The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 151



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Episode 151 rebound (5)

These were two CEOs who were already familiar with the concept of factory automation.

In particular, Carlos, who had worked in Europe and the United States, knew better, and it fit perfectly with his idea that labor costs should be saved to increase factory sales.

“Kai Motors is actively introducing factory automation equipment.”

“The same goes for Taewoo Motors!”

There were two bosses who gave competitive answers.

I calmed them down and showed them several pictures.

“This is a photo of the logistics center of Amazon, a hot internet commerce company these days. “I hope we can automate our factories as much as possible in this way.”

“We will actively introduce the use of conveyor belts. “Using a conveyor belt to move parts will be helpful in many ways because it will eliminate the need for a forklift.”

It was definitely positive for factory automation.

Therefore, I was able to easily bring up stories related to robots.

“Factory automation requires the development of various robots, so we are planning to create factory automation robots with Amazon. “Please select professionals from Taewoo Motors and Kai Motors and send them to Amazon.”

“Are you talking about people involved in robot production? “There are a few such people in the lab, but they do not have the expertise of experts from robotics companies.”

“I said something wrong. You just need to send an automobile factory expert, not a robot expert. “In order to develop robots that fit the characteristics of automobile factories, we need to understand the needs of automobile factories.”

We continued talking for a while.

They even shared opinions on how robots should be created to help with factory automation.

“Conveyor belts are not enough. To move parts from high places, robots are needed to replace forklifts. “For example, a robot like a small helicopter.”

Honestly, I was a little surprised.

It was Carlos who brought up not just a robot arm but also the concept of a drone.

If Carlos and Jeffrey join forces, a smart factory may be possible much sooner than I expect.

***

A few days later.

David came to Korea in a hurry.

When I met him in Captain Kang’s office, he waved at me with great confidence.

“Judging by the look on their faces, it looks like the trade center lease contract has come to an end.”

“What did I say? You said you could do it without help from the White House, right? “We signed a 99-year long-term lease and returned.”

“How much money did it cost?”

“It only cost $3.2 billion. “Isn’t it very cheap compared to the cost of using a landmark for 99 years?”

$3.2 billion is cheap?

It was David who said that the price, which amounts to a whopping 4 trillion won in Korean currency, was cheap.

But I didn’t think it was that expensive either.

It was a small amount compared to the funds held by SAVE Investment Company, and since we did not use the entire floor and could earn rental income, it was not an expensive amount.

“It’s not a bad price. “What did you do with insurance?”

“We are planning to take over the existing insurance contract from the Port Authority.”

“Is it okay to lease it for 99 years? Sign an insurance contract not only with American but also with European insurance companies.”

“If that happens, your annual insurance premiums will be at least hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

“But it doesn’t matter, fire insurance, collapse insurance, terrorism insurance, etc. “Buy all the insurance you can afford.”

They signed a lease for $3.2 billion?

Then, all I had to do was recover several times that amount through insurance.

“If the boss wants it, of course I will. It seems like a useless expense to me. … … “Aren’t you planning to tear down the World Trade Center?”

“Are you saying I’m crazy or doing something like that? “If you are caught, you will become an enemy of the United States, but you cannot do such a thing even if it is a waste of money that has been poured into the White House.”

Honestly, it was a little annoying.

Although I had no plans to cause terrorism, I knew that someone was planning to do so.

“If you offer to take out expensive insurance, the insurance company will rush out and say yes. “Who would refuse to give away money for free?”

“And we also need to do some World Trade Center remodeling work. “SAVE Investment Company is moving in, so we can’t continue to use the existing interior, right?”

“If you call a professional company for interior work, it can be completed within 15 days.”

“Can you really finish it in 15 days? “I understand that the World Trade Center has 110 floors, but that can be completed in 15 days?”

“Wasn’t the interior design only for the space used by SAVE Investment Company?”

For the first time in a long time, David opened his mouth and looked surprised.

My statement that I would remodel the entire 110th floor was so absurd that even the person who signed the $3.2 billion contract was surprised.

“It needs to be remodeled to that extent to let people know that the owner has changed.”

“Construction of that scale will take at least one to two months. Where do the companies that have moved in so far do their work? “Since we took over the existing contract, we must pay compensation.”

“We will rent out vacant rooms in nearby buildings, and if we run out of space, we will have to use hotels. “If anyone wants a refund for their rent, we can give it to them.”

“Boss, what’s going on with your head?”

“Construction won’t take that long. “You can use the building as is when carrying out external construction, and only have to leave when doing internal interior work, so you only have to work for about 20 days.”

In fact, we only had to vacate the building for one day.

Only on September 11th, when the terrorist attacks occur.

However, if I vacated the building just for that day, suspicion might turn towards me, so I planned to vacate the entire building for about 20 days.

