How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

”Did the sun rise in the west today or something?”

Because I was normally extremely punctual and energetic, I always arrived at the office early. But today, for the first time in a long while, I showed up noticeably late, prompting Deputy Manager Woo Changhun to tease me the moment he saw me.

”Yeah... that’s just how it turned out.”

”That’s one thing, but why do the bags under your eyes practically reach your chin?”

President Cho Myeongsu had used $15 billion from Korea Investment’s venture fund and another $15 billion from Chairman Park Yeongil’s personal assets to open short positions against Golden Health at $115 per share. Naturally, my own $3.6 billion was included in Chairman Park’s personal investment.

Nearly five trillion won of my own money was tied up betting against Golden Health.

How could anyone possibly sleep peacefully under those circumstances?

I had stayed awake all night watching Golden Health’s stock price until the U.S. market closed.

But no matter how close I was to Senior Manager Woo Changhun, there was no way I was going to tell him that.

”I just... had a lot on my mind.”

”Want to talk about it? You might feel better.”

At that moment, the office door opened and Yun Sola walked in.

Something was wrong.

Normally, she carried herself with confidence and determination. Even in the mornings, her steps were always brisk and energetic.

Today, however, she shuffled forward like an exhausted old woman.

And, ironically enough, she had the exact same horrifying dark circles hanging beneath her eyes that I did.

The moment everyone noticed her appearance, Woo Changhun and the rest of our department froze before simultaneously turning to stare at me.

”What? Don’t look at me. I had absolutely nothing to do with it.”

I immediately cut them off, instantly understanding the meaning behind those suspicious looks.

”Then why does our Sola look like someone drained the life out of her?” Woo Changhun persisted.

”How should I know? Ask her yourself.”

Woo Changhun turned toward Yun Sola, who collapsed into her chair with a weary groan.

”Sola, you don’t look like yourself today. Did something happen?”

The previous day, Yun Sola had obtained confidential information that Chairman Yoon Jongu intended to short Golden Health.

She had scraped together every last won of her savings and invested everything into short-selling as well.

When nearly all of your personal assets are riding on a single trade, sleeping becomes physically impossible.

But if she admitted that now, Cha Jiham would immediately realize who she really was.

This was the perfect opportunity for a harmless lie.

”I bought a new mattress, but it turned out to be terribly uncomfortable. I tossed and turned all night without getting any sleep.”

”And we’re supposed to believe that?” Woo Changhun asked skeptically.

”Mr. Woo, are you saying I’m lying?”

”No, I’m just saying Director Cha looks exactly the same.”

Yun Sola knew perfectly well why Cha Jiham had stayed awake all night.

All she could do now was play dumb.

”Really?... That can’t be.”

”Haha, relax. I was just joking.”

Ignoring his words, Yun Sola turned toward me.

”So what exactly were you doing last night to make everyone look at us like this?”

”My private life isn’t something I’m obligated to explain to you.”

”But what if...”

I could practically read her thoughts.

”I’ll say this in advance—it definitely isn’t what you’re thinking.”

”Hmm? And what exactly do you think I was thinking?”

”...”

”I’m kidding! Still, why do you look so awful?”

Bzzz! Bzzz!

Perfect timing.

The phone on my desk vibrated.

Grateful for the perfect excuse to escape the interrogation, I glanced at the screen.

It was Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong.

The reason for his call was obvious.

Picking up my phone, I quickly slipped into an empty meeting room.

”Commissioner.”

”Director Cha, we’ve successfully landed Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui at the port of San Diego in Nicaragua.”

”I understand. Do you think he’ll be able to make it back to China without any trouble?”

”According to our intelligence operatives, personnel from the Chinese embassy were already waiting for him at the port.”

”Then there shouldn’t be any problems. Were you able to collect payment from that bastard for saving his life?”

”Hahaha!”

The thunderous laughter coming through the phone answered my question.

”Please pass my sincere thanks to everyone at the National Intelligence Service for their excellent work.”

