The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 14

– Facing the Great Wave –

January 1982.

South Korea announced the lifting of the curfew, signaling a return to stability across the nation.

Of course, this meant nothing to Jeong Hyun-woo in the United States. As he returned home from his vacation, Choi Kyung-min rose to greet him.

“Welcome back.”

Jeong Hyun-woo nodded lightly in response.

“Did you have a good break, Secretary Choi?”

“I did some reading.”

“You didn’t go to Korea?”

“It was an unofficial vacation, after all.”

Choi Kyung-min remained in Boston, anticipating any potential issues involving Jeong Hyun-woo.

‘Even with Ms. Hilton accompanying him, I couldn’t completely relax.’

Though things were quiet now, Jeong Hyun-woo was notorious within the Daewoon Group as a troublemaker.

“Were there any calls from Korea?”

“Chief Hong contacted me once.”

“Anything else?”

“I’m sorry, but no.”

Jeong Hyun-woo’s voice was curt.

“Why would Secretary Choi be sorry?”

He was becoming acutely aware of his isolation.

‘No contact even with the new year means I’m the black sheep of the family.’

In this situation, it was a wonder that Jeong Hyun-woo had become a villainous tycoon.

‘Will there be some kind of change later on?’

Did Chairman Jeong leave a will before he died?

Or did another relative appear to support him?

Without such events, Jeong Hyun-woo would have simply disappeared.

‘Well, I’m different now.’

He was building a foundation to rise on his own.

“Is the living allowance still coming in?”

“Yes, it’s being deposited regularly.”

Unbeknownst to Jeong Hyun-woo, the one-year mark that Chief Hong Won-ik had promised Choi Kyung-min was approaching.

‘My time as the young master’s secretary is almost up.’

Perhaps it was because they had lived under the same roof for a year?

He had grown fond of Jeong Hyun-woo.

Ring. Ring.

The phone rang, and Jeong Hyun-woo shrugged.

“Speak of the devil, and he appears. I’ll head upstairs.”

Choi Kyung-min bowed and answered the phone.

“This is Choi Kyung-min.”

The voice on the other end was a deep baritone.

“Has Hyun-woo returned?”

“Yes, he arrived as scheduled.”

The caller was Chief Hong Won-ik.

“Is it really the Hilton family?”

Chief Hong Won-ik couldn’t believe that an heiress from the Hilton family had become Jeong Hyun-woo’s tutor.

“Yes, it is.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Perhaps to foster independence?”

Chief Hong Won-ik stroked his chin.

“Hmm, independence, you say.”

None of the third-generation members of the Daewoon Group did part-time jobs like Sarah Hilton.

‘They’re all too busy spending their parents’ money.’

And the money their parents had came from Daewoon Group Chairman Jeong Woo-sun.

“It’s apparently common in the United States.”

“Is that so?”

Chief Hong Won-ik changed the subject.

“Let’s talk about you.”

“About me?”

“Your time is almost up, isn’t it?”

Chief Hong Won-ik had promised Choi Kyung-min exactly one year. Just endure for one year, and I’ll give you a section chief position. That’s how he had encouraged him to go to the United States.

“I can stay until early summer.”

“It’ll be too late to decide then.”

Was he about to deliver the good news of a promotion to section chief?

Choi Kyung-min’s expectations rose slightly.

“Could you handle it until the end of the year?”

“Pardon?”

“Hyun-woo seems to be a good fit with you.”

Indeed, Jeong Hyun-woo hadn’t caused any problems while Choi Kyung-min was in the United States.

Chief Hong Won-ik was very pleased with this.

“Until the end of the year?”

“Is it difficult?”

“That is…”

“I’ll increase your salary to the section chief level.”

In the 1980s, office workers primarily discussed their salaries in terms of monthly pay rather than annual income.

That’s why Chief Hong Won-ik mentioned monthly pay instead of annual salary.

‘Section chief 대우 [treatment]?’

It wasn’t a bad deal for Choi Kyung-min. In the early 1980s, there were virtually no assistant managers negotiating annual salaries with executives of large corporations.

‘This alone could be considered special treatment.’

He bowed deeply.

“I understand. I will work hard until the end of the year.”

Chief Hong Won-ik was satisfied with his answer.

“You’re the only one I can trust.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Come to Korea in February and take a break.”

The sophistication of giving a vacation while extending the term by half a year.

The position of chief of staff wasn’t won with Hwatu [a Korean card game] or poker.

