September 12. The sky was still a bluish predawn, but the securities-firm presidents were already beginning to gather at the Securities Association building.

Whether unable to sleep properly after the previous night's shock, they came in one after another with gaunt faces and shadows drawn across their features.

"It's been a while."

"Yes. It has."

The presidents exchanged no more than the barest greetings and filed into the conference room the Association had prepared.

"Representative."

Just before Seong-ho entered the room, Chung-seop approached him.

Seong-ho greeted Chung-seop with a smile.

"You didn't go in? You were waiting out here?"

"I really felt I ought to see you before going in."

Chung-seop leaned his face in close to Seong-ho's and asked —

"What on earth is going on?"

"You haven't seen the news? A terrorist attack was made against the United States, and the whole world is in chaos as a result—"

"No. That's not what I—"

Chung-seop's voice rose a little in frustration.

"I mean the accounts."

At that, Seong-ho patted Chung-seop's back and cut him off with a smile.

"You've prepared to buy?"

Chung-seop nodded without being able to finish what he wanted to say.

"Yes. As you said, we've prepared, but…"

"Then we're going in starting today. Full size from Korea, into the U.S. Got it?"

"Full… full size? No — and starting today? Today is—"

Seong-ho, of all people, must know why the securities-firm presidents were gathered today. And yet Seong-ho was telling him to go in from today — Chung-seop couldn't help being flustered.

"Come now. Let's go in. Everyone's waiting."

Whether he knew what was in Chung-seop's mind or not, Seong-ho walked into the conference room ahead of him.

Chung-seop watched Seong-ho's back for a moment. The unruffled way he carried himself felt utterly out of step with the moment.

"Representative Jo. It's been a while."

Watching Seong-ho's back, Chung-seop came back to himself at being addressed. And only then, confirming that Chi-jeon Song had come in with Seong-ho, he hurriedly gave a greeting with a startled face.

"My apologies. I didn't realize you were…