The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 241

241. Beyond the Cold War (4)

It was rare for a Washington D.C. foreign affairs official to visit a company headquarters in person.

This wasn’t because government officials considered themselves superior, but because such visits could easily raise concerns about preferential treatment.

So, Jung Hyun-woo boarded a plane to Washington.

“You’ve thoroughly prepared the materials, right?”

Luna, his secretary, answered Jung Hyun-woo’s question.

“I received and reviewed them yesterday.”

“Double-check them.”

“Understood.”

While Luna checked the documents, Jung Hyun-woo glanced at his CTO.

“Robert doesn’t seem too enthusiastic.”

Accompanying him on this trip was Robert, the Chief Technology Officer. He was also in charge of managing the company’s intellectual property rights.

“I’m not sure if this trip is entirely necessary.”

Jung Hyun-woo asked him.

“Would you feel differently if it involved an amazing game?”

Robert sighed softly and asked.

“Is this… perhaps because our company lacks a million-selling title? Is that why we’re doing this?”

Like Jung Hyun-woo, he believed that Victoria Corporation hadn’t produced any mega-hits due to John River’s creative choices.

“Are you suggesting that because our company doesn’t have a million-seller, we’re buying one from the Soviet Union?”

“Looking at Charlie’s [Jung Hyun-woo’s nickname] actions, I can’t see any other explanation.”

“Tetris isn’t just a simple million-seller.”

Robert frowned.

“Are you overestimating its potential?”

“Tetris will become a social phenomenon.”

Robert thought to himself.

‘Even Super Mario wasn’t *that* big.’

“Since Charlie is putting in this much effort, I really hope it becomes that kind of game.”

He subtly changed the subject.

“Charlie, did the move go smoothly?”

Jung Hyun-woo sighed deeply at Robert’s question.

“It’s over, but it didn’t go well.”

“What do you mean it didn’t go well?”

“There was a problem with the computer, so I had to replace it.”

To a developer, a computer was more than just a tool; it was an extension of themselves.

“Oh dear… a series of unfortunate events.”

Jung Hyun-woo, befitting his status as the wealthiest man in America, had mobilized considerable resources for the move. However, since there wasn’t a company specializing in moving sensitive tech equipment, he couldn’t prevent the accident.

‘I should have overseen the computer myself.’

Of course, not all the data on the computer was lost.

He was diligent about backups, and the secondary computer remained intact.

Besides, the 1980s was an era when data was commonly stored on floppy disks.

The data lost on the hard disk was mostly what he used daily.

“How about installing a large-capacity hard drive now that you’re replacing it?”

Even a large-capacity hard disk in the late 1980s offered less storage than a modern micro USB drive.

Of course, compared to a floppy disk, it provided an abundance of storage space.

“A large-capacity hard drive is convenient, but it can also be detrimental to a developer.”

Robert raised his eyebrows at Jung Hyun-woo’s answer.

“Detrimental to a developer?”

He considered hard disks to be storage devices with no drawbacks, except for their cost.

Jung Hyun-woo elaborated on the one weakness he perceived.

“Because ordinary users can’t afford hard disks.”

Due to the price, most users had no choice but to use 1.2MB floppy disks instead of hard disks.

“Th, that is…”

Robert couldn’t deny it.

Most home PC users relied on floppy disks for games and programs.

“Developers must make it a rule to keep the contents within one or two floppy disks.”

He was saying that using a hard disk could lead to an unconscious increase in data capacity.

Robert couldn’t disagree with his reasoning.

“Um, recently released 5 or 6-disk games are also becoming a problem in that sense.”

Jung Hyun-woo had entrusted John River with full authority over game development, but he was limiting the capacity of PC games to within three floppy disks.

“We must always think of the user first. We’re not making games just for our own amusement.”

Robert nodded.

“That’s right.”

He felt that Jung Hyun-woo was steadily maturing.

‘I thought he was precocious when I first met him, but now he’s beyond precocious.’

Jung Hyun-woo was an anomaly in many ways.

* * *

Washington D.C. State Department.

Colin Fox was the Assistant Secretary of State and was in a position to meet one-on-one with most heads of state.

Even he was surprised when Jung Hyun-woo visited the State Department in person.

‘The wealthiest man in America came himself?’

He suspected this matter involved more than just economic interests.

‘There’s no way the richest man in America would come to the State Department just for one Soviet game.’

Colin Fox believed that Victoria Corporation was planning a full-scale entry into the Soviet Union.

“Mr. Jung, welcome.”

Jung Hyun-woo sat across from him and said.

“I have something urgent to discuss, so I flew all the way to Washington.”

Robert and Luna, who had accompanied him to Washington, were unable to attend the meeting.

Colin Fox had requested a one-on-one meeting with Jung Hyun-woo. The two briefly sighed outside Colin Fox’s office.

“The State Department isn’t easily impressed.”

