The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 107

107. The Typhoon’s Landing (2)

Herald Khan’s mouth felt parched.

“Another failure?”

He had been leading a team for the past few months to create a program that replicated JP Services. However, they had yet to produce any significant results.

“It was perfect in the lab, but we encountered an error again while linking it to the bank server.”

“Is it a bug?”

“I’m not sure.”

Herald Khan sighed deeply at the technical team’s response.

“Hoo… Are you saying you can’t tell if it’s an unexpected bug, a simple error, or a mistake on our end?”

“We apologize.”

Herald Khan furrowed his brow, clasping his hands together.

“If we don’t have something usable within the next few months, we’re all finished.”

The technical team leader disregarded his words.

‘You’re the one who’ll be finished.’

The Morgan Stanley technical team’s primary task wasn’t program development. Their main job was to manage Morgan Stanley’s servers and back up data.

Developing new programs was just a bonus for them.

‘Who else would do this if they cut us?’

The development team leader didn’t think a major problem would occur even if this project failed.

‘It’s a troublesome project.’

He hoped this project would be canceled as soon as possible. But what he said was the opposite of what he thought.

“We will do our best.”

Herald Khan nodded and stood up.

“Bring the review materials in three hours.”

“Understood.”

Herald Khan left the office ahead of the technical team leader.

‘It feels like hitting a rock with an egg [a futile effort].’

He took the elevator up to the 21st floor.

On the 21st floor was the office of his direct superior, Howard Robinson.

Ding.

The elevator arrived on the 21st floor with a short bell sound.

Click.

The door opened, and Herald Khan quickly walked towards Howard Robinson’s office.

“It’s Herald.”

“Come in.”

When Herald Khan opened the door and entered, Howard Robinson was talking to someone.

Herald Khan recognized the face of the person sitting in front of him.

‘Who is this?’

Sean Luke.

Known within the company as the head of JP Morgan’s technology division and the person in charge of JP Services.

‘Why is he at Morgan Stanley?’

As he questioned this in his mind, Howard Robinson said in a bright voice.

“Herald, you’re just in time.”

He gestured for Herald Khan to take the seat on the left.

As Herald Khan sat down, Howard Robinson introduced Sean Luke, who was sitting across from him.

“This is Mr. Luke.”

Sean Luke had a stiff expression.

“I’m Sean Luke.”

Herald Khan shook his hand and bowed slightly.

“I’m Herald Khan.”

Howard Robinson smiled, seemingly pleased with the meeting between the two.

“Sean, this friend is the leader of our project team.”

“Project T, you mean?”

“That’s right.”

Project T.

A project to replicate JP Services developed by Victoria Corporation.

Sean Luke seemed to know all the details.

“Herald, from now on, this friend will be in charge of Project T.”

The ominous premonition was correct.

Morgan Stanley was taking action due to the sluggish progress of Project T.

“Mr. Luke will be?”

“That doesn’t mean your position will change. The higher-ups just thought more investment was needed.”

Howard Robinson explained that it wasn’t that Herald Khan was getting another manager above him, but that the personnel working on Project T were being greatly expanded, and Sean Luke was coming in as the manager.

“The chairman has high expectations for this project.”

The senior executives at Morgan Stanley were quite stimulated by the success of American Services.

They instructed that Morgan Stanley’s clients should be provided with services similar to JP Services within the next six months.

“The chairman said that?”

“Yes.”

“It’s impossible.”

Howard Robinson frowned at the unexpected statement.

“Impossible?”

“The project’s progress is difficult.”

Howard Robinson spoke reassuringly to Herald Khan.

“It will be fine now that Sean is here.”

He expected Sean Luke to establish the system for Project T.

But Herald Khan knew that it wasn’t a project that could be changed by one person’s power.

‘To make Project T successful, we need excellent engineers and developers, not just a manager.’

He thought that the Morgan Stanley executives didn’t accurately grasp the situation.

“Actually, today’s test also failed.”

Howard Robinson turned his gaze to Sean Luke.

“Sean, what do you think?”

Sean Luke answered his question.

“It’s probably because the development team is understaffed. Unless skilled developers and engineers are added, the project will repeatedly fail.”

Herald Khan couldn’t help but be surprised by Sean Luke’s surprisingly accurate assessment.

‘The person in charge of JP Services didn’t get that position for nothing.’

Howard Robinson nodded, seemingly satisfied with Sean Luke’s answer.

“You’ll get as many personnel as you want. So, make sure to make Project T a success.”

Sean Luke answered that he understood, but he wasn’t confident in the success of Project T.

‘Replicating the program isn’t that difficult. The problem is the know-how to operate the system.’

Without a genius like Jung Hyun-woo, Project T would eventually fail.

Nevertheless, the reason he took on Project T was because this was the only place that would call him.

‘I’ve become a pathetic figure.’

It was when Sean Luke came out of Howard’s office with a bitter expression.

“Mr. Luke.”

Herald Khan followed him out and called him.

