I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 174

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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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Chapter 174
Mattresses began arriving at the SpaceZ office in the Marshall Islands.
Simultaneously, fans, refrigerators, and washing machines from South Korea came pouring in one after another.
The employees stared at me with wide eyes.
Tom was the most shocked.
“Sung-guk, what is all this?”
“These are the items I promised Jim.”
Jim looked bewildered at the fans and refrigerator.
“Sung-guk, I never mentioned anything like this. I only talked about the mattress.”
Jim was truly an honest and unpretentious man.
“It seemed like you needed more than just a mattress, so I ordered the essentials based on what I’ve found necessary while staying here. The fans are insufficient, and frankly, that refrigerator could break down any day now.”
I had wanted to install one of South Korea’s excellent air conditioning units, but the Marshall Islands lacked proper technicians and had serious electrical supply issues.
All the employees hugged the fans with happy smiles on their faces.
“Wow, now we can actually live like humans! Sung-guk, thank you so much!”
Tom cheered as well.
“Don’t mention it. These are just the first batch of items. More appliances will arrive in a week.”
Just then, Jim’s excited voice rang out.
“My goodness! What is all this!”
A truck loaded with beer and various fishing equipment was pulling in.
The man driving the truck jumped down and shouted to the employees.
“If you want to drink beer, help me out!”
At those words, all the employees rolled up their sleeves and rushed toward the truck.
The beer filling the truck was swiftly transferred to the SpaceZ office.
The employees cracked open cans and started drinking before even putting them in the refrigerator.
Crack.
Elon popped open a beer can beside me.
“Sung-guk, when exactly will I be able to drink beer with you legally?”
“Just wait a few more years.”
I smiled faintly and drank cold water instead.
It was the kind of weather where sweat poured down even while standing still.
But today, everyone was happy carrying supplies and drinking beer.
Jim was the most excited, starting to move the supplies.
Elon took a long sip of beer and suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, beer gets consumed and that’s the end of it. But a refrigerator, a fan, and a washing machine too? Aren’t you providing way too many expensive appliances? We’re all going back to the United States once the launch succeeds.”
I shrugged.
“When we leave for the United States, we’ll sell them all secondhand. Korean appliances are popular, so they should sell easily.”
“We’re leaving soon anyway.”
Elon shook his head.
[Elon, by the time those products become secondhand, SpaceX will have succeeded. Just accept them.]
* * *
I finally began packing my bag.
It was time to leave the Marshall Islands.
Not only the mattress Jim wanted, but beer and various home appliances had all arrived.
The staff had begun working in much improved conditions.
Jim approached me as I packed.
“Sung-guk, are you really leaving now?”
“I’ve finished what I came to do, so I have to go.”
“Are you going back to the United States?”
“Yes….”
Jim’s expression was one of reluctance.
“When’s your flight?”
“Tomorrow morning at 9.”
“I’ll drive you there.”
“Thank you, Jim….”
Even after saying everything, Jim continued to linger in my room.
“Jim, is there something you want to say?”
“Well, you see, Sung-guk, there’s nothing I can buy here. This is my gift for you.”
Jim handed me a blueprint.
“Jim, what is this?”
“It’s the first space shuttle I ever designed. Of course, it’s not classified or anything. I did it during class in college.”
“Then it must be incredibly precious to you.”
“I was about to give up on that precious dream, but thanks to you, I was able to keep it. If I hadn’t met you… I probably would have bought a plane ticket and left for the United States.”
I quickly took the blueprint.
“Jim, I’ll treasure this gift.”
“Sung-guk… you have to update FaceNote often. I live here just to see your FaceNote updates.”
“Jim, you post your fishing catches often. I think I’ll really miss the fish we caught on this island once I leave.”
“What about the shark we missed?”
“We didn’t miss it—that shark is being managed in the fishing grounds.”
“Oh, that’s right!”
Jim smiled broadly.
I quickly packed the blueprint Jim had drawn into my bag.
