READ NOVEL ONLINE 72
“So, does our new PB know anything about our company?”
Kwon Eun-ho, Seo Jeonghwan, and Dokyung were sitting down, drinking coffee and chatting.
“Yes, I do.”
Kwon Eun-ho looked at Dokyung with surprise at his response.
“You were a first-tier supplier for Future Motors, but after developing patented technology related to hydrogen energy, I understand you now do business not only with Future Motors but also with overseas automobile manufacturers.”
“Haha, our company isn’t even listed on the stock market. How do you know so much?”
“While studying Future Motors, I naturally looked into their value chain as well. I was surprised to find a vendor enjoying a ‘super-tier 2’ status, so I looked into it a bit.”
Hyunsung Precision, led by Kwon Eun-ho, started as a subcontractor for Future Motors and grew for a long time on revenue generated from Future Motors. They read the changing times well and invested significantly in technology development.
Recently, the company had been doing quite well due to good results from their technology development.
Kwon Eun-ho nodded with satisfaction at Dokyung’s words.
“Indeed, it’s always a pleasure to talk with people from the securities industry. You recognize our company’s true value. When I go elsewhere, people don’t even know our company exists.”
Usually, when investigating companies like Future Motors, one studies the value chain that produces the value to complete a single car.
Naturally, even though Hyunsung Precision wasn’t listed on the stock market, it was a company that couldn’t be unknown in the securities industry.
“But when I meet people from the securities industry, they keep bringing up the topic of going public, so I don’t meet them often. It’s hard to hear talk about our company.”
Hyunsung Precision, with its stable revenue from parts production and new technology competitive in the changing market, would be seen as a very attractive product in the securities industry.
If they succeeded in going public, it would bring in enormous commission revenue.
However, Kwon Eun-ho didn’t seem to have any intention of listing the company.
“We’re not a company that needs money right away… Well, let’s stop the personal talk here. I was personally curious because Team Leader Seo gave you such high praise.”
At Kwon Eun-ho’s words, Dokyung looked at Seo Jeonghwan, who had an expression that seemed to say “of course.”
“To be honest, I’ve lost interest in the stock market. Thanks to the hard work of our Team Leader Seo, I’ve made a lot of money and become quite satisfied. Haha.”
Dokyung and Seo Jeonghwan smiled at Kwon Eun-ho’s words.
“Personally, I want to invest these assets in places that need help more, and gain my profits from there.”
“The Chairman wants to invest in game changers.”
Game changers referred to companies that create value that can change the market landscape, such as groundbreaking products.
Companies like Apple, which first introduced smartphones to the world, were called game changers.
“So when I hinted at this to Team Leader Seo, he said it might be beyond his capabilities and that he’d introduce a new PB.”
Dokyung listened quietly to Kwon Eun-ho’s words.
He couldn’t help but be surprised as soon as he entered and received Kwon Eun-ho’s introduction. It was the name mentioned in the message.
The message had given the task of making Kwon Eun-ho a client, as if predicting all of this.
“But now I hear that you’ve been a PB for…”
“It’s my second year.”
“Of course, if you have the ability, years of experience wouldn’t matter, but as someone entrusting a large sum of money, I do feel a bit uneasy.”
“I completely understand your feelings, Chairman.”
As Dokyung agreed with his opinion, Kwon Eun-ho nodded with a smile.
“So, I’d like to make one request before we sign a contract.”
“Please go ahead.”
“I’d like Yoon Dokyung-ssi to find and introduce me to companies you think will become game changers. Whether it’s one company or several, please prepare as much as your ability allows.”
Kwon Eun-ho seemed to be proposing a kind of test.
“And after seeing that briefing, I’ll decide whether to entrust my money to Yoon Dokyung-ssi or not. Would that be alright?”
At Kwon Eun-ho’s question, Dokyung looked at Seo Jeonghwan, who nodded.
From Dokyung’s perspective, this was an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.
Not only because of the task given by the message, but also because the opportunity was too great. There weren’t many clients who entrusted enough assets to a PB to consistently fulfill their performance quota.
Kwon Eun-ho was someone Dokyung had to secure while doing this job in the future.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“Haha, good. Then when would be good for our next appointment? I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving for a business trip to the U.S. in two weeks.”
He was saying to do it before two weeks. Dokyung nodded.
Although the time was tight, he had to accommodate the client.
“I’ll prepare the materials and visit you in ten days.”
Kwon Eun-ho nodded with a smile at Dokyung’s answer.
“I like your clear answer. Alright. I have an external schedule today, so I think I’ll have to get going now. I’ll look forward to good results in ten days.”
“Yes, understood.”
Dokyung and Seo Jeonghwan stood up, exchanged goodbyes with Kwon Eun-ho, and left the chairman’s office.
“The time is tight, do you think it’s possible?”
Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan looked at Dokyung with a seemingly worried expression.
“In this line of work, I’ve never once received the deadline I wanted.”
Dokyung looked at Seo Jeonghwan with a smile.
