We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 97

97

Purchasers (1)

Lee Kang-noh composed himself.

Regardless of the era, it was unheard of for the business world to challenge the political world.

Because there is no businessman who doesn’t have some skeletons in the closet, so even a single tax investigation could cause headaches.

It would be a lie to say that he had only done clean business while rising to the top of the business world. All the heads of large corporations knew that was impossible.

“Connect me.”

Soon, a familiar voice was heard.

-Chairman Lee Kang-noh. Long time no see.

“Are you Chief Secretary Jung?”

-Yes. I know it’s rude to contact you directly from the Blue House like this. But His Excellency was so insistent that I had to call you.

“Hmm. Is there anything I can help with?”

-Chairman. The government wants to purchase Androids.

“Are you talking about CEO Lee Yoo-sung’s Androids?”

-That’s right.

“It’s not yet commercialized. It’s not like he’s seeking investment, and I think it will take quite a while to commercialize.”

-Mass purchases wouldn’t be bad, but that’s not what the government wants.

“In that case…….”

-It’s about accumulating technology.

“Hahaha.”

Lee Kang-noh laughed humorlessly.

Because the government is now declaring that it will somehow extract the technology of a young businessman.

That too, under the direct instruction of the President.

If the country possesses the technology, it will be able to wield tremendous power.

Lee Kang-noh was lost in thought.

‘Only in Korea? No. Powerful countries will try to obtain and disassemble Androids by any means. They will try to accumulate technology that way. Or create replicas.’

Of course, CEO Lee Yoo-sung would have applied for a patent. But patents have many loopholes, so if you apply new technology to create a new Android, that’s the end of it.

The Korean government wanted that.

The same was true in other countries, so it seems like a good idea to seize this opportunity to give CEO Lee Yoo-sung a large sum of money so that he can move forward.

Because there are plenty of people who will try to get their hands on it by any means if he says he won’t sell.

What if CEO Lee Yoo-sung resists?

They might try to kidnap him somewhere. That’s how much of a global impact Androids can have.

“I’ll talk to him.”

-Please contact us as soon as possible. His Excellency is not a very patient person. I trust you know that.

“Y-yes, of course.”

Lee Kang-noh hangs up the phone and strokes his chest.

The relationship between H Group and CEO Lee Yoo-sung was known worldwide.

H Group was pointed out as CEO Lee Yoo-sung’s backer when Lee Kang-noh took an interest. It was self-inflicted, but he didn’t feel bad.

“Is it time for me to step in?”

Lee Kang-noh got up from his seat.

This important issue must be resolved by meeting CEO Lee Yoo-sung in person.

“Secretary Yang. Have the car ready.”

-Yes, Chairman.

It seems I’ll have to go to CL Retail headquarters.

It was almost lunchtime.

For now, the protesters had dispersed.

The store owners were satisfied that they could save as much labor costs as possible. Of course, detailed negotiations will be concluded by sending a negotiating team from our side.

I decided to have lunch with Lee Seul-gi in the cafeteria.

“CEO. To produce lunch boxes like that, you have to operate them directly.”

“We can do that.”

“Currently, one directly managed factory is in operation, producing about 3,000 units per day. But lunch boxes are needed every day.”

“So, you mean the rest is produced by outsourcing?”

“Yes. We produce through outsourcing. We pay royalties to them.”

“Hmm. That means we need to expand the factory or acquire a lunch box company.”

“That’s what you need to do to maximize profits.”

Even if something is about to be achieved, it doesn’t happen quickly.

More than 80% of the production of convenience foods, including lunch boxes, comes from outsourcing. As a result, the company’s profit margin is naturally lowered.

“How are other competitors doing?”

“About 30% is produced directly.”

“30%, huh.”

The situation is similar, but CL Retail had the lowest percentage of directly managed companies. Increasing that seems to be the immediate goal.

“Are there any faltering companies?”

“There’s a lunch box company that’s faltering this time. It used to send about 2,000 units to CL Retail, but I heard that the headquarters is selling it off because they made a bad investment.”

“Is it owned by a large corporation?”

“Not a large corporation… You know Haejin Group, right?”

“Ah, Haejin Group.”

“I heard rumors that they are preparing to sell it.”

“Is it really just a rumor?”

“Shall we test the waters?”

“Please do.”

“But the money…….”

Lee Seul-gi frowned slightly.

To do something, you need money, but the company was already suffering from deficits. Even the salaries of employees in directly managed convenience stores had to be paid with corporate bonds.

So, it is almost impossible to raise more funds here.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“We’ll have to do a rights offering and I’ll buy the shares, or issue more corporate bonds and I’ll buy them.”

“You don’t have any problems with management control right now.”

“It’s always good to have more shares.”

I smiled slightly.

If a rights offering is made, the stock will fall at that moment, but it will surely rise if management is normalized.

If we become the top convenience store in the country and even expand overseas, the rate at which my assets grow will be enormous.

At that time, I can leave only 50% of the shares and sell the rest to invest in other fields.

“Hmm. Then I’ll review the issuance of BWs [Bond with Warrants] as well.”

