Chapter 35
Chapter 35
I looked at the clock.
AM 11:00.
The stock market was still in full swing.
The traders were all busy executing trades, the analysts were analyzing companies, and the risk managers were closely watching both the market conditions and the traders’ transactions.
I closed all the futures and options positions I had entered earlier in the morning. With the bidding results scheduled to be announced in the afternoon, I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on work anyway.
There were still thirty minutes left before lunch, but I stood up early.
“I’ll go eat first.”
“Yes.”
I went to the cafeteria, finished lunch, and returned to the office.
Maybe it was the after-meal drowsiness, but I felt a little sleepy.
I forgot to buy coffee.
Going back down felt bothersome, but the refreshing kick of a cold iced Americano was something I couldn’t give up.
I left the office and headed toward the elevator when Director Kim Yu-ri was walking this way.
“Did you eat?”
“Yes. What about you?”
“I did too. Ah, I’m going to buy coffee. Would you like one?”
“Coffee? You mean this?”
Director Kim Yu-ri stretched out the hand she had been hiding behind her back. In her white hand was an iced Americano meant for me.
“Oh.”
“Heh. … Kim Deok-su Team Leader, come up to the rooftop! No, wait. You’re that good at stocks? Follow me to the rooftop!”
“Pfft.”
The way she imitated a delinquent was actually pretty cute.
We went up to the rooftop. As I drank the bitter iced Americano while the cool wind brushed my face, my mind cleared instantly.
“Ah, I feel awake now. Thank you for the coffee.”
“It’s nothing. How was your morning?”
“Me? Pretty normal. Team Leader—no, Director—how about you?”
“I don’t trade anymore.”
“Oh, then what do you do?”
“Online shopping and watching dramas…”
“Really?”
“Do you think I’m serious? Heh. I reviewed strategies. Thanks to you, our securities company’s net profit has increased tremendously. I’m working on plans for how to use it.”
“So you’re drafting investment plans.”
“Oh, sharp. Do you have any opinions?”
“Hmm… I recently learned that financial capital isn’t allowed to acquire industrial capital.”
“That’s right. Because of the Financial-Industrial Separation Act.”
The so-called Financial-Industrial Separation Act.
It is a law concerning the structural improvement of the financial industry that limits cross-ownership and control between financial companies and industrial capital. It was established to prevent conglomerates, which are industrial capital, from dominating the financial market, especially banks, and to preserve the public nature of the financial system.
“Securities companies can’t acquire companies that aren’t startups or financial firms, right?”
“The regulations are lighter than for banks, but still strict. We can’t own more than twenty percent of shares. Why are you suddenly asking?”
“Last time, Soft Investment invested in Jalnolja and secured thirty percent.”
“That’s right.”
“I thought it would be nice if we could do that too. Then we could make even more profit.”
“That’s true. Do you want to invest like that? Like Soft Investment?”
“Not yet. But someday I’d like to try.”
“Hm, is that so? Then this big sister should grant Deok-su’s wish.”
“How would you even do that?”
“I can create an asset management company for you.”
“What? For me?”
Not a car, but an asset management company. The scale of her generosity made my heart race.
“Pfft, surprised?”
“Yes.”
“Actually, establishing an asset management company is just one of several plans. I only submit the proposal. The decision will be made by the higher-ups.”
“Ah, I see.”
Honestly, I was excited.
If an asset management company were established, we could invest much more broadly than now.
“By the way, the bidding results?”
“They said it would come out in the afternoon, so it should be soon.”
“Aren’t you nervous?”
“Nervous? Not at all.”
I had already smelled the scent, so it was certain that it would benefit me. I had also been shown the bidding amount clearly.
“Isn’t that a little indifferent?”
“No. In truth, acquiring shares isn’t the important part. What matters is how much we sell them for later.”
“That’s true. Just like Jalnolja. Selling well is what matters. Back then we made forty times the return, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then this time, one hundred times?”
“What?”
“I’m joking. Why are you so startled?”
Kim Yu-ri laughed when she saw my reaction. She really enjoyed teasing me.
The cool wind brushed across my face. I wanted to keep enjoying this moment of leisure, but unfortunately it was time to go back.
“Shall we head down?”
“Sure. … Ah, wait a moment.”
“Why?”
“How is Kim Yu-seong doing? Is he adapting well?”
“Yes. He’s adjusting well. You don’t need to worry too much. And you can call him oppa if you want.”
“Alright. Thanks. He’s not a bad person, so he’ll be helpful to you too.”
“Of course. He’ll be a big help.”
Since I had smelled the scent, it was certain he would help me. I just wondered how.
When I returned to the office, Deputy Manager Choi was waiting for me.
“The announcement just came out. As expected, we were selected as the winning bidder.”
“Waaaaah!”
“Clap clap clap!”
