The Regressed Vault Keeper Took It All

Chapter 8: Big Games Are Originally Gambles You Stake Your Life On

The night at Chungmuro 1-ga was boiling with brilliant lights and the rowdiness of drunkards.

A step away from that noise.

A bar with a signboard that read ‘Carnegie Hall.’

In the innermost chamber of that building, conversations as secretive as the thick cigarette smoke flowed.

Major Lee Seong-gyu and Manager Choi Min-jun whispered confidentially while looking at the documents spread out on the table.

“The KEPCO stock held by Park Jeong-ho’s line must not be released to the market yet. They trade among themselves to inflate the price, and when it hits the target price…”

Lee Seong-gyu was explaining the next step of the operation to Manager Choi with accompanying gestures.

“Yes, Major. After that, with the secured funds, we begin buying Daegung stock and induce the frenzy of individual investors, then…”

Just as Choi Min-jun was about to continue, the sound of footsteps and knocking came from outside.

Both men closed their mouths at the same time and looked at each other.

Their eyes flickered with bewilderment and tension.

Lee Seong-gyu quickly pushed the operation-related documents on the table into a place out of sight.

At the same time, the soldier guarding the door opened it and reported.

“Deputy Director Jeong Tae-soo has arrived.”

The air in the room suddenly turned frigid.

It was an unannounced visit no one had expected.

Lee Seong-gyu and Choi Min-jun reflexively stood upright and faced the door in attention.

Moments later, Deputy Director Jeong Tae-soo entered the chamber with his characteristic stern face.

His past of being briefly imprisoned after the coup seemed irrelevant now, for he was a man wielding tremendous influence at the very center of power.

His unfathomable gaze slowly and persistently swept across the room.

“Loyalty!”

Jeong Tae-soo replied with a short jerk of his chin and looked around.

His eyes lingered briefly on the awkwardly cleared pile of documents on the table, then shifted toward the sofa.

He sat down silently on the sofa and asked nonchalantly.

“What was it you were discussing so seriously?”

“No, Deputy Director. We were just talking about recent market trends.”

Lee Seong-gyu answered as if calm, but it seemed cold sweat was running down his back.

Since his imprisonment, Jeong Tae-soo had become even more inscrutable.

Why had he shown up here unannounced? My mind raced.

Had he noticed something about the operation?

After a short silence, Jeong Tae-soo crossed his legs and spoke.

“Major Lee, do you have a moment?”

He was asking, but it was an order.

Lee Seong-gyu immediately ordered Manager Choi.

“You step outside for a while.”

“Yes, understood!”

Choi Min-jun saluted Jeong Tae-soo once more and left the chamber.

Once the door closed, only heavy silence and cigarette smoke lingered in the room.

Jeong Tae-soo pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

Lee Seong-gyu hurriedly picked up a Zippo lighter and lit it for him.

After taking a deep drag, Jeong Tae-soo slowly exhaled smoke and began to speak.

“These days the market is very noisy.

Especially this stock called Daegung—it’s blazing hot.

Stories of people making fortunes never cease.

If it has even reached my ears, that says enough.”

Lee Seong-gyu tried to grasp Jeong Tae-soo’s intention and answered carefully.

“Yes, Deputy Director. With the passage of the Securities and Exchange Act, it seems overheated from high expectations. Speculative psychology is working excessively.”

“Overheated, you say…”

Jeong Tae-soo paused.

His sharp eyes turned to Lee Seong-gyu.

“Major Lee, are you sure you haven’t dipped your feet into that overheated market yourself? Maybe making some pocket money on the side?”

“I remain devoted to my duty as a soldier.”

Lee Seong-gyu answered firmly, but inside, anxiety grew as to how much Jeong Tae-soo knew and how much he was probing.

“That’s how it should be.”

Smiling faintly, Jeong Tae-soo nodded.

“A soldier must be loyal to the country. If blinded by money, that’s ruin.”

He took another deep drag before continuing.

“But you see, Major, I’ve been hearing some strange rumors lately. A man named Park Jeong-ho of Hangang Securities is said to be running quite a big game these days… do you know anything about it?”

Though casually asked, Jeong Tae-soo’s question was inching toward the core.

Lee Seong-gyu unconsciously swallowed dryly.

He couldn’t deny knowing Park Jeong-ho, but the true nature of the operation had to stay hidden.

Thinking quickly, he feigned composure and opened his mouth.

“President Park Jeong-ho… he’s someone I’ve known for a long time.

With the market being so turbulent lately, there seem to be all kinds of stories.

But as far as I know, nothing special.”

“Nothing special?”

Jeong Tae-soo chuckled.

His laugh clearly carried ridicule.

Lee Seong-gyu felt as if that gaze was peering straight into his insides.

“That man Park Jeong-ho is said to be profiting nicely from KEPCO stock. Are you really saying you know nothing? Rumor has it quite a bit of money has flowed there.”

A chill ran down Lee Seong-gyu’s spine.

Perhaps this wasn’t just probing.

Maybe Jeong Tae-soo had grasped some concrete evidence.