“Mr. Khan?”

“I was surprised by your accurate analysis.”

Sean Luke gave a wry smile.

“I wouldn’t be able to take on this project if I couldn’t even make that much of an assessment.”

“The increase in development personnel, is that really possible?”

“It’s hard to say for sure.”

Herald Khan’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Just now, Mr. Robinson said…”

Sean Luke turned his body and said.

“He doesn’t know how difficult this project is.”

“Surely not?”

“Don’t expect too much. You won’t get the level of support you want.”

Herald Khan couldn’t help but be surprised by Sean Luke’s cynical reaction.

‘If the person in charge is saying this much, the project is as good as gone.’

He headed to the elevator with a long sigh.

* * *

“Unexpected.”

The person who threw the documents on the desk was Henri Arnault, the head of JP Morgan Investment Bank.

“I also think it’s unexpected.”

The person sitting in front of him was John Pierre, who could be called his confidant.

“It’s not like he predicted the future, how could this happen?”

What Henri Arnault was questioning was the rate of return of a VIP client.

“I can only explain it as good luck.”

Henri Arnault frowned at John Pierre’s answer.

“$100 million in profit with luck.”

He even felt a sense of futility.

“Still, our company’s deposits have increased, so I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”

“Still, even so.”

It was when Henri Arnault clasped his hands together.

Beep.

The secretary’s intercom rang.

He reached out and pressed the call button.

“What’s going on?”

“Miss Hilton is on line 1.”

Henri Arnault shrugged his shoulders and said.

“Why now of all times?”

“Shall I say you’re in a meeting?”

“No. Connect her.”

“Understood.”

At the same time as the secretary’s answer, the phone rang again.

Henri Arnault pressed the button again.

“This is Henri Arnault.”

“This is Sarah Hilton.”

Sarah’s voice was bright.

Henri Arnault thought it was inevitable.

‘Because her partner earned $100 million.’

The investor he was questioning was Jung Hyun-woo.

Jung Hyun-woo invested a large sum of $300 million to buy shares of Japanese companies when the Japanese stock market plummeted due to pressure from the US government. JP Morgan’s fund manager, John Pierre, gave negative opinions each time, but the situation reversed when the second-quarter results of Japanese companies were announced.

With the earnings surprise of Japanese companies, the Japanese stock market rose sharply, and Jung Hyun-woo was able to earn a profit of $110 million. And this profit was still increasing in real-time.

“Miss Hilton, it’s been a while. What brings you here today?”

“I have something to ask you in person.”

She wanted a face-to-face meeting.

“Well… my schedule is full this week.”

“Next week is fine too.”

“Then how about next Wednesday?”

“Okay. Then I’ll see you on Wednesday. Where shall we meet?”

Henri Arnault naturally thought the meeting place would be here in New York.

‘I can’t go all the way to Boston.’

He clicked his tongue inwardly and replied.

“How about meeting in New York?”

“Okay. Then let’s meet at the New York branch office of Victoria Corporation.”

Sarah wanted to meet him at the New York branch of Victoria Corporation, not Henri Arnault’s office.

‘I came all the way to New York, so you’re saying you should come out of your office too.’

Henri Arnault frowned and nodded.

“Okay. Then I’ll see you at the New York branch of Victoria Corporation at 2 PM.”

He hung up the phone and loosened his tie.

“What does she say?”

John Pierre’s question.

Henri Arnault clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, she’s telling me to come to their office.”

“Is it a power struggle?”

“Maybe.”

“Mr. Arnault, Victoria Corporation is now a company that cannot be ignored.”

Victoria Corporation became a Wall Street star by successfully launching American Services.

Recently, Forbes published an article estimating the company value of Victoria Corporation at $3 billion.

“The Hilton family’s daughter is difficult.”

Sarah Hilton was not an easy opponent for Henri Arnault.

‘Besides, her arrogance is overwhelming.’

Perhaps Jung Hyun-woo’s investment was also based on her instructions.

“John.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I think we should increase our investment in Japan as well.”

John Pierre raised his eyebrows.

“Increase our investment in Japan?”

Currently, opinions were divided on Wall Street.

Some said they should invest in Japan, while others said it was time to get out of Japan.

“Charlie Jung, it might not be bad to bet on his luck.”

John Pierre lowered his eyebrows and said.

“That’s not like you, Mr. Arnault.”

“Not like me?”

“You’re not one to bet on luck, are you?”

Henri Arnault laughed softly.

“Hehehe, bet on luck. That’s right. I was too shaken up.”

He raised his right hand and said.

“Okay, reduce our investment in Japan.”

It was an instruction that was the opposite of what he had said earlier.

Nevertheless, John Pierre bowed his head and received the instruction.

“Understood. I will reduce our investment in Japan.”

The reason he received the instruction without complaint was because he thought the future of Japan was bleak.

‘Japan will soon be destroyed.’

He was convinced that this would happen in six months at the earliest, or a year at the latest.

