The Famous Millionaire

“Well, I’m disappointed. I had high expectations this time as I heard you improved the quality a lot recently. I wonder if you manipulated the relevant report with gifts.”

Younghwan was barking up the wrong tree. He gave Oda an excuse for him to undermine Aurum. Still, Younghwan couldn’t give up. He had to use some other tactics as the last resort.

Based on his background check on Oda, he was a tender-hearted man. He heard Oda shed tears while watching TV. So, Younghwan decided to make the best use of his weakness like that. Though his pride was to be hurt by that, he had to brazen it out for sales activities.

Younghwan suddenly cried, shedding tears, saying, “I might be fired if I didn’t get this deal from you. I might be forced out on the street with no place to go… My mom is sick …”

However, Oda wasn’t moved at all. It looked like he immediately realized that they were nothing more than crocodile tears.

“Well, that’s your own personal matter. This is business, and I think I have nothing to do here.”

“Please, don’t…”

Younghwan was persistent, but Oda left without looking back.

After he was briefed by Younghwan, Suchol felt as if the sky had fallen down.

“Damn it. I thought I would get promoted to the director, but it’s a no go.”

It was not a matter of promotion to him. As the president was very much enthusiastic about it, he would be demoted for his failure to pull off the deal. Most likely he would be kicked out to the faraway in Umsung. There was no other choice for him.

Suchol was called to the president’s office.

After a while, the president’s office was so loud with Daebong Park’s rebuking, and Suchol was immediately kicked out to the Umsung factory. The previous team manager returned to take back his original position of the sales team manager, but even the new sales manager was not confident enough to win back Oda’s heart. He made it clear to Daebong, returning to his position.

“In my judgment, the deal with Oda was over already.”

Daebong was no longer enthusiastic about it. Instead, he convened a managers’ meeting for the next opportunity.

“We can’t continuously be beaten by Art Hill like this. This is the market we can’t survive in if we don’t take the top position. Do your best. We might see the end of our company next year.”

“Yes, sir!” Every team manager present at the meeting answered in unison.

In particular, Youngsu Park’s voice was louder, and he cursed Suchol, As you are lacking in ability, your members can’t show their ability.

After the meeting, Youngsu Park returned to the office.

Springing to his feet, Yonggu Kim asked, “What happened? Did they win the contract?”

“Nope. Even the president gave up,” said Youngsu dejectedly.

When he said so, Yonggu suggested by saying “Why doesn’t our team try to get the deal?”

Youngsu opened his eyes wide, asking “You mean the purchasing team?”

“Yes, I’d like to try.”

Youngsu could not understand. The two teams had completely different in job functions, there was no reason to interfere with other team’s business, and the chances were very slim.

Though Yonggu’s suggestion didn’t make any sense, Youngsu wanted to hear the reason.

“Do you have an idea you’ve been thinking over?”

“Not really, but I think the deal is too good to miss.”

“If you fail, our purchasing team will be in big trouble,” said Youngsu, quietly scolding him.

In the past, he would have rejected it with a threat to the other’s job, but he now knew how to control his team members, but Yonggu didn’t budge, either. Rather he began to persuade the manager.

“As it’s a tough deal, we’re going to enjoy a great performance if we pull it off. If we risk our lives on it, there is nothing in the world we can’t do, I think. I’d like to do so.”

“Hey, this is not something you can do just with your own enthusiasm.”

Still, Yonggu was persistent. They moved to a conference room, and Yonggu began to persuade him energetically.

“Did you hear about the story about the archer?”

“Archer?”

“There was a mediocre archer. Let alone being a member of the national team, she didn’t get a good score even during the practice, but she got a gold medal one year after she heard a good piece of advice.”

“What kind of advice?”

“Well, she was given the advice that when she went to the practice field, she was to carry only one arrow.”

“Looks like she was told to risk her life on that arrow,” said Youngsu.

“Right. That player allegedly rekindled her concentration power at the practice field. As she had to stop the practice after using only one arrow, she totally concentrated on it.”

Hearing Yonggu’s explanation, he found Yonggu full of enthusiasm. The deal was a big one this time. Regardless of the contract amount, it was important to find a new customer.

The president would not take any punitive action against him, his cousin, even if he failed in the deal. Maybe his lousy nagging would be all Youngsu could expect.

“How can I help you, then?”

“Please get the approval that I can give it a try, and please get me some information on the Japanese buyers Oda and Yoshimoto. Then, let me form a team and try our best.”

