The Clash of Obstruction and Bluffing (3)
"I will do as you say."
Having served as a secretary by Park Ki-soo’s side for a long time, Jung Dong-yoon was not one to offer unsolicited opinions on Yoon-gi’s instructions. He simply executed what he was told. However, he did make sure to verify the essential aspects of the task's execution.
"Should this be investigated publicly? Or is it a private matter?"
"It would be better to keep it private. If possible, it’s best not to use any public lines."
"Understood."
It took Jung Dong-yoon less than a few hours to gather information on Nintendo's stock. When the report was handed over to Yoon-gi, he felt a slight sense of bewilderment, but it also sparked a clever idea.
"There is so little trading volume that it’s almost shocking."
"That is correct. If this were Korea, it would be at the level of a trading suspension."
As Jung Dong-yoon replied, Nintendo’s daily trading volume was less than 1,500 shares. Even then, the closing price was a mere 1,600 yen. Since Nintendo boasted a market capitalization of 94 billion yen, it meant that even if one bought every single share that appeared on the market in a day, it wouldn't even amount to 0.01 percent.
"May I ask if you are planning to do something with Nintendo stock?"
"You don't need to be so uptight with me. I may dislike meddling, but I don't dislike questions."
"It suddenly reminds me of something from a while ago."
Yoon-gi laughed along with Jung Dong-yoon’s wry smile.
"Chairman, I just asked, but are you perhaps planning to purchase Nintendo stock?"
"I wouldn't say I had no such thoughts, but it seems difficult to purchase as things stand."
"That is true. In a case like this, it means the current shareholders of Nintendo view the company's future very favorably. Since they aren't even appearing on the market, the chances of them selling separately are quite low."
"Indeed."
"But is there a specific reason you had Nintendo in mind?"
"Nintendo recently released a new game console."
"A game console...?"
Yoon-gi briefly explained the situation regarding the Famicom to Jung Dong-yoon, who nodded in understanding.
"I see. In that case, it makes sense that you would view Nintendo stock favorably. However, is there a need for YK to invest in a foreign company? I understand you are already riding high domestically..."
Jung Dong-yoon did not yet know about the situation with JSD. Therefore, Yoon-gi added the details regarding JSD and Jung Taeryong to his explanation.
"Uh... am I allowed to know that much?"
"I tell you because I trust you that much."
At Yoon-gi’s firm response, Jung Dong-yoon looked slightly moved and bowed his head slightly toward Yoon-gi.
"Thank you so much for treating me with such regard. I haven't even been with the company for very long..."
"The timing of joining doesn't matter. If you have the ability and loyalty, that alone makes you worthy of good treatment."
"I will continue to work even harder."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jung Dong-yoon asked again.
"Then, what should I do from here on?"
"Secretary Jung, it is not yet time to scoop the rice from your rice cooker. Now is the time to let it steam."
Yoon-gi used the term 'secretary'—a word he reserved only for his closest aides. Jung Dong-yoon bowed his head internally once more and waited for Yoon-gi’s further explanation.
"The rice cooker that needs to be scooped right now is Secretary Ryu’s."
Yoon-gi began issuing instructions to Ryu Geun-tae via Guster’s secret line.
'Is it finally starting in earnest?'
Ryu Geun-tae stood in front of Nintendo’s headquarters and clenched his fists.
[Visit Nintendo headquarters and buy the stock. However, do not pay a high price.]
It was an instruction not just to buy stock, but to visit the headquarters to do so. Ryu Geun-tae immediately checked the stock market and, realizing the trading volume was truly dismal, fully understood Yoon-gi’s directive.
'I must buy it, no matter what.'
With the resolve of a special forces operative on a critical mission, Ryu Geun-tae began to walk, step by step, into the headquarters building.
"I have an appointment... I am Ryu Geun-tae from YK Department Store in Korea."
At Ryu Geun-tae’s words, the receptionist greeted him kindly and began making a call somewhere. Soon, an employee came to the desk and led Ryu Geun-tae to a reception room.
"Please wait here."
The employee left, but even after a significant amount of time passed, no one else entered.
'Why are they so late?'
The original appointment time was 2:00 PM.
'It’s already 2:40 PM...'
Ryu Geun-tae checked his wristwatch. Trying to calm his mind, thinking the other party might be trying to test his patience, he attempted to settle down by chatting lightly with the interpreter he had brought along and focusing on his breathing.
And finally, at 3:10 PM, the door to the reception room opened, and a man in his mid-to-late 50s entered.
He had slicked-back hair with a touch of gray, large, thin-rimmed glasses with a slight tint, and eyes that looked strangely sleepy.
'Is he a department head? Or perhaps an executive director?'
However, Ryu Geun-tae’s first impression and assumptions were shattered the moment the man opened his mouth.
"Oh my, hahah! I apologize. Someone else was supposed to come here, but something urgent came up, so I came late."
It was a voice that was nothing if not boisterous. Slightly startled, Ryu Geun-tae stood up and shook the hand the man offered.
"Not at all. Contemplating while waiting is a pleasure in itself. I am Ryu Geun-tae, President of YK Department Store in Korea."
"I am delighted that you are so understanding. I am Yamauchi Hiroshi, the President of Nintendo."
No matter how much he had steeled himself, Ryu Geun-tae couldn't help but be shocked.
