Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Short Encounter and England
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After the arranged meeting, I handled each task at Daeyang Group headquarters one by one.
The annual sales target had already been exceeded, especially with the explosive growth from the European branch.
And since I was the one who made that happen, it was okay to feel a bit proud, right?
"We're maintaining the telecom business while trying to produce our own devices, but Daeyang Electronics doesn't have the foundation for it."
"Zeus Group sold off everything except their automotive division and fell apart. We're acquiring their electronics division."
"I had thought of that, but the price isn't cheap."
"If we can't buy it all at once, we acquire them piece by piece. Split it into white goods division, telecom equipment division, displays, car audio division, and so on, and buy them one by one."
"!"
"Of course, Zeus lacks specialized mobile phone production tech. Check out Hyeonkyung Electronics."
"What's that supposed to...?"
Under President Dae-chul hyung, the executives' jaws dropped at my plan.
It was no wonder—treating affiliates of Hyeonkyung and Zeus, which ranked 1st and 2nd in the corporate hierarchy far above Daeyang Group, like slices of cake to carve up.
"Hyeonkyung Electronics is under Industrial Korea Bank's control within the group due to debt, so they'll gladly hand over just the mobile division."
I pointed my finger and sang that Hyeonkyung phone CF jingle.
"Ring~ Ring goes the Q-River~"
"Hyeonkyung Q-River... Alright, I'll start acquisition talks. Same for Zeus Electronics."
"If funds are short, look into the bike-class banks on Eulji-ro."
"That's a British IB firm, right? Do you have connections there... Ah!"
Dae-chul hyung looked at me like he'd figured it out, and I nodded to confirm.
"They're investing in our soccer team's area and asked me to let them know about good business opportunities. It'll make for a great conversation."
Soccer is business, and businessmen love soccer.
That's how it connects and creates synergy.
"After the big acquisition, we can turn the existing affiliates into cash cows. Especially since we're steadily winning telecom infrastructure contracts, device and computer demand will keep rising after we swallow them up."
"Mm, sounds good. I'll form a task force right away."
After the meeting, I left the conference room.
Then, footsteps followed me—Dae-chul hyung.
"Every time I see you, it's amazing."
"!"
"Are you some kind of genius, or are we just idiots who can't think of this stuff? How does everything fall into place when you show up? We were agonizing over it."
Were those the thoughts going through their heads?
"You can't just see tough jobs as endlessly difficult."
"Dae-chul, you make hard jobs seem ridiculously easy."
"Business mindset. Just give me a fat performance bonus."
After wrapping up the major Daeyang Group issues, I prepared to leave.
I booked first-class tickets to Manchester International Airport and departed with my family's send-off.
"…."
"…."
"…Would you like to come watch one of our team's games when you're back?"
"If I have a day off from classes."
I'd planned to relax in first class, but she was right next to me.
No wonder Dad came to see me off and said 'do your best'—it hadn't made sense until now.
She pulled out a book and pencil from her seat and started studying. The seats weren't as cramped as business class, but it felt awkward to strike up a conversation.
The flight to Manchester felt endlessly tense.
Every glance showed her focused profile, which warmed my heart.
Occasionally brushing her hair back with her hand and jotting notes with her pencil looked so intellectual and elegant.
After a sleepless flight like that, we finally arrived in Manchester.
"Heading to Preston? Let me give you a ride."
"Oh, no, it's fine…."
"The office staff will have a car ready."
Alice pondered my offer, then quietly nodded. Section Chief Park prepared the car, saw her, and hesitated.
"Section Chief Park. Preston first."
"Ah, yes. Got it."
Blackburn and Preston were only 15km apart—a stone's throw.
She got off in downtown Preston and bowed toward me.
"Thank you."
"See you in England next time?"
Alice turned with a quiet, gentle smile, no words.
"…Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
Section Chief Park wanted to say something but held back and headed to Blackburn.
UEFA quarterfinal against Rayo Vallecano.
Honestly, they weren't a La Liga team I paid much attention to, but they'd made it this far.
