Chapter 77

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“..I’m not seeing this wrong, am I?”

“You’re seeing it correctly, Chairman. This is Gwangwoon Group’s quarterly profit.”

Usually groups receive dividends from affiliates once a year.

Because it’s convenient to calculate and is the most common method.

But financial holding companies were different.

Especially since Gwangwoon Group’s main business is securities, money flow must be very fast, so they divided profits quarterly.

“No. How can a figure of 3 trillion won come out?”

Quarterly profit of 3 trillion won.

Revenue was far larger than this.

“Enflix alone earned over $1 billion in net profit just this quarter. They have to hand over nearly half of that to our Gwangwoon. Plus this time our KW Exchange also earned $1 billion as new members exploded due to server problems.”

Enflix, though not an affiliate under Gwangwoon Group’s control, has 40% equity currently held by Gwangwoon Securities.

That side has large revenue, but because production costs, marketing, and other things require much money, net profit actually wasn’t that much.

But exchanges were different.

If people just gather, nothing makes money easier than this.

Didn’t numerous exchanges get born and make loads of money with the Bitcoin craze?

But due to exchanges’ trading suspensions from server problems, people gathered at KW Exchange, and as a result achieved a feat of $1 billion.

“President Jeong Jin-ho’s foresight was decisive. When launching KW Exchange, I wondered if we were making servers a bit excessively. But that became an important element achieving today’s growth. Other exchanges want to buy and sell but can’t, but our exchange is very stable.”

The scary point is KW Exchange’s growth is just starting now.

Bitcoin, which people thought would flash briefly and disappear, currently broke through $3,000 in price.

Internal assessment already came out that it’s highly likely to hit $10,000 within this year.

Also, altcoins were endlessly pouring out, and even companies that initially ignored the Bitcoin craze were gradually showing interest in coins.

The purpose was to produce and sell their own coins.

Doesn’t it say preempting positions first and growing monopolistic influence is important in anything? KW Exchange stood right at that center.

Even if server problems stabilize going forward, KW Exchange long ago absorbed the majority of members, and if Bitcoin continues growing, KW Exchange just needs to sit still and receive commissions members give.

Like everyone’s assessment, owning the world’s largest exchange is far more profitable than directly buying Bitcoin.

“But our real income source is right here. Shipping business. As our Gwangwoon started dominating global shipping, profits also tremendously increased.”

Gwangwoon Shipping originally had good profits.

But as profits came out, they acquired other collapsing shipping companies, absurdly increasing that scale.

Kim Du-young, appointed as Gwangwoon Shipping’s CEO, bought without delay whenever decent items came out in his view, and because of that Gwangwoon Shipping’s size considerably grew.

In quite a short period too.

Kim Du-young announced his ambition to increase operated vessels close to 500 by early next year.

At this trend it seemed fully possible.

“It was possible thanks to following President Jeong Jin-ho’s words then and buying lots of oil in advance.”

Thanks to buying thousands of billions worth of oil in advance and storing it, Gwangwoon became a company dominating shipping.

Investing just thousands of billions to create a company earning tens of trillions, no, hundreds of trillions.

“If quarterly net profit is 3 trillion won, what rank in our country?”

“At minimum 3rd place. 1st place Kangsung met unprecedented prosperity this time exceeding 15 trillion won. 2nd place Daegwang Auto still doesn’t know exactly how much, but probably going back and forth around 3-4 trillion won.”

Gwangwoon Group hasn’t even reached its 1st anniversary yet.

Yet quarterly profit is 3 trillion won.

It’s not like they have tremendously many affiliates.

It was the result of selecting and growing only solid ones.

“Chairman. What should we do with this money..?”

“Well, does anyone have a proper place to use it?”

“If there are affiliates with financial difficulties, we could help through investment.. But actually there’s no place needing money now.”

Other companies are in emergency not knowing where to start blocking too many holes money leaks from, but Gwangwoon was the opposite.

