Chapter 40
Chapter 40
I spoke to Deputy Manager Choi Choongsik, who was looking at me with a curious expression.
“Our five percent stake needs to become the casting vote. If either side ends up with more than a five percent difference in shares, the stake we hold won’t be able to enjoy the premium that comes from a hostile takeover. The most ideal situation is for Yeongpo and Goguryeo Zinc to hold the same amount of shares. But right now Goguryeo Zinc probably has about four percent more than Yeongpo. If Goguryeo Zinc buys just one percent more, then the stake we hold becomes useless.”
“Ah….”
Deputy Manager Choi flinched slightly after hearing my explanation.
“What’s wrong?”
“N, no. It’s nothing.”
“So we need to start buying shares as well. I need your ability, Deputy Manager Choi.”
“My ability?”
“Stealth trading. I heard you became quite famous in Yeouido for that.”
Stealth trading.
A method of quietly buying or selling shares little by little without leaving any noticeable traces.
Doing it with small amounts was easy.
People didn’t pay attention. But once it exceeded one or two percent, it suddenly became very difficult. When the available supply dried up, the stock price would rise, and from that point on people’s attention would change. They would begin watching closely. Yet even under those watchful eyes, Deputy Manager Choi had managed to accumulate an enormous amount of shares. What was even more amazing was that he had done it without affecting the stock price. It was truly an incredible skill.
“You even secured 4.9 percent once without anyone noticing.”
“That’s all a story from the past. These days my hands are slow.”
“Even so. For now, just give off the impression that there’s a major force accumulating shares without moving the price.”
“What if they start suspecting us?”
“They won’t suspect us just because there’s a force in the market.”
“Yes. I’ll do my best for now. But I can’t guarantee the result.”
“I guarantee that you will succeed, Deputy Manager.”
“Haha, you’re putting quite a burden on me.”
Deputy Manager Choi let out a small laugh and returned to his desk.
Then he gathered the prop traders together. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like he was teaching them trading techniques.
Passing down knowledge.
Something that normally never happened in a typical trading room. But our TF team seemed a little different.
Unlike other teams where individual play was the norm, teamwork was the foundation of ours.
Basically, everyone traded by following my positions, so when we combined our efforts we could achieve even better results.
At first I had been worried that this might weaken the individual abilities of the traders. If they only waited for the food I provided and kept looking at me, they might lose the animal instinct needed to hunt for profits themselves.
But that wasn’t what happened.
As we exchanged opinions, we also shared know how with each other, and our skills became standardized at a higher level. It was the best possible outcome I had never expected.
Moreover, we moved as a team rather than individuals. It might not show yet, but in the future it would unleash an even more terrifying power.
Unless someone entered a single stock like I did, the maximum amount one person could manage alone was about one hundred billion won.
Ten people meant one trillion.
But if ten people moved as one, they wouldn’t be able to handle just one trillion.
They could handle ten trillion.
Ten trillion with this team?
I let out a small chuckle.
But soon I changed my thinking.
With the scent ability, what was difficult about it?
Ten trillion?
Even one thousand trillion would be possible.
It wasn’t difficult at all.
Deputy Manager Choi Choongsik shook his head as he returned to his seat. It was because of the team leader’s rapid growth.
“When did he grow this much? Is it because he’s young? This is honestly terrifying.”
When the team leader said earlier that they should buy shares, it had startled him. Not long ago, the team leader had simply been buying stocks that rose according to his predictions.
But just now, he had created a situation that prevented the value of the shares they held from dropping. He made multiple parties desire their stake. It was astonishing how he had thought of such a thing. A remarkable ability he had never seen before.
“Is this what a genius looks like?”
Deputy Manager Choi returned to his desk and began passing down every bit of his stealth trading know how to the traders.
He didn’t feel it was a waste.
In the past, or even on other teams today, no one would ever teach such things.
But our team was different.
Starting from the team leader himself, he shared stock information with everyone. That was not something easy to do. It was completely different from his own small tricks.
Sharing stock information meant sharing profits. It meant trusting the other person.
In that situation, it would be impossible for each person to secretly keep their own techniques.
No one had forced it, but in our team people naturally began sharing their know how.
Choi Choongsik let out a small laugh.
There was probably no other asset management team like this in all of Yeouido.
He had never believed the saying that people were the most important factor and that one person could change many things. But under Team Leader Kim Deoksu, he had come to realize that it was the truth.
