Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Choi Beomsu, chairman of Goguryeo Ayeon.
He did not leave a particularly good impression. He was a man with a strong face, a hooked nose and sharply protruding cheekbones. He was smiling, but it looked extremely awkward, as if he was not someone who usually smiled.
I greeted him with as much courtesy as possible.
"My name is Kim Deoksu, Team Leader of the Asset Management TF Team. It is an honor to meet you."
"The honor is mine. I heard you are the hottest trader in Yeouido these days."
"Not at all. The rumors are a bit exaggerated."
"Is that so?"
At that moment President Yoo Jaechul stepped in.
"Our Team Leader Kim is even better than the rumors. Not just now, but among all the traders who have ever been in Yeouido, he is the most outstanding. He is the treasure of Mirae Securities."
"Hahaha. Your trust in Team Leader Kim is extraordinary."
"That's right. Without him, it would be the same as losing half of Mirae Securities."
"He must be a very important talent. Hearing that makes me want to scout him."
"Scout him? If you can take him, feel free. But he will not move for ordinary conditions."
"Really?"
Chairman Choi Beomsu thought for a moment and then looked at me.
"A salary of one billion won a year, with a house and a car provided, and an executive level position. How about that? Sounds tempting, right?"
Chairman Choi asked me directly.
I answered with an awkward smile. My bonus alone this year would exceed thirty billion won. Ten hundred million won... what should I even say in a situation like this? It was awkward.
President Yoo Jaechul seemed to read my thoughts and smiled quietly.
But when Chairman Choi saw my expression, he waved his hand.
"Hahaha. I'm joking, joking."
Just then a secretary entered, placed tea on the table, and left. Chairman Choi took a sip of coffee and set the cup down. His eyes changed, as if he was about to get to the main point.
"Among the items you won in the public auction this time, there should be a company called Beomhan Resources. I would like to acquire it."
Straight to the point.
He wanted to buy it immediately? The auction had only ended today. Why was he in such a hurry? There had to be something behind this. But what?
"The ownership transfer has not even been completed yet. We have not conducted due diligence on Beomhan Resources either. I do not think we are at the stage to discuss selling."
"If you stamp the contract right now, I will explain the situation. I will also give you a generous price."
"What price are you thinking of?"
"Two hundred billion won."
"What?"
It was a number big enough to make my eyes pop out.
Two hundred billion won.
We had bought a company valued at less than ten billion won along with shares of unlisted startups for one hundred billion won. If we sold just Beomhan Resources, the total return would immediately become two hundred percent.
"Uhh... Team Leader Kim. Two hundred billion... shouldn't we at least think about it?"
"No. First we will conduct due diligence."
Choi Beomsu noticed that President Yoo was wavering and immediately targeted him instead.
He was the type of person who clearly knew what to do to achieve his objective.
"President Yoo, please. I will buy it at a very good price. It will greatly help Mirae Securities and the Mirae Group."
President Yoo Jaechul glanced at me, and I shook my head.
"I'm sorry, Chairman Choi, but I don't think that will be possible. This investment falls under Team Leader Kim's authority, so there is nothing I can do."
"Ahem... I see. It can't be helped then. I will take my leave. Let's meet again next time."
He stood up immediately after finishing his business.
He was the type who came, handled his purpose, and left right away.
"Huh. What a fiery personality. He has ability, but he is too greedy and selfish. Well, that greed did make Goguryeo Ayeon the global number one, but he has no people around him and far too many enemies."
"What about President Jang Sugi of Youngpo?"
"President Jang Sugi of the Youngpo Group? He is someone worthy of respect. If you think of generals, he is a virtuous commander. Do you know how many people follow him? You will probably like him as well. He is fundamentally different from that Chairman Choi. But why are you asking suddenly?"
"In this public auction bid, both Youngpo and Goguryeo Ayeon participated at the same time. Even though they belong to the same group."
Goguryeo Ayeon was part of the Youngpo Group.
However, the Youngpo Group was managed by the Jang family, while Goguryeo Ayeon was managed by the Choi family.
"If they both entered at the same time, does that mean they both want Beomhan Resources?"
"Yes. It seems like there is quite a serious conflict."
"I see. Something might be about to happen."
A knock was heard.
The door opened and Director Kim Yuri entered the president's office.
"President, the chairman is asking for Team Leader Kim. He said it's urgent."
Ah. I thought it would take less than ten minutes, but it had taken longer than expected.
"Really? Then go quickly."
"Yes."
After greeting the president, I left with Director Kim Yuri and headed to the group headquarters.