AMC, which everyone thought would eat the most money, is cooperating with Kangsung establishing factories, and this time even NK joined so AMC will receive more technical support thanks to that.

Moreover, the big brothers are supporting with money on their own, so AMC is eating the market for free.

Same with shipping.

Only a portion of this incoming profit will be invested for acquiring additional shipping companies and the rest isn’t needed.

In other words, even earning lots of money, there’s nowhere to invest it right now.

But someone from a securities company can’t just pile up money.

Leaving earned money to gather dust is no less than a great sin.

“Then there’s one answer. Leave how to operate this money entirely to President Jeong Jin-ho.”

No need to directly deliver this money to the securities company.

Just as all money coming into the securities company is handled by Jeong Jin-ho, all funds coming to the holding company through affiliates going forward will also be handled by Jeong Jin-ho.

‘What will Jin-ho pull off this time..?’

Honestly it’s unimaginable now.

Buying oil in advance with thousands of billions to create today’s giant shipping company, and using that as a start, he pressured TSNC and is devouring the semiconductor market.

Not only that.

He caused server problems with the semiconductor crisis and instantly made KW Exchange the global number one exchange.

And those companies each achieved explosive growth.

In other words, 3 trillion won is just the beginning.

‘A company surpassing nations, wasn’t it?’

The words exchanged with Vice President Kang Ji-hwan last time suddenly came to mind.

A global company that even nations cannot control.

The mastermind controlling all global economy.

Mega Corp.

That was Jeong Jin-ho’s final destination.

***

“President. I brought the report you requested last time.”

“Oh my. That’s the Yashik’s Nation report? I also ordered salad with that yesterday.”

Yashik’s Nation.

Last year’s revenue 85 billion. Operating profit 3 billion.

Revenue rose 70% compared to the year before last.

Plus this year, revenue was expected to exceed 150 billion.

Also, the amount transacted on Yashik’s Nation in just one year exceeded 1.8 trillion.

This suggests the delivery market through Yashik’s Nation is growing tremendously.

“For this growth trend, CEO Lee Beom-jun’s influence was big. Starting with Gold Reagan, he received investments from various places and through aggressive marketing greatly increased scale.”

When I received the Yashik’s Nation report before, no particular feeling came.

That seemed to be because of CEO Lee Beom-jun.

Someone had to lead this company’s growth, and that was exactly CEO Lee Beom-jun.

What does intuition coming only now mean?

That now, receiving growth acceleration, is exactly the right time to enter.

“Last time a foreign company tried to acquire Yashik’s Nation. The amount they proposed was around 300 billion. CEO Lee Beom-jun rejected it.”

“He wants a higher price than that, right?”

“Since Yashik’s Nation is a representative domestic delivery company, CEO Lee Beom-jun even did an interview saying he’d absolutely not sell to foreign companies.”

“It’s not a price problem?”

“Honestly that’s just talk. It’d be a price problem. Running a company and buying and selling it isn’t something patriotism enters, right?”

Hearing it, that was true too.

Among businesspeople, how many would give up profit for patriotism?

Those people don’t consider money’s nationality.

“Plus isn’t there such a saying? When negotiations don’t go well, try throwing more money.”

If it’s not an amount difficult to refuse, he won’t sell?

“This time too he stated his opinion once more saying there’s no selling intention. And he also put out his intention to receive more investment from other companies. I heard our country’s number one portal site Laver plans to invest about 70 billion.”

“But the problem would be competitiveness. Though Yashik’s Nation is currently the domestic number one delivery app, the reality is other competing apps are also fiercely rising. It’s also a world where they might get overtaken anytime.”

Yet my intuition reacting here, doesn’t that mean Yashik’s Nation will show overwhelming growth going forward?

“If we tried to acquire here, how much would it take?”

“It’s not just CEO Lee Beom-jun holding equity. Several investment companies are mixed in, so if trying to acquire all equity, the price will fluctuate greatly. Considering that too and estimating the current evaluated Yashik’s Nation price.. About 400 billion. Should say that company’s 300 billion acquisition offer assessment was somewhat correct.”

