Zero Base (4)
I, dressed in black and white, argued fiercely.
*You must have filled your stomach? Making 3.5 billion won in pure profit in just three months seems too easy, right? This kind of opportunity doesn't come often!*
*This is an opportunity that Han Se-ah messed up and created! Think about it! If you use this as seed money to grow a company that becomes Korea's number one, no, the world's number one advertising agency, how angry Han Se-ah would be!*
*If the Lee Jungwan corruption case breaks out, I'll be summoned, but is that okay?*
*If the company is gone, you think I won't be called? Anyway, I'll be summoned once for investigation. There's no money transferred to Lee Jungwan, and the ads were proceeded according to the contract, so nothing to worry about. When the business starts, I'll have to do full sales, and with 10 years of experience, it won't have the credibility of a brand new startup company compared to one just starting out?*
*This guy thinks advertising agencies are easy. If you jump in recklessly and fail? Then you'll lose everything! It's much better to invest in a business you can easily understand with that money.*
*You human! Then it loses its meaning! Recognizing that Han Se-ah ate it only means Daeheung Planning as an advertising company! We have to maintain that legitimacy to keep being angry for a long time.*
*If we go bankrupt, it's all for nothing!*
*So we have to find a way not to go bankrupt!*
We debated for a long time which is better, this or that, but couldn't reach a conclusion easily.
How much did I think about it?
Feeling the air getting thinner, like suffocating, I opened the window for ventilation, and a large electronic billboard caught my eye.
“Ah! Electronic billboard!”
A lightbulb flashed in my head.
I immediately called my sister.
“Kang Minkyung, pack your bags right now and go to Times Square.”
- Calling out of the blue, what are you talking about?
“Go there and come up with a revenue strategy for the electronic billboard. What scale would be good, how much monthly rental revenue can we secure.”
- An electronic billboard to be installed in the Xeros Building? Are you planning to do that through Daeheung Planning?
My sister has sharp instincts.
I explained that we'll invest the remaining 2 billion won in Daeheung Planning into installing a large electronic billboard and convert the proceeds into advertising rental revenue.
Then, Daeheung Planning can generate a certain monthly revenue just by attracting ads for the billboard.
Initially, prioritize ad acquisition sales, and once stable funds are secured, gradually move to ad content production.
The billboard medium can be used as a sales tool to approach corporate PR teams who want to promote their products on various media.
- Oh~ Sounds good. But will we keep using the name Daeheung Planning?
“No. How about Zero Base? To mean starting anew from zero without being bound by conventions.”
- Nice. It has relevance with Zeroes Group too.
“Make it fit the name. Think of a completely new advertising method that breaks away from the existing electronic billboard rental system. A creative way that other electronic billboard rental businesses can't think of.”
- Okay~ I'll pack and leave right away.
After hanging up, Han Hajin, driving the car, exclaimed in admiration.
“Wow~ Was that the reason you didn't say a word on the way here?”
“Huh? What?”
Hajin shook his head in disbelief.
“Now your ears are working. You didn't say a word earlier.”
“What?”
“~ If you talk, you were so quiet, I thought you had earphones on.”
“Ah··· haha.”
It seems I was too focused on worrying about Daeheung Planning's survival.
“But installing an electronic billboard in Times Square would be tough with just 2 billion won, right?”
“Hm?”
Suddenly excited by the idea, I forgot that Han Hajin was with me and rambled on.
Hajin doesn't know yet that I own the Xeros Building.
While trying to recall if I mentioned the Xeros Building during the call, Hajin added.
“The building price there is expensive, right? Even if it's an empty wall, if you install an electronic billboard, the rent will be quite high. Since my sister-in-law went to New York University, I know a bit about the real estate prices there.”
Phew-
Fortunately, it seems I didn't mention the Xeros Building.
Thinking that Hajin misunderstood that I was renting the existing building's wall for the billboard, I said “Is that so?” vaguely.
Focusing on one thought makes the mind concentrate only there, I guess I need to be careful.
Upon arriving at the office, I told the situation to lawyer Jeong Jihyun and requested to file a corruption lawsuit against Choi Chisoo.
“Does the corruption condition hold?”
- Yes. The company Choi Chisoo was supposed to deposit into, it turns out to be a paper company with no performance, registered in Choi Chisoo's brother's name. We confirmed with the Cha Eun-yu agency side that it's a company they don't know at all, and there are approval documents signed directly by them, so it's possible to sue for embezzlement.
“Good. Proceed.”
After finishing the business, about to hang up, lawyer Jeong gave happy news.
- The eco-friendly plastic container business plan you asked to be delivered. Nature Food side says they're interested and asked to visit once. Is it possible around when?
The business with Iljin Food was scrapped, but
I didn't think of abandoning it.
Knowing that the eco-friendly plastic container would plant the eco-friendly corporate image thanks to customers' huge response, it's a pity to give up.
So, I sent the plan to Nature Food, Iljin Food's competitor.
With the help of Jeong Jihyun lawyer.
It was possible because I knew that Hong Sung-min, representative of Nature Food, was Jeong Yu-na's older brother, a close friend of Jeong Jihyun.
But it was only to get a briefing opportunity with the person in charge, and whether the business proceeds depends on my persuasion ability.
- When would be good?
“The sooner the better.”
- Understood. Then, I'll schedule it within this week and contact you.
Before hanging up, I quickly added.
“Lawyer, thank you always.”