'The President? The President himself?'
The appearance of someone he hadn't even imagined. However, Ryu Geun-tae didn't just stay shocked; he saw it as an opportunity.
'Right, if I talk to the President, I might be able to carry out the instructions even faster. I’ll be talking after clearing away all the obstacles.'
Swallowing hard, Ryu Geun-tae sat down as Yamauchi gestured. A moment later, when a cup of coffee was served, they both lifted their cups and took a sip without a word.
"I’m not sure if Japanese coffee suits your taste."
"Coffee with the scent of a foreign land is always special."
"As expected of someone in the department store business, your expression is quite sophisticated. Hahah!"
Yamauchi stopped laughing, looked at Ryu Geun-tae, and smiled as he spoke again.
"Come to think of it, I’ve heard rumors in the industry that there is a Korean interested in game-related companies. I heard you visited our Nintendo before."
"Ah, yes. That is correct. Our YK is a department store that deals only in high-end goods, and since our customers have significant purchasing power, I was gauging the situation to see if we should handle games as well."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes. While it is true that the purchasing power of Koreans is still lower than that of Japan, those who use our department store have that level of purchasing power. After all, games are a form of entertainment. You need a certain level of purchasing power to buy them, don't you?"
The words Ryu Geun-tae was using were, to some extent, improvised. However, there was no incongruity or contradiction in his statements, so Yamauchi nodded and stroked his chin.
"So, did you choose Nintendo among them?"
"If possible, I would like to choose Nintendo."
"In that case, a purchase agreement...?"
Ryu Geun-tae shook his head at Yamauchi, who had let his words trail off.
"There is a step that must precede that."
"What is it?"
Since exporting the Famicom to Korea was not a bad option for Nintendo, Yamauchi waited for Ryu Geun-tae’s words with interest.
"In truth, transactions with foreign companies are difficult to achieve through simple agreements alone. Especially given the relationship between Korea and Japan. The economy should be left to the economists, but politicians keep opening and closing the shutters, don't they?"
"Hmm, that is certainly true. The reason it became difficult to find Korean seaweed in Japan was ultimately due to political reasons."
Ryu Geun-tae asked back, looking intrigued by Yamauchi’s words.
"Is our country's seaweed not being sold in Japan?"
"Ah, were you unaware? Korean seaweed hasn't been imported for quite a while. It’s a shame, as Korean seaweed is delicious."
"Since we don't handle food at all, I was completely unaware. Anyway."
Yamauchi nodded and waited for Ryu Geun-tae to continue.
"I hope that YK can have a closer relationship with Nintendo. In that sense, I would like YK to be able to purchase some of Nintendo’s stock. Would that be acceptable? In other words, I would like to proceed with the purchase agreement and the stock purchase simultaneously."
The long, drawn-out build-up that had started from the moment Yamauchi entered the room.
'I must avoid the situation where I only get the purchase agreement but fail to buy the stock. With the current situation of YK Department Store’s mini-department stores, we could easily sell the Famicom. But I didn't come here to buy the Famicom.'
Ryu Geun-tae prayed for his wish to be granted and waited for Yamauchi’s reaction. Yamauchi took off his glasses with both hands and smiled as he answered.
"That is not possible."
[For one, I have no intention of selling my shares, and the same goes for the other shareholders. If you wish to import Nintendo products, we can certainly sign a sales agreement, but the sale of stock is not permitted.]
Hearing Yamauchi’s firm words, Ryu Geun-tae left the Nintendo headquarters with his shoulders slumped. This sight was observed by Jung Taeryong’s subordinates, who were monitoring him, and it was immediately reported to Jung Taeryong.
'Ho, he went into Nintendo headquarters and came out with his shoulders slumped?'
Jung Taeryong was sipping wine in a hotel suite when he received the report from his subordinate.
"Good, well done. Keep monitoring that guy consistently, just like now."
"Understood."
Once the subordinate left, Jung Taeryong set down his wine and fell into thought.
'The President of YK Department Store and Nintendo...?'
Naturally, Jung Taeryong didn't know what kind of company Nintendo was, and he had no interest in games. Thus, Jung Taeryong also used his subordinates to collect information on Nintendo, and soon, he was able to grasp some details about Nintendo and the Famicom.
'A product that is somewhat expensive for a Korean to buy, but the game console industry is quite promising in foreign countries, including Japan?'
Jung Taeryong didn't stop there and began collecting data on the game industry as a whole. With the information gathering of his capable subordinates and his own competent analysis, Jung Taeryong finally discovered the fact that the U.S. game console industry had been on a downward curve since last year, 1982.
This event, known in actual history as the 'Atari Shock,' was the result of the game market growing extremely large, leading to countless developers churning out low-quality games like a stamp, causing the market to collapse in an instant. 1983, the current year, was the point where that collapse had begun.
Jung Taeryong, with his competence, analyzed the information up to this point and fell into thought again.
'The North American game market itself is collapsing, but the Japanese game market doesn't seem to have collapsed, does it? And when I tried it myself, the game itself was quite fun.'
A Famicom connected to the hotel TV. Jung Taeryong had even played the game himself to create a basis for his judgment.
'And YK has never failed in its investments so far. That means...'
As he thought this far, Jung Taeryong felt a sense of incongruity.