The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 168

#168

Jeong-hoon looked at Lee Byeong-seok and asked,

“Is there any reason why it wouldn’t work?”

“Absolutely not. 15 trillion won?”

His voice was unusually firm.

Those around him who knew him wore puzzled expressions.

Jeong-hoon frowned at his harsh reaction.

He smoothed out his crumpled face and quickly regained his composure.

With a nonchalant expression, Jeong-hoon retorted,

“There might be. I don’t think it’s something to oppose so strongly. What’s the reason?”

“It was once the number one company in the search market. But it didn’t last long and lost the market to Google. Especially in the U.S. search market, its market share is now below 30 percent. Just a few years ago, it was 70 percent. There’s no reason to save a company that’s going bankrupt.”

“Why are you only thinking so negatively? Don’t you remember the companies that were revived under our Shinhwa Group? Do you think it’ll be any different just because it’s in the IT industry?”

“But Chairman, it’s an industry sensitive to trends. Once users leave, they don’t come back. And the reason users left is because there are more convenient services.”

“Then we just need to create better services, right? Yahoo’s growth is stagnating because of the convenient Google search. Our Shinhwa can create such services, can’t we?”

“That’s… not easy, Chairman.”

Jeong-hoon looked at Lee Byeong-seok.

He was already lowering his head before even fighting Google’s momentum.

He didn’t like it.

To think of defeat without even fighting.

If you lose after fighting, you can always fight again.

But if you don’t fight, you’ll just be a loser for life.

“Shinhwa Construction is currently ranked 10th in the world. In 2001, Jungbu Construction, the predecessor of Shinhwa Construction, was ranked outside the top 500 in terms of construction capacity. I and our Shinhwa Group employees turned Shinhwa Construction into a world top 10 construction company in just a few years. Is our Shinhwa incapable of even that?”

“That’s true, but due to the nature of the IT industry, it’s sensitive to trends and it’s not easy to overcome technological gaps.”

Jeong-hoon’s eyebrows shot up.

Today, Lee Byeong-seok’s words were particularly grating.

It was clearly a setup, but…

“That damn industry characteristic…”

-Thump

Jeong-hoon slammed his palm on the table.

It was unlike the usually gentle Jeong-hoon.

The first meeting held in the new headquarters.

Everyone expected a friendly atmosphere with the heads of affiliates and employees.

But the chairman’s loud voice filled the conference room.

“If we only think about those characteristics, nothing will work. The reason Shinhwa has come this far is because we weren’t afraid of failure.”

“…”

The executives filling the conference room lowered their heads.

Jeong-hoon felt a chilling sensation as he looked at their bowed heads.

‘It hasn’t even been a few years, and they’ve already absorbed the habits of the wealthy.’

The spirit of challenge—to try, to fight,

to fail and fail again, and eventually succeed—had disappeared.

Originally, Lee Byeong-seok’s opposition was a planned act.

It was a performance to show the employees his determination to acquire Yahoo.

Jeong-hoon decided to use this opportunity to awaken their lost spirit of challenge.

The first group meeting in the new headquarters.

A worthwhile goal.

“I’ll end the meeting here. We will acquire Yahoo as planned, no matter the cost. It’s my intuition and will, which have never failed. And everyone, go back and come up with a plan to achieve the world’s number one position within a year.”

“Pardon?”

The eyes of the executives and affiliate heads widened.

Seeing their surprised expressions, Jeong-hoon stood up from his seat.

“Think about what we’ve lost, what we’ve forgotten. If you realize that, becoming number one in the world won’t be difficult at all.”

“Yes.”

Everyone answered in unison.

Jeong-hoon stormed out of the conference room, making his displeasure obvious.

One of the executives sitting in his seat glared at Lee Byeong-seok.

“Ha, why is he acting up like that when he’s usually not like this?”

“Ha, that’s… I was worried he might actually acquire Yahoo…”

“Is the Chairman’s ability ordinary? Did you forget that he’s the one who can revive even a declining Yahoo?”

“Ah, that’s right. Is what we’ve forgotten the Chairman’s ability?”

Everyone glared at Lee Jong-doo, the vice president of Shinhwa Electronics, who was making tactless remarks.

“Hey, is this the time to joke around?”

Kim Sang-sik, the president of Shinhwa Heavy Industries, rebuked him.

“I’m sorry.”

He lowered his head with an embarrassed expression.

Lee Jong-doo, the vice president of Shinhwa Electronics, cautiously raised his head again.

He asked Lee Byeong-seok.

“He’s really going to acquire Yahoo, right?”

“Yes.”

“How much is he thinking of spending?”

At Lee Jong-doo’s question, Lee Byeong-seok’s eyes sparkled as he replied.

“10 billion dollars is the base, and he’s considering up to 15 billion dollars.”

Everyone was startled by the words of Lee Byeong-seok, a confidant of Chairman Yoon Jeong-hoon.

