Chapter 104: Times Square (1)
* * *
Crash!
Chairman Jo, who had been watching TV, hurled the remote in frustration. The flying remote shattered the screen.
“Damn it!”
Chairman Jo clutched his head.
The guild war.
The results were overwhelmingly one-sided.
That meant public opinion favoring Kim Minwoo had grown even stronger than before.
For Dorim, already battered by the boycott movement, it was a fatal blow.
‘What should I offer him?’
At this point, it didn’t matter who was right or wrong.
The key was figuring out what to give him to make him back off satisfied.
If it was just resentment over his son’s actions, he would’ve come running at the mention of compensation.
If not, he could’ve smashed his legs and ended it cleanly back then.
But Kim Minwoo hadn’t.
He kept popping up in the media, subtly dropping Dorim’s name.
It meant he wanted something bigger. He might even demand a chunk of business rights.
His head throbbed just thinking about how much he’d have to concede.
One of Dorim’s bodyguards approached cautiously.
“Chairman, Mr. Kim Minwoo is here to see you.”
“…Got it.”
Chairman Jo rose wearily. Soon, he came face-to-face with Kim Minwoo.
“Nice to see you, Chairman.”
“…Well, we’re not total strangers since you know Chairman Kim, so we can drop the formalities, right?”
“Whatever you like.”
“What do you want? What’ll make you stop? You want a sincere apology from me?”
Kim Minwoo smirked at that.
“You’re joking, right?”
“…No need to drag this out. You’ve got your plan ready. What the hell do you want?”
“Leave the home appliances alone. But hand over telecom, electronics semiconductors, plus the magic stone battery division, construction, and shipbuilding. That’ll wrap it up neatly. No loose ends.”
“You crazy bastard.”
He’d been ready to offer an outer coat, and this guy wanted him naked from the waist down.
Handing over all that would bankrupt Dorim in an instant.
Kim Minwoo flopped onto the sofa and looked at Chairman Jo.
“So, what’s your offer, Chairman?”
“Pilwook’s mess is an external company issue. You think it’s reasonable to demand business units over that?”
“Well, if that’s how you see it, then we’ve got nothing left to talk about.”
Kim Minwoo shot to his feet.
Grind.
Chairman Jo bit his lip.
It was blatant blackmail.
But Dorim had weakened to the point where this kid’s threats could shake them.
If he walked away now, Dorim would be the one screaming.
Even dragging it out until the next meeting would inflict all sorts of damage.
Especially now, with Ilsung’s market share climbing every day.
“…Tell me what you really want.”
“The battery division. And a few production plants.”
“…”
As the silent Chairman Jo stared, Kim Minwoo continued.
“The plants are sitting idle anyway. And the batteries? You pour endless money into research, but the results are mediocre.”
Home appliances, semiconductors, telecom.
Dorim’s core.
Construction and shipbuilding too.
Plus countless affiliates.
‘Truth is, the first demand was just a big swing.’
No way they’d hand those over without a fight.
Squeezing too hard would draw government backlash, so wrapping it up moderately was best for both sides.
The government was already poking them to knock it off.
‘Batteries are the real prize anyway.’
The division developing high-efficiency batteries via magic stones.
Everyone around the world was researching it.
‘But Dorim hits the jackpot.’
Not right now.
About three years from now.
Dorim succeeds after pouring in cash, knocking it out of the park.
A new battery with far greater capacity and drastically lower consumption. That breakthrough lets them rake in the dough.
It’s also the moment Dorim, steadily nibbling at Ilsung’s pie, surpasses their market cap entirely.
‘Impossible right now, though.’
He stared at Chairman Jo.
“We’ll absorb all the related staff. We’ll pay a fair acquisition price.”
“…Hand that over, and you’ll stop for sure?”
“Deals have to be solid.”
The battery division.
Even absorbing all the attached plants and staff would top out at 2-3 trillion won.
With a discount, naturally.
For a giant like Ilsung, that was manageable.
“Do we have a deal?”
“…Fine.”
Chairman Jo nodded.
Magic stone batteries.
US battery firms dominated the field. American batteries had long conquered the world.
To challenge that, they’d poured money into research nonstop.
Nearly a decade of investment, yet no meaningful results.
Dorim wasn’t alone. Top global firms were red-eyed, charging at battery development.
The problem? Nothing better than the American stuff.
So the battery division was like a white elephant.
They dreamed of a lottery win while bleeding cash, but only US firms had hit the jackpot.
‘Sucks to give it up, but…’
Not a fatal wound.
They had to offer something to make him stop anyway. Better a money pit than a cash cow. That made it somewhat relieving to hand over.
You think you can develop what the world’s best couldn’t?
Go ahead, try.
That was the mindset.
“I’ll send the team tomorrow. See you.”
Kim Minwoo stood and left Chairman Jo’s residence.
‘Got everything I came for.’
The battery market was massive. In this world, past the EV era into magic stone vehicles, it had long surpassed a quadrillion won.
He’d snagged the key to dominating it. Chairman Jo might regret it later, pounding the ground.
