How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

”Cha Jiham, do you know someone named Director Wu Weiliang?”

A chill ran down my spine.

My surprise stemmed from the fact that Wei Chen, the Triad’s vice chairman, had secretly entered our country under the name Director Wu Weiliang.

However, I had absolutely no intention of sharing that information with Gloria Gomez. With China’s population of one and a half billion people, there were probably well over a hundred thousand people named Wu Weiliang. Before jumping to conclusions, I needed to confirm whether we were actually talking about the same person.

”I do know someone by that name,” I replied calmly.

”Could you tell me what kind of person he is?”

”Before I answer, I’d like to see a photograph of this Wu Weiliang, the largest shareholder of the American company Golden Health.”

”That’s certainly possible, but...” Gloria hesitated for a moment.

I understood exactly why she was reluctant.

”I simply want to verify whether the person I know is the same individual who is the largest shareholder of Golden Health.”

”Ah, I see. Please wait a moment.”

Gloria immediately made a phone call, briefly requested something, and hung up.

As though he had been waiting for the perfect opportunity, my university classmate Lee Ujin immediately turned toward me.

”Alright, now spill it. Who’s this Wu Weiliang you know?”

”Chen Zhihui, the Triad’s vice chairman, used that fake identity when he crossed our border.”

”What?!” Lee Ujin’s voice exploded like thunder out of a clear sky.

His shout was so sincere and filled with such genuine shock that it instantly drew countless annoyed stares from everyone else in the restaurant.

”You idiot! Why are you yelling across the whole place?!”

”Sorry. I was just too shocked.”

”Good grief... Why do I even bother talking to you?”

”But if the largest shareholder of Golden Health really is Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, this is going to be an absolute bombshell!”

Bzzz.

While we were bickering, Gloria’s phone vibrated briefly.

Knowing exactly who had sent the message, she immediately checked the screen and handed the phone to me.

The moment I looked at the photograph, I could hardly believe my own eyes.

What the hell...?

The instant Gloria noticed the change in my expression, she blurted out,

”Cha Jiham, is it him? Is it really the same person?”

”Yes. Exactly the same person.”

”My goodness... What an unbelievable coincidence.”

”It looks like the Chinese Triad has completely bought out Golden Health. What do you think?”

”I tend to agree with your conclusion, Cha Jiham.”

At that moment, Tracy Bongard joined the conversation with obvious curiosity.

”Jiham, does that mean those Triad gangsters are using Golden Health’s entire logistics network and distribution channels to traffic drugs?”

”I don’t have definitive proof, but that scenario is highly likely.”

”Then where are they getting the drugs from?”

”As far as our country is concerned, some shipments were smuggled in from China and neighboring regions, but most of the drugs were manufactured and distributed domestically.”

”So they’re probably using the same method in the United States?”

”I think your situation is no better than ours. It may even be far more extensive.”

”If only we knew the exact locations of their underground laboratories where they manufacture those poisons. That would be an incredible breakthrough.”

When my wild cat Saho had infiltrated the Korean Triad hideout, he had stolen Chen Shao’s gold necklace.

Hidden inside it was a disguised USB flash drive containing the organization’s most closely guarded secrets.

Among those top-secret files was a detailed organizational structure and map of the Triad’s worldwide criminal network.

With that information, identifying the Triad’s American headquarters would be effortless.

However, I had absolutely no intention of handing over information that valuable for next to nothing.

”As the saying goes, Heaven helps those who help themselves. It seems fortune is on our side.”

”Jiham, judging by your tone... do you know something? Is that true?” Tracy stared directly at me.

This was a critical moment.

Depending on my answer, everything could take an entirely different turn.

”I don’t personally possess that information, but our country’s police almost certainly do.”

”And how would the Korean police know something like that?” Tracy asked.

”When the Korea Investment personnel carried out their sweeping operation against the Triad’s Korean branch, they confiscated a massive amount of evidence and documents. Among them was a confidential map detailing the Triad’s entire global organization.”

”Wait. Doesn’t that mean the Triad leadership knows the information has been leaked?”

I shook my head.

”That confidential document was in the possession of Chen Shao, the vice chairman’s only son. As it turned out, he secretly copied it from his father’s personal computer.”

