Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 90

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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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90. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s still a used aircraft, isn’t it?

Savannah, Georgia, United States.
Several modern, imposing buildings clustered together near the International Airport, situated roughly fifteen kilometers south of downtown.
This was the Headquarters and Manufacturing Plant of Gulfstream, the renowned aircraft manufacturer famous for producing business jets.
Seok-won, who had come with Landon Shore to place an order for a private aircraft, wore a white safety helmet emblazoned with “VIP” as he followed his guide on a tour of the factory first.

“As you can see, our factory boasts an impressive expanse exceeding eight million square feet. In terms of soccer fields, that’s roughly the equivalent of one hundred and forty combined.”

Wallace, a blonde Gulfstream sales director, expounded on the factory’s merits with an affable tone.

“Across multiple factory buildings divided into distinct stages—airframe assembly, painting, and final inspection—our skilled technicians meticulously craft aircraft according to rigorous procedures.”

Within the cavernous factory building, its ceiling soaring effortlessly beyond five stories, multiple business jets stood in neat rows, progressively advancing through assembly—a truly spectacular sight.
Seok-won, dressed in a white shirt beneath a casual jacket, stood at the second-floor railing overlooking the production line, his eyes gleaming with fascination.

“Remarkable.”

Landon Shore beside him wore an expression of equal amazement at the factory’s tremendous scale.
Observing their reactions, Wallace spoke with a smile playing at his lips.

“Through cutting-edge technology and rigorous quality control, we craft the finest business jets our clients desire. Should you place an order with us, I assure you, you won’t regret it.”
“How long does delivery typically take once an order is placed?”

Wallace answered Seok-won’s question immediately.

“Since every aircraft is custom-built according to each client’s preferences—with entirely different options and interior designs—there’s some variation. However, on average, delivery takes between eighteen and twenty-four months.”
“That’s quite a wait.”

Seok-won murmured with a slightly disappointed expression.

“Aircraft aren’t fast food, quickly assembled and served. Besides, true luxury goods require time and dedication, wouldn’t you agree?”

After all, even automobiles required a month or two of waiting from order to delivery. For business jets, a longer timeline was only natural.
As Seok-won nodded in understanding, Wallace spoke with a smile.

“Shall we proceed to the next stage then?”

Following Wallace’s lead, Seok-won and his entourage slowly toured through the production facilities one by one, progressing through each stage.
Given the sheer scale of the manufacturing plant, even a cursory inspection consumed considerable time.
Upon exiting the final assembly building, a sprawling runway stretched across the open expanse before them.
In the adjacent parking lot, over a dozen completed business jets stood in neat rows.

“The completed aircraft are delivered to our clients in order through the private runway visible ahead.”
“Are all the jets parked in the lot newly manufactured?”
“That’s correct.”

Wallace answered while raising one arm to point toward a business jet visible at the far left.

“That aircraft there is the G-IV model you’re interested in purchasing.”

Since Seok-won had arrived in Savannah, Georgia aboard a leased Gulfstream IV business jet, the model was familiar enough that he merely glanced at it casually.

“The distance back to the office building is quite considerable, so please board the vehicles we’ve prepared.”

At Wallace’s suggestion, Seok-won and his party divided themselves between two large SUVs parked to one side.
After traveling along the asphalt road beside the massive assembly plant, the office building they arrived at was a five-story concrete structure with glass exterior walls.
The group entered the office building, where the company logo hung prominently, and was immediately guided to the VIP consultation room on the third floor.
Given that they catered to wealthy clients, the VIP consultation room was appointed with considerable luxury.
Plush carpeting covered the floor, while the walls displayed paintings by renowned artists and expensive-looking Chinese porcelain arranged on shelves.
Furthermore, both the chairs and tables were of the highest quality.
As the group settled into comfortable leather sofas, an elegant female employee entered, set down tea and light refreshments, and departed.
Wallace, seated across from them, spread thick catalogs across the table and regarded Seok-won with a smiling expression.

