Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Marvel Deal and the Hunters
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Marvel Studios was located in Burbank, Los Angeles County, California.
"Compared to America, Seoul—no, Korea as a whole—is such a small city."
In the reception room at Marvel's headquarters.
Yoon Tae-ho shook his head.
Kim Sung-hee, who had arrived in LA ahead of time to pick them up, saw this and said proudly.
"That's the true American scale."
"But why are you so proud of it, Sung-hee?"
"Ah, uh...."
At Lee Dae-hyuk's words, Kim Sung-hee's face flushed red with embarrassment.
"Anyway... I never imagined we'd end up at Marvel's headquarters. I thought they only had Spider-Boy, but they've got so many fun characters."
She quickly averted her gaze and marveled at the posters framed on the reception room walls.
Lee Dae-hyuk scratched the back of his head and followed her eyes over the posters.
"Aren't you tired, Sung-hee? If you're going to do business in America, you need to build up your stamina first. Honestly, I'm beat."
"Well, I got here before you two. I've rested plenty, so I'm fine."
They chatted like that for a moment, easing Kim Sung-hee's embarrassment.
Creak—!
The reception room door opened, and a middle-aged white man in a cap walked in.
"Hello. I'm Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios."
With a bright smile.
"......"
Coming face-to-face with a man he'd seen in movies and news, Lee Dae-hyuk felt a strange sensation.
He wasn't a total film buff, but like anyone else, he'd enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
'If Robert and Jonathan are the founding fathers of the MCU, then Kevin Feige is the creator and conductor.'
The characters and stories were rooted in the original comics, of course.
But it was Kevin Feige who brought them to the screen, balanced the power levels, and wove in the foreshadowing and connections between films.
The eyes of this incredible man were filled with affection and respect toward Lee Dae-hyuk.
"The friend of Steven and Bill, the hero who caught the bomb terrorist. It's an honor to meet you."
"...How did you know?"
"I saw it on the news. I was shocked when I found out that hero was Mr. Lee. Let me say it again: it's truly an honor."
Kevin Feige extended his right hand, his eyes brimming with curiosity.
He seemed to have done quite a bit of research on him, which was a little burdensome inwardly.
'Well... the hero image is a useful weapon too.'
"Thank you. I'm Lee Dae-hyuk."
Grab—!!
The moment they shook hands without hesitation, information about Kevin Feige and his 'concerns' flowed into Lee Dae-hyuk's mind, as always.
'Profit sharing rate?'
.
.
.
Kevin Feige's biggest concern was the profit share he had to give Lee Dae-hyuk.
'I thought it'd be around a million dollars, but ten million? ...This means I have to adjust the profit sharing rate. What do I do?'
He had already signed contracts with other investors on profit sharing rates.
He couldn't adjust them just because he took on more investment.
If he reduced Marvel Studios' share, he could only pay Lee Dae-hyuk about 3% of the profits, excluding principal.
For ten million dollars, he'd need to pay around 6%, but that was tough right now.
But if he revealed this, Lee Dae-hyuk might pull the investment.
Kevin Feige had no choice but to agonize.
.
.
.
But Lee Dae-hyuk, on the other hand, looked excited.
'This could definitely work in my favor.'
Thinking only of the immediate money would be a loss for him.
But if he conceded once...
And demanded a special clause: 'The right to be the first investor in all future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects'?
Kevin Feige, with no way of knowing the future, would naturally accept.
In other words, with one loss...
'I could earn tens of millions, no, hundreds of millions of dollars.'
Lee Dae-hyuk's eyes sparkled at the opportunity.
Oblivious to Lee Dae-hyuk's thoughts, Kevin Feige spoke in a gentle voice.
"You must be tired from coming all this way. We should have picked you up ourselves, but pre-production is in its final stages, so we couldn't make the time."
"It's fine. It's just an excuse for a trip anyway. Haha."
With laughter, the pleasant meeting began.
***
Kevin Feige was a man with humor and eloquence that put people at ease.
The meeting was enjoyable.
However.
"Hmm...."
As the meeting neared its end, his expression grew serious.
Now was the time to get to the main point.
"Mr. Lee. There's something I need to tell you in advance."
Kevin Feige finally brought up the profit sharing rate.
.
.
.
And a few minutes later.
"I'm not asking for unconditional understanding. But if...."
"......"
"If you could understand, I'll make it up to you in other ways."
"Oh, I see."
Sweat beaded on Kevin Feige's forehead.
He was slightly afraid that Lee Dae-hyuk might withdraw the investment or reduce the amount.
But contrary to his worries, Lee Dae-hyuk showed no displeasure at all.
"Since the contracts are already done... I understand. In business, sometimes someone has to take a loss."
"I'm sorry."
Kevin Feige apologized sincerely.
Lee Dae-hyuk didn't dislike this about Kevin Feige.
People who prioritize pragmatism and ideals over pride are the ones who succeed.
Moreover, he didn't hesitate to offer more.
"If there's any condition you want besides the profit share, please let me know. I'll accommodate as much as possible."
"Oh, really?"
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled brightly.
Wasn't this like tossing a hunk of meat to a hungry wolf?
"If you're saying that much... alright. I'll tell you."
"Yes."
Kevin Feige focused intently, tense.
"There's only one special clause I want."
