Chapter 32: However, Even So, You’ll Fail

To take Yang Sobo’s place.

Those words meant that I would have to join hands with Jeong Tae-soo — the man who was like the darkness of my life — and carry out this task together.

Fate truly had a twisted sense of humor. Who would’ve thought it would come full circle like this.

A cold rage surged up from deep within my chest, but I forced myself to stay composed as I asked,

“Then… will this operation be carried out with Deputy Chief Jeong Tae-soo?”

Yang Sobo nodded.

“Jeong will be the one to lead and direct the operation himself. But we can’t fully trust that sly fox, can we? We need someone reliable to keep an eye on him — and that’s the role I intend to give you.”

So it was my fate to be tangled with Jeong Tae-soo no matter what. I swallowed a bitter laugh.

To get my revenge, I had to get close to him — but this wasn’t how I wanted it to happen.

“Understood. Actually, I already have a plan in mind.”

“Truly? Let’s hear it, then.”

I explained the plan I had thought out for quite some time. As I spoke about the market’s movements and my short-selling strategy, Yang Sobo occasionally nodded along.

His eyes grew increasingly serious, and at times, they even glimmered with admiration. When I finished, he nodded with satisfaction.

“Deputy Chief Jeong will be arriving shortly. I’ll formally introduce you then.”

“……”

At the unexpected news of his visit, I couldn’t help but lose control of my expression for an instant. My facial muscles stiffened ever so slightly — a crack in the mask.

Of course, Yang Sobo’s sharp eyes didn’t miss it.

“Baek, every time the topic of Deputy Chief Jeong comes up, your expression darkens. Is there something I should know about?”

“……No, sir. It’s just that his impression when we first met was so intense that I must’ve reacted unconsciously.”

I hastily regained my composure and made an excuse.

Yang Sobo still looked at me with suspicion as he said,

“If this is about what happened in Cheongnyangni, don’t worry too much. Deputy Chief Jeong isn’t the kind of man to hold a grudge over something so trivial.”

‘Trivial, huh…’

I laughed inwardly. That “trivial matter,” as he called it, was the very thing that had thrown my entire life off course.

“Yes, sir. I’ll keep that in mind.”

But I couldn’t afford to expose my weakness in front of Yang Sobo. I forced down my emotions and answered calmly.

He changed the subject, slowly tracing the rim of his teacup with his finger as he spoke in an indifferent tone.

“About sending your younger brother to America… it seems we’ll have to wait a bit longer. Handling paperwork for both Taiwan and the U.S. will take quite some time.”

“I understand, sir.”

A short silence followed before Yang Sobo’s voice turned cold.

“But… Yeong came to me and said something strange.”

So it had come at last. I exhaled a short sigh inwardly.

“Did she ask to be sent to America together with Min-soo?”

“You knew?”

“I heard it from Min-soo yesterday. He said Yang Yeong wanted to go with him.”

“I’m sure I warned you before. If she’s thinking of your brother as her partner…”

Yang Sobo raised an eyebrow. His suddenly cold voice carried a warning. I cut him off firmly.

“I have never harbored such a thought, sir. But the heart… doesn’t always follow reason.”

Min-soo and Yang Yeong — a relationship that hadn’t existed in the future I remembered.

Even I couldn’t know what kind of feelings the two might come to have for each other. Who was I to predict or stop the course of human hearts?

Still, if Min-soo sincerely wished for it, I wanted to grant it.

“No matter how much Yeong insists, I have no intention of sending her to America.”

His tone was resolute — a command, not an opinion. There was no room for argument.

This wasn’t something I could persuade him of now.

Only Yang Yeong herself could continue to shake his heart until he changed his mind.

“Yes. Yeong’s future is for you to decide, sir. I only ask that Min-soo be sent safely to America.”

“Surprising. For someone who’d do anything for his brother, you’re giving up rather easily.”

“I thought this wasn’t something you’d accept, no matter how much I begged.”

“At least you know your place.”

A faint smirk curved on Yang Sobo’s lips.

At that moment, Zhang Wei’s voice came from outside.

“Master, Deputy Chief Jeong Tae-soo has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

The heavy office door opened, and Jeong Tae-soo entered with a middle-aged man I hadn’t seen before.

“Deputy Chief Jeong, welcome.”

Yang Sobo rose to greet him.

