Chapter 84

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Premium jet.

It’s actually not frequently used in our country.

When going on business trips, especially within groups, you need to be at least president level to use them.

Usually people take commercial flights.

I was going to do that too.

Because Mylon Tusk requested a meeting in California for this Close AI stake acquisition.

But hyung-nim suddenly said he prepared a premium jet as company property, so I should use it.

Moreover, this premium jet wasn’t used by our company executives or even hyung-nim himself—it was prepared solely for me.

“No. Hyung-nim. Why did you buy something this nice?”

[You’re our company’s face. And the most important person. Plus you’re going to meet that Tusk or Rusk or whatever. Our company has prestige. You’re president, so would it work to just take a commercial flight?]

“You should’ve invested this money instead..”

[Keke. Compared to the money you made, this level of jet isn’t even a handful of sand, so have a good trip. Ah. Buy a gift. Liquor.]

“You said liquor tastes bad so you don’t drink it.”

[But it looks stylish.]

Didn’t he say his dream was drinking whiskey alone at night immersed in contemplation with one ice cube?

Of course, there was the sad-funny story of trying a few times but it absolutely didn’t suit his taste so he poured in cola.

“President. Enflix and AMC in California contacted us saying they’ll prepare to welcome you.”

“What? Suddenly?”

“Yes. They seem to think this California visit is to inspect each company’s progress.”

That wasn’t the intention.

Isn’t California famous for Silicon Valley where countless IT companies gather?

That’s why Tusk wanted to meet me there too.

But Enflix and AMC located in California seemed to think I was visiting to meet Tusk while simultaneously inspecting both companies.

“Still, visiting once seems good. Not to enforce discipline, but it’s troublesome if things get too loose. Plus what you hear through reports is different from visiting directly, right?”

Manager Seo was right.

Visiting companies we own and invest in to confirm they’re working properly was also our job.

“It’ll be a long flight, so please rest well. Headquarters is already collecting data and organizing reports, so they’ll transmit immediately when ready.”

“Ah, yes. You should rest too, Manager.”

“Haha. Just riding this expensive airplane is already sufficient rest for me. Thanks to you, President, I’m experiencing such luxury.”

After flying to California by jet and arriving at the airport, we headed straight to the hotel.

We could head to AMC or Enflix immediately, but the schedule wasn’t packed tight.

How should I put it?

More like coming on vacation using the meeting as an excuse.

So I just lay in the hotel for one day.

I didn’t feel like going outside to do something.

Because this ultra-luxury suite room the company booked felt too precious to waste.

And I realized lounging in the hotel was more fun than expected.

Doing nothing while looking around the room, ordering room service, playing games on the laptop I brought.

It was a happy day.

“Fortunately you seem well-rested.”

“Does it show?”

“Yes. Your face looks bright.”

“Manager, you’re the opposite?”

“Yes. Maybe because I’m getting old, I absolutely can’t adjust to the time difference.”

“Want to rest more?”

“No. Even with other employees here, I should attend to you, President.”

The first place we visited was AMC.

Isn’t it the field that could be our future’s best cash cow?

“Welcome, President.”

At AMC, all executives came out to the entrance waiting for me.

“You don’t need to welcome me this much.”

“Not at all. You’re the person who saved our AMC, so of course we should do this much. Then please come inside.”

CEO Lisa Wu briefed with executives about AMC’s current semiconductor strategy and production goals.

“…”

I accumulated data while listening to their report and presentation.

And like Manager said, I’m glad I came here.

Just receiving reports from afar versus coming directly to listen and confirm their goals was definitely different.

Even now watching this proposal while listening to the presentation, intuition is immediately ringing in my head.

“I heard your presentation well. But as you know, the reason the semiconductor market is rapidly rising now is greatly influenced by Bitcoin. In other words, if the Bitcoin bubble bursts, semiconductor companies and graphics manufacturers could also be affected.”

The reason the semiconductor market and graphics manufacturers like AMC rose is because of Bitcoin.

However, Bitcoin prices don’t always just rise.

Though prices currently soared past $20,000, signs were showing prices gradually collapsing and the bubble bursting.