On the way I asked her the reason, but she said she did not know either.
We parked in the underground parking lot and entered the elevator.
"Wait a moment, Deoksu. Look at me."
"Yes?"
When I turned around, Yuri adjusted my suit.
She brushed off the dust on my clothes and straightened my tie.
As she came closer to me, I could smell a faint fragrance from her.
"Huu..."
I had been a little nervous, but my tension seemed to relax.
"What? Does my hair smell? I washed it this morning."
"What?"
"I thought you were sniffing something."
"Oh, it's not a smell. It's a fragrance. There is a pleasant scent coming from somewhere."
"Ah..."
Yuri's cheeks turned red.
Why did the atmosphere suddenly become awkward?
When we arrived in front of the chairman's office, the secretary guided us inside.
There was someone inside whom I had not expected at all.
"My name is Kim Deoksu."
"I am Seong Jeongui. I have heard a lot about you. They say you are a promising talent."
"I still have a lot to learn."
"Please, have a seat."
Chairman Kim Taeseong gestured for us to sit.
A moment later the secretary entered and placed tea on the table.
"This is Gyokuro."
"Oh, isn't that the highest grade green tea that is difficult to obtain even in Japan? This is very precious."
"We have an honored guest today. Of course we should serve something like this."
Chairman Kim Taeseong had a rough square face, but he knew about top quality Japanese green tea.
Once again I realized that people should not be judged by appearances alone.
The chairman prepared the tea himself.
Although it did not match his rugged appearance, his movements while brewing the tea were extremely refined, as if he had deep knowledge of tea ceremonies.
The soft aroma of green tea filled the chairman's office.
For a short moment we enjoyed the tea in peaceful silence.
"This is the best tea I have had in a while."
"You flatter me."
Chairman Seong Jeongui turned his head toward me.
"Team Leader Kim Deoksu, I heard you spent one hundred billion won in the public auction. Seeing that, I assume you have accurately grasped the value of those companies just like I have. Am I right?"
"Not exactly. I simply thought they were promising."
Based on the report prepared by our team, I explained my reasoning.
"Vivary Paprika's fintech, Collie's dawn delivery service, and the cryptocurrency exchange Donnamu are creating entirely new markets. It is impossible to predict how much they will grow. That is why I boldly invested one hundred billion won."
After hearing me, Seong Jeongui smiled lightly.
"Hahaha. You have understood them quite accurately."
"Thank you."
There was a quiet silence.
He seemed like the type of person who spoke with his eyes rather than his mouth.
His sharp gaze seemed to be reading my inner thoughts.
"What are you planning to do with the shares you secured today?"
"I have not decided yet."
"Do you have any plans to sell them?"
"If the price is right, I plan to sell."
"What price are you thinking of?"
"Well."
"Go ahead and tell me. I am curious about Team Leader Kim Deoksu's intuition."
What price should I say?
I imagined selling the shares of the unlisted companies except for Beomhan Resources.
I started from one hundred billion.
It went up to one trillion, but there was no reaction.
What?
Was it worth less than one hundred billion?
That could not be it. Since Seong Jeongui had moved, those companies definitely had enormous growth potential.
I started again from one trillion and increased it by one hundred billion each time.
Still no reaction.
When I imagined two trillion, I finally smelled a scent.
But two trillion was too much.
Still, since I had sensed the scent, I decided to say it.
"I estimate about two trillion won."
"Wha... Team Leader Kim, that amount right now..."
Chairman Kim Taeseong was shocked by the number I had spoken.
When I looked to the side, Yuri also had her eyes wide open in surprise.
But Chairman Seong Jeongui was different.
He looked at me calmly.
His expression was strange, mixed with surprise, anticipation, and worry.
"Two trillion... Team Leader Kim Deoksu, you and I seem to share some similarities."
He said something difficult to interpret.
"I still have a lot to learn."
"I look forward to your future."
"Thank you."
Seong Jeongui checked the watch on his wrist.
"Oh, time has passed already. I should get going now. I had a very pleasant time today. I came suddenly, yet you welcomed me warmly. Thank you very much."
After Seong Jeongui left, Chairman Kim Taeseong looked at me and asked,
"If that man calls you, will you go?"
"What? What do you mean suddenly?"
"I do not like the look in his eyes. I can immediately recognize people who covet what belongs to me."
"...?"
"Never mind. You can go."
"Yes."
I left the chairman's office together with Yuri.
Seong Jeongui coveting me?
The chairman must have misunderstood.
But still, I had met Seong Jeongui, a world famous investment tycoon.
I decided to remember this day.
