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Translator: uly
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Rescuing the Future Stock Legend
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Seeing the green days of Kim Jae-woon, who would become the idol of Korea's stock newbies(?) and amass billions in assets, made his own regression feel all the more real.
But he couldn't keep grinning forever.
Lee Dae-hyuk spoke in a calm tone.
"Let's clear these guys out and talk somewhere quiet."
At Lee Dae-hyuk's suggestion, Kim Jae-woon cautiously nodded.
Lee Dae-hyuk's gaze then turned to Scarface and Bushyhead.
"I'll give you one more chance. Get lost. Then no one gets hurt."
"W-What?"
"Ha! Boss, this punk's putting on a show."
"Crazy bastard needs a beating."
The two let out hollow laughs at Lee Dae-hyuk's polite offer.
Soon, Bushyhead gave a jerk of his chin, and Scarface lunged at Lee Dae-hyuk.
"I'll give him a taste."
Thud-thud-thud!
But.
Pow-!
Scarface's flying fist never reached Lee Dae-hyuk.
Yoon Tae-ho's shoe had suddenly shot out, smashing into his face.
Crack-! Crash!
"Ughhh!"
A loud impact echoed, and Scarface tumbled across the ground, groaning in agony.
Tap-!
Yoon Tae-ho landed lightly after dropping Scarface and shouted.
"These punks disrespected the Young Master. Grab them all."
Before he even finished, bodyguards poured out from deeper in the alley.
"Wha-what? Huh?"
Scarface could only roll his eyes at the sudden influx of suited guards.
He'd just been chasing a runaway PC bang dropout from their MLM scheme.
But now these bodyguards in suits?
Did this loser have some hidden backup?
Lee Dae-hyuk smirked at the dumbfounded Scarface, waving his phone—which had recorded everything.
"Manager, get these guys to the station. This should be enough evidence for assault charges."
'...When did the Young Master prepare something like this...'
"Got it."
Yoon Tae-ho, inwardly stunned by Lee Dae-hyuk's preparedness, kept a straight face and directed his team.
They had to wrap this up cleanly before drawing too many passersby.
The bodyguards quickly surrounded Scarface and Bushyhead.
"What the hell! Who are you bastards? Let go! Mmph!"
"You punks know who I am? Let go! I said let go! Mmph!"
Their resistance didn't last.
Mouths gagged and arms twisted, the pair were dragged away by the guards.
With the situation sorted, Kim Jae-woon, who had been hovering awkwardly behind Lee Dae-hyuk, finally spoke.
"Thanks for the help. But... who are you people?"
"Someone who desperately needs Kim Jae-woon's talents."
Lee Dae-hyuk turned to him with a gentle tone.
Kim Jae-woon was still dazed.
He'd already given up on a lot when the MLM thugs grabbed him, but this lifeline out of nowhere...
Still, he wasn't naive enough to blindly rejoice at the sudden rescue.
Lee Dae-hyuk understood that.
No—in fact, if Kim Jae-woon trusted him too easily over something like this, he'd be disappointed.
"Ah! I haven't even introduced myself. Forgive me, things were hectic."
With a light apology, Lee Dae-hyuk extended his hand for a shake.
"I'm Lee Dae-hyuk of Daehan Group."
As he offered his name and hand, Lee Dae-hyuk felt his face flush red.
He had no official position, yet here he was, name-dropping the Daehan Group.
But.
'Daehan Group? Lee Dae-hyuk?'
The label worked its magic. Kim Jae-woon mulled it over, eyes widening.
'...Lee Dae-hyuk, the youngest son of Chairman Lee Myung-guk?'
Naturally, a stock-obsessed guy like Kim Jae-woon kept tabs on the heirs of Korea's chaebol families.
Korean stocks often swung on "public sentiment."
Take U.S. stocks: unless a chaebol family committed a major crime, it rarely hit the share price.
Korea was different.
When chaebol heirs pulled stunts like abuse of power or drugs, stocks dipped short-term.
Boycotts under the banner of "national sentiment," relentless media backlash—it all dragged prices down.
Even setting sentiment aside, Kim Jae-woon tracked heirs anyway.
Chaebol kids inherited companies, so that intel was gold, sooner or later.
He sensed it'd pay off big in his trading life.
And according to his database:
'Lee Dae-hyuk. Talentless extra, no real sway in the group... a golden spoon slacker.'
That's the image from online forums and articles.
He always wore a mask, so full face shots were rare, but those rotten, bulging eyes? He'd seen them plenty in photos.
Yet the man before him felt totally different.
His gaze burned like a tiger eyeing prey.
Kim Jae-woon was convinced.
All those articles were wrong.
'No... what if they weren't?'
One theory hit him.
Gulp!
