Chapter 26
Chapter 26
When I opened the door and stepped inside, Risk Management Head Kim Yuseong was crying with a face squashed like a dented can.
There was none of the cold, precise demeanor of a man who freezes loss-making accounts without mercy and liquidates risky trades like a sharp blade.
He looked like a cool, aloof guy, yet here he was, sniveling because he lost a bet. Elementary school level.
He flinched when he saw me.
He quickly wiped the fluids covering his face with a tissue, but tears continued to stream down. It seemed they wouldn’t stop.
He could have just manned up and said, “I’m sorry. I won’t interfere anymore.” That would have been enough.
Was he crying out of wounded pride?
Obstacles should be removed, that’s the basic rule, but looking at that face, I felt a pang of pity.
While I was pondering what to do, a sharp voice came from behind.
“Head Kim~ if you’ve finished writing your resignation, please submit it now.”
It was Team Leader Kim Yuri.
“Y-Yuri?”
The head flinched at the mention of her name.
“Call me Team Leader Kim. And submit your resignation by today.”
“Team Leader… please forgive me just this once. I won’t ever do it again.”
“You promised me last time, but you broke it. I can’t trust you, Head Kim.”
“Th-That’s because of… my brother…”
Hearing the word ‘brother,’ her expression shifted slightly in surprise.
“Stop with the excuses and just submit your resignation.”
“Team Leader Kim…”
It was unbearable to watch any longer.
“Team Leader, how about we settle this here? The head says he won’t do it again.”
“Still. You have to be able to trust him.”
“I really promise. From now on, I will have no interest, no involvement, I won’t touch anything regarding Employee Kim Deoksu and Team Leader Kim Yuri, and I won’t look at the accounts.”
“Are you promising?”
When I said that to the head, he quickly nodded.
“But why are you crying, Head Kim? It’s not because of the bet, right?”
Team Leader Kim asked.
“Well… I lost all my money.”
“Excuse me?”
“I invested in KS Semiconductor put ELWs, and they’re all worthless now. What do I do now…”
“Why did you buy puts? Why not calls?”
“Well, my brother said KS Semiconductor would crash, so I went with puts.”
“How much did you lose?”
“2.5 billion won.”
“Whaaat! Kim Yuseong!!!”
At her loud shout, the head flinched, and she clutched the back of her neck.
“I-I told you to trust me last time. Who did you trust?”
“Employee Kim Deoksu.”
“And what happened to trusting him?”
“He’s supposed to bring fortune.”
“Ha. Blame your own foolishness for trusting someone other than Deoksu. Let me say it again, fortune only comes to those who believe.”
“Y-Yes.”
The head nodded slowly, deflated like a wet dog.
After meeting her brother, Kim Yuri went to the restroom to calm down.
“Hah, does he even have a brain…?”
Losing 2.5 billion in a single trade, it was absurd. Putting everything in derivatives. Did he think he was Deoksu?
It was rare to be that bad at stocks. Now I even felt a bit of pity.
Kim Yuseong acted like a rebellious teenager without thinking. Annoying, but essentially good-hearted.
He had taken care of her well before her second brother got close to the eldest. He used to play nicely with her. After growing closer to the eldest, he changed a bit.
Fundamentally, he was different from the eldest.
“Hah, what should I do with my foolish brother?”
If left as he was, he would keep being used by the eldest, falling for his sweet words each time, oblivious. She couldn’t intervene, and even if she did, he wouldn’t believe her.
Her chest felt heavy, like a sandbag pressing down.
“Still, I’m glad.”
She was thankful that Deoksu forgave her brother. She liked Deoksu’s warm heart.
His wide embrace. Sometimes he seemed like a fool or a pushover, but that generous heart was his charm.
Honestly, Kim Yuri couldn’t fully understand her own feelings. She had told him to resign first.
But that’s family.
Even if you scold them, if someone else scolds in the same way, it feels unpleasant. A relationship of inexplicable love and hate.
To his younger sister Kim Yuri, the inadequate older brother Kim Yuseong was just such a presence.
“What did you say?”
Kim Taesung, hearing about the trouble between Kim Yuseong and Asset Management Team 9, raised his eyebrows and voice instantly.
“This brat, bring him here immediately!”
At his father’s call, Kim Yuseong was summoned to the chairman’s office.
He stood there, head down, unable to say a word at the continued scolding.
“You let money disappear in Asset Management, and now as Head of Risk Management, you prevent money from being made? Kim Deoksu is a golden goose. Do you know how much effort I’ve put into keeping him at Mirae Securities?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Argh…”
Not knowing that was even more pitiful.
“Write your resignation.”
“F-Father. Employee Kim Deoksu is allowed to stay.”
“If a company son loses a bet, he must step down as promised.”
“……”
“Why did this happen? Tell me everything truthfully from now on.”
Kim Yuseong told his father everything that happened with his brother. Listening, Kim Taesung looked deeply conflicted.
“Did Yugeon make you do it?”
“N-No, that wasn’t it. I just wanted to look good in front of my brother.”
