Chapter 76
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Any More Questions?
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'Is this a joke? That young man is the major shareholder?'
'Fifty-one percent of the shares means he invested hundreds of billions. Does that even make sense?'
The shareholders' reactions to Ryu Min were all largely the same.
They either eyed him with suspicion or crossed their arms, refusing to accept it.
It was only natural for them to be skeptical when some kid suddenly appeared, calling himself the new CEO and announcing a complete change in the company's business sector.
"First, I'll explain the change in business. The new sector we intend to pursue is..."
Ryu Min explained the business idea just as he had told Ma Kyung-rok.
As the shareholders listened, their eyes widened.
'He wants to create a social open market for players?'
'Isn't that only good for the players?'
'The company name is Player Place?'
'Fuck, what kind of cafe name is that?'
Complaints surged, but no one voiced them aloud.
With so many eyes on them, they restrained themselves as much as possible.
Reading the shareholders' thoughts, Ryu Min smiled inwardly.
'Right, you must be displeased. After all, the shareholders are ordinary people, not players.'
The shareholders in attendance ranged from their thirties to their sixties.
They were all ordinary people, which was to be expected. Young players didn't invest in stocks anymore.
'Why would they make long-term stock investments when they could die in the next round?'
If they needed money, they would either find a way to use their abilities or resort to gambling.
And some players were swayed by the temptation of crime.
'They can get what they want easily with just a few robberies.'
When your life is on the line, what is there to fear?
If they could, they would rather choose prison over the next round.
'And that's the problem. In the eyes of ordinary people, players are nothing more than a source of social discord.'
They were seen as little more than potential criminals.
Given the circumstances, it was only natural for them to be displeased with the idea of creating a brokerage site for players.
"Alright, that concludes my explanation. I will now take questions. If anyone has a question, please raise your..."
Before Ryu Min could finish, hands shot up from all over the room.
Seeing their eager response, Ryu Min couldn't help but give a wry smile.
'They seem quite dissatisfied.'
Wiping the smile from his face, Ryu Min began to take questions one by one.
"Whose idea was it to change a perfectly fine business sector?"
"It was my idea."
"What is your intention behind changing the business sector? Are you trying to bankrupt the company?"
"What kind of CEO would want their company to go bankrupt? Naturally, this change is for the sake of greater growth."
"What's your basis for being so sure this will work out? Aren't we just doing players a favor for nothing?"
"This isn't just a favor for the players. If the company grows, won't that be good for all the shareholders here as well? You'll receive much higher dividends."
"What will you do if the company goes bankrupt because of this reckless gamble? Can't we just be satisfied with consulting?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't be satisfied. Consulting has no future. And in the future, the era of players will arrive. That is why we are changing sectors. We must go with the flow."
Despite the barrage of questions, Ryu Min remained calm and answered without a hint of panic.
As he answered every question without hesitation, the number of inquiries began to dwindle.
"Any more questions?"
"..."
"..."
The once-noisy hall was now blanketed in silence.
'What else can I ask?'
'I think everything that could be asked has been asked...'
'I underestimated him because he's young, but his answers are flawless.'
'Is he really confident he can grow the company? Even his voice is filled with conviction.'
The shareholders were inwardly surprised, but no one was more astonished than Ma Kyung-rok, who was watching from the side.
'What is this? Is this the same Prophet I know? His aura feels subtly different...'
He thought Ryu Min was just a wet-behind-the-ears kid, but he had a surprisingly bold side.
'Then again, I got a sense of it when he told me not to underestimate him.'
Still, today was quite surprising.
To endure the pressure amidst a storm of protests and answer each question one by one.
'It's hard to believe he's just turned twenty.'
Ma Kyung-rok was suddenly reminded of when he was twenty.
Compared to Ryu Min, he had been incredibly immature.
'If I had been able to respond that calmly when I was twenty... I would have earned my father's approval long ago and inherited the position of successor.'
A wave of melancholy washed over him, but this was a shareholders' meeting.
Ma Kyung-rok quickly composed himself.
"Shareholders. If there are no further objections, we will proceed with the vote."
For a special resolution to pass, it needed the approval of shareholders holding over 67% of the stock.
Since Ryu Min held 51% and Ma Kyung-rok held 20%, the motion would pass with just their two votes.
In reality, there was no need to ask for the other shareholders' opinions.
The reason for holding the meeting and discussing it with them was largely for the sake of appearances.
'If I just changed the business sector and company name like a dictator, the other shareholders wouldn't stand for it.'
Keeping the shareholders from leaving was also part of business strategy.
"Now then, does anyone object to the change of business sector and company name?"
"..."
"..."
Ma Kyung-rok smiled as he announced the results.
"As there are no opposing votes, I declare the motion has passed with 100% approval."
*Bang, bang, bang—*
Ma Kyung-rok concluded the meeting with a strike of the gavel.
Although they had technically approved, the shareholders couldn't hide their disgruntled expressions.
They hadn't raised their hands due to the atmosphere, but in their hearts, they had wanted to object.
But Ryu Min knew.
'In a few months, these people will be thanking themselves for not selling their shares. They're about to hit a massive jackpot.'
They would all shout for joy as they watched the company's stock soar.
"This concludes the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders. Thank you to all the shareholders who attended."
With Chairman Ma Kyung-rok's closing remarks, the shareholders began to leave one by one.
In the midst of it, Ma Kyung-rok approached Ryu Min.
"Major Shareholder. You did very well. You spoke so confidently without a hint of nervousness."
"Haha... I suppose practicing at home for various situations paid off."
In truth, he hadn't practiced at all, but his comment slightly eased Ma Kyung-rok's wariness.
