How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

”Director Cha, what brings you to call so late at night?” Chairman Clark Bongard’s voice was filled with unmistakable curiosity.

After briefly considering how to steer the conversation, I replied,

”Chairman Bongard, would you like to make a fortune?”

”Haha, Director Cha, it seems you know how to joke.”

In other words, he was telling me not to ask questions with obvious answers.

”Well, then I suppose I asked something unnecessary.”

”As long as you understand that, it’s fine. Now get to the point. Exactly how am I supposed to make this fortune?”

”The U.S. government plans to eliminate the Chinese Triad’s American branch tomorrow at midnight, California time.”

”And what does wiping them out have to do with making a fortune?”

”The Triad owns a company called Golden Health.”

”Hmm, now I see where you’re going with this,” Bongard replied approvingly, instantly grasping my meaning.

”Chairman Bongard, I assume I don’t need to explain the entire situation in detail?”

”Of course not.”

”If we’re going to make a huge profit, rumors that Golden Health belongs to the Triad need to spread through the market.”

”I’ll handle that myself, so you don’t need to worry about it, Director Cha.”

”I’m leaving it entirely in your hands. And please share this information with Chairman Gomez as well.”

”Pizza tastes better when you eat it alone,” he grumbled.

Clearly, he had no desire whatsoever to share the profits with Gomez. Fortunately, I had a trump card up my sleeve, so I wasn’t worried in the slightest.

”Chairman Gomez is still regretting the enormous profits we made by investing in the Bongard investment group.”

”People become greedier the more money they have,” Bongard snorted.

The words, ”You’re much richer than Gomez,” almost slipped out, but I displayed truly superhuman restraint and kept silent.

”So I don’t need to call Chairman Gomez myself?”

”I’ll take care of everything.”

”The key to maximizing profits is absolute secrecy.”

”Naturally. By the way, who else is participating in the short squeeze and the short selling?”

”We removed Chairman Hudson from the original group and decided to bring Chairman Gomez in instead.”

”Then there won’t be any problems. How large should each participant’s short position be?”

”Golden Health’s market capitalization is around four hundred billion dollars, so thirty percent should be just right.”

After exchanging a few more words with Bongard, I ended the call.

”Well, I suppose my part is finished now?”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I had barely caught my breath when, after a brief knock, the office door opened and Park Yeongil and Cho Myeongsu walked in.

”Chairman Park, you could have simply called me to your office.”

”The one who wants to drink is the one who digs the well,” Park Yeongil replied dryly as he sat down in the place of honor on the sofa.

Feeling somewhat awkward, I took the empty seat across from him.

”Director Cha, I assume you know why I came.”

”I believe it’s about Golden Health.”

”Exactly. The market has always viewed short selling rather negatively. Should we really get involved?”

”Short selling is one of the standard investment tools. Besides, we’re betting against a foreign company, not a domestic one, so we have no reason to care what others think.”

”Hmm...”

Park Yeongil dragged out the sound thoughtfully, rhythmically tapping the sofa’s armrest with his fingers. Not wanting to interrupt his thoughts, I remained silent. After a while, he stopped tapping and spoke again.

”Director Cha, if we launch an aggressive short attack, Golden Health’s ordinary shareholders could suffer enormous losses.”

”Once Golden Health’s ties to the Chinese Triad are exposed, its stock will collapse regardless.”

”That’s true... Now that I think about it, you’re right. So how exactly do you intend to crash the share price?”

”Chairmen Bongard and Gomez will make sure the appropriate rumors spread throughout the stock market.”

”But Chairman Gomez intends to acquire Golden Health. Won’t it cause problems if he also participates in short selling?”

”He’ll most likely do it through proxies.”

”In that case, I have no further questions. Director Cha, why don’t you short it yourself using the money you received from Bongard, Hudson, and Hangang Group?”

Chairman Park was referring to the commissions I had received: thirty-six billion dollars, six point nine billion dollars, and one point nine zero five billion dollars respectively.

”Golden Health’s market capitalization is around four hundred billion dollars. If I enter with my own volume as well, everyone else’s returns could drop significantly.”

”I see. Then how much should our company and I personally invest?”

