The Effect of Connections, Part 3
“Of course I’m interested, but...”
If he were told to hang on to someone’s trouser leg and beg, that would have been the situation he was in. Since the other party had made the offer first, however, there was no reason to refuse.
Still, he did not let himself get carried away just because the offer had come from the other side.
He had not yet heard a single condition.
“If the fabric was chosen by the U.S. military, then its quality must be excellent. That’s why the French military is interested as well. We had especially been paying attention to lightweight, high-performance fabrics needed for special forces operating in extreme environments. Until now, the U.S. military’s Gore-Tex has been considered the best, but we had been looking for something even better... My word, I never imagined the company LVMH invested in would have that kind of technology.”
He spoke with visible astonishment.
Listening to him, Seung-hyun could understand why the French lawmaker had revealed his intentions so openly.
This was not some Korean textile company with no roots and no connections. It was a company invested in by LVMH, the French luxury conglomerate. A contract with them would not cause any political trouble at all.
Part of the royalty money would flow right back into a French company anyway.
“Just to confirm, this isn’t an exclusive contract with the U.S. military, is it? I heard you’re already running an SPA brand with that fabric.”
“That’s right. It isn’t exclusive.”
“It’s a license, so I suppose it wouldn’t be. And you haven’t placed any restriction limiting it to combat uniforms, either, have you?”
“Our Dualtex fabric is currently under license with the U.S. military, but that does not exclude cooperation with other countries.”
Thibault nodded with a satisfied expression.
“In that case, you could consider a similar arrangement for the French military. Of course, France may have its own special requirements.”
Antoine watched the two of them in silence, smiling faintly.
Seung-hyun answered carefully.
“I think the possibility is open. However, I believe we would need more detailed discussion regarding the specific requirements and conditions.”
Thibault looked delighted.
“Of course. I’ll be visiting Korea next month, and when I do, would it be possible to see Haesol Textile’s factory directly?”
“Of course. You’d be most welcome. If you visit our factory, we’ll be able to discuss things in greater detail.”
He nodded with evident satisfaction, then took out a business card and handed it to Seung-hyun.
“Here is my contact information. I’ll reach out again before my visit to Korea.”
After the meal ended and Thibault left, Seung-hyun asked Antoine,
“So this was to help me out? Thank you.”
Even while accepting the thanks, Antoine shrugged and sipped the coffee that came with dessert, speaking in a calm voice.
“Business is never decided by the product alone. ‘A good product will be noticed by people someday’? That’s an illusion. Reality isn’t so beautiful. Right now, there are countless good products around us that we never notice, so we never buy them. People who don’t know any better think I spend all my time looking at numbers and holding endless meetings to create something new, but that isn’t it. Do you know what I mostly do?”
“What is it?”
“I mostly meet people. I get them to wear our clothes, put on our shoes, and carry our bags. I keep showing them what Loro Piana is, what kind of clothes it makes, and how people see it. Over and over again... until it feels natural... Once they naturally come to understand how good they look in Loro Piana, the money starts coming in the moment we produce the clothes.”
“...I see.”
“The people we need to dress aren’t only models, actors, and sports stars. These days there are wealthy influencers doing well, but politicians can be included too. For people running companies at our level, politics is inseparable from business, but I try to stay fairly close to them.”
“Does your father, Bernard, feel the same?”
Amused by the question, Antoine let out a snort of laughter.
“Sharp question. In truth, my father and I are a little different. He doesn’t much care for politicians. But he doesn’t say my way is wrong.”
“...”
“Just look at us now. If I hadn’t been close to Thibault, arranging combat uniforms for France would have taken quite a complicated process.”
“So you owe Thibault a debt, then?”
“Hmm, I wouldn’t say that. Maybe it’s no different for politicians in any country, but Thibault Girard wants recognition too. He’s looking for a chance to make a name for himself through something new no one else has done. I merely showed him that opportunity.”
“Meeting you, Chairman, I feel like I’m learning a great deal. Last night’s experience at the hotel was quite something as well.”
At the word “quite something,” Antoine grinned.
“Truthfully, what I first thought of wasn’t supplying combat uniforms. I heard a Japanese five-star hotel had placed a bulk order so large they were scrambling to find a goose farm, so naturally I thought of hotels first. Politicians may be close to us, but even so, they can’t be closer than hotel owners.”
Seung-hyun’s curiosity came not from greed but from wanting to know why Antoine had chosen combat uniforms instead of hotels.
“Even so, why introduce me to a politician before a hotel?”
“Pride.”
It was an unexpected answer.
“Pride?”
“People who buy luxury goods may seem easy to sway, but they’re stubborn. They don’t go and buy something just because someone recommends it. You have to think about why we keep paying so much attention to showing our promotional channels.”
He pointed to his own head with his index finger and kept explaining.
“I’m the one who makes them want it. If you shove an item in their face and tell them to buy it before that feeling has even taken hold, they’ll never buy it. From that point on, I’m no longer someone making luxury goods. I’m just a merchant. And that goes for you too.”
“Then by pride, you mean not our pride, but...”
“Exactly. Their pride won’t allow my recommendation.”
“Ah...”
“But politicians are different. For popularity and efficiency, they’re always ready to listen to other people. Anyway, keep in touch with Thibault and handle the rest properly from here.”
“Thank you for looking after this.”
He flicked his fingers with elegant nonchalance.
