Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Japan’s export restrictions on the three key semiconductor materials took a completely different direction from what Japan had expected.
They had anticipated that the Korean government would wave a white flag and surrender.
But that didn’t happen.
The public and private sectors joined forces and declared that they would develop domestic production for the three key semiconductor materials. Beyond that, they aimed to localize as quickly as possible the semiconductor material fields that Japan had dominated.
In that process, Samjin Semichem began receiving attention.
That was because it had already localized many semiconductor materials.
Until now, semiconductor manufacturers had not used Samjin Semichem’s materials.
If they changed materials, they would have to reset the entire production process, which was troublesome. There was also the prejudice that domestic products would be inferior in quality compared to Japanese ones.
But because of the semi-forced situation, they had no choice but to use Samjin Semichem’s materials.
During that process, it was confirmed that the materials actually performed better than the existing Japanese products.
Once the competitiveness of the materials was proven, orders poured in not only from Korea but from semiconductor companies all over the world.
Their price and performance were more competitive than the Japanese products.
And overseas companies were also reluctant to use Japanese semiconductor materials.
The reason was fear. Japan had restricted exports for political reasons, and companies worried the same thing could happen to them as well.
“What’s the stock price today?”
The team leader asked.
“It’s 9,250 won today.”
“Then how much did we actually earn? Give me an estimate.”
“We can’t estimate. It has to be exact. Let me calculate.”
The stock price had quickly reached 9,250 won, including three consecutive limit-up days.
The conversion price of the convertible bonds we held was 3,750 won. The difference was 5,500 won.
The value of the convertible bonds was fifty billion won.
The number of shares we would receive was 13,333,333.
The total stock value came out to 123,333,330,250 won.
Since we had invested fifty billion won, the pure profit was 73.3 billion won.
The return on investment was 145.6 percent.
It was hard to believe.
We hadn’t realized the profit yet, but just looking at the numbers made my heart race.
“…As of today, the net profit is 73.3 billion won.”
“That’s really… amazing.”
The team leader showed a happy expression.
“How much do you think the performance bonus will be?”
Manager Choi asked cautiously.
“The bonus? Let’s see. Thirty percent of our operating fund of one hundred billion won, which is thirty billion, is the profit we have to deliver first. After that, thirty percent of the additional profit becomes the team performance bonus. From that, the team leader takes half, the manager takes thirty percent, and Deoksu takes twenty percent. If we subtract thirty billion from seventy-three point three billion, the remaining forty-three point three billion is our profit…”
While the team leader started calculating, I spoke. I had already made an Excel formula for it.
“Manager, yours will be smaller since it’s thirty percent.”
“Oh, really?”
His voice sounded slightly disappointed.
I told him the amount.
“Manager, yours will be 3.9 billion won.”
“Ghk!”
Manager Choi couldn’t breathe.
He made a strange choking sound.
“The team leader’s will be 6.5 billion won.”
“Ahh!”
The team leader jumped with a bright smile.
Perhaps embarrassed, she quickly composed her expression and spoke in a serious voice.
“Ahem. But it’s not yet. We have to wait a year before conversion. The stock price could rise more, or it could fall.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t get too excited. Let’s keep working steadily.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
Everyone answered in unison.
Seeing the happy expressions of the team members made me feel good.
In my head, I calculated my own bonus once more.
With my operating fund of fifty billion won, I had earned seventy-three point three billion.
The chairman had promised a performance bonus equal to thirty percent of the profit.
That meant 21 billion won.
On top of that, I would receive 2.6 billion from the team’s profit share.
A total of 23.6 billion won.
Money earned from a single investment.
The thrilling sensation felt like it awakened every single cell in my body.
This really makes work enjoyable.
Just then, a phone rang.
“This is Team 9, Kim Deoksu speaking.”
“This is the president’s office. The president would like Team Leader Kim and Mr. Kim Deoksu to come up.”
“Yes.”
After hanging up, I looked at the team leader.
“The president’s office just called for you and me.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes.”
Curious about the reason, we went upstairs together.
When we entered the president’s office, a stranger was there.
“This is Manager Han Ki-ho from Aiton Partners. And this is Team Leader Kim Yu-ri and employee Kim Deoksu.”
“Nice to meet you.”
We exchanged greetings politely.
After we sat down, the secretary came in, placed tea on the table, and left.
“Let’s have some tea first.”
In the quiet atmosphere, we drank tea.
We exchanged small talk about the weather and golf.
“Shall we move to the main topic now?”
The president looked at us.
