessively. He must love money intensely.”
CEO Yoo Jae-chul nodded in agreement.
“Make sure no other company poaches him.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“How much does Team 9 manage now?”
“50 billion KRW.”
“Raise it to 100 billion.”
“100 billion??”
“Doubling suddenly might overwhelm Yuri?”
“This kid and the genius trader Yuri invest together. Imagine their profits. I’d send all other team funds to Team 9 if I could.”
“Understood. But giving 30% of profits…”
“Too much?”
“Yes.”
“No firm—big or small—gives 30%. Max is 20%. Depending on Yuri’s allocation, even with this skill, he’ll earn at least 10 billion KRW per year.”
“10 billion? So total profits over 30 billion?”
Kim Tae-sung nodded as if obvious.
“When you manage big money, even 10 billion feels small. People want to earn more.”
“Ah…!”
“Ultimately, Deok-su will stay long-term. Paying him this now is worth it. His presence benefits Future Securities more than anything else.”
“Yes, understood.”
Watching the chairman, Yoo Jae-chul realized again:
The man who built Future Group from nothing was no ordinary person.
A personnel order appeared on the lobby bulletin of Future Securities.
Personnel Order
Subject: Intern Kim Deok-su
Action: Permanent employment effective immediately
Those who read it were shocked—but most accepted it as reasonable.
They knew of Deok-su’s returns.
When work ended, I refused the celebratory party.
I wanted to personally tell my parents.
I ran to the family business.