”So the Triad bosses still have no idea that Korean law enforcement now possesses the map of their global network?”

”Our police have maintained continuous surveillance on their headquarters, and they haven’t moved at all.”

In other words, the syndicate’s leadership remained completely unaware.

”Isn’t there a chance Chen Shao already told someone?”

”At the moment, he’s locked up in one of our correctional facilities, so the only person he can communicate with is his lawyer.”

”He could still tell his lawyer.”

”Vice Chairman Chen is currently fighting a life-and-death struggle against his greatest rival, Wei Chen, for control of the Triad. Chen Shao understands perfectly well what will happen to him if he admits that the organization’s top-secret information was leaked because of his own stupidity at such a vulnerable time.”

”Ah... I understand what you’re getting at now.”

It was finally time to steer the conversation where I wanted it to go.

”If you truly need information about the Triad’s American branch, you can officially request it from our police. Naturally, they won’t hand over something that valuable for free.”

”Well, that’s only natural.”

”Alright, enough of these heavy topics. How about we just have a few drinks and relax?”

”I’m already pretty tipsy,” Tracy said with a smile. ”Why don’t we just head back to the hotel and get some rest?”

”Hahaha! That may be the best suggestion I’ve heard all evening.”

***

The following day.

The moment I sat down at my desk, a message arrived through the company’s internal messenger.

Yun Sola: How was last night? Did you have fun?

I immediately realized she was probing me.

As soon as an opportunity had presented itself the previous evening, I had sent Tracy back to the hotel and driven straight home. This morning I had arrived at work in a fresh business suit, leaving no trace that could arouse suspicion.

Cha Jiham: I’m not entirely sure what you’re referring to.

Yun Sola: I’m asking about your get-together with your friend yesterday.

At most, only about ten people knew that I had met Lee Ujin at the restaurant.

Yet somehow, Yun Sola had discovered it.

Cha Jiham: Have you been having me followed?

Yun Sola: I’m not some stalker.

Cha Jiham: Then how do you know so much?

Yun Sola: No one can hide from the Buddha. Get the hint?

Cha Jiham: Wow...

***

At that very same time.

Yoon Jongu, Chairman of Hangang Group, was receiving Park Yeongil and Kang Inhan, who had arrived early that morning.

”What brings you here so early?”

”I came to invite myself in for a cup of tea,” Park Yeongil replied with a dissatisfied expression as he sat down on the sofa and immediately launched his attack.

”Where did you get so much nerve?”

”Why are you picking a fight first thing in the morning?”

”Thanks to purchasing shares of Endivia and the Bongard Group, your company is about to make an enormous profit from capital gains. Remind me again—who was it that gave you that priceless investment information?”

Yoon Jongu finally understood why his old friend was grumbling.

Park Yeongil was openly demanding that I receive the compensation I deserved for providing the information.

”Tell me something,” Yoon Jongu said. ”Have you already paid our young specialist his share?”

”I personally invested eight billion dollars into Bongard Group stock. I promised him fifty percent of my entire net profit.”

”And you expect me to give him half of mine too?”

”That would be ideal. But you can follow the example of Clark Bongard and Michael Hudson and pay him at least thirty percent.”

”I was already planning to reward him at around that level.”

Park Yeongil nodded in satisfaction before turning to Song Dosok.

”How did the American stock market close?”

”Bongard Group shares surged by 43.3%, while Endivia gained 37.5%.”

”Hm. Why is Endivia lagging behind Bongard by more than five percent?”

”It appears Endivia’s shares had already been climbing strongly for quite some time, so their remaining upside was slightly lower.”

”That makes sense. When should we begin taking profits?”

”Should we call our analyst and ask him directly?” Song Dosok suggested.

”Why ask unnecessary questions? Of course, call him!”

”Hahaha. I’ll do it right away.”

With a faint smile, Song Dosok dialed my number.

***

After receiving permission to enter, I stepped into the chairman’s office and immediately felt uncomfortable.

Everyone was staring at me as though I were some rare animal in a zoo.

I quickly glanced over my clothes.

Everything was perfectly in order.

Unable to understand the strange atmosphere, I politely bowed to Yoon Jongu and the others before sitting down on the empty sofa.

