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Chapter 31 - The Earnings Gambit

The day of truth had arrived.

Joon woke up earlier than usual. Not because of an alarm, but because his nerves refused to let him sleep. The sunrise in Seongcheon painted the fields gold, but all he could see was the pale-blue glow of the System panel hovering above his bed.

Earnings Release: 6:30 PM KSTBlastTech Semiconductors – Q2 Report

He checked his holdings.

Position: 80 shares @ ₩3,325

Current Price: ₩3,470

Unrealized Gain: ₩11,600

"Almost ₩12,000 up… but this means nothing until after the report."

The Trade Journal blinked with a notification.

System Tip:

Volatility may double within 24 hours of an earnings release. Stay disciplined.

He breathed out slowly. That was the real test: discipline under uncertainty.

He spent the day reviewing the past week's journal entries. Each line of emotional analysis now felt like armor—proof that he was thinking, learning, growing.

Day 1: "Uneasy excitement."

Day 4: "Felt real fear."

Day 6: "Learned to wait without needing a reward."

And now—Day 9—his entry read:

"No amount of research guarantees an outcome. But effort builds conviction. I'm ready—no matter what direction this goes."

He saved the entry.

System Notification: +5 XP (Reflection Bonus)

XP: 160 → 165 / 600

6:30 PM arrived.

Joon sat in front of his laptop, eyes glued to the investor relations site.

BlastTech Q2 Earnings: Released

Revenue: ₩1.2 trillion (vs. expected ₩1.05 trillion)

Net Income: ₩182 billion (vs. expected ₩150 billion)

New Partnership Confirmed:

"We're thrilled to announce a multi-year strategic alliance with CloudFrame, one of the largest cloud services in North America."

Joon's hands went cold.

Then the trading app refreshed.

BlastTech surged.

₩3,470 → ₩3,650

Then ₩3,710

₩3,780…

He didn't jump.

He waited.

This wasn't about hitting the peak—it was about executing the plan.

Step 1: Sell 30 shares @ ₩3,750 = ₩112,500

Capital: ₩76,600 → ₩189,100

System Notification:

First Exit Phase Complete – +15 XP

XP: 165 → 180 / 600

Day 10.

The market opened slightly down.

BlastTech dipped to ₩3,700 but rebounded mid-day to ₩3,810.

He sold the next batch.

Step 2: Sell 30 shares @ ₩3,810 = ₩114,300

Capital: ₩189,100 → ₩303,400

System Notification: Second Exit Phase Complete – +15 XP

XP: 180 → 195 / 600

Day 11.

The hype was cooling, and minor profit-taking dragged the price to ₩3,660. But Joon didn't panic.

He clicked Sell for the remaining 20 shares.

Step 3: Sell 20 shares @ ₩3,660 = ₩73,200

Final Capital: ₩303,400 → ₩376,600

System Notification:

Final Exit Phase Complete – Quest Success

⚡ QUEST COMPLETE: High-Stakes Entry ⚡

+100 XP

Bonus Earned: +1 Risk Appetite (Excellent Journal Reflections)

Total XP Gained: +100 (quest) +35 (journal over 7 days) +45 (3-stage exit) = +180 XP

XP: 195 + 180 = 375 / 600

The glow of the system shifted.

[Status Window Updated]

Level: 7XP: 375 / 600

Capital: ₩376,600

Market Insight: 10

Negotiation: 2

Stamina: 3

Research: 4

Risk Appetite: 3 🔺

Titles:

Beginner Trader

Pattern Seeker

Value Seeker

Contrarian Initiate

Disciplined Analyst

Emotional Cartographer 🆕 (Earned through consistent journaling and emotional awareness)

Skills:

Long-Term Perspective (Passive I)

Momentum Read (Active I)

Features:

Trade Journal

Weekly Market Forecast

Quest Log

He leaned back in his chair, the numbers sinking in.

₩376,600.

That was more than ₩130,000 profit from this trade alone.

But more than the money, Joon knew what he'd just gained: composure. The ability to weather the storm of the market without drowning in it.

He clicked open the Trade Journal one last time tonight.

Trade Summary: BlastTech – 9-day hold, executed planned exit

Total Gain: ₩110,600

Lesson Learned: Follow your plan, or emotions will make one for you.

The System chimed one last time that evening.

System Notification: Journal Used Consistently – Passive Trait Evolving…

Long-Term Perspective (Passive I) → Upgraded to Passive II

New Bonus: Grants minor XP for disciplined exits and reflection logging.

Joon smiled.

It wasn't just numbers on a screen anymore.

It was character. Built line by line, trade by trade.

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