***

Throughout January 1982, Jeong Hyun-woo remained holed up in his room, engrossed in his work.

The title he was developing was Zero Space 2.

Zero Space 2 was the second installment in the Zero series, featuring a transformation special effect.

Tap. Tap. Tatak.

Since partnering with Activision, Jeong Hyun-woo’s development work had accelerated.

The development tools and materials that Activision sent through Sarah were quite helpful.

“Hmm, at this rate, I’ll finish it by February.”

February: Development complete.

April: Release.

It was a tight schedule, but he thought it best to release it as is.

“It would be good to check for bugs a bit more, but now is the time to sell as many as possible.”

He wasn’t aiming to be a great developer, so he planned to go for high volume, low margin sales.

Tap. Tap.

Just as he placed his hands back on the keyboard,

Ding-dong.

Sarah arrived with the sound of the bell.

“Is it okay if I come in?”

Visits outside of class time were usually about work.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

She entered and immediately opened the window.

“It’s not good if you don’t ventilate, even in winter.”

Jeong Hyun-woo shrugged.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I just got so absorbed in my work that it turned out that way.”

Sarah fanned herself a few times and sat down in a chair.

“The January sales figures are out.”

December sales had exceeded 400,000 units.

‘I can’t expect that much for January.’

The TV commercials were down, and it was excluded from the new title sections of game magazines.

“Don’t be surprised.”

“Yes?”

“It sold 530,000 units.”

More sales than in December.

Just a few tens of thousands more to reach a million.

“Over 500,000 units?”

“It seems word of mouth has spread, mainly through game shops.”

“That’s amazing.”

“What’s amazing is you, for developing Zero Space.”

Sarah said excitedly.

“Robert said he’s preparing a million-unit release 기념 [commemoration] event.”

“It’s not a million units yet.”

“The trend shows it could exceed that this week.”

“This week?”

Sarah put her hands on her hips and said.

“You’re surprisingly calm. Is that why you’re a developer?”

Jeong Hyun-woo’s composed demeanor was just like the images of computer geniuses on TV.

“It’s probably because I’m focused on developing Zero Space 2 right now.”

“Ah, you said you were developing a sequel, right?”

“I want to release as many as possible before the bubble bursts.”

Sarah sighed lightly.

“Hoo… Charlie, don’t be so obsessed with money. You’re already making great works.”

“That’s not like you to say, Sarah.”

“What did I say?”

Jeong Hyun-woo stammered as if he had made a slip of the tongue when Sarah raised her eyebrows.

“It’s nothing.”

“Don’t hide your words.”

“I’m sorry.”

Sarah spoke in an infinitely gentle voice when he lowered his tail [backed down].

“You were going to say I was like a merchant, right?”

Jeong Hyun-woo felt her voice was as benevolent as the Virgin Mary.

Unlike most Americans, she had a really nice voice.

“I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay. After all, our family started as merchants. And it seems that blood is flowing strongly in my body.”

She turned her eyes to the TV next to the desk.

“You bought another TV?”

“I don’t have the time to go down to the living room.”

Sarah turned on the TV to change the subject.

Click.

Fighter planes flying in the sky and tanks running on the ground.

The TV screen was filled with war news.

“Will the war never end?”

In the Middle East, the Iran-Iraq War, which began in 1980, was in full swing.

“It won’t end for a while.”

As far as he knew, this war lasted more than 5 years.

The next news was about the conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

“The situation over there is also unusual. Surely there won’t be a war.”

The Falklands War.

Jeong Hyun-woo suddenly thought of that war.

“It could be surprisingly serious.”

“Serious enough for a war?”

“Should we change our first investment?”

Sarah’s eyes lit up at Jeong Hyun-woo’s question.

“You’re saying we should invest in defense stocks.”

He thought that even if a war didn’t actually break out, they could profit if the situation worsened.

On the other hand, Jeong Hyun-woo was convinced that a war would happen.

‘The Arati Shock [likely refers to a financial event] might be delayed due to my intervention, but this is completely different.’

No matter how much of a butterfly effect it is, it didn’t seem like his existence alone could prevent the war.

“Should we try a little?”

Sarah nodded.

“It would be an unexpected first investment.”

She thought that she could invest without burden if it was a small amount.

‘I need to try stock trading as a test before short selling.’

A few days later.

The stock of Company R, which she bought as a test, soared 120% in a week, surprising her.

───────────

───────────