* * *

Jung Hyun-woo sat face to face with Professor Mark Delin after a long time.

“Professor, it’s been a while.”

“Is it? It doesn’t seem that long to me.”

“It was winter when we last met.”

Professor Mark Delin looked the same as when he last saw him.

“Come to think of it, you seem taller.”

“Taller, you mean?”

Professor Mark Delin raised his finger slightly and said.

“It seems like you’ve grown this much.”

He wasn’t even twenty years old yet, so it wouldn’t be strange if he grew taller.

“I didn’t know because I didn’t have a reason to measure separately.”

“I see.”

Professor Mark Delin always had a long introduction. Still, today he got to the point faster than usual.

“Thanks to you, MIT’s status has increased.”

It wasn’t just a greeting.

With the success of Victoria Corporation, MIT’s status in the IT industry has greatly increased, and the internal atmosphere of MIT has also become more challenging.

For example, after the success of Victoria Corporation, more than 20 groups dreaming of starting a business were created within MIT.

“Isn’t that what the professor intended?”

Professor Mark Delin raised the end of his words slightly.

“You just followed my words well?”

“I think it’s a win-win.”

Professor Mark Delin smiled.

“I received the $10 million donation well.”

$10 million was a huge sum even for MIT.

“It’s a small amount compared to the help I received from the professor.”

In fact, he was able to effectively resolve the conflict with JP Morgan by meeting Justin Balmer through Professor Mark Delin’s introduction.

“Persuading Justin was your ability.”

He had only introduced Justin Balmer, not persuaded him.

“I plan to donate often in the future.”

Professor Mark Delin raised his right hand and said.

“That’s good to hear. So, the committee has decided to build a building named after you. It will probably be a research building for studying parts and materials that go into computers.”

Famous universities often built buildings named after donors when they received large donations.

MIT also wanted to do so.

“A building named after me?”

“Do you have anything else in mind?”

If he didn’t like his name, he could use a separate word or the name of his family.

“Naming it after me seems too grand, how about naming it after our company?”

“That’s a bit difficult.”

Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head at the word difficult.

‘It’s difficult to name it after our company? Hmm, is it because of collusion with private companies?’

Professor Mark Delin said as if to resolve his curiosity.

“Didn’t you donate, not your company? If you want to build a building named after your company, donate in the name of your company.”

In short, it was a matter of who was donating.

“I see.”

“If you don’t have a name in mind, you don’t have to answer now.”

He was saying he would give him time to think.

“How much time do you give me?”

“Please give me an answer within 6 months.”

Jung Hyun-woo thought 6 months was enough.

“Okay. Then I will deliver the name I have in mind to the school within 6 months.”

He thought this was the end of today’s story. But Professor Mark Delin had more to say.

“Do you remember the research we started 3 months ago?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded his head greatly and replied.

“Of course.”

Victoria Corporation is currently conducting research with MIT on corporate network security.

‘Are you saying I should pay more for research?’

He thought that was possible to some extent.

“This time, the CIA contacted us.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s eyes widened as soon as he heard the word CIA.

“The CIA, you mean?”

“They seem very interested in our network security research.”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t think it was strange.

‘In the first place, the Internet itself was created for the military.’

It wasn’t just the Internet.

A significant number of technologies that changed human life were developed for the military or to support them.

“Is it joint research?”

“Something similar.”

“What benefits will this research bring to our company and MIT?”

Jung Hyun-woo, like a businessman, asked questions about gains and losses.

Professor Mark Delin put his hands together at his question. Then he answered briefly.

“There are no great benefits.”

“Then…”

“Think of it as a tax.”

Something like a tax.

In other words, there was no economic benefit.

“Really, there will be no benefits at all?”

“If we accept their request and develop technology for them, we can gain their favor.”

Jung Hyun-woo frowned for a moment.

“Favor, you mean?”

“Even if something goes wrong with your company, they might just turn a blind eye once or twice. Doesn’t that happen sometimes? A company has done so much wrong, but it’s just overlooked? What are the judges or the government doing?”

Jung Hyun-woo unfolded his narrowed brow.

“In short, it’s like an indulgence [a pardon for wrongdoing].”

Professor Mark Delin released his gathered hands and said.

“But you shouldn’t be too confident in that. The government’s favor can change at any time.”

There was no contract written, and no memorandum of understanding was exchanged.

Just saying that this could happen.

If you believe that and act recklessly, you will end up getting hurt.

“I understand what you mean.”

“Will you help them?”

“Don’t I have a choice in this?”

Something I have to do.

Jung Hyun-woo thought so.

‘By the way, Victoria Corporation will be connected to the CIA.’

Until now, the CIA was a group that only appeared in movies to him.

“Don’t think too badly of it.”

“I’ll think of it as a tax, as you said.”

Professor Mark Delin sighed briefly.

“Hoo… If you were an American, I could appeal to your patriotism, but I can’t do that now.”

In 1984, the world was still in the Cold War.