A Ten-Billion-Dollar Greeting
The storm always hits twice. And no, I wasn't talking about that legendary pro gamer practically synonymous with the number two.
I was talking about Kim Da-hye, who had dragged department store staff straight into our suite, complete with dozens of suits, dress shirts, silk ties, and leather shoes, turning our morning into an impromptu, hostage-situation fashion show.
I was completely drained. If anyone had to describe my current state, "wilted radish greens" would have been an understatement. Meanwhile, the very architect of my exhaustion was standing back, admiring her handiwork with utter satisfaction.
"Mmm, yes. It looks amazing on you. See? I told you I was right."
She wasn't even close to done.
"Dress like this from now on, oppa. You clean up so well, yet you're always wandering around in whatever rags you pick off the floor—that's why you can't get a girlfriend. Top-tier university degree, about to be filthy rich, reasonably decent-looking... You've got such great specs. Want me to set you up on a blind date, Ji-hyuk oppa?"
"I'm good, thanks...?"
Now she was poking her nose into my nonexistent love life. And did she really have to throw in "reasonably decent-looking"? The ruthless objectivity was enough to bring a tear to my eye. I desperately wanted to tell her to manage her own dating life first, but both siblings in that household were equally ferocious; one wrong jab and the retaliation would be merciless. Better to let it drop.
And as for you, Kim Hyung-jun, clenching your teeth and pretending not to hear a thing right beside me—just you wait. Tonight, I'm hitting you with a curse that will make the soles of your feet itch until dawn.
Just as I made that solemn vow, a sharp sound cut through the room.
Knock, knock, knock.
My head snapped toward the entrance, and my gaze locked with Hyung-jun's. It was finally here. The first offer.
Hyung-jun shot to his feet and crossed the suite in brisk strides. After exchanging a few muffled words with whoever was outside, he shut the door and turned back to me, his eyes burning with intense ambition.
"Park Ji-hyuk."
"Yeah."
"Get ready. Let's go greet our first guests."
The negotiations were held in a private meeting room prepared by our counterparts. The atmosphere was a world apart from our hotel suite. An imposing, dark hardwood conference table stretched across the room, flanked by executive leather chairs so plush you would sink right into them—a space clearly engineered for the global elite.
Standing on the other side of that table were several men in traditional Gulf attire. Standing out in the center was a trio wearing gold-trimmed agals over their keffiyehs. When people wore that much gold on their heads, it was a universal rule: they were extraordinarily important.
Their presence, too, carried an unmistakable weight. It was the exact same aura I had sensed whenever I stood before kings and high nobility during my past life as an archmage—an effortless authority and dignified calm accumulated over centuries of inherited power. Given that Middle Eastern nations often placed royal family members in key strategic positions, these three were clearly of that caliber.
Once we faced each other across the polished wood, Hyung-jun took the lead with a flawless, diplomatic bow.
"Assalamu Alaikum. As you already know, I am Kim Hyung-jun, CEO of Arcane Technology. Beside me is our CTO, Park Ji-hyuk. It is a profound honor to meet the visionary leaders steering the world's investments."
"Assalamu Alaikum."
Hearing the traditional Islamic greeting roll effortlessly off a Korean CEO's tongue brought faint looks of pleasant surprise to their faces.
"Wa Alaikum Assalam," the man in the center answered with a warm, measured cadence. "I am Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Nahyan, Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and representative of the Arabian Advanced Technology Fund."
"I am Amir Turki bin Sultan Al Saud, representing the Public Investment Fund," the man to his right said, offering a dignified nod.
"And I am Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Thani, representing the Qatar Investment Authority," the third introduced himself.
A string of names long enough to make someone bite their tongue. Can't we just use nicknames? While my mind wandered down that irreverent path, the conversation forged ahead.
"We have decided to present a unified proposal under the name of the Arabian Advanced Technology Fund," Sheikh Khalid stated smoothly. "We wished to inform you of this beforehand."
"Understood, Sheikh Khalid."
Should anyone ever ask of Gwanak’s future, let them lift their eyes and behold Kim Hyung-jun. Without missing a single beat, he had elegantly resolved the naming dilemma.
"Did you find yesterday's demonstration satisfactory?" Hyung-jun asked.