Maintaining composure as much as possible, Lee Seong-gyu answered.

“KEPCO stock, you mean? It is true the price has risen a lot. But as you know, it’s a heavy stock by market capitalization, and many analyses say it’s been excessively inflated beyond performance. The rumor that big money has poured in there is likely nonsense made up by speculators.”

“Hm… a dangerous stock, then.”

Jeong Tae-soo looked at him with meaningful eyes.

Though sensing something was off with his answer, he did not press further.

Even this reaction was enough.

It confirmed there was something there.

After stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray, he stood.

“Alright. I’ve kept a busy man too long.”

As if he had lost all interest, Jeong Tae-soo rose casually.

“Ah, before I go, a piece of information. Seoul Securities Exchange will soon change its signboard to Korea Securities Exchange. With the government directly managing its image, credibility will rise, won’t it? Then blue-chip stocks like Daegung may rise quite a bit. You might consider buying some, for pocket money.”

Leaving behind a strange smile, he patted Lee Seong-gyu’s shoulder twice and walked toward the chamber door.

It was his final probe disguised as information.

“Then, until next time.”

Once Jeong Tae-soo left and the door closed, Lee Seong-gyu exhaled the breath he had been holding.

He glared grimly at the door through which Jeong Tae-soo had exited.

‘Jeong Tae-soo… that cunning old fox! Just how much does he know? Was it mere probing, or has he caught wind of our operation? He even mentioned KEPCO stock and ended by suggesting Daegung… what is his real aim?’

A jumble of thoughts tangled in his mind like a knotted thread.

After closing the door, Jeong Tae-soo walked down the hallway with a blank expression.

As if he had never smiled, his eyes now shone cold and sharp.

‘There is something. That bastard Lee Seong-gyu was desperate to hide it. Park Jeong-ho and KEPCO stock… and Daegung too.’

The more one tries to hide, the more is revealed.

From Lee Seong-gyu’s reaction and demeanor, Jeong Tae-soo had gleaned quite a lot.

His instincts, honed from years in the army’s intelligence branch, were certain.

‘Director Kang Byung-woo… that bastard. Running such a fun scheme without me? Daring to cut me out and hog the honey for yourselves?’

As the face of the KCIA Director came to mind, Jeong Tae-soo made a resolve.

‘Fine. The game you’ve set up—I’ll watch it unfold. And if the chance comes… I’ll devour it whole.’

A chilling glint flickered in Jeong Tae-soo’s eyes before vanishing.

Mere information gathering was no longer enough.

He began to seek a way to intervene directly in this game and maximize his own gain.

Good food, a comfortable bed, and seeing Min-soo and Yang Yeong gradually finding stability brought me great comfort.

Yang Yeong grew brighter by the day, having found her real name and grandfather, while Min-soo’s sickly appearance faded as he slowly regained vitality.

But that alone was not enough.

I knew what had to be done to maintain this brief peace.

The immense responsibility became the driving force that kept me moving.

After lunch, my steps grew heavy as I left the mansion and headed toward the secret operation room near Myeong-dong.

Just as I reached for the knob of the shabby building’s first-floor door, I heard low voices from inside.

Holding my breath, I kept my hand on the knob.

Inside were the three experts selected for me: Kang Cheol-min, Yoon Ji-seong, and Ma Dong-jin.

“Five times in fifteen days… that man really has guts. Isn’t that right, brothers?”

Kang Cheol-min, the on-site broker seasoned in Myeong-dong’s securities scene, was the youngest in the team.

With youthful vigor came blunt words he didn’t bother to hide.

His voice carried both admiration and blatant skepticism.

“Shh, watch your mouth.”

It was Yoon Ji-seong who scolded Kang Cheol-min.

“But… as you said, it’s beyond common sense. Yet the movements of Park Jeong-ho’s line are flowing exactly as that person predicted. Even down to the manipulation pattern of KEPCO stock.

It’s as if he sees through the entire board.”

“Even so, this is far too dangerous! We could lose all our capital!”

Kang Cheol-min raised his voice.

“Enough.”

The one who silenced the uproar in the room was Ma Dong-jin with a heavy word.

“We are here by the Great One’s command. Our mission is to follow the instructions of that person’s proxy. Personal feelings or rash judgments are forbidden. Broker Kang, as the field expert, you focus only on the task assigned to you.”

His words carried undeniable weight.

Confirming that the situation had settled, I opened the door and stepped in.

The three of them turned their eyes toward me at once.

Kang Cheol-min’s defiant gaze, Yoon Ji-seong’s intellectual curiosity mixed with wariness, and Ma Dong-jin’s calm stare.

I studied their faces carefully, then turned my head.

On the table were scattered documents related to KEPCO stock.

Traces of the fierce analysis and deliberation they had been through over the past few days.

“Have you eaten?”

I asked calmly, as if nothing had happened, while approaching the table.

“Yes.”

Ma Dong-jin answered shortly on behalf of the group.

“Good. Then let’s begin the situation check right away.”

I tidied the scattered papers and set the mood for the meeting.

First, I asked Kang Cheol-min, who was on the front line of the field.

