The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 245

245. The Sun is Rising (3)

Howard Board, the CEO of Nintendo of America, sat across from John River, the head of Victoria Corporation’s game division. He didn’t particularly like the man.

“So, Victoria Corporation wants the distribution rights for the NES in other countries?”

John River confirmed, “That’s correct.”

Howard Board knew Victoria Corporation was a leading American conglomerate, but he wasn’t intimidated. He raised his voice. “Absolutely not! Impossible!”

John River’s expression turned bitter. “Mr. Board, you’re giving me a flat rejection.”

The relationship between Howard Board and John River wasn’t good. Board considered River to be in a position beyond his capabilities, viewing his game evaluations as amateurish.

River, in turn, saw Board as stubborn, criticizing him for excessively protecting Nintendo’s interests and pressuring American developers to create cookie-cutter games [generic and unoriginal games].

Howard Board’s voice rose at the end of his sentence. “Mr. River, don’t you think this request is unreasonable?”

*Producing and distributing the NES is solely Nintendo’s responsibility,* he thought.

John River replied, his voice almost saccharine. “Hmm, I didn’t expect you to reject me outright without even asking which countries we’re talking about.”

Howard Board sneered. “Which countries? Whether it’s Mexico, Colombia, or Brazil, the NES is distributed by us, Nintendo. Understand?”

He also resented that Victoria Corporation had negotiated directly with Nintendo’s headquarters in Japan the previous year.

*It was a complete disregard for our American branch.*

Howard Board believed everything happening in America should go through him.

Of course, John River and Victoria Corporation didn’t see it that way.

“You’re an inflexible person,” John River stated.

Howard Board replied stiffly, “I’m in this position *because* I’m inflexible. Mr. River, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

As Board began to rise, John River said, “Mr. Board, since I couldn’t persuade you, someone higher up will take action.”

A warning that a big shot from Victoria Corporation would get involved.

Howard Board smiled wryly. “Hmph, Mr. River, no matter how you pressure me, I won’t yield.”

After Board left, John River clicked his tongue and picked up the phone.

“Tsk, this kind of work isn’t for me.”

Unlike Jung Hyun-woo, he was clumsy at negotiating.

Beep. Beep.

Immediately after the dial tone, a clear female voice answered. “Victoria Corporation.”

“This is John. Charlie, please.”

The person on the other end seemed to recognize John River’s voice and didn’t ask for verification.

“Understood. I’ll connect you to the CEO.”

The secretary who answered was Luna, Jung Hyun-woo’s secretary.

Soon, Jung Hyun-woo answered, “This is Charlie.”

“It’s me, John.”

“Yes, did the conversation go well?”

John River replied in a low voice, “The North American branch won’t even listen to our side of the story.”

Jung Hyun-woo frowned at the flat rejection.

“It seems the problem is that we didn’t disclose which country we were trying to secure distribution rights for.”

“Even if we had disclosed it, it would have been difficult to get a positive answer.”

Jung Hyun-woo had instructed John River not to mention the country name: the Soviet Union.

*Because a deal with the Soviet Union isn’t confirmed yet.*

It was best to be cautious about anything related to the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

“I understand. Then I’ll take action.”

John River sighed briefly. “Charlie, I’m sorry I couldn’t resolve this on my end.”

Jung Hyun-woo shook his head over the phone. “No, John, focus more on developing new games. I’ll take care of this.”

He didn’t think John River was suited to handle multiple tasks.

*John isn’t a friend with talent in many areas.*

John River wasn’t like Robert, who could handle development and management simultaneously.

Click.

Jung Hyun-woo hung up and called Robert.

“Robert, let’s talk.”

A moment later, Robert came upstairs.

“Charlie, couldn’t we just talk on the phone?”

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged. “It’s not a simple matter.”

At those words, Robert sat down. “Is it a problem that needs to be resolved before going to the Soviet Union?”

He had heard from Sarah and Jung Hyun-woo that they were going to the Soviet Union.

“That’s right.”

Robert scratched his head. “I was hoping to avoid this kind of thing.”

He wanted to avoid anything related to the Soviet Union.

“It’s a very important matter.”

Robert knew it was important from the moment he received the call.

*If it were a simple matter, Charlie wouldn’t have called me directly.*

He spread his hands. “So, what’s the matter?”

Jung Hyun-woo replied, “Nintendo rejected our proposal.”

Robert knew he was trying to use Nintendo to penetrate the Soviet Union.