”I already discussed that with Chairman Bongard. He believes thirty billion dollars would be the optimal amount.”

”Director Cho, can we quickly gather thirty billion dollars?” Park Yeongil asked, turning toward Cho Myeongsu.

”If we use the company’s operating funds along with your personal assets, we’ll reach exactly that amount,” Cho Myeongsu reported.

After hearing the answer, Chairman Park looked back at me.

”What about Chairman Yoon?”

”If we leave Chairman Yoon Jongu out, he’ll probably be deeply offended.”

”That man already has more money than he knows what to do with. Where does all that greed come from?” the old man muttered.

Considering that Bongard had said exactly the same thing about Gomez earlier, it seemed that all wealthy people had identical appetites.

”I personally have no desire to listen to his complaints afterward,” I admitted.

”Ah, fine. I don’t like it, but let’s include him.”

Bzzz. Bzzz.

The phone lying on my desk vibrated. I glanced at the screen and saw the caller’s name—Chairman Gomez.

The reason for his call was obvious. Bongard had already contacted him and leaked the information about the short position.

After receiving Park Yeongil’s silent approval, I answered.

”Yes, Chairman Gomez. I’m listening.”

”Director Cha, Bongard just called me. Thank you for such valuable investment information!”

”No need to thank me, Chairman Gomez. Consider it a favor in return for all the help you’ve given us.”

Normally, I disliked showing off my accomplishments, but this was exactly the strategic moment when I needed to increase my own value.

”I helped you?” Gomez asked in genuine surprise.

”Perhaps not me personally, but you helped our country tremendously.”

”I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, Director Cha.”

”It was because you put such tremendous pressure on President Douglas that our negotiations between the two countries concluded in record time.”

”Ah, that’s what you meant!” Gomez laughed.

”Chief of Staff Lee Jihun personally asked me to convey his deepest gratitude.”

”Haha, excellent. Tell me, Director Cha, how far do we need to drive Golden Health’s stock down?”

’Why ask such an obvious question?’ I thought, but aloud I said,

”McKesson is interested in acquiring Golden Health’s assets at the lowest possible price.”

”Naturally. But if we go too far, won’t there be legal consequences?”

”The moral high ground is entirely ours. If we want to ensure the Chinese Triad never gains another foothold in the United States, we have to burn them out root and branch, leaving not a single one behind.”

”You’re absolutely right. We’ll handle everything perfectly, so don’t worry.”

”Good night, Chairman. We’ll speak again later.”

Click.

The moment I hung up, Park Yeongil asked curiously,

”So, what exactly were you discussing with Gomez?”

”You heard everything yourself.”

”I’m old now. My hearing isn’t what it used to be. I couldn’t make out a thing.”

”Oh, Chairman...” I smiled.

***

Toward evening, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, the stern man with the intimidating appearance, entered my office to report on the current investigation.

”We investigated everyone named Jeong Sanhak. Every single one of them permanently resides in Korea and has never left the country.”

”So it’s a fake name?”

”We can’t be one hundred percent certain, but the probability is extremely high.”

”I see. What about the transfer record? Were you able to confirm that Director Jang Seokcho transferred one hundred thousand dollars to the scam syndicate?”

Instead of answering, Kang Inhan silently handed me a transparent plastic folder.

Opening it, I found the receipt for an international bank transfer.

After carefully examining the details, I dialed FBI Director Glenn Nevers.

After several rings, his friendly voice answered.

”Director Cha! Thanks to your assistance, we were able to conclude the negotiations much earlier than expected.”

”I’m sorry to bother you at such a late hour, Director Nevers.”

”Oh, don’t apologize. It’s only ten-thirty at night here in California.”

That meant the FBI Director was already on the West Coast personally coordinating the operation against the Triad’s American bases.

”I see. Director Nevers, I have a confidential and very important favor to ask.”

”I’m listening.”

”An acquaintance of mine transferred one hundred thousand dollars to an HSBC bank account in Macau in early February. The recipient is listed as someone named Zhang Silin. Could you find out who is really behind that name?”

”Certainly. If you provide me with the exact account information the money was sent to, it will speed up the investigation considerably.”

”Please give me your work email address. I’ll send you a scanned copy of the transfer receipt immediately.”

