New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 126

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 126. Internal Crackdown (5)

Even before Midopa Department Store opened its doors, a long line of customers had already formed.

It was a familiar sight we’d seen every time the luxury department opened. Part-time workers who stood in line for others had become so common.

But today was different.

This wasn’t a line waiting to enter the luxury department, but the electronics section, and everyone’s attention was focused on one thing: the iPod.

“We can really buy it starting today, right?”

“As long as it doesn’t sell out. I really hope there are some left by the time it’s our turn.”

“I should have gone to Rollbook Mart if I knew it would be like this. The line is too long.”

“My senior is at Rollbook Mart right now, and he says over 200 people are already in line there. The department store is better.”

It wasn’t just Midopa Department Store.

Long lines of customers stretched in front of Rollbook Mart as well, all waiting to get their hands on an iPod.

“Don’t worry. Half of the products going to the US are made in Korea. Plus, the Korean version even supports Korean language. It’s much cheaper than buying from resellers too.”

There were a total of 15 department stores and marts under Tiger Fund.

The same situation unfolded at every store nationwide, and iPods flew off the shelves at tremendous speed as soon as they opened.

The iPod was already a huge hit in the United States.

With rumors of limited stock creating high scarcity, everyone from people wanting to actually use them to those planning to resell them came flocking.

“Wow! There were just enough left for our turn!”

“I was really worried we wouldn’t be able to buy one. My heart was pounding.”

“But what about those Japanese people behind us? It seemed like they came all the way to Korea just to buy iPods.”

“They’re not selling them in Japan yet?”

“That’s probably why they came all this way to buy them.”

The people in line weren’t just Koreans.

Japanese tourists and even wholesale traders from China joined the queues.

However, sales were limited to one unit per person, so the wholesale traders couldn’t buy as many iPods as they wanted.

***

I arrived at work at the usual time today as well.

While I was opening the curtains and refilling the water cooler, Manager Kim came running over to me in excitement.

“Employee Lee! There’s been a sellout frenzy for five straight days. This morning alone, over 100 people were lined up in front of every Rollbook Mart!”

“Demand is overflowing just as expected.”

Manager Kim raised his voice from early morning.

He seemed very happy that sellout frenzies were happening at the department stores and marts he managed.

“Did department store sales increase too?”

“Some people just buy iPods and leave, but about half buy other items as well. This is why loss leader products are important. Department store sales increased by 15% over five days.”

Korea did have a fair number of fans who followed Apple products.

Moreover, Tiger Fund Korea Branch had launched massive advertising campaigns, resulting in an explosive response.

“The sellout frenzy won’t last that long. The price is higher than other MP3 products, so there’s a barrier.”

“Don’t you think it might last longer than expected? Chinese wholesale traders are desperate to buy even one more iPod. There are even customers coming from Japan to Korea just to buy iPods.”

“We plan to officially sell iPods in the Japanese and Chinese markets within a few months. Until then, we can benefit from this situation.”

General Manager Song was looking for distributors in Japan and China.

While Apple had the final decision-making authority, they would most likely follow our choices.

Until Apple Stores expanded into Asia, Tiger Fund essentially held the Asian distribution rights.

So we could coordinate things as we wanted.

We could also design the structure to maximize benefits for Midopa Department Store and Rollbook Mart.

“And word of mouth is spreading quickly too. Communities and even professional magazines are covering it as technology that’s on a completely different level from MP3 players released so far. It’s amazing which company created that technology.”

“It’s thanks to fully adopting Nexpin and Rollbook’s technology.”

“Exactly. Every time I see the technology I created materials for and even conducted experiments on being used in the iPod, I can’t tell if it’s a dream or reality.”

As Manager Kim got excited and raised his voice.

The Nexpin colleagues who had been quietly listening from behind finally exploded after holding back.

“Manager Kim! How long are you going to keep fooling around? Don’t you know there’s a pile of patents to register?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I got excited without realizing it when I saw actual applications of Nexpin’s technology.”

“We understand how you feel, Manager Kim. Let’s hurry up and work on the patents. What kind of factory are you planning to build that’s generating so many patents?”

Nexpin was suffering from work overload.

They were in the middle of registering the technologies applied to the Nexcon factory as patents, but even with all employees working on it, they hadn’t finished even half.

“These are essential technologies for improving factory efficiency. We need to register patents for them in advance.”

“Won’t other factories copy them if we file patents? Wouldn’t it be better to keep them secret?”

“Over a thousand people work in the factory. It’s impossible to keep such technology secret. It’s much better to protect it with patents.”

By registering patents, we could at least collect usage fees later.

Even if they tried to imitate it similarly, it would be impossible to achieve the same efficiency as our factory.

Because the really important technology was separate.

“Even if other factories use these patents, it’s hard to catch them. They could just ignore the patents and apply them without us knowing.”

“That’s not a problem. Just imitating the surface is useless. The key isn’t how to collect data, but how to analyze and utilize that data.”