Rumor had it Lee Dae-hyuk was Chairman Lee Myung-guk's illegitimate son.
Just murky gossip, never officially confirmed.
But if true...
He'd been hiding his true self, fooling everyone.
Why?
Only one reason for a chaebol heir to deceive those around him.
'Aiming for control of the group?'
Chills ran down his neck.
Sure, pure speculation for now.
Thump-thump-thump!
Yet his heart raced wildly.
His trading-sharpened instincts screamed.
This was opportunity.
Grab this man's hand, and his life would change.
Grab.
Kim Jae-woon seized Lee Dae-hyuk's hand, face lit with excitement.
But reason kicked in quick.
One thing to clarify first.
"I'm Kim Jae-woon. But how did you know to find me? Wait—no, you said you need my skills earlier... what does that mean?"
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled, satisfied, after the handshake.
Right now, Kim Jae-woon was a raw rookie with killer instincts but no real info network.
A total bum who wouldn't make real money until he blew up as a stock YouTuber fifteen years later.
But in person...
'He's got the poise to shake hands with a chaebol heir without flinching, even if it's just for show.'
Those eyes hungered for the chance he dangled.
Yet he still asked the smart questions.
'Like him.'
"We'll talk details somewhere else. Manager."
"Yes, Young Master."
'That damn Young Master. Sigh...'
Lee Dae-hyuk flushed at Yoon Tae-ho's reply.
The honorific stuck, no matter how often he mentioned it.
No time to nitpick titles now.
"Hand those two over to the cops, and assign a few guys to guard Kim Jae-woon."
"...Pardon?"
Yoon Tae-ho blinked, caught off guard.
Who was this Kim Jae-woon to warrant such favors?
But Lee Dae-hyuk pressed on regardless.
"Kim Jae-woon, were those two the only ones after you?"
"Huh?"
"I'm asking if there are more people targeting you."
"Oh, right... yeah, probably others besides those two."
Kim Jae-woon spilled the whole story honestly.
How he'd blown the whistle on the thugs' MLM out of a scrap of conscience.
How that sparked their pursuit.
"You did the right thing."
"No, it was stupid."
Kim Jae-woon looked down, ashamed.
It felt like airing his dirty laundry.
But Lee Dae-hyuk had been upfront about needing his talents.
He wouldn't back out over this.
Plus, if they teamed up, it'd come out eventually.
Better to lead with it.
Lee Dae-hyuk rubbed his chin as he listened.
'Not a one-off fix, then.'
He'd half-expected as much.
Survival excuses aside... he'd committed plenty of sins himself, so he knew the streets.
In that case.
"Manager Yoon, Daehan Group has lawyers on retainer, right?"
"Yes, we have some who officially assist."
Yoon Tae-ho nodded.
The in-house legal team existed, and outsiders helped too.
Whether they'd jump for Lee Dae-hyuk was another story.
"Set up a meeting with Kim Jae-woon and them ASAP."
"...?"
Yoon Tae-ho was speechless again.
'So, use Daehan-connected lawyers to help this guy? Is he really worth it?'
He wanted to ask.
But he couldn't.
Lee Dae-hyuk's firm tone and piercing gaze shut him down.
"...Yes. I'll find lawyers who can assist."
"As soon as possible, please."
"Understood."
Yoon Tae-ho and the guards bowed to Lee Dae-hyuk.
His gaze then turned to Kim Jae-woon, still gaping blankly, with a sly grin.
"I've handled the mess. Now, just our business."
"Huh? Oh... sure."
"Nearest coffee shop."
Lee Dae-hyuk led the way out of the alley with a subtle smile.
Kim Jae-woon followed, eyes wide, face baffled.
Once they were gone, Yoon Tae-ho ordered a guard.
"You, escort the Young Master."
"Yes, sir!"
The guard hustled after them.
"Whew-."
Yoon Tae-ho sighed despite himself, having sent even a subordinate.
'They say near-death changes a man... who knows.'
Hard to say for sure, but Lee Dae-hyuk was pushing forward boldly.
Probably.
'Aiming for group control.'
Too soon to judge, yet hope flickered inside.
'A chaebol bastard seizing power? Absurd. But...'
Chaebol heirs scrapped for succession anyway.
Vassals rose or fell with their lords.
Too early for calls.
But that gaze and decisiveness? It gripped him.
Pure charisma, like Chairman Lee Myung-guk himself.
If this was the new Lee Dae-hyuk...
'Enough. Don't overthink it, Yoon Tae-ho.'
He shook his head, shelving succession odds.
Not time to celebrate like a kid.
Just rejoice that depression and burdens had lifted, letting him take a step forward.
Mind cleared, Yoon Tae-ho spoke.
"You heard the Young Master. Let's move."