The Regressed Vault Keeper Took It All

Chapter 18: So, This Is How It Ends Up Flowing

At my words, Cha Sang-woo showed a troubled expression.

“Your younger brother?”

“Yes. His health is still not good enough to travel long distances. But once he has recovered enough, I plan to send him to America.”

“……That won’t be an easy thing.”

In this period, leaving the country itself was absolutely not an easy matter.

No, Min-soo and I hadn’t even been issued resident IDs yet, meaning we didn’t even exist on paper—so it was entirely impossible.

In other words, Cha Sang-woo’s suggestion meant that he would create an identity under his own authority and then take him abroad in the form of studying overseas.

“I am aware. I also know how good an opportunity the Chairman’s proposal is.”

“Well now, so you do.”

Cha Sang-woo could not hide the lingering regret in his tone.

“I have things to do in Korea. But for my younger brother, I want him to see a wider world. If by chance he does go to America, please offer him even the smallest help.”

“Very well. If your younger brother comes to America, I will help in whatever way I can.”

“Thank you.”

“And if by any chance…… you change your mind, do contact me anytime.”

Still looking regretful, he pulled out a small slip of paper from his breast pocket and handed it to me.

Written on it, in neat handwriting, were an American address and telephone number.

I carefully accepted it, placing it close to my chest, and smiled.

“Yes, I’ll keep it safe.”

“You won’t even ask what it is?”

“Isn’t it an address and telephone number? I can find out the details of the location later.”

“Haha, that’s true as well. If you call around 10 a.m. Korea time, someone should be able to receive it. Of course, at present, making an international call is not so easy.”

Just as he said, international calls were still a distant matter for ordinary people.

Still, someday it might prove very useful.

The more cards one had to play, the better.

Cha Sang-woo rose from his seat and extended his hand.

“I’m leaving the country tomorrow. Please…… take care of your health.”

I also stood up and grasped his hand.

His grip was still straight and firm.

“Yes, I also wish the Chairman good health. I hope we can meet again in better circumstances.”

What kind of butterfly effect today’s meeting would bring in the future—only time would tell.

I decided to focus solely on my plans.

The market moved as expected.

The sudden resignation of Chairman Cha Sang-woo delivered tremendous shock and confusion to the securities world.

The remaining board members, as if they had been waiting, hastily rushed to explain that Cha Sang-woo’s remarks were nothing more than a personal outburst, not the official stance of the board.

They even went a step further, declaring that with the enforcement of the Securities Transaction Law in April, they would abolish all regulations, fueling the greed of the market.

The speculative frenzy that had been dying down was now ready to ignite again, becoming an uncontrollable inferno.

---

Outside the window, the Korea Securities Exchange was regaining its previous madness, as though nothing had happened.

But inside the office, the air was heavy, weighed down by the aftermath of the fierce buying battle over the past few days.

Kang Cheol-min, Yoon Ji-seong, Ma Dong-jin.

On their faces, there was an unmistakable exhaustion from executing the operation day and night without rest.

I stood before the table and looked around at them.

“You’ve all worked hard.”

It was short but heartfelt comfort.

“Now, it’s time to confirm the results of your efforts.”

I immediately returned to the cold voice of a commander.

Despite their fatigue, the three pairs of eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Report, begin.”

First, Kang Cheol-min, who had led the on-site operations, opened his mouth.

“As instructed, we focused all efforts on buying physical Daegung stock for three trading days right after former Chairman Cha Sang-woo’s press conference. As expected, a flood of panic-selling came pouring out, and……”

Even in his voice, there still lingered the tension of the suffocating war-like days over the past three days.

“Just from your explanation, I can imagine how intense it must have been. You truly did well.”

I praised his effort with a light smile.

A faint sense of relief flickered across his face.

Following him, Yoon Ji-seong, who had been in charge of data analysis, began his report.

“We carried out the purchases below the price point of 2 hwan 50 jeon that we had set. However, there was an unexpected variable. At least two other forces, besides us, entered the buying at the same time. They too aggressively absorbed shares above the 2 hwan level.”