300-400 billion.

That was the Yashik’s Nation price our company evaluates.

But no feeling comes at this price.

Naturally CEO Lee Beom-jun absolutely won’t try selling at this price either.

Didn’t he already refuse the 300 billion acquisition?

“…”

I gradually raised the price on my notepad.

The continuously rising amount stopped at a certain line.

I worried it might be too absurd an amount.

‘..Not as bad as I thought?’

***

Vice President Kang Ji-hwan arrived at the appointment location and cleared his throat.

Inside the room, the other party was already waiting.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Vice President Kang Ji-hwan.”

“Ah, yes. I’m CEO Lee Beom-jun.”

Lee Beom-jun came out anyway.

But his face showed he didn’t understand why Gwangwoon suddenly shows interest in his company.

“I’ve heard plenty about Gwangwoon. Isn’t it the hottest group in Korea right now? Such Gwangwoon wants to invest in our company?”

“Is it burdensome?”

“That’s.. Actually Laver already promised 70 billion investment. To receive more investment here..”

“I see. But we didn’t come to invest.”

“What?”

“Our Gwangwoon came to meet you directly today to acquire Yashik’s Nation.”

CEO Lee Beom-jun showed a surprised expression briefly, then soon returned to a stiff face.

“Acquisition offers came several times. I rejected each time. I have absolutely no intention of selling Yashik’s Nation.”

“How much did those companies offer?”

“The maximum was up to 400 billion.”

400 billion.

To Vice President Kang Ji-hwan’s thinking too, it was exactly an appropriate amount.

But he rejected that amount.

Is he greedy, or does he have his own conviction?

If it were Kang Ji-hwan, he absolutely wouldn’t have asked for over 400 billion.

Just looking at operating profit, receiving 400 billion now was more than enough.

The problem is the one deciding investment intention isn’t Kang Ji-hwan but Gwangwoon Securities’ president, Jeong Jin-ho.

“800 billion.”

“..Pardon?”

“That’s the acquisition amount our Gwangwoon proposes to you.”

“!?”

Kang Ji-hwan didn’t miss Lee Beom-jun’s expression.

The other party couldn’t hide his naturally twitching mouth corners.

As expected, it wasn’t refusing to sell for his own conviction.

The other side just offered too little money.

“Ahem. It’s, it’s too sudden. I said I have no selling intention..”

“Then that’s unfortunate. I have no more to discuss with someone without selling intention.”

When Kang Ji-hwan stood up from his seat, Lee Beom-jun startled and grabbed him.

“Whew. You’re really impatient too.”

“CEO. Pardon my saying, but our securities people use even 1 minute 1 second split up. Time is money. If you don’t clarify transaction intention, I also can’t waste more time.”

“..What I stated about having no selling intention was only told to foreign companies. Isn’t Gwangwoon a domestic native company? Credit is certain too.”

Kang Ji-hwan sat back down.

“I brought a draft contract. Would you like to check it?”

“I need to check here briefly and discuss with the legal team..”

“I’ll wait until tomorrow. If there’s no contact by then, we’ll consider there’s no deal.”

“Ah. By then it’ll definitely be enough. But since there are a few companies that invested in our company, you’ll need additional negotiation to resolve equity up to that side.”

“We’ll handle that ourselves. You just need to make a decision as the CEO holding maximum equity.”

CEO Lee Beom-jun had absolutely no reason to refuse.

Selling a company evaluated at around 400 billion at twice that price.

When you can exit with such big money from the delivery war already full of uncertainty, who would refuse?

You could tell just by looking at CEO Lee Beom-jun’s grinning face receiving the draft contract.

‘But will this be okay?’

Though I know people are increasingly ordering more delivery.

Can this really produce over 800 billion in value?

***

“Did you screw up business again this time?”

“Goodness. Our hyung-nim. Worrying for no reason again.”

