The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 92

92. Billionaire (3)

The outcome of a battle is decided before it even begins.

Neil Hamilton couldn’t help but recall the saying that a great general wins the battle before it starts.

‘Conversely, we were defeated before the battle even began.’

He attributed his defeat to arrogance.

He trusted in the overwhelming power of JP Morgan and underestimated his opponent.

And that wasn’t all.

‘I didn’t even properly assess who the opponent was.’

Just a slightly talented kid.

A young developer who knows a bit about computers.

That was his perception of the enemy commander.

However, the enemy commander he faced on the battlefield was not someone to be trifled with.

The opponent was calm and meticulous.

There was nothing about him that suggested he was just a naive kid.

‘Perhaps his young age is his greatest strength.’

The fact that he was only eighteen misled the opponent and caused them to make incorrect judgments.

‘If this guy were thirty, I would have approached things differently.’

A slightly different approach.

That meant attacking the CEO.

They didn’t hesitate to criticize or indirectly accuse the CEO of a company they were in a hostile relationship with. But this time, they didn’t launch any attacks against Jung Hyun-woo.

The only attacks they launched against Victoria Corporation were the recruitment of COO Robert and New York branch manager John River.

‘It’s because I underestimated the enemy.’

Neil Hamilton believed that both the losing and winning sides had valid reasons.

“It’s strange.”

Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head at his words.

“What’s strange?”

Neil Hamilton turned his gaze to the beach and said.

“Isn’t JP Service doing better than ever? Yet, here we are, arguing with each other in a place like this.”

The sea breeze brushed past Jung Hyun-woo’s face.

“I don’t think so.”

“Is that the余裕 [yoyu – composure] of the victor?”

“I just think we’re having a conversation that we had to have someday.”

The more Neil Hamilton talked to Jung Hyun-woo, the more convinced he became.

‘The one we should have attacked wasn’t the COO or the New York branch manager, but this guy.’

Perhaps the eighteen-year-old CEO sitting in front of him had designed everything.

‘Hahaha, so is this guy going to become Alexander the Great?’

Alexander the Great, at a young age, defeated the Persian army and opened the way for the conquest of the East.

He thought that if Jung Hyun-woo overcame JP Morgan and himself and achieved an impressive victory on Wall Street, he could become the Alexander the Great of the financial world.

“A conversation we had to have someday. Why do you think so?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered with force in his voice.

“Because it’s something I’ve been planning since I designed JP Service.”

Neil Hamilton raised his right hand.

“Everything is planned?”

“I didn’t create JP Service just to make money.”

Not a program created to make money. This came as a surprise to Neil Hamilton.

“Don’t tell me you created it to attack us?”

He had a feeling that all of this might be a spearhead aimed at JP Morgan.

However, Jung Hyun-woo slowly shook his head.

“Of course not. I have no ill feelings towards JP Morgan.”

Neil Hamilton narrowed his brow and asked.

“Then why did you create JP Service?”

Jung Hyun-woo put his hands together.

“I created JP Service to open the door to the future.”

The door to the future.

It was a completely unexpected story.

Neil Hamilton unfolded his narrowed brow and smiled.

“Hahaha, not money or fame, but the door to the future?”

He felt like he finally understood why things weren’t going well.

‘The young man ran towards ideals, and the old man tried to grab money.’

Their frequencies were so far off that they couldn’t even have a proper conversation.

“You’re doubting me.”

Neil Hamilton waved his raised right hand and said.

“I don’t doubt you. You saw the future, and I only saw the present.”

Sean Luke and Sarah remained silent while the two were talking. They knew that the main subjects of this conversation were Neil Hamilton and Jung Hyun-woo.

‘The preliminary skirmish is longer than I thought.’

‘It’s a conversation between CEOs, so it’s definitely different from a conversation between working-level staff.’

Both of them thought that today’s negotiations would be long overall.

“Then shall we talk about the present?”

Neil Hamilton knew that Jung Hyun-woo wanted to start the 본격적인 [bongeukjeokin – full-scale] negotiations. He raised his right hand with the palm facing out and said.

“Young friend, don’t rush. You came all the way to Miami, didn’t you? You can enjoy the sky and the sea a little more, can’t you?”

For him, this negotiation was his last job at JP Morgan. He had no reason to rush today’s negotiation. He turned his gaze to Sarah and said.

“Miss Hilton is more fashionable than ever.”

Sarah received his words with a bright smile.

“Aria sent it to me when I said I was going to Miami.”

Neil Hamilton knew who the Aria she mentioned was.

‘Is this cute lady trying to pressure me by emphasizing her friendship with Aria Walton? But it doesn’t mean anything to me now.’