Even if Robert were to leave his position as CTO of Victoria Corporation, he was a billionaire in his own right, and not someone to be dismissed lightly.

Nevertheless, he was standing in the hallway of the State Department with Luna.

“It’s because I didn’t confirm the allowed number of attendees.”

As Luna apologized, Robert waved his right hand dismissively.

“Didn’t the State Department bury that detail in the fine print of the documents?”

Robert thought the documents sent by the State Department resembled the terms and conditions of an insurance company.

‘I hope diplomatic documents aren’t written in the same way?’

He hoped his concerns were unfounded.

“Still, if I had checked properly…”

Luna had been so focused on the dozens of documents to be submitted to the State Department that she had overlooked the fine print in the two documents sent by the State Department.

“It’s all in the past; we just have to wait for Charlie here.”

Ultimately, Jung Hyun-woo was the key player.

‘I wonder how he’ll fare against the State Department’s seasoned officials.’

Robert thought that even if Jung Hyun-woo failed, the company wouldn’t suffer a significant loss.

At the same time.

Jung Hyun-woo and Colin Fox were engaged in a deeper conversation.

“So, you’re saying you want to import and sell a Soviet computer game?”

Jung Hyun-woo placed the data on the table and answered.

“I’m not just importing and selling the game; I want to acquire all the rights related to the game.”

“All rights, you mean…”

“Of course, I’m referring to the rights that apply to countries outside the Soviet Union. Capitalist economics wouldn’t apply in communist countries like the Soviet Union.”

Colin Fox nodded at Jung Hyun-woo’s clarification.

“I see.”

He neither affirmed nor denied.

Jung Hyun-woo found it a bit frustrating.

‘He’s no ordinary person.’

It was even more challenging than talking to Ein Ferhmann, the First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF [International Monetary Fund].

“I’ve heard that Gorbachev of the Soviet Union supports the reform and opening policy [Perestroika and Glasnost].”

“That’s right. He wants to collaborate with Western companies to revitalize the Soviet economy. But this case seems a little different.”

Jung Hyun-woo emphasized the end of his sentence.

“Is it because we’re not buying goods from the Soviet Union, but acquiring the rights?”

Colin Fox shook his head and answered.

“It’s not that. We want to promote American culture in the Soviet Union. For example, if we sell games developed in the United States to the Soviet Union or create a joint venture with a Soviet developer, we can consider it. But isn’t this unilaterally giving money to the Soviet Union and buying software?”

He implied that unilaterally importing Soviet culture would be difficult to approve.

This was something Jung Hyun-woo hadn’t considered.

‘I didn’t think about what the US government wanted.’

He had to admit his oversight.

“Um, I’ll try to address that aspect.”

“Address it?”

“I’m going to explore ways to align this deal with the national interests of the United States.”

Colin Fox spoke calmly, but he was surprised by Jung Hyun-woo’s reaction and proposal.

‘I thought he was just a young genius programmer, but his words reveal a certain sophistication.’

He had to acknowledge that Jung Hyun-woo was unlike his peers.

“If it’s a deal that serves the national interests of the United States, we’ll actively consider it.”

Jung Hyun-woo assumed the conversation would end there.

‘I need to refine the deal to align with the US government’s objectives.’

He was mentally reviewing the conversation when Colin Fox raised his right hand and said.

“Mr. Jung, there’s one more issue.”

The second issue.

Jung Hyun-woo couldn’t help but frown at his words.

“Another issue?”

This problem seemed serious.

“The CIA is expressing significant concern about Victoria Corporation’s deal.”

Jung Hyun-woo was surprised to hear that the CIA, which had previously been on good terms with him, was now expressing concern about Victoria Corporation.

“The CIA, you mean?”

Colin Fox nodded and answered.

“They’ve offered some advice.”

The State Department and the CIA weren’t close, but they weren’t at odds either.

They cooperated when necessary and competed when they had to.

“What’s the reason for the CIA’s concern about this deal?”

Jung Hyun-woo knew that even if he was rejected, he needed to understand the reason.

Colin Fox didn’t keep him in suspense.

“As you know, the Soviet Union’s hacking capabilities are highly advanced. Even with Victoria Corporation’s excellent security technology, it’s difficult to guarantee complete protection against their hacking attempts. Therefore, the CIA believes that if Victoria Corporation engages in trade with a Soviet company, a significant amount of information could be leaked through hacking.”

Jung Hyun-woo considered the CIA’s concerns unfounded, but in 1986, during the height of the Cold War, dismissing them wouldn’t be effective.

“If our company is hacked…”

“If a war breaks out, even Wall Street will be affected.”

The Soviet Union could use Victoria Corporation as a stepping stone to hack the entire United States.

Jung Hyun-woo sighed softly.

“Hoo… I won’t say it’s impossible. But that won’t happen.”

Colin Fox neither affirmed nor denied Jung Hyun-woo’s denial.