“I’ll work hard on it.”
“Good. It’s a great opportunity, so let’s make sure to seize it.”
“Yes, understood.”
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On August 24, 1995, when the devil of Silicon Valley released a new type of computer operating system, everyone could easily learn to use computers, and from then on, the paradigm of all electronic devices began to change.
On January 9, 2007, when a man in a black turtleneck and jeans stood before the public and said he would reinvent the mobile phone, the global technology market began to change.
In March 2016, when the whole world watched a live broadcast of artificial intelligence overturning the notion that it couldn’t beat humans at Go, the development of technology by AI advanced several steps.
All of these were changes brought to the world by ‘game changers’ that altered the landscape.
“Everyone’s attention is focused on robots.”
Dokyung, who had returned home after finishing work, was concentrating on his computer to solve the task given by Kwon Eun-ho and the message.
All the money in the market was pointing to robots as the next game changer.
Due to new AI learning methods, artificial intelligence had been steadily developing over the past few years, and money was pouring into robot-related industries as manufacturing introduced unmanned production facilities that didn’t require people in production lines.
“Robots are good, but… isn’t it a bit lacking to be a game changer?”
Of course, there was no basis for this thought.
It was just a vague feeling that someone like Kwon Eun-ho might not be fond of robot-related businesses.
At least in this field of ultra-precision industry, Dokyung thought that Kwon Eun-ho, being in the field, would know better than himself.
“Maybe I should have asked Dahyun-ssi for help.”
After returning to the office after meeting Kwon Eun-ho, Dokyung had considered asking for Han Dahyun’s help.
He thought Han Dahyun would know more, and more certainly, about startups.
“No. That would defeat the purpose.”
Dokyung shook his head and dismissed the thought.
This was something he had to accomplish entirely on his own. Knowledge and information about startups were Han Dahyun’s weapons.
He couldn’t ask for her weapons, and this task was about making Kwon Eun-ho his own client.
Kwon Eun-ho wanted to see Dokyung’s own skills. So did the message.
Knock knock-
Just as he was deeply focused, a knocking sound came from the door, and Dokyung turned his head towards it.
“Son, come out and eat some fruit.”
Hearing his mother’s voice through the closed door, Dokyung nodded and stood up.
He thought that taking a break and refreshing might be better than pondering meaninglessly like this.
“Wow, the pears look delicious.”
Dokyung sat at the dining table with a smile. His mother had prepared various fruits.
“I went to the supermarket today and they had some, which is rare these days.”
“Pears are hard to find?”
Dokyung asked, puzzled. He had vaguely thought that pears and apples would be available to eat anytime, 365 days a year.
“Yes, don’t you remember? We barely managed to get pears and apples for our Chuseok ancestral rites table, remember?”
“Ah, that’s right. I remember asking because Shine Muscat grapes were on the table for the first time.”
Dokyung looked at his mother while eating a pear.
“Since then, new fruits started getting expensive, and now it’s hard to even see them in supermarkets. And it’s not just fruits, is it? Vegetables are like gold these days.”
“Prices have gone up a lot.”
The aftermath of inflation was lingering stubbornly.
Not just agricultural and marine products, but electricity bills, gas bills—these days, people were saying everything except their salaries was going up.
“It’s not just about prices, they’re simply not available.”
“Not available?”
“That’s what I’m saying. No fruits, and vegetables are hard to find. I want to buy seasonal fruits like before, but these days it’s difficult…”
“The supply must be unstable. There are many places that need fruits, but if the harvest is bad… the fruits that should come to our dining tables are probably going to cafes or food factories first. They have contracts.”
“Oh my, is that so?”
Dokyung continued eating fruit while falling into deep thought.
It was a double whammy—prices were already rising due to inflation, and now with the poor supply of fruits and vegetables, their prices were skyrocketing even further.
“Fruits… vegetables…”
“Why, what is it?”
His mother, who had been talking with Dokyung while eating fruit, looked up at his muttering, and saw Dokyung’s face intensely focused on something.
She had been surprised in the past when her son made such a scary face when he started concentrating on something, but now she was used to it.
Her son always found answers after making that expression.
“Last year in Hansung Economic!”
As Dokyung shouted something incomprehensible, his mother chuckled.
As always, it seemed he had found an answer.
“Mom, just a moment.”
“Take your time!”
“Mom, thank you!”
Dokyung thanked his mother and ran into his room.
Then he started rummaging through the bookshelf next to his desk.
“2020…”
The bookshelf was packed with past issues of economic weekly magazines. Despite being thin as they were weekly publications, there were numerous volumes, showing how much Dokyung had read.
“Where is it…”
Dokyung began searching through the weekly magazines published last year.
He thought the memory that had flashed through his mind might be a hint for this task.
“Agro, agro…”
As Dokyung muttered like chanting a spell while flipping through the pages, his hand suddenly stopped.
“Found it. Agrobridge.”
A smile began to spread across Dokyung’s face as he found what he wanted.