Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 56

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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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56. Today is the best day of my life.

A few days later.
An outdoor café table in Palo Alto, bathed in the scorching summer sun.
Tom Harper sat alone at the table, a short-sleeved shirt draped over a white t-shirt, his face etched with contemplation.
His gaze was lost in deep thought, and the iced latte he’d ordered sat untouched, its ice completely melted in the oppressive heat.
Business cards from recruiters he’d interviewed with over the past few days were scattered across the table.
Furious at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications’ unjust treatment, I had impulsively left Illinois before even graduating and came to Silicon Valley on a whim.
Every company I visited, knowing I was the developer behind Mosaic—the web browser that had created a sensation—offered me excellent terms and positions.
Unlike at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications where my achievements were belittled, I was now recognized for my skills and value, yet my expression didn’t seem entirely pleased.

“This isn’t what I want.”

I wanted to create a web browser superior to Mosaic and crush the arrogance of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications that had treated me with such disdain.
But the companies pursuing me had no interest whatsoever in web browser development—something that wasn’t immediately profitable.
Yet having boldly left the research center, I absolutely refused to return to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications with my head bowed.

“In the end, do I have to accept reality as it is?”

I didn’t want to give up like this, but if I didn’t secure employment soon, I’d be worrying about food expenses starting next month.
Countless thoughts swirled through my mind—whether to continue chasing my dreams or compromise with reality.
Then a shadow fell across my table, and I looked up.

“Tom Harper?”

An East Asian man in jeans and a white shirt, wearing sunglasses, stood before the table—it was Park Seok-won.
His thick black hair was neatly groomed, and even with the sunglasses on, his sharp eyebrows, straight nose, and the perfect angle of his jawline marked him as strikingly handsome.
When I saw his healthy, toned physique, I thought he looked like a magazine model.

“Uh, yes.”

As I nodded somewhat awkwardly, Park Seok-won flashed a smile, revealing perfectly aligned white teeth.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Park Seok-won.”

At his greeting, I stood up somewhat hesitantly and shook his extended hand.

“I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Roy and I were roommates at Harvard University’s dormitory.”
“Ah. So you’re the friend Roy mentioned….”

Only then did Tom’s bewildered expression fade.

“That’s right. He didn’t tell you about me?”

Tom gazed at Park Seok-won’s smiling face as if enchanted before speaking.

“Well, he didn’t mention how handsome you are. When I first saw you, I thought you might be a model.”
“Ha ha, my face is almost wasted hanging around with Roy.”
“I’m sorry to Roy, but I can’t argue with that.”

Tom chuckled and shot back a reply.

“Why don’t we sit down and talk?”
“Sure.”

At my words, Tom nodded slightly and sat back down in his seat.
Then a Female Server with an apron tied around her waist approached and spoke.

“What would you like to order?”
“An iced latte, please.”

After the Female Server took my order and left, I looked at Tom across from me and asked.

“Have you been waiting long?”
“No. I had some things to think about, and my previous appointment ended early, so I came ahead of time. Don’t worry about it.”

Tom briefly scanned me from head to toe, then asked again as if struck by a new thought.

“But are you really Roy’s friend?”
“Why? Don’t I seem like it?”
“Well, he’s in the same department as me, and I just can’t believe he’d be close with someone who seems as popular as you.”
“Ha ha. I didn’t expect to be roommates with such an oddball either. But back at school, Roy was such a social butterfly that hardly anyone didn’t know him.”
“No way. That guy has serious otaku tendencies. There’s no way that’s true.”

Tom’s expression showed disbelief.

“I’m serious. Besides, we’re both friends with Roy, so why not speak comfortably with each other?”

As Park Seok-won continued to speak in a friendly manner, Tom nodded, seeming to shed some of his awkwardness.

“Sure, why not.”

Just then, the Female Server approached and set down the ordered iced latte on the table, flashing a bright smile toward Park Seok-won.

“Enjoy your drink.”
“Thank you.”

At the sight of the Female Server turning away with a shy smile, Tom let out a hollow laugh.
It wasn’t that she was unkind, but when Tom was alone, she would simply deliver his ordered beverage and leave—she never smiled at him so warmly.

“Wow, that’s too much.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Nothing at all.”

Even as Tom said this, he couldn’t hide the envy in his expression.
Meanwhile, Park Seok-won, completely oblivious to this fact, took a sip of his iced latte, set it down, and asked Tom a question.

“I heard from Roy that you’re looking into job opportunities. How’s that going?”

At those words, Tom smiled bitterly.

“If the results had been good, I wouldn’t be out here like this today.”
“Fair point.”

Park Seok-won stirred his iced latte briefly, then spoke with a serious expression.

“Since you’ve probably heard a rough explanation already, I won’t drag this out—I’ll get straight to the point.”

Watching Tom nod slightly, Park Seok-won broached his purpose.

“If you have any interest in developing a new web browser, I’d like to invest funds in it.”
“…I’ve heard your family is wealthy. But developing a proper web browser doesn’t come cheap.”

Tom responded with a skeptical tone, his eyes betraying distrust.

“If you’re just thinking of investing a few million dollars out of simple curiosity for fun, it’s better not to do it from the start. Well, even a few million dollars isn’t a small sum from my perspective.”

Tom Harper spoke in a self-deprecating tone and shrugged his shoulders.
Seeing how he seemed to have come without great expectations from the beginning, Park Seok-won inwardly thought he knew it would be like this.

‘He’s not a famous venture capitalist, just a childhood friend and college roommate from his hometown suddenly wanting to invest—it’s natural that trust doesn’t come easily.’