“It’s not worrying for no reason, man. Distribution profits are going negative now.”

“Right. Kangsung Electronics’ profits are piercing the sky now, and our department stores are also going very well. Why is distribution like that?”

Kang Seong-ho and Kang Mi-ra poured nagging at their youngest sibling Kang Su-ho.

“Sigh. It’s all because of e-commerce or whatever. In the past, all citizens came to Kangsung Mart, but now everyone tries to order on the internet.”

The world rapidly changed.

No. It’s continuing to rapidly change.

At the center is this small phone.

It’s no exaggeration to say most of life revolves around phones.

Originally everyone went to marts to shop, but now if you order, they deliver automatically.

“Especially Lupang. Those bastards are the problem. This time they plan to do bullet delivery again by massively receiving foreign capital. So products ordered today will definitely arrive fresh the next day.”

“That’s possible?”

“I told you. With massive investment funds received from Japan’s Hard Bank, they’re building warehouses everywhere now. They’ll use those as hubs to do bullet delivery nationwide.”

The e-commerce market now is in explosive growth.

An era of shopping on the internet has come.

The problem is this is a chicken game.

Just one place.

A cruel chicken game where only one place can survive.

“We’re also hurriedly preparing now.”

“Is it possible? Can you beat Lupang here?”

“These bastards are dirty. They receive tremendously ample investment funds. They put headquarters in America and receive all investment from Japan while evading all our country’s laws. Especially here the founder holds less than 9% equity but has 70% voting rights.”

Though impossible in our country, if you place headquarters in America, creating special equity like Lupang to inflate voting rights is possible.

In other words, even holding just 1%, you can control the company.

Maximizing such advantages, Lupang continues pulling in foreign capital.

“So if our hyung-nim invests a bit, this younger brother will do very well. Hehe. Kangsung Electronics is going so well, they say.”

Kang Seong-ho frowned.

Rather than entrusting money to this guy, entrusting fish to a cat was better.

“Oh right. Come to think of it, this time Gwangwoon acquired Yashik’s Nation? That delivery company for 800 billion?”

At Kang Mi-ra’s words, Kang Seong-ho nodded.

“I heard too.”

They acquired a company not even valued at 400 billion for twice that price.

Honestly it was a difficult transaction to understand.

“Did that person Jeong Jin-ho proceed with that too? They say Gwangwoon also makes lots of money, but isn’t that friend splurging money tasting his own excellence?”

Kang Seong-ho frighteningly raised his eyes.

“Hey. Watch your words.”

“..Huh?”

“He’s not someone for you to casually criticize.”

“…”

At the scary expression of his brother seen in a while, Kang Su-ho slowly nodded with a stiff expression.

“If you happen to see that friend’s face, be careful not to make slips of the tongue. Though he’s younger than you, don’t treat him carelessly. Got it?”

“Ah, okay..”

The atmosphere suddenly froze coldly.

The youngest keeps scratching knowing full well that oppa loves anything related to Jeong Jin-ho.

“Oppa. Yu-jin works in distribution here, right?”

Kang Mi-ra brought up a topic to change the atmosphere.

“So?”

“You said last time. That since Ji-su has a pretty face and works well, you hoped to connect her well with Jeong Jin-ho.”

“But what can I do when that side says they won’t meet?”

Actually he suggested meetings a few times, but Jeong Jin-ho always only refused.

“That’s because you’re trying to force blind dates. How about meeting naturally through business? That they ate the delivery app side this time, doesn’t that mean Gwangwoon is gradually getting interested in distribution too? Though it’s called delivery mediation, if you develop this well, you can realize the nationwide fast delivery Lupang wants, right? So the two companies collaborating isn’t bad either. Use that excuse to make the two people meet.”

There Kang Seong-ho straightened his posture.

“Tell me more in detail.”

“Huh?”

Actually the atmosphere was like this so she just brought it up.

“Re, really doing it?”

Kang Mi-ra was rather flustered as her eldest oppa came out too seriously.