Chapter 29

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“President. It’s time to depart soon. The vehicle is waiting outside.”

“Ah. Right. Let’s go out together.”

President Hwang Dae-woon had felt uneasy since morning.

‘Why did Jin-ho say that then?’

We were talking well in the president’s office when suddenly Jin-ho grabbed President Hwang’s arm and told him not to go to the Middle East.

The reason was nothing much.

A new DLC for the game they both play is coming out.

The main reason was wanting to gather hyung-nim and guild members to run raids together after a long time.

It was a nonsensical reason.

‘But there seemed to be another reason.’

He couldn’t know what.

But really canceling Saudi business trip because of gaming?

That was also crazy.

The reason for this Saudi trip was clear.

Saudi confirmed securities market opening this year.

They also declared aggressive investment through sovereign wealth fund operation in Saudi.

That’s why they were rushing to Saudi faster than anyone to check that side’s situation.

Already hearing news that chairmen from business circles were preparing to go to Saudi themselves.

There was also intention to go early and secure even a small position before they preempt spots.

“You’re here, President.”

“Oh. Executive Director Tak. Did you prepare well?”

“Yes. Once we arrive in Riyadh, we plan to first meet sovereign wealth fund officials. Meeting appointments are set too.”

“Right. But I meant something else. You’re extremely picky about food.”

“Ah. I already packed lots of cup ramyeon.”

Riyadh is Saudi’s capital.

Once arriving there, no time to rest or tour.

Must move busily.

To earn even one more 10-won coin.

“But is Riyadh security okay?”

“Goodness. More than okay. It’s Saudi’s capital. If Saudi in the Middle East, almost the boss, they’ve thoroughly secured capital. Is this because of Yemen?”

Saudi recently participated in Yemen civil war conducting airstrikes called Operation Storm.

Saudi, which hadn’t been on good terms with Iran, essentially declared proxy war with Iran through Yemen civil war.

As a result, various munitions warehouses collapsed from Saudi airstrikes, and Middle East war heating atmosphere boiled up fully.

“But oil-producing countries are oil-producing countries. Usually when war happens, oil prices should fluctuate crazily, but nothing like that here.”

Usually when war happens, oil prices pierce the ceiling.

But partly because war scale was small, and especially since Saudi is a world oil-producing country, oil prices rather fell.

“So security-wise it’s okay?”

“Yes. Even fighting, they fight in Yemen, not Saudi. Actually, on the ring called Yemen, Iran and Saudi are just throwing jabs at each other?”

It was like Saudi and Iran showing strength using Yemen civil war as excuse.

Their territories are safe, but only Yemen getting scorched.

“So don’t worry about security. The moment Iran acts crazy attacking Saudi capital, they’re giving justification to America, so they’ll absolutely never do that.”

The biggest reason Iran can’t touch Saudi is America behind it.

Unless wanting to declare war on America, no country would touch Saudi.

“Right. That would be so.”

Conclusion is Saudi is safe.

Still, Jin-ho’s words remained uncomfortably.

Why would he say let’s skip Middle East next time and game together while knowing company work is important?

“That. Meeting. Can’t postpone it, right?”

“What? We barely set this up, won’t they not meet if we try postponing? At least we’re making the spot by going one step faster than others.”

“Mm. Right.”

“Is something wrong? Your complexion’s been off.”

“Hm? Nothing.”

Hwang Dae-woon shook his head.

Right. What could happen?

Maybe Jin-ho just really wanted to game thoroughly together after only working without rest lately.

After safely returning from this trip, we can do it then.

That works.

‘They must’ve arrived well?’

He said 12 hours direct flight.

First time feeling like that.

How should I explain it?

A feeling close to fear, with goosebumps rising and cold sweat flowing.

That’s why I unknowingly grabbed hyung-nim’s arm and blurted out don’t go to Middle East.

While making nonsense excuse of let’s game together.

Naturally hyung-nim laughed it off saying I was talking nonsense.

‘He said many important schedules are set.’

When I grabbed a few more times, hyung-nim explained like teaching why this trip is important.

That Saudi could become land of opportunity.

I also know.

I know Gwangwoon Securities has smaller scale than other places, so we must run faster than anyone to preempt positions.

Plus I don’t know in detail why my intuition suddenly rang signals.

Maybe just signaling to invest in something Saudi-related, or maybe because of something else.

That’s why I couldn’t hold hyung-nim to the end.

If I said unnecessary things making hyung-nim miss important opportunity, it would negatively affect the company.

‘Should I have held him once more?’

But why this uneasy feeling?

Thanks to that, work didn’t go well all day.

Since all money’s stuck in francs anyway, nothing to do.

That’s why it bothered me more maybe.

Ah. Should’ve just brazenly held him once more.

Just in case, I investigated Saudi Arabia, but security-wise and safety-wise there was no big problem.

Maybe I’m really worrying needlessly.

While blankly leaning on chair staring at ceiling.

Knock knock knock knock!

Urgent knocking was heard.

“Yes?”

“D-Department Head! Did you see the foreign breaking news just in?”

Seeing Deputy Lee Hye-rin’s expression, something big seemed to have happened.

I immediately checked.

[Bomb terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh.]

“!?”

In Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh!?

Soon other people also swarmed into the department head’s office.

“Department Head. You saw the just-posted breaking news. The quiet market is reacting now. Quite a big incident.”

“Because of this news, the FX market seems about to surge greatly. Saudi, safest in Middle East, got attacked. If this is Iran’s doing, America might even join.”