Experts were already clamoring that now is the last chance to escape.

“But unlike Bitcoin, there’s something that increases more as time passes. Exactly servers. Whether existing companies or new startups, servers are absolutely necessary. We’re manufacturing what those servers need. So please focus maximum effort on increasing manufacturing there and hurrying technology development.”

I removed most items on the current proposal list, checking only what my intuition reacted to.

“These are the proposals I’m approving. Please remove everything else from the project.”

“..If I may be so bold, President. You just said if the Bitcoin bubble bursts it’ll greatly affect us too, yet you’re still increasing production?”

“Yes. Bitcoin has particularly severe price fluctuations. Major crashes come, and conversely it rises like piercing the sky. Ultimately looking long-term, it’ll keep rising. People will probably say the Bitcoin era ended when crashes come, but that absolutely won’t happen.”

The reason I’m this confident is because I’ve already seen through my intuition how high Bitcoin prices rise.

Though I can’t know the exact date, Bitcoin becomes much more expensive than now.

“The current peak stopped at $20,000, but someday it’ll surpass $100,000.”

“1-$100,000!?”

Executives started murmuring.

Most reactions were how could Bitcoin reach $100,000.

People made such a fuss it’d hit $30,000, but aren’t they ultimately failing to cross that wall and declining?

“Anyway, please lead well according to this proposal. Especially for technology, please tackle it with the goal of definitely surpassing Amvidia through cooperation with Kangsung.”

***

After finishing the meeting like that, Manager Seo sidled up to me on the way back.

“President. But will Bitcoin really reach $100,000?”

“Yes. Someday it will.”

That doesn’t mean I plan to buy it now.

Not only can’t I know when it’ll reach $100,000, but operating the KW exchange already prohibits Bitcoin trading.

Moreover, rather than buying that to hold long-term, investing elsewhere now to gain profits was better.

Because I’m not someone who likes long-term investment, but always prefers investments yielding short-term profits.

Of course, if my intuition reacts, the story changes again.

***

“The Mugunghwa Game that you specifically told us to pay attention to is currently in production. But the director here seems to be a perfectionist, so he’s incredibly meticulous. From casting actors to constructing sets, he’s examining everything in detail.”

In other words, the production period takes long because of the director.

I looked at the Mugunghwa Game proposal.

“…”

Still shining beautifully and brilliantly.

Looking quietly at that light, soon one image embedded in my mind.

The bizarre sight of the whole world plastered with Mugunghwa Game.

A drama set in our country of all places spreading worldwide.

Is this what cultural conquest means?

“Please do everything this director requests. The production period doesn’t matter how long it takes.”

“Ah, yes.”

“And probably this is what you, CEO, waited for most.”

What I handed CEO Rod Bysteings were the next series to proceed with investment.

Indeed he sparkled his eyes and carefully received my checklist like receiving a treasure map.

“Then I’ll get up now.”

“Oh. You’re leaving without seeing more? Like filming sets or scenarios.. Actually everyone’s incredibly curious about you, President. Especially directors and writers. How can every work you choose become a huge hit?”

“Really?”

“Yes. So writers sometimes lament. That a legendary drama writer could have been born, but that talent went to finance instead. Haha. So.. If possible, they want to hear advice about stories.”

Then all the more I need to leave here quickly.

Because I don’t know stories well to begin with, and I’ve never once watched the hit works I picked.

“I can’t interfere with creative freedom. Plus if I go there carelessly, it might burden filming too. Please tell them I’ll just cheer hard from behind.”

“Your philosophy is truly different. Though your story sense is outstanding, you don’t interfere for creative freedom and invest with trust.. Thanks to you, I learned something again today.”

“…”

I warmly concluded and left the Enflix headquarters building.

“President. Representative Mylon Tusk says he arrived at the meeting place.”

“Ah. Let’s hurry.”

“Yes. I’ll take you right away.”

I headed to the meeting place with employees.

Actually what I looked forward to most on this business trip was meeting Mylon Tusk.

Not because of the Close AI acquisition matter.