“Our money, 15 trillion won [approximately 11.5 billion USD], for that kind of company that runs a portal site and can’t even make money?”

“Yes. I can’t understand it either, but the Chairman clearly said there’s tremendous future potential.”

The expressions on people’s faces were dark.

A skeptical reaction.

In fact, Lee Byeong-seok was in the same position as them.

But despite all the opposition, Jeong-hoon strongly insisted on the acquisition.

What’s even stranger is the special order to strongly oppose Jeong-hoon at the meeting.

It was his instruction that he still couldn’t understand.

Lee Byeong-seok still didn’t understand any of it.

“Alright, let’s get up. Let’s come up with a world number one plan.”

“Yes.”

Everyone slowly got up and left the conference room.

***

Jeong-hoon, who came out of the conference room first, thought as he walked down the hallway.

The news of the acquisition must have reached Lee Seok’s ears.

‘He’ll check the credibility of the information through various routes.’

Today’s group meeting will probably give him confidence.

Jeong-hoon deliberately showed a strong will to acquire.

He expressed his intention to acquire even while suppressing Lee Byeong-seok’s strong opposition.

Could there not be even one Star Group mole among the heads of Shinhwa Group’s affiliates?

Jeong-hoon wanted to let Lee Seok know that ‘Shinhwa Group is crazy about Yahoo.’

That’s when things would really get interesting.

A sinister smile was drawn on Jeong-hoon’s face.

He approached the entrance of the chairman’s office with a leisurely pace.

The secretary at the entrance stood up and reported.

“Everyone has arrived.”

“Please prepare some simple refreshments.”

“Yes.”

He turned the golden doorknob and opened the door.

Familiar faces were waiting for him.

Cha Young-mi, Cheon Jin-hyeok, and Lee Byeong-seok.

The three people who had been with him since the group took shape.

Lee Byeong-seok is in charge of Shinhwa Games and is leading it well.

Cheon Jin-hyeok is in charge of the group’s security.

And Cha Young-mi became Jeong-hoon’s chief secretary at his request.

She’s the chief secretary, but she doesn’t perform any duties.

She only carries out all instructions by phone, and she’s incredibly capable.

Well, most of the time, going out to perform duties is just a hindrance…

And there were more than enough people to perform them.

“Wow, Chairman, your style is killing it today.”

Cha Young-mi saw Jeong-hoon’s stiff face and softened the atmosphere with praise.

Jeong-hoon glared, and Lee Byeong-seok flinched, shrinking his shoulders and lowering his head.

“Then let’s begin.”

“Recently, Shinhwa Electronics Vice President Lee Jong-doo has spoken with the Star secretary’s office several times. And we also found out that he’s been receiving hospitality.”

“Good. Now, if only an article comes out in the press, they won’t doubt our intention to acquire it.”

“Yes, it seems like the article will be out in the Munhwa Ilbo [a South Korean newspaper] around tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow… it seems like time is running out, but postpone the Munhwa Ilbo article by one day. I need to meet with Yahoo executives in the meantime.”

“We can postpone the Munhwa Ilbo article, but the appointment with Yahoo…”

“That will be coordinated in the United States. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Yes, Chairman. Is this all we need to do? When will my abilities be needed?”

“Well, I hope there won’t be a moment when they’re needed.”

There shouldn’t be a moment when Cha Young-mi’s abilities, like hacking, are needed.

Let’s make it easy.

Disappointment was evident on Cha Young-mi’s face.

“I can’t help it. Should I raise the acquisition price of Yahoo as much as possible?”

“Yes, Lee Byeong-seok, pretend to make a mistake in front of the reporters and leak the amount once. About 15 billion dollars would be good. And say that Yahoo is worth more than 30 billion dollars.”

“Yes, I understand. And…”

Lee Byeong-seok hesitated and looked at Jeong-hoon.

“Speak. It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry for earlier.”

“Wasn’t it all acting?”

“That’s true, but the truth is, I was stung by what you said, Chairman. We’ve become a large corporation and forgotten a lot.”

Jeong-hoon nodded at Lee Byeong-seok’s words.

Meanwhile, Cha Young-mi, who had been pondering, asked Jeong-hoon.

“But Boss! Will Yahoo only sell Alibaba shares?”

“There’s a good chance. The thing that business people worry about the most is the China risk. China is a country where perfectly good companies disappear overnight. It’s not easy to overlook the China risk.”

“Hmm.”

People weren’t convinced.

Instilling confidence is also a virtue of a leader.

“Well, if it doesn’t work out, let’s just buy it all. Don’t worry too much. Money is power.”

Everyone looked at Jeong-hoon at the words that money is power.

His face seemed to shine like gold.

A man who owns the Shinhwa Group, where money soars to the sky like Chojeong-ri mineral water [a popular and expensive brand of bottled water in South Korea].

There was no need to worry anymore.