Applause and cheers filled the office.
Acquiring the shares was good news. But it was not yet time to pop champagne.
“Just a moment.”
I calmed the team’s excitement.
“Winning the bid is certainly something to celebrate. But we still have a long road ahead. What I’ve done now is like buying a stock. Buying is a technique, but selling is an art. We’ll open the champagne when we sell these shares at the best possible price.”
“Yes!”
“We’ll do our best until then.”
The team answered with strong voices.
Fortunately, the mood didn’t drop.
“How many companies participated in the bidding?”
I asked Deputy Manager Choi.
“More than ten, as far as I know. I placed the related documents on your desk.”
“Thank you. And please pay the funds today. Since this is a public auction to recover criminal profits, the faster we process payment, the sooner the victims can receive compensation.”
“Yes. I’ll prepare the documents right away.”
I returned to my desk and opened the report lying on the table.
Among the contents, what caught my attention was the list of participating companies.
I thought the auction might fail, but from Soft Investment to angel investors and private equity funds, many had participated.
In addition, two companies named Goguryeo Zinc and Yeongpo had joined the bidding.
The others made sense, but those two did not. They were not companies known for investing in startups.
Their bid amounts were 60 billion won and 65 billion won respectively, the largest after Soft Investment’s 70 billion.
It didn’t feel like a simple investment.
I wondered why those two companies had participated.
For now, the acquisition had been completed successfully.
I placed the report in the drawer and began reading another document on my desk.
It was the report Kim Yu-seong had given me.
The report listed companies whose stock prices were expected to fall.
The version he gave me contained three companies.
GayaGen, Yeongmi Pharmaceutical, and Samhyeon Electronics.
The first two made sense, but Samhyeon Electronics was unexpected.
It was the world’s top semiconductor company.
Its stock price was going to fall?
Suspicious, but I read the report anyway.
GayaGen, which was developing an anti-cancer virus treatment, had problems with weak technology and the morality of its major shareholder.
Yeongmi Pharmaceutical also had technological weaknesses.
And Samhyeon Electronics, according to the report, would suffer from weakening competitiveness after failing to develop HBM memory.
After reading the report, I opened the trading program.
When I imagined short selling GayaGen, Yeongmi Pharmaceutical, and Samhyeon Electronics, I smelled a pleasant rose scent.
The price decline was certain.
I sent the report to the traders.
Read this and use it as reference when building your investment strategy.
Whether to follow Kim Yu-seong’s opinion was now the traders’ choice.
I short sold 10 billion won each of GayaGen and Yeongmi Pharmaceutical.
Yeongmi Pharmaceutical current price 732,000 won
Short sell price 725,000 won
Short sell quantity 13,000 shares
GayaGen current price 140,200 won
Short sell price 142,000 won
Short sell quantity 70,000 shares
Ironically, the moment I short sold them, the stock prices went up.
But I wasn’t worried.
Since I smelled the scent, profit was guaranteed.
Next, I looked at Samhyeon Electronics.
Its stock price was rising thanks to various positive developments.
Especially due to the launch and global success of its ambitious product, the Galleg Note29.
According to Kim Yu-seong’s report, its technological edge had weakened, and the company’s characteristic organizational egoism and authoritarian vertical culture would lead to silence that eventually caused problems.
A problem…
With the Galleg Note29 selling so well, I couldn’t imagine what problem might occur.
Still, I placed a short sale.
If there was a scent, then somehow it would lead to profit.
But I felt a little disappointed.
As the leader of the KOSPI, its drop would likely be limited.
I thought about ways to generate more profit.
Nothing came to mind.
…In times like this, there was someone to ask.
Once the best proprietary trader at Mirae Securities.
Kim Deok-su Team Leader: If Samhyeon Electronics falls, what’s a way to earn more profit than short selling?
Kim Yu-ri Director: Hey! If you ask like that, do you think I’ll just tell you?
Kim Deok-su Team Leader: …Yes.
Kim Yu-ri Director: Ugh… options!
Kim Deok-su Team Leader: Ah, right. Options. There were also ELWs.
Kim Yu-ri Director: Since I taught you, buy me beer.
Kim Deok-su Team Leader: I don’t want to.
Kim Yu-ri Director: Hmph. I also have plans tonight. I was just testing you.
Kim Deok-su Team Leader: Oh really? You have plans? I was thinking of having wine with you tonight… guess I’ll drink alone.
Kim Yu-ri Director: W-wine?? Oh right. My appointment wasn’t today. It’s tomorrow. Hohoho.
Kim Deok-su Team Leader: Tomorrow? You have plans tomorrow? Maybe we could watch a movie tomorrow night—
Kim Yu-ri Director: Ah, not tomorrow. Next month. I keep forgetting things as I get older. Hohoho.