At dawn I woke up and ran to the company at full speed.
Normally I ran at a relaxed pace, but today I pushed myself until my breathing was at my limit.
It was to blow away my stress.
Yesterday after the market closed, Youngmi Pharmaceutical announced that it had signed a technology export contract worth one trillion won with the global pharmaceutical company Rosho.
My chest felt tight, as if the sky had collapsed.
...It will probably open at the daily upper limit.
From the start it will surely hit the limit.
Just before the market closed yesterday, the falling stock price suddenly reduced its decline as trading volume surged.
And before the market closed it ended with an upward trend.
At the time I did not know the reason, but now it seemed clear.
People who already knew about the export contract must have started buying.
The probability was one hundred percent.
But that was a purchase based on undisclosed information.
A clear crime.
But in Korea it rarely became a big problem.
Embezzlement, breach of trust, stock manipulation, and trading with undisclosed information were everywhere in the Korean financial market.
Why?
Because there was little will to enforce the law and the punishments were weak.
Prosecutors who had investigation and prosecution power let things slide, and judges reduced sentences.
So why would anyone obey the law?
If it were like the United States, where stock manipulation could lead to thirty years in prison, things would disappear quickly.
In our country, even if you got caught, the worst case was prison, and most cases ended with suspended sentences.
Even so, I prayed.
I did not know who they were, but they were probably insiders.
I hoped those people who profited from undisclosed information would receive massive fines and go to prison.
After sweating heavily and releasing my anger and stress, I showered and went up to the office.
"Good morning."
After greeting everyone with a smile, I sat at my desk.
I checked global economic trends and read reports.
Nothing special was happening, so we skipped the morning meeting.
The market would open soon.
Youngmi Pharmaceutical would definitely hit the upper limit.
It could not be helped.
Even though I knew the stock would fall and I would profit from it, the human anxiety inside me did not disappear.
So I changed my perspective.
What if it rises to the upper limit and then falls?
That would be an opportunity to earn even more.
I decided to increase my short selling.
9:00 AM.
I stood up and shouted.
"Alright. Let's do our best today as well."
"Let's do it!"
The market opened.
As expected, Youngmi Pharmaceutical hit the upper limit immediately.
Sighs and groans could be heard from the prop trader section.
Because I told them to refer to Kim Yuseong's report, it seemed some of them had entered short positions on Youngmi Pharmaceutical.
"Did anyone here short Youngmi Pharmaceutical?"
The prop traders...
All of them raised their hands.
I expected twenty to thirty percent, but everyone had done it.
My influence had become this big?
I looked at them.
Their eyes were filled with anxiety.
They probably wanted to close their positions immediately.
To those wavering traders, I said,
"I will add more to my short position."
They looked at me with shocked expressions.
Assistant Manager Seok Dongmin, who had been observing the situation, spoke cautiously.
"Team Leader, perhaps it would be better to check the opinion of the risk managers."
I turned my head toward Risk Manager Assistant Manager Woo Manyong.
"What do you think?"
"Normally additional short selling would not be allowed. But if it is you, Team Leader, I think it is possible."
"You are not saying that just to please me, right?"
"Absolutely not. Mathematical risk analysis is important, but that only applies to ordinary people like us. It does not apply to someone like you who never fails. There is no risk in your investments."
That sounded like excessive praise.
I expected the other team members to frown at such flattery.
But strangely, everyone exchanged looks as if it were obvious and nodded.
Their reaction was completely unexpected.
"I see. Anyway, I will add more. The rest of you should invest according to your own convictions."
"Yes."
After sitting down, I looked at the monitor.
The upper limit price of Youngmi Pharmaceutical made me frown, but I ignored it.
It would fall anyway.
When I imagined selling, I could smell the scent again.
The pleasant fragrance felt even stronger than before.
It would definitely fall.
I was certain.
I borrowed Youngmi Pharmaceutical shares from another securities firm and sold them at the current price.
Investment amount.
Ten billion won.
I poured twenty billion won into short selling Youngmi Pharmaceutical.
Now all that remained was to wait.
About thirty minutes later.
Suddenly the upper limit broke and the stock price began to plunge rapidly.
What?
Before I could find the reason, an alert appeared.
It was a disclosure announcement just released by Youngmi Pharmaceutical.
The notice said that the diabetes drug contract they had signed with Finosa had been canceled.
That was the cause.
The stock price of Youngmi Pharmaceutical, which had been soaring toward the sky, began to plunge toward the lower limit less than three minutes after the disclosure appeared.
Still, Youngmi Pharmaceutical was truly garbage.