Chapter 68: What the Hell Is Going On?

From Taebaek in Gangwon Province, where I was born and raised, it normally took about four hours to reach Seoul if traffic was light. However, an accident on the Gyeongbu Expressway cost us an extra hour. After spending a full five hours on the road, we finally arrived at our new home around midnight.

Walking through the garden, which looked mysterious and enchanting under the nighttime lights, I opened the front door.

The very next second, Saho leaped high into the air and flew straight into my arms.

I flicked the wild cat hard on the back of the head.

Clack!

"Hey, you little rascal! Who gave you permission to open the door without asking?!"

As if he had been waiting for us, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan walked over and immediately came to Saho's defense.

"Director, Saho did nothing wrong."

"Secretary Kang, you shouldn't have done that either."

"I was only carrying out Chairman Park's direct orders."

"No matter whose orders they were, you should've at least hinted something to me beforehand. Do you have any idea how badly Hyeonji lectured me?"

Kang Inhan understood perfectly why Cha Hyeonji had been so upset with Cha Jiham.

"To avoid violating Miss Cha Hyeonji's privacy, only female employees handled the packing of her belongings."

I deliberately turned toward Cha Hyeonji.

As though she had read my mind, she answered firmly without hesitation.

"I'm very grateful for your consideration, but I still believe it's wrong to pack someone else's belongings without their permission."

"Ahem... I apologize for overlooking that."

Kang Inhan cleared his throat awkwardly.

"It's fine. I'm exhausted, so I'm going upstairs to my room."

Looking tired, Cha Hyeonji climbed the staircase.

After watching her leave, I continued speaking with Kang Inhan.

"It's late, Secretary Kang. You should head home and get some rest too."

"I still have one important matter to discuss."

Without saying another word, I sat down on the sofa, Saho still resting in my arms.

Understanding the gesture, Kang Inhan sat opposite me and continued.

"Chairman Park believes the rise in Bongard Group's share price is still too small and plans to purchase another large block of shares."

"I don't think that's necessary."

"The Chairman doubts that news of Bongard Group's participation in the joint venture alone will push the stock price up by more than thirty percent."

I slowly shook my head.

"I spoke with Chairman Bongard on my way back to Seoul. They've decided to allocate two hundred billion dollars to a stock buyback."

"...?!"

Kang Inhan's mouth literally fell open.

He understood better than anyone just how enormous two hundred billion dollars truly was.

"Two hundred billion dollars equals twelve and a half percent of Bongard Group's total market capitalization. How much do you think their stock will rise if they inject that much money into the market all at once?"

"At the absolute minimum... fifty percent."

"That's exactly what I think. Secretary Kang, if you have any spare money, you should buy Bongard Group shares too."

"Haha, I will. But tell me something. If they're repurchasing that many shares, aren't they required to issue an official public announcement?"

"They're planning to carry out the purchases through nominee accounts under other people's names."

Kang Inhan tilted his head in confusion.

Normally, a company simply repurchased its own shares and then published a report.

Yet Chairman Bongard had ignored the straightforward approach in favor of secret accounts.

Carefully, Kang Inhan asked whether I understood the American billionaire's reasoning.

"Chairman Bongard intends to sell every one of those shares just a day or two later. What do you think shareholders will do once they discover that the fund's chairman executed an ultra-short-term trade and made an astronomical profit?"

"Ah... now I understand where you're going with this."

"We only have one evening—Monday—to buy Bongard Group shares."

"Haha. Understood. Then I'll be on my way."

After seeing Kang Inhan out, I headed up to the third floor with Saho.

Once I'd finished showering in the luxuriously furnished bathroom, I entered my bedroom.

The wild cat had already made himself comfortable on the edge of the enormous bed.

"Get down while I'm still asking nicely."

Saho didn't move an inch.

His expression clearly said he had no intention of leaving.

Apparently, he'd taken quite a liking to the king-sized bed.

"Fine. Just for tonight."

I lay down on the spacious mattress, but because of the unfamiliar surroundings, sleep refused to come.

After tossing and turning for a while, I gradually drifted off without realizing it.

***

Monday morning.

The moment I arrived at Hangang Group headquarters, I immediately sensed that something felt off.

Chairman Bongard and Chairman Hudson were scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday.

As soon as I'd learned about their visit last Friday, I'd reported it to Chairman Yoon Jongu.

That information should certainly have made its way down to the Future Strategy Promotion Department.

Logically, everyone in the department ought to have been running around in complete chaos.

Instead, the office was strangely calm, as though nothing had happened at all.

What the hell is going on here?

I muttered to myself as I sat down and turned on my laptop.

Meanwhile, my coworkers gradually began arriving, including Deputy Manager Woo Changhun.

After exchanging greetings with everyone, I decided to investigate the situation and sent him a message through the company messenger.

Cha Jiham: Did anything unusual happen here last Friday?

Woo Changhun: Not that I know of. Why?

I was dying to tell him information of national importance, but first I needed to understand exactly what was happening.

Cha Jiham: Nothing. I just wondered if I'd missed any internal news.

Woo Changhun: You're a strange guy.

Just then, Yun Sola entered the office.

Normally, thanks to the herbal tranquilizer, she always greeted me with a radiant smile.

But today, contrary to usual, she looked at me with an icy expression.

"Oh, Analyst Cha. Long time no see."

There could only be one explanation.

Apparently, the pheromones contained in the herbal medicine had finally worn off completely.

Considering that wonderful news, I calmly replied,

"It's only been three days, so it hasn't really been that long."

"Is that so? Fine."

Still wearing an aloof expression, Yun Sola sat down at her desk.