“Manager Han came because of the convertible bonds. They want to purchase them.”
“May I ask the reason?”
“Our Aiton Partners is a private equity fund that makes long-term investments in companies with excellent technology. Samjin Semichem is a very attractive company with strong technical capability. We would like to purchase at a good price.”
I thought for a moment.
If we sold now, we could realize the profit immediately.
But something bothered me.
These convertible bonds could be converted into ten percent of the company’s shares.
If they fell into the hands of a hostile party, the company could be shaken.
Before selling, I wanted to confirm their intentions.
“Excuse me. I’d like to step out and make a quick phone call.”
After asking for understanding, I stepped outside and called.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Kim Deoksu? What brings you to call?”
CEO Yoon Jeong-min greeted me in a cheerful voice.
“I’m calling because someone wants to purchase the convertible bonds.”
“And?”
“They can be converted into ten percent of the shares. If a malicious group obtained them, it could cause problems.”
“What? Hahaha!”
CEO Yoon burst into loud laughter.
“Now I feel a bit guilty. I wasn’t planning to say this, but Aiton Partners is actually a private equity fund that has a friendly relationship with our company. You don’t have to worry.”
“I see. Understood. Then I wish your company continued success.”
“Mr. Kim Deoksu.”
Just as I was about to hang up, CEO Yoon called out to me.
“In a few years, you’ll become a much bigger investor than you are now.”
“You flatter me.”
“No. I’m good at judging people. Please continue to be an investor who values technology and people, just like you do now. It won’t be easy.”
“…Understood.”
After finishing the call, I returned to the president’s office and sat down.
“At what price are you planning to purchase?”
“We will offer a ten percent premium over the current stock price.”
I thought it was a reasonable price.
“Very well. Let’s proceed.”
“Good.”
The negotiation ended.
The contract was prepared almost immediately.
As soon as we signed, the private equity fund transferred the full amount.
“Then I hope we meet again in the future.”
“Yes, I hope so too.”
After the farewell, Manager Han Ki-ho left the president’s office.
I felt a bit dazed.
The profit we expected to realize a year later had been settled in an instant.
How much was it?
I calculated the profit.
Adding ten percent to the current price of 9,250 and multiplying by the number of shares came out to
135,666,663,275 won.
135.6 billion won.
Created in just one month from fifty billion.
An astonishing amount.
“Then we’ll be going.”
After greeting the president, I returned to the office with a stunned expression.
Manager Choi looked curious.
“Was something wrong?”
“No… Manager, we sold the convertible bonds.”
“What? For how much?”
“All of them.”
“Gasp! Really?”
Manager Choi’s eyes widened.
“You’ll probably receive your bonus soon.”
“I’m curious how much it’ll be.”
Just then, the phones of the three of us rang with alerts at the same time.
Already?
It was a message saying the performance bonus had been deposited.
“W-w-what… fifty… no, what is this!”
Manager Choi struggled to breathe again.
Watching him, the team leader smirked.
A smile also spread across my face as I read the message.
Thirty percent of the pure profit, plus twenty percent of the team performance share.
Nearly 24 billion won had been deposited.
Combined with the money I already had, there were now 40 billion won in my account.
Just looking at the balance made me feel full and happy.
It was near the end of the workday after the stock market closed.
I asked the team leader a favor.
“Do you happen to know a real estate agent?”
My mother had always said women were better at choosing houses.
“Why?”
“I’m planning to move, but it’s hard to find a good place.”
“What neighborhood?”
“A quiet area like Hannam-dong would be nice.”
“Really? I’ll introduce you.”
“Really? Thank you.”
That was unexpected.
She even knew a realtor.
“If you’re grateful, buy me a drink.”
“Actually, I have something instead of drinks.”
“What?”
I took two envelopes from my desk drawer and handed one to her.
“These are tickets for the Les Misérables musical concert this Saturday. About the show you gave me before…”
“I didn’t give it to you. You took it.”
“Ahem. My parents loved that performance. So I prepared these tickets as thanks. You know how hard it is to get tickets these days.”
The team leader chuckled.
“When is it?”
“This Saturday.”
She shook her head.
“Deoksu, you should tell me weeks in advance. If you suddenly do this, what happens to my schedule?”
“Do you have plans Saturday? Then give it back. I’ll give it to my parents.”
“…What time is it?”
“Two o’clock.”
She rolled her eyes as if thinking.
“That works. We can look at houses in the morning, have lunch, watch the performance, and have dinner.”
“What do you mean?”
