Chapter 16
Chapter 16
“Deok-su!”
I was lost in thought when the team leader called me.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Employee Kim Deok-su.”
She had changed how she addressed me.
Since I had officially joined and there was a manager now, it seemed she wanted to correct the honorific. Still, “Employee Kim Deok-su” felt so distant.
So I responded, too.
“Yes, Team Leader Kim Yu-ri.”
“Kim Deok-su, if you’re not busy, could you get me some coffee?”
“Yes, absolutely, Team Leader Kim Yu-ri. I’ll bring it right now.”
“Take this card with you.”
“Thank you, Team Leader Kim Yu-ri.”
After receiving the card from her, I bowed 90 degrees, offering my deepest thanks.
“Hey!”
“Yes, Team Leader Kim Yu-ri.”
My exaggerated behavior made the team leader’s eyebrows rise slightly.
“Tone it down a bit.”
“…Yes.”
The manager chuckled as he watched us.
“Just be comfortable like before. I actually liked it better that way. It felt more friendly and close. Relationships at securities firms are pretty cold otherwise.”
“Really? Deok-su, hurry and get it!”
“Yes!”
I quickly bought coffee from the café and brought it to the team leader and the manager, then returned to my seat.
Soon after, the alarm signaled 9 o’clock, and the stock market opened.
The atmosphere on the 7th floor, where the Asset Management Team gathered, changed instantly.
Just before the market opens, the space had been deathly quiet, but the moment it hit 9 o’clock, it was filled with a different kind of noise.
Typing sounds, phone rings, calls—everyone was focused as the market began.
The first 30 minutes after opening and the last 30 minutes before closing were periods of extreme volatility, moments when no one could afford to relax.
I scanned my surroundings.
Both the team leader and the manager were glued to their monitors, moving busily.
They checked the positions of futures and options they had bought and sold in real time, while also tracking price trends of invested stocks.
From Bloomberg reports to TV securities broadcasts and financial newspapers, every report had to be checked in real time.
Even a brief lapse in attention could lead to major losses, so concentration could not waver.
In a moment where speed was life, I scanned eight monitors with eagle-like eyes and typed faster than a professional gamer.
Yet despite everyone being busy, I felt relaxed. I had no stocks in my possession, so I had no reason to be frantic.
I sipped my iced Americano and pondered which stock to buy.
“Let’s start with the one that had that scent earlier.”
I clicked on a stock.
Samjin SemiChem.
I began reviewing Samjin SemiChem.
From debt ratios and operating profits to cash flow statements, and from core business sectors to future prospects, I examined every angle.
It was a semiconductor materials company, strong in technology, but its cash flow wasn’t great.
Poor cash flow could lead to bankruptcy if mismanaged.
“Moreover, sales are gradually declining.”
The current stock price had fallen to about a third of its peak. Some economic newspapers even called it a crisis.
“But there was definitely a scent.”
A scent meant this company would succeed.
So that meant sales would rise and cash flow would improve…
“If it goes bankrupt, it’ll be a disaster.”
I worried about investing based on the scent. A bankruptcy leading to a trading halt would be catastrophic.
I hesitated whether to buy or not.
I clicked Samjin SemiChem stock and resolved to buy.
A pleasant scent teased my nose.
But this scent reminded me of a flower I had smelled before.
“Ah!”
I remembered.
It was the same scent I noticed when I bought the Yushin C382SCP Put, which had dropped 40 percent before soaring wildly.
“Yeah, exactly the same. I was nervous, but I made 500 percent profit.”
My first investment, turning 100,000 won into 500,000 won. I decided to trust the scent that had guided my success, rather than my own judgment, and began buying while watching the charts.
Samjin SemiChem 5,400 won.
The stock had fallen sharply today, leaving plenty of sell orders.
I absorbed them and bought.
By around 2 p.m., I had invested all my money into Samjin SemiChem stock, as planned.
I checked my account.
I had five hundred million won to manage.
Samjin SemiChem 5,200 won
Purchase quantity: 92,000 shares
Purchase price: 5,100 won
Profit rate: ??
I had invested all five hundred million.