“As you likely already know, I’ll briefly explain the aircraft’s specifications. First, it’s equipped with two Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines boasting impressive thrust of 13,850 pounds, enabling it to climb to an altitude of 13,716 meters and achieve maximum speeds of Mach 0.88.”

Wallace, wearing a sky-blue necktie, continued his explanation with evident pride.

“The maximum flight range is 4,856 miles.”

Seok-won furrowed his brow slightly as he asked a question.

“What would that be in kilometers?”

Wallace’s expression shifted to one of realization as he promptly answered.

“Ah, converting to kilometers, that would be approximately 7,815 kilometers.”

Decades had passed since the metric system was established as the international standard, yet the United States alone stubbornly clung to feet, inches, gallons, miles, and acres as its primary units of measurement.

‘The United States—a nation that appears so rational, yet exhibits the most absurd obstinacy in the strangest places.’

Recalling the incident where NASA would later squander over 120 million dollars on an expensive Mars rover simply because of differing specifications, Seok-won inwardly shook his head in disapproval.

“Maximum passenger capacity is nineteen, though it can fluctuate depending on which options you select.”

Wallace unfolded the catalog before him and explained the options in detail.

“The aircraft comes equipped with first-class seats that recline a full 180 degrees and double as beds. Each seat has its own personal monitor and table attached.”

The business jet that Seok-won rented and flew whenever needed was equipped with the same seats Wallace had just described.

“If the convertible bed seats prove inconvenient, you could instead install a master suite complete with a double bed and bathroom. Of course, that would consume additional space, reducing passenger capacity accordingly.”

With that, Wallace presented Seok-won with cross-sectional diagrams of aircraft featuring master suites, along with various interior design concepts.

“For the G-IV model, fuselage dimensions impose constraints—typically, when installing a bathroom, we forgo the bathtub and install only a shower stall, sink, and toilet. However, if you desire a bathtub, we can certainly accommodate that.”

Seok-won lifted his gaze from the catalog and directed his attention to Wallace, posing a question.

“That would further reduce passenger capacity, wouldn’t it?”

Wallace responded with an awkward smile.

“Precisely. Given the spatial constraints, it’s unavoidable, I’m afraid.”

Since space limitations were inevitable unless one purchased a larger aircraft, Seok-won nodded in understanding.

‘Still, upgrading to a larger jet class would be terribly inefficient.’

He would mostly fly alone, or at most with four or five additional passengers—purchasing a private jet larger than the Gulfstream IV would be excessive.

“The aircraft includes a galley equipped with a sink and microwave, along with a dining table and sofa for multiple passengers. A large television is installed in the cabin for in-flight meetings or presentations, and naturally, you’ll have access to satellite phones, radios, CD and DVD players.”

At Wallace’s gesture, an assistant beside him retrieved a thick sample portfolio and spread it across the table.
As he slid it forward for Seok-won’s better view, Wallace continued his explanation.

“What I’ve just explained is the basic configuration, but if we go into the details, you can select everything one by one—from the material of the sofa to be placed inside, to the color and initial logo.”

Wallace straightened his posture lightly, speaking with eyes brimming with pride.

“If you desire something special just for you, we can even custom-manufacture options that aren’t in our catalog.”

The variety of selectable options was so vast that you could even change the bathroom faucets to whatever you wanted.
With a touch of exaggeration, selecting options could easily consume an entire day.
Watching Seok-won flip through the catalog, Wallace offered a simpler path forward.

“Of course, if this process seems complex and tedious, you can also look at a few interior design proposals we’ve prepared and simply choose one.”
“I see. For now….”

Seok-won moistened his throat with a sip of coffee before speaking.

“Since I’ll be doing a lot of long-distance flying, a master bedroom and bathroom are absolutely necessary.”

Wallace then gestured to the employee beside him to take notes while asking back.

“Should we include a bathtub?”
“No. A bathtub seems excessive, so let’s leave that out.”
“Understood.”

