I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 327

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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 327
I calmly asked Sergey Brin again.
“Sergey, could you explain in detail? Why do you suspect Han Myung-seok of being an industrial spy for China?”
– Well… honestly, we don’t have concrete evidence. We only have suspicions. To be frank, there were rumors that our programs and know-how were leaking to China, so we strengthened our internal security measures. That’s when Han Myung-seok suddenly submitted his resignation and disappeared.
“Hmm… disappeared?”
– Usually, people don’t format their company computers when they leave. Especially not in a way that makes recovery impossible.
He formatted his computer before leaving?
That was certainly suspicious behavior.
– Han Myung-seok formatted his computer and vanished completely from the United States.
“So he came from Korea and applied to our company.”
– I’m not sure if the timing lines up perfectly, but probably. And you and I both know this industry well. Once a traitor, always a traitor.
“They keep betraying.”
– Exactly. We only have suspicions, not concrete evidence, so I can’t say for certain. But if I were you, I’d be careful with that guy.
“Thank you, Sergey.”
– Good luck, Sung-guk.
Sergey Brin hung up the phone.
Han Myung-seok was an industrial spy for China?
If he was taking programs and ideas that Korean IT companies had painstakingly developed and selling them to China, it seemed necessary to uproot the entire operation.
Even in my previous life, running the Samjeon Group, dealing with industrial spies had been a constant headache.
Those who sold everything to China for a pittance were no different from traitors to their country.
Mark got up with a disheveled face and opened the refrigerator, gulping down bottled water.
“Sung-guk, why do you look so serious this early in the morning?”
“Mark, it looks like an industrial spy applied to the company we’re establishing in Korea.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Gulp.
I heard Mark swallowing water.
“Sung-guk, can’t you just not hire that person?”
“If I don’t hire him, he’ll probably just join another IT company. And he’ll sell the programs they’ve painstakingly developed to China for money.”
“I suppose that’s true, but…”
“So… I need to hire him and completely dismantle the entire organization from within.”
“Sung-guk, is that even possible?”
“I’ll make it possible.”
[I’m Jeon Sung-guk!]
I sipped my coffee slowly.
Then I called Adam and Sam, who were just waking up.
“Adam, Sam… I’m going to need your help with the company I’m establishing in Korea while I’m there.”
“Sung-guk, what kind of work?”
At Sam’s question, I also glanced at Lim Mi-mi, Susan, and Mark.
“Of course, Lim Mi-mi, Susan, and Mark need to help me too.”
“Sung-guk, we came here to see you off to the military. And you want us to work here too?”
Mark voiced his complaint.
“Mark, just one day of interviews with me is all I need. I’m asking you to serve as an interview panelist for the Alpha company I’m creating here in Korea. Of course, if you serve as a panelist, you’ll receive hourly compensation. And that amount won’t be insignificant. If you’d like, I’ll even provide dinner at a nearby meat restaurant on the day of the interviews.”
“Hmm… Sung-guk, is it possible that…”
Adam spoke up.
“Go ahead, Adam.”
“Sung-guk, you know that female idol group called Mist Eight?”
[The group that Su-jin from Jeongneung is in?]
“You know that group too, Adam?”
“I’ve recently started getting into K-pop, Sung-guk. If I could just get an autograph from that female idol group, I could even work for your company for free.”
A massive frame. A scraggly beard. And wearing an outdated metal band t-shirt, Adam blinked his innocent eyes.
“Adam, are you saying you want to apply to our company right now?”
“Ah… well, the truth is, Sung-guk, I… I really want to try living and working in Korea for a while. So I used your military service as an excuse to come to Korea. But the food is so good, and Korea seems like such a great place to live!”
I looked at Mark.
After all, Adam was one of the core developers of FaceNote.
“Mark, would it be okay if I recruited Adam?”
“Well… it’s true that losing a talent like Adam would be unfortunate… but if Adam wants to go, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
I looked at Adam.
Having a talent like Adam by my side was invaluable.
