Chapter 142: A Line in the Sand

The three men who came to the office seemed unsure where to look, their gazes darting around the room.

Drawn by the name ‘Miracle,’ their curiosity was evident, though they remained uncertain about the purpose of the meeting.

“Greetings. I’m Jin Do-jun.”

As he handed over his business card, the eyes of one of the three sharpened.

“Are you perhaps the Chairman’s… ?”

“That’s right. The one and only Jin Do-jun,” he confirmed with a chuckle.

He wasn’t sure how much they knew, but the mere fact that he was a third-generation heir seemed to make them nervous. The scion of the conglomerate was seeking them out – they were likely weighing whether this was an opportunity or a looming crisis.

“So, what brings you here to see us?”

Meeting their curious gazes, Jin Do-jun began to speak.

“If you’re looking to pledge your loyalty, I’m offering you a spot by my side.”

His blunt words shifted their expressions.

“I’ve heard you gentlemen are discreet. So, let me be frank.”

He slid the prepared documents across the table.

“If you agree to my one condition, this contract becomes effective immediately. Take a look.”

Before he’d even finished speaking, they were poring over the papers.

They scrutinized every word, their facial muscles twitching.

It was clear they wanted to cheer or burst into laughter, but were holding back.

“Like what you see?” Jin Do-jun asked.

Composing themselves, one of them cautiously responded.

“Miracle is currently a top-tier investment firm, and the US headquarters is the same. But we haven’t heard of recruitments with such extraordinary terms.”

“Since you’re being frank, could you explain why you’re making such an unbelievable offer? And what exactly is this one condition you mentioned?”

An annual salary of one billion won, incentives on top of that, and guaranteed employment for at least five years regardless of performance.

Five years of work would net them more money than most people earned in a lifetime, provided they fulfilled this one unknown condition.

“I understand you’re advising my aunt, President Jin Seo-yoon. Ah, don’t look so surprised. I’m well aware it’s supposed to be a secret.”

The three men pressed their lips together. Jin Seo-yoon’s warning likely flashed through their minds – her threat to make sure they couldn’t get a foothold in the industry. The secret was out.

“It sounded a lot like a threat, actually. But my aunt’s influence doesn’t extend to this company. And unlike me, she won’t guarantee your futures like this. Am I wrong?”

“That’s why we need to know the condition. That will determine whether we align ourselves with you or stay on President Jin’s good side.”

“The condition is simple. Ensure that President Jin Seo-yoon never sells her shares in New Data Technology.”

“Never sell…?”

“Exactly. I need you to make sure she remains a shareholder of that company forever.”

These men had spent over a decade navigating the treacherous waters of Yeouido. They knew the company’s stock price was treading on thin ice, ready to plummet at any moment.

To have her hold onto those shares indefinitely meant incurring massive losses.

This wasn’t about internal politics or choosing a side within the company; it was about pledging allegiance to a member of the founding family. Their expressions hardened. Wasn’t this tantamount to lying to Jin Seo-yoon and betraying her?

“Why are you so surprised? People lose money on stocks all the time. Many of your own clients have probably lost everything by trusting your advice, haven’t they?”

“But advising someone to hold onto a stock that’s guaranteed to fall is… a bit much.”

“Are you close with her?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m asking if you’re close with President Jin Seo-yoon. How long have you known her? If I recall correctly, you’ve only met her once.”

The word ‘betrayal’ felt out of place.

Their relationship was merely being strong-armed by someone with power. There was no real basis for the concept of betrayal.

“For people who work in such a cutthroat environment, your grasp of the situation and decision-making skills are rather lacking. Or have you been barely scraping by, cleverly concealing your incompetence?”

His pointed words stung their pride, and their annoyance was clear. But as the Chairman’s kin, they could only seethe silently.

“This isn’t about choosing the path that leads to success. It’s about choosing the path that prevents your downfall. Do you understand?”

They understood his meaning.

The nephew was pushing his aunt into a corner. If they refused, the nephew would come after them with knives drawn.

Ultimately, they needed to choose the person who could shield them. And Jin Do-jun wasn’t just offering a shield, but a carpet of cash. The choice of which side to align with was obvious, assuming they weren’t fools.

“We understand perfectly, but how can you guarantee this?”

“Guarantee what?”

“That you’ll hire us under these terms even if President Jin Seo-yoon fires us?”

“Can you guarantee she won’t sell the stock and holds onto it?”

His scoff was immediately met with a counter.

“We may not be able to make our clients money on stocks, but we sure as hell can make them lose it. I thought you knew that.”

They were confirming their commitment and their willingness to stand by him. Now, he needed to offer his reassurance.

“Actually, I also own 300,000 shares of New Data Technology. Your five-year salaries are pocket change to me.”

“Thr-three hundred thousand…!”

The stock price was well over 200,000 won. That was 60 billion won in stock alone. Their combined five-year salaries of 15 billion won were indeed nothing in comparison.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what price did you buy them at?”

“I put in 500 million won when it was listed.”

A collective gasp filled the room.

“You bought in at the initial offering price… That’s incredible.”

“How did you hold onto them? The fluctuations must have been enormous… Weren’t you tempted to sell when it dropped?”

