The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 253

253. Rampage and Sprint (2)

“We’ve lost our spot as number one in the world.”

The company that took over Victoria Corporation’s position as the world’s largest in terms of market capitalization was, surprisingly, not an American company, but Japan’s NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation).

And this fact was reported simultaneously in newspapers across the world, including the United States.

“This is completely unexpected.”

The man drinking coffee with Jung Hyun-woo was Robert, the CTO of Victoria Corporation.

“According to the articles, Victoria Fund decided to make a large-scale investment… Did you really not know about this?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded in response.

“I simply authorized the Japanese branch manager to invest in a promising company that was listing in Japan. I never expected that company to rise to the top spot in the world.”

“Then we should give a big bonus to the Japanese branch manager who suggested the investment.”

“I’ll consider it positively.”

Robert scratched his head and said,

“I feel like I’m getting involved with Victoria Fund here.”

Jung Hyun-woo calmly responded to his words.

“Properly rewarding performance is one of the CEO’s duties.”

“But Charlie, doesn’t Victoria Fund have a separate CEO?”

The current CEO of Victoria Fund was John Peer.

“Well, now that you mention it, that’s true. That’s John’s job too.”

Jung Hyun-woo was the CEO of Victoria Corporation, not the CEO of Victoria Fund.

Robert thought that even though Jung Hyun-woo was the owner of Victoria Fund, his involvement was excessive.

‘It feels like Charlie is handling the actual management, and John is just managing the funds.’

He decided to cut off the Victoria Fund conversation there. He had asked Jung Hyun-woo for coffee time for a different reason.

“Charlie, let’s talk about our company.”

Jung Hyun-woo smiled and said,

“I’m always happy to talk about our company, whether it’s a little or a lot.”

Robert cautiously brought up a new topic.

“Charlie, I heard from Sarah. Are you really planning to drastically increase the number of executives in the company?”

Jung Hyun-woo did not deny his question.

“As the company grows, the workload of the management team is exploding. There’s a limit to covering it with the management team’s overtime.”

He was saying that new executives were needed because of the workload.

“Is that really the only reason?”

Robert seemed to be suspecting something else.

“Robert, please tell me honestly what you’re thinking.”

At Jung Hyun-woo’s request, Robert let out a short sigh.

“Hoo… Some people are wondering if Charlie is thinking about a generational shift.”

Jung Hyun-woo frowned at the word “generational shift.”

“A generational shift in a company that’s not even five years old? That’s too hasty.”

“Isn’t five years in the IT industry more like ten years in other industries?”

The IT industry in the 1980s was changing so rapidly that every year felt different.

In fact, Japanese electronics companies, including Nintendo, were calculating the life cycle of new products to be about two years.

“Even so, I’ve never thought about anything like a generational shift. Victoria Corporation will maintain its current direction unless something unexpected happens.”

Jung Hyun-woo had no intention of changing the current management team.

‘Unless a genius manager appears? I can’t think about a generational shift right now.’

Even though he said this, Robert still seemed to be half-doubting.

“I hope that’s the case…”

“Robert, what specific rumors are circulating?”

Jung Hyun-woo suspected that there were more specific rumors circulating within the company.

And his suspicion was correct.

“There’s a rumor that Dell is coming as COO [Chief Operating Officer].”

Michael Dell, who leads Dell Computer.

It was said that there was a rumor that he would be joining the executive team of Victoria Corporation.

Jung Hyun-woo let out a long sigh.

“I don’t know why such a story came out. Dell has his own company.”

“But isn’t there a big difference compared to our company?”

Dell Computer was not a small company, but Victoria Corporation was so large that it felt relatively small.

So, some Victoria Corporation employees regarded Dell Computer as a subsidiary and were worried that Dell Computer employees would advance to Victoria Corporation based on their achievements at Dell Computer.

Jung Hyun-woo thought he had to draw a firm line.

“Dell Computer is a company with guaranteed independent management. There will be no Dell Computer executives joining Victoria Corporation.”

When he said that definitively, Robert nodded slowly.

“I understand. Then I’ll consider that rumor to be just a rumor.”

Jung Hyun-woo said with emphasis.

“It’s a complete rumor.”

He had not even anticipated that rumors related to Dell Computer would emerge.

“Charlie, can I tell you my story?”

Jung Hyun-woo unfolded his narrowed brow.

“Is there any reason why you can’t?”

Robert put down his mug of coffee and said,

“I want to retire within five years.”

“Robert?”

“I didn’t just think about this now. Haven’t I made enough money?”

Robert had also joined the ranks of billionaires.

“Aren’t you too young to retire?”

Robert had settled in Victoria Corporation after going through Atari and Activision, but he had actually worked in the IT industry for less than 15 years. So, he was younger than John Peer.

“I want to retire after forty, like an athlete.”

