Free Web NovelIt seemed like Xu Yong was in charge of the financial matters.
Robin Li didn’t say anything else—he just kept staring at Han Kyungyeong.
“Ten million dollars... You said you received a $2 million investment, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s return it.”
At Han Kyungyeong’s words, Xu Yong shook his head vigorously as if that was out of the question.
“That’s not possible. Those were the people who willingly stepped up when we were struggling. We can’t just return the money now, even if we found a new investor.”
“How much equity did you promise them for the $2 million?”
“We promised 20%.”
“Look. I’m offering ten million dollars. If 20% was given for two million, then simple math says you’d have to give me five times that. You know better than anyone how ridiculous that would be.”
Xu Yong couldn’t refute Han Kyungyeong’s logic.
“You don’t want a bunch of interfering investors, right? What’s the penalty clause in your contract?”
“Probably double.”
“The moment you let emotion into business, it’s over. The company hasn’t even been founded yet—it’s all still in the planning stage. So if you pay back double, it’s still a win for them.”
“But...”
Xu Yong still looked unconvinced.
But Robin Li seemed to think differently.
“Can you guarantee we’ll succeed?”
It sounded like a test.
Han Kyungyeong responded flatly.
“I didn’t come from the future. I don’t know if you’ll succeed or not. I just think the chances are high. That’s why I’m offering such a large investment.”
Robin Li actually seemed more reassured by Han Kyungyeong’s calm demeanor.
“Xu Yong, let’s go with James’s proposal.”
“Robin...”
“I know how hard you worked to gather that investment. But this is our chance to do what we really want.”
Xu Yong still looked unhappy.
But when Robin Li pushed forward firmly, he had no more to say.
In the end, he let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
“Fine. Who can stop your stubbornness, anyway.”
“Thank you.”
Robin Li turned to Han Kyungyeong.
“There was already a fair bit of interference from the current investors. My original plan was the same as yours. But when I said we wanted to develop a search site, they said it’d be hard to invest further. That’s why we tried to start with supplying search engines first.”
“I have no intention of interfering with management. But we will monitor how the investment is used. After the company is founded, just appoint three of our people to the board.”
Han Kyungyeong gave a subtle signal to the staff beside him.
“Then let’s sign the investment contract.”
The aide who had come along as interpreter quickly pulled out the contracts from his bag and placed a copy in front of both Han Kyungyeong and Robin Li.
Xu Yong began examining the documents carefully.
“You can fill in the investment amount after we finalize the terms.”
While Xu Yong meticulously reviewed the contract, Robin Li, hesitating a bit, asked,
“We may run short on the initial capital. Would you be willing to continue investing?”
“Of course. I know it takes a long time for an IT company to generate meaningful profits.”
“Thank you.”
By the time they finished talking, Xu Yong had completed his review and turned to Robin Li.
“Robin, there’s no major issue in the contract.”
“Really? Then let’s accept the investment.”
Once the two of them reached an agreement, Han Kyungyeong nodded.
“Then I’ll invest ten million dollars. When were you planning to launch the company?”
“We were going to do it next year, but I think we can move up the schedule.”
He boldly wrote $10,000,000 into the contract.
Next came the equity share.
Before writing the number, Han Kyungyeong spoke,
“I’ll take 35% equity.”
Robin Li’s eyes widened in surprise.
Han Kyungyeong was asking for much less than he expected. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
“That’s a generous offer for us.”
“I believe you’re absolutely essential to this business. And for that to happen, you need to be the owner of the company. If it weren’t you, Robin Li, I would’ve just invested in someone else. There are already plenty of companies out there.”
Just like he said, many portal companies were sprouting up in China after Yahoo’s success.
But Kim Muhyuk had told Han Kyungyeong, “If it’s not this guy, there’s no need to invest at all.”
That applied even if the company currently had the highest market share in China.
And Han Kyungyeong never doubted Kim Muhyuk’s judgment.
Smiling, Han Kyungyeong handed over the contract.
“Let’s sign.”
Robin Li also filled in the investment amount and equity on his copy, then signed.
They exchanged contracts, then signed again below each other’s names.
“I’ll wire the ten million dollars and the $4 million penalty for breaking the previous contract to the account listed. I hope you can launch the company as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.”
Standing up, Han Kyungyeong and Robin Li shook hands as they exchanged contracts.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me. Please don’t look for other investors.”
“Understood.”
Having spent $14 million in a flash, Han Kyungyeong left Robin Li’s hotel.
As he stared out the window, he suddenly spoke.
“Rocky.”
“Yes, sir?”
The interpreter in the passenger seat turned to look back.
“We’re setting up a China branch. Will you take charge of it?”
Rocky gaped in shock.
“What, you don’t want to?”
“No, sir! Thank you. I’ll do my best!”
“I need someone I can trust in China. It’s been over two years since we started working together, hasn’t it?”
“Come to think of it, yes.”
A faint smile tugged at Han Kyungyeong’s lips.
“There will be ongoing investments in China. And someone needs to manage them. You’re the only Chinese person I can trust.”
“I’ll give it everything I’ve got, sir.”
Outside the window, the night-shrouded streets of Beijing passed swiftly by.
* * *
“You really never disappoint, hyung.”
— I just did what you told me.
“What was Robin Li like in person?”
— Can you really tell in that short of a time? He’s just as stubborn as you’d expect from a Chinese guy.
“Really? That’s surprising.”
— I’m going ahead with establishing the China branch.