At Yoon Ji-seong’s report, I slightly furrowed my brow.

Of course, I had expected other operation forces to jump in, but……

“Two forces, you say?”

“Yes, at the very least two, from what I can confirm.”

“Have you identified them?”

“One side, certainly.”

Adjusting his glasses, Yoon Ji-seong continued.

“It was confirmed that securities firms directly connected to President Park Jeong-ho, along with Kim Jin-ho’s side, were the ones moving.”

As expected.

Just as I thought.

Park Jeong-ho and Kim Jin-ho would desperately buy in, preventing the market from collapsing so that the game wouldn’t end before it even began.

But the other force? For a moment, one name flashed through my mind.

‘Jeong Tae-soo…….

Has he already begun moving?’

I tried to recall.

Jeong Tae-soo was the man who, after watching this securities storm from behind the scenes, intervened at the last moment and reaped the greatest benefit.

But the exact timing and method—I did not know.

At that time, I had been in the facility.

If he was already moving directly, this could become a far greater variable than expected.

“Look into the other force a bit more. But don’t push yourselves.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Yoon Ji-seong replied carefully.

Even if Jeong Tae-soo had stepped in, he still couldn’t overturn the entire board just yet.

I brushed aside my unease and finally turned to Ma Dong-jin, who was in charge of funds.

He opened a thick ledger and pointed to a specific part so I could see.

“I’ll report the final results, including both previously secured shares and this round’s additional purchases.

Total capital invested: 43 million hwan.

Total number of physical Daegung stock shares secured: 16,565,217.”

At his words, the eyes of Kang Cheol-min and Yoon Ji-seong widened once more.

Nearly 17 million shares.

Roughly 1.3% of Daegung stock’s total issued 1.2 billion shares.

Securing such a massive amount, and that too in such a short time and relatively quietly, was nothing short of a miracle.

I alternated between the ledger and him, before asking the question that concerned me most.

“What’s the average purchase price?”

“We completed purchases at an average of around 2 hwan 60 jeon per share.”

2 hwan 60 jeon! Better than I expected.

It was the perfect result of turning the market’s fear to our advantage.

Unable to hide his excitement, Kang Cheol-min added,

“Because of the other buying forces, competition got intense—we nearly ended up with a higher unit price. But even so, at this level, it’s really……”

It was a good buy.

I could guess the rest of his words, left unsaid in his excitement.

“No. This is excellent. Far better than I expected.”

I turned again to Ma Dong-jin.

“How much operating capital remains?”

“After the additional buying, the exact remaining amount is 1,027,800 hwan.”

Minimum operating expense, about 1 million hwan.

Everything had fit together perfectly, just as planned.

I looked around at the three men with a satisfied smile.

“You’ve truly all worked hard. Thanks to you, we secured a sufficient amount of stock at a very good price.”

Now, all that was left was to wait in the calm before the storm struck.

I then made them an unexpected proposal.

“Out of the remaining operating funds, divide 100,000 hwan among the three of you as compensation, and give another 100,000 hwan as bonuses to the personnel mobilized in this buying operation.”

The three of them looked at me with expressions full of surprise.

In this era, especially in such secret operations, distributing performance-based pay was almost unheard of.

“T-that’s far too much! We only……”

Kang Cheol-min tried to refuse in embarrassment, but I raised my hand to stop him.

“It’s only natural to be rewarded according to the effort you put in. More importantly, since we have bigger tasks ahead, we need to boost morale.”

This was clearly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, but it was never something I could have achieved alone.

It had only been possible thanks to the dedication of capable team members.

“Starting next month, things will get much busier than now. So rest well while you can.”

At my words, the three no longer refused and instead looked at me with eyes full of gratitude.

In their gaze, there was now far more goodwill and trust than before.

Indeed, tangible rewards proved far more effective than mere words of encouragement.

Receiving those looks, I reviewed my plans in my mind.

Their part of the work was done, but mine was not.

---

A few days later, I visited the Myeong-dong Korea Securities Exchange again.

The closer I got to the building, the louder grew the voices of people, filled with madness.