“…Can I do it again like before?”
There had once been a time when he possessed incredible animal instinct and produced astonishing returns.
Everyone who mattered in Yeouido knew his name.
But after a disastrous failure, that instinct had disappeared.
Because of fear.
He knew the reason, but knowing it didn’t change anything.
Watching the team leader and seeing his incredible profits, he had felt the desire to trade like that again.
He had thought that desire would overcome the fear.
But not yet.
Though he felt frustrated, Choi Choongsik decided to wait a little longer.
He turned his eyes back to the monitor.
And began quietly accumulating Goguryeo Zinc shares.
Even hiding his shadow.
After moving the mouse and keyboard for quite some time, his hand suddenly stopped.
“Ah, I forgot.”
He suddenly remembered something the team leader had said.
Leave the smallest shadow behind.
Choi Choongsik began moving slowly.
The manager responsible for Goguryeo Zinc’s stock price visited Chairman Choi Beomsu’s office.
“Chairman, I have something to report.”
“There’s a force accumulating our shares.”
“Hm… It must be Yeongpo.”
“That’s what it seems like.”
“How much have we gathered?”
“Four point five percent.”
“Then we only need another zero point five percent.”
“Yes. Then the stake held by Mirae Securities will be neutralized.”
“Even so, six percent would be safer. Gather until then. As quietly as possible.”
“Understood, Chairman. But what if Mirae Securities sells their stake to Yeongpo?”
Chairman Choi Beomsu smirked and shook his head.
“No. Unless Yeongpo offers two hundred billion won, they will never sell.”
“Are you sure?”
“Do you think I went all the way there and shouted two hundred billion for nothing? Those guys at Mirae Securities will now think the value of the shares they hold is two hundred billion. That means Yeongpo would have to offer more than that. But where would Yeongpo get that money? They already poured everything into Goguryeo Zinc. Like fools. Hahaha.”
“Then once we quietly accumulate the shares, it’s over.”
“That’s right.”
“Understood. I’ll keep gathering shares.”
“Good.”
After the stock manager left, Choi Beomsu felt slightly uneasy.
If Yeongpo somehow managed to gather two hundred billion won and buy the shares, everything would collapse.
It was best to make things certain.
This wasn’t the time to sit still.
He picked up the phone.
The face of that rude bastard came to mind. Today he would try to be as polite as possible.
“Team Leader Kim, this is Chairman Choi Beomsu.”
His sudden call made me tilt my head in confusion.
“This is about the share sale. Have you thought about it?”
“I believe I told you before that we have no intention of selling.”
“Hm. Then how about two hundred twenty billion?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Two hundred fifty billion.”
I deliberately stayed silent for a moment. I wanted it to look like I was thinking.
“…Hm. Well…”
“Two hundred seventy billion. That’s the limit I can offer.”
“…Alright. We will sell for two hundred seventy billion.”
“…R really? Thank you.”
Just as I expected.
There was a brief silence followed by awkward surprise. There was no sense of happiness or gratitude in his voice at all. My guess seemed correct.
“Then let’s sign the contract right away. Please transfer ten percent as the deposit.”
“What? Ah, alright. I’ll come immediately.”
He was coming?
“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”
I ended the call.
Strange.
I had expected him not to come.
Selling for two hundred seventy billion wasn’t a bad deal. But somehow selling to Choi Beomsu didn’t feel right.
Then the phone rang again.
“This is Choi Beomsu. Suddenly there’s a problem at our factory in the United States, so I have to go there. I’m sorry, but could you give me two weeks? If possible, I’d like to sign the contract myself.”
“Well, that can’t be helped. Let’s proceed after you return.”
“Thank you very much for understanding.”
Chairman Choi Beomsu hung up.
And I smiled to myself.
Because I had completely understood what he was thinking.
If he truly intended to buy the Goguryeo Zinc shares I held, he would have rushed over immediately.
Even if he couldn’t come personally due to unavoidable circumstances, he could have sent a representative.
But asking me to wait two weeks without doing anything?
It was obvious.
He had no intention of buying.
Just trying to stall for time.
During that time he would probably gather shares in the stock market.
In situations like this, the best solution was to wipe out the supply.
“Deputy Manager Choi, do you have a moment?”
He immediately came to my desk.
“How much Goguryeo Zinc have we gathered?”
“About zero point eight percent.”
“What? Already?”
“It goes faster when everyone works together.”
