The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 69



Only Krnovel

Episode 69. failure (2)

The CES event has begun.

Many political and business figures from around the world visited the event venue.

The most famous figure among them was, of course, US President Clinton, and officials were seen making efforts to get to know him.

But I didn’t really do that.

How long will the friendships you make in places like this last?

So, you should have developed a deep friendship like I did a long time ago.

“boss! “We decided to meet briefly in the parking lot of the event venue.”

“is it so? “Then I guess I’ll have to go ahead and wait.”

David and I headed to the parking lot.

SAVE Investment Company has so far lobbied heavily in U.S. politics, and even provided a large amount of campaign funds to the Democratic Party during the last presidential election.

The person in charge of all the lobbying activities was David, and thanks to that, the brief meeting with Clinton took place.

“I’m sorry to have to meet you in such a small place.”

“What does location matter? “I would go to hell just to meet a good person.”

Unique eloquence.

He looks handsome like a movie star.

Here before me was a president who brought about an economic revival unprecedented in American history.

“Still, I don’t want to entertain my biggest sponsor in a place like this.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. “I will be the biggest sponsor in this year’s election as well.”

“Hmm, thank you very much.”

“We plan to donate twice as much money as the last presidential election.”

“I am grateful, but. … … Can I honestly ask you one thing? SAVE Investment Company has never asked me or the politicians for a favor. Don’t say it’s free money. “I don’t believe that.”

From the mid to late 90s.

Even if you search not only American history but world history, there was no such revival.

Even when Korea was struggling with the foreign exchange crisis, America’s revival continued.

There was no question about the power of the president during this revival.

The reason I haven’t asked him anything until now was to ask for help in the upcoming foreign exchange crisis.

“I think I’ll be asking for a lot of help in the future.”

“As the CEO of SAVE Investment Company? Or as the successor to Taewoo Group?”

As expected, it was Clinton who knew my identity.

For someone who was not just the president but also the president of the United States, it was not difficult to know my identity.

“I think it’s probably both.”

“I am willing to listen to whatever request Kim has. But there is one prerequisite. Under no circumstances should she do anything that would be detrimental to the national interests of the United States.”

“Of course I intend to. “I am aiming for a direction where the national interests of the United States and the Taewo Group can grow together.”

“I trust Kim. “Kim seems different from the hyenas I’ve seen on Wall Street.”

Clinton was kind to me.

A person who is the best supporter, but does not ask for anything.

Even if I were a politician, I couldn’t help but like it when I met a sponsor with these conditions.

“Thank you for your trust. In the future, I plan to grow together through a joint venture or partnership between the Taewo Group and the American group. So, this time, I am even thinking of selling the mobile phone division that made Innophone to Apple.”

“Ohh! “That’s a very good idea.”

“And I prepared a small gift. This is a new mobile phone that was exhibited at CES but has not been officially released yet. “This is a design that women will love as a gift.”

You could have prepared a large gift, such as a bundle of cash or gold bars.

If I showed up too blatantly at an event like this, I could get some animosity, so I prepared a small but special gift.

“It has a very pretty design as the next product of Innophone. But it might be difficult for me to write. “The president of the United States cannot use products from other countries.”

“Sooner or later, you won’t mind using it.”

“ah! If Apple takes over, that’s what will happen. “Then I will hold on to it until then, and when that day comes, I will use it myself.”

The brief meeting with Clinton has come to an end.

I had created the best card that would support me during the foreign exchange crisis next year.

* * *

During the CES event, I could hardly go to the event venue.

I followed David to events supporting politicians and built connections.

It was an event he participated in to promote his name as the CEO of Taewoo Electronics, not as the CEO of SAVE Investment Company.

When I spent a few days intoxicated like that.

Vice President Woo Seong-il came to me with very good news.

“President, two Taewoo Electronics products were selected as the best products. And MP Man won the Innovation Award.”

“That’s good news.”

It was a very good result.

Taewoo Electronics won the award for Innophone’s next product, a slide phone and TV, and MP Man won the Innovation Award, which is given only to products with fresh technology.

“In particular, we are receiving inquiries from many people about how MP3 players can be used.”

“It is a technology that has been introduced to the world for the first time, so it is bound to attract attention. President Hwang Young-cheol will be very pleased.”

“Just looking at the level of interest, it seems to be higher than that of Innophone. “Shouldn’t we prepare for mass production?”

Will attracting attention increase sales?

Of course, interest and sales are proportional, but in the case of MP Man, there was a high possibility that this would not be the case.

Technology ahead of its time.

To be more precise, the MP Man was a product that the times were not ready to accept.

