Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Savior Pulse
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Oseong Group.
In the future, it would become Korea's flagship company and a globally recognized multinational conglomerate.
Of course, even now, it was one of Korea's top corporations.
'What an impressive man.'
The person credited with ushering in Oseong's golden age was Chairman Lee Jung-cheol, who was now sitting across from me, picking at some sashimi.
"Eat up, young man. You don't think I'm telling you to buy this for me, do you?"
"No, sir. I'll dig in."
He smiled at me now like a kindly old grandfather, but this was a man who had a hundred sly foxes hidden inside him.
How else could he have built Korea's number-one corporation, a veritable demon's lair of cutthroat competition?
And so began this strange interlude where I cautiously observed Chairman Lee Jung-cheol, and he calmly continued his meal as if nothing was amiss.
Finally, the meal wound down to a close. This was when our real conversation would begin.
"So, can I call you President Seon Woo-hyuk?"
"Yes, Chairman."
"What brings you to see this old fossil?"
Chairman Lee Jung-cheol cut straight to the chase, asking the purpose of my visit.
I knew people like him hated beating around the bush.
"I'd like to partner with Oseong."
"With us? Hm... Your company's in software, isn't it? Not much overlap there."
"To be more precise, we're planning to enter the console market."
"Consoles? Ha..."
His expression shifted to one of knowing realization, as if he'd just pieced together why I'd come.
"You know we're already in that space, right?"
"Isn't calling it an 'entry' a bit of a stretch?"
"What?"
"Taking products from Seton, tweaking them a little, and reselling them—that's not something Oseong should be doing."
"What? You cheeky brat! Got a mouth on you!"
Bam!
Chairman Lee Jung-cheol slammed the table and shot to his feet at my words. But I just sat there calmly, unmoved.
"Usually, people would flinch at that. Am I getting too old for this?"
When I didn't react, he sat back down, chuckling awkwardly.
"No, sir. I just didn't expect you to get mad over something that's true."
"Fair enough. You're right. Truth is, we found the console business appealing too, but we couldn't make a real go of it."
As if nothing had happened, he resumed his seat and spoke calmly. Meanwhile, my father—caught in the middle—clutched his chest in shock before finally exhaling in relief.
"So, you want our distribution network?"
"Exactly."
"Can't blame you. Your company's always relied on third-party distributors instead of building your own."
True to his stature in the business world, he got it in an instant.
Not only had he pinpointed exactly what I wanted, but it seemed he'd already done his homework on Savior.
"Oseong has built distribution networks across Europe, the US, and countries worldwide. I'd like you to handle distribution for the handheld game console we're developing."
"What's in it for us?"
"The distribution fees, of course."
"You know how much we invested in those networks globally? And you want to borrow them for just fees?"
"Then I'll have to go to Jeil Group instead."
"What?"
This was just like when I'd negotiated distribution for my first game.
Back then, I hadn't chosen AE out of necessity—I'd picked them because they were the best option.
If the deal hadn't suited me, I'd have walked and signed with someone else right away.
Same situation now.
Even without Oseong, partnering with Jeil Group—who had a similar network—would work fine.
And if Jeil didn't pan out, I could always scout distributors country by country, even if it was a hassle.
"Your son sure is different from you."
"I have no excuses..."
"Not a criticism—a compliment. That's the kind of boldness you need in business."
Chairman Lee Jung-cheol was smiling now, even.
"President Seon Woo-hyuk sees it clearly. With alternatives out there, this is how you negotiate. Fine—we'll distribute your handheld."
"Thank you. And one more request."
"There's more?"
"As I mentioned, we're not just doing handhelds. We'll be manufacturing home consoles too."
"Heard about that, but it's no easy feat. Tech aside, production's a whole other beast... Wait! You don't mean already?!"
"Yes, exactly as you suspect. We've already sorted it with the government and acquired a few suitable Korean factories."
Chairman Lee Jung-cheol let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn't believe it.
"You're a scary one, President Seon Woo-hyuk."