I quickly stood as well, stepping aside and bowing slightly toward Jeong Tae-soo — but I didn’t raise my eyes.

My body might show him courtesy, but my soul would never bow to that man.

Jeong Tae-soo’s gaze slid over me like a snake.

Even that look alone made my skin crawl with discomfort.

“So, his presence here means… he’ll be leading this operation, Master?”

“He’ll be taking command on my behalf.”

“Hm…”

Jeong Tae-soo swallowed, rubbing his chin in mild dissatisfaction.

I raised my head and looked quietly at him — and the man standing beside him.

‘Dan Tae-geon.’

He had once been Jeong Tae-soo’s financier — one of his most trusted henchmen who handled all his dirty work. So they were already tied together, even back then.

“President Dan, isn’t it? Been a while.”

Yang Sobo recognized him immediately. Dan Tae-geon bowed hastily.

“It’s been a long time, Master.”

“Haha, I didn’t expect to see you again like this. How’s business these days?”

“Thanks to you, sir, it’s going well enough.”

“I hear you’ve been focusing more on money-lending than business lately. Word is, you’re a hidden powerhouse in Myeong-dong.”

“Hardly, sir. Compared to you, I’m nothing but a small fry.”

At Dan Tae-geon’s humble reply, Yang Sobo nodded lightly.

“Let’s all sit down.”

Jeong Tae-soo took the seat opposite Yang Sobo, and Dan Tae-geon and I each sat to the sides.

The air in the room grew taut with tension once more.

“So, may I take it that you’ve decided to accept my proposal?”

Yang Sobo was the first to break the silence.

Jeong Tae-soo answered with a confident smile.

“Yes. I’ve decided to accept your offer.”

“Seems you’ve already gotten permission, then.”

There was a subtle hint of mockery in Yang Sobo’s tone.

But Jeong Tae-soo only offered a leisurely smile instead of answering. It was a silent show that he had already obtained approval from higher-ups.

“So what do you intend to do from here?”

“Before that, I would like to hear the Master’s thoughts.”

“Well, isn’t it enough for you to just prepare the money? The concrete plan should naturally be made by Deputy Chief Jeong.”

Even at Jeong Tae-soo’s question, Yang Sobo did not answer readily.

Yang Sobo was testing Jeong Tae-soo now. He was gauging whether Jeong had the ability to work with him.

If it were the Jeong Tae-soo I knew, he would already be drawing the same picture as Yang Sobo. But that sly man would never reveal his cards first.

“Of course I will make the plan. But this game cannot even begin without the Master’s funds and information power. Therefore I think the proper order is to hear the Master’s conception first, and then align my plan to it.”

“Haha, Deputy Chief Jeong is quite prudent.”

Yang Sobo’s mouth smiled, but his eyes did not.

After a short silence, Yang Sobo unexpectedly turned his head toward me.

“Baek.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Explain it on my behalf. What we intend to do from here.”

I was momentarily taken aback by the sudden order, but I quickly recovered my composure. This, too, was likely another of Yang Sobo’s tests.

Jeong Tae-soo and Dan Tae-geon’s gazes turned to me simultaneously.

Especially in Dan Tae-geon’s eyes there was blatant suspicion and disdain — an expression that seemed to say, what could a rookie possibly know?

“All of the market’s attention is focused on Daegung stock. Since the rights offering announcement, the fervor has been almost madness. Everyone is desperate to buy Daegung stock, and the price has soared to the heavens.”

I paused briefly and looked around at the three men. Yang Sobo remained expressionless, and Jeong Tae-soo watched me with interest.

Only Dan Tae-geon still wore a displeased look.

“But that rights offering will fail.”

“Hahaha! My goodness. Maybe you’re young and ignorant. Do you really think that’s possible? Right now the people willing to participate in the rights offering are everywhere on the Myeong-dong scene.”

As if waiting for the cue, Dan Tae-geon interjected. I was not surprised and answered without hesitation.

“Yes. I know. But even so, it will fail.”

“Huh… Master, do we have to keep listening to this?”

Upon hearing my confident words, Dan Tae-geon’s expression shifted subtly. He openly voiced his displeasure to Yang Sobo.

Yang Sobo’s cold gaze turned toward Dan Tae-geon.

“I said let him speak.”

Startled by the icy response, Dan Tae-geon flinched, yet he did not stop voicing his complaint.

“No, Master. Isn’t that nonsense?”

