The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 108



Only Krnovel

Episode 108 The dot-com era (2)

After completing my schedule in the United States, I returned to Korea.

Although the itinerary was only 3 days and 2 nights, we had over 10 meetings and met well over 100 people.

My eyelids were forced to close due to the forced march.

Even after returning to Korea, I had no time to rest, and as soon as I arrived at the company, I called the CEO of Taewoo Communications into the planning office.

“Is Taewoo Telecom’s market share still stagnant?”

“This month, we took first place by a narrow margin. However, it is a gap that can be overturned at any time.”

There are only 10 days left in 1998.

Even if we were lucky enough to maintain the top spot in the telecommunications industry this year, we had no idea what would happen next year.

“Taewoo Communications should also strengthen its brand image by signing sponsorship contracts with the sports industry.”

“Taewoo Engineering & Construction has already signed a sponsorship contract with the soccer team. “Are you thinking about baseball?”

“Taewoo Communications’ image and baseball do not fit well. So, we are trying to sign a sponsorship contract with E-sports.”

“Is there such a thing as E-sports?”

When it comes to sponsorship contracts, most people think of ball games.

Even if it was not a ball sport, we wanted to at least sign a sponsorship contract with a sport that was adopted as an official Olympic sport.

“Of course you know that PC rooms are increasing exponentially these days, right?”

“I know very well. “We are holding many events to encourage PC rooms to use Taewo Communications.”

“Since you are interested in PC rooms, you must know what game has the highest market share.”

“… … sorry. “I didn’t know the details until then.”

“The Stark game made by Blyard is gaining sensational popularity. So, Taewoong Communications should make a plan to create and run a Stark gaming team.”

Lee Ju-young, CEO of Taewoong Communications, took a moment of silence.

He could not easily accept the idea of ​​sponsoring a gaming team rather than sports sponsorship.

But the outcome was already decided.

From the moment he decided to follow me, my instructions took priority over his thoughts.

“We will make plans to sponsor the gaming team before the end of this year, and begin formal sponsorship starting in the new year.”

“I will tell you which players the game team will select first. First, make sure to catch Lim Hyo-han first. Perhaps KS Telecom and Korea Telecom will also create gaming teams soon. “We have to get good players before them.”

“Are you saying KS Telecom is also trying to create a gaming team? Then we will move faster!”

KS Telecom’s words were more effective than any other explanation.

Because it was CEO Lee Joo-young, whose eyes suddenly changed when the word KS Telecom was mentioned.

Telecommunications company Derby.

It would be the fiercest rivalry in E-sports in the future.

It was clear that just gaining an advantage over KS Telecom would greatly help the company’s image.

“Please provide the players with the best salary and the best facilities. This will help the image of Taewoong Communications. “If you provide support in a sloppy manner, it will only leave a bad impression on the fans.”

“Do E-sports players have fans?”

“What sport is there without fans? And Stark’s fandom will be bigger than any other sport in Korea.”

The day will soon come when the fandom of an E-sports player will be bigger than that of an idol.

And the player who would build the biggest fandom was Lim Hyo-han, and we had to bring him in before he made a name for himself.

“We will create a gaming team with the best facilities, equipment, and salary.”

“And soon, broadcasters will start broadcasting games. Get us an official sponsor. “If funds are insufficient, Taewoo Electronics can become the official sponsor, so make sure to add Taewoo in front of the competition name.”

Dominating the E-sports market was very important for telecommunications companies.

The age group that mainly used the Internet was mostly young, and this overlapped with the age group that watched e-sports.

“And Bliad games will soon be available through our gaming platform. “To access Stark, you have to use our platform, whether at home or in a PC room.”

“The event that gives you coupons that can be used like cash on the platform when you sign up for Taewoo Communications is very popular. “If Starc is available on the platform, the number of new subscribers will increase.”

Isn’t that why I went all the way to America and bought shares in Bliyard?

And that’s by handing over IT stocks, which are like gold.

Well, it is a stock that will go from being a gold mine to a headache even after just one year.

***

I worked in the planning office until late at night.

Although it was only a 3-day, 2-night business trip, I had a lot of work to do as there were many projects I was involved with.

I just wanted to get everything done and lie down right away, but

Because I was curious about what was going on in Myeong-dong, I went to Captain Kang’s office instead of home.

“Did Dimon move his office here at all?”

“Captain Kang said that it would be better to work here for security purposes. “It’s a dark affair, so shouldn’t you be careful?”

“Well done. Captain Kang, please increase the number of security guards. “You can use this opportunity to hire more new people.”

“We already have enough people. “More than 200 people are ready to deploy at any time.”

I set up a security company for Captain Kang.

Captain Kang’s company was in charge of many of the Taewoo Group’s security duties, so there was not much need for additional support.

“Just in case, if you ever go out, Daimon, wear an anti-bullying suit.”

“Looking at the atmosphere these days, it seems like it should be so. And Lee Young-han is more dangerous than me.”

“What did you do?”

“We set up an office in the building in front of Team Leader Park’s private loan office. “There was even a case where a person who borrowed money from Team Leader Park’s office borrowed money from Lee Young-han’s office and repaid it right away.”

