Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Final Bluff
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It might just be a reckless threat.
But it had to work.
Why?
‘Because they won’t trust each other.’
No matter how many flowery words The Company dressed itself in, at its core, it was an extreme profit-driven organization.
They had banded together for gain, not trust, so once a crack formed, it would crumble.
And that went for...
- …….
The middle-aged man as well.
What if Lee Dae-hyuk relayed these exact words to the other executives?
Could they all stay unshaken?
What if even one executive wavered?
‘No, even before that… what if I’ve already met the other chairmen like this?’
The chairmen were the title for the ‘executives.’
They were the heads of the economic world steering each nation.
Naturally, comparing their life experiences to Lee Dae-hyuk’s was unreasonable.
‘Kuk! Right. To waver over something like this….’
- …I like your style. For a moment there, I was even tempted by what you said. But will that be enough?
“Your trust in each other must run pretty deep?”
- There’s something more important than trust in this world. Profit. And we provide each other with massive profits.
Lee Dae-hyuk flashed a meaningful smile at the middle-aged man’s words.
‘He’s starting to ramble.’
That was proof he was wavering, even if just a little.
He couldn’t shake off that sliver of fear.
‘I’ll exploit this crack.’
“You’re right about profit… You said it perfectly. That’s why I have a proposal.”
- Finally, the main point.
“It’s not something easy to bring up.”
- …Go ahead.
“My proposal is simple. Meet my demands, and you can continue living comfortably just like now.”
- How many lives do you have? Aren’t you afraid of death?
Lee Dae-hyuk shrugged at the middle-aged man’s question.
“You and I—we both know petty threats like that don’t work anymore.”
- Hahaha. True. Fine, I want to hear why you’re risking your life like this. Ah! I mean that sincerely.
The middle-aged man shifted his doubts elsewhere.
And that was a green light for Lee Dae-hyuk.
“My proposal… is a kind of deal. Don’t cut open the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
- Goose?
The middle-aged man knew exactly what goose Lee Dae-hyuk meant.
It had to be referring to Steven Gibson.
- A deal over the goose that lays golden eggs… So what do I get out of it?
In response to the middle-aged man’s question, Lee Dae-hyuk countered.
“I gave you advice. Shouldn’t you at least say thank you? Isn’t that common courtesy?”
- Huh….
The middle-aged man was at a loss for words.
But regardless, Lee Dae-hyuk pressed on with his questions.
“Have you ever heard of the golden ratio?”
- What?
“The balance of push and pull. Ignore that proper balance, and things slowly fall apart.”
- …….
“Abandon your excessive greed and accept my deal, and you’ll reap plenty of rewards. Steven—he’s the kind of man who’ll change the world even if left alone.”
- And?
“Even just holding Apple stock will bring you massive profits. Tens of billions of dollars. Maybe more.”
- Is Steven Gibson really that capable?
The middle-aged man still hadn’t grasped the power of the iPhone.
For someone who already had everything, it was natural that the iPhone’s impact didn’t hit home.
Lee Dae-hyuk dug into that point.
“There are more poor and ordinary people in the world than rich ones.”
- …….
“And right now, the masterpiece Steven is burning himself out to create is meant for those living ordinary lives.”
- …….
“Here’s the question, then. Steven makes a product that over half the world’s population will go crazy for, and distributes it cheaply. Is he a goose that lays golden eggs, or not?”
With a mischievous yet sneering expression, Lee Dae-hyuk glared at the monitor hanging in the conference room and asked.
Smartphones, computers, tablets, etc.
Not everyone could afford all of them, but what if they were combined into one, launched worldwide simultaneously with massive hype?
Especially with minimized costs through long-term rentals and user-friendly sales?
- …So that’s it.
Only after hearing Lee Dae-hyuk’s explanation did the middle-aged man start to understand, even if just a bit.
His worldview differed from that of ordinary people—and from the young Lee Dae-hyuk’s.