“Robert.”

“Charlie, you can’t understand my feelings.”

Jung Hyun-woo was still in his early twenties.

He was young enough not to have to think about retirement, let alone dating or marriage.

“What’s making Robert so tired?”

Robert shook his head from side to side.

“It’s not a retirement because I’m tired.”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice slightly.

“Is it a retirement because you’ve achieved everything?”

Robert replied,

“It’s a retirement to achieve something new.”

A retirement to achieve something new.

Jung Hyun-woo thought he wanted to leave Victoria Corporation to do something.

“Can’t you do that new thing at Victoria Corporation?”

Robert nodded.

“I don’t think so.”

“Can I ask what that is?”

“I want to fulfill the dream I couldn’t achieve at Activision.”

He was saying that he wanted to establish his own game company.

Jung Hyun-woo could understand his thoughts to some extent.

‘The head of Victoria Corporation’s game division is in a lower position than his current one. Moreover, John River is there. It’s not fitting for Robert to push him out and take that position.’

Besides, even if he did become the head of Victoria Corporation’s game division, Jung Hyun-woo was still at Victoria Corporation.

This meant that game development and distribution to his liking would be impossible.

Jung Hyun-woo still played every game produced by Victoria Corporation, checking the strengths and weaknesses, and the development direction.

“You’re saying you want to go back to games.”

Robert said in a dry voice,

“If Charlie is also a gamer, he can understand my feelings, right?”

“I understand.”

His head understood, but his heart felt a great sense of disappointment.

‘John Peer too, I don’t know why everyone is trying to leave.’

After talking with Robert, he went to see Sarah.

When Sarah saw Jung Hyun-woo coming, she put down her pen and asked a question.

“Charlie, you don’t look good. What happened?”

Jung Hyun-woo sat down in front of her and replied,

“I had a conversation with Robert.”

Sarah was worried that the two had fought.

“If you fought with Robert, it’s better for Charlie to apologize first. Even if you’re younger, Charlie is the boss.”

She was saying that it was better for the boss to reach out first.

“We didn’t fight.”

Sarah pushed the documents she was looking at to one side and asked,

“Then what kind of conversation did you have that made your face look like that?”

“The story about the rumors inside the company was just so-so, but then the retirement story came out.”

Robert’s retirement story was something Sarah hadn’t even thought of.

“Um, is Robert going to submit his resignation?”

Jung Hyun-woo put his hands together and replied,

“He’s not submitting his resignation right now, but he gave me notice that he’s going to leave the company within five years.”

Sarah let out a short sigh.

“Hoo… Robert must be very tired.”

“He’s tired, and I think he wants to create his own company.”

“Robert’s own company?”

“It seems like he wants to recreate Activision.”

Sarah put one hand on her chin and said,

“Then why don’t you just appoint Robert as the president of Activision?”

“That’s a demotion.”

Robert’s current ranking in Victoria Corporation was 4th, after COO Ann.

However, the president of Activision was outside the top 10 in the Victoria Corporation group.

“There’s no need to demote him. Why don’t you have him hold both positions?”

“Robert wouldn’t want that.”

Sarah asked as if to confirm.

“Because he wouldn’t be able to properly perform his duties as president if he held both positions?”

“You’re saying that even though you know everything.”

Sarah let out a short sigh at Jung Hyun-woo’s answer.

“Ha… I don’t know everything about the world either. I’m only in my mid-20s.”

She was only older than Jung Hyun-woo, not old.

“A while ago, John Peer said he was leaving.”

Sarah put her hands together and raised her eyebrows.

“John too?”

“I think he said he would work for less than 5 years too.”

“Leaving a fund that’s doing well.”

Sarah found a commonality between the two.

“The problem is Charlie.”

Jung Hyun-woo opened his eyes wide at her words.

“I’m the problem?”

He didn’t think there was anything wrong at all.

‘I gave them shares and treated them well, so how am I the problem?’

Sarah seemed to see through Jung Hyun-woo’s thoughts and said,

“It’s not that Charlie did anything wrong to them.”

“Then what? Am I difficult to work with because I’m young?”

Sarah answered his question in a soft voice.

“Maybe it’s similar to what I felt. When I work with Charlie, even if results come out, I often feel like I didn’t achieve them.”

Jung Hyun-woo realized what the problem was with her answer.

“You’re saying there’s no sense of accomplishment.”

Sarah nodded and said,

“Charlie’s insight is amazing. Most projects or businesses never fail if you follow Charlie’s advice. But because of that, the staff who carry it out doubt their judgment or just feel like they’re tools doing the work.”

It was the same principle as a talented person feeling like a dull person next to a genius.

“That’s difficult.”

Sarah said with her hands together.

“This is not a problem that Charlie can do anything about.”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice towards her.

“But if you don’t fix it, it will keep happening.”