In an era when MP3 files were not popular, it was difficult to obtain music even if you had an MP3 player.

“First, let’s look at the order quantity and make a production plan.”

“I will. In the case of slide phones, pre-orders are flooding in.”

“We have finally met Innophone’s production capacity, but the factory will be busy again.”

“To be honest, we don’t have enough factories to produce Innophone and Slide Phone at the same time.”

“You are saying that we need to build a new factory. “If that’s the case, I’ll solve it soon.”

A huge amount of money is spent on building a new factory.

With only one year left before the foreign exchange crisis, borrowing money to build a new factory would have been suicidal, so I had already prepared another method.

* * *

The next day after the CES event.

At Steve’s request, an Apple board meeting was held.

Among the board members, there were still some who disliked Steve, but since Steve had achieved good results at CES, they could not say their dislike openly.

“It hasn’t even been a year since I returned to Apple. In the case of the new Macintosh exhibited at this year’s CES, orders surged by more than 200% compared to the previous year, and the company went from deficit to surplus due to large-scale restructuring and project discontinuation.”

Steve boasted about himself from his first words.

But no one could object to his words.

This was because Apple’s stock price, which was only about $1, jumped more than five times in less than a year.

“There is a rumor that Apple’s board of directors is only thinking of selling Apple to another company at a high price, but I hope that is false.”

“Hmm.”

Criticism followed the boast.

There was a lot of coughing at the board meeting.

As Steve said, there were several people who were only thinking of making up for their losses by selling Apple at a high price.

“There is still a long way for Apple to regain its former reputation. That’s why I try to adopt innovative methods. “I hope that the board of directors who do not agree with me will resign and leave.”

“Why are you saying such scary things? “Tell me first what the innovative plan is.”

“It takes time to create innovative products. But Apple doesn’t have much time left now. So, I am looking to acquire products and companies that will fill the gap before I create an innovative product.”

“Although Apple has turned into a surplus, it still has significant debt. “It’s too risky to take over a company in this situation.”

Negative reactions came from many quarters.

Most of them were people who did not want Steve’s return, and Steve raised his voice as if he had been waiting.

“I thought you would be against it as expected. Because you don’t want Apple to survive! It must be scary. “If Apple survives too much, it won’t be able to sell it to other companies.”

“That’s too harsh!”

“Am I being harsh? It’s you who are the worst. “You are the ones who made Apple, the company I created, into a $1 company!”

Steve was someone who didn’t shy away from a fight.

Rather, it seemed like he was anxious to fight.

There was shouting in the conference room, and Steve’s harsh words became more intense as time passed.

“We don’t need people like you, so get the hell out of here! “What can I do with a bug that eats apples?”

“Did you just say bugs? Yes, I will leave the board of directors immediately. What would happen if I released all the stocks I own into the market? “Watch closely as the stock price falls in half!”

Several board members stood up and cursed.

I watched that scene with my mouth watering.

Throwing stocks into the market, right? Then I have to pick it all up and eat it.

Apple’s stock price is only $5 now, but it will be over $100 in 10 years.

I would be grateful if they gave me stocks that would save me 20 times more.

“It seems like everyone has left now. “Let’s start a proper meeting.”

“Where are you trying to take over? “I completely agree with you, but taking too big of a risk is dangerous.”

George from the Quantum Fund was still sitting.

He seemed to stay in his position because he trusted me more than he trusted Steve.

Even now, instead of looking at Steve and talking, he was looking at me.

“Innophone and slide phone. This is the mobile phone that heated up the German Consumer Electronics Fair and CES. “We are looking to acquire the company that made that product.”

“If you say Innophone, do you mean Taewoo Electronics? Isn’t that like a shrimp eating a whale? “If it were the Apple of the past, it would be close to impossible for the current Apple to acquire Taewoo Electronics.”

“I’m not that vain. What I want to acquire is not Taewoo Electronics, but Taewoo Electronics’ mobile phone division. Taewoo Electronics’ mobile phone division is not much larger than other electronics companies.”

This time, it was George looking at me again.

He knew very well that I had a close relationship with Taewoo Group.

“I will answer the rest. Selling the mobile phone division is entirely possible.”

“Even if Taewoo Electronics’ mobile phone division is not large, it would take a considerable amount of money to acquire the entire factory. “Apple still has $1 billion in debt. Is this possible?”

“We will invest all of that money at SAVE Investment Company.”

“Then there is no reason to object. But will Taewoo Electronics give up its mobile phone division easily?”

Of course, I can’t give it up easily.

I planned to take as much as I could and then hand over the mobile phone division.