Foolish boy. He didn’t realize Yugeon had guided him into acting that way. He mistakenly believed Yugeon would help him, utterly clueless.
It was his own fault. He had been spoiled like a greenhouse flower. No wonder he ended up like this.
“Cards and car, confiscate. Put him on temporary duty.”
“……Yes.”
He needed to be raised strictly from now on.
But Kim Deoksu couldn’t be left like this. With the recent startup investment and today’s trade, the organization was tying down his wings.
Measures had to be taken so he could soar high.
Kim Taesung spoke to his chief secretary.
“Arrange a meeting with Kim Deoksu.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“No, I’ll call him myself.”
Impatient, he took out his phone.
Today, I practiced simulated trading without using scent.
I couldn’t be sure, but the more I learned about stocks and finance, the more my ability to sense scents seemed to improve.
‘What if it’s not?’
It didn’t matter. Even if not, it was fine. Short-term trading would help me improve my skills, so no harm done.
I focused on day trades today, and the profits weren’t bad. Started with 100 million won, earned 2 million. Small compared to the assets I manage, but practice builds skill.
After closing all positions, I took a short break and browsed the financial portal. Edison SB caught my eye on the list of today’s hot stocks.
“Edison SB?”
‘Named after the inventor Edison…’
I wondered if the founder knew how ruthless Edison really was when he chose that name. Edison patented inventions by employees under his name and exaggerated AC risks to win the war with Tesla.
He also filed unfair lawsuits against competitors to hinder their management. Still, better than our country’s conglomerates, perhaps.
I looked up Edison SB.
A bus manufacturer specializing in CNG, low-floor, and electric buses, with sales around 300 billion won.
Its current spotlight was on electric buses. Benefiting from government policies, it held first place in domestic electric bus market share. It had announced plans for electric cars, signaling a transition to an electric car company.
Switching from internal combustion engines to electric cars is a generational challenge. Leading the change is risky, but profits can be huge if successful. Edison SB looked attractive.
“Shall I buy some?”
Thinking of buying with real money, I sensed a strong floral scent.
A scent from the tip of my nose.
‘Huh, this is…’
A mix of floral and herbal notes. Unlike the scent that usually excites and uplifts me.
‘What was its name…? I smelled it in a department store perfume shop…’
Funeral? Death? Those words popped up, and the name came back.
Lily and Chrysanthemum.
Difficult names. In Korean, it was the scent of lily and chrysanthemum. The team leader had told me in the store. She didn’t like it much herself.
An uncomfortable scent.
Why?
It was my first time experiencing this, so I was confused.
While pondering, the phone rang.
“This is Employee Kim Deoksu from Asset Management Team 9.”
“Ah, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Who… is this?”
“Cough, you don’t remember my voice? I’m a little hurt. Hahaha.”
Ah! The laughter and name revealed who he was.
Chairman Kim Taesung of Mirae Group.
“Sorry, Chairman. I was distracted and made a mistake.”
“No, I wonder if I accidentally interfered with your trades.”
“No, not at all.”
“Are you free this evening?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Then let’s have dinner. The secretary will send a message.”
The call ended.
Embarrassed by the silly mistake, I fanned my face with a report on the desk. Team Leader Kim asked,
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
I didn’t mention it was the chairman. Didn’t want her to worry.
“Shall we have beef tonight? You did well with KS Semiconductor thanks to you, Deoksu. My treat. 250,000 won per serving.”
“I’ll just have chicken and beer.”
Humbly declined, but I was curious about Hanwoo omakase and sushi omakase.
“And not tonight. I have prior plans.”
“Prior plans? …You?”
Team Leader’s eyes showed disbelief.
“Looks like you’re going on a date. Next time then.”
“Date?”
At Manager Choi’s remark, Team Leader’s gaze wavered slightly.
‘Why is she like that? Am I not allowed to date?’
Might as well joke a little.
“Oh, Manager, how did you know?”
“I have a good instinct for that. Made a lot once using it… sigh.”
The manager smiled wryly.
“Enjoy your date. Have a good time.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I didn’t know if the food would go down well, but I had to enjoy it. If unavoidable, enjoy it.
“Have a good date.”
“Yes. I’ll leave work a little early today.”
“Y-Yeah.”
I completed today’s trading log, checked economic indicators, and tidied my desk before leaving.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”
“….”
Only Manager Choi responded to my greeting.
Team Leader Kim? She seemed preoccupied.
At the restaurant, I told the staff my name and was guided to a VIP room.
No one was inside. I sat and looked around. Modern, clean interior, fitting for a high-end restaurant.
Shortly after, the chairman entered. I stood and greeted him. Less awkward than the first meeting.
“Sit.”
Once seated, he ordered food immediately.
“Let’s eat first and then talk.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Let’s have a drink.”
He poured beer into my glass, and I filled his.
“Kruuh!!”
Our synchronized one-shot made us seem alike.
Food arrived one by one.
We talked about various topics. The atmosphere wasn’t bad.
As the meal was ending, the chairman’s expression changed.
No longer the warm, friendly eyes, but sharp, keen eyes of a seasoned executive. The real conversation was about to begin.
I straightened my posture.