Her unusual behavior didn't escape Woo Changhun's notice.

Another message immediately popped up.

Woo Changhun: What's wrong with our Yun?

Cha Jiham: No idea.

Woo Changhun: Did she catch you with another girl?

Cha Jiham: I don't have a girlfriend.

Woo Changhun: Then maybe she just isn't interested in you anymore?

Cha Jiham: I'd be happy if that were the case.

Woo Changhun: Seriously, why do you keep running away from the prettiest woman in the company?

I only kept my distance from Yun Sola because I knew the real reason behind her recent affection.

It was merely a side effect of the medicine.

Unfortunately, I couldn't explain that to Woo Changhun.

Cha Jiham: Don't stare at a tree you could never climb. It's more peaceful that way.

Woo Changhun: Wow. Are you saying Yun is ridiculously rich?

I never got the chance to answer.

Director Jeong Sunho's secretary approached my desk.

"Analyst Cha, the Director would like to see you."

After receiving permission, I entered the office.

Director Jeong Sunho and Support Team Leader Heo Yeongjin were already waiting inside.

I gave them a brief bow before sitting on the sofa.

The Director spoke first.

"You came to the company last Friday, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did, but..."

I deliberately trailed off, trying to figure out where he was going.

"Team Three Leader Cho Sonsu saw you having lunch with the Chairman at the beef soup restaurant."

"Oh, I see."

"Leader Cho reported that there was another elderly gentleman at your table, about the Chairman's age. Would you mind telling us who he was?"

There was no reason to hide it.

"It was Park Yeongil, Chairman of Korea Investment."

"I knew it... Our suspicion was correct. Then can you tell us the purpose of your meeting?"

Once Chairman Bongard and Chairman Hudson arrived, the bulk of the workload would fall directly on Director Jeong Sunho.

He genuinely needed to know the truth now.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Just as I was organizing my thoughts, someone knocked.

The secretary handed Director Jeong a small note.

After reading it, he nodded knowingly before turning toward me.

"The Chairman is summoning both of us."

***

Following Director Jeong Sunho, I stepped into the Chairman's office and immediately felt puzzled.

Several people I had never met before were already inside.

I was curious who they were, but quickly suppressed that curiosity, deciding it wasn't my concern.

Director Jeong and I bowed to Chairman Yoon Jongu, who sat at the head of the table, before taking our seats.

Looking directly at me, Yoon Jongu said with unmistakable irony,

"So today I may simply call you Analyst Cha, correct?"

He was subtly emphasizing that, at this moment, I was present solely as an employee of Hangang Group.

"Of course, Chairman."

"Across from you are Park Cheolsu, CEO of Hangang Electronics, and Lee Changho, President of Hangang Investment. You understand why I invited them here, don't you?"

"Yes, Chairman."

Leaving my answer without comment, Yoon Jongu turned toward his aide.

"Secretary Song, bring them up to speed."

"Everything you're about to hear must remain under the strictest confidentiality until tomorrow evening."

Song Dosok's voice became stern.

"Understood."

The others nodded.

"Chairman Bongard and Chairman Hudson will officially arrive in our country on Wednesday afternoon."

"...What?!"

Everyone except me, Chairman Yoon, and Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun froze in shock.

Apparently expecting exactly that reaction, Song Dosok calmly continued.

"And Analyst Cha will now explain why this visit has been kept secret."

Instantly, every eye in the room turned toward me.

Mentally grumbling at Secretary Song, I calmly began.

"The moment news of the HBM semiconductor joint venture reaches the stock market, the shares of Hangang Electronics, Endivia, and Bongard Group will all surge..."

"Hold on."

Chairman Yoon Jongu suddenly interrupted me, as though something had just occurred to him.

I looked toward him.

"What does Bongard Group have to do with any of this?"

For a brief moment, I realized I'd spoken too much.

But I quickly composed myself and continued as though nothing had happened.

After all, it wasn't my fault.

"Unlike Hangang Electronics and Endivia, Bongard Group's stock has fallen nearly thirty percent since the beginning of the year. When Chairman Park Yeongil learned that last Friday, he immediately began buying up their shares."

"That old fox!"

Chairman Yoon Jongu suddenly exploded in fury.

It took both Secretary Song Dosok and Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun considerable effort to calm the enraged Chairman.

Still breathing heavily, Yoon Jongu ordered someone to bring him a glass of cold water.

After draining it in one gulp, he slammed the glass onto the table before glaring at me resentfully.

"Analyst Cha, how could you keep such important investment information from me?!"

Since when was I obligated to report that to you?

The words nearly slipped out.

Fortunately, I stopped myself.

"I believed today's meeting would be the appropriate time to bring it up."

"And what exactly does that mean?"

"Chairman Park invested a tremendous amount of money in Bongard Group shares, but so far the market price has barely moved."

"So you're telling me we still have time to buy tonight?"

"Exactly, Chairman."

At that moment, Lee Changho, President of Hangang Investment, spoke up with obvious professional interest.

"Analyst Cha, what rate of return is Chairman Park expecting from this investment?"

"Originally, we projected thirty percent. But as of last Saturday, that estimate has been revised upward to fifty percent."

"Can a stock really rise fifty percent in a single day?"

"Chairman Bongard has already made the final decision to commit an enormous amount of capital to repurchasing his company's own shares."

The moment I finished speaking, Chairman Yoon Jongu ended the discussion with a thunderous order.

"President Lee! Mobilize every reserve available and use every last cent to purchase Bongard Group shares!"

"Understood!"

Lee Changho answered confidently, his booming reply echoing throughout the spacious office.