‘Not my problem.’
Just enjoy the good and eat the rice cake.
* * *
He arrived at the tavern where the group had gathered.
Entering the assigned room, Park Siwoo’s face was already half-flushed.
“Bro! Over here!”
He sat next to the guy, who kept slapping the seat.
“One shot!”
The bowl brimmed with makgeolli.
“…How much has this kid had?”
“About that much.”
Seo Yerim pointed to over seven empty bottles.
‘That’s a lot.’
Awakener tolerance kept him from being wasted; a normal person would’ve been done for.
Even split between two, seven bottles was hefty.
After taking a sip, he dipped a green-onion pancake in soy sauce and popped it into his mouth.
Greasy yet tangy.
‘Tasty.’
VR games capped sensation sync at 50%. Taste too.
This pancake delivered pure 100% real flavor.
Moments like this blurred whether this was the game world or reality.
He watched Park Siwoo giggle and chug pancakes and makgeolli endlessly.
Since they were partying, might as well handle guild master duties.
“Siwoo, any grievances?”
“Grievances?”
The kid tilted his head, then shook it.
“Nah, none. Got a nice place, fat salary.”
“That’s just what your skills earn. Anything else?”
“Hmm… Wanna get stronger, I guess? Honestly, watching you and sis, I feel behind. Gap keeps widening despite my efforts…”
The kid scratched his head.
Not an incomprehensible reaction.
Even in pro guilds, that happened.
Fall short, get cut from first string to second. Everyday stuff.
He seemed worried about that…
“Just keep at it. Yerim’s high-level, so there’s a gap. Don’t aim for me… Aim for Cedric.”
Saying hard work closes the gap felt deceptive.
‘Four legion commanders too.’
Better to be straight now.
“…Tch. Truth is, I don’t think I can beat him either. Might hold out with Sanctuary…”
“That’s normal. His world’s leagues above Earth.”
“How different?”
“A dragon rampaging there comes to Earth? Planet’s done.”
“…For real?”
“Yeah. Told you today. Baron knights are Korea’s first-string cut. Looks that way to me.”
He’d seen academy knights.
On average, their world’s skill level was way higher.
“Holy Sword didn’t tell you?”
“Short conversations only. Memory’s spotty. Sometimes like a dementia grandpa.”
“No way?”
“Yeah. Better than level 1, but still tough for normal chat.”
“Levels improve it, huh.”
“Seems so. Anyway… He’s amazing, but just a summon. Aiming for that feels…”
“Cedric’s same grade as you.”
“…For real?”
“Yeah. Merhen too. No better or worse.”
Not just Park Siwoo—even quietly listening Seo Yerim widened her eyes in shock.
They knew Kim Minwoo’s achievements were high-grade, but his summons too?!
“Wow… Real talk? So bro rolls with SSS-grade summons? And your own achievement grade’s even higher?”
“Yeah.”
“…Insane.”
“I’m kinda OP. Don’t torment yourself comparing to me. Paths to power abound. Just watch Sword Sage.”
“True… Saw Heart Sword once. Insane. Rolled around helpless.”
Seo Yerim nodded in agreement.
“Yerim, any grievances?”
“Same as Siwoo… Wanna get stronger. Most awakeners fret that.”
He nodded.
Newbies might not, but settled awakeners shared worries.
Get stronger.
Don’t stagnate.
That was the majority.
“I’ll think on that. Options exist.”
Awakener growth: four main ways.
Elixirs, gear, opportunities, enlightenment.
Enlightenment? Uncontrollable.
‘Opportunities worth hunting.’
Tokens from Heavenly City counted as one.
Stage 6 expanded the field; more out there.
Gear for them? Sky Auction House.
Elixirs…
Park Siwoo’s level too low.
Seo Yerim could handle top-grade, but couldn’t obtain.
‘Need to feed these two too.’
600 stats. Too good to waste.
Problem: even he wasn’t sure he could handle it yet.
‘Rookie tournament give anything good?’
Unknown rewards for a fresh event.
Hoped for something decent given the scale.
Then.
His phone buzzed.
“Yes, Dad. Yeah. Deal’s done. Send acquisition team tomorrow. Oh, investment executed? Yes. Yes. Oh, really? We’re all here, I’ll ask. How much? Ah, that’s not bad. Got it.”
Hanging up, Kim Minwoo eyed them.
“Ad offer. In?”
“…Ad?”
“Yeah. Ilsung Phone launch. Wanna shoot one with our guild. Starts Times Square, blankets the world. Fat paycheck.”
Seo Yerim’s ears perked.
“…How much?”
“5 trillion per person. Cash. Lump sum.”
Seo Yerim and Park Siwoo gaped.
“…5 trillion? Per person?”
“Wanna tank Sorry Phone this time, I guess. So, in?”
“…Duh?”
“Bro! Me too!”
Kim Minwoo nodded.
Global ad blast.
Their fame would skyrocket.
Plus 60 trillion investment.
Sky Auction invite might come sooner than thought.