Chapter 86
Chapter 86
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Cash Cow Ranch
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunlight poured into the picturesque country home in Paju's Heyri Village, fresh and invigorating.
I slipped on a crisply ironed shirt and steadied my nerves like a general on the eve of battle.
Today was the day Silla Biotech's fate would be sealed—the first day my legend truly became reality.
"All set."
Yoon Chaewon gave my tie one final adjustment, her voice soft and gentle.
Her touch was as tender and warm as ever.
I gazed approvingly at my reflection in the mirror: the picture-perfect image of a 'CEO'.
Just then, Chaewon called out to me in a hesitant tone.
"Um, by any chance... could you make some time on Wednesday?"
"Wednesday? We'll see. Depends on how things go with the Silla Biotech folks today. What's up?"
When I asked casually, she paused for a moment before answering cautiously.
"Well... Haneul has her talent show, and it'd be kinda awkward going alone..."
"Talent show?"
It was a word utterly alien to my world.
Chaewon's face fell at my blank response, looking like she might burst into tears any second.
"Yeah. Everyone else's families... moms and dads all come. Haneul only has me."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
I was at a loss for words.
My sharp mind, which had pierced through billions in cash, women's pleasures, and market trends, ground to a halt for the first time before this simple phrase: 'talent show'.
Her quivering voice rippled through my chest.
Noticing my fluster, Chaewon quickly stepped back.
"No, forget it. I shouldn't have said anything. I'll wait for Choi Yang. You should head out."
She forced a bright smile and pushed me toward the door.
As I felt her hand on my back, I muttered without thinking,
"I'll... try to make time if I can."
I slipped out the front door without waiting for her reply.
Standing by the car like the chairman awaiting his personal driver was Choi Yang, impeccably dressed in her 'secretary look'.
A form-fitting H-line skirt hugged her figure, paired with a crisp white blouse.
Choi Yang was the perfect secretary.
Shaking off the awkwardness from moments ago with Chaewon, I grumbled at her needlessly.
"Choi Yang, when are you getting your license? Come on, does it make sense for the CEO to be chauffeuring his own secretary around?"
She shot me a sideways glance and retorted,
"What's with the sudden nagging? You'd just complain I'm a bad driver anyway."
"......"
Her spot-on remark left me speechless. I cleared my throat awkwardly and opened the driver's door.
"Shut it. Get in."
Choi Yang snorted with an 'I knew it' look and climbed into the passenger seat.
I shoved the unfamiliar term 'talent show' from my mind and turned the key, heading for the final showdown with Silla Biotech.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Monday morning, Choi Yang and I stood once more before the rundown knowledge industry center.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
The building that had treated me like a peddler and shooed me away last Friday.
But today, the atmosphere was worlds apart.
The moment we stepped into the first-floor lobby, CEO Choi Shin-su and Team Leader Kim Seulgi were already there to greet us.
Spotting us, they bowed deeply at ninety degrees.
"Welcome, CEO!"
These same people who had looked at me like a bug just days ago now groveled like we were their saviors.
A strange sense of accomplishment washed over me at their lavish welcome. I gave a slight nod.
The power of money—no, the power of knowing the 'future' they couldn't fathom. It was sweeter than I imagined.
We rode the elevator up under their guidance and arrived at the eleventh-floor office.
Unlike the gloomy, empty vibe from Friday, every employee rose in unison to greet us today.
Finally, we sat facing each other on the worn sofa in CEO Choi Shin-su's office.
On the table sat the same instant coffee mix as before, but this time served meticulously in guest glasses.
Exhaustion from pulling all-nighters over the weekend etched their faces, mingled with desperate hope to seal this deal at any cost.
I smiled confidently, awaiting their final answer.
No, the answer was already set in stone.
Now it was just a matter of what plan they'd bring me.
"So, have you crunched the numbers on the research funding?"
At my question, Team Leader Kim Seulgi stood instead of the CEO.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes from sleepless nights, but her gaze burned brighter and sharper than ever.
"Yes, sir. Right away," she said, connecting her laptop to what looked like a brand-new beam projector on the table.
Moments later, the first presentation slide appeared on the conference room wall.
PROJECT BUDGET PROPOSAL NTA-7 Project Restart Lead Researcher: Kim Seulgi Team Leader Kim Seulgi's briefing began.
Gone was yesterday's fluster; her voice brimmed with the confidence of an expert back in her domain.
"Beginning the report. Our requested support falls into four main categories: personnel, preclinical, clinical, and operating expenses."