If Steven Gibson truly was that kind of person…
‘Yeah. Letting him run free might be….’
While the middle-aged man pondered that.
Lee Dae-hyuk delivered his final question.
“Hey, faceless mega-tycoon. Aren’t you curious about the world he’ll shape going forward?”
- …….
“If you can’t believe it, how about a little organic bet with me.”
- Did you just say… a bet?
The middle-aged man’s surprised voice responded to Lee Dae-hyuk’s follow-up question.
- You just told us to back off. Now it’s a bet?
“You misunderstood. I meant don’t harm him personally—I never said pull out of Apple.”
The middle-aged man felt rising irritation at Lee Dae-hyuk’s words, but...
‘Hoo….’
For some reason, he wanted to hear the story through to the end.
- …What are the bet’s terms?
“For three years, no harm comes to Steven in any form. You invest in Apple. Do that much.”
- And then?
“Exactly three years from now, you’ll have five times your investment in your hands. Principal excluded, of course.”
- Huh, hahaha. Kuk! Hahahaha!
The middle-aged man burst into laughter at Lee Dae-hyuk’s absurd prediction.
- What, do you have precognition or something? How can you claim that?
“You need this level of confidence to bet against someone like you.”
In the end.
- Fine.
The middle-aged man accepted Lee Dae-hyuk’s intriguing bet.
Three years? Plenty of time to invest.
- I’ll buy $100 million in stock.
“If it hits $600 million in three years, I win. Then you back off from Steven and his family for life.”
- And the wager?
“My life… should be enough, right? If it falls even a dollar short of what I promised, you can do whatever you want with me.”
Lee Dae-hyuk had that much confidence, betting his life.
As long as Steven Gibson was around, three years from now...
‘Apple stock won’t just go up fivefold—it could tenfold.’
The middle-aged man burst into laughter upon hearing Lee Dae-hyuk’s firm assurance.
- Hoo… heh. Hahaha!
After laughing heartily for a long time, the middle-aged man fell silent briefly before continuing.
- It’s been so long since I dealt with something like this that I’m honestly flustered. It’s ridiculous.
“What?”
- You. You seem to be misunderstanding something. The collateral you just offered is basically a blank check.
“Are you saying my life isn’t worth that much?”
- The moment you walked in here, your life wasn’t yours anymore. Even if you leave safely, it still won’t be. I can kill you whenever I want.
“……!”
Lee Dae-hyuk clenched his left fist.
From the surging humiliation.
‘These guys… they’re definitely the same breed as Yoo Jae-man.’
Existences incompatible with him.
He’d bought three years’ time with the bet, but one day, when he surpassed even Yoo Jae-man in power...
‘I’ll definitely crush them.’
Lee Dae-hyuk quietly burned with hatred.
Even amid that, the middle-aged man continued in a leisurely tone.
- So, let’s change the collateral terms. If I win, I take your future. You’ll work under me for life.
“……!!”
- Don’t try any tricks. Whether here or in your hometown, we’re everywhere. Remember that.
“You want me to become a dog?”
Lee Dae-hyuk’s lips trembled.
He suppressed his anger as much as possible, but couldn’t hide the slight quiver.
The middle-aged man’s firm response reached the ears of Lee Dae-hyuk, shaking with rage.
- Exactly. We need a hunting dog. A clever one.
“…….”
- Living as a hunting dog isn’t so bad. Our rewards are solid. More than you can imagine.
Lee Dae-hyuk felt no joy at the middle-aged man’s words.
‘At best, it’s dog food.’
- So, what’ll it be? Yes? Or no?
Lee Dae-hyuk stared silently at the monitor.
The middle-aged man gazed leisurely at Lee Dae-hyuk on the monitor.
“…….”
“…….”
Even after several dozen seconds, neither opened their mouth.
Lee Dae-hyuk spoke first.
“Fine. Because I’ll win.”
- Oh? Where does that confidence come from?
“Data and conviction.”