He couldn’t reveal the truth to their surprised faces, so he gave an answer that would deflate their egos.

“Losing 500 million is nothing. If you can stomach a little risk, you can make tens, hundreds of billions. Why would I sell?”

A mix of resentment and envy flashed across their faces.

The audacity of the wealthy to call 500 million won ‘nothing’.

That very nonchalance was what allowed the rich to accumulate even more wealth.

They couldn’t deny their envy, as frustrating as it was.

It was time to wrap things up.

His final words, like his aunt’s, carried a veiled threat.

“I expect you to deliver as promised. If things go south, you’ll find out I’m even more ruthless than President Jin Seo-yoon.”

One of them, having listened to his veiled threat with a grim expression, cautiously spoke.

“Just one question. Why are you pushing President Jin into this pit?”

“Let’s just call it a minor family squabble.”

Perhaps ‘minor’ was an understatement for such a cruel act.

* * *

He sold all his shares when the price hit 250,000 won. Of course, he wasn’t foolish enough to issue a massive sell order all at once.

The company’s investment of 3 billion won had ballooned to 500 billion, and his personal investment of 500 million had grown to 80 billion.

Oh Se-hyun only made 16 billion won, but never once showed regret or envy. It seemed he wanted to embody the true professional who forgets about a stock the moment it’s sold.

Who knew if he was secretly kicking himself for missing out when he was alone.

For about a week, the stock price stubbornly hovered just below 300,000 won, unable to break through. It briefly crossed that threshold intraday, but couldn’t sustain it.

After that week, it began its descent, plummeting to the daily lower limit like a crashing airplane.

Yeouido, which should have been buzzing with excitement for the approaching millennium, was shrouded in gloom. Amidst it all, the sound of New Data Technology collapsing echoed like thunder.

In just over three months, the stock had surged nearly seventy-fold, triggering a frenzy in brokerage branches urging clients to ‘sell everything and buy New Data.’ Consequently, the KOSDAQ index, which stood at a mere 145.50, soared by 82.8% to 266.00 in three months.

It even led to the saying, ‘The chicken (KOSDAQ) ate the cow (KOSPI).’

When the stock price exceeded 300,000 won, the KOSDAQ index also climbed to 292.55, and most analysts predicted it would easily break the 300 mark.

However, after the stock price plummeted to 150,000 won, it failed to mount any significant rebound and eventually settled back in the ten-thousand-won range. The ‘goldmine’ had turned into ‘worthless paper’.

The media, which had once lauded it as the next generation of technology, now dismissed it as a pipe dream. They began to criticize the company itself, arguing that ‘the venture didn’t act like a venture and instead resembled the chaebols they were supposed to overcome’.

Even more absurdly, Lee Sang-soo, once hailed as the Bill Gates of Korea, was now portrayed as a notorious scammer, with tabloids even publishing interviews with his alleged hostess from a room salon.

As hundreds of thousands wept over their lost savings, the media was busy preparing scapegoats to appease their anger.

Everyone knew the stock price was abnormal, but not a single media outlet sternly rebuked the collective descent into speculative mania.

Defeated greed breeds despair, despair breeds anger, and anger seeks an outlet.

Jin Seo-yoon followed the same predictable path.

Her 140 billion won dwindled to less than 10 billion, plunging her into despair.

She had 140 billion won due before the end of the year. She couldn’t hold out any longer. If the year turned over, the department store tenants would not stand idly by, and it could lead to lawsuits and accusations.

She couldn’t accept that this despair was her own doing.

“Director Im! When are those bastards getting here? Didn’t I tell you to bring them here quickly?!”

“P-President, please calm down…”

“Calm down? How can I calm down? What are you doing?!”

“I can’t reach them. They aren’t answering their phones and haven’t come to work.”

It wasn’t just the three from Soonyang Securities. Since the collapse of New Data Technology, more than a truckload of people had vanished from Yeouido.

“Those bastards…! Find them. Use any means necessary – contact the National Police Agency, ask the prosecution for help, anything!”

Director Im could only stare blankly as Jin Seo-yoon started throwing things.

It wouldn’t be difficult for the Soonyang Group to find those three men, but the money was already gone. Recovering it was impossible.

Right now, she needed to figure out how to fill the gaping financial hole. Shouldn’t her top priority be going to Chairman Jin or meeting with Oh Se-hyun of Miracle to secure the necessary funds?

This wasn’t the time for hysterics.

Feeling Director Im’s pitying gaze, Jin Seo-yoon forced herself to calm down. She wasn’t stupid. There was only one place she could secure hundreds of billions of won right now.

She couldn’t even bring herself to ask Oh Se-hyun. Asking a creditor for more money would only risk her collateral.

In times like these, only blood relatives could be relied upon.

“Get the car ready. We’re going to Pyeongchang-dong. Right now!”

Seeing Jin Seo-yoon speak into the intercom, Director Im finally let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

It seemed his boss hadn’t completely lost her mind.

To Chairman Jin, 140 billion won was pocket change.

Jin Seo-yoon could get away with a loan by kneeling, begging, and enduring a stern scolding.

Putting out the immediate fire relied on family bonds.