The glass towers of the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas pierced the night sky like jagged diamonds. Inside, the "Venture Capitalist Gala" was in full swing. This wasn't a place for the poor; it was a sanctuary for the "Gold Spoons" who decided which startups lived and which were crushed underfoot.
Kang-min adjusted his cufflinks—a modest pair, but paired with a sharp, charcoal-gray suit that didn't scream "new money." Beside him, Seo-yoon looked unrecognizable. Her messy hoodie was gone, replaced by a sleek, midnight-blue cocktail dress. Her hair, usually tied in a frantic knot, fell in elegant waves.
"I feel like a fraud," she whispered, her hand trembling slightly as she held a glass of mineral water.
"You aren't a fraud. You're the most valuable person in this room," Kang-min said, his eyes scanning the crowd. "They just don't know it yet."
[Activating Skill: Insider's Whisper (Rank E)]
The ambient noise of clinking glasses and chatter faded into a rhythmic pulse. Fragments of conversations floated toward him like ghosts.
...merger is stalled...
...dumping the electronics stock tomorrow...
...Shin-Hwa is looking for a new fall guy...
Suddenly, the crowd parted. A man in his late thirties walked in, radiating an aura of absolute authority. It was Director Choi. In this timeline, he was younger, his face less lined by stress, but his eyes held the same predatory glint that Kang-min remembered from the bridge.
"There he is," Seo-yoon hissed, her grip tightening on her glass.
"Stay calm," Kang-min warned. "If you show emotion, he's already won."
As Choi moved through the room, people bowed. He was the king of this jungle. He stopped near a group of tech investors, his voice smooth as silk. "Innovation is a fine word, but I prefer 'predictability.' If a company can't guarantee a 20% ROI by Q3, it's just a hobby, not a business."
Kang-min stepped forward, breaking the inner circle. "Predictability is just a lack of imagination, Director Choi."
The circle went silent. Choi turned, his eyes narrowing as he took in the unfamiliar face of Kang-min. "And who might you be? I don't recognize your firm."
"I don't have a firm. I have a vision," Kang-min replied, his voice steady. "And right now, my vision tells me that your 'predictable' short on Dae-Han Construction is about to blow up in your face."
A few people gasped. Director Choi laughed, a short, dry sound. "Dae-Han is a sinking ship. Only a fool would buy in now."
"Then I must be a very wealthy fool," Kang-min said, pulling a tablet from his jacket and showing a blurred snapshot of a massive buy-order confirmation. "Because while you were busy trying to suppress the price, I bought the float. The takeover announcement goes public in exactly ten minutes."
Choi's smile didn't fade, but his jaw tightened. "Bold claims. But in Seoul, words are cheap. Leverage is what matters."
"Then let's see who has more leverage by the time the market opens tomorrow," Kang-min said.
As they walked away, Seo-yoon breathed out a sigh she had been holding for minutes. "You just declared war on the most powerful man in the city. What now?"
Kang-min looked at a new notification flashing in his vision.
[System Alert!]
[Antagonist 'Director Choi' has marked you as a 'Threat'.]
[Hidden Quest Triggered: The First Strike.]
[Objective: Bankrupt Choi's personal subsidiary within 30 days.]
"Now," Kang-min said, his eyes reflecting the cold neon of the city. "We stop playing defense."