Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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54. I absolutely have to seize this opportunity.

Back in my room, I murmured to myself, recalling the conversation I’d just had with Father in the study room.

“I never expected him to entrust me with funds again.”

I was delighted that the capital I could manage had increased, but more than that, I felt a deep sense of pride knowing that Park Tae-hong, my father, had recognized my abilities.

“Since he’s placed his trust in me, I need to deliver results that live up to that confidence.”

Stroking my chin with one hand, I pondered where I could invest the funds to maximize returns.
Just then, my pager buzzed loudly, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Who could that be at this hour?”

I picked up the pager from the charger on my desk and answered the call.

“Hello?”
[Hey. It’s me, buddy.]

At the familiar voice of Roy coming through the receiver, my face brightened.

“Roy! It’s been forever.”
[You still remember my voice, then.]
“Of course. Your loud voice is recognizable from a mile away.”

Roy chuckled at my joke.

[I thought you’d forgotten about me since you haven’t contacted me once since graduation.]
“Don’t be ridiculous. You only gave me your parents’ home number and never told me where you moved to.”
[Oh? Did I?]

Roy answered sheepishly and brushed it off with a laugh.

[Well, we can stay in touch from now on anyway. I just bought a new pager, so I’ll give you the number.]
“You’d better tell me soon.”
[Come on, don’t be so harsh. I’ve been swamped adjusting to the new job at the company.]

True, adapting to a new job in an unfamiliar city presented its own set of challenges.
Understanding the situation well enough, Park Tae-hong didn’t press further and changed the subject.

“So, is the company worth working at?”
[It’s a bit intense, but everyone here is as obsessed with computers as I am, so it’s fun.]
“That’s good to hear. If things get tough later, just reach out.”
[Then will you feed me?]
“Of course. So don’t worry—just say the word anytime.”

At his unhesitating response, Roy let out a playful cheer from the other end of the line.

[Man, having a rich kid as a friend is reassuring. Don’t go back on your word later.]
“That won’t happen, so just call more often.”
[Got it.]

Then Roy brought up the real reason for his call.

[Oh right! Remember what I told you about last time?]

Park Tae-hong’s eyes lit up with interest as he asked.

“Did something happen to the friend who created the web browser?”
[Seems like you’re more curious about my friend than about me.]

Caught off guard, he let out an awkward laugh.

“Ha ha ha. That’s not it.”
[Doesn’t sound like it…]

He had the distinct feeling that Roy was narrowing his eyes and glaring at him through the receiver.

“Stop talking nonsense. What’s going on?”
[Looks like something’s coming out of NCSA.]

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications was a national research center under the University of Illinois, established to research various programs and technologies for use in supercomputer networks.
Though I roughly understood the reason, I pretended not to know and asked.

“Why would he leave when the newly developed web browser has become such a huge hit, reaching two million users?”
[Because it’s doing too well, that’s the problem.]
“What do you mean?”
[They’re irritated because a web browser created by Tom—who isn’t even a full-time employee, just a student researcher who hasn’t graduated yet—is getting attention.]

Roy’s friend, the one who created Mosaic, the first multi-platform web browser, was none other than Tom Harper.

[They found it even more unbearable watching this young upstart receive praise from people while refusing to be controlled by them.]
“So they’re trying to crush your friend?”
[They told him that instead of hiring him as a full researcher after graduation, he should step away from the web browser development team.]
“Didn’t you say your friend was the one who came up with the idea and led the development?”

Roy erupted in indignation as if he himself had been treated unfairly.

[That’s what makes it so absurd. Do you know what NCSA said when he protested?]
“What did they say?”
[They said it was made using NCSA’s resources and personnel, so Mosaic isn’t an individual’s creation—it’s NCSA’s property and the result of everyone’s collective effort.]

Considering that Tom Harper had originally conceived the most crucial idea and had been leading the development all this time, it was nothing short of outrageous sophistry.

“That’s too much.”
[They call it a conditional job offer, but they’re basically telling him to get out.]
“Right.”
[If I heard that kind of nonsense, I’d be so disgusted I’d walk away immediately.]

Even I would feel all affection drain away if subjected to such unjust treatment.

‘Tom Harper must feel terribly wronged and furious, but for me, this is a golden opportunity.’

I felt almost grateful to NCSA for being so blinded by envy and jealousy that they were pushing Tom Harper away.
Gripping the phone in my hand tighter, I asked with eager anticipation on my face.

“So what’s your friend planning to do?”
[They’re telling him outright to leave, so how can he stay?]
“That must be tough.”
[So he’s planning to quit NCSA and head to Silicon Valley to start fresh from scratch.]

I felt a pang of anxiety, worried someone might beat me to it, but I kept my composure and spoke calmly.

“Haven’t you graduated yet?”
[That must mean you’re sick of it.]
“Do you have other plans lined up?”
[Not exactly. Since it’s a place where computer-related companies are concentrated, it seems like he wants to go to Silicon Valley and find a way to continue developing web browsers.]

