No Pay, No Gain
“Can I come in?”
“Of course!”
Since they had already finished unpacking, Yoo Jae-won opened the door without hesitation. Tiffany stepped confidently into the room. Perhaps because it was her grandfather’s house, her movements carried a natural ease. The two soon sat facing each other across the tea table. As usual, Tiffany spoke first. From the moment the door opened, she had been carefully studying Yoo Jae-won’s expression. Seeing his calm face, she looked visibly relieved.
“I’m glad you don’t seem too shocked.”
“I already had a rough idea from your usual demeanor that you came from a wealthy family. Your grandfather is stricter and more intimidating than I expected, but if it means winning someone as beautiful as you, I suppose I can handle it.”
Yoo Jae-won nodded readily, adding his usual playful remark.
“Hehe, really? To be honest, I was a little worried when I invited you to today’s event.”
“About what?”
“I was afraid you might feel too pressured. After all, it’s my grandfather who’s rich, not me. That’s why I didn’t mention it earlier. But thinking about it later, I felt like I hadn’t considered your feelings. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I feel the same way. No matter what your grandfather does, my feelings for you won’t change.”
“Really? You too? A lot of people misunderstand that. I thought you’d be different, and I was right! My eyes are sharp after all.”
Tiffany’s eyes sparkled at his words. Even though her grandfather was the owner of Chevron, that fact didn’t alter her affection for Yoo Jae-won. Of course, the sheer presence of Chevron, a petrochemical giant, was enough to make Yoo Jae-won wonder whether the Absolute Being’s deal might include something extra beyond the three wishes. Yet after calmly thinking it over in the room, he realized that unless ID Group grew significantly in scale and business scope, there would be little opportunity for joint ventures or meaningful synergy with Chevron. In fact, Chevron was more likely to become a liability for him.
Chevron’s main businesses were the production and distribution of oil and gas, along with exploration for new oil fields. In the early 2000s, Chevron would merge with Texaco, a notorious “black company” with a long history of scandals. More importantly, Yoo Jae-won planned to enter the next-generation energy sector in earnest around 2010—specifically, room-temperature nuclear fusion. His grand vision was to begin full-scale technological development and commercialize a room-temperature fusion power plant within twenty years. If successful, it would spell the end of fossil fuels, and the companies hit hardest would be the oil giants.
While most people would dismiss predicting decades ahead as impossible, Yoo Jae-won’s Memory Palace already contained the complete concepts, designs, and even firsthand experience of future technologies. Extracting fusion theory and blueprints was trivial. However, before realizing room-temperature fusion, other prerequisite technologies had to be developed first, so announcing it now would be meaningless.
With his thoughts organized, Yoo Jae-won’s mindset shifted. If the Absolute Being’s deal still held any unused bonuses, he hoped they would manifest as something other than Tiffany’s powerful background—perhaps lifelong health, exceptional athletic ability he never had in his previous life, or a successful marriage and harmonious family.
Tiffany’s expression also softened, as if her own worries had melted away with his words. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she spoke up.
“Jae-won! Want me to show you around the house? Grandfather has collected some really interesting things.”
“Sure! I’d love that.”
Yoo Jae-won agreed immediately. The sudden offer of a house tour surprised him, but he could sense the quiet enthusiasm in Tiffany’s voice. Their date through the mansion was delightful. It was his first time seeing the lifestyle of the true upper 0.001 percent, and both his eyes and ears were thoroughly entertained. Rare paintings and sculptures he had only read about, sports facilities ranging from a bowling alley to a swimming pool, a theater, and a music room—all exceeded his imagination.
Particularly impressive were the fine-blooded horses in the stables. The white-gold sheen of the Akhal-Teke, said to be the most beautiful horse in the world, lived up to its reputation. These were the legendary “blood-sweating horses” mentioned in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Their beauty and athletic prowess had inspired countless legends. How a breed designated as a natural monument by Turkmenistan ended up in Tiffany’s grandfather’s stables was easy enough to guess.
Still, what mattered most to Yoo Jae-won was not the horses but Tiffany beside him. Their kiss and embrace amid the haystacks in the corner of the stables felt like an entirely new experience. Time flew by unnoticed.
Lunch was equally special. Since Marina’s two younger sisters and their families had not yet arrived, the meal was a small, intimate gathering of just five people: Fredrick, Tiffany’s immediate family, and Yoo Jae-won. Most importantly, the menu was 100 percent authentic Korean cuisine—royal court dishes, no less. Starting with rice and beef soup, the table was filled with gujeolpan, sinseonro, and braised beef ribs—dishes Yoo Jae-won had never even seen before. The food was served in gleaming yellow brass bowls that radiated elegance. Even kimchi proudly claimed its place on the table.
“I thought this seat might feel burdensome for you, so I asked the head chef to prepare Korean food so you could eat comfortably.”
“Thank you for your consideration. I hope I haven’t caused you any extra inconvenience, sir.”