Rather because of my personal curiosity.

There was one thing I wanted to ask if I met him.

Did you create Bitcoin?

***

“Finally meeting you like this. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

Tusk waiting at the meeting place welcomed me warmly.

I thought it’d be a formal, stiff business meeting atmosphere, but it was the opposite.

“Me?”

“Yes. One good thing when you establish a company and become rich is your information network widens. Especially as exchanges with people in upper circles increase, you hear much talk. And lately I’ve been hearing much talk about you.”

“I’m not someone who’d receive that much attention. In America at that.”

“How could that be? Aren’t you the protagonist who recently joined hands even with the White House to sweep financial markets? Plus the person who collapsed TSNC dominating the semiconductor market and directly put a collar on Amvidia’s neck is being humble.”

I just smiled lightly.

“So I wanted to meet directly to ask. Exactly when were you planning this tremendous scheme? I never even dreamed you’d overturn the semiconductor and graphics card market already tilted one way.”

“Just lucky.”

“I wonder. Dominating the shipping business and joining hands with China to starve TSNC—is that hard to see as luck?”

I quietly observed Tusk’s grinning face.

Shining golden, dyed black, and also distorted like noise appeared.

It was a type I’d never seen.

No. I definitely have memories of seeing it somewhere.

“Seeing you’re not answering, I won’t ask deeper. I’d hate for our company to suffer damage like other companies that disappeared or collapsed after needlessly touching your nerves. Shall we talk business then?”

“Good.”

“45% Close AI stake. $200 million. I think it’s a very reasonable price. If it weren’t for the AI development our Tisla is proceeding with, I would’ve kept holding this stake.”

The reason Tusk is putting out this stake is because of his company.

Tisla’s current goal is complete autonomous driving.

To do that they must develop detailed AI, and though Close AI is a non-profit company, it was highly likely to become a competitor someday.

Due to such conflict of interest issues, he’s leaving after letting go of stakes.

“They insist on non-profit now, but current CEO Nick Mactmann will also ultimately have to abandon non-profit. The world is like that. Even with good purposes, ultimately money is needed.”

“The executives there don’t oppose?”

“What can they do? They don’t have funds to buy my stake paying $200 million. And that you chose here, President, means this company’s future is certain?”

That my intuition chose here among countless AI companies means the potential is definitely better than elsewhere.

“However, ultimately Google will win. No matter how skilled the people here are, they can’t match their funds or resources. Accumulated data too.”

“You speak as if you don’t plan to sell.”

“I’m just speaking honestly. Actually it doesn’t matter if I can’t sell. The reason I came out here today is to see your face directly and have a conversation. Since I achieved that result, I’m satisfied.”

I sent a subtle glance to employees who’d been frozen earlier.

They brought out the contract our company made.

“Oh. But you’re still buying?”

“What can I do? I can’t buy Google.”

“Buying a dark horse to resist the giant dinosaur. You have stronger fighter temperament than you look.”

***

Tusk confirmed the contract through employees he brought.

Though he spoke like someone who didn’t want to sell, he finished signing at light speed lest I change my mind.

After both finishing signing, we shook hands.

Like that, before parting to return to our respective vehicles.

When employees were behind and just the two of us were there, I resolved my long-held curiosity.

“Bitcoin, did you make it?”

Satoshi Nakamoto.

A Japanese name, but no one thinks he’s Japanese.

And rumors had circulated strongly that Mylon Tusk was Bitcoin’s creator.

“Officially I said no.”

However, he dismissed the rumor through SNS saying he didn’t create Bitcoin.

“But even if I were really Satoshi, I would’ve officially said no. It’s far better to leave this as a mystery.”

Meaningful words.

Does he mean he’ll keep it secret to the end?

“Then I’ll look forward to meeting again. Somehow I don’t think this will be our last meeting.”

“Yes. I hope we’re connected again.”

I shook hands with him once more for the last time.

And looking at his face still distorting, shining, then repeatedly breaking, a sensation came to mind.

This feeling, this form.

Exactly what I felt when first seeing Bitcoin.

Unpredictable madness.