Chapter 26

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

[The Greek Syriza government and EU reached a dramatic agreement, approving the third bailout. The bailout amount was decided at 86 billion euros, and as a result, Greece will enter austerity policies once again. However, Greek citizens are currently voicing opposition to this decision.]

The Greece default situation was the first incident of a developed country not repaying debt.

The aftermath shook European markets and our country was also affected.

At least our country wasn’t greatly affected by the Greece situation.

But China shock was a major incident affecting the global economy, so IMF seemed conscious of this.

That’s why IMF, which said there would be no third bailout, inevitably reached negotiations with the Greek government for global market stabilization.

Though bailout was regrettable, at least they prevented market economy collapse like dominoes.

“It normalized faster than expected.”

After default burst, IMF moved as quickly as possible to reduce shock, which was big.

That exact day when we day traded with 250 billion was a good day to make money.

“Geez. Oppa. You’re watching economic news on weekends now? From this morning? You’ve really changed from someone who’d start gaming in the morning.”

“You should sleep more on weekends. Why’d you wake up?”

“Ugh. Don’t even say. I tried to sleep more, but another department suddenly called. Something’s wrong with the file I sent Friday. Don’t you go to work? Thought your company makes you work weekends.”

“Ah. Not lately.”

The busy modern person’s life.

My sister was suffering from work even on weekends.

I should originally go to work on weekends too, but I didn’t because there’s no need.

Even when I try to go to work, team members stop me.

“Ugh. This piece of crap computer really. Loading takes forever.”

My sister, already annoyed receiving work calls on pleasant weekend morning, was venting at her laptop.

Even to my eyes, it looked too slow.

“Still not done loading?”

“Yeah. I’ve used it since school days. It is old.”

My sister had strong thrift spirit since long ago.

She had a habit of not spending money carelessly and always saving.

That’s why she saves money well, is interested in financial management, and never easily replaces electronics.

“Hmm.”

I felt a bit sorry for my sister sitting in front of the computer loading all day, staring intently at the screen.

“Is this urgent?”

“Hm? Ah. I just need to finish by afternoon. But I think it’s better to do it right away rather than drag it out.”

“Really? Then let’s go out.”

“What? Suddenly? Where?”

“To buy you a laptop.”

“Huh?”

I went outside with my sister headed to an electronics store.

“No. Oppa. You don’t have to buy it. Are you rich? Ah. Your last salary was 700 million. Still ridiculous thinking about it. How can salary be 700 million?”

“Prop traders get performance bonuses.”

“Exactly how well did you invest! Anyway, the National Tax Service will take half. And can you have good profits every day? What if you just suck your thumb next month? You should save and store now for oppa’s future!”

“This much is fine.”

While saying that, my sister kept repeating you don’t have to buy it.

But she couldn’t hide her grinning lips, probably feeling good about getting a new laptop.

“Even saying that, you know it’s all good.”

“O-of course it’s good! But I feel like I’m burdening oppa, sorry, that’s why.”

“It’s okay. That’s what I earn money for.”

I entered the electronics store and looked through laptops.

Maybe because I’m a gamer too, I’m skilled at checking computer specs.

“Oppa. This is enough for me.”

My sister picked the cheapest laptop at the electronics store.

I shook my head at those ridiculous specs.

“No way. This won’t even run basic games nowadays.”

“No. I’m not buying it for gaming, just for office work.”

“Good specs last longer and document processing is faster too. Plus you could play a few games as a hobby. Didn’t you like gaming before?”

“Where’s time to game after coming from work? It’s a waste.”

Our guild hyungs would grab the back of their necks hearing that.

I picked the model with best specs and purchased it.

“Really, you don’t need to buy something this expensive!”

“Enough. Just say thank you.”

My sister who kept saying such expensive things aren’t needed shyly scratched her head.

“Well. Thanks. Hehe. First time using something this good. I’ll use it well, dear brother.”

My sister even bowed 90 degrees.

Seeing her hugging the laptop preciously tight, I felt somehow proud.

Feeling like I’m finally being an older brother.