Seokwon nodded slightly and spoke.

“Right. He’s a genius who created that hot Mosaic web browser. If he’s looking for a job, companies will compete to hire him with good offers.”

Even the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, which didn’t favor Tom Harper, was publicly promoting the Mosaic web browser as “the first window into virtual space,” so there was no need to say more.

[Those idiots at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications are fools for using dirty tricks to push out such a talented guy. Just wait—they’ll regret it someday.]
“I think the same way.”

Seokwon, who had agreed, tried to hide his subtle anxiety as he asked.

“Did you tell him what I asked you to?”
[That’s exactly why I called.]

Seokwon swallowed hard and waited for the next words.

[Tom wants to meet in person and discuss the specifics.]
“That makes sense—this isn’t something we can settle over the phone.”
[But are you really willing to invest in Tom starting a company?]

At the curious question, Seokwon answered without the slightest hesitation.

“Of course. If I didn’t have that intention, why would I have asked you for such a favor in the first place?”
[That’s true.]

Roy continued with a slightly worried tone.

[You know that even though Tom created Mosaic, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications owns all the rights to the web browser, right?]
“I do.”

The reason the National Center for Supercomputing Applications could decide to push out Tom Harper despite his pivotal role in developing Mosaic was precisely because all intellectual property rights belonged to the research center.

[Developing a new web browser won’t work with just Tom alone—it’ll require considerable personnel and funding.]

Mosaic and a friend with exceptional programming skills, along with Tom Harper, poured eighteen hours a day for three months straight to barely produce a nine-thousand-line demo program.
The official 1.0 version created afterward was the result of work spanning several months with multiple other researchers joining in.

‘Even after all that, there are still plenty of parts that need fixing, so we’re constantly patching it.’

As Mosaic received acclaim and the team size grew steadily, the senior researchers at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications must have found it grating that a mere twenty-two-year-old kid was leading the development.

“I know I have plenty of money. I have more than enough funds, so don’t worry.”
[Wow! The class of a rich kid really is different.]

Roy expressed his admiration without a hint of sarcasm.

“So hurry up and set up a meeting.”
[Okay. When are you coming to the United States?]
“Whenever. If you just say the word, I could fly out tomorrow.”
[You’re incredibly eager. It’s not like you’re coming to see a girlfriend or anything—why are you so passionate about this?]
“You know I hate putting things off.”

Roy let out an understanding “ah” at that.

[Right, that’s true. Your personality has stressed me out plenty, let me tell you.]
“Is that my fault? It’s not like I live alone—we share a space, and basic etiquette means cleaning up after yourself instead of just making a mess.”
[Hey! People can live a little dirty. That’s humanity and humanitarianism. You’re just too obsessive about cleanliness.]

As Roy shamelessly blamed others, I couldn’t help but give him a look of disbelief.

“It wasn’t just a little messy. You should be grateful I tolerated it—otherwise, you would’ve been kicked out of the Dormitory long ago.”
[Well, I don’t know about that.]

Roy brazenly played dumb to the end, and I let out a hollow laugh.
In fact, I had met Roy only after my roommate had been changed twice.
Roy, who made money by assembling and selling computers, had filled his Dormitory room with parts and worked late into the night with all the lights on, causing his roommates to complain they couldn’t sleep.
If I, the third and final roommate, had also requested a change from the Dormitory Manager, Roy would have been kicked out of the Dormitory altogether.
Knowing I was exasperated, Roy cleared his throat and smoothly changed the subject.

[Without saying it, Tom probably has some anxiety about what to do going forward too. I hope the direction gets decided quickly. Alright, I’ll reach out and call you right back.]
“Yeah. Thanks.”
[You don’t need to say that—it’s about helping a friend from back home anyway.]

Picturing Roy on the other end of the line, bashfully scratching the bridge of his nose, I let out a small chuckle.

“When I get to California, let’s grab a beer together after all this time.”
[Sounds good.]

After graduation, Roy had moved to California and was now working at Sun Microsystems, located in Santa Clara, not far from Silicon Valley.
After exchanging a few more words, I ended the call and pulled the phone away from my ear, muttering to myself.

“This isn’t just anyone—he’s the talent who’ll create Netscape, one of the two pillars of the dot-com bubble. No matter how much it costs, I have to secure him.”

If Cisco represented the peak of the dot-com bubble, then Netscape was the company that had thrown open the doors to the dot-com craze that would sweep the world, introducing the general public to the concept of the internet itself.
Just thinking about how much profit I’d make once they went public through an IPO brought an involuntary smile to my lips.
I opened the mini refrigerator in the corner of the room, cracked open a beer can inside, and took a sip.
The cold beer slid down my throat, and the refreshing sensation spreading through my body seemed to calm my excited mood somewhat.
Setting the beer can down on the desk, I sat before it with a suddenly serious expression and spoke to myself.

“First, I need to win Tom Harper’s heart for certain.”

I pondered deeply on how to capture Tom Harper’s interest and secure his investment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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