Aria Walton is a great person, but he was only here to finish well.

“If Aria were as beautiful as you, the history of New York might have changed.”

Sarah paused at his words.

“Do you know Aria?”

Neil Hamilton gestured with his right hand, measuring the height of a child.

“Of course. I’ve known her since she was this tall.”

As a key figure in JP Morgan, he was not easy to deal with.

“I didn’t know you were an acquaintance of Aria’s.”

“We’re all connected here.”

Jung Hyun-woo took a sip of the drink on the table.

‘Is it a cocktail?’

There was no way they would have put a cocktail out in the middle of the day. What he drank was a type of carbonated drink made with tropical fruits.

“The atmosphere of the conversation is surprisingly warm.”

Neil Hamilton gave a soft smile at Sarah’s words.

“Isn’t this a meeting without a breakdown?”

The story of somehow reaching a conclusion here.

Jung Hyun-woo preferred to finish it in one go, even if it took a little longer, rather than having the meeting continue into the second and third rounds.

“You’re saying we should finish it today.”

Neil Hamilton nodded and took the words.

“There’s no point in dragging it out any longer. Isn’t that right?”

Jung Hyun-woo leaned back in his chair.

“Then where should we start?”

Neil Hamilton swirled his finger around.

“You’re rushing the story.”

“I don’t have much time.”

“Young people have much more time than us old people, but they’re much more 급하지 [geup-ha-ji – impatient]. What do you think is the reason for that?”

Jung Hyun-woo received his words in a calm voice.

“Maybe it’s because their blood is boiling.”

Neil Hamilton nodded at his answer.

“Blood is boiling. That could be.”

He was momentarily envious of Jung Hyun-woo’s youth.

‘No one can possess youth twice.’

Was it because it was the last negotiation?

He was particularly sentimental.

“Okay. Let’s start with Bank of America.”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his body from the backrest and took his words.

“Before we get into specific discussions, I want to say that I cannot give up the collaboration with Bank of America.”

“Is it that the collaboration with Bank of America has come too far to give up?”

“I don’t know if it was when I was in Las Vegas, but I don’t think so at least now.”

Neil Hamilton let out a short sigh.

“Hoo… That means I should have flown to Las Vegas right away when the problem occurred.”

Instead of moving himself, he proceeded with recruiting through Sean Luke.

‘That was the losing move.’

He underestimated the opponent and ruined the job by sending his subordinates.

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged at his words.

“If you had, the situation might be a little different now.”

Neil Hamilton knew it was already a missed bus [a lost opportunity]. He put aside his regrets and continued the conversation.

“I’ll ask you directly too. If we agree to collaborate with Bank of America, what can we get?”

Jung Hyun-woo thought about the answer to this question more than a hundred times.

“I will concede 30% of the royalties of JP Service received from Bank of America.”

This was the same as the initial proposal.

Neil Hamilton naturally had to ask again.

“Is there anything else?”

“I will give you priority for JP Service updates.”

Neil Hamilton raised the end of his words.

“Priority for updates?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered as if explaining.

“I will apply the latest features of JP Service to you three months earlier than Bank of America.”

“In other words, you’re saying you’ll apply the latest technology to Bank of America three months later.”

“You can understand it that way.”

Neil Hamilton turned his gaze to Sean Luke.

“Sean, what do you think?”

Like Neil Hamilton, this was the last time for Sean Luke. Moreover, he had been warned by Arthur Morgan.

‘My mission today is to assist Mr. Hamilton.’

He thought that he had to derive the best possible result from this negotiation somehow.

“With three months, we will be able to secure a slight competitive advantage. But to secure a clear competitive advantage, the early update must be six months.”

He argued for the application of the latest technology six months earlier. Of course, Jung Hyun-woo had no intention of accepting his claim.

“If there is a six-month difference, Bank of America will file a complaint with us. That’s difficult.”

Neil Hamilton spread out five fingers.

“How about five months?”

Jung Hyun-woo smiled at his suggestion.

“Mr. Hamilton, you want to make it four months.”

“I said five months?”

“I’ll take a step back. Let’s make it four months.”

Neil Hamilton gave a bitter smile.

“The boy who only knew programs has now become a merchant.”

It was the story of agreeing to four months.

Jung Hyun-woo continued.

“Mr. Hamilton, you may think it’s only a month difference, but I have to explain the increased month to Bank of America.”

Neil Hamilton gestured that he understood and took a sip of juice.

Jung Hyun-woo thought that this negotiation was flowing smoothly.

‘The reason why today’s negotiation has become smoother is thanks to Justin Balmer’s proper use of power.’