“In that case, let’s sweep the market. I think we need to secure up to three percent.”
“Then it might hit the upper limit.”
“We don’t have a choice. The purchase price matters, but right now securing as much supply as possible is the top priority. Since Goguryeo Zinc doesn’t want to buy our stake, we’ll have to pass it to Yeongpo. They’re trying to secure more than five percent so that our premium becomes meaningless. In that case we should secure more shares and sell them to Yeongpo at the best possible price.”
“The Team Leader I know wouldn’t sell shares to a terrible company just because there’s money to be made. Last time you said Yeongpo’s performance wasn’t very good. If a company like that acquires Goguryeo Zinc…”
I understood his concern.
“There’s risk. Chairman Jang Sugki’s management skills are often called the touch of loss, so Goguryeo Zinc’s performance could decline sharply. Of course, I haven’t decided anything yet. I’ll check a few things before making a decision.”
“What do you want to confirm?”
“In the past, Chairman Jang Sugki was widely considered an excellent manager. But at some point the company’s performance suddenly declined. I don’t understand such a sudden change. I want to meet Chairman Jang Sugki once before deciding.”
“Do you think Chairman Jang Sugki is deliberately hiding his true ability?”
“The possibility is small, but that’s the feeling I get.”
“If that’s your feeling, Team Leader, then it’s not a small possibility. It means there’s a one hundred percent chance he’s hiding his real ability. I’m certain.”
“Still, let’s not say one hundred percent yet. I’ll confirm it first.”
“Yes. Then I’ll start with the task you just ordered.”
Deputy Manager Choi returned to his desk.
He gathered the prop traders and gave them instructions.
And less than ten minutes later, Goguryeo Zinc hit the upper limit.
As expected, his skill was incredible.
But when would he recover his former ability?
I called Yeongpo’s chairman’s office and introduced myself to the secretary, saying I wanted to meet regarding the share issue.
They said it was possible anytime, so I said I would come now.
“I’m going out for a bit.”
“Yes.”
“Have a safe trip, Team Leader.”
Just then—
“Where are you going?”
“To Yeongpo headquarters. I’m going for a company visit.”
“Yeongpo headquarters? That’s in Jongno, right? Perfect. I’m going to Jongno too for an appointment. I’ll give you a ride.”
“No. It’s Gangnam.”
“Oh right. My appointment is in Gangnam.”
I chuckled.
So I felt like teasing her a bit.
“I can just take a taxi.”
“You should save money. Save it while you’re young so you can accumulate a lot.”
…?
How much more does she want me to accumulate?
Do I need several trillion?
Also, this isn’t even my money.
“It’s going to be processed as a business expense anyway.”
“What I mean is we should save the company’s money. Why? Do you not want to go with me…?”
A laser shot out from her eyes.
Did I go too far?
“No, not at all, Director.”
I rode in her car and comfortably went to Yeongpo headquarters. As I got out of the car, I greeted her.
“Thanks, noona! I got here comfortably thanks to you.”
“It’s nothing. Go and come back safely.”
She smiled brightly.
Before leaving, I decided to tease her one more time.
“By the way, you said you had an appointment earlier. Where is it?”
“Appointment? What appointment?”
“You said you had one earlier…”
Her large eyes instantly filled with killing intent. Clenching her teeth, she said to me.
“…You. Will. Pay.”
Chairman Jang Sugki’s office.
I looked at the man sitting at the head of the sofa.
White hair. A gentle face. A generous belly.
He looked like someone who would happily buy you hamburgers.
“I’m Kim Deoksu, team leader.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jang Sugki.”
“The reason I suddenly came today is because of the management dispute over Goguryeo Zinc.”
“Hm. I expected that. Beomhan Resources was acquired by Mirae Securities, right? What do you want to do?”
“Before that, I have a question. People in the industry call you the touch of loss, or an incompetent manager. After looking into it myself, it didn’t seem incorrect. What do you think about that evaluation?”
“Team Leader Kim! What kind of question is that right now?”
The chief secretary sitting nearby glared at me and spoke.
But Chairman Jang Sugki didn’t show any change in emotion. Instead he slightly raised the corner of his mouth and looked at me.
“I’ve heard rumors about you, Team Leader Kim. They say you’re a legend in Yeouido these days. But it seems you’re not just good at trading stocks. Your ability to see through people is quite extraordinary as well. Haha.”
Seeing the chairman’s relaxed expression, I became certain