Chapter 42
Chapter 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: End of the 80s (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Gates coming to meet me wasn't some coincidence or butterfly effect—it was a historical inevitability.
1988 was when MS was pushing hard into Asia. They might dominate the software industry even now, but back then, they had barely any name recognition in Korea, so Gates himself flew in.
And the reason he chose me—no, my company—was simple enough.
Due to heavy regulations, MS couldn't set up a branch on their own in Korea. They had to find a local software firm to partner with.
I hadn't planned it or anything. I was shocked when I heard that Bill Gates of all people was coming to my little company. Why would someone that huge bother trekking all the way out here?
In my past life, by the time I was at my peak, he'd already retired and was off doing charity work... so honestly, my curiosity was through the roof.
I wanted to know why he'd picked my company.
"Why this place...? Well, for one, I sensed a refined touch in your software. It might look rough at a glance, but I saw a vision at least twenty years ahead. It was fantastic."
'Well, yeah... it was code twenty years ahead.'
"Mm, we have a lot of young talent here. It's an honor that you see it that way, Mr. Gates."
Song Hyun-jae, dressed up more formally than she'd been in ages, was sweating from nerves but conversing smoothly. I just sat quietly by their side, listening.
After all, I was an outsider here.
She'd pulled a few strings to let me observe, but the real party to this deal was Song Hyun-jae, president of Pygmalion Soft.
"And there was one other crucial reason. This place uses nothing but genuine software. Haha."
There was something chillingly intense behind Bill Gates's saintly smile.
A fierce vow to wipe out anyone who dared pirate.
"... ."
My head nodded on its own. He was the first to turn the idea of selling software separately into reality.
His hatred for pirates was legendary... but in Korea right now, hardly anyone bought software legally.
'Yeah, I get why they chose this place.'
Even if I hadn't gotten involved with Pygmalion Soft, they would've caught MS's eye eventually.
I left the nitty-gritty contract talk to President Song and Gates's secretary, slipping toward the door.
"By the way... what about her...?"
Darn, knew it.
I got it— a sharp businessman like Gates wouldn't like some random interloper like me butting in.
I shot a look at Ha Young-il. He smoothly rolled out the excuse we'd prepped.
"Oh, she's a friend of mine. Well, more like a family friend through my father... that's how I learned about Pygmalion Soft, actually."
"Ah, right. What a small world—coincidences like this on such a big planet."
Ha Young-il's Alpha Fund had naturally invested in MS. Why wouldn't it? Just holding a modest long position without crazy shorting brought insane returns.
So he'd chatted with them as an investor... and suddenly MS was asking his take on setting up a Korean branch.
Korea wasn't a familiar market yet, so they probably consulted a famous Korean-American fund manager from Wall Street.
And lo and behold, he just happened to know a company MS already had their eye on. What a coincidence.
A fortuitous one, from both sides' perspectives. Mine included.
"So... miss, do you have any questions? I heard you're a programmer."
The moment Ha Young-il finished, Gates circled back to me.
He seemed suspicious. Asians are tough to age at the best of times, and I looked mature for mine... so maybe he saw me as a business peer, not some 'kid.'
Someone like that showing up silent and leaving silent? Yeah, it'd raise eyebrows.
"...Mm, I'm good."
"Fascinating. You just came to a meeting this important for 'fun'? A young noble like you?"
Persistent.
I'd only come to see his face, but he kept probing for motives. Not like I could spill the truth...
Wait.
Hold up—was there even a problem?
'Nope. She's famous anyway.'
Realizing that, I casually pulled out my Famicom and Yuseong Magic cartridge from my bag, like I'd planned it all along.
Then flashed a grin at a baffled Bill Gates.
"Big fan. Mind signing?"
With the most innocent eyes, I beamed and asked for an autograph.
Hey, I was a fan. That demonic business savvy, that overwhelming wealth—who wouldn't be?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When I asked for the signature, Bill Gates laughed, signed it, gave me a few kind words, and left.
'I hear you push hard for copyright compliance. Seeing you today, you look like you'll go far.'