- Putting on a show with that flimsy data and conviction, betting this big? I can’t tell if you’re crazy or just gutsy.
“Closer to gutsy, wouldn’t you say.”
Lee Dae-hyuk’s confident reply, knowing the future.
The middle-aged man smiled quietly.
A very deep smile…
It had been ages since he’d met such an entertaining opponent.
- You’re definitely fun. I’d love to meet you in person someday.
Words meaning he wanted to satisfy his curiosity face-to-face.
At the middle-aged man’s statement, Lee Dae-hyuk sneered.
For the first time, they shared the same thought.
‘Yeah, I want to meet you too….’
“Someday, I’d like to meet you as well.”
Lee Dae-hyuk glanced down at his left hand stealthily.
If only he had psychometry…
“On the day we meet in person, we’ll talk deeper. About how I knew to come here, how much I know about you all.”
‘Of course, after I wring every last secret out of you.’
Their secrets would surely become his weapons.
The day he seized those weapons.
“…….”
Thinking of that moment, Lee Dae-hyuk glared at the monitor straight ahead.
As if the middle-aged man were right there in it.
- Fine. I’ll look forward to that day too.
Click-!!!
The middle-aged man hung up.
Simultaneously, the light vanished from all the monitors, as if waiting for it.
And then.
Creak-!!
“Come out.”
The black employee who had blocked him earlier beckoned.
Lee Dae-hyuk placed his phone on the table and headed for the door.
Step- step-
At any rate, he’d secured three years of peace.
But even if he won the bet, they would eventually appear before him.
‘Right. I need to grow stronger within three years.’
His days ahead would be even busier.
After taking Daehan Group and toppling Yoo Jae-man.
He’d have to clash with The Company too.
But no matter how busy...
‘Still… whew! Let’s rest today.’
“Have a good night.”
Lee Dae-hyuk gave a light greeting to the black employee and left the conference room.
Thud thud thud-!!!
‘Man, I’m exhausted.’
Was it the tension releasing? Heavily lifting his increasingly drooping eyelids.
Lee Dae-hyuk moved forward.
***
The next morning.
Yi Chenlian checked The Company’s message the moment he woke up.
His eyes widened.
The message was simple.
[Operation over. Return.]
“Ha. Haha. Hahaha.”
A hollow laugh escaped Yi Chenlian as he sat on the edge of the bed.
For a solid three years, he’d devoted himself daily to winning Steven Gibson’s heart.
Steven was just starting to follow him...
And now, abandon him?
‘Ridiculous….’
Anger boiled up.
The past three years had all been for nothing.
But his rage wasn’t directed at The Company executives—it turned elsewhere.
‘…Lee Dae-hyuk. Did that bastard pull something off?’
No matter how he thought about it, there was only one reason The Company would cancel the operation.
Lee Dae-hyuk’s scheme had succeeded.
Bang-!!!
Unable to contain himself, Yi Chenlian punched the wall.
‘It’s not over.’
For now, he’d vanish as ordered.
But The Company didn’t let go of those who caught their eye.
‘Turn them into dogs, or kill them.’
If Lee Dae-hyuk didn’t become a dog as time passed, The Company would dispose of him.
And when that happened.
He’d be the one plunging the knife into Lee Dae-hyuk’s throat.
‘Wait for it, Lee Dae-hyuk.’
***
A week had already passed.
‘Peaceful.’
Out for his morning run, Lee Dae-hyuk savored the rare peace.
Leisurely and relaxed, one might say.
This ordinary life without mortal danger(?) felt so fresh.
“Hoo! Hoo!”
And there was another reason making him happy.
In front of Yongwolwon, five kilometers from his hotel.
He’d pushed a bit hard from early morning, but Lee Dae-hyuk smiled contentedly.
Gazing at the building that was once ‘Yongwolwon.’
The sign was down, and no trace of people remained in the empty structure.
‘They kept their promise.’
The Company executive must have fulfilled it immediately.