He didn’t know how Justin Balmer put pressure on JP Morgan. However, he was certain that his influence was not insignificant.

Neil Hamilton put down the glass of juice and asked.

“Mr. Jung, is there anything else?”

Jung Hyun-woo 반문ed [banmun-ed – retorted] at his question.

“What else does JP Morgan need?”

“If the only two things we can get are the two things mentioned earlier, I think the loss is great, but don’t you think so?”

Jung Hyun-woo leaned back slightly.

“If there’s anything you want, please tell me. I’ll listen and review it.”

I’ll review it.

This word contained the following meaning.

– I will allow it if it is a simple or small proposal. But if it’s big, I won’t allow it.

Neil Hamilton accurately understood the meaning contained in Jung Hyun-woo’s words.

‘The young friend is more flexible than Sean.’

He turned his gaze to Sean Luke.

“Sean, if you have anything in mind, say it without hesitation.”

Sean Luke cleared his throat and said.

“I think we need to add one more item to this deal.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s gaze moved to him.

“What item is it?”

“When Victoria Corporation wants to provide JP Service to a third company other than Bank of America, it must obtain our consent.”

Sean Luke knew that Victoria Corporation and Jung Hyun-woo would not be satisfied with Bank of America.

‘They will definitely provide JP Service to other companies as well.’

His prediction was accurate.

If it was only intended for Bank of America in the first place, Jung Hyun-woo would not have gone to a 거물 [geomul – big shot] like Justin Balmer.

“I reject it.”

Too simple an answer.

Sean Luke’s eyebrows rose up.

“You reject it?”

The moment he tried to raise his voice, Neil Hamilton stepped in.

“Sean, calm down.”

The main subjects of this negotiation were Neil Hamilton and Jung Hyun-woo.

Sean Luke turned his gaze to Sarah instead of Jung Hyun-woo.

“Miss Hilton, you don’t have any opinions.”

Sarah said in a soft voice at his point.

“I have nothing to say.”

Sean Luke narrowed his brow and asked.

“Could it be that all of this is a scheme of the Hilton family?”

Neil Hamilton had thought the same thing before. But his conclusion was NO.

‘I’m not ignoring the Hilton family, but they don’t have the power to move Justin Balmer.’

Instead of answering, Sarah asked Sean Luke a question.

“Mr. Luke, do you think the Hilton family is reckless enough to fight against JP Morgan?”

“That’s…”

As she said, the Hilton family was not a 호전적인 [hojeonjeogin – belligerent] family that would challenge an opponent bigger than themselves.

Moreover, the Hilton family has never been interested in Wall Street. She said to the two in a clear voice.

“If you can’t see the opponent right away, the fight will be difficult. Victoria Corporation and the Hilton family have no relationship. It’s just my personal choice to work at Victoria Corporation. I hope you don’t force the Hilton family between Victoria Corporation and JP Morgan.”

I couldn’t see the opponent right away. Her criticism flew like a dagger into Sean Luke’s chest and 박혔다 [bakhyeotda – pierced].

“큭 [keuk – groan].”

He couldn’t help but let out a short groan.

Neil Hamilton took out a cigar from his inside pocket. Then he lit it right away.

치익 [chiik – sound of a lighter].

The cigar burned with a short sound.

“Young friends, what do you want?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered his question.

“I told you earlier that I created JP Service to open the door to the future.”

Neil Hamilton 털며 [teolmyeo – flicked] the ashes of the cigar and said.

“The door to the future. Do you want to be a 선지자 [seonjija – prophet]?”

“Mr. Hamilton, you don’t believe my words.”

Neil Hamilton shook his head.

“No. About half…”

I can believe about half. That meant I couldn’t believe half.

“That’s an ambiguous word.”

Neil Hamilton raised the end of his words, 피워올리며 [piwoollimyeo – puffing] cigar smoke.

“Mr. Jung, wouldn’t you like to talk alone?”

He wanted to make a final deal, excluding Sarah and Sean Luke.

Jung Hyun-woo had no reason to refuse his offer.

“Okay.”

At the same time as his answer, Sean Luke got up from his seat.

“Miss Hilton, there’s a lounge inside.”

It was the story of going inside and waiting for the final negotiations between the two.

Sarah let out a short sigh and got up from her seat.

“Charlie, I’ll wait inside.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at her words.

“Sarah, smile.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry.”

Sarah forced a bright smile at his words.

“I’m not worried. It’s Charlie sitting here.”

Neil Hamilton could see that her belief in Jung Hyun-woo was firm.

‘If someone believed in me like that, it would be a grateful thing in itself.’

He was just envious of Jung Hyun-woo.