Seok-won glanced at Landon Shore, seated to his left, as if asking for his thoughts.

“That would be better, wouldn’t it?”
“It wouldn’t hurt to have one, but given the limited space, I think that’s the better choice as well.”

Seok-won nodded and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his inner pocket, placing it on the table.

“I looked at the catalog you sent and wrote down what I want. Just do it exactly as specified.”
“Ah, I see.”

Having predetermined specifications made the work considerably simpler.
As Wallace picked up the paper and unfolded it, Seok-won spoke as if something had just occurred to him.

“And I’d like all the leather used in the cabin to be covered with Merino leather.”

Having spent half his life as a shoeshine boy before his regression, Seok-won was sensitive to leather quality above all else.

“You certainly have a discerning eye. Merino leather offers exceptional breathability and elasticity—nothing quite compares to it.”

Wallace glanced over the papers in his hand once more before speaking.

“We’ll examine the options you desire in detail and provide you with an accurate quote as quickly as possible.”
“You mentioned delivery takes about two years?”
“Typically, yes.”
“Is there any way to receive it sooner?”

Wallace’s expression grew troubled as he replied.

“I apologize, but production proceeds in the order orders are received, so there’s unfortunately no way around it.”
“Hmm.”

Seok-won found the two-year wait somewhat disappointing, but knowing that rushing wouldn’t change anything, he swallowed his sigh and said nothing more.
Then Wallace hesitated briefly before speaking to him with careful deliberation.

“If you’d prefer not to wait, there is actually one way to receive delivery much sooner.”

Seok-won looked at him with curiosity and asked.

“What would that be?”
“When you toured the Manufacturing Plant earlier, you saw completed aircraft lined up in the Parking Lot.”
“Yes, I did.”
“The truth is, several of them have had their contracts cancelled.”

Noticing Seok-won’s slight frown, Wallace continued.

“To be more precise, the customers who ordered them forfeited delivery by refusing to pay the final installment.”

“Is there some defect with the aircraft?”

Landon Shore, standing beside him, cast a suspicious glance, prompting Wallace to wave his hand dismissively.

“Not at all. Nothing like that.”

Seok-won tilted his head slightly, arms crossed.

“But why did you place an order and then never take delivery? You waited two years for something to be completed.”
“Well….”

Wallace smacked his lips and explained the reason.

“You must remember the turbulent storm that swept through Wall Street early this year when the Federal Reserve suddenly began raising benchmark interest rates.”
“You mean the bond massacre?”
“Precisely.”

Seok-won, who had reaped substantial profits through short betting, could hardly be unaware.

“Investors who had poured massive sums into bonds and stocks suffered enormous losses in the crash, and in severe cases, not a few went bankrupt.”

Understanding dawned on Seok-won, and he nodded. “Ah.”

“So these are aircraft that people who lost money back then ordered but abandoned.”
“Exactly.”

So they remained in the inventory, fully completed but suddenly without an owner to take delivery. That was the explanation.
Since these weren’t standard aircraft but all custom-configured private jets, they couldn’t be easily resold to other customers, making them a liability for the company.

“Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable owning property from bankrupt individuals?”

Seeing Landon Shore’s reluctant reaction, Wallace hastily added clarification.

“They were built to order, but since they were never delivered, they’re technically pristine new aircraft on paper.”
“Even if ownership never transferred, they’re still used goods regardless.”

Landon Shore replied flatly, and Wallace had no real counterargument to that.

‘I moved too hastily.’

Wallace, who had intended to dispose of the surplus aircraft this time, saw the lukewarm response and worried that pushing harder might even cancel the order he’d just received, so he decided to let it go gracefully.
Then Seok-won, who had been contemplating, spoke up.

“If I were to take it over instead, when could I take delivery?”

Seeing interest spark in the question, Wallace leaned forward eagerly and answered immediately.

“Even if we keep the airframe as is, we’ll need to completely overhaul the interior. You’re looking at roughly ten months.”