”Haha, I certainly will. Now, let’s change the subject for a moment. I heard you’ll be traveling to Macau soon. Mind telling me why?”

’Why do I suddenly have such a bad feeling that he’s about to dump another headache in my lap?’

My primary objectives in Macau were to eliminate the scam syndicate that had victimized Jang Seokcho and recover the enormous debt former K&J Bio CEO Go Yeongjun owed Korea Investment.

But explaining the first objective would take forever.

So I gave him only the official version.

”Commissioner, I’m sure you’re familiar with the K&J Bio case.”

”Of course.”

”We’ve received reliable intelligence that the fugitive Go Yeongjun is currently hiding in Macau.”

”I see. In that case, the police would like to participate in his capture.”

It sounded like Choi Dongyeong intended to claim part of the credit after we’d already done all the work.

”Twenty members of our security division are already in Macau pursuing Go Yeongjun. We don’t require police assistance at this stage.”

”Well... if that’s the case, I suppose there’s nothing I can do.”

”Commissioner, you know you should always listen until someone finishes speaking.”

”Hm? You mean...”

I understood immediately why he had hesitated.

”As soon as we’ve recovered every won he owes us, we’ll hand him over to you in one piece.”

”Oh, Director Cha, thank you very much!”

After hanging up, I walked back into the office.

Support Team Leader Heo Yeongjin beckoned me over.

I hurried over and bowed politely.

”Were you looking for me, Team Leader?”

He pointed upward with his index finger, indicating upper management.

”I just got a call from upstairs. They said you’re heading to Macau.”

”That’s right.”

”Preparing for an overseas business trip takes time. Finish whatever you’re working on, then head home early today and get some rest.”

The departure date hadn’t even been finalized yet.

Yet for some reason, Heo Yeongjin seemed determined to throw me out of the office immediately.

”I still have plenty of time. There’s no need to rush.”

He leaned closer and whispered quietly.

”The Chairman wants to see you. Thirty minutes from now.”

”Ah... now I understand. I’ll wrap things up and head over.”

***

”And why exactly did you drag me over here in the middle of the workday?”

Chairman Park Yeongil grumbled as he sat down across from Chairman Yoon Jongu.

”If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave.”

”What terrible manners you’ve developed in your old age... Secretary Song, tell me what was so urgent.”

Song Dosok stepped forward.

”Chairman, we invited you here to discuss an important matter concerning our venture fund.”

”Oh? What is it?”

”Director Cha’s workload has become overwhelming. It’s no longer realistic for him to handle everything alone. We’d like to appoint someone he completely trusts as the fund’s Vice President.”

”Hmm. I was actually considering promoting Director Cho to that position.”

Yoon Jongu interrupted.

”Park, are you sure Director Cho would even accept?”

”I’ve already sounded him out. He’s more than willing.”

”Excellent. Then what do you think about transferring Sola to the fund as well?”

”I’m not sure Director Cha would appreciate that.”

”We can’t let Tracy steal our Director Cha away.”

”What?! Are you saying Tracy wants to join the fund too?”

”I spoke with Chairman Clark Bongard. He confirmed that’s exactly what she intends to do.”

”Oh my...”

Knock. Knock.

While Park Yeongil was still shaking his head in disbelief, someone knocked on the door.

The secretary entered.

”Chairman, Director Cha has arrived.”

”Send him in. And bring us tea and coffee.”

After receiving permission, I entered the office.

As expected, Chairman Park Yeongil was already there.

I bowed politely to both men before taking my seat.

Yoon Jongu studied me carefully.

”Director Cha, you look half dead. Any particular reason?”

”I stayed up all night watching Golden Health’s stock.”

A minute later, the secretary returned with our drinks.

Trying to shake off the crushing fatigue, I emptied my iced coffee in several large gulps.

Park Yeongil looked at me sympathetically.

”Jiham, your health matters. You only get one body. You know what I’m trying to say, don’t you?”

”Of course, Chairman.”

