Chapter 3: Royal Road
In the 21st century, the place with the fastest information—more precisely, the quickest insight into money flows—was the bank. Korea, in particular, was a financial powerhouse. No other country was as sensitive to the currents of cash.
And amid all that, a sudden deposit of an astronomical sum.
No way this kind of fortune is just handing over to some random individual…
Jeong Junyoung, head of Panta Bank's VIP Business Division.
True to his role overseeing VIP clients, he was one of the top five power players in the entire bank. And right now, he stood just outside the bank's entrance, adjusting his attire as he waited for his guest. All sorts of thoughts swirled through his mind.
I have no idea which of these bank visitors is him.
Of course, he knew a few things.
For starters, the man's name was Shin Jaewoo. And he was a male born in 1995.
A guy in his late 20s to early 30s.
Jeong Junyoung waited near the main entrance for just such a person.
Screech.
A taxi pulled up in front of the bank. When the man stepping out caught his eye, Jeong Junyoung's gaze sharpened.
Late 20s to early 30s!
His clothes were ordinary. But he matched the age range from the client info. Seemingly seeing the head office for the first time, he craned his neck to take in the building. It was a far cry from the polished look of a top-tier VIP. Still, Jeong Junyoung didn't dismiss him based on that alone.
From what I know, he didn't have the kind of funds that would make him a typical bank VIP before this.
It didn't make sense. But the event had already happened. The Shin Jaewoo he needed to greet wasn't some born-and-bred VIP. More likely, he was an average citizen who'd lived ordinarily until now. Which made Jeong Junyoung peg this curious young man as the one. There was another reason, too.
He's coming.
The man was heading toward the bank. As their distance closed, Jeong Junyoung flashed a warm, friendly smile and greeted him.
"Looks like you're here for the bank. Hello. May I ask what brings you in today?"
His tone was impeccably polite, without a hint of sycophancy or ulterior motive. The man flinched slightly, caught off guard by the sudden question. But then he spotted Jeong Junyoung's name tag and shifted his expression.
"…I'm Shin Jaewoo."
That was all it took. Jeong Junyoung's lips curved into a smile.
"Welcome, sir. We've been expecting you. Please, follow me right this way."
With that, Jeong Junyoung led Shin Jaewoo not through the main entrance, but around to the back door—a restricted access point for non-staff only. Yet for Jeong Junyoung, it swung open without issue.
"Whoa."
Shin Jaewoo let out an unfiltered exclamation. It felt like he was in a movie.
Like a secret passage… not quite that dramatic.
Still, he'd never imagined passing through a "No Entry for Non-Staff" door so casually. The pattern continued. Unlike the public areas he was used to, they ventured into exclusive zones. Even the elevator had a security guard—and he rode it without a hitch.
"We manage other clients' information and funds, so I can't show you everything, but just give us a call anytime, and you can use this route. We can't have a VIP like you pulling a number ticket and waiting in line for service."
"……."
Shin Jaewoo kept his responses minimal. Even so, Jeong Junyoung was steadily reading the man.
Definitely not like those trained second- or third-gen heirs.
He didn't exude the scent of money. His assets dwarfed any chaebol heir's, but he probably didn't grasp their power yet. That wouldn't last long, though. In Korea, if you had cash—especially an absurd amount like Shin Jaewoo's—it was paradise.
"Here we are, sir. This is the place I wanted to show you today… right here."
The 7th floor of Panta Bank's head office. Shin Jaewoo was already stunned when the elevator doors opened there.
Am I in a bank right now, or a hotel?
It had the vibe of a luxury hotel lobby. In the center stood an indoor fountain. Cafes dotted the space, along with sofas for lounging and watching TV. One corner even had a ping-pong table and billiards—utterly un-bank-like.
"This is a space for our VIP clients to mingle, relax, and consult with us."
A meeting spot. But Jeong Junyoung gave a wry smile as he added,
"Of course… truth be told, not many actually come up here. Being a bank limits the services we can offer."
"…I see."
Shin Jaewoo nodded. It was a whole new world. He was led into a private room with plush sofas.
"Please, have a seat."
Jeong Junyoung gestured graciously. His demeanor stayed polished and dignified throughout. Shin Jaewoo studied him.
So this is the caliber of person who runs a bank's VIP division.
He didn't trust his own judgment in people—otherwise, he wouldn't have been betrayed by his girlfriend. But even his average eyes could see it clearly. Jeong Junyoung was impressive. He radiated natural elegance, an aura all his own. He looked late 30s to early 40s, with a trustworthy face.
If I had to describe it… scammer vibes?
That was the look he'd heard scammers had. Of course, he didn't actually suspect the man. This was the bank's headquarters—not a branch. No way outsiders slipped into Panta Bank's core with lax security. The guy was legit, credentials aside.
And Jeong Junyoung's explanation boiled down to this:
…So there's a secret VIP tier beyond the public ones?
Banks assigned scores and tiers to clients—it was official. But the top public tier wasn't that elite. Around 100 million won in deposits got you max points.
"100 million isn't chump change. But as a line dividing the true upper crust from the rest? It's laughably inadequate, don't you think?"
Shin Jaewoo nodded in agreement. As the conversation flowed, his tension eased.
This sofa is insanely comfy.
He even poked at the cushion leisurely. Jeong Junyoung struck him as refined and cool—even for a guy. But he'd gotten what he came for.
7 trillion won. It's really mine.
The old everyman Shin Jaewoo was gone. In his place sat a 7-trillion-won asset holder. Bank's top VIP. He was the boss now; they were the subordinates. Shocking, but reality.
"So… what exactly did you want to discuss?"
"For our absolute top clients, we offer a product befitting their status: the 'Royal Road'."
The name was grandiose. The king's path, literally.
Like the road to the elite? But a product?
Not a service, not a tier—a product.
"…You might have guessed already, but this is a special, secret offering from the bank."
A 10-year fixed deposit.
"As a product… what's the interest rate?"
"It's not about the interest."
Jeong Junyoung shook his head.
"It's comparable to market rates—or even lower. 1.1% annually."
Shin Jaewoo frowned.
1.1%...
Roughly, 100 billion would yield 1.1 billion a year. Suddenly, it didn't sound bad. Steady income, equivalent to a 100-million-won salary from interest alone.
"Above all, Royal Road's true appeal is the principal cap—up to 1 trillion won, with no upper limit. Maintain at least 100 billion, and you can add or withdraw freely beyond that."
100 billion principal. Hit that, and no cancellation. Flexible deposits and withdrawals otherwise.
"…Way better than a standard deposit."
Jeong Junyoung explained confidently. Shin Jaewoo imagined parking all his money there.
Max 1 trillion… that's 11 billion in interest a year?
His expression shifted noticeably. An insane sum. But Jeong Junyoung had more.
"Plus, subscribers get VIP treatment at all bank-affiliated department stores, hotels, resorts, yacht services, airlines, and more. Not earth-shattering on its own, but the real value is…"
He declared with assurance.
"Only Royal Road members are Korea's true upper echelon. You'll be invited to—or host—exclusive networking events for them. That's an asset no amount of money can match."
Honestly, it hadn't fully swayed him yet. But those who'd tasted wealth knew how to wield it. Bank connections and manpower? No reason to refuse.
So… how much should I put in?
"S-Sir… you're really planning to deposit this much?"
Jeong Junyoung's stunned eyes were music to his ears.
"Yes."