Seong-ho, on his feet, was talking with Chung-seop over the phone.

—Are you certain?

"Yes. Right now strong buying is coming in, centered on the Ilhyeon Securities accounts."

Urgency came through in Chung-seop's voice over the receiver.

—The index has already recovered 800. Your return has shrunk to 30% too. Director. It's not too late even now. Let's unwind.

At his words, a smile came to Seong-ho's lips.

Same as that former life, sure enough.

Hearing that volume was flowing into the KOSPI centered on the Ilhyeon Securities accounts, Seong-ho recalled what had happened in that former life.

Second brother overreached, didn't he.

In that former life too, Sang-jong — thrown out of the Ilhyeon Construction presidency — had bought stocks through Ilhyeon Securities, trying to plot for the future. But that very thing snagged his ankle and ended up excluding him entirely from the succession picture.

Seong-ho figured Sang-jong would put his hand to stocks by overreaching the same way this time. No — the thought came that he might overreach even more greatly than in that former life.

Unlike that former life, this time he blew 300 billion, so he'll be thinking he has to recover something bigger.

As Seong-ho, letting out a light laugh, was about to put a question to Chung-seop, a knock came.

Knock, knock, knock.

Soon the door opened and Do-beom came in. Gesturing for Do-beom to wait a moment, Seong-ho put to Chung-seop the question he'd been about to ask. "How's the exchange rate? Is the won-dollar rate falling?"

—No. The won-dollar rate is still holding its upward trend.

"Then keep carrying it."

—Keep it? The market may have turned, and you'll keep carrying it?

As if Seong-ho's choice were unexpected, Chung-seop's flustered voice came over the receiver.

With a smile at his lips, Seong-ho said, "I don't think the market has turned. So keep carrying it."

Chung-seop could only say he understood. Since the account's owner hadn't changed his mind, the agent couldn't change the position on his own.

Seong-ho set down the receiver and asked the arriving Do-beom with a smile,…