“It’s fine. It suits my palate quite well. Go ahead, eat.”
Fredrick Taylor II picked up his spoon first, and Yoo Jae-won followed. Even a single spoonful of rice earned his heartfelt respect for the head chef. The rice was exceptionally good. The moment he saw its glossy sheen, he knew it would be delicious, and it exceeded even that expectation. The perfect chewiness and stickiness were the mark of perfectly cooked rice. The beef soup was a touch saltier than his usual preference, but the rich umami from the beef was perfectly extracted. Considering Americans generally preferred saltier food, it was spot on. The other side dishes were equally impressive.
How the head chef had managed to source both a Korean chef and ingredients in 1994 California, when Korean food and the Korean Wave had yet to take hold, was a mystery. But in America, where money could buy almost anything, it was clearly within Fredrick Taylor’s reach. The fact that he had prepared this in advance, even before meeting Yoo Jae-won, spoke volumes about his favorable impression. While Tiffany’s influence accounted for at least half of that goodwill, Yoo Jae-won’s demonstrated abilities were no small factor either.
Thus, it was inevitable that the conversation at the table would turn to Yoo Jae-won.
“As I mentioned earlier, when I first heard your name from Tiffany, I wondered what kind of fellow you were. The more I looked into you, the more surprised I became. Anyone would have been astonished. Starting a company at thirteen and listing it at seventeen to create a multibillion-dollar success—remarkable.”
Fredrick Taylor seemed a little slow on the uptake regarding current events. The sensation Yoo Jae-won had caused had already passed; people now simply accepted it. Age had never been a major issue for Yoo Jae-won. Yet Fredrick reacted as though he were hearing the story for the first time. After all, oil companies were traditional smokestack industries far removed from IT. While computer analysis had long been used in oil exploration, that field remained highly closed and dealt exclusively with traditional firms like IBM.
“The IT sector was still a blue ocean at the time, so the barriers were low enough for a newcomer like me to establish myself.”
“A blue ocean, you say. Wasn’t Microsoft already there? And you made some remarkably bold decisions at critical junctures—the adware policy and the ultra-low pricing strategy, for example.”
Fredrick Taylor had clearly done his homework, and he had pinpointed the key points accurately.
“Microsoft was formidable, but in my view it was a paper tiger. Computer performance was advancing rapidly, and user demands were rising accordingly, yet Microsoft clung to the outdated DOS even after meeting me. On top of that, they were caught doing things they shouldn’t have. At that point, it was a fight they couldn’t win.”
Yoo Jae-won spoke as if it were nothing. Even he hadn’t imagined he would be able to acquire Microsoft so quickly. He had struck their weaknesses well and had been lucky. The biggest reasons Bill Gates abandoned Microsoft were losing the next-generation GUI operating system market to Android and the exposure of illegal activities. The Security Challenge he had launched to promote ID Office’s security features had created a far greater storm than he ever anticipated.
“There is one thing that concerns me, however.”
“I’m listening.”
“You’re quite humble. My belief is that goods and services should be priced according to their true value. If low prices persist, the original value itself becomes undervalued. That’s how the world works.”
Fredrick Taylor’s concern about Android and ID Office’s low-price strategy was considerable. While the novelty had faded somewhat now, the shock when ID Technology first announced those prices had been immense. The adware version of Android Gaming Edition was free, and the ad-supported version cost less than ten dollars—compared to DOS 4.0’s consumer price of one hundred twenty dollars, it was an extraordinary bargain. ID Office was the same: four applications—word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and database—for only one hundred twenty dollars. Before ID Office, individual word processors or spreadsheets routinely exceeded three hundred dollars, and databases often cost thousands.
“I have my own thoughts on that matter.”
The free policy for Android Gaming Edition would continue. However, the Enterprise edition, loaded with specialized features for corporate and professional use, would carry a correspondingly higher price. The next version of Android currently in development would also include a Professional edition for small businesses and specialists. By segmenting the market into tiers, they planned to improve profitability.
“Hmm. Indeed. That approach seems the most effective way to overcome price resistance.”
Fredrick Taylor nodded, apparently satisfied with the answer.
“Ah, I heard Android Inc. went public recently. When I first heard the name, I thought a robot manufacturing company had already appeared in our country.”
The topic of Android Inc.’s IPO was unavoidable. Yet Fredrick’s interest wasn’t in the listing process or the company’s vision—it was in how Yoo Jae-won intended to spend the enormous sum obtained from selling shares afterward.
Yoo Jae-won hesitated, unsure whether the remark was a joke. Before he could decide whether to laugh, Steven spoke first.
“Honestly, I thought you would use the funds to acquire other IT companies or invest in new ventures. But looking at your recent moves, real estate seems to be the main focus. Have you sensed something special?”