“Adam, I’ll provide room and board while you’re in Korea. Your salary will probably be less than what you make at FaceNote. But the incentive structure will be better. And one thing is certain!”
I put some emphasis into my words.
“I’ll not only get you an autograph from Mist Eight, but photos too!”
“Sung-guk!”
Adam jumped up and hugged me tightly.
[Adam, this is awkward between men.]
“Sung-guk, thank you so much.”
[What are you talking about? I should be thanking you. Finding a talent like Adam isn’t easy.]
I patted Adam’s back with my hand.
“Adam, stop getting emotional… For now, you’ll come in as an experienced programmer serving as a panelist that day. Got it?”
“Of course!”
* * *
Ten days before entering the Military Training Center.
The interviews for Alpha, the company I created with sponsorship from Samjeon and Hyojin Group, had begun.
The name TikTok was still being kept secret.
Mark, Sam, Lim Mi-mi, and Susan took their seats as invited panelists, while Adam confidently filled his position as a programmer at Alpha.
And at the far end sat Jeon Tae-guk, the successor to Samjeon and the marketing director of Alpha.
Soon, guided by Secretary Park Sung-hee, the new interview candidates began entering.
The morning was scheduled for new graduate interviews.
The first candidate greeted us with a slightly nervous expression.
“Hello, I’m Lee Sun-hwa, graduating this year from the Computer Science department at Hangang University.”
Most of the new recruits were either in their final semester of their fourth year at university or fresh graduates entering the workforce.
Their entire career experience consisted of brief internships, or at most less than six months at a company.
Most still carried the air of students, and their desire to learn and grow at the company I had built was palpable.
Even in Samjeon’s HR analysis, there wasn’t a single applicant with notably poor results.
After the final round of new recruit interviews, I stood up from my seat.
And I looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“William, let’s grab lunch and then start the experienced hire interviews.”
“Sure, Sung-guk.”
* * *
That afternoon, after lunch, the experienced hire interviews began.
Most were programmers with experience at domestic game companies or major portals. They all had proven skills to some degree, and like Mark, they seemed to have a particular fondness for checkered shirts.
The most striking candidate was Han Myung-seok, who had three years of experience at Google.
And Han Myung-seok was the final interviewee.
Han Myung-seok had graduated from Seoul National University, moved to the United States, built his career at IT companies in Silicon Valley, and then transferred to Google.
He was thirty-five years old.
He stood at 178 centimeters tall.
His bespectacled appearance came across as composed.
To all outward appearances, he looked nothing like an industrial spy.
He even engaged Adam in pleasant conversation about various programs.
Han Myung-seok left a memorable final impression with his polished demeanor.
“I’ve been closely following CEO Jeon Sung-guk’s accomplishments from the United States. As a fellow South Korean, I found your achievements truly inspiring, and I’ve always hoped that if the opportunity arose, I might work with you someday. And while it’s alternative military service, I’ve become genuinely interested in launching a new SNS venture here in Korea in partnership with domestic companies. That’s why I’ve decided to return to my homeland and work again.”
I applauded.
[Bravo, Han Myung-seok!]
And I smiled as I looked at Han Myung-seok.
“I also very much want to work with a talented person like you, Han Myung-seok.”
* * *
After all the interviews were finished, we huddled together to narrow down the final hires.
I reviewed the interview scores of the new recruit applicants.
Overall they were fairly consistent, and there wasn’t anyone notably poor.
“William, let’s hire all the new recruit applicants. But also let them know that during the four weeks I’m at the Military Training Center, staff from Samjeon and Hyojin Group will conduct intensive training. Of course they’ll be paid, but I expect some people will drop out during that period.”
“Got it, I’ll send out the acceptance notices first. What about the experienced hires?”
I looked directly at Jeon Tae-guk.
In this room right now, only Jeon Tae-guk didn’t know that Han Myung-seok was under suspicion of being an industrial spy for China.
“William, what did you think of applicant Han Myung-seok?”