I no longer felt anxious.
“But I wonder why it’s going up.”
No matter how I looked, I couldn’t see any reason for Samjin SemiChem to rise based on fundamentals.
The market closed.
“All right, everyone, good work. I’m going to see the CEO.”
The team leader headed to the CEO’s office.
Kim Yu-ri entered the CEO’s office and bowed in greeting.
“Were you looking for me, sir?”
“I have a few questions. Have a seat.”
Kim Yu-ri sat on the sofa while CEO Yoo Jae-cheol took the main seat.
A secretary came in, placed two cups of instant coffee, and left.
“How have things been lately? The market has been so flat, like a clothesline, right?”
“True, but I believe a big movement will come soon. We need to prepare well to ride it properly.”
“I trust you, Team Leader Kim. Last year too, if not for you…”
Yoo Jae-cheol shook his head, imagining the disaster.
“Anyway, I’m counting on you again this year.”
“Yes, I’ll do my best, sir.”
“The reason I called suddenly is about the funds managed by Team 9. Currently five billion won, right?”
“Yes.”
“Considering last year’s results and this year’s performance, we want to increase the fund.”
“How much?”
“One hundred billion won.”
“What?”
Kim Yu-ri’s eyes widened.
“One hundred billion won?”
“Why are you unsure?”
“Not unsure, just don’t understand. Actually, the returns this year aren’t high yet… Is this your decision? There’s no other reason, right?”
Kim Yu-ri stared at Yoo Jae-cheol, who quickly averted his gaze.
Something about it felt off.
She sensed a guiding hand behind the CEO—her father’s influence.
Yet she couldn’t be sure.
“Ahem, of course it’s my decision. Fund allocation is the CEO’s right.”
“Really?”
Yoo Jae-cheol nodded.
“If you allocate it, I’ll manage it as best I can.”
“Good. Team Leader Kim, you are the hope and backbone of Mirae Securities. Do well.”
“Yes, sir. Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Oh, wait a moment. In Team 9, there’s a manager and the new recruit… Kim Deok-su, was it?”
“…Yes.”
Something was strange.
Deok-su had achieved a 43,000 percent return. The CEO’s memory couldn’t fail to recognize him.
So this was deliberate…
“How much will be allocated to him?”
Hearing the question, Kim Yu-ri realized it had to be her father’s directive.
“Um, that’s the team leader’s discretion. Tell the chairman to ask me directly if he’s curious.”
“Ahem, why would the chairman…”
Kim Yu-ri’s sharp gaze made Yoo Jae-cheol flinch.
“Ahem, it’s because the chairman personally hired Deok-su and…”
Yoo Jae-cheol hastily stopped talking, but it was too late.
“Your father personally hired Deok-su? I heard you did it, sir… not you. Huh. Now I’m curious about the truth.”
Kim Yu-ri folded her arms slowly in her seat.
Yoo Jae-cheol had to confess everything that happened that day.
“He personally made the proposal and offered 30 percent of the profit as a bonus?”
“At first, he tried every trick not to hire him…”
“Ahem, how could a chairman ignore such talent that brings money? Even an enemy’s child would be hired if capable.”
Still, Kim Yu-ri was speechless.
Someone who tried tricks to avoid hiring personally stepped in to hire.
Part of her felt subtly pleased. It seemed her father acknowledged her judgment in people, and even though Deok-su and her weren’t close, he was recognized too. Her lips curled slightly.
Then she quickly hardened her expression.
“The chairman humbled himself to hire him, but he couldn’t ask you. Anyway, how much will you allocate to Kim Deok-su?”
“I don’t know. That’s my discretion. Ask me directly if curious.”
“Ahem.”
“Well, I’ll leave now, sir.”
“All right, Team Leader Kim. Good work.”
Kim Yu-ri bowed politely and left the room.
“Damn.”
Yoo Jae-cheol looked troubled for a long while, then picked up the phone.
Mirae Group Chairman’s Office
Kim Tae-sung was reviewing reports.
After staring for a while, he stretched his sore shoulders.
He went to the window, letting thoughts drift.
“…It’s about time to choose a successor.”