"We were profoundly astonished," Sheikh Khalid replied, a quiet smile gracing his lips. "To the point where one might wonder if we were witnessing the magic of a genie."
Well, it was magic. Having him strike so uncomfortably close to the literal truth gave me a minor jolt. Poker face, Ji-hyuk. Maintain the poker face.
"While your Zero-Interface Technology is undeniably miraculous," Sheikh Khalid continued, his tone turning measured, "to speak candidly, it is not a technology our nations desperately require at this moment."
A classic opening gambit to lower the price. Yet Hyung-jun didn't flinch in the slightest, his expression remaining completely placid.
"However, our consortium places an extraordinary valuation on your company's potential. Following our deliberations, we have appraised Arcane Technology's enterprise value at one trillion US dollars."
"...!"
Hyung-jun choked on his breath.
One trillion dollars? Did my ears just malfunction?
Evidently shaken to his core, Hyung-jun asked in a voice that betrayed a slight tremble, "Pardon me, but may I confirm that figure once more? Your valuation is one trillion United States dollars, not one trillion Korean won?"
"You heard correctly. One trillion US dollars. In light of this valuation, we wish to acquire a one percent equity stake in your company for ten billion dollars."
The offer dropped like an artillery shell.
Ten billion dollars. What was that in Korean currency? Around fourteen trillion won? And they wanted to pour that staggering mountain of cash into a measly one percent stake of a newly minted company?
Are these people out of their minds?
I stole a glance at Hyung-jun. His pupils were shaking uncontrollably, his composure completely shattered. He was in way over his head. Then again, I could hardly blame him; even an archmage who had lived through an entire lifetime found it difficult to maintain serenity in the face of such an astronomical figure.
I exhaled slowly, reeling in my turbulent thoughts. Fortunately, the stiff, unyielding fabric of this tailored suit helped anchor me. I had thought Da-hye was being absurdly dramatic, but her intervention was actually saving the day. Fine, Da-hye. I'll grant you whatever wish you want later.
Straightening my posture, I sorted through the reality of the situation.
Ten billion dollars was an eye-popping fortune. Refusing it would earn anyone the title of absolute lunatic. But selling a hollow tin can for fourteen trillion won wasn't business—it was fraud.
Taking a quiet breath, I spoke up.
"We decline."
"Are you serious?!"
This time, it was their turn to be stunned. But wait—why on earth was Kim Hyung-jun looking at me with the exact same horror? His eyes were practically screaming, Have you lost your absolute mind, you bastard?!
Just wait until later, Hyung-jun. You're definitely getting that itchy curse.
Sheikh Khalid recovered his composure, his gaze locking onto mine with genuine bewilderment. "May I... inquire as to why?"
"Because Arcane Technology is a hollow shell if you remove Kim Hyung-jun and myself."
It was simple logic. Arcane Technology was a technology-driven startup, but its core technology could not exist without my magic. The moment I walked away, nothing would remain. No one else on this planet could wield mana, and no instruction manual existed to replicate it.
Accepting ten billion dollars for equity in a company like that just because someone offered it? That wasn't an investment; that was a confidence trick.
"Handing over shares of a company we founded primarily for operational convenience for such an exorbitant sum violates my principles," I said calmly. "If I sell an empty can for ten billion dollars, everyone might call me a genius merchant. But once the buyer discovers the truth, wouldn't they rightfully feel swindled? I have no desire to make money by deceiving people."
More importantly, this was a fundamental rule of my magic.
A mage had to walk an upright path. A twisted mage inevitably wielded a twisted connection to mana. And when a corrupt mind stood before universal truth, the conclusion was always the same: total annihilation.
Magic belonged only to those who earnestly sought truth. If a man deceived others for short-term gain and fleeting temptation, how could he ever remain honest with himself when confronting the mysteries of the cosmos? It was impossible. I was no fool with a death wish. Therefore, I only engaged in fair trades—value weighed strictly against value upon the scales.
I met Sheikh Khalid's eyes with an unblinking, tranquil gaze.
"...You are truly sincere," he murmured.
"There is no reason for me not to be," I replied. "I just turned down ten billion dollars of free money."
"I see."