"Manager's Juan de Ramos, keeper's Iker Casillas—no, Julen Lopetegui, defender Pablo Sanz... A team full of future legendary coaches."
After kickoff, Hainkes went all-out attack.
He lined up Kevin Phillips up top after his national team return, Ince-Gattuso-Barry as the three mids behind wingers Figo-Duff in a 4-3-3.
Having managed Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, no one knew the Spanish scene better.
Rayo played sticky soccer with a solid 4-5-1 defensive line.
Shield up front, turtling tight for counterattack punches—that's when Hainkes pushed the three mids forward.
Not sword vs. shield, but shield smashing another shield flat—relentless offense pulling up the defense.
Southgate, stamina overflowing even post-internationals, advanced to defensive mid and stole the ball, while Gattuso roamed higher than usual like an attacking mid, dominating enemy territory.
Shot after shot like a machine gun—Lopetegui desperately blocked, but the attacks only intensified.
The moment Lopetegui punched away Phillips' shot, James Beattie was right there, slamming it home without hesitation.
The ball sailed over the prone Lopetegui into the net.
"That's it!"
At this stage of the tournament, it's a one-punch fight anyway—why would we lose to a mid-table La Liga side!
After that, it was pure one-sided dominance.
Beattie opened the scoring, then Hainkes pressed harder—Luis Figo channeled his La Liga DNA with a sublime dribble goal!
The third came from Yoo Sung-chul.
Advancing from right back, he took Gattuso's pass, broke through the center, and instead of passing to Figo, unleashed a mid-range screamer right into Lopetegui's coffin nail.
3-0 victory!
"Let's go, semis then UEFA glory!!!"
The second leg remained, but the outcome was practically sealed.
In the locker room, victorious Blackburn players were arm-in-arm with Hainkes, cheering.
"Today's game was the best!"
"Yes, boss!"
I shook hands with Hainkes, reminding him of our season trophy promise.
"Two more after Charity Shield, right?"
"Haha, I'll do my best."
"How about the tournament?"
Hainkes calmed down and spoke of the next foes.
"This UEFA Cup has all the powerhouses. Opposite bracket, Liverpool and Barcelona meet in semis—if we advance, it's Inter Milan in the final four."
"!"
Hearing Inter Milan lit Roberto Baggio's eyes fiercer than anyone's.
Barcelona-Liverpool-Inter Milan-Blackburn... Just the names screamed Champions League semis.
Either way, it'd be epic storytelling.
Baggio, exiled from Inter, now at Blackburn, crushing his old team in international play.
If Barcelona in the final, Figo's kingly return—a dramatic showdown.
Liverpool? After Michael Owen vs. Kevin Phillips, a final clash was a must.
Charity Shield was Ince's revenge on Man U—UEFA Cup final would be Ince's revenge on Liverpool.
Whichever it was, storytelling perfection. Preparing for the next round and final, I shook hands with players and staff, strengthening our bond.
Preston university dorms.
[Match ended. Manchester United defeats Austria's Sturm Graz 3-0, advancing to the quarterfinals.]
"Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!!!"
Alice Kim jumping around in her No. 7 Man U jersey and scarf.
Her and the other Man U fan students at school hugged, arm-in-arm singing the Glory Glory Man United anthem echoing through Preston.
[Glory~ Glory~ Man~]
"Beckham, Butt, Sheringham, Giggs did so well~ Ah, and Roy Keane's goal today!"
Alice gazed ecstatically at the Man U players on TV, fists clenched.
"Alice, what're you doing this weekend after the assignment?"
Her friends Stephanie and Lily asked; she scratched her head.
"Nowhere special…."
"There's this amazing Italian restaurant in Blackburn, [Mario Romano Restaurant]. Let's go."
"…Blackburn?"
"Who knows? Might even spot Roberto Baggio's face."
"Baggio's such a shame. If he'd joined Man U, Beckham-Baggio visual duo."
Amid the giggling British coeds, Alice laughed and nodded.
Just popping into a restaurant for good food—no big deal.
At that moment, soccer linked the two from Lancashire in cheers.