“Isn’t it just that John’s negotiation skills are lacking?”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t deny it. “That’s why I called Robert.”

Robert frowned. “You mean blaming John won’t solve the problem.”

“John is a typical developer. It was unreasonable to entrust him with this task from the start.”

Robert said with a bitter expression, “We have three new projects on our end.”

Meaning he didn’t have time to go to Nintendo of America and negotiate.

“I’m not trying to entrust this task to Robert.”

Robert raised his eyebrows. “If not me, then who?” He was also uneasy about Ann attending CES [Consumer Electronics Show] instead of Sarah.

“I’ll go.”

Robert exclaimed, “Ah… Charlie himself!”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded. “I’m thinking of flying to the Japanese headquarters for a meeting. So, I want to hand over the work to Robert.”

Robert asked, “The Soviet Union visit is just around the corner. Will there be time to go to Japan?”

“I’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I have a plane ticket.”

“No, that’s…”

Robert wanted to say you couldn’t just go to a faraway place like Japan as if you were going to Washington or New York.

“I wish I had more time, but I don’t think I can this time.”

Jung Hyun-woo was heading to Japan himself to resolve this before visiting the Soviet Union.

*In the worst-case scenario, buying Nintendo is also an option.*

He was willing to accept a slight overpayment.

“Is it that important?”

“If it’s more important than our game division?”

Robert sighed deeply. “Hoo… If you put it that way, I can’t stop you.”

He knew how driven Jung Hyun-woo was.

*He’s not someone who will listen if I try to stop him.*

Jung Hyun-woo had pushed forward numerous projects, including Japanese investments, with his will alone.

“Let’s start the handover.”

Before the handover, Robert asked, “Shouldn’t the handover be to Sarah, not me?”

“Sarah is scheduled to go to the Soviet Union with me. She’s preparing for that.”

Robert realized Jung Hyun-woo and Sarah were putting considerable effort into the Soviet Union visit.

*Is opening the Iron Curtain that important?*

He didn’t think there was a reason for Victoria Corporation to go this far, even if it were a consumer goods company like McDonald’s or Coca-Cola.

Of course, Jung Hyun-woo’s thoughts were different. He knew the Iron Curtain would soon fall.

The next day, before leaving for Japan, Jung Hyun-woo spoke with John Peer.

“You’re going to Japan again?”

“That’s how it turned out.”

“I didn’t request anything…”

“I’m just going for a day.”

John Peer blinked. “Doesn’t it take more than two full days just for the round trip?”

Meaning he would spend two days in the sky for one day of work.

“It’s a necessary matter.”

“I see.”

John Peer didn’t ask what kind of work he was leaving for. He had been an employee who guaranteed customer privacy since he worked at JP Morgan.

“The reason I called today is to confirm our available funds.”

John Peer adjusted his posture. “What do you mean by available funds?”

“I want to know the scale of funds that can be used within a few days.”

John Peer nodded. “We have about 20 million dollars that can be used immediately. We have more in yen.”

“I’d like to hear more about the yen side.”

John Peer didn’t know, but Jung Hyun-woo was asking with the intention of acquiring Nintendo.

“I think we can use about 1 billion dollars in dollars.”

1 billion dollars in dollars.

Considering the rise in exchange rates, it was less than 700 million dollars based on last year’s standards.

*With that amount, it might be difficult to buy Nintendo.*

He frowned. “Can’t we get more loans?”

John Peer was surprised. “You mean get more loans?”

“Hasn’t the market price of the real estate we invested in risen?”

In theory, they could get more loans as much as the real estate market price had risen.

“Um, that’s true, but…”

“You mean you can’t give me a definite answer?”

“That’s right.”

Jung Hyun-woo said dryly, “Have them find out how much we can borrow before I arrive at the Japanese branch.”

It was an instruction to find out whether a loan was possible while he was flying.

“Understood. I’ll relay that to the Japanese branch. Charlie, is there anything else?”

“No.”

Jung Hyun-woo hung up and got up. “Luna, we’re leaving!”

Luna heard him and raised her voice from outside the door. “Everything is ready.”

Jung Hyun-woo reached out, put on his coat, opened the door, and went outside. “Let’s go to Japan.”

He flew to Japan to open the Iron Curtain.

* * *

The Nintendo side was slightly embarrassed by Jung Hyun-woo’s unexpected visit.

“I heard that Charlie Jung is visiting the headquarters.”

The last meeting took place in Tokyo, but this time, Jung Hyun-woo expressed his intention to fly directly to Kyoto, where Nintendo’s headquarters were located.