***
Inside the plane headed to Silicon Valley with Lee Dae-hyuk, Yoon Tae-ho, and Kim Sung-hee aboard.
The meeting had been a success.
But while Lee Dae-hyuk kept grinning in satisfaction,
"Hmm...."
"......"
Kim Sung-hee and Yoon Tae-ho looked baffled.
Yoon Tae-ho, having heard the full story through Kim Sung-hee's translation, spoke first.
"Isn't this a one-sided deal in their favor? Movie investments don't even guarantee principal, and now you're taking a hit on the profit share too?"
"Yes."
"What, is that guy Steven Spielberg or something?"
Nod, nod—!!!
Kim Sung-hee nodded silently in agreement.
She was just as shocked.
"What on earth got into you? It's really amazing."
Kim Sung-hee was genuinely curious about Lee Dae-hyuk.
It wasn't her money, but she couldn't understand him.
Today, Kevin Feige had agreed to and noted down the special clauses Lee Dae-hyuk mentioned in the investment agreement.
From his perspective, they weren't disadvantageous at all.
"The contract today. Sure, it looks like I'm taking a loss. But in two years, you'll all think differently."
Because the one really losing out wouldn't be him—it would be Kevin Feige.
Of course, it wasn't a loss for Kevin Feige either.
From a producer's standpoint, how could securing a stable investor be a loss?
Moreover.
'Marvel's nose will only get higher from here.'
Soon, investment firms from around the world would come clamoring to invest in the MCU.
Competitions between companies over investment deals would even cause a stir.
'It means even with all that money, investing won't be easy.'
But with the contracts already signed.
He'd be out of the investment race.
Knowing the future up to 2021, Lee Dae-hyuk couldn't help but be confident.
"Just wait a year. Then you'll see who the real winner of this deal is."
"......"
"......"
At Lee Dae-hyuk's bold declaration, the two fell silent.
'Well... the contract's stamped and all.'
They could only hope he wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
And so...
May 2008.
Their misunderstandings and worries continued until they witnessed the explosive box office success of 'Iron Steel 1.'
***
The day Lee Dae-hyuk and his group returned by plane.
There were people anxiously waiting for them...
The killers under Park Ji-sook's orders.
Until then, the killers, armed with silenced pistols and combat knives, had been lurking around Lee Dae-hyuk.
Far from attempting an assassination—they were literally just 'lurking.'
Was it because of his fame as the American hero who beat down the bomb terrorists?
At some point, more men started marking Lee Dae-hyuk's surroundings.
Eventually, they even kept a fixed distance while watching him.
As a result, time just dragged on, and they finally found another way.
Kidnap Kim Sung-hee and lure Lee Dae-hyuk to a deserted abandoned building.
It wasn't their usual method, but they had no choice.
The pressure from Team Leader Kim Chan-wook in Korea had reached its limit.
And so, just as the two killers moved to grab Kim Sung-hee returning from LA.
Crack—!!
Suddenly, thugs attacked them.
"Who the hell are you?"
Thud, thud—!!!
Surprisingly, the thugs numbered more than one or two.
Over a dozen of them swarmed without giving a moment's rest.
Moreover.
'They're luring us.'
The moment they showed the slightest opening, the thugs attacked.
They subdued a few, but no matter how skilled the killers, they couldn't beat the numbers.
On top of that, the thugs attacking them weren't ordinary punks.
From clashing with them, these guys... no, maybe even more than them... had proper military training.
"Huff, huff!"
"What the fuck are these bastards?"
The bloodied killers instead fled into a crowded pub.
Hoping that with all the eyes around, those mysterious thugs would hold back.
Whew—!
The two caught their breath for a moment.
They continued their conversation in Korean.
"Should we use guns?"
"And kill some innocent bystander? We could get tailed. Guns are for the absolute last resort."
If they accidentally killed someone, they might never return to Korea and spend life in an American prison.
Unless their lives were in immediate danger.
Guns were the final option.
But they still didn't know.
That they had fallen into the real trap.
***
Posting photos of the two Korean killers in a private(?) community and offering a bounty.
Inquiries flooding in.
Professional mercenaries from America gathering from everywhere.
The man who ordered them... to hunt.
"Hmm. Uhmm. Hmmm...."
Whoo— whoo— wheee—
Lou Wilson, humming and whistling along to the music echoing through the pub, let out a sinister chuckle.
He had finally herded the targets here.
'Easy. Too easy.'
Lou Wilson was satisfied with everything.
The beer was good, and the job was going smoothly.
He'd say this was one of the happiest days lately.
Of course, he could stay back.
But Lee Dae-hyuk wanted them alive.
'Mercenaries are hot-headed. Gotta prevent any trouble.'
He'd had to calm down the mercenaries excited to kill the killers, money be damned.
Thanks to that, Kim Sung-hee was safely rescued too.
'I'll get my thanks from Mr. Lee later. For now, time to deal with these poor bastards.'
Did they know every customer in this pub was targeting them?
Grinning at the two prey quenching their thirst with beer, oblivious, Lou Wilson muttered.
"Let's start."
As Lou Wilson spoke, every customer in the pub focused on him.
To everyone except the two killers, Lou Wilson declared.
"Couldn't hear? Let's wrap this up quick."
With those words.
Scrape—!
The customers rose from their seats.
"Sh, shit!!"
Boss, Become a Chaebol