“Everything will be fine. Until now… there hasn’t been any failure.”

Everyone was surprised by the sudden boast.

A disgusted expression was etched on their faces.

Chief Secretary Cha Young-mi, Cheon Jin-hyeok, and Lee Byeong-seok too.

Everyone knows from experience.

Everything proceeds as he thinks.

There is no failure.

That man was the one who made the impossible possible.

Jeong-hoon, who had been thinking deeply with his head bowed, thought he should meet with the chairman of Yahoo.

“Chief Secretary, please prepare the private jet.”

“Yes? I’ll prepare it right away, Boss.”

He can get on a plane and go abroad as he pleases.

The golden private jet.

He thought he bought it well, even thinking about it again.

Should I buy one more?

Two would be just right, like Bugatti and Rolls Royce.

If I switch between them, I won’t get tired of them and I’ll be able to use them for a long time.

Jeong-hoon picked up the car keys on the desk and went outside.

He stepped on the accelerator of the sleek Bugatti and headed to the airport.

The brilliantly shining golden plane was waiting for him.

The captain and crew greeted Jeong-hoon with pleasant expressions.

“Welcome, Chairman.”

“Please take good care of me. Oh, please get me some cold champagne before we depart.”

“Yes.”

Soon after, with a roar, the golden plane soared into the sky.

***

Yahoo headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.

The faces of Yahoo’s two founders, Gary Yang and James File, were contorted.

“Wow, 19.8 percent. Amazing, how can it be in just one year…”

Gary Yang shook his head.

“Really, how can the search market share be cut in half in just one year?”

“… Stop mocking me. I already have a terrible hangover from the alcohol I drank yesterday.”

“What? Hey Gary! If you had just accepted Microsoft’s acquisition offer, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Hey James, I think you also strongly argued that we couldn’t sell at a cheap price.”

“That’s because I agreed because you argued so strongly.”

Gary looked at Brandon.

He avoided eye contact and went to the window, looking outside.

He avoids responsibility every time.

He takes credit for things that are advantageous and attract people’s attention, and leaves the rest to Gary.

He was in charge of Microsoft’s acquisition offer, but when it looked like it was going to fall through, he passed it on to me.

You pathetic white guy!

Gary pressed his temples and tried to soothe his headache.

“What about the guys who made the offer this time?”

“Well, they’re probably just poking around.”

“No!”

James’s eyes narrowed.

“Two Korean companies made offers almost simultaneously.”

“Korea? Are there companies in that country that can handle a giant like us?”

“Shinhwa and Star Group, and they’re not small. They’re the top one or two companies in the chaebol [large, family-controlled industrial conglomerates in South Korea] business group.”

“They’re competing for first and second place… I think I can hear the sound of money coming in… Hehehe.”

“Anyway, you’re like a ghost when it comes to smelling money. If we play our cards right between the two, we might be able to raise the acquisition price.”

“Wouldn’t we be able to raise it by about two times?”

“Then I think we can get at least 10 billion dollars…”

“Hehehe, then we have to get at least 10 billion dollars.”

The two, who had been bickering, were now in agreement.

It was amazing that a company from a faraway country called Korea was trying to acquire a company as successful as their assets.

There was a knock on the office door.

“Someone has come to see you.”

“Who?”

“They said they came because of the acquisition negotiations.”

“What?”

Gary looked at James.

“No, there’s no one scheduled in advance. What should we do?”

Gary pondered for a moment and then said.

“Let them in for now. If they came because of the acquisition, we should meet them.”

“I understand.”

***

I stood in line at the departure immigration counter to get my passport stamped.

It was my turn, and I handed over my passport.

“Your name?”

“Yoon Jeong-hoon.”

A blonde, blue-eyed immigration officer stared intently at Jeong-hoon.

‘The immigration officer looks like a Hollywood actress.’

I naturally felt good when I saw something aesthetically beautiful.

“What is the purpose of your visit to the United States?”

“It’s for business.”

She moved her head up and down.

She tilted her head.

And compared Jeong-hoon’s face with the cover model of the magazine on her desk.

He was the cover model of Time magazine, which was published two days ago.

He was recently selected as the number one young leader in Asia.

To commemorate this, I had an interview with a Time magazine reporter and took some simple photos.

It’s coming in like a flood.

Photo requests, autograph requests.

I was a little tired because of the popularity that was more than a successful idol.

I shook my head and answered briefly.

“No.”

“It’s not you? You look exactly the same.”

“Asians look similar to each other.”

“Ah, I see. Welcome to the United States.”

She stamped Jeong-hoon’s passport and returned it to him.

As expected, there was a note with her phone number in the passport.

Jeong-hoon crumpled the note and threw it in the trash.

He came out of the airport and got into the car waiting for him.

The limousine Jeong-hoon was in went straight to Yahoo headquarters.

The Billionaire’s Genius Grandson Becomes a Tycoon.