“What can I say if the boss spends the boss’s money? In some ways, it’s amazing. What crazy person would say they would remodel the 110th floor at the same time? “I have a really great person as my boss.”

“Good to know. There is no need to look for a separate remodeling company. “It will be carried out by Taewoo Construction.”

“follow your heart. “I’m just going to do what I’m told and do my best.”

***

next day.

I called the president of Taewoo Construction to the vice president’s office.

“I heard that the vice president called me, so I rushed over right away. “Thank you for calling me this way.”

“Don’t think too hard of me. “Relax your posture a bit.”

After CEO Jang Soo-young left Taewoo Construction.

The position had to be filled with a new person, and I selected one of the executives at Taewoo Engineering & Construction.

Various executives were considered, but I appointed the president solely based on ability.

The person chosen was President Ahn Deok-hwan.

Although he lacked political power, he was excellent in all other abilities.

Would you say hexagonal talent? There was nothing lacking, but political power was lacking.

As a result, he was an executive who could not even create his own faction because he could not follow the line properly.

Since I appointed such a person as president, of course he was showing a high level of loyalty to me.

“This position is comfortable. “How dare you relax your posture in front of the Vice President?”

“Do whatever is comfortable for you. Rather, I would like you to take on one task.”

“No matter what, I will faithfully carry out the Vice President’s instructions.”

“I would like Taewoo Construction to take charge of the remodeling of the World Trade Center in New York.”

“You mean remodeling? Taewoo Construction does not handle remodeling work… … . sorry. “I will follow the Vice President’s instructions.”

It was President Ahn Deok-hwan who looked more like a soldier than when he first saw Captain Kang.

It also felt like a private, not an executive level.

Originally, no matter how talented a person was, they would become foolish when they first joined the company.

Even if you’re an outstanding executive, you’re bound to feel nervous the first time you meet a high-ranking person.

Well, it will gradually get better.

“I know very well that Taewoo Group does not carry out small construction projects such as remodeling. But please make an exception this time. Since we are remodeling the entire 110-story building, the scale of the project is not that small.”

“Are we remodeling the entire 110th floor? “Who would do such a crazy thing?”

Suddenly I was hit by a blow.

I was even more impressed by the words of President Ahn Deok-hwan, who was like a private.

“Hmm, I received a request from a Wall Street investment company.”

“They say Wall Street has a lot of money, and it seems like there really is a lot of money. “I never imagined that we would go through all the crazy work of remodeling an entire building as large as the World Trade Center.”

“Hmm, just send the team I want to the United States, starting with the large crane, before September.”

I presented the list I had prepared in advance to President Deok-Hwan Ahn.

He checked the list and tilted his head as if he had noticed something strange, but it seemed like he couldn’t bring himself to ask me.

“Is the list strange? “You can speak freely.”

“I see names of people who have nothing to do with the remodel. Of course, these are all excellent employees, but there is a sense of disconnect from their existing work.”

President Deok-Hwan Ahn’s point was accurate.

Most of them had nothing to do with remodeling work, and there were more employees at Taewo Construction who specialized in remodeling than these people.

Nevertheless, they chose this.

The people on the list were employees who were involved in the collapse of Sampoong Department Store.

Other personnel had firefighting skills.

Remodeling was just a wrap.

It was a list of personnel selected to prepare for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“This construction will be completed within a month. “The list I created may be questionable, but please trust me and send it to me.”

“How could I oppose the vice president’s instructions? “I will prepare you for your business trip to the United States today.”

“And in the case of construction equipment, I prepared it separately.”

“There is construction equipment owned by Taewoo Engineering & Construction’s U.S. subsidiary. “The equipment is capable of handling remodeling work.”

“Because investors on Wall Street are strange people. “It’s construction equipment prepared by that person, so I can’t help it.”

“I understand what you mean. “We will deliver performance that will satisfy our customers.”

“Then let me ask you a favor.”

“I won’t disappoint!”

With this, we are fully prepared.

So I waited for September to come.

***

8:40 am US time.

It was a time when darkness began to seep into Korea, and I came home from work and went to Captain Kang’s office.

“Mr. Representative, what are you doing at this hour?”

“As expected, Dimon was still working. “He wanted to have a beer with me.”

I handed a can of beer to Dimon and turned on the TV.

Without knowing what was happening, he took the cold beer and clinked the can with me.

“I will drink well.”

Chi-ik! Perfect!

The moment the sound of opening a can resonates.

Breaking news flashed on TV and the World Trade Center appeared on the screen.

“Wow, CEO! Something big happened.”

I heard Dimon’s urgent voice.

I couldn’t bear to turn my head towards the TV and quickly drank my beer.

It was such a great pain to witness the scene of a catastrophe twice with a sober mind.