None of them fully satisfied him yet.
The eldest was greedy and cold.
The second was a “painful finger,” good at heart but twisted. Not even a teenager, yet still immature. Not fit to be a successor.
No one was satisfying.
Then he remembered the bold young man he recently met.
Kim Deok-su.
His daughter’s connection from military days.
He had assumed he was insignificant, but he showed astonishing investment results.
Greedy for talent, he couldn’t let him slip and hired him as a regular employee.
Kim Tae-sung had started a small business and grown Mirae Group into a 30-trillion conglomerate, meeting countless people.
It had been a long time since he met someone whose eyes were so difficult to read.
Calm but strong, the gaze only experienced by those who had seen the world.
He wondered what Deok-su was doing.
‘What did he buy this time?’
Just then, the phone rang.
“This is me, sir.”
“Yes.”
“I have a report for you.”
Yoo Jae-cheol’s hesitant, small voice reported the situation with Kim Yu-ri.
Contrary to expectations of rage, Kim Tae-sung showed no strong reaction.
“Understood.”
He hung up and then called his own phone.
“It’s me.”
“Father? Why the sudden call?”
“All’s well at the company?”
“If something happened, you wouldn’t be able to make this call.”
“Hmph, that kid.”
He’s always like this. Half the conversation is a joke.
“I’m busy. Why are you calling?”
“Check Kim Deok-su’s trading history and report.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You brat. Do you want to get fired there too?”
“Originally, it wasn’t a position I wanted. If you insist, I’ll comply.”
A timid rebellion from Yoo Yu-sung, who had sent him from Asset Management Team to Risk Department.
“Hey, Hand of Loss.”
“Our chairman is harsh.”
“Harsh? You messed up Asset Management Team 1 so badly, a negative 50 percent return. Worst in Mirae Securities history. You wouldn’t have been fired if you weren’t my son? This is grounds for a lawsuit.”
“That’s up to the chairman. I’m hanging up. I’m busy.”
“Report Kim Deok-su’s trading history and returns to me.”
Kim Tae-sung hung up, sighing at his disappointing second son.
His son couldn’t earn money, unlucky with money. Meanwhile, the youngest, Yu-ri, was thriving. He couldn’t hand the company to his daughter.
“Damn…”
He cursed unconsciously out of frustration.
Meanwhile, Mirae Securities Risk Management Director Yoo Yu-sung was staring at his monitor.
Even before the call, he had been reviewing Kim Deok-su’s trades.
He was amazed.
How could he always go all-in like that?
He threw five hundred million into Samjin SemiChem.
Normally, he should have locked the account himself. Such all-in investments violated regulations.
But he hadn’t.
He wanted to see what would happen. He wanted to know if the previous high return was luck or skill.
He turned on his home trading system and searched for Samjin SemiChem.
Should he buy or not?
As the Risk Director, buying based on an employee’s trades was risky.
But he couldn’t ignore the trades of someone who had made 43,000 percent returns.
How much should he buy?
One hundred million?
No. Too much for an uncertain future.
Fifty million.
A few days passed.
Samjin SemiChem fluctuated, rising and falling without major change.
Suddenly, the stock fell over five percent.
Rumors circulated in the securities world that the company was in financial trouble.
If this continued, it could hit the lower limit.
“Last time was just luck.”
Disappointment spread across his face.
No need to watch further.
Good traders cut losses quickly.
‘Sell it.’
Without hesitation, Yoo Yu-sung hit sell all.
Minus seven percent. A thirty-five thousand won loss.
Not huge, but a shame.
Still, relieved it wasn’t worse.
Thinking of Kim Deok-su still holding the stock, he felt sorry for him.
“Financial trouble?”
Reading the securities rumors, I tilted my head.
The stock I smelled at Samjin SemiChem was going to rise.
That meant increasing profits and cash flow.
But now, sudden financial trouble?
For a moment, I wondered if bankruptcy might come.
I wanted to buy more to average down.
I needed to smell the scent again.
I clicked on Samjin SemiChem and imagined buying again.
“What’s happening…??”
A few days later.
The scent was far stronger than before.