How to Elicit Donations (1)
"Are you talking about an amount that can't even be compared to the oil fields?" Kang Seok-ho was genuinely stunned. The Chairman before him was a man who never spoke empty words. If he called it an 'incomparable amount,' then just where and how much money was coming in?
'That means he's working on something else right now. Just who is this person….'
Usually, when the other person is younger, one tends to think in informal language when imagining things internally. Even in corporate life, one might act cute in front of a department head, saying "Department Head~," but when alone, one might think, 'Ah, that jerk of a department head.' However, Kang Seok-ho was using honorifics for Yoon-gi even in his own thoughts.
"Yes. Microsoft is finally going public. In July."
"Gasp!"
Since Kang Seok-ho had become Yoon-gi's secretary, he knew that Yoon-gi held 35 percent of Microsoft's stock. Yoon-gi's original goal had been 49 percent. However, he had adjusted the gap as much as possible because if he pushed too hard for the goal, the founders of Microsoft might have resigned and established a new company. The result was 35 percent. Considering that Bill Gates' 'family' held 29 percent, this was an incredible figure.
"I didn't hear the news long ago either, but they said they're going public in July. Once July comes, I'll take out a loan using the Microsoft stock I hold as collateral, and I'll be able to inject that money into the Soviet Union."
"Truly, as I've said before, every time I hear about the past, I find it so regrettable that I met the Chairman so late."
"Still, you're faster than others, aren't you?"
"That is true."
Kang Seok-ho, who nodded and let out a "hehehe" laugh, definitely felt that it was fortunate. Yoon-gi would surely expand his influence even further, and considering that, he certainly hadn't joined too late.
"What do you think the stock price will be when they go public?"
"I don't have the ability to predict that far, but 'Wall Street,' the American financial district, is expecting 50 dollars per share."
In the original world, Microsoft's market capitalization on the first day of listing was 780 million dollars. However, in the era where Yoon-gi was currently active, they were expecting 50 dollars even though the listing was proceeding one year earlier than originally planned. If so, the market capitalization would be at least 2 billion dollars or more. Considering that Yoon-gi held a 35 percent stake, it meant that the moment they went public, Yoon-gi's assets would increase by a whopping 700 million dollars.
"50 dollars per share on the first day of listing..., that's immense. Furthermore, considering that the value will rise as time passes…."
Currently, Microsoft was becoming a much more promising company than in the original history. In the original timeline, it was a company that started with 1,500 dollars in capital and grew while experiencing growing pains through a lawsuit with IBM. However, Yoon-gi had invested 700,000 dollars, and thanks to that, the lawsuit with IBM ended very smoothly. As a result, Bill Gates' 'family' began full-scale investment to avoid having management rights taken away by Yoon-gi. From Yoon-gi's perspective, it was a very positive situation. The fact that the management didn't leave and instead made defensive investments in the existing company actually produced positive effects. Of course, this was largely because Yoon-gi had no greed for management rights and had consistently interacted with Bill Gates separately to put his anxieties to rest. Thanks to that, Microsoft had now become a company that even Kang Seok-ho could immediately exclaim "Ah!" at the moment he heard the name.
"I am very much looking forward to one year after the listing."
Considering that Microsoft's market capitalization in 2020 would exceed '1 trillion dollars,' it was true that, as Yoon-gi said, the 'oil fields he currently owns are laughable' compared to the money that would come in.
"I have no intention of selling the stock in the short term. I must take out a loan with the stock, after all."
Kang Seok-ho also nodded.
"I think so too. If the Chairman were short on money, we would have to dispose of some to create cash, but in the current situation, I don't think there is any reason to dispose of the stock."
"Ah, right. Secretary Kang."
"Yes, Chairman."
At Yoon-gi's words, Kang Seok-ho immediately bowed his head.
"I will tell the other executives as well, but please prepare some cash in the near future."
"Understood."
"Because I intend to purchase stock in a company that could rival Microsoft. There is nothing good about Microsoft being torn apart by antitrust laws."
"Thank you!"
Investment to prevent antitrust laws. That meant the stock price of that company would definitely rise.
'In America, if a specific company monopolizes the market, they forcibly tear the company apart.'
Kang Seok-ho was grateful that the antitrust law had brought him such great profit, and he returned to the main topic of the day.
"Then, would it be better to drag out some time through working-level consultations until July?"
It was an extremely rational statement, but Yoon-gi shook his head.
"No, there is something to do before that."
"What is it?"
"We have to make the world donate to the Soviet Union."
"Pardon? Is that possible?"
Kang Seok-ho couldn't help but be flustered again by Yoon-gi's highly unrealistic plan.
'Honestly, this era feels more like my youth than when I was the Chairman of Shin-sang. Every day is so dynamic.'
Of course, it was a positive kind of flustered, but Kang Seok-ho continued with a realistic piece of advice.