”I’ll text it to you as soon as we finish speaking.”

”Thank you for your help.”

”Not at all. Still, I’m curious. Why are you searching so actively for this Zhang Silin?”

”It’s because an acquaintance of mine went on vacation to Macau at the end of January...”

Without hiding anything, I told Nevers the entire story of Jang Seokcho, who had lost his restaurant in Gangwon Province because of debts to scammers.

”...And now he’s hiding in the United States.”

”Hmm, I see. That’s a difficult situation.”

”If we’re going to take down this scam organization, I desperately need your bureau’s assistance.”

Of course, I still had a backup plan. I could simply capture the local Scorpion Gang and squeeze every bit of information out of them. They had extorted Jang Seokcho in Korea and were undoubtedly connected to the Macau syndicate.

But I deliberately held that option in reserve. If we acted too aggressively, the scammers in Macau would disappear underground immediately.

”I understand, Director Cha. We’ll do everything we can.”

”I’ll be waiting for good news.”

Click.

After hanging up, I turned toward Kang Inhan.

”Send an electronic copy of Jang Seokcho’s transfer receipt to my phone.”

”Right away.”

Kang Inhan quickly tapped several buttons on his smartphone.

A moment later, I received his message, followed immediately by an SMS from the FBI Director containing his email address.

Without wasting any time, I forwarded the document to Nevers.

After placing my phone back on the desk, Kang Inhan couldn’t resist asking,

”Director Cha, do you think the FBI can really uncover the structure of this underground syndicate?”

”All we can do is trust Director Nevers’ professionalism. At the moment, we don’t have any better options.”

”That’s true.”

”But we should prepare a backup plan in case the FBI reaches a dead end.”

”And what do we do then?”

”We capture the Scorpion Gang’s leader and force every piece of information out of him.”

”Ah, excellent plan.”

Kang Inhan nodded knowingly, agreeing with my reasoning.

”Your people are still keeping the Scorpion Gang leader under surveillance, right?”

”Of course. We’ve been watching him since early this morning. Every single movement is being recorded.”

”As always, your people work remarkably fast.”

”It’s encouraging to hear praise from you, Director Cha. It motivates us to work even harder.”

”Oh, come on, Secretary Kang. You’re exaggerating,” I chuckled. ”Let’s change the subject. Any new information about Go Yeongjun, the fugitive former CEO of K&J Bio?”

”We discovered that he boarded his flight to Macau using a forged passport under the name Oh Yeongjun.”

”So forged documents... Is it really that easy to obtain high-quality fake identification in China?”

”China is the world’s capital of counterfeiting. You can fake absolutely anything there.”

”I see...”

***

”Big Brother, what are we supposed to do with all these boxes of shoes and handbags piled up in the corner of the living room?” Cha Hyeonji asked, pointing at the neatly stacked packages.

”Where’s Mom?”

”She’s in the kitchen making dinner.”

”I’ll go change clothes and come right down. Wait a minute.”

After changing out of my business suit into comfortable clothes, I headed downstairs.

Mom and Hyeonji had already finished preparing dinner and were sitting on the sofa.

I took the empty armchair and began.

”I found out everything. Those handbags and shoes are Chairman Park’s personal gift to Mom.”

”But why would Chairman Park give me such expensive presents?” Mom asked in surprise.

”Do you remember going to his house for dinner last Sunday?”

I carefully recounted my recent conversation with Park Yeongil in full detail.

”...So he simply wanted to surprise you.”

”And here I was, foolishly panicking over nothing.”

”The next time you see Chairman Park, just thank him sincerely.”

”I certainly will. But still... Why is he giving me such expensive things?”

”Chairman Park doesn’t have any close family. I think he sees you as his own daughter.”

”What makes you think that?”

”Think about it. He treats Hyeonji and me like his own grandchildren. Then what does that make you in that family?”

”Ah... I see now.”

”Well, now that all the misunderstandings are gone, you’ll be able to use those things without worrying, right?”

”All right. You convinced me.”

At that moment, my younger sister joined the conversation with a mischievous smile.

”Mom, does that mean I can borrow your new handbags sometimes too?”

”Of course you can,” Mom agreed without the slightest hesitation.