She pointed to the screen with her laser pointer, explaining each logically.
"First, personnel expansion. Including myself, we need three PhD-level lead researchers and five master's-level researchers—a total of eight full-time equivalents. We'll reassign existing staff and hire new ones to complete the team within two months. Labor costs for two years: approximately 3 billion won."
"Next, preclinical trials and raw material procurement. To resume clinicals, we urgently require GMP-grade NTA-7 antibodies and raw materials for the co-administered acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Initial production and quality testing: about 4 billion won."
Her explanation flowed without a hitch.
She wasn't fawning or begging for cash.
Just a scientist—a project lead—reporting the facts precisely.
"The biggest expense will be Phase 3 clinical trials. For global trials across North America and Europe, we'll partner with top CRO Quantiles. This covers patient recruitment, site management, data analysis, and NDA submissions to the FDA and EMA. Estimated cost over two years: 35 billion won."
Finally, she brought up the last slide.
A massive, clear number dominated the screen.
"Including office operations, miscellaneous costs, and a 15% contingency for unforeseen variables, our total requested budget is... 48 billion won over two years."
As the briefing ended, CEO Choi Shin-su swallowed hard, glancing nervously at me.
He clearly feared this staggering sum might scare me off and make me pull the investment.
I flashed a satisfied smile at Team Leader Kim Seulgi, who met my gaze steadily.
She was a true 'pro'. And I respect pros.
"Excellent. A flawless plan. Pros really are on another level. How about this...?"
I paused for effect before laying out my amendment.
"48 billion is no small change. I can't front it all at once. Instead, I'll invest 1 billion won per month in operating and research funds."
24 billion versus 48 billion. Half the amount.
At my words, a relieved smile spread across CEO Choi Shin-su's face.
No equity demands, no liability for a maybe-project, just steady monthly cash infusions. From his view, it was free lifeline money to save the company.
But Team Leader Kim Seulgi's expression darkened instantly.
As a scientist, she knew.
This wouldn't cut it.
"But, sir! At that rate... the project's success odds..."
She started to protest urgently but trailed off, catching the CEO's glance.
I watched it all unfold and replied with conviction.
"Don't worry, Team Leader."
With a smile, I tossed out the proposal that would seal their fate completely.
"However, I'll cover all additional costs arising during development, subject to my review. CRO down payments, raw materials—whatever it takes. Sound good?"
Kim Seulgi's darkened face shifted to shock, then overwhelming emotion.
This wasn't mere investment.
It was a promise of unlimited funding—the dream environment for any researcher.
CEO Choi Shin-su hesitated no longer.
He stood, approached me, and bowed deeply.
"Of course, sir! For the formal contract, our lawyers can..."
"I'll send my person. Han Ji-hye, judicial scrivener—best in the business. No worries."
I rose as if our business was done.
Choi Shin-su and Kim Seulgi followed us to the door like courtiers escorting an emperor, bowing at ninety degrees.
As we exited the building amid their fervent send-off, Choi Yang, walking beside me, finally couldn't hold back.
"Sir, monthly 1 billion for two years is 24 billion, plus unlimited additional research costs... Isn't this overkill? Even draining our capital wouldn't cover it."
I chuckled at her practical concern and stopped walking.
"Who said two years?"
"That research team leader just said... 48 billion for two years..."
"The research is already 99.99% done."
I spoke with absolute certainty.
"Just one final puzzle piece, and it's over."
From my post-nut clarity insight, they'd shelved it right before completion, missing that 0.01% chance.
And that last piece—the 'co-administration with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor' hint—I'd already planted in Kim Seulgi's mind.
She's probably been up all weekend, combing old data.
Soon, she'll realize my hint is the truth.
Of course, there's a slim chance she misses it...
Hmm, well?
If needed, I can fuck that PhD senseless and whisper the 'answer' during post-nut clarity.
Development? With motivation, a week tops.
The rest is just tedious approvals and bureaucracy.
I patted the shoulder of Choi Yang, frozen in shocked realization, and headed for the car.
"Bottom line, our money barely gets touched. Got it, Secretary Choi?"
Choi Yang said nothing.
She just stared at me with a mix of deepened contempt and weary exhaustion at this incomprehensible being.
'I thought he was a con artist, but does he really see the future? Or just a lucky lunatic. Either way, he's beyond dealing with.'
To her, I was no longer just a 'rich nutjob'.
I'd become something far harder to grasp—and far more infuriating.