She should oil her keyboard if she’s going to lie like that.
Kim Deok-su Team Leader: See you tonight, nuna.
After finishing the chat, I searched for Samhyeon Electronics options and ELWs.
The moment I clicked the products, I smelled an even stronger scent than from short selling.
That meant greater profit.
I chose the ones with the strongest scent and purchased them.
Amount: 10 billion won.
I was curious what kind of returns these three stocks would bring me.
Ring—
Suddenly the phone rang.
“This is Kim Deok-su.”
“Hm. Someone is looking for you.”
It was the president.
“Can you come up now?”
“Not right now. I’ll come after the market closes.”
“Ah, my mistake. I’ll see you later then.”
“Yes, sir.”
I hung up.
But who was looking for me?
I forgot to ask.
I returned my focus to the monitor.
The stocks I shorted continued rising.
I felt uneasy, but it was fine.
Those guys would fall eventually.
Ring—
The phone rang again.
“This is Kim Deok-su.”
“It’s me.”
This time it was the chairman.
“Someone is looking for you.”
“What? Again?”
“Again?”
“N-no, sir. Sorry.”
“Can you come now?”
“I’m sorry. The market hasn’t closed yet.”
“…They said they’ll wait. Come once the market closes.”
“Yes. But, who—”
The call ended abruptly.
Why was everyone looking for me today?
I looked back at the monitor.
The stocks I had shorted kept rising.
Especially Samhyeon Electronics.
My chest hurt a little.
But I did not doubt that I would be the final winner.
Kim Yu-geon, director of Soft Investment, sat at his desk, taking deep breaths.
He was trying to control the anger boiling inside him.
He had expected a perfect victory.
But he lost.
He had boldly submitted a bid of 70 billion won.
Yet his opponent had offered 100 billion.
“That crazy bastard!”
Twice now he had disappointed Chairman Seongjeong.
The chairman’s eyes were filled with deep disappointment toward Kim Yu-geon.
And in that empty space now stood great interest in Kim Deok-su.
Chairman Seongjeong had gone to Mirae Group to discuss the shares Kim Yu-geon had missed.
But Kim Yu-geon knew the truth.
More than that, the chairman wanted to see Kim Deok-su.
He recognized reality clearly.
Today, he had been completely defeated.
By the man named Kim Deok-su, who possessed natural talent.
“Ha… Kim Deok-su. Kim Deok-su…”
But it was fine.
Talent?
That was not important.
Kim Yu-geon had never possessed talent.
Not natural talent.
Kim Yu-seong’s critical thinking.
Kim Yu-ri’s animal-like investment instinct.
He smirked.
“So what?”
It didn’t matter.
In the end, Kim Yu-geon had always reached the top.
And he would again.
He criticized more sharply than Kim Yu-seong.
He earned more profit than Kim Yu-ri.
Talent was not what mattered.
If you had it, good.
But lacking it didn’t mean failure.
What mattered was obsession and will.
Grit. Tenacity. Ruthlessness. Stubborn pride.
He had plenty of those.
So Kim Yu-geon did not fear failure.
Because in the end, the final winner would always be—
“Me. Kim Yu-geon.”
He would succeed.
He would rise.
Not under his father’s shadow, but by his own hands.
Within ten years, people would no longer say
Kim Yu-geon, son of Kim Tae-seong of Mirae Group.
They would say
The genius executive Kim Yu-geon.
And his father Kim Tae-seong would simply be remembered as
Kim Yu-geon’s father.
That was how he would engrave it into the world.
Without fail.
Bang!
Even though he understood and accepted the defeat rationally—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
No matter how many times he slammed his fist on the desk—
The anger did not fade.
Drip.
From his clenched fist, crimson blood dripped onto the desk.
Kim Yu-geon ground his teeth so hard they nearly broke, then slowly lifted the corner of his mouth.
“This will be interesting.”
Jealousy, anger, frustration.
All sorts of negative emotions wrapped around him.
He did not push them away.
He did not deny them.
He was a man who never gave up.
Instead, he used them to rise again.
That was the path Kim Yu-geon had always walked.
Negativity was his strength.
To seize victory,
He never cared about methods.
The market closed.
Where should I go first?
The chairman wanted to see me.
The president wanted to see me.
An awkward situation.
“...Prior appointments matter.”
Going to the chairman first, then coming back to meet the president, would be inefficient.
Besides, the president was not someone who talked long. It would probably end within ten minutes.
I called the chairman’s office and explained the situation to the chief secretary, then went up to the president’s office.
Knock.
When I entered, a middle-aged man I had never seen before was waiting for me.
He introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you, Team Leader Kim Deok-su.”
“I’m Choi Beom-su, chairman of Goguryeo Zinc.”
…Goguryeo Zinc?
Why was this man looking for me?