Wall Street had shown great interest in the direction of the astronomical sum Yoo Jae-won had gained from Android Inc.’s IPO. After all, many believed that any sector receiving large-scale investment from someone with Yoo Jae-won’s unique perspective was worth serious study. So far, nothing particularly striking had emerged. He had paid his taxes diligently, and the most unusual move had been acquiring the comic rights to Marvel and DC. Most other expenditures had gone into real estate: the ID Group headquarters building in Seoul, the ID Technology Center in San Francisco, and Trump Tower in Manhattan, purchased as the headquarters for ID Investment. With the upcoming ten-billion-dollar investment in Jeju Island, the proportion of real estate would rise even further.
“Well, there hasn’t been any technology that really caught my eye yet. Meanwhile, several of our affiliates’ offices are already at capacity, so constructing a new headquarters had been planned for some time. When I checked real estate prices in the U.S. and Korea for that purpose, they seemed undervalued. So I’ve been looking into it on the side.”
Even as he said this, Yoo Jae-won had no intention of purchasing more real estate beyond Jeju Island. There was far too much else to do with the remaining funds. The era when unique technologies would begin pouring out was approaching. What he was watching closely were hybrid vehicle technology and IPS technology for improving LCD viewing angles. Beyond that, new technologies would emerge across various fields, and ID Group was preparing its own innovations to lead the times.
“This is too much! How can you bring my boyfriend here and talk about nothing but money? There are so many other topics we could discuss!”
When Fredrick tried to say more, Tiffany, who had been quietly eating, finally burst out in frustration. Marina wore the same displeased expression. Yoo Jae-won himself didn’t mind, but the constant talk of business and money left Tiffany and Marina with no room to participate, making them feel excluded. Fredrick’s probing attitude toward Yoo Jae-won also seemed to rub them the wrong way.
“No, that’s not what I—”
Fredrick Taylor II’s face was filled with indignation. He had simply wanted to gauge whether the young man who might become his granddaughter’s husband truly possessed the rumored abilities and judgment. Since Yoo Jae-won was involved in corporate management, asking about that seemed natural—yet he had only succeeded in earning the displeasure of both his granddaughter and daughter. Steven, who had been chiming in from the side, also flinched under Marina’s sharp gaze.
Though the conversation paused briefly, neither Tiffany nor Marina was the type to hold grudges, so the atmosphere soon lightened. Fredrick and Steven set aside business topics and shifted to subjects everyone could enjoy. The Korean food on the table provided a natural transition.
For Yoo Jae-won, whether the conversation was about business or personal tastes, it was an enjoyable time. He wished the pleasant mood could continue, but as afternoon arrived, the atmosphere in the mansion changed. It began when Marina’s two younger sisters and their families arrived.
Wariness. What Theresa and Rachel, along with their husbands and children, showed Yoo Jae-won was a faint trace of goodwill barely concealing their suspicion. Beneath that lay a subtle sense of superiority. Surprisingly, Yoo Jae-won was familiar with this feeling. After all, in his previous life, after making his deal with the Absolute Being and achieving success in society, he had encountered it many times. He had succeeded greatly in the field of artificial intelligence, leading both Apple and Amazon to adopt his technology. As a result, he had become a prominent figure, frequently appearing on broadcasts and receiving invitations to various events and gatherings. One such invitation had been to a “next-generation executives’ meeting,” which was in reality a gathering of third-generation chaebol heirs. The looks he received there had been much the same.
After all, Marina and Tiffany were the exceptions. Such reactions were only natural. Theresa and Rachel were direct descendants of America’s top chaebol families. It was only reasonable for them to be on guard at the possibility of some boy from a small Asian country entering their inner circle. At the same time, Yoo Jae-won felt a hint of pity. Even if he married Tiffany, it would have no impact whatsoever on Chevron’s succession. He would confirm it later by checking his Memory Palace, but America also prioritized male heirs in inheritance matters, and Chevron was no exception. Of course, the daughters would still receive substantial inheritances—sums ordinary people couldn’t even imagine. However, Chevron’s management rights would go to Jacob, the man who hadn’t even shown his face at this event. The fact that they displayed such strong wariness despite this meant Yoo Jae-won’s achievements were at a level they couldn’t simply ignore. If, in this situation, Yoo Jae-won earned Fredrick’s strong favor and received financial support that even slightly infringed on their interests, the hidden thorns would surely come out. In his previous life, those thorns had been quite lethal, but Yoo Jae-won was no longer someone who would fall victim to them so easily.
The unfortunate part was that the best way to deal with pretense was a direct strike, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do so because these were Tiffany’s family.
Throughout the evening banquet and the various outdoor activities the next day, Yoo Jae-won maintained his dignity while participating. Although his mental fatigue rose sharply, he had confirmed Tiffany’s family background and received Fredrick Taylor II’s approval. This trip had definitely been worthwhile. Moreover, Yoo Jae-won had a surefire way to relieve stress: Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Quake, Warcraft, and others. Closed beta versions of games being developed by several renowned studios under ID Entertainment had arrived in his inbox.