"When opportunity knocks, you grab it."
"So, what do you want from Oseong?"
"Production of proprietary memory for our handheld and home console."
"Hm... That's a tall order. Adjusting production lines for non-standard memory to sell a few million units? Not much profit in that."
A few million units.
Chairman Lee Jung-cheol seemed to be underestimating things.
"Chairman, I never said a few million."
"Close enough..."
"100 million. We're aiming for 100 million units each for the handheld and the home console."
Clink.
The glass slipped from Chairman Lee Jung-cheol's hand, shattering through the room.
-We'll stick to the contract no matter what you say later, so don't blame us.
After I dropped the 100 million bombshell, Chairman Lee Jung-cheol had insisted on drawing up the contract right then if I was so confident.
I'd anticipated that reaction and come prepared with drafts, so we signed on the spot.
'Hard to believe, I get it.'
Uni's GameStation hadn't even hit 100 million yet, and here was brand-new entrant Savior claiming not a combined total, but 100 million apiece for handheld and home console.
"Huck, over here!!"
As I reminisced about last night's dinner, Jason's voice rang out from somewhere.
I turned to see him waving wildly from in front of a taxi, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"People are staring if you do that here."
"So what? Being gawked at makes me feel like a star!"
I tried to hush him out of embarrassment from the stares, but Jason seemed like a born exhibitionist.
He just beamed, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Made any progress while you've been out?"
"You bet. Huck, I've had an epiphany."
"About what?"
"How to make an erotic game that works in both East and West!"
"Keep it down!"
I clapped a hand over Jason's mouth and hustled us into the waiting taxi.
"Where to?"
The driver asked in Japanese from the front seat.
"Chiyoda Ward, please."
"Got it."
Who knew the Japanese I'd learned in my past life would come in handy? Proves you can't go wrong with knowledge.
"We sent you to Japan early because you wanted to study local games firsthand, right? You weren't just playing around?"
"No way! I've been buried in games every day!"
Jason protested with an indignant look and tone.
But with his track record, it was hard to buy it.
Just two weeks ago,
-I want to make my own game!
He'd begged to be sent to Japan.
When everyone said he could develop here just fine, he'd countered,
'Savior games are fun, but something's missing. I want to find it.'
So I'd approved a one-month study stint in Japan.
"But what's this? You, of all people, flying to Japan? Aren't you swamped in Korea?"
"Even if I am, I like handling big stuff myself."
"Like what?"
"Nothing you need to know. I'll call when it's done—just hang nearby."
"Gotcha!"
We'd been chattering for about 30 minutes when the taxi pulled up to our destination: a building in Chiyoda Ward.
"What's this place?"
"A game developer's office."
I paid the fare and got out. Jason, asking where we were, got a straight answer.
"Game Freak? Never heard of 'em."
"They're only big in Japan so far."
He eyed the sign on the building and asked if we were here to acquire them.
'Close, but not quite.'
What was certain: whether I signed a deal here would decide if Savior Pulse, our handheld, hit 100 million units.
"President, they're here!"
"Good. Show them to the reception room!"
"Right away!"
Kazuo, president of Game Freak, felt his tension spike.
'Why does Savior's CEO want to meet me?'
How shocked had he been when the call came to his company a while back?
-Our president wants to visit Game Freak in person to talk.
Savior was a name no one in gaming could ignore.
Their latest, Soul Hunter, had sold over 10 million copies, and their Savior Engine was a must-study tool for any developer.
But that aside, Kazuo couldn't see any connection between Game Freak and Savior.
'We're Nendo's second-party dev. Acquisition's impossible.'
The most plausible guess was a buyout attempt, but that was a pipe dream.
Game Freak was independent but had received aid from Nendo in tough times and become a second-party studio since.
They'd signed contracts barring sales or transfers without Nendo's approval.
'Savior has to know that.'
No matter how he puzzled it out, Kazuo couldn't fathom why Seon Woo-hyuk had come calling. Still, he couldn't snub Savior's CEO, so he hurried to the reception room.