“No problem, but remember the consequence of your failure, too.”

“Got it, sir.”

Back in the office, Yonggu called Hyunwoo to the conference room.

Though there were only two of them there, Yonggu’s voice was pretty cautious.

“I managed to persuade Youngsu as you asked me to do. To be honest, I wondered if what I did was good. Do you think we can find a way? I’m afraid there isn’t one, no matter how hard I think about it,” said Yonggu.

If he had no chance at all, Hyunwoo would not have asked Yonggo to do so. Actually, he got some detailed information about the Japanese buyers through Unhye Kim, representative of N&C Japan. However, the sales team’s information about them was more detailed and accurate. Though Unhye did her best to get all she could about them, she couldn’t get more than the sales team. Basically, both Oda and Yoshimoto were really tough to persuade away from Art Hill.

However, the sale team’s mistake was that they only researched Yoshimoto and Oda, but not their families, relatives or acquaintances.

Hyunwoo asked Unhye to find more about the people around Oda and Yoshimoto. Unhye found one particular point about “Iceman” Yoshimoto. In some respects, he was actually the head of the buyer’s team with respect to the current deal.

Maybe he could be persuaded, Hyunwoo thought.

Looking at Yonggu, Hyunwoo grinned, saying, “Let’s think about him first.”

Yonggu scratched his head, but he had to wait until Hyunwoo coached him about specific details.

“Okay, then. Tell me anything you need. Manager Youngsu said he would help me unconditionally.”

Hyunwoo immediately started thinking about how to deal with Yoshimoto, If Unhye’s information on him is correct, he is much more tender-hearted than expected. He will clearly get interested in it.

Hyunwoo sent a document on a sheet of A4 paper to him with a message in, had it translated into Japanese by Suji Min, his company colleague, and asked Suji to send out a text message to Yoshimoto as follows:

Please open it if you want to give a new life to Ms. Haruki.

Hyunwoo waited nervously, I hope he responds to it. Yes, he will do so.

Hyunwoo’s predicted it correctly. He got the reply from Yoshimoto in about ten minutes after he sent out the text message.

Can you get that product?

The moment he got the message, Hyunwoo’s expression brightened, Yea, half of my operation is already a done deal.

Hyunwoo asked Suji to send him another text message.

With no chance of getting it, I would not have texted to you.

How can I verify if it’s genuine or not?

I’ve got evidence that you can believe it’s genuine.

What is it? That evidence?

I’ve got to show it to you.

Let’s meet then.

Hyunwoo clenched his fist, Good deal!

Hyunwoo decided the time and place, given Yoshimoto’s current location. As Yoshimoto was not staying in Korea for very long, Hyunwoo rushed to his place with Suji.

Though he wanted to bring Yonggu, too, he didn’t, because this was not the normal way of business, and Yoshimoto might not be wary of meeting several people.

Yoshimoto was waiting for Hyunwoo nervously. In fact, it was Hyunwoo who was more nervous.

Suji exchanged greetings on behalf of Hyunwoo first, “Did you wait for long? This is Assistant Manager Hyunwoo Jang, and my name is Suji Min. I am interpreting for him.”

“I see. Where is the product? And how can I confirm if it’s genuine or not?”

“I wouldn’t explain with words. Let me show it to you in person. Then, even if you have one hundred questions, you’ll see them all solved instantly.”

Suji interpreted what he said, but Hyunwoo could see Yoshimoto hardening his face a bit even before she interpreted. That suggested Yoshimoto understood his Korean.

I heard he was the 3rd generation of Korean-Japanese, and it looks like he can speak Korean, thought Hyunwoo.

As soon as Suji interpreted, Yoshimoto asked, “What do you want for it?

“You’re asking the right question. Of course, a contract with JBC. Please give it a positive review.”

“You don’t know about me yet. Don’t link your own personal matters with this business.”

“I know that. What I want to tell you is give it an objective review without any prejudice. You came to see us with the prejudice that the quality of Aurum’s products is much poorer than that of Art Hill.”

“It’s not our prejudice. It’s an obvious fact that the quality of Art Hill is much better than that of Aurum.”

“I admit that, but it is a difference of quality degree. In our opinion, it’s a difference of one, but you think it’s 10. That’s your prejudice.”

Yoshimoto didn’t refute it. In fact, his judgment was not based on any real test. He had to admit it was totally his own prejudice.

“And there is something you have missed.”