“Handle it however you want. What about Tencent and Alibaba?”
— I’ll meet them after I finish the Shanghai schedule.
Tencent and Alibaba had technically already launched, but at this point they were just two among the countless IT startups popping up across China.
“They probably need funding, but it might be tougher than we think.”
— I’ll give it a shot.
“If it’s really not going well, let me know. I’ll come negotiate myself.”
— Got it.
“Good work.”
He ended the call.
Eva had been waiting idly, swinging her legs from her chair.
“You’ve started buying the stocks I mentioned, right?”
“Yup.”
The stocks he had told Eva about were ones set to skyrocket within the year.
Saerom Technology, which would surge over 150 times.
Cybertel, up over 40 times.
Next, which would go up more than 30 times.
“Buy as much as you can.”
“Got it.”
Saerom Technology in particular was a company that would show a rise unlike anything in market history.
Their core business was free internet calls. They had recently been listed on KOSDAQ.
“I’m not interested in acquiring companies. Sell everything off in January next year.”
The blind frenzy of IT investing that started in the U.S. had now swept over the KOSDAQ as well.
It got so extreme that companies with less than 2 billion won in operating profit were overtaking Korea’s major conglomerates to rank 7th in market cap.
Only a fool would miss such a chance.
In the U.S., it was Han Kyungyeong. In Korea, Eva.
The plan was to liquidate all holdings before the bubble burst in February or March and then short the market.
“I handed over that building you mentioned to Yoon Changho.”
“You left evidence, right?”
“Yeah. I laundered it using names of the homeless, disguised as special party contributions. Even if it has to be exposed someday, the paper trail ends at a ghost company. A non-existent one.”
As expected, Eva handled this sort of illegal work far better than Han Kyungyeong ever could.
“Good work. Handle the funding for Yoon Changho yourself. Don’t let anyone else touch it. Did Chief Ma send people?”
“Yeah. He said he picked people who can keep their mouths shut.”
“If you need to send cash, use only those guys. No one else should know.”
“Don’t worry.”
“And Eva, you’re well-connected with the finance circles in Hong Kong, right?”
“Yup. Why?”
No existing options products in the futures market were satisfying enough.
A new product needed to be created.
“Find me an investment bank next year that can offer options trading under my terms.”
After hearing his conditions, Eva blinked in disbelief.
“Boss... Are you serious?”
I calmly nodded.
Eva looked up at the ceiling with a sigh of disbelief.
“Ha...”
“Well? Think you can do it?”
What I wanted was an entirely new type of contract.
“I’ll contact my people in Hong Kong first.”
“Handle Hong Kong and Japan. My hyung will take care of the U.S.”
The Asian financial crisis was beginning to calm down. Across the world, including the U.S., stock markets were seeing unprecedented booms.
This was the chance for one last massive score.
Of course, there would be another opportunity during 9/11, but that was too dangerous.
The U.S. government had enacted the Patriot Act and investigated the accounts of anyone who profited from the 9/11 attacks.
Public fury was at its peak.
And the government would need someone to redirect that rage toward. That could very well be me or Han Kyungyeong.
There was no reason to take that risk.
“For now, just find financial firms that can do it under the terms I mentioned. Doesn’t matter if they’re insurers, banks, or securities firms.”
Just then, the phone rang.
I pulled out my phone from my inner pocket.
“Manager Ha is calling?”
Lately, Manager Ha had passed off most duties to Chief Ma and was focusing entirely on attending to the Chairman.
Why would he contact me out of the blue?
A sense of foreboding settled in as I answered the call.
“Yes, sir?”
— Sir.
His voice was low and heavy on the other end.
— You need to come to Pyeongchang-dong immediately.
My heart sank.
I stood up and gave Eva a look.
Sensing something was wrong, she quietly stood up with me.
“I’m heading out now.”
— Yes, sir.
Eva looked at me with worried eyes.
“I need to go. We’ll talk about the rest later.”
As I rushed out of the office, Chief Ma, who had been waiting outside, stood up, slightly startled.
“We’re going straight to Pyeongchang-dong.”
By the time I arrived at home, Manager Ha was waiting in the living room with a faint look of anxiety.
“Manager.”
“You’re here, sir.”
“How’s Grandpa?”
“He’s in his study.”
“What happened?”
“...He was asking for the other Chairmen. Asking what the Myeongdong bosses were up to these days. Then a moment later, he spoke like nothing had happened—just as usual.”
“This is the first time, right?”
“Yes.”
Memory confusion.
A typical early sign of dementia.
In my previous life, although his health had declined over time, his mind had stayed sharp until the very end.
I rushed to the study.
“Grandpa.”
He was looking out at the garden through the window, but turned at my voice.
“Muhyuk.”
“Yes.”
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“No big appointments today. I thought we could chat, just the two of us.”
“You must be busy with your own work. What’s there to talk about with an old man like me?”
He said that, but he was smiling.
“You’re not lonely? I heard you’ve been staying in the study a lot lately.”
“When did I ever go outside much? I should prepare to leave while I’m still here.”
“You’ve still got a long life ahead.”
“I’ve lived long enough.”
He didn’t seem any different from usual.
But just for a moment, as if remembering something, Grandpa called out to me.
“Muhyuk.”
“Yes?”
“Do you keep in touch with your uncles? You should. They’re still family, no matter how much you resent them. Once I’m gone... I worry you’ll be lonely.”
I couldn’t bring myself to answer.
