The Silla Ilbo's story — that a serving businessman, and a son of the Ilhyeon Group at that, was implicated in a stock-manipulation case — was more than enough to deal the Republic of Korea an enormous shock.

And the shock was doubled by the fact that the company behind the manipulation was, of all companies, Ilhyeon Windows, the very firm that until a short while before had set the whole Republic of Korea talking.

And the stock market, which took that shock harder than anywhere else, was showing something close to panic.

"Mine! Somebody sell mine."

"Don't push. It's my turn."

"Why is it your turn? Can't you see the number ticket here!?"

"What has a number ticket got to do with anything now? First come, first served."

"Where in the world is there such high-handedness?"

"Ah, be quiet a moment, will you. Here. Take mine."

Future Asset's Myeongdong branch had been in confusion since the morning.

The customers had come and hammered on the door before the branch had even opened, wanting to be rid of the Ilhyeon Windows shares they held as fast as they could.

"Me, ten per cent down. I'll throw mine at ten per cent down."

"Eleven per cent for me."

"Twelve for me."

"The lower limit for me. The lower limit."

When the voice of the man saying he would throw his in at the lower limit rang out loud, a silence hung over the branch for a moment.

Then all at once the voices burst out.

"The lower limit for me too. I'll throw mine in at the lower limit."

"The lower limit for me as well. I'll throw mine in at the lower limit, so put mine up for me."

As a confusion no different from bedlam swept through Future Asset's Myeongdong branch, the assistant branch manager, unable to bear it any longer, climbed up onto the counter table.

"Quiet! Be quiet a moment and listen to me."

Standing on the counter desk, the assistant branch manager clapped his hands to gather the crowd's attention.

And having looked once around the…