- Ho-ho. It's my job. I hope this one goes through.
With the words of agreement, I hung up happily.
Meeting a capable lawyer like Jeong Jihyun is really a big luck.
To not miss this luck, I have to take good care of her when she's around.
Not only her, but the team members too.
To boost the morale of the returning team members, I have to resume the eco-friendly plastic container business.
To do that, I need to appeal that this business is really important to Nature Food.
I turned on the laptop and checked the briefing materials again.
No matter what happens, I vowed to make this business a success.
***
Lee Jungwan, summoned by Han Se-ah, hurriedly returned to the company.
But for some reason,
He had to wait in front of the door for a while.
The door opened.
Vice President Oh Seung-won appeared.
“President said he's tired today and will contact you next time.”
“What?”
Is that what you say to someone who waited in front of the door for over 30 minutes?
But Lee Jungwan, eyes bulging with anger, quietly changed and said “understood” then turned around.
He also needed time to think.
The situation returning was not good.
The gears that were going well in the yard where the high ground was visible started creaking.
Suddenly appearing creditors froze the account of Daeheung Planning, and Choi Chisoo, who always helped from the bottom, fled with both hands up.
Kang Minhyuk, who was supposed to be used as a substitute, suddenly quit,
And Han Se-ah, who used to welcome him eagerly, backed out saying she's tired.
It was too suspicious to just let it slide because Iljin didn't go well.
*There must be something...*
He was blinded by Healthy's success and clearly missing something, but the problem is he doesn't know what it is.
The tangled threads were too far along to untangle.
In the end, after worrying all day, he only stood up after work hours passed.
If he keeps doing nothing, the situation might flow in any way.
In such cases, one must boldly cut the tangled knot.
Then, even the remaining threads can be used properly.
He immediately sent a text to Choi Chisoo.
- This plan, none of it is yours, so know that.
No reply came.
“Scaredy-cat bastard. How much did you eat thanks to my help so far. On your own, you can't do anything.”
He saved Choi Chisoo's contact in the blocked list and deleted all call records, texts, and emails exchanged with him.
“First, I need to distribute the cash accumulated in Sunnytronics.”
Since the last month's delivery payment hasn't come in yet, the immediately available money is about 5 billion won.
According to his decision, after a week, 5 billion won was paid as dividend to his wife and family in Sunnytronics' shareholders.
Until then, Lee Jungwan judged that everything was flowing according to his plan.
He would receive the balance from Iljin Group, transfer all to his personal company account in the US under his name, and prepare to escape to the US.
***
Arriving at the Nature Food Gangnam headquarters building at the time told by Jeong Jihyun lawyer.
After completing the entry application at the lobby desk, the staff who gave the ID card guided us in a stereotypical tone to wait in the 2nd floor lounge for a moment.
Because of security, the meeting is being held in the 2nd floor conference room, unable to go up to the office.
“This place has stricter security than Iljin Group headquarters.”
“Indeed.”
Arriving at the 2nd floor via stairs, a natural eco-friendly atmosphere full of Nature Food filled the air.
“Wow~ They made a greenhouse inside the building.”
The ceiling of the central hall, which seems to have moved a huge botanical garden, has transparent glass installed so sunlight passes through directly.
In the hall, unknown trees and plants boasted fresh green leaves.
Even though spring was still far away, the indoor was warm, and various shaped flowers were in full bloom.
Sitting on the waiting sofa placed in the shade of trees, Han Hajin, looking around curiously.
He kept admiring the interior design of Nature Food, which is strikingly different from the stark Iljin Group lobby finished with gray granite.
The grandeur of Korea's number one food company was impressive.
It seemed he might understand a little why Iljin Food is always number two.
After waiting about 5 minutes?
A neatly dressed man in a dark gray suit approached us.
“Is this Kang Minhyuk, representative of Zeroes Group?”
“Yes. That's right.”
“I'll guide you to the meeting place. Follow me.”
He was heading to the elevator, not the conference room prepared in the lobby.
The guide staff pressed the 35th floor, the highest.
That's where the representative's office is, usually.
I asked the staff subtly.
“By any chance, can you tell where we're going?”
I asked because I didn't think the representative would meet me directly on the first meeting, but the returning answer was not ordinary.
“You will go to the representative's reception room.”
“Ah··· I see.”
The meeting place is the representative's reception room.
Then, the person I will meet is Hong Sung-min representative.
Did Hong Yu-na use her power?
Or is the real interest in the eco-friendly plastic container business?
After seeing the huge greenhouse on the 2nd floor, I thought the latter was more likely.
Of course, I couldn't completely dismiss the thought that Hong Yu-na's breath was involved.
*If Iljin Group had pushed the business, Nature Food's image might have been solidified.*
Making an image as if leading in environmental protection on the surface while actually destroying the environment, Iljin Food would attack Nature Food through the media.
Hearing that the business was stopped by Iljin Group, perhaps Hong Sung-min representative would breathe a sigh of relief.
*This situation is strangely flowing.*
The elevator arrived at the 35th floor notification, and soon the doors opened.
Han Hajin's eyes widened at the corridor.
“This is even greater than the 2nd floor.”
If the 2nd floor was greenhouse level, the 35th floor is jungle.
Instead of decorating the inside of the building with plants, it feels like the office was moved to a jungle.
That's why, the fresh air that no one has felt anywhere in Seoul's downtown area tickled the nose.
The person Hong Sung-min representative was becoming more and more curious.