Moreover, Tom Harper, who despite his youth had recently led the Mosaic development team at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, knew better than anyone how much manpower and capital were needed to properly develop a web browser.
So he couldn’t help but be more realistic.

“Of course, I know that you can’t achieve your goals with enthusiasm alone.”
“Then there’s no need to talk further.”

Park Seok-won asked while watching Tom Harper’s bitter expression.

“Will you really have no regrets later if we end it like this?”

Park Seok-won met Tom Harper’s narrowed gaze directly and asked again.

“Mosaic, which is being serviced at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, wouldn’t have come into this world without you. Yet you lost it all without a care—doesn’t that feel unfair?”
“Of course it does!”

Tom Harper’s voice rose with agitation, but he soon dropped his shoulders with a resigned expression.

“I’m angry too. But what can I do alone against the National Center for Supercomputing Applications?”

To a developer, the program they created was no different from a child.
Just as artists cherished their works, developers felt the same way.
In fact, Tom Harper was the one most furious about it.
He had simply resigned himself because the wall of reality was too high.

“Besides, the Mosaic they released now isn’t the final version anyway. Let me help you—create a web browser that’s superior and more perfect than that, and take revenge on the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Wouldn’t that be truly satisfying?”

Tom Harper looked at Park Seok-won, who was earnestly persuading him, with a skeptical expression.

“I’m the one who suffered the injustice, so why are you more eager about it than I am?”

It was natural to be suspicious, having already experienced a harsh betrayal from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications once before.

“I saw the future in that Mosaic web browser you created.”
“….”
“You know as well as I do that the Internet has boundless potential, but it’s far too complicated and difficult to use, which severely limits its accessibility.”

Mosaic was created precisely to solve that problem, so Tom nodded slightly in agreement.

“In this situation, a web browser emerged that could handle Internet services like FTP and email—things that previously required separate programs—all in one simple space.”

Park Seok-won continued, his face flushed with passion.

“This is nothing short of a revolution in the Internet. The fact that millions of users flocked to it the moment it launched proves my words aren’t exaggerated.”

As his voice grew more animated, Tom’s expression turned slightly embarrassed.
The praise being heaped upon him was somewhat mortifying, but hearing his accomplishments properly recognized filled him with quiet joy.

“I’m convinced that the computer industry will grow around web-based businesses and web browsers. That’s where I’m placing my bet.”

Having endured much pain and betrayal at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Tom was deeply moved by Park Seok-won’s words.
Judging him to be someone who recognized his worth and shared the same vision for the future, Tom’s demeanor became noticeably softer than before.

“You’re right. Just as you said, the web browser will become the window and everything within the Internet going forward.”
“I think so too.”

Park Seok-won agreed, but Tom’s momentarily excited face soon fell.

“But as I mentioned earlier, developing a new web browser to surpass Mosaic requires substantial capital, and I don’t have that kind of money.”

Tom muttered dejectedly that banks wouldn’t approve a loan either.
At that moment, Park Seok-won spotted a Female Server passing by and raised his hand.

“Excuse me.”
“Yes? You called for me?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but could you bring me a napkin?”
“One moment, please.”

The Female Server brought a napkin from the counter without the slightest hint of annoyance.

“Thank you.”
“Please let me know if you need anything else.”

The Female Server, who had been consistently kind to Park Seok-won, flashed a warm smile and left the table.

“Why the napkin all of a sudden?”
“Just wait a moment.”

Park Seok-won retrieved a Montblanc fountain pen from his jacket’s inner pocket and wrote something on the napkin.
Then he picked up the napkin and handed it to Tom, speaking as he did.

“If you’re serious about starting a company, you’ll receive a 20% stake in the first round, and I’ll have you invest the amount written here.”
“…!”

Tom took the napkin and his eyes widened as he read the figure written on it.

[2,000,000$]

It was an astronomical sum he’d never anticipated.
Tom swallowed hard without realizing it, then lifted his head to look at Park Seok-won.

“You’re really going to give me this money?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have come all this way if I were the type to joke around.”

Tom spoke carefully.

“Just to be clear, all rights to Mosaic belong to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.”
“I know.”
“And yet you’re still offering this money.”

Park Seok-won responded calmly to the disbelief in Tom’s eyes.

“Because I believe you’re worth that much.”
“…!”

He had poured his heart and soul into creating the Mosaic web browser, burning the midnight oil, only to be met with indifference and neglect.
But now, a stranger he’d just met today was acknowledging his worth and his efforts, and the suppressed sorrow that had been building inside Tom suddenly burst forth.
Tom held back the surge of emotion, his fingers trembling slightly as he touched the edge of the napkin.

“Even if we invest the money to get started, the development could still fail.”
“No. You’ll succeed.”

Unlike Tom, who hesitated, Park Seok-won spoke with unwavering conviction.

“I believe we can create a web browser that surpasses Mosaic.”

Should he accept the job offer and live a stable life, or chase his dreams and take a risk?
Tom, who had wavered before these two paths, found his resolve solidified by Park Seok-won’s words of faith in him.

“Yes. Let’s give it a shot.”

His eyes, which had been clouded with disappointment, now gleamed with hope and confidence once more.
The passionate fire that had burned in Tom during the development of Mosaic returned to him in an instant.
Though I showed no outward sign, I clenched my fist tightly in my heart.
Had I been alone, I would have thrown both arms in the air and cheered with unbridled joy.
After all, I was about to invest in Netscape, a company that would achieve tremendous success and quite literally create a legend.

“So we’re business partners now. I look forward to working with you.”

I smiled and extended my hand, and Tom grasped it warmly with a beaming grin.

“Today is the best day of my life.”
“Mine too.”

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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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