“Mr. Jung, don’t misunderstand. I’m not a technician, so I’m simply relaying the possibility raised by the CIA.”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t become angry or raise his voice. Instead, he spoke calmly.

“I’ll take that into consideration and revise the plan.”

Colin Fox offered advice in a quiet voice.

“Mr. Jung, simply strengthening security won’t be enough.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at his words.

“I’ll keep that in mind as well.”

He stood up from his seat, and the first meeting at the State Department concluded without any concrete results, only with tasks to be done.

When Jung Hyun-woo emerged, Robert sighed softly.

“Hoo… things didn’t go well.”

He had rarely seen Jung Hyun-woo’s face so grim.

‘It seems he was flatly rejected.’

Jung Hyun-woo said to Robert.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but there were more unexpected obstacles than I anticipated.”

“Are we heading back right away?”

“No. Let’s think about this for a bit.”

Jung Hyun-woo left the State Department and headed to a nearby cafe. When Jung Hyun-woo’s group of seven people, including bodyguards, entered the cafe, they drew considerable attention.

“Who is that?”

“Definitely someone important. Isn’t he surrounded by bodyguards?”

Washington’s famous cafes were often frequented by key figures who were protected by bodyguards.

“I guess so…”

Jung Hyun-woo thought that Washington was surprisingly tolerant.

‘Maybe it’s because there are so many politicians here; the attention is less intense than in Boston.’

Of course, the reaction would have been different if the people in the cafe had recognized him.

“It looks like you want to analyze the situation before heading back.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and said to Robert.

“I think it’s best to organize my thoughts now while the conversation is still fresh in my mind.”

No matter how good your memory is, some details will inevitably fade over time.

“What did the State Department say?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered.

“They said it couldn’t be done for two reasons.”

Robert tilted his head.

“Only two reasons?”

He had expected to hear many more objections.

‘But those two reasons might be insurmountable obstacles.’

Jung Hyun-woo explained the two reasons.

After listening to his explanation, Robert felt that even the first problem would be difficult to overcome.

“What the US government wants is the promotion of American culture… Since there are no IBM computers in homes in the Soviet Union, there will be no benefit to us even if we enter the Soviet Union.”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice at the end of his sentence.

“Should we sell computers instead?”

Robert shook his head vehemently.

“Absolutely not. Isn’t the computer considered a strategic asset?”

He meant that even computers used in homes could become dangerous weapons if they fell into the hands of enemy countries.

Jung Hyun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking about the US semiconductor export controls in the 2020s.

‘Tsk, I was too optimistic.’

It was at that moment that Robert carefully posed a question.

“What about establishing a joint venture?”

“Establishing a joint venture, you mean?”

“I’m suggesting we establish a joint venture to produce games in the Soviet Union. Wouldn’t that allow us to introduce American culture, at least partially?”

Jung Hyun-woo frowned.

“They won’t allow it.”

“Is it because the impact wouldn’t be significant enough?”

Jung Hyun-woo shook his head and answered.

“It’s because it’s intertwined with the second reason.”

The second reason.

It was Victoria Corporation’s vulnerability to hacking.

“Isn’t there a significant risk associated with traveling back and forth to the developer in the Soviet Union, in terms of potential hacking?”

“If we have a developer in the Soviet Union, equipment and personnel will inevitably travel back and forth. No matter how much we prioritize security, someone could make a mistake. And there’s also the possibility of employees being recruited by the Soviet Union.”

Robert couldn’t deny it.

“Hmm, I see your point. If an employee is recruited by the Soviet Union, establishing a joint venture would be problematic.”

If someone made a mistake, Victoria Corporation’s security could be compromised.

Jung Hyun-woo tapped the table and fell into thought.

‘I want to secure the rights first, somehow.’

He believed that if he waited until the Soviet Union collapsed, he would lose his opportunity.

‘Many companies are vying for Tetris.’

In particular, Nintendo had secured the console rights to Tetris and sold it as a bundled game with the North American version of the Game Boy, a portable game console.

As a result, Tetris achieved overwhelming sales of tens of millions on the Game Boy alone.

Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.

Jung Hyun-woo’s fingernails rhythmically tapped the table.

How long did he tap the table?

The tapping stopped.

“I’ve thought of something.”

Robert raised his voice at the end of his sentence.

“Is it a viable idea?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and answered.

“I think we can solve the first problem.”

Robert was skeptical.

‘Is there really a solution?’

Jung Hyun-woo explained his solution to the first problem.

“It’s about selling console game consoles, not computers and computer software.”

Since console game consoles are only connected to TVs and not to networks, there was no risk of hacking.

“That’s a good idea.”

Robert thought Jung Hyun-woo had identified the key issue. But there were still challenges.

“But we don’t produce console game consoles ourselves, do we?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered his question.

“We’ll have to obtain export rights from Nintendo.”

He was planning to use Nintendo’s NES [Nintendo Entertainment System] to open the Iron Curtain.