"Even though the relationship between the U.S. and the Soviet Union has improved a little due to the meteorite, aid is a completely different matter. And the countries friendly to the Soviet Union don't have the money to provide aid."
In original history, the Soviet Union and the U.S. were truly desperate to devour each other, but as Kang Seok-ho said, they were in a strange lull due to the meteorite. After all, the only countries with the ability to stop a meteorite falling to Earth were the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union's space technology was at a level acknowledged even by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the 2010s. That was why the two countries had cooperated desperately. At least until the meteorite was destroyed. That was why the U.S.-Soviet trade dispute was also slightly stalled, but no matter how much that was the case, aid was another story. Because from the U.S. perspective, it would be better if the Soviet Union collapsed at this opportunity.
"That's right. The U.S. has no reason to help, and the U.S.'s allies are the same. And the Soviet Union's allies have no money."
The Soviet Union's allies, which were mostly socialist, were poor and had no capacity to help the Soviet Union. It was no exaggeration to say that the reason for the Soviet Union's dissolution was partly because they thought, 'I can't do this anymore because it's too dirty, I can't give money to the federal member states anymore.'
"Then, how do you intend to elicit aid?"
"I didn't say 'aid.' I said 'donation.'"
"Pardon?"
"Aid is a concept of a country doing it for a country, but a donation is a concept of an individual doing it for an individual or an organization, isn't it?"
"That is correct. That means you are saying you will make ordinary people donate to the Soviet Union....... Will that be easy?"
Kang Seok-ho's intention was to ask whether an individual could do something that transcends the intentions of the state in this era where totalitarianism was rampant.
"Of course it's easy."
"You say it's easy?"
"Yes, we have to stimulate people's fear. Secretary Kang, search all the surrounding countries and buy transport trucks."
A wicked smile began to flow across Yoon-gi's face.
"To spend over a million dollars coolly without any advertising requirements for the expedition members, you really are a freak. No, to use presidential connections to do such a thing in the first place. You must be the only rich person like that."
At Guster's behavior of clicking his tongue, Yoon-gi gave a bitter smile and scratched the back of his head. The two were currently in a house in West Berlin. It wasn't large or luxurious because it was a place purchased for contact, but that wasn't what was important right now.
"I'm sorry for bothering you. But, didn't it help in the end?"
"That's certainly true. But, by any chance, are you thinking of scouting those guys later?"
"Oh my, you caught me."
When Yoon-gi grinned, Guster also grinned.
"Certainly, astronauts are tremendous elite resources. If YK develops satellite technology later, their knowledge will be a great help. If it's 1 million dollars for that, it's never a waste. Of course, it's definitely a high price for a scouting fee, though."
"Money is meant to be spent stylishly when you spend it. From their perspective, how cool of a person must I look like?"
"Well, that's something I absolutely can't deny."
Yoon-gi continued his question toward Guster, who was shrugging his shoulders.
"Come to think of it, what happens to the 'U.S.-Soviet Joint Meteorite Destruction Team' now?"
"Just, it naturally dissolves. Now that there's no meteorite to destroy, it's time for us to part ways, right?"
"It's time to return to our respective places."
"There's even a guy who quit NASA as soon as he received the reward from you. Honestly, the money you gave isn't a small amount at all."
These days, a million dollars is laughable money, but in the 80s, if you had a million dollars, you were truly considered a rich person. Based on the 2010s, it had a value of approximately 3 million dollars or more, which, when converted to Korean currency, was money that easily exceeded 3 billion won. Even now, there are definitely people who worry about whether to quit their jobs if they just win the pension lottery, so it was fully understandable that the reason to continue working disappeared once 3 billion won came in at once. Furthermore, this era was a high-growth society where money made money.
"Anyway, thanks to the newspapers, it must have been exposed that you were running around instead of going to Merrill in the situation where the meteorite was falling, so what are you going to do?"
If the world were about to perish, who would be the right person to be next to? People's thoughts might differ, but most would say it's right to be next to a 'precious person.' However, Yoon-gi was not next to Merrill when the world was about to perish. To be precise, it was impossible for him to be there.
"That's right. But could you ask Merrill to wait only until July?"
"Until July? Why?"
Yoon-gi smiled toward Guster, who said he didn't understand.
"Right now, I'm planning the wedding and honeymoon."
In an instant, Guster spat out the black tea he had just been about to drink.
"Pfft! What? You were planning such things?"
"Yes. I'm preparing the best wedding that only one couple in the world can experience, and to do that, it's difficult for me to leave my post in the Soviet Union right now. I'm sorry to Merrill, but could you please explain it well to her, Grandfather?"
"A wedding that only one couple in the world can have. Just what is it?"
"It wouldn't be fun if I told you that. However, there is something I would like you to help me with for that."
A mischievous, satanic plan began to flow from Yoon-gi's lips.