Around the building, shady-eyed loan sharks and illegal dollar traders loitered.

Looks like they had all sniffed out the smell of money and crawled out.

The moment I stepped across the exchange’s threshold, a scorching wave of heat and noise, unlike anything before, engulfed me.

“Daegung stock! 5 hwan! I’ll take it even at 5 hwan!”

“I should’ve bought yesterday! It’s 6 hwan now! Nobody’s selling!”

“KEPCO stock is twitching again. We should get in now!”

The resignation of Cha Sang-woo and the announcement of regulation abolition seemed to have burned away the people’s very last shred of reason.

Sellers had completely vanished from the market, and only those desperate to climb aboard this runaway train of frenzy were left screaming.

The trading hall was packed shoulder to shoulder, with no room to step.

Shouts exploding everywhere, faces flushed with excitement, bundles of documents flying back and forth without rest……

If the previous chaos had stemmed from fear, the present turmoil was nothing short of a mad festival boiling over with greed.

‘So, in the end, it flows this way.’

In people’s eyes, only blind desire burned.

The yearning for instant wealth had dragged everyone into this irrational gambling den—from old men who had scraped together their entire fortunes to students in school uniforms, regardless of age or gender.

‘Is this frenzy a natural phenomenon, or merely an illusion born of human greed……. Either way, the end is already determined.’

As Daegung stock supply disappeared, people’s money began to pour into Korea United Securities Finance, so-called Yeonjeung stock.

“Yeonjeung stock! 3 hwan! I’ll buy it at 3 hwan!”

“Me too, Yeonjeung stock! Put in an order at 3 hwan 10 jeon!”

Daegung stock, Yeonjeung stock, and occasionally KEPCO stock.

The entire market’s money was concentrated unnaturally into just these three.

Most other listed stocks were tightly held by institutions and the government, so the speculative funds of private investors had only a limited number of places to flow.

I deliberately held in my hand some Daegung stock certificates I had bought earlier in front of Park Jeong-ho, while putting on a clueless expression and looking around.

Then, I slowly made my way toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

But unlike before, two burly men stood firmly blocking the entrance to the stairs.

Their sharp eyes scanned me up and down.

The slightly older-looking one snarled.

Perhaps because of my young-looking appearance, his voice carried an openly overbearing tone from the start.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I have business on the second floor. Is it off limits now?”

I asked innocently, and the man dismissively shoved me with his hand.

“Get lost. This isn’t a place for a brat like you to wander in. The second floor isn’t for just anyone.”

I stepped back a few paces, pretending to shrink back, and glanced up at the second-floor balcony.

As expected.

Just as I thought, there sat Park Jeong-ho, watching the madness below with a relaxed expression, and beside him stood Manager Choi Min-jun.

A satisfied smile played at the corners of Park Jeong-ho’s lips.

It was the look of confidence, certain that everything was going exactly according to his plan.

Just then, his eyes met mine.

His brows lifted slightly in surprise, then quickly shifted into an intrigued expression as he recognized me.

“Hey! Young man over there! You’re Baek Min-woo, right? Come on up here.”

Even amidst the noisy clamor of the trading floor, Park Jeong-ho’s voice rang out particularly loudly.

I widened my eyes in feigned surprise at the unexpected call, staring back at him.

‘As expected, he would call for me.’

I fixed my gaze firmly on the men blocking the stairs.

Hearing Park Jeong-ho’s summons, the two exchanged glances, then reluctantly stepped aside after clearing their throats.

“Well, well, turns out you were President Park’s guest. You should’ve said so earlier. Almost made us look bad.”

Not a single apology, just holding onto their pride until the end—I let out a silent laugh inside.

I passed by them lightly and headed toward the table where Park Jeong-ho and Choi Min-jun waited.

Still wearing that composed smile, Park Jeong-ho greeted me.

“So, I hear you enjoyed your trip to Namsan?”

His first question was no surprise.

In his gaze was an intention that was far more than casual—he was clearly testing me.

He must have already heard about Yang Sobo summoning Kim Jin-ho and reprimanding him.