Wallace continued, gauging my reaction carefully.

“If you’re willing to keep the interior as is, we could have it ready for delivery today, but….”
“I’m paying a fortune to order a custom aircraft tailored to my specifications. If that were the case, why would I bother coming here instead of just buying a used one?”
“Of course, that makes perfect sense.”

Wallace immediately bowed his head in agreement.

“If you can deliver it within six months, I’ll sign the contract right now.”

At my words, Wallace’s eyebrows drooped as he adopted an expression of considerable distress.

“To modify the interior, we’d have to send it back to the manufacturing plant. We already have several aircraft in production, so accelerating the timeline that much isn’t feasible. To be honest, the ten-month estimate I gave you was already pushing the schedule to its absolute limit.”
“In that case, on top of the original order, I’ll purchase two additional aircraft of the same model.”

Wallace’s eyes widened in surprise as he asked for clarification.

“Did you say you’re placing an additional order?”

Landon Shore, standing beside me, also looked startled by this unexpected development.

“Boss!”
“Now that the company has grown, we’ll be traveling extensively in the future. Rather than chartering aircraft every time, it would be convenient to have dedicated aircraft for Landon Shore and our executives.”

I spoke casually despite the fact that I was discussing the purchase of private aircraft worth hundreds of billions of won.

“Since there happens to be an aircraft without an owner, acquiring one more wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Wallace, naturally unwilling to let this opportunity slip away, immediately chimed in.

“Having a private aircraft means you can travel anywhere in the world at your desired time, as long as there’s an airport. That’s a significant advantage in conducting business.”

While sudden, as I had pointed out, the company’s expansion had indeed led to occasional aircraft charters.
Landon Shore nodded in understanding, then recalled that I had mentioned purchasing three aircraft and asked with a puzzled expression.

“Then what will you use the remaining aircraft for?”
“That one has a separate purpose.”

Seok-won answered with a faint smile.

“Understood.”

When Landon Shore didn’t press further and withdrew, the most delighted person in the room was Wallace.
Wallace, who had inwardly cheered at this unexpected windfall, immediately asked with sparkling eyes.

“So you’re ordering three units in total?”
“That’s right.”

Not just one, but three units—and he could now dispose of even the aircraft that could have become problematic inventory all at once. Wallace struggled to suppress the smile threatening to break through.

“Then I’ll prepare new contracts and bring them right away. Please wait a moment.”
“Hold on.”

Landon Shore stopped Wallace just as he was about to rush off and instruct his subordinates.

“What is it?”
“Since these are used aircraft, naturally there should be a price discount.”
“Ah… yes, of course. I’ll reduce the aircraft price by 5%, excluding the interior.”

Wallace replied with a slightly reluctant expression.
It was a bit disappointing, but the aircraft would depreciate in value if left sitting idle anyway.
Besides, this level of discount was within his authority, so he was prepared to offer a reasonable reduction.
But Landon Shore shook his head as if unsatisfied and pushed the price down further.

“Make it 20%.”
“What? That’s a brand new aircraft—we’ve only done a few test flights after completion. I can’t give you a 20% discount!”

Wallace objected, saying it was unreasonable, but Landon Shore wasn’t swayed in the slightest.

“Regardless, it’s still a used aircraft, isn’t it? And you’re buying three units at once—surely you should offer a discount for that?”

Landon Shore brazenly held his ground.

“If it’s difficult, we’ll go with Bombardier instead. Honestly, it doesn’t matter to us where we buy from.”
“Now, wait a moment…”

Wallace looked to me for help, but I simply crossed my arms and left the price negotiation to Landon Shore, deliberately turning my gaze away as if I knew nothing.
After deliberating for some time, Wallace finally let out a groan of resignation and lowered his head in defeat.

“Very well. Let’s proceed with that.”

Having received the answer he desired, Landon Shore turned with a satisfied expression to look at Seok-won.
His demeanor seemed to seek praise, as if asking “How about that?”—and Seok-won responded with an approving nod.

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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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