* * *
Elon and Jim came with me to the airport.
Elon drove an old, beat-up truck while talking incessantly.
“Sung-guk, South Korean home appliances are seriously amazing. When I get back to the United States, I’m going to replace all the appliances in my house with Korean products.”
“Elon, just tell me. I’ll recommend everything for you.”
[Samjeon, which I modeled myself after, is great. And all the products from Hyojin Group that I sponsored are excellent too. Home appliances are definitely Korean.]
Rattle. Rattle. Rattle.
The truck continued to shake.
“Sung-guk, if you’re going back to the United States, are you going through FaceNote?”
“For now.”
“So you’ll focus on FaceNote again?”
“I’ll do what I can, but I’m thinking about shifting toward investing in new ventures.”
“New ventures?”
“Companies like SpaceZ that open doors to the future.”
I smiled faintly.
FaceNote has made me a global billionaire.
Now it’s time to invest in companies that will make my family wealthy.
Min-guk will become a member of a world-class idol group, so YouTube and SNS platforms like FaceNote are absolutely essential to showcase his talent.
Through SNS, he can become not just a Korean singer but a global superstar.
I haven’t asked Ji-hee’s opinion yet, but I’m also considering investments in the medical field for her future as a doctor representing South Korea.
Just then, Peter contacted me about a very interesting company.
Jim looked at me from beside me like I was an idol.
“Sung-guk, you’ll definitely succeed at everything.”
“Jim, don’t praise me too much. I make plenty of mistakes.”
“Sung-guk, if you’re ever having a hard time, come to the Marshall Islands and let’s go fishing together.”
“I’ll come during my vacation, so let’s definitely go fishing then.”
At my words, Elon honked the car horn loudly.
“Sung-guk, we’re escaping the Marshall Islands within a year!”
“Got it, Elon!”
[Please succeed quickly! Then I can make some money as an investor!]
* * *
Mark embraced me tightly.
“Sung-guk, this is the first time we’ve gone this long without seeing each other, isn’t it?”
[Mark, don’t exaggerate. When I was in Korea training as a trainee, we didn’t see each other for a month either.]
“Mark, you’ve been taking good care of FaceNote all this time, right?”
“Of course. Don’t I look like a proper CEO?”
Mark was wearing a checkered shirt today as well.
“It suits you well.”
“By the way, Sung-guk. You’re going to stay with FaceNote from now on, right?”
“Hmm… I think I’ll stay, but could you give me just one office?”
“Give you one? You’re a co-CEO.”
“Actually, there’s something I want to do…”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to seriously start investing in various companies.”
Mark’s face fell.
“Sung-guk, can’t you just focus on FaceNote?”
“Mark, if I diversify my investments through multiple channels, then if FaceNote ever faces a cash crunch, I can help FaceNote.”
[This is how South Korean conglomerates are structured, Mark.]
Of course, South Korean conglomerates grow by devouring every industry with their octopus-like expansion.
However, my plan is to invest in promising companies, generate profits, and reinvest those returns into the industries I truly want to pursue.
Mark let out a suppressed laugh, as if he’d given up.
“How could I possibly compete with you? Anyway, Peter was asking if we could go to some party with him today. He sent word that we should wear suits.”
“Hmm… Mark, do you have a suit?”
“The only suit I have is the one I wore to our high school graduation with you. I pulled it out yesterday, but Lim Mi-mi said it looked tacky and absolutely forbade me from wearing it. She was really upset, saying that now that I’m making money, I should actually spend it.”
“Korean women really are terrifying, aren’t they?”
“Terrifying, yes, but that’s also what makes them so charming.”
Mark was completely smitten with Lim Mi-mi.
“Mark, how about we go clothes shopping together for once in a while?”
“Sounds good!”
Mark in his checkered shirt and I in my usual hoodie headed toward the Department Store.
* * *
I walked boldly into the luxury boutique on the first floor of the Department Store.