"Is that so? No wonder you were so good."
"In any case, it seems everything was resolved smoothly."
"Yes. Now, all that's left is to build the site and establish the system as quickly as possible."
"I can leave that entirely to you, Representative Ma, can't I?"
"Of course. Don't you worry, Major Shareholder. Just focus on surviving the next round."
It seemed he was worried because the Prophet class looked weak.
'Though he's probably just worried he won't get any more prophecies if I die.'
Well, what Ma Kyung-rok feared would never happen.
"You must be hungry. Shall we have lunch together at the hotel?"
"Yes, that sounds great."
Ryu Min smiled and followed Ma Kyung-rok.
His work for the day was done.
'Now, there's only one thing left. Using Hwang Yong-min.'
A dark smile spread across Ryu Min's face as he thought about how to use the man.
* * *
PleSeBa's regular Sunday meeting.
-Hello!
Yamtti appeared on the video chat screen with a cheerful voice.
-...Hello, Yamtti.
However, unlike Yamtti, the expressions of the others on screen were grim.
-Huh? What's with the mood? Did something happen?
-You must not have heard the news, Yamtti.
-What news, Poporing?
-Two of our executives have been out of contact.
-What? Who?
-[My Age is Thirty] and [Honey Jam]. We haven't heard from them since Round 5, so it seems they didn't make it.
-Ah...
'No wonder the mood was so down. Someone died.'
Yamtti understood, but at the same time, she found it strange.
Had they really grown so attached to people they only met through video chat that they would be this sad?
'Aha, they're acting. Trying to look good for the Chairman.'
The [Chairman], who founded the cafe, was undoubtedly the top dog.
In the professional world, sucking up to your boss was a given.
And that Chairman always showed genuine sorrow whenever a player died.
'If that's the case, I can't lose.'
Yamtti deployed a woman's tears.
-Oh, what do we do... [My Age is Thirty] and [Honey Jam]... *sob sob*...
-D-don't cry, Yamtti...
-When you cry, Yamtti, it makes me want to cry too...
The other executives in the chat room echoed Yamtti's tears.
'Sly bastards. Look at them trying to latch on at a time like this. But then again, humans are naturally sly.'
Yamtti understood that, so she was in no position to openly criticize them.
It was then.
-What's going on?
The Chairman logged on.
He adjusted his glasses and looked at the others with a surprised expression.
-Why does everyone look like they're about to cry?
-Well, you see, Chairman...
Seizing the opportunity, Lost Ark quickly made his report.
A flicker of disappointment crossed the faces of the others for being a step too slow.
-Hah, how could this happen...
As expected, the Chairman covered his face and reacted somberly.
He was always like this when a player died.
-Still, it's a relief that the rest of you survived.
-Were you alright in Round 5, Chairman?
-I wouldn't be here if I wasn't, would I?
He said it with a smile in response to Humble Mukbang's question, but his words were laced with thorns.
The problem was that the one who asked didn't seem to notice.
-Hmph... Anyway, it seems we have one incident after another. To think we're down to six executives...
-Chairman. Can't we just recruit new executives?
-I'd like to, but we don't have any suitable talent, do we? And the candidates who applied last time aren't even responding.
He was talking about the three executive candidates, including Black Scythe.
-Lost Ark. Have you still not heard from those interviewees?
-No. I've called them several times, but they haven't answered.
-I wonder if they died in Round 5...
-The other two, I don't know, but Black Scythe is alive. Didn't you see the results for Round 5? He passed in first place again.
-Then why would Black Scythe apply to join and then go silent all this time?
-I wouldn't know.
-Could it be that he was just messing with us...?
-Or maybe he wasn't Black Scythe in the first place? The reason he's not answering is because he died in Round 5.
-Oh, that's a valid point, Poporing.
-An imposter... that makes sense.
-Well, it's not like a big shot like Black Scythe would try to join 'a cafe like this'...
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Humble Mukbang shut his mouth.
But the Chairman's expression had already turned icy.
-Humble Mukbang? Did you just say 'a cafe like this'? What's wrong with our cafe?
-...
-What's wrong with our cafe, which serves as a bridgehead for a new era by uniting players?
-I-I'm sorry, Chairman... That's not what I meant...
-From this moment on, Humble Mukbang is hereby removed from his executive position. No, he is permanently expelled from the cafe.
-What?!
-In a time when we should be pooling our strength, I cannot trust and accept a member who disparages our cafe. From now on, Humble Mukbang will be blacklisted, so you can adapt on your own when the new era arrives.
-Ch-Chairman! Chair...!
[Humble Mukbang has been kicked from the chat room.]
One executive was gone, leaving five.
-Now, with the dissenter removed, shall we continue the meeting?
-Ah... yes.
Tension filled the faces of the remaining executives.
They were once again reminded that in this place, the Chairman's word was law.
Just then, Lost Ark let out a soft "Ah-" and his expression became visibly flustered.
-What is it?
-Ah, um, well... a player just submitted an application...
-And?
-Th-the nickname is Black Scythe...
-...!
The Chairman and everyone else's eyes widened in surprise.
-Black Scythe applied again?
-Th-this one has a different name from the last Black Scythe.
-What's his name?
-The last Black Scythe's real name was Kim In-hong, but the person who applied this time is Hwang Yong-min.
-Hwang Yong-min...
After a moment of thought, the Chairman made his decision.
-Go to his house and check. I don't know if he's the real Black Scythe, but we have no choice but to meet him, do we?
-And if he's not?
-If he's not Black Scythe...
The Chairman spoke in a chilling tone.
-Then he will have to pay the price for daring to mess with us.