Even my shoulders seem full of strength.

Plus, maybe because she’s really excited, my sister’s jumping reaction was good too.

She makes me open my wallet more.

“Phew. Won’t do. You’ve used your phone long, right? Let’s change that too.”

“No. Wait. Even the phone?”

“Hurry.”

Phone, wireless earbuds, tablet, etc.

I changed all electronics that could be changed.

Especially when buying the tablet, I hesitated briefly seeing the recommended keyboard costs hundreds of thousands of won, but coolly bought it.

“Is today Christmas? Or is it my birthday I don’t know about?”

My sister had a slightly dazed expression.

“Let’s say so. If it breaks, tell me. I’ll change it to new.”

“Oppa. Aren’t you spending carelessly because of me feeling sorry? You need to pay taxes, what if performance doesn’t come out?”

“Mm. Don’t worry about that.”

“Why? Think this month will be okay too? Financial companies are having a hard time with China shock and Greece default bursting.”

That’s true, but rather I made money thanks to that crisis.

This month’s performance bonus if things continue like this. Will be an amount my sister can’t even imagine.

“Oppa is fine.”

“Wow. Cool. You never know about life. I really didn’t know oppa would work in finance. Plus talent in investment?”

Same for me.

“..”

After finishing shopping, I got in my sister’s car again.

My sister in driver’s seat, me in passenger seat.

“But oppa, you don’t drive?”

“License is dormant, so dangerous.”

I only got the license, rarely ever driven.

“You can learn again. Should I give you lessons?”

The guild master already told me clearly about this problem.

Learning to drive again is fine, but don’t actually drive around.

He said when the new department opens, he’ll get a corporate vehicle with a dedicated driver. Because it would be terrible if I drove and got in an accident.

‘The body is quite thin.’

I never thought about it before, but now I’m really concerned about my sister’s car.

Would be terrible if an accident happens like this.

I should probably get my sister a new car next time.

Wait. While at it, shouldn’t I change our parents’ car too?

With China shock and Greece default bursting explosively, there were no peaceful days at the securities firm.

In that storm, many couldn’t handle mentally and quit, while some stubbornly waited for bull markets.

Usually in such times, securities firms that took massive damage see bloodbaths, but fortunately Gwangwoon Securities wasn’t like that.

Rather, they were going one step further planning other projects.

“Prime grade department establishment?”

“Wait. Prime grade is the level after elite, right? The highest level?”

The company announcement that went up after the weekend.

Actually prime grade.

Meaning the highest grade considered at securities firms.

Usually departments at this grade level, higher-ups independently pick only aces from each department and stick them in.

But this was unusually accepting applications.

“No. This is obviously something to try for, right?”

“Prime means operating funds are at least hundreds of billions?”

Because of this, everyone started submitting applications.

“Wow. Expected but applications are really tremendous.”

“At this level, didn’t everyone below team leader level apply?”

Team 7 members stuck out their tongues receiving materials from the personnel team.

“But it hasn’t been long since becoming team leader, and already promoted to department head?”

“Look at the return rate. It’d be weird not to. Plus securities firms are more sensitive to performance than other companies. Education or whatever, they only judge by performance. Let’s organize everything from the personnel team and give it to the Team Leader.”

“Yes.”

Team members also had nothing particular to do, so they organized materials from the personnel team.

The Greece default situation resolved faster than expected too.

Above all, the Team Leader recovered all funds and didn’t think to move.

No wonder, with China shock followed by Greece situation double bursting, overall investment sentiment contracted and trading volume was quite low.

Meaning no buyers or sellers.

At times like this, the best is recovering funds and quietly watching.

“Wonder how many he’ll pick? He’ll interview too, right?”

“Can’t know a person just from profiles. If they pass documents, he’ll interview.”

“True.”

Will it get crowded with people coming for interviews for a while?

The frozen stock market.

That wasn’t just our KOSPI but applied globally.

Two big incidents burst consecutively, so everyone urgently pulled money and just watched the situation.

But I didn’t particularly plan to rest.

