The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 121



Only Krnovel

Episode 121 New Era (5)

“Is this really a cell phone? “I would believe it if you said it was a computer and not a cell phone!”

A team leader was astonished.

Even when he arrived at Apple headquarters, his expression did not calm down.

The moment Steve took out his iPhone, it was a team leader who couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

I continued the conversation with Steve while he continued to express exclamations.

“It’s much softer than the last time I saw it. “I am satisfied with everything from touch recognition to screen switching.”

“I’m glad you think positively of me. But in my eyes, it’s still full of shortcomings. “I think we just need to improve a little more, but it’s not easy.”

Steve’s perfectionist personality remained.

If this continued, the release of the iPhone would likely be several years away.

“I think it’s time to make a decision. “If the IT bubble hadn’t burst, we would have had more time, but this is what happened.”

“Hmm, I can’t say I’m not responsible for Apple’s stock price being cut in half. If the stock price falls further like this, you could be kicked out again… … .”

“It should be released within this year.”

Just because the development of a mobile phone was completed, it did not mean that it could be sold immediately.

A contract for parts production must be signed and a new assembly plant must be established.

At best, it would take 3 to 6 months to prepare, so a decision had to be made now to launch it within this year.

“Hmm, there are still a lot of shortcomings. Still, it’s not the level of perfection that deserves criticism. I understand. I’ll figure out a plan to release the iPhone. “I have no choice if I want to remain in the position of representative.”

“Well thought out. “We will provide support fire from all directions.”

Steve had PTSD from thinking he might get kicked out.

I was anxious because I didn’t know that I owned more than 50% of Apple’s shares.

Well, thanks to that, the release of the iPhone was accelerated, so there is nothing wrong with me.

***

After meeting with Steve, I returned to Korea.

But a very unexpected person was waiting for me at the airport.

“boss! I have a little story to tell you. “Let’s go by car.”

“David! Were you in Korea?”

I drove with David.

A bulletproof vehicle driven by Captain Kang himself was waiting.

Since it was not only bulletproof but also equipped with an anti-eavesdropping system, it was a vehicle that was rarely used.

“What do you have to say that made you prepare like this?”

“The seeds we planted are about to bloom in Russia.”

“It looks like the blood-red flower is finally about to bloom.”

Vladimir Putin.

Finally, he was about to become president of Russia.

We have continued to support him since he was an independent.

“I received a call from Russia. “They contacted me asking me to attend the presidential appointment ceremony.”

“Of course I should go.”

“Are you going to become the CEO of SAVE Investment Company? Or as the representative of Taewoo Group?”

“On the surface, he should be the representative of Taewo Group. “I think we can get more out of it.”

“Then I will go to Russia first, settle down, and wait.”

David went back to the airport and headed to Russia.

I got in the car and headed to Taewoo Group’s headquarters to see my grandfather.

“Director Kim Min-jae is here! “It’s not like you’re putting honey on the US, so why do you come back to the US so often?”

“I came to see Apple’s new products. “As we are a company collaborating with Taewoo Electronics, I wanted to check it out for myself.”

“So do you like the result?”

“I liked it very much. … … “But Grandpa, I have something more to tell you quietly.”

I had a serious expression.

My grandfather didn’t ask any more questions and moved to a small room inside the president’s office.

It was an evacuation room created in case of fire, but it was also a place created for security.

It was a safe place from the surveillance because it was an evacuation room blocked on all sides by thick concrete walls.

“What happened that makes you look so serious?”

“I think a new president will be appointed in Russia soon.”

“Now that a new era has arrived, it is natural that a new president will be born. I thought something big had happened again. “You made a fuss.”

Grandpa smiled broadly.

From the Taewoo Group’s perspective, this was also a reaction because Russia was not a major customer country.

But would you get this kind of reaction even if I continued talking to you?

“The new president of Russia has formally invited me. “He asked me to attend the presidential appointment ceremony.”

“You mean the Russian president? … … Is he acquainted with that person?”

“There was constant personal support.”

“Are you saying you provided election funds? “How do you know that person will become president?”

“I found out about him by chance, and I thought he would become a big person, so I donated a considerable amount of money.”

“Hehe, you are very brave. But I’m a little worried. “Politicians are always different when they go into the bathroom and when they come out.”

Among business people in Korea, it is rare to find a person who likes politicians.

In particular, businessmen and politicians who had gone through the military regime were very frightened.

So, like my grandfather, Chairman Jang of Hyunjae Group even took an interest in politics himself.

“So I’m going to go and see how they react.”

“Hmm, is there anything to be gained by going to Russia? “If South Korea went bankrupt, didn’t Russia go bankrupt?”

It was not only Korea that suffered from the foreign exchange crisis.

Russia actually had to go through more difficult times than Korea.

Although Uriya was able to receive support from the IMF, Russia failed negotiations and was shunned by the IMF.

As a result, the country had to experience great difficulties to the point of filing for bankruptcy.

“Wouldn’t we be able to achieve more if we reached out in difficult times?”

“I will delegate full authority to you so you can take care of it. “I won’t hold you responsible even if you don’t get anything, so just make sure you get there safely.”

“I’m visiting as a businessman, so could anything happen?”

“Still, you don’t know. Hmm, but attending a country’s presidential appointment ceremony as the head of a headquarters seems a bit lacking.”

Grandpa had a mischievous expression on his face.