“Will he be taking the Shinkansen [Japanese bullet train]?”

“He’ll probably fly to Osaka rather than Tokyo.”

From Osaka to Kyoto, there was no need to take the Shinkansen.

“It’s not important what he’s taking. What’s important is *why* he’s coming to our headquarters.”

It was the visit of the world’s richest man, excluding royalty and dictators. Nintendo executives couldn’t help but be nervous.

“We were able to get some hints from the American branch.”

Everyone’s attention focused on the overseas general manager.

“The story came out of the American side.”

“What reason does he say he’s coming for?”

The overseas general manager said in a low voice, “We don’t know why Charlie Jung is visiting. However, Victoria Corporation has requested the distribution rights for the NES in a specific country.”

The executives frowned. “You mean they requested the distribution rights for the NES?”

“That’s difficult.”

“Do you know which country’s distribution rights they requested?”

The overseas general manager shook his head. “I asked, but the American branch only knows that much.”

“That’s a difficult story.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Nintendo’s CEO and president, Yamauchi Hiroshi.

“President, what do you think?”

President Yamauchi took a deep breath. “It seems there’s something to this visit.”

“President, the other party is the world’s richest man.”

President Yamauchi said in an unwavering voice, “Are you saying the world’s richest man is going to take our company away?”

“That’s not what I mean…”

President Yamauchi asked Yokoi Gunpei, his right-hand man, “What do you think?”

Yokoi Gunpei was one of the main players who created Nintendo as it was today.

“I think it’s not too late to decide after hearing what Victoria Corporation wants. Maybe they’ll talk about a large-scale investment or a new console.”

Meaning there was no need to worry without knowing the other party’s intentions.

“I have the same thought as Gunpei.”

President Yamauchi concluded the meeting by saying there was no need for Nintendo executives to be afraid.

After everyone left, he called Yokoi Gunpei separately.

“There’s one thing that bothers me.”

Yokoi Gunpei raised his voice slightly. “Are you perhaps thinking of an acquisition?”

President Yamauchi nodded. “I think the only reason a big shot who can have a private meeting with the Prime Minister would come to our company directly is that.”

He thought Jung Hyun-woo’s visit was to acquire Nintendo.

“No matter how much money they offer, we can just not sell the company.”

As President Yamauchi said, even if he was the world’s richest man, he couldn’t take another person’s company.

“I’m afraid they’ll offer conditions I can’t refuse.”

Yokoi Gunpei put his hands on his knees. “I trust you, President.”

President Yamauchi smiled. “You’re putting pressure on me.”

“I know best that you’re not that kind of person.”

President Yamauchi sighed. “Hoo… If I waver, will you stop me?”

He was asking him to lend his strength to protect Nintendo.

Yokoi Gunpei put strength in his voice. “I will definitely protect Nintendo.”

He didn’t want Nintendo to be sold to American capital.

The next day, Jung Hyun-woo arrived in Osaka. His arrival was immediately reported as breaking news on Japanese news.

“World’s richest man Charlie Jung entered Japan this morning through Osaka International Airport.”

Since Kansai International Airport opened in the 1990s, Osaka International Airport was the gateway to Osaka in 1987.

“Charlie Jung’s purpose of entry is unknown, and it is reported that he immediately got into a car with his entourage and left as soon as he arrived at the airport.”

Japanese people were curious as to why his destination was Osaka, not Tokyo.

This was also the case for Kajima Jiro, chairman of the Kajima Group.

“Charlie Jung came to Japan, but he didn’t contact us?”

The Kajima Group was Victoria Fund’s largest partner.

President Mori bowed his head. “It doesn’t seem to be our business.”

“You mean he came to Japan but it’s not our business?”

“First of all, he entered through Osaka…”

Chairman Kajima Jiro interrupted him and stroked his beard. “Hmm, Osaka.”

He frowned. “Mori, contact Tanaka and find out what’s going on.”

Yu Tanaka was the head of Victoria Corporation’s Japanese branch.

Around the time President Mori was calling him, Jung Hyun-woo had already arrived in front of Nintendo’s headquarters.

Squeak.

As the vehicle stopped, the escorts in the front and rear vehicles quickly approached and opened the door.

“CEO, this way.”

Jung Hyun-woo looked at the entrance of Nintendo’s headquarters with a blank expression. Several executives and employees were already out, preparing to welcome him.

*It seems I’ve caused a nuisance.*

He smiled faintly and stepped toward Nintendo’s headquarters.