Sheikh Khalid exchanged glances with the royals on either side of him. After receiving subtle nods from both Amir Turki and Sheikh Nasser, he turned back to me and smiled.
"Then allow us to propose the offer once more. We wish to acquire a one percent equity stake in Arcane Technology for ten billion dollars."
"..."
Now I was the one bewildered. Was this some psychological power play? Was he throwing ten billion dollars at a piece of scrap paper just to say, Allow us to give you a minuscule taste of what true wealth looks like?
That wasn't going to work on me. Who was I? Park Ji-hyuk—the owner of magic itself. Mere worldly riches couldn't crush my spirit.
When I narrowed my eyes and glared firmly at him, Sheikh Khalid suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
"Ah, forgive me. The situation is simply too delightful." Covering his mouth briefly to compose himself, he leaned forward. "There is no need to be so guarded, CTO Park. What I am saying is simply the continuation of our earlier thought. We see extraordinary potential in your enterprise. The ten billion dollars is merely a greeting."
"A... greeting?"
"Yes, a greeting. In truth, we do not even require the one percent stake. The equity is just a legal formality." Sheikh Khalid shrugged nonchalantly. "What we truly seek is the establishment of a proper relationship with you. To put it bluntly, we wish to become your friends."
His tone carried unmistakable weight. It wasn't the shallow charm of a corporate executive hunting for leverage; there was a profound, unmistakable sincerity radiating from him, expressing a genuine desire for partnership.
Well, that changed the playing field entirely.
I glanced sideways at Hyung-jun. While I had been trading words with Sheikh Khalid, he had regained his poise, his expression smooth and calculating once more. Seeing that he wasn't objecting, I decided to hear them out.
"Today's meeting was arranged to mark that beginning," Sheikh Khalid explained. "A gathering to ensure that we become trustworthy allies and friends to Arcane Technology—or more specifically, to CEO Kim Hyung-jun and CTO Park Ji-hyuk. Ten billion dollars is merely a humble token of our sincerity to open that door."
Unbelievable. Ten billion dollars as a humble token?
Talk about an astronomical friendship fee. I had to respect it—when someone threw money around on this scale, it transcended greed and became pure art. But he wasn't finished.
"We believe in the new future your company will forge. And as your friends, we wish to walk alongside you on that magnificent journey. As proof of our commitment, our sovereign wealth funds pooled our resources yesterday to establish the Arabian Advanced Technology Fund at an initial scale of one hundred billion dollars."
Sheikh Khalid's eyes shone with unwavering conviction.
"This fund is a special-purpose vehicle created solely for your company. Whatever capital you require, for whatever reason, you need only ask. The requested amount will be transferred directly to Arcane Technology's accounts immediately."
"...I am at a loss for words," I admitted. "Why go to such lengths for us?"
I genuinely didn't understand. Hyung-jun and I were betting everything on Arcane Technology because we knew the reality of my magic. But what on earth had these men seen in us to melt down fortunes of this magnitude without batting an eye?
Sheikh Khalid gave a simple, resolute answer.
"Something far more valuable than money: a new future."
"Pardon?"
"As I said, we believe in the future you will create. And if we walk this long journey together as true friends, surely we can trust that when a companion stumbles, the other will extend a helping hand. Is that not what friendship is?"
I studied his eyes carefully. "You mean every word."
"Every bit as much as CTO Park Ji-hyuk meant his."
I gave a slow nod and looked toward Hyung-jun. His eyes were sending me a clear, unspoken message: You call the shots.
In that case, there was no reason to refuse.
"We accept your proposal," I said firmly.
The share acquisition agreement between the Arabian Advanced Technology Fund and Arcane Technology was executed in the blink of an eye. Without exaggeration, it moved with the speed of lightning crackling across the sky. When the buyer treated the transfer as a deposit for an alliance and waived all due diligence and protective covenants, there was virtually nothing left to negotiate.
After standing together for a commemorative photograph—exchanging the signed memorandum of share transfer as an enduring symbol of peace and mutual respect—we shared a powerful handshake with Sheikh Khalid.
"May our friendship endure and flourish for eternity," Sheikh Khalid said warmly.
"May it endure," I replied with a grin.