“He seemed serious, had good experience. Seemed fine to me?”
“Hmm… Let’s hire all the experienced candidates, including Han Myung-seok.”
“Okay… but Sung-guk, why did you specifically ask about Han Myung-seok like that?”
[Jeon Tae-guk, you’re developing some decent instincts now?]
It was time to tell Jeon Tae-guk the truth.
“Tae-guk, listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you.”
“Why are you looking so scary, Sung-guk?”
“Han Myung-seok is suspected of being an industrial spy for China. Brother, if it’s okay with you, could you look into him more thoroughly through Samjeon?”
“There were no problems when we reviewed his resume?”
“His background isn’t false, but he definitely has personal issues he’s hiding.”
“Uh… okay. But why would you hire someone like that?”
Jeon Tae-guk seemed a bit flustered.
“William, calm down and listen carefully to what I’m about to say. The reason I hired Han Myung-seok is that if he really is an industrial spy for China, he could damage not just us, but other IT companies, and even Samjeon and Hyojin Group. I want to keep an eye on him and determine whether he’s definitely a spy.”
“Uh…”
Seeing his bewildered expression, I realized it would be dangerous to leave Han Myung-seok in Jeon Tae-guk’s hands.
“Brother, Han Myung-seok will be handled by Adam from now on, so keep that in mind. And until I return from military service, both new and experienced hires are in their training period. Don’t assign them any actual work—just evaluate their training performance.”
“Okay, got it. Sung-guk, I’m getting excited.”
[What’s he getting all worked up about now?]
Jeon Tae-guk placed his hand over his heart and smiled contentedly.
“Wow, I’m becoming a spy who catches spies. Wow, that’s so cool!”
I shook my head in disbelief.
[We’re not making a spy movie here!]
I spoke in a calm and serious tone.
“William, we need to keep Han Myung-seok close and observe him to determine if he’s really an industrial spy. And the reason I’m doing this is so that no more people like Han Myung-seok become spies, and so we can catch those who try to recruit people like him to steal our technology. Remember that!”
* * *
Two days before entering the Military Training Center.
Training for new and experienced hires had begun.
And now I had to prepare to actually enter the Military Training Center.
I brushed back my hair, which had grown down to my ears, while looking in the mirror.
Then I picked up the electric razor.
A whirring sound filled the air as I carefully began to shave my head.
Click.
At that moment, the door burst open and Jeon Tae-guk stopped me.
“Jeon Sung-guk, I thought you were filming a movie by yourself. I brought the owner of my barber shop, so put that down right now.”
In the living room, Mark, Adam, Sam, Lim Mi-mi, and Susan were all waiting for me.
And they all watched as the barber shop owner that Jeon Tae-guk brought cut my hair.
Mark couldn’t hold back his laughter, while Sam and Adam just stared in fascination.
“Sir, you have quite a wide forehead.”
“Isn’t that male pattern baldness?”
Jeon Tae-guk responded seriously, and Susan shook her head.
“I saw your father at the Bossam Restaurant, and he had plenty of hair.”
“There’s a saying that baldness is destiny, Susan.”
“That’s not it! I just have a wide forehead!”
I got angry, but everyone ignored me and continued whispering among themselves.
[Sigh… this is why I wanted to just shave it myself with the razor…]
Finally, my hair was all cut off, and I stared at my unfamiliar short hair for a long time.
At that moment, my phone rang.
It was Emma Watton.
“Emma?”
– Sung-guk, I just arrived in Korea.
“But you said you couldn’t come because of your tour schedule?”
– My boyfriend is entering the Military Training Center, so I had to be there. Sung-guk, I came secretly to surprise you. Sung-guk, I’m heading to your home!
I immediately stood up from my seat.
I handed my credit card to the group members who were about to follow me up.
“Emma is on her way from the airport right now. All of you should go to that famous beef restaurant nearby, have dinner, drink some soju… and come back very, very late!”
Mark quickly took the card.
“Sung-guk, go on.”

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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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