Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Kim Yu-seong. Former Head of Risk Management.
Currently demoted to regular employee.
His workspace was at the end of the 7th-floor corridor.
He had no assigned tasks at the moment.
That I could sense an aura from him was really unexpected.
The type of aura wasn’t floral but a cool, herbal scent. A scent that felt like it cleared blocked passages.
Recalling past memories, it was very similar to the aura I had sensed at GameHub.
What could this mean?
Could it mean he could earn money through a satisfying revenge, just like the ant at GameHub that brought a hedge fund to ruin?
I couldn’t be certain, but it felt like it.
Since I sensed his aura, Kim Yu-seong could be someone beneficial to me. Should I bring him in?
Though unspoken, the team leader seemed to quietly hope for the same.
I’d need to think it over.
Even if I brought him in, he was a regular employee now. Would former Manager Kim Yu-seong accept that?
“What are you doing?”
The team leader appeared beside me.
She glanced at the file I was reviewing.
“Looking for team members?”
“Yes. You heard about the formation of the TF team, right?”
She nodded.
“What about you, team leader?”
Of course, the manager was staying.
“Me? I…”
A brief silence. She looked at me.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Why are you asking me? You won’t do as I say anyway.”
“You never know. Maybe I would if you asked me to.”
“Ha, really? You under me? Then I’d repay all those army days properly.”
“Uh, that’s… if you want it…”
“Ridiculous. I know your personality. Besides, you need to be promoted too. VP might be difficult this time, but executive promotion is a must.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve already received an executive promotion offer.”
“Well, that’s good.”
Though I said that, I felt a pang of regret.
I enjoyed being in the bleak securities firm with the team leader. But I couldn’t show regret.
I forced a smile.
“Congratulations, truly.”
“You have a face that really enjoys it. So happy to escape me?”
“Of course. It feels great.”
“Ha, really.”
She glared at me.
I smiled slightly and spoke seriously, without teasing.
“You really wanted this promotion. So it’s only natural it worked out.”
“Eh? How did you know that?”
“You told me the last time we drank. You wanted to reach the top by ability, not bloodline. As high as you could. You said it’s hard as a woman, but you wanted to challenge it…”
“Eh? I, I…”
Her pupils trembled abruptly.
“Not true?”
“No, it’s true, but keep it secret from others.”
“Of course. You’ll become Executive Director, then President, and then… who knows, but you can reach anywhere you want.”
“No, it’s just unnecessary ambition.”
“Ambition? With your ability, it’s enough. And the team leader I know doesn’t give up. You’ll definitely succeed.”
“R-really?”
Her slightly gloomy expression brightened a little.
“Thanks, Deok-su. Your support gives me strength.”
“I’ll back you up from now on.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
“By the way, earlier you were looking at Kim Yu-seong’s file… Former Manager, no, Employee Kim Yu-seong. Will you bring him into the TF team?”
“I’m considering it. What do you think?”
“Well… he’s not a bad person. Naturally kind. He’s easily swayed and lacks backbone. Good people make him better; bad people make him worse.”
“You know former Manager Kim Yu-seong like family.”
“…Exactly.”
I looked at the team leader with a meaningful smile. She chuckled lightly. She must have sensed I knew.
“So… Kim Yu-seong is actually U-Castle. He targeted Edison SB during the short-selling incident.”
“Really?”
I was surprised.
“He’s quite famous. Seems naturally gifted. Annoying, but he has a supernatural ability to detect others’ weaknesses. It even extends to companies, not just people.”
Listening to the team leader, I realized having him on our team could be advantageous.
I decided to confirm his ability firsthand.
“Shall we go meet him?”
“Sure.”
We walked to the end of the corridor where Kim Yu-seong was seated.
I assumed, as a rebellious heir, he wouldn’t have perseverance, yet surprisingly, he held on.
He was focused on writing something and didn’t notice us arrive.
I expected him to just surf the web, but he was preparing a report.
“Kim Yu-seong.”
He flinched and quickly closed the monitor.
He stood and looked at me.
“Hmm. I’m no longer a manager. Just a regular employee. Soon to be team leader, so you can just call me Kim Yu-seong.”
He seemed changed.
Perhaps the corridor lifestyle matured him. The rebellious, adolescent aura was gone.
“I have a question. Just one. What’s my weakness?”
He answered without hesitation.
“Your style is bad. Your fashion sense is almost zero. Recently, you bought decent clothes, but it wasn’t really your choice—it must have been someone else…”
He accurately identified my flaw. I asked another question before I got annoyed.
“And Team Leader Kim Yu-ri?”
“Personality. From start to finish, that’s her flaw. She has a temper… enough said.”
I turned and saw fire blazing in the team leader’s eyes.
Kim Yu-seong pinpointed weaknesses precisely, even painfully.
Such a skill could be invaluable for company analysis.
Should I recruit him?
But bringing in the chairman’s son complicated things.
I couldn’t decide easily.
At that moment, our phones buzzed simultaneously. The team leader checked hers.