“How far has the accumulation of shares progressed?”

“A total of 2,000 shares secured. But now the supply has dried up. No one is selling, and only buyers are lining up. The price keeps rising.”

As expected.

Park Jeong-ho’s side had entered the stage of locking up supply and driving up the price.

I turned my gaze to Yoon Ji-seong.

“What about signs of Park Jeong-ho’s side doing wash trades?”

“Clear as day. Most of the Agricultural Cooperative’s disposal volume is being bought and sold among themselves to manipulate the price. With almost no real supply circulating in the market, they’re just inflating the trading volume.”

Adjusting his glasses, Yoon Ji-seong delivered a cold, sharp analysis.

His skill was indeed formidable.

“What’s the current price?”

“It just passed 20,000 hwan.”

At 2,000 shares, 20,000 hwan meant 40 million hwan on the books.

But this was a bubble that could burst at any time.

“How much are we spending on deferred settlement fees?”

I checked with Ma Dong-jin, who controlled the funds.

“An average of 80,000 hwan a day.”

I let out a faint groan.

The burden of fees was rising faster than expected.

We had no more time to delay.

“What’s the market sentiment?”

“As I said, there’s no supply but buyers are overflowing. The seasoned players in this field are starting to sense something strange. The imbalance is too one-sided…”

“In that case, there’s no need to hesitate any longer.”

At Kang Cheol-min’s answer, I made my decision.

“We’ll push the price up ourselves through collusive trading.”

“Collusive trading?”

Kang Cheol-min recoiled.

“That’s too risky! The commission burden will be enormous!”

“I know. We’ll have to be prepared to pour all ten million hwan we have into covering those fees.”

There is no reward without risk.

I said firmly.

“Park Jeong-ho will drag out time to lure the small investors, but we must be different. We will drive the price explosively in the short term, whip the market into frenzy, and before they realize it, unload all the shares we hold.”

“This is outright gambling! If we fail…”

“Big games are gambles you stake your life on.”

I met Kang Cheol-min’s eyes directly as I spoke.

His gaze still carried doubt and anxiety.

“And this gamble is one we must win. I will accept no further objections. Execute.”

At my resolute stance, Kang Cheol-min bit his lip resentfully but could not raise any more arguments.

I immediately gave the next instruction to Yoon Ji-seong.

“Mr. Yoon Ji-seong. Spread information into the market right now. ‘Three million dollars of American aid funds confirmed for additional input into the power reconstruction project.’ Make sure this rumor spreads as quickly and widely as possible.”

“Additional input into the power reconstruction project… understood.”

Yoon Ji-seong looked curious about my source of information but, with professional discipline, agreed at once.

“Regardless of the truth, it’s a sure material to amplify market expectations.”

Seeing Yoon Ji-seong nod, I finally looked to Ma Dong-jin.

“Mr. Ma Dong-jin, you strengthen security even further. Not a whisper of Master Yang’s name must leak. And provide Mr. Kang Cheol-min with the full funds he requires immediately.”

“Understood.”

Ma Dong-jin nodded without a change of expression.

His calm attitude gradually steadied everyone’s emotions.

His firmness was like an anchor calming the team’s unease.

Watching that briefly, I looked out the window.

Gesturing toward the Korea Securities Exchange crowded with people, I gave the final order.

“From this moment, ten days. Our goal is KEPCO stock breaking 50,000 hwan and a complete sell-off. Time is short. Move now.”

With my declaration, the atmosphere in the office heated up.

In this dangerous gambling table to scoop gold out of ashes, my first bet had finally begun.

A few days later.

I returned once again to the Myeong-dong Securities Exchange.

My attire was slightly better than before, but I still deliberately left a trace of awkwardness.

Behind me, I felt the reliable presence of Ma Dong-jin, blended into the crowd.

As I stepped onto the second floor of the Exchange, familiar figures caught my eye.

Leaning against the railing, watching the frenzy below as if it were a spectacle, stood Park Jeong-ho and his loyal hound, Kim Jin-ho.

And beside them stood a man with a cold, stern face.

The aura he exuded was anything but ordinary.

Though it was my first time seeing him, it was not hard to guess who he was.

‘Manager Choi.’

It was Lee Seong-gyu who had planned this operation, but the field commander was that man.

Without the slightest hesitation, and even feigning a slightly excited expression, I walked straight toward them.

With a naive, clumsy look that gave no attention to anything else.

“Good to see you again, President Park, President Kim.”

At my voice, all three turned their gazes toward me.

Kim Jin-ho’s face instantly showed wariness and annoyance.

“Why are you here again…”

Kim Jin-ho was about to spit out his displeasure when I cut in first.

“As you advised last time, President Park, I thought I might try buying some Daegung stock. It really is alright to buy now, isn’t it? I’m not too late, am I?”

With sparkling eyes, as if meeting a savior, I looked at Park Jeong-ho.

At my exaggerated performance, Park Jeong-ho’s lips curled upward.

‘Yes. Laugh all you want. When that smile fades, you’ll be facing hell.’

Hiding my true thoughts, I kept a naive smile and waited for his answer.