”Good. Then let’s get to the point. Explain why you insisted so stubbornly on holding our short positions instead of closing them.”

I had originally set our profit target on Golden Health at 60 to 70 percent.

From the moment trading opened, the stock plunged.

Within just thirty minutes, it had fallen almost 60%.

Then bargain hunters stepped in, pushing it back to a 55% decline.

The stock hovered around that level afterward.

Growing nervous, Park Yeongil had immediately called me, insisting we close our positions and lock in our profits.

”It’s simple. Because we haven’t reached our target yet.”

”But a fifty-five percent profit is already incredible!”

”I see the situation differently, Chairman.”

Park Yeongil sighed deeply.

”You’re unbelievably stubborn.”

With that, he leaned back against the sofa.

Yoon Jongu immediately took over.

”Director Cha, what makes you so certain Golden Health’s stock will continue falling?”

”Chairman Gomez absolutely has to acquire Golden Health at the lowest possible price.”

Yoon Jongu immediately understood.

To push the price even lower, Gomez would have to open even more short positions.

When he asked what would happen next, I answered clearly.

”And not just Gomez. There’s an extremely high probability that Bongard Group will open additional short positions as well.”

”Bongard too?”

”Yes. Their profit target is eighty percent.”

”Then shouldn’t we also invest even more?”

I shook my head.

”Too many investors opened short positions last night. Today, Bongard and Gomez will enter with enormous amounts of capital. If we become too greedy, the total volume of short positions could actually exceed the company’s real outstanding shares.”

”Hmm... That makes sense.”

”To minimize every possible risk, I suggest the following. The moment we reach a sixty-five percent return, we close every position without hesitation.”

”Agreed. Should we notify Bongard and Gomez?”

”Please leave that to me.”

”Very well.”

”There’s something else. Commissioner Choi Dongyeong called me about thirty minutes ago.”

I honestly recounted my entire conversation with the Commissioner General.

”...In short, the commissioner collected a very generous payment from Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui.”

”Hahaha! Well done, Choi!”

”But he asked us to forget the entire incident ever happened.”

”Heard that, Park? That was directed at you.”

”And what exactly are you implying?” Park Yeongil snapped.

”As if you don’t know.”

”You old fool!”

Fortunately, the brewing argument between the two elderly titans was quickly defused by Song Dosok and Kang Inhan.

Once things calmed down, Yoon Jongu looked at me again.

”Director Cha, when do you plan to leave for Macau?”

”As soon as Director Glenn Nevers sends me the remaining documents.”

He meant the files on scam syndicate leader Jeong Sanhak and the fugitive former K&J Bio CEO Go Yeongjun.

”When did Director Nevers say he’d send them?”

”He didn’t give me an exact date.”

Bzzz! Bzzz!

As if on cue, my phone vibrated in my hand.

The caller ID displayed Director Glenn Nevers.

I nodded to everyone present before answering.

”Director Nevers.”

”Director Cha, I assume you already know why I’m calling.”

Something about his tone immediately put me on guard.

Despite his intimidating appearance, Glenn Nevers usually spoke warmly.

Now his voice was icy cold.

’Did the FBI somehow discover that Korean intelligence and the police secretly extracted and released Vice Chairman Chen?’

Suppressing the uneasiness rising in my chest, I answered as calmly as possible.

”Yes, of course.”

”We still haven’t found any trace of Go Yeongjun from K&J Bio. However, we’ve completely uncovered the true identity of the man known as Jeong Sanhak.”

”And who is he really?”

”His real name is Jeong Sancheol. And he’s a citizen of North Korea.”

”Hmm... That’s exactly what I expected.”

”Oh? You suspected he was North Korean?” Curiosity crept into Nevers’ voice.

”Jang Seokcho mentioned that the man spoke with a very unusual accent. That made me suspicious from the beginning.”

”Excellent intuition, Director Cha. We verified him through our own channels. This Jeong Sancheol is an active Major General in North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau.”