“Oh my, Deok-su, our team bonuses have arrived.”
“Really?”
“Yes. How much did you get?”
“1,170.”
“Quite a lot.”
“And you?”
“2,800.”
“Wow, amazing!”
The team leader shook her head, disbelief on her face.
Kim Yu-seong alone looked utterly confused.
“2,800? 1,170?”
Not thousand? Not dollars either.
How much was the bonus?
2,800,000,000 won?
Unbelievable. Kim Yu-seong had achieved historic results.
How many companies in Yeouido would compete for him? And they gave less than 100 million won? Impossible.
If true, immediate job switch.
Then the unit must be 10,000…
“2,800… billion?”
Kim Yu-seong’s eyes widened. Yu-ri, 1,170 billion?
No other explanation.
What an extraordinary performance!
In that moment, Kim Yu-seong realized.
Kim Deok-su was his destiny.
At dawn, I woke up and, as usual, jogged to inhale the fresh morning air.
I ran at a 6:30 per km pace toward the company.
Employees greeted me along the way.
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
Jogging had become popular. Initially one or two people, now over ten. Today, around fifteen greeted me. Sharing a hobby is a joy.
I showered at the company gym before starting work.
At the entry gate, someone tapped my shoulder. It was Manager Choi.
“Good morning.”
“Ah, good morning.”
Different from usual.
“Why so sudden?”
“Well, today is the day for personnel orders. You’re now team leader, I’m manager, so the titles should be adjusted.”
“Ah…”
Expected. Awkward, but necessary.
“Yes, understood. But Manager Choi, you’re no longer a manager either.”
“Really?”
She tilted her head.
“You’ll see later.”
Inside the company, many gathered in the lobby.
“What’s today? Why so many people?”
“Soon, TF team members will be announced. They’re probably here to check for themselves.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Seeing this, I must have saved a country in a past life. Automatic inclusion in TF team. How can I repay Team Leader?”
“Manager Choi, why so dramatic?”
“My bonus exceeded 10 billion thanks to this team. Of course, all thanks to the team leader. Bigger luck than the lottery. Must repay it and work harder.”
Manager Choi seemed ready to die for my words.
Then HR staff posted A4 papers on the bulletin board.
“Ahhh, no!”
“Haah… I knew it would happen. I ran early in the morning to mark my spot…”
“Me too…”
Most lowered their heads, despairing.
Meanwhile, some cheered like winning the lottery.
“Aah! Miracle!”
“Mom, this is better than the lottery!”
I couldn’t comprehend their reaction.
“Is it really that serious?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Why?”
“Rumor says the asset management TF team will become Mirae Securities’ core. Everyone wants to join. Plus bonuses.”
“Ah, bonuses! It’s for the money.”
Likely the main reason.
In history, not only in Yeouido but globally, our team received the highest bonus in finance: nearly 300 billion won. Most went to me, but Manager Choi and the team leader got hundreds of billions too.
No wonder people want in. They’re the most money-driven Yeouido securities people.
“Well, not exactly, but it matters. Haha…”
They seemed embarrassed knowing people joined for money.
I checked the personnel orders.
Kim Yu-ri → Executive Director of Asset Management
Kim Deok-su → TF Team Leader of Asset Management
Choi Chung-sik → Deputy General Manager
Everyone I worked with got promoted.
Though sad to be away from the team leader, we must walk our paths. I vowed to support her from afar.
I went up to the 7th floor.
At the end of the corridor, Kim Yu-seong remained at his desk.
He seemed focused on analyzing something on his monitor.
I approached.
He was still preparing reports. Likely listing companies’ flaws rather than growth.
“Uh…”
He flinched seeing me.
“Oh, sorry. Just curious. Excuse me.”
“No, it’s fine. TF team formed already?”
“Yes.”
“...Understood.”
He looked slightly disappointed.
“Then…”
I bowed slightly and turned.
Kim Yu-seong called me back.
“Could you review these?”
He handed me several reports.
“I prepared them to be helpful.”
“Thank you.”
I took the documents to the office.
I sensed his aura. He’d be beneficial to our team.
But I decided to observe a bit more.
The time he spent in the corridor was making him grow.
I would wait until he matured a bit more.
TF team’s first meeting was scheduled for 7:30. I was quite nervous.
To calm down, I surfed the internet.
An article caught my eye: The prosecutor planned to sell the stocks held by Na Yi-ri as quickly as possible.
It was to compensate victims financially.
Most were unlisted shares, making the sale difficult.
It wasn’t unrelated to me. My family suffered because of Na Yi-ri.
I hoped the victims could recover quickly.
‘If I buy them, could I help the victims more?’
I wanted them to get financial compensation swiftly.
At that thought, a strong, unfamiliar aura hit me.
It enveloped my entire body.
What was this?
I merely wished the victims could recover financially… yet among the shares for sale, some were clearly profitable.
I planned to make the first meeting productive, despite intending it to be brief.
Sorry, but if we’re making money, the first day must be tough.
The meeting began.