Mark followed behind me, chattering away.
“Sung-guk, we’re getting proper investment now and earning CEO salaries, but this place is way too expensive, isn’t it?”
[Back when I was a chaebol, I never shopped anywhere else for clothes….]
I scratched my head.
“Mark, I’ll buy the suits. I have my salary, sure, but I also have income from my investments.”
“Sung-guk, even though I’ve known you for a long time, moments like this make you feel like a complete stranger.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve worn a suit, so I should look sharp in it.”
I walked into the Gucci boutique, which Tom Ford was leading.
[Tom Ford’s Gucci really does have that sexy appeal.]
I browsed through Gucci’s men’s collection with satisfaction.
Mark followed behind me with an awkward expression on his face.
“Sung-guk, this place doesn’t seem to match my image at all.”
“Mark, just trust me and try something on. You’ll be incredibly popular today.”
Just then, a tall blonde female employee who appeared to be a sales associate approached us and gave us a cold once-over from head to toe.
“Is there anything I can help you find?”
Her tone of voice made it clear she was unimpressed.
“Please show us this season’s men’s suits.”
“Hmm… both of you?”
“Yes. We need outfits for a party this evening.”
I pulled a card from my wallet and showed it to the employee.
It was a Black Card, issued only to the top one percent in the United States.
The moment the employee saw the card, she dropped her previous arrogant demeanor and quickly became deferential.
“Would our guests like something to drink? How about champagne?”
“Water is fine for me. Mark, what about you?”
“Champagne sounds good to me.”
“Of course. Please follow me this way.”
The employee guided us to a VIP room and promptly served us mineral water and champagne.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll prepare the Gucci collection for you.”
As the employee disappeared, Mark jabbed me in the ribs.
“Sung-guk, where did you get that card?”
“Oh… I was planning to invest in SpaceZ, so I bought a lot of electronics and various other things. Then the credit card company confirmed I was the CEO of FaceNote and issued it to me.”
“That’s insane….”
I shrugged my shoulders.
The criteria for issuing a black card depended on wealth, but it also meant that FaceNote’s recognition was being acknowledged even within the United States.
Soon the employee returned with Gucci’s men’s clothing line.
I effortlessly selected what seemed to suit me best at first glance.
[As expected, a conglomerate heir’s eye for fashion never fades.]
* * *
As I entered the hotel in San Francisco where the party was being held, all eyes turned toward me.
Mark fidgeted uncomfortably, repeatedly unbuttoning and buttoning his shirt.
“Sung-guk, everyone’s looking at us.”
“They’re looking at me, not us, so don’t be so nervous, Mark.”
“You’re impossible.”
Just then, Peter, who had invited us, approached with a bright smile.
“Sung-guk! Mark! It’s been so long. You both look fantastic today!”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Peter grabbed Mark’s shoulder firmly.
“Mark looks quite impressive too.”
“Peter, I’ll just eat some good food here and head out.”
“Mark, you’re the CEO of FaceNote now—you should enjoy occasions like this. This is a party where all the influential figures of Silicon Valley have gathered, so get to know their faces. You’ll be seeing these people often in the future.”
Peter quietly approached my side.
“Sung-guk, there’s someone I want to introduce you to today.”
“The Charlie Jobs of the medical world you mentioned?”
“Yes. He dropped out of Stanford and founded a venture company that creates diagnostic kits capable of testing for various diseases using just a single drop of blood.”
[Wait….]
I stopped in my tracks and furrowed my brow.
Just then, a familiar face appeared before me and extended her hand.
“Oh my, you’re Jeon Sung-guk from FaceNote, aren’t you?”
[Sigh—they say enemies always meet on a single-log bridge. Ashley Holmes?]
Ashley Holmes smiled at me, oblivious to everything.
I firmly grasped Ashley Holmes’s hand.
“Hello. I’m Jeon Sung-guk.”
“I’m Ashley Holmes from BloodTherapy!”

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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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