Sarah shook her head at his words.

“You can’t fix it. Imagine Mozart worrying about Salieri and suppressing his genius. That’s no longer Mozart.”

She didn’t think Jung Hyun-woo should change.

“Then what should I do?”

Sarah answered in a soft voice.

“Shouldn’t you think of it as a tax on genius?”

In Jung Hyun-woo’s case, it was a tax on knowing the future and responding accordingly.

“You’re saying I should accept it.”

“There’s no perfect person in the world.”

Jung Hyun-woo smiled as he listened to Sarah’s story.

“Sarah.”

“Why? What’s that smile for?”

“Do you know that Sarah sounds like an old woman right now?”

“What?”

Jung Hyun-woo got up from his seat and said,

“That one word just now was a wiser answer than an old woman’s.”

It was praise, but Sarah didn’t feel like it was praise.

“An old woman to a 20-year-old girl! Take it back!”

“If I don’t take it back?”

“Charlie!”

“Then, let’s make it the most beautiful old woman in the world.”

“Are you teasing me?”

Jung Hyun-woo waved his right hand and left Sarah’s office.

He thought as he headed to his office.

‘I don’t want to lose Sarah.’

If he had to choose only one person in his life, it would be Sarah without a second thought.

* * *

An economic broadcast in New York.

The topic the two panelists were covering was the world’s top company.

“NTT’s growth is amazing.”

“They reached the top spot in the world just two months after listing, right?”

“That’s right. They easily surpassed Victoria Corporation.”

“It’s a shame for Victoria Corporation. They lost the top spot again just a few months after taking it.”

IBM had maintained the top spot in the world for several years, but Victoria Corporation had only maintained it for a few months.

Of course, losing the top spot did not mean Victoria Corporation had failed.

Victoria Corporation was still performing well and widening the gap with IBM, the second-largest company in the United States.

But NTT, which had surpassed them, was too powerful.

“Do you think NTT will continue to lead the world?”

The black panelist nodded and replied,

“Of course. Who can surpass NTT?”

The Japanese economy was the strongest, and NTT was the best company among them.

Victoria Fund’s CEO John Peer and his best friend and COO Jeremy Spin were sitting in front of the TV.

“What do you think?”

The one who asked the question first was John Peer.

“NTT?”

“No, the world’s top company.”

Jeremy Spin crossed his legs and asked back,

“Isn’t that a question with a predetermined answer?”

John Peer shrugged and said,

“I guess you think it’s NTT too.”

Jeremy Spin shook his head from side to side after hearing his words.

“How could I?”

“Then which company do you think is the best?”

“Of course, it’s Victoria Corporation.”

John Peer gave a bitter smile.

“Hahaha, it’s my fault for asking the COO of Victoria Fund.”

Jeremy Spin said as if he was wronged.

“I didn’t pick Victoria Corporation because I belong to Victoria Fund.”

“Then?”

“It’s because I think Victoria Corporation’s value is undervalued.”

John Peer said with a look as if he was looking at a fool in love.

“Jeremy, no one on Wall Street would think Victoria Corporation is undervalued.”

Jeremy Spin asked him,

“Do you think so too?”

John Peer nodded.

“I think it’s slightly overvalued.”

He thought Victoria Corporation’s value was around $100 billion.

‘It would be appropriate to subtract about $20 billion from the current market capitalization.’

If you subtract $20 billion from the current market capitalization, it would be neck and neck with IBM.

Jeremy Spin said definitively.

“I don’t think so.”

John Peer became curious at his words.

“Okay, then let me hear the reason for your choice.”

Jeremy Spin leaned back in his chair and said,

“People talk about NTT, but they don’t talk about the fact that one of NTT’s major shareholders is Victoria Fund.”

Victoria Fund was able to become a major shareholder of NTT thanks to Yuu Tanaka.

“We are a major shareholder of NTT, but that alone doesn’t mean it’s undervalued.”

“You only think of one thing and can’t think of two.”

“Two?”

“Do you think Victoria Fund becoming NTT was a coincidence?”

John Peer frowned and asked,

“If it wasn’t a coincidence?”

“It’s Victoria Fund’s skill.”

“Our skill?”

John Peer was not involved in the NTT investment, so he didn’t think it was skill.

But Jeremy Spin was different.

“Victoria Fund’s investments never fail. It’s better than any fund I’ve ever experienced.”

John Peer crossed his arms and said,

“So you think Victoria Corporation is undervalued because of the existence of Victoria Fund.”

Jeremy Spin turned his gaze to the TV and said,

“Maybe what’s undervalued isn’t Victoria Corporation, but Charlie Jung.”

“Charlie Jung?”

“We just invested in the place he chose.”

Investment, management, and development.

Jung Hyun-woo was showing superhuman abilities in all three areas.