But their reports didn’t enter my ears.

Saudi capital Riyadh.

Exactly where hyung-nim headed.

“Surely not.”

Was that intuition suddenly ringing because of this?

My hands trembled violently.

“Department Head?”

“J-just let me make a call.”

“Ah. Yes. We’ll step out.”

Sensing something unusual, employees quickly left the department head’s office.

Meanwhile I found and pressed hyung-nim’s number with trembling fingers.

Almost dropped the phone.

‘Should’ve stopped him somehow.’

Regret washed over.

Should’ve grabbed even pant leg to prevent him going.

No. Don’t think negatively.

Even if hyung-nim is in that Riyadh, maybe he wasn’t caught in bomb terrorism.

“..”

I waited for ringing while praying please please please inside.

Those few seconds felt like years.

How much time passed like that?

[Oh. Jin-ho.]

“Hyung-nim!”

[Whoa. Startled me. Eardrums falling off.]

“No. A-are you okay? Nothing happened right?”

[Of course I’m fine, Jin-ho.]

I breathed a sigh of relief.

The tension that surged in that brief moment released at once, almost making me collapse.

“Just now they said there was big bomb terrorism in Riyadh. Thank goodness. Seems it had nothing to do with hyung-nim’s side.”

[Actually. Didn’t go to Saudi.]

“What?”

[Almost reached the airport, but just turned the car around and canceled all schedules. Felt uncomfortable somehow. Your words kept ringing in my ears too.]

“No. You really canceled because of my words?”

[Right. When the guy who earns most money at our company says let’s game together, why would I refuse that and go face some storm? So I turned back. Hehe.]

Hyung-nim talked jokingly then soon asked me seriously.

[But Jin-ho.]

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

[Did you. Know? About this bomb terrorism.]

“Don’t say dangerous things. How would I have known?”

[Right? Yeah. Then that’s fine. Anyway, this hyung is safe, so don’t worry. Oh right. Prepare guild members too. We should raid.]

“Yes. I’ll set everything up in advance.”

[Okay. Work on it.]

Thank goodness.

Really thought something happened to him, all kinds of thoughts passed through.

If something really big happened, I would’ve regretted not holding hyung-nim forever.

Anyway, terrorism in Saudi.

It was shocking that terrorism of that scale happened in that safe place.

Plus isn’t America behind Saudi?

“Not time for this.”

Saudi terrorism is definitely a big incident that will affect global markets.

Though all our money is tied in safe asset francs, we must carefully watch the market.

Time to work again.

“..”

Hwang Dae-woon was briefly lost in thought after hanging up.

Shocking Saudi terrorism.

If he hadn’t turned the car around at the airport then, if he’d ignored Jin-ho’s words, maybe one casualty there would’ve been Hwang Dae-woon himself.

“President!”

“Presideeeent!”

But no time to be lost in thought even briefly.

Because executives came crashing into the president’s office.

“Startled me. These guys are group-scaring people.”

“No. President. H-how did this happen?”

Whitest pale face was Executive Director Tak.

The only executive who tried to leave for Saudi with Hwang Dae-woon.

“Really heaven’s blessing. I was bewildered when President suddenly canceled Saudi schedule, but who knew this would happen.”

“Heaven really helped.”

Heaven helped.

Right words.

Maybe that person in heaven gave warning through Jin-ho.

“But why did you suddenly cancel schedule? Executive Director Tak didn’t know the reason either.”

President Hwang pondered briefly.

Should I tell this story?

No. Even thinking a bit, this is absolutely something to never disclose.

Even if Jin-ho didn’t know, what if the fact he gave warning in advance flows outside?

What if someone interprets it badly and drives it like Jin-ho knew terrorism in advance? Even if that possibility is low, the wise method is not creating such risk from the start.

“Just had strange dreams that day.”

So he kept silent.

Simultaneously executives were dumbfounded.

“Really because of dreams?”

“Yeah. I was also lucky. Like you said, heaven helped. But who the hell are they? Really Iran did it?”

“Checked incoming breaking news content, Iran quickly issued statement that it wasn’t them. And ISIS announced it was their doing.”

“Tsk. Having religion or ideology is fine. But must they only express like that? What sin did people who died from terrorism commit?”

At least fortunate thing was the place that caused this terrorism was ISIS not Iran.

If it was Iran, a great war might’ve happened.

ISIS.

Extreme Sunni Islamic fundamentalist armed group.

They suddenly declared a state few years ago causing mayhem, then finally committed this.

“Anyway, I’m fine. Everyone quickly go out and work. With this level big news, markets might surge tremendously.”

“Yes. Anyway, fortunate you’re safe, President.”

“Right. Ah. Executive Director Tak stay briefly.”

“.Yes.”

After executives left, Hwang Dae-woon asked Executive Director Tak who still seemed out of it.

“Executive Director Tak.”

“Yes, President.”

“If we were in Saudi, would we have been caught in that?”

“.High probability. The first meeting place we set is the building where today’s bomb terrorism occurred.”

“!?”

So that’s it.

Then really Jin-ho saved my life.

“But President. How did you really know? If President hadn’t turned the car around then.”

Executive Director Tak trembled thinking how dizzy just thinking about it.

“Executive Director Tak. Treat Jin-ho well from now on.”

“What? Why suddenly Department Head Jeong.”

“Just something. Anyway, treat Jin-ho well.”

“.?”

Executive Director Tak had an expression of not knowing what this means.

‘How do I repay all this debt?’

Jeong Jin-ho.

Grew the company, now even saved my life.