Younghan Lee was more aggressive than I expected.

They lent money at a lower interest rate than Team Leader Park’s office, and to promote this, they not only appointed people, but even put up large banners all over Myeong-dong.

“Team Leader Park must have been extremely poisoned.”

“First of all, I don’t show it on the outside. Rather, Lee Junsu is running wild. “I even broke into Lee Young-han’s office several times.”

“Are you saying you led a group of people to attack Lee Young-han?”

“People were dragged away, but there was no fight. “He only made a few threatening remarks and left.”

It was enough for Executive Director Lee Jun-su to go on a rampage.

He was the one moving the Yakuza’s funds, and he was the most dangerous person if this went wrong.

He will slowly realize how protected he was.

Now that the strong defense of the Gwanghwamun Bear is gone, you have to protect your own life.

“It looks like you still don’t have the guts to cause harm directly.”

“Busan five-star gang members and yakuza are often seen in Myeong-dong. “It is highly likely that a direct attack will occur soon.”

“Place escort troops on Lee Young-han’s side as well. Please don’t intervene in the fight ourselves. “Please intervene just enough to save Lee Young-han’s life.”

“We have already deployed protection personnel. “We will dispatch more personnel to understand the atmosphere of Myeongdong in detail.”

Captain Kang was fully prepared.

CCTVs were installed and monitored in buildings throughout Myeong-dong, and many manpower were deployed to Myeong-dong to prepare for any emergency.

***

Team Leader Park’s office.

Today again, Junsu Lee was raising his voice in the office.

“Lee Young-han, that bastard didn’t do it alone. It’s clear that Kim Min-jae, that rotten bastard, is helping him. Otherwise, Lee Young-han has some money so he’ll just throw it away.”

“I’m not sure yet. And even if Director Kim Min-jae intervenes, it is difficult to invest more money into Myeong-dong than the Japanese money.”

“That’s natural. “The problem is that you have to spend more money to eat in Myeongdong!”

Team leader Park and Junsu Lee’s faces were very injured.

They couldn’t look good because they spent more money than necessary to deal with Lee Young-han, who was playing a game of chicken.

Moreover, the situation in Myeong-dong was not on their side.

Somehow, a rumor spread that Japanese funds had entered Team Manager Park’s office, and loan sharks who heard the rumor began to join hands with Lee Young-han.

“Lee Young-han probably doesn’t have much money left. I know your assets better than anyone else. “If you look at the size of Lee Young-han’s inherited wealth, there will be almost no money left.”

“What if Minjae Kim helps me? “Then won’t you endure it longer?”

“Taewoo Group will not be able to help you outright. “If there is even a rumor that a large company has entered the lending business, its image will suffer greatly.”

“Does Kim Min-jae seem like such an easy person? “I’m sure he will use some tricks to help Younghan Lee.”

“So what are we going to do?”

Team Leader Park’s voice became sharper.

He was annoyed by Lee Junsu, who came to the office every day and whined.

“Why are we making it so complicated? “Let’s just solve it comfortably.”

“What if it’s an easy way?”

“Ugh-!”

Lee Junsu made a motion of slitting his own neck with his thumb.

As Team Leader Park had a long history in Myeongdong, he knew very well what that movement meant.

“Do you mean to kill me?”

“Isn’t it a fight that risks one’s life anyway? Is there really a need to trample someone to death with money? “If you really kill it, you can save money.”

“Who do you want to kill?”

“Lee Young-han and Kim Min-jae. Well, this is a problem that can be solved even if only one of the two dies. “It would be even better if I could kill them both.”

“Behind Director Kim Min-jae is Taewoo Group. “If you touch it for no reason, it can cause a fuss.”

Taewo Group’s position in Korea was strong.

No matter how much money Myeongdong was moving, it did not have the ability to handle the successor to the second largest conglomerate in the business world.

“Is there only one or two living people who have a grudge against Kim Min-jae? “Wouldn’t it be a problem if we just didn’t get caught for doing it?”

“Still, it’s too dangerous.”

“Then let’s deal with Lee Young-han first and think about it. “If we still can’t decide, we will deal with Kim Min-jae as well.”

“If Director Kim Min-jae gets hurt, Chairman Kim Tae-jung will never stay still. “He will mobilize all his power to move the government.”

“So, let’s touch on Lee Young-han first. “That way, Kim Min-jae won’t get scared and disappear?”

Team Leader Park was lost in thought for a moment.

As long as he was recognized as the official successor to the Gwanghwamun Bear, taking over Myeong-dong was no problem.

To that end, the existence of Lee Young-han, Chairman Lee’s grandson, was problematic.

“It is difficult to mobilize our personnel. “It’s not easy to get access because all the faces have already been sold.”

“Then we ask the Yakuza for help. If you’re a Yakuza, wouldn’t you have people who specialize in hitmen? “Team Leader Park, please only act as a middle bridge.”

“All right. “We will create an opportunity to deal with Lee Young-han.”

In the end, it was Team Leader Park who crossed a line that should not have been crossed.

It was a natural step since he had already given up on being human since he joined hands with Lee Junsu.