“Why do you think it’s nonsense?”

“Daegung’s price is 48 hwan now, while the price set for the rights offering is only 18 hwan. Not participating in that would be the act of a fool!”

“That’s true on the surface.”

Dan Tae-geon dared to raise his voice in front of Yang Sobo.

This was, of course, contempt for me. Even though he had been told I represented Yang Sobo, he judged only by appearance.

I swallowed a sneer and, on Yang Sobo’s behalf, replied calmly.

“But that is the story of Seoul, and of those with access to certain information. The volume to be released through this rights offering is beyond imagination. Is there enough capital and demand in the entire market to absorb that volume?”

Park Jeong-ho and the manipulation faction following him would not participate in the rights offering.

They had already reaped enormous capital gains and intended to offload the volume onto retail investors through the rights offering.

In the end, that enormous volume would be dumped onto ordinary investors through a public offering, and the result would be catastrophe. Nothing but catastrophe.

“Park Jeong-ho and the stock-manipulation faction will not participate in this rights offering.”

“What is that….”

As Dan Tae-geon tried to object, Jeong Tae-soo raised his hand to stop him.

“Judge after you hear it. You stay quiet, President Dan.”

Dan Tae-geon bit his lip after Jeong Tae-soo’s rebuke. His face plainly showed his displeasure.

“May I continue?”

When I asked Jeong Tae-soo, he nodded.

“The new share subscription rights corresponding to Park Jeong-ho’s massive holdings will be solicited to ordinary investors. And that will be the signal that the bubble is about to burst.”

“Why do you think so?”

Jeong asked in a low voice.

“Park Jeong-ho has already been delivering the enormous gains he earned through regular trading to the KCIA as political funds. When money drains like that, he will have less cash on hand than expected. Under such circumstances, could he possibly have the capacity to participate in the rights offering?”

Jeong Tae-soo’s brow furrowed slightly. My words seemed to have touched a nerve.

“Ordinary investors will think this: ‘If there were truly no problem, the major shareholders would not fail to participate in the rights offering.’ But Park Jeong-ho’s Daegung holdings exceed fifty percent of the market’s total volume. Once it becomes known that that tremendous volume will be released to ordinary investors, the market will immediately fall into panic.”

“So then you propose buying the shares at rock-bottom prices at that time?”

Dan Tae-geon cut in again. He seemed quite bothered by the way Yang Sobo and Jeong Tae-soo were focusing on me.

“No. By then it will already be too late. What we will do is short-sell by exploiting a loophole in the regular trading system.”

“Short-sell? What on earth is that?”

Dan Tae-geon asked as if he had never heard the term.

“I’m curious too. What is it?”

Jeong Tae-soo also showed interest. It was a natural reaction; the term would sound unfamiliar to anyone not versed in the field.

“It’s simple. Without physical share certificates, you continuously flood the market with sell orders through regular trading.”

“So you continuously place sell orders through regular trading… hence ‘gongmaedo (空賣渡).’”

Jeong Tae-soo murmured my words over.

Every time I answered Jeong Tae-soo’s questions, a surge of anger rose inside me, but I did not show it.

“Deputy Chief, theoretically it’s possible. But in a situation where buying momentum is exploding like now, if anything goes wrong, it could backfire — a very dangerous operation.”

Dan Tae-geon stepped in again to emphasize the operational risks.

He had a nose for money; he immediately sensed the danger.

At that moment, Yang Sobo, who had remained silent, spoke. His voice was low and composed, but the weight behind it was extraordinary.

“I will provide all the funds for the operation. However….”

Yang Sobo deliberately trailed off and looked at Jeong Tae-soo. Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“Do you mean to split the profits?”

“No. Return only the principal. I do not ask for more. In return, I want Park Jeong-ho and Kim Jin-ho never to see the light of day on this land again.”

The way he said it — calmly — made it all the more chilling.

Yang Sobo’s aim was not merely to make money. It was a brutal retribution against traitors. That was what he desired most.

A satisfied smile spread across Jeong Tae-soo’s mouth as his gaze met Yang Sobo’s.

“So the Master is not interested in crumbs.”

“That’s right. My objective is solely the punishment of Park Jeong-ho and Kim Jin-ho. Can you, Deputy Chief, handle it so that I am satisfied?”

Yang Sobo’s desire for their downfall and Jeong Tae-soo’s interest in money aligned.

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