The very next second, Park Yeongil narrowed his eyes with a sly smile.

”So, Cha Jiham... who exactly were you drinking with yesterday?”

Given the peculiar atmosphere filling the room, I decided it would be unwise to tell the complete truth.

”I happened to meet an old university friend, and we had a few drinks.”

”I know you’re shamelessly lying right now, but I’ll pretend I believe you.”

”...Thank you.”

However, Yoon Jongu clearly had no intention of letting the matter go.

”Cha Jiham, tell me. Who were you drinking with?”

”I’m sorry, Chairman, but that’s my private life, and I’d prefer to keep it confidential.”

”Fine. Then answer just one question. Was Isabella there too?”

The situation was becoming increasingly suspicious.

Yoon Jongu seemed strangely, almost excessively, concerned about Isabella.

What exactly was behind that?

While rapidly considering the possibilities, I answered calmly,

”No. She wasn’t there.”

”Very well. I’ll take your word for it.”

Yoon Jongu shot Park Yeongil an irritated glance before changing the subject.

”I’ve made my final decision. I’m giving you thirty percent of our total net investment profits.”

I had absolutely no intention of refusing such generosity.

After all, without my analysis, they would never have earned such an astronomical amount of money.

”Thank you very much for your extraordinary generosity, Chairman.”

”Tell me, Cha Jiham, have you ever heard of modesty? Why didn’t you at least pretend to refuse?”

His voice carried unmistakable traces of feigned irritation.

Even so, I decided to remain completely businesslike.

I knew better than anyone just how overwhelming the power of money could be.

”But even if I had refused, you would have paid me anyway, wouldn’t you?”

”Hah. I can’t argue with that. Alright, let’s get to the point. When should we begin selling our Endivia and Bongard Group shares?”

When Song Dosok had called me, I had already guessed this would be the topic of discussion and had prepared a clear strategy.

”Early this morning, Joel Graff, President Douglas’s closest adviser, arrived in Korea. I believe we should wait until his meeting with Chairman Bongard concludes, observe what actions the White House decides to take, and only then close our positions.”

”A reasonable approach. And what kind of final returns should we expect from both investments?”

”That depends entirely on the decisions President Douglas ultimately makes.”

”Explain your reasoning so everyone here understands.”

”For the joint venture to proceed smoothly, we absolutely need the support of the American administration. If Douglas takes a firm and favorable stance, Bongard Group shares could climb to 60-65%, while Endivia could rise to around 55-60%.”

”Hahaha!”

Yoon Jongu burst into hearty laughter.

Naturally, Park Yeongil and everyone else in the room also broke into broad smiles.

Once the laughter subsided, I continued.

”However, please remember that these figures are only my projections.”

”That goes without saying. By the way, what do you think about Hangang Electronics? How high can our stock go?”

”I’m afraid the establishment of this joint venture is actually bad news for Hangang Electronics, so I wouldn’t expect any further appreciation.”

”Bad news? Explain.”

”The rapid rise in Hangang Electronics’ stock price was driven by its major contract to supply high-bandwidth memory semiconductors to Endivia. But once the new joint venture begins operating at full capacity, Hangang Electronics will simply lose its key American customer.”

”I see...”

Yoon Jongu’s expression darkened as he silently agreed with my reasoning.

At that moment, Park Yeongil joined the conversation.

”So, Cha Jiham, are you saying Hangang Electronics shares are guaranteed to fall now?”

”I believe they’re more likely to stabilize around their current level and trade sideways.”

”And what’s your reasoning?”

”Hangang Electronics plans to sell its microchip manufacturing plants to the new joint venture. That means it will receive an enormous influx of cash. Such powerful financial liquidity will more than offset the negative impact and support the share price.”

”Hm... Your logic certainly makes sense.”

”There’s an old saying in the market: no one knows where a frog will jump or where the stock market will move. So my analysis could certainly prove to be wrong.”

Bzzz.

At that moment, Song Dosok’s phone vibrated again.

He immediately read the incoming message before calmly announcing to everyone present,

”Chairman Bongard and Endivia Chairman Michael Hudson will arrive at the company headquarters in exactly ten minutes.”