Then he dropped an unexpected bombshell.

“The planning department has to graduate now. “I will give you a new title as Vice Chairman of Taewo Group.”

“It’s too early. “When you become vice president in your 20s, strange noises are bound to come out here and there.”

“At least within the Taewoo Group, there will be no one opposing it.”

“still… .”

“Don’t worry too much because you will not be the sole vice-chairman, but co-vice-chairman along with Vice Chairman Bae Seong-gyun.”

I had to rise to the position of vice president someday.

However, age was always an issue, and it was not until he was at least in his 30s that he tried to pursue the position of vice president.

But I never thought my grandfather would make such an unconventional suggestion first.

“I don’t think it’s up to me to decide. “We will accept it if more than half of the votes are in favor at the presidents’ meeting.”

“Wouldn’t it be too easy if it were a majority? “The number of CEOs you are handling must be close to the majority.”

My grandfather knew that there was a clique of presidents following me.

I didn’t even try to hide it, and it was information that I had no choice but to know since it had already been revealed several times.

“I intend to remain completely neutral. I would like to leave this matter solely to the decision of the presidents’ meeting. “And I will only be promoted to the position of vice president if I get more than 80% approval, not 50%.”

“Wouldn’t 80% be a bit excessive?”

“Only at that level will I be able to raise my voice when I become vice president. “I don’t want to be a half-hearted vice president.”

“Hmm, I understand. Since time is running out, I will convene a CEO meeting tomorrow.”

I really wasn’t planning on getting involved in this presidents’ meeting at all.

It doesn’t make any difference whether you become vice president now or in a few years.

So I wasn’t planning on attending the CEO’s meeting tomorrow.

***

A suddenly convened CEO meeting.

The presidents of each affiliate sat down without even knowing what was going on.

Since Chairman Kim Tae-joong had not yet arrived at the conference hall, they spent the time having a small conversation.

“Do you know why I asked you to gather today?”

“Do you guys understand? “Isn’t there an affiliate company that bought it somewhere?”

We chatted for about 10 minutes.

Chairman Kim Tae-joong still did not enter the conference hall.

However, the chief secretary stepped forward and began conducting the presidents’ meeting.

“The Chairman and Director Kim Min-jae will not attend the meeting today. Everything about today’s meeting will be kept secret. “I promise not to hold you responsible for anything.”

Everyone stopped what they were saying and looked at the Chief Secretary.

Because the situation was completely unknown, I was waiting for the chief secretary to continue speaking.

“The agenda for today’s meeting is the appointment of vice president. “We plan to vote to decide on the appointment of General Manager Kim Min-jae as group vice president.”

“Is this what you mean, Chairman?”

“This agenda has nothing to do with the Chairman’s wishes. “The chairman’s intention is for the decision to be made entirely through the presidents’ meeting.”

There was silence in the conference room.

No one raised a voice, but their eyes were busy.

In particular, the presidents belonging to Kim Min-jae’s faction looked at President Woo Seong-il at the same time.

President Woo Seong-il raised his shoulders with an embarrassed expression.

Since he had never received any instructions from Director Kim Min-jae, he could not decide what to do.

Another faction also quickly turned its eyes.

The faction that follows Vice Chairman Bae Seong-gyun, and the faction that follows Taewoo Engineering & Construction President Jang Soo-young. etc.

They also had a fierce battle of wits, but because the presidents’ meeting was convened so suddenly, they were unable to properly exchange opinions.

“We will proceed with a vote for or against right now. This vote will be conducted by secret ballot. We would appreciate it if you could go one by one to the voting booth provided in the conference room.”

More than five polling stations were already created inside the conference room.

As soon as the planning office employees brought in the ballot boxes, voting began immediately, and the affiliate presidents had to enter the voting booth one by one, without any exchange of opinions.

“Please remain quiet while voting takes place. And those who have finished voting are asked to wait in a separate space.”

Voting continued for quite a long time.

O or X. It was a sign that could be drawn in 1 second.

Since most people could not make up their minds, they had to spend an agonizing time inside the polling booth.

Voting ended after two hours.

The presidents who had been waiting in the waiting room were summoned back to the conference room.

However, Chairman Kim Tae-joong came to the conference room first and was waiting for them.

“Uh huh, don’t run, come slowly and sit down.”

“I am truly sorry for keeping you waiting, Chairman.”

“I just arrived too. Uh-huh, I told you to come slowly.”

These were the bosses who sat in their seats like students who were late for class.

In less than a minute, everyone was seated, and the chief secretary stepped forward with the ballot box.

“We will start counting votes now.”

“Before the votes are counted, I have something to say. I don’t care what the outcome is. I just wanted to know your opinions. “I would like to appoint Director Kim Min-jae as vice president, but I can’t do that because you are against it, right?”

“Let’s start counting the votes.”

It took 2 hours to vote.

It took less than 20 minutes to count the votes.

The Chief of Staff announced the results after completing the verification process several times.

“35 votes in favor. 3 votes against. “This agenda was passed with more than 90% approval.”

“Hehe, aren’t there only three people who voted against it? There’s nothing more to see. “Please call Director Kim Min-jae.”

It was Chairman Kim Tae-joong, whose mouth was sticking to his ears.

Seeing that, the presidents breathed a sigh of relief.

You like it so much, but what if you voted against it? There must have been quite a fuss, right?