'I don't even expect it from the public—just hope Korean companies and government start mandating genuine software. Oh, Daeha Group uses all legit copies? Haha! What a company! As expected from Korea's flagship enterprise.'
Ah, this other world...
Getting praised outright for a top conglomerate not blatantly flouting copyright law? My head was spinning. And Gates meant it sincerely, which made it worse.
Practically no one in Korea used legit software without pirating it. Not even government offices or big corps—they copied openly.
Just following basics felt like some national pride YouTube clip... my face burned. Was this okay?
Truth was, even in Daeha Group, only Daeha Securities—where I was—used legit copies... couldn't say that out loud. Embarrassing, like getting caught licking yogurt lids outside.
Still... praise from someone that great hit different. My whole body tingled.
'Totally worth the risk.'
My mood mattered more than anything in this world... events this awesome were worth it, deals or no.
Separate from the MS branch thing.
Anyway.
After the giant of history departed, in Pygmalion Soft's president's office...
I clutched the contract and the newly minted Family Computer—Bill Gates Edition—feeling smug as hell.
"Heh, MS Korea branch. Big opportunity, right?"
President Song wiped cold sweat and nodded.
"Y-Yes... sure is. Haven't spoken English in ages—exhausting."
"Ehey, can't slack off already. Our prez is heading to MS Korea soon—better brush up."
"P-Pardon? Why me? You could handle it fine..."
I shook my head firmly.
"I'm staying here for games. It's a game company, after all. Time for you to get back to real work, mister. You're in your thirties now, right?"
"... ."
Work and hobbies oughta stay separate.
I was sick of software dev anyway. Ship the software staff to MS Korea, gather game devs here at Pygmalion Soft proper.
"U-Understood. But me running MS Korea sounds great, miss—why accept the deal, though? No real gain for you..."
"I own shares anyway. That's why."
"...That tiny stake?"
Song tilted her head but dropped it.
.
.
.
One of the seeds I'd been sowing little by little.
Later—way later, around Gates's retirement— I'd swallow MS whole... and Song would be useful then.
A branch office eating the head office looked better than raw foreign capital gobbling an American icon, right?
'Man, wish I could buy up all the big tech at their peak.'
I sighed softly.
To become the world's top power broker, I had mountains to do. Snarfing those companies would've slashed the difficulty...
Antitrust laws, though.
Reborn rich, snapping up every future giant? World domination? Maybe US rule? Naive folk might think so... but nah, impossible.
No need to nitpick ownership vs. control...
Could you really dominate America that way?
They're no fools—politicians would carve the companies up, and kiss my money goodbye.
Capitalism flies out when national interests kick in.
Governments meddle in M&As to block foreign takeovers all the time.
If I were American, I'd just Super PAC the pols and bulldoze. But a Korean ruling the world? Way too hard.
-'Oh, you're MS's majority shareholder! Merging with Daeha Group? Got it. DoD and White House run Windows, but law's law.'
Yeah, right. America'd never.
They wouldn't let a foreigner like me near that stake anyway.
Even routing through American Ha Young-il? Same deal—they'd legislate the merger attempt to death.
Rulers give foreigners money, never power. That's normal.
...But I want the power.
Judeo-capital steering the world! Freemasons! Illuminati!
Kya, cool.
'Ugh, just topple America? Coup's... too much.'
More important than money is converting it to power... and I'm mild-mannered, all things considered.
Coup after presidency is surefire, but Plan B. No need for risky paths.
I'm the one with eternal youth locked in. Long life means no rush for extremes.
Flip side: clutching immortality's secret forever means endless expansion or get eaten.
For stability, I need flawless identity laundering or my own nation... either demands crushing power.
Even faking reverse-aging tech hides the secret briefly. Gotta find a real fix.
I had plans, but laying direct groundwork like this made me antsy sometimes. Was I right?
'Plan B can wait. Stick to the script for now.'
In the quiet president's office, sunset filtering in after everyone left, I calmed myself and sorted papers.
Build ties at the '88 Olympics, derail Yoo Jin-ha's schemes, manage Alpha Fund and Daeha Securities...
Tons to prep for the coming '90s.