“No need for thanks. I’m simply an investor, so it’s good if Haesol Textile does well. Which means, on that note, when do you plan to issue dividends?”
For an instant, Seung-hyun’s pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake, and when Antoine saw that, he snickered.
“Haha, I’m not asking for them immediately. But since the company is doing well, it would be proper to reward the investors with dividends sooner or later, wouldn’t it?”
“Of course. I think so too.”
“And to be honest, saying you had a good experience at the hotel last night wasn’t exactly a compliment to me.”
“Pardon? And why would that be...?”
“It means you haven’t been to places like this very often. Even on business trips, you don’t stay at top-tier hotels and receive the finest service, do you?”
Seung-hyun blinked, having never imagined he would be criticized for that.
“W-well, that’s true.”
“I suppose you were trying to save money, but you mustn’t forget that you’re someone who makes luxury goods. First class on flights should be standard, and wherever you go, you ought to be accustomed to staying in the best hotels. You’re making that much money now, aren’t you?”
Is... that so?
Tiltng his head, Seung-hyun tried to recall how much he made in a month and realized his salary had not changed from a year ago.
His old villa, where he still lived with his father, was exactly the same. And when he thought about it, he had not bought a single luxury item or anything particularly nice since then. The realization left him slightly stunned.
The company had made money, but he himself had hardly changed at all.
“You should start changing that now.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“If you’re not busy, rest here one more day. The room you’re staying in is one our company rents out for the entire year, so we don’t have any important guests booked there until tomorrow.”
Seung-hyun, who had been searching for a reason to hurry back to Korea, nodded.
“Then I’ll enjoy one more day here.”
He grinned and got to his feet.
“I’ll have the gift brought to your hotel room.”
Seung-hyun found France more appealing by the minute.
*
Seoul, early morning.
Lee A-young, bright-faced as always, was on her way to the Haesol Textile office.
Walking through the flooding sunlight among the crowd of people rushing in every direction, she looked different from before. There was confidence in her expression now, and her steps were firm.
Just as she was turning the corner into the alley where the company building came into view, a woman in a refined suit appeared in front of her.
“Hello. You’re Lee A-young, right?”
A-young stopped in her tracks at the sudden question.
The stranger looked like a woman in her late thirties, with neatly styled hair and an expensive luxury handbag.
If she had simply said hello, A-young would have muttered, “Sorry~” and dismissed her as one of those street proselytizers. But since she had called her by name without hesitation, A-young could not help focusing on her with curiosity.
“Yes, that’s me, but...”
The woman immediately took a business card from her bag and handed it over with a smile.
“Hello. I’m Team Leader Park So-yeon from First Headhunting. Do you have a moment? I have something I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Uh... I’m on my way to work, so...”
Park So-yeon, a veteran in the industry, drew confidence from A-young’s inability to refuse outright, and felt she could press a little harder.
“It won’t take long. There’s a cafe right in front of us, so why don’t we just talk there for a bit? You won’t regret hearing me out.”
A-young was no fool. She did not fully understand the situation, but the name of the company, headhunting, had already given her a clue as to what Park So-yeon wanted.
That only made her more curious.
Just how was she being evaluated, and what kind of offer would come next?
“Then just for a moment...”
She gave permission, and Team Leader Park So-yeon immediately led her into the cafe next door.
It was early enough that there were hardly any customers, so they took seats in a corner.
“It’s an honor to meet you, A-young.”
“Huh? An honor...?”
“You still don’t seem to realize how amazing you are.”
Looking at her with bright, starstruck eyes, A-young felt her self-esteem rise in a rush.
“How do you know me...?”
“Of course I know you. Lead designer of Lesser Factory. I heard that all of Lesser Factory’s current lines — Classic, Comfort, and even the Tokyo line that’s supposed to launch in Japan — were made by you.”
A-young was shocked.
How could she know about the Tokyo line when it still had not even been publicly promoted?
“You know about the Tokyo line?”
“I heard rumors. That you’re preparing to enter Japan. Word is, it’s beautiful.”
“Ah, yes...”
“The fashion industry is smaller than people think. News about especially talented people spreads fast. Do you know how you’re being talked about in this field?”
Park So-yeon looked at her with a sharp gaze, and A-young could clearly feel the mix of tension and excitement in herself.
“How am I being... talked about?”
“A genius Korean designer on the rise. A unique talent who can blend something special into the ordinary. But also a beautiful bird trapped in the iron cage of a brand that has only just been born, unable to fly.”
The expression was a little much, but when words like that were used to describe her, even secondhand embarrassment could turn into emotion.
A-young felt flustered, yet her heart was pounding.
“A talented designer who hasn’t even been given proper treatment. May I ask what your salary is?”
If the circumstances had been different, A-young would never have told her, but now she opened her mouth as if under a spell.
“My salary is over a hundred million won.”
But Team Leader Park So-yeon looked at her with the eyes of someone staring at a refugee starving in Africa.
“Goodness... Even at the low end, someone with your ability should be making at least five hundred million. You know that, right?”
“F-five hundred million?”
“At minimum...”
She really does have that level of ability.
“...”
“Other people don’t know how incredible you are, A-young. They don’t know how much you could grow a company or how many world-class designs you could create. And the sad part is, it seems like you don’t know it either.”
A-young looked back at her with wavering eyes.
Then, as if delivering the final blow, Team Leader Park So-yeon said bluntly,
“Break out of the cage. There’s a wider world waiting for you.”