“You’re saying you’re going to issue warrants.”

“Yes. Of course, the target is the CEO.”

“Good.”

There were many ways to invest in the company.

Since I was the manager now, there was also a way to invest funds by issuing shares and immediately acquiring them myself.

In fact, many companies increased their ownership in this way, and it was a method that often appeared in management succession.

Ding!

When I arrived in the lobby, I heard a commotion.

“What’s going on?”

The security guards come running.

The head of security’s face was pale.

“What’s wrong? Did the tax authorities come out for an investigation?”

Lee Seul-gi asked with a serious face.

If a tax investigation is suddenly launched, the company will inevitably be hit hard. This is because it is difficult for a mid-sized company to operate while fully complying with the law.

“That’s not it… Chairman Lee Kang-noh of H Group has arrived!”

“……!”

Lee Seul-gi couldn’t help but be surprised at those words.

“Chairman Lee Kang-noh?”

Swoosh!

People parted to the left and right.

It wasn’t the miracle of Moses, but I had never seen people part like this. That’s how powerful Chairman Lee Kang-noh is in the business world.

Soon, I was able to face Chairman Lee Kang-noh.

“Welcome, Chairman.”

He is the number one person in the business world.

If it was the chairman himself who came all the way here, not Chief Han Cheol-soo, it was highly likely that it was a very important story.

“Haha. It’s been a while. I’ve only met you once, but I’ve been hearing stories through Chief Han Cheol-soo.”

“Yes. I know that the Chairman is supporting me. I am always grateful.”

“I have something important to discuss, so can you spare some time?”

“Of course.”

“Is it before dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go together. I’ve made a reservation.”

“Thank you.”

I looked at Lee Seul-gi.

She nodded slightly.

Since Chairman Lee Kang-noh came in person, it was better to have a private meeting here.

Chairman Lee and I headed to a nearby Japanese restaurant.

Sashimi and various dishes were lavishly laid out on the table.

Chairman Lee naturally offered me alcohol, and I couldn’t refuse.

You can’t do business in Korea if you refuse Chairman Lee Kang-noh. So, if he gives you alcohol, you have to drink it.

“Take it.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Pour, pour, pour.

Several rounds of drinks went around.

Chairman Lee Kang-noh started with everyday stories.

“How is it to be a manager? Does it suit you?”

“Although it’s management, isn’t it ultimately about people making money? I think the way to succeed is to use people well.”

“Hahaha! That’s right. People management is the beginning and the end.”

Of course, people management is important, but ideas and the drive to match them are also necessary. Your own abilities had to support you as well.

However, Chairman Lee Kang-noh was based on human management.

If the old man wants to hear that, it’s only right to tell him.

“These days, most people live forgetting that spirit. It’s not a good phenomenon.”

Lee Kang-noh clicked his tongue.

He had been managing that way as an old man and had achieved tremendous success.

But the world these days is not so easy. There was a high possibility that human management would end in Chairman Lee Kang-noh’s generation.

“Can you guess why I came to see you?”

“Hmm. Is it because of Android?”

“Oh. And?”

“If the chairman himself is moving, the Blue House [the South Korean equivalent of the White House] must have intervened. Since they don’t have a connection with me, I think they asked you to build a bridge.”

“Hahaha.”

An emotion of admiration flashes in Chairman Lee Kang-noh’s eyes.

If you say one thing, he knows everything.

There was only one reason why Chairman Lee Kang-noh came all the way here. He came because the government pressured him. There was only one reason for that now.

If it was something else, he would have sent the head of the department.

Chairman Lee Kang-noh’s eyes shine like a tiger.

“Do you have any idea why the government is doing that?”

“I think they’re trying to disassemble it and accumulate technology.”

“That’s an accurate analysis. What do you think?”

“I don’t think there’s anything I can do if I refuse.”

“That’s right.”

“Maybe they’ll flock in from all over the world. Right now, they’re not going to use Androids, but they’re going to try to take the lead in the technology. If I don’t sell it, I might get kidnapped somewhere.”

“I saw the right person.”

I clink glasses with Lee Kang-noh.

From the moment Chairman Lee Kang-noh came, I thought that I might be in danger.

Unless I reach the realm of 6 circles where teleportation is possible, it is best to be careful now. Even if I can use black magic, it is best to hide it, and since government agencies cannot interpret the technology anyway, it would be profitable to sell Android at a high price.

This time, I decided to ask a question.

I could fully guess the government’s intentions.

So how much should I get?

Chairman Lee Kang-noh can give me an estimate.

“Chairman. How much should I sell Android for? It’s a long way to commercialization, but countries are trying to buy it for the purpose of technology extortion.”

“You should get 100 million dollars per unit. I want to tell you to get more, but it’s not technology, it’s a product sale, and once it’s commercialized, each country will tear it apart and disassemble it. At that time, large corporations and other companies will obviously tear it apart and disassemble it. It’s a condition of selling it about a year earlier, so I think 100 million dollars is a reasonable price.”

“To each country?”

“That’s right. To each country. You don’t think only the Korean government will move, do you?”