Why are we watching it together?
“Why? You don’t like that?”
“N-no.”
It wasn’t that I disliked it.
But it wasn’t exactly good either.
I simply didn’t want to meet my boss on a Saturday.
Just then Manager Choi walked in.
“Manager, this is for you.”
“What is it?”
“Musical tickets. Go with your wife.”
“Really? I heard it’s hard to get tickets these days. Thank you. But why are you giving me this suddenly? Are you asking for a favor?”
“No. You’ve taught me a lot. I feel bad for taking so much of your time.”
“If that’s the case, I should repay you a thousand times. Don’t hesitate to ask me anything.”
“Yes.”
“These days work is fun thanks to you. I’ll enjoy the show.”
Then the team leader quietly called me.
“Deoksu.”
She glanced at Manager Choi’s ticket and asked quietly.
“Is it the same time?”
The show I gave her was the same musical but on a different date.
“No.”
“Ah, I see. Then it’s fine. Go back to work.”
I couldn’t understand why she asked that.
Saturday morning.
The alarm woke me up.
I had slept only three hours after reading stock books until dawn.
I wanted to sleep more, but I jumped up. If I was late, I’d be in trouble.
I had to meet the team leader and look at houses in Hannam-dong.
After washing up, I got dressed.
I was about to wear a tracksuit, but since we were watching a performance, I chose a suit.
While walking to the subway station, my phone rang.
“Where are you?”
“I’m about to get on the subway.”
“Stay there. I’ll be there in five minutes. The old place, right?”
“Pardon?”
She had only come once before.
Soon a rugged jeep with a three-pointed star stopped in front of me.
What is this?
The window rolled down.
Someone waved at me.
It was the team leader.
Her face didn’t match the masculine jeep at all.
She looked different from how she looked at the office.
She was wearing a soft, flowing dress that looked like something for a date.
She really is pretty.
The strange thought startled me and I shook my head.
“What are you doing? Get in.”
“Yes.”
I got into the car.
As expected from a Mercedes, the interior was quiet.
“You like cars like this?”
“Yes. Is that strange?”
“No. I thought macho men liked these kinds of cars. But it suits you surprisingly well.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“Yes. I mean you’re manly.”
“Hey! Put your seatbelt on.”
“Yes.”
As the car started moving, the team leader focused on driving.
Her driving seemed a little clumsy.
If she lost focus, it felt like we might crash.
So I stayed quiet too.
Then familiar music came from the speakers.
I glanced at her, but she kept looking straight ahead.
I closed my eyes.
Back then, she was the duty officer and I was the duty NCO.
Late at night, we used to listen to this music and hum along together.
Does she remember?
Probably not.
We had talked a lot back then.
But it was a long time ago.
“We’re here.”
“Yes.”
We got out of the car and entered the real estate office.
After a brief greeting, we looked at several houses with the realtor, but none of them felt right.
Before we knew it, it was almost noon.
Finding a house was harder than expected.
“We should probably leave soon if we want to make the performance.”
“Right. None of them felt right?”
I nodded.
If only houses had scents like stocks.
Then I could tell if a house would help me.
Unfortunately, I could smell scents from stocks and people, but not from places like houses.
“I guess I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow too?”
“I want to find a place as quickly as possible.”
My current place was old and cramped.
I was fine, but I worried about my parents.
I wanted them to live in a clean and comfortable home as soon as possible.
I turned to the realtor.
“Are you available tomorrow as well?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Thank you. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
After saying goodbye, we got back in the car.
We had a quick lunch nearby and then headed to the performance hall.
We sat in the front row and watched the musical together.
The spectacular stage production, powerful sound, and the actors’ excellent singing and acting captivated the audience.
By the end, the team leader was even crying.
As we walked out after the performance, she spoke.
“Thank you. It’s been a long time since I watched a show. This is one of my favorite musicals. It’s always good no matter how many times I see it.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. But I didn’t expect you to cry.”
“Huh? Who? I didn’t cry.”
Seeing her pretend otherwise made me chuckle.
“Maybe because I didn’t cry, but I’m hungry.”
“You just said you didn’t cry.”
“Tsk.”
She glared at me.
“I’ll buy dinner since you paid for the show. Do you like shabu-shabu? There’s a great place near your house.”
“A good shabu-shabu place?”
“Yes. Once you try it, you’ll want to come again.”
Without even waiting for my answer, she started driving.
As we got closer to my neighborhood, the familiar streets came into view.
I suddenly felt uneasy.
Surely not.