With so much operating funds, why rest?

Especially the day trading I did when Greece default burst, sweating on my forehead, was really thrilling.

‘But how can no feeling come at all?’

However, there was a problem.

Even when trying to operate funds, no particular feeling comes.

This intuition knew too.

That global markets are all frozen solid so trading can’t be done.

So just in case, I lowered operating funds.

From 250 billion to 100 billion.

Still no response, so 50 billion.

Even then it was quiet, so lowering to 5 billion, finally some response came.

‘But 5 billion is kinda.’

Have I finally gone crazy?

Before, even 1 billion made my hands tremble, but now 5 billion doesn’t even look like money.

Can’t help it, for a guy who rolled 250 billion, suddenly telling him to only roll 5 billion, who could pour passion?

Like raiding nightmare difficulty boss then suddenly told to catch mobs.

That level doesn’t trigger dopamine.

So rather than that, I judged it better to pull funds and hold like other investors.

“Team Leader. The personnel team handed over materials, we organized and put it in this USB. There’s more material than expected.”

“Ah. That many applied?”

“Yes. Need help?”

“No. It’s okay. I’ll check and let you know.”

“Yes.”

The USB file contained profiles of hundreds of people.

All people who applied to our department.

“Goodness. Many.”

Originally I planned to pick people the guild master recommended, but except exactly one person, none of the rest gave me feelings.

So we put up announcements to receive applications.

Just looking at profiles, many graduated from overseas universities, and plenty hold those difficult certifications as basics.

Anyone would see they’re elites but.

“Hmm.”

No one gives me feelings.

Just skim through and pass, skim through and pass again.

Am I looking at something wrong?

With so many excellent talents, no feeling comes?

While repeating dozens of times like that.

“Ah.”

Exactly one person hit me with feeling.

“First, check this person.”

And repeated passing work again, checking only people who hit me with feeling and collecting profiles.

“Ugh. Eyes hurt.”

Examining profiles staring at screens is harder than expected.

Still, I didn’t do it carelessly.

Because it’s important work picking precious raid members who’ll run large raids with me!

“Won’t be able to see everything today, right?”

“Right. Too many applicants. To carefully examine one by one and deliberate to make decisions, at minimum several days.”

“Section Chief Seo.”

Section Chief Seo turned around startled.

“I already collected profiles. Could you organize and deliver to the personnel team?”

“Ah, yes. I’ll do it right away.”

“Thank you. I’ll go get some air. My head hurts.”

“Yes. Take care.”

Section Chief Seo and team members tilted heads.

“Already finished?”

“This quickly?”

“Let’s see who he picked first?”

“Ah. We should.”

They examined who the team leader will take to the new prime grade department.

Surely he picked elites suitable for prime grade.

“Hm? But these people’s specs.”

“It’s not just me thinking that, right?”

But contrary to expectations, people the team leader picked all had ordinary specs.

Specs here mean not just education, but how much return rate they’re generating in their teams.

“Some people have negative return rates even.”

“Oh. But I know this person. Really diligent.”

“Really? I know this Kim Tae-sik guy. He’s diligent too. Nice person. But how to say. Not proactive?”

There are passive people and proactive people.

And prop traders favor proactive people.

When setting investment strategies as a team, and after setting them, they personally make wise judgments to invest.

But passive people only do exactly as told.

Don’t try to jump left or right, just diligently do as instructed.

If team performance is met like that, good, if not, whatever.

Because of this, usually proactive people make more money.

Having ambition themselves, knowing how to judge themselves to achieve higher performance.

The problem is occasionally blindly trusting their own judgment and overdoing it?

“Somehow can’t see people who look like each team’s ace.”

“Right. Strange. Prime grade is the securities firm’s highest grade, but why the specs.”

Section Chief Seo muttering like that clapped his hands as if something flashed in his mind.

“I got it.!”

“What?”

“I see why he picked these people.”

“What is it? Why did he pick them?”

Section Chief Seo scanned through profiles once more as if confirming his guess, then said.

“These people have no ego.”

“.!?”