Data analysis and utilization methods were kept as trade secrets.

If they only collected data without this system, productivity could actually decrease due to information overload.

“I guess it would be pointless if they don’t properly understand the system. But you’ve used a lot of existing patents too?”

“We applied patents for installing Wi-Fi in home appliances to factory equipment, and utilized everything from Bluetooth technology to camera module technology, and even pattern and fingerprint recognition technology for security.”

Most of them could actually be called derivative patents.

They were just applications of patents I had already developed, with slightly modified implementation methods.

“We’ll handle the patent work ourselves. Employee Lee, go work on other tasks now.”

“I still have work left to do.”

“Hey! You should listen when your senior tells you something! Please work on other tasks. If more work piles up here, we’ll be pulling all-nighters until Chuseok!”

My colleagues’ complaints poured out, but I actually felt comfortable.

It was proof that my Nexpin colleagues were operating within the system I had designed.

The more complaints poured out, the more relieved I felt that the system was working properly, so I had the leisure to go work on other tasks.

“Then I’ll leave work early today.”

“I wish you wouldn’t come to work at all this week, but there’s no chance of that, is there?”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

I couldn’t give up my morning routine.

Of course, I planned to come to work at 7:51 AM tomorrow and perform the same routine.

“Fine, just hurry up and go. Manager Kim! You’re responsible for kicking Employee Lee out!”

“I’ll leave on my own.”

I walked slowly to hear even a little more of their complaints.

But Manager Kim forcibly pushed my back, so I had no choice but to quickly go outside.

***

Unlike the enjoyable morning work at Nexpin.

The afternoon work at Tiger Fund proceeded somewhat seriously.

The General Manager who had returned from the Middle East kept sighing.

“Exactly how much more do we need to invest in the semiconductor business?”

“To enter the foundry industry, facility expansion and equipment introduction are essential. In particular, we need to introduce 20 ASML scanning equipment units. Each scanner costs 25 million dollars.”

“Twenty units would be 500 million dollars.”

That was over 600 billion won in Korean currency.

But there was still much more equipment left to introduce.

“We need to simultaneously introduce other equipment like deposition, etching, and CMP to enable proper processes. The total investment is estimated at 2 to 3 billion dollars.”

“Is that the end?”

“To introduce the equipment, we need to establish a partnership with ASML. For that, we need to preemptively invest in the optical equipment ASML is currently developing, requiring over 1 billion dollars in investment.”

The General Manager sighed again.

He had never blocked any investment I wanted until now.

But when I said we’d invest over 4 billion dollars in the semiconductor business alone, he shook his head firmly.

“Four billion dollars is over 15% of Tiger Fund’s operating capital. It exceeds the limits of funds the Korea Branch can use.”

“Actually, 4 billion dollars is just the first phase investment. The second phase requires over 10 billion dollars. To build new factories and catch up with leading companies like Samjin Electronics, aggressive investment is necessary.”

Even I thought it was an unreasonable amount.

But this was a necessary investment to realize my plan, so I made this report.

And I naturally knew what kind of reaction would come.

“You don’t think such an investment is possible, do you?”

“Of course. I’m well aware that it’s realistically difficult right now. However, I wanted to share our long-term goals in advance.”

“Do you have a separate plan for achieving this goal?”

The General Manager’s tone changed.

Looking straight into the General Manager’s eyes that were filled with expectation, I continued speaking.

“I have several plans prepared. To invest over 14 billion dollars in the semiconductor business, we need to generate over 20 billion dollars in profit in the short term.”

“If 20 billion dollars in profit falls right in front of us, then I’ll take responsibility and pour 14 billion dollars into semiconductors. What kind of plan do you have?”

“I can’t tell you exactly. But it seems like a major event comparable to the IT bubble collapse will happen soon.”

This was something I would never have said normally.

I had always reported only certain situations based on data, not vague speculation.

Whenever data was given, gear structures would form in my mind, and I would analyze them to predict the future.

But this time was different.

Data was overflowing, but none of it fit together properly.

Instead, a massive and ominous structure of unknown meaning was vaguely revealing its form.

“Abnormal data is being detected continuously. The scale of shorts on airline and insurance company stocks is growing larger, and oil prices are also showing abnormal patterns. Moreover, abnormal signals have been detected in flight reservation and cancellation patterns collected through Everbed.”

“It’s true that short positions on airlines and insurance companies have suddenly increased. But predicting that a major event will occur based on that alone seems unreasonable.”

The financial industry was always a place where things beyond common sense happened.

But this time it wasn’t limited to just the financial industry. Abnormal phenomena were being detected in almost all the data I received, and the more I analyzed, the conclusion always flowed toward ominous directions.

And a gear structure I had never seen before appeared.

Gears rotating backwards, gear teeth spinning idle without meshing properly.

Since unbearably unpleasant noise continuously flowed out, I couldn’t help but sense a massive and destructive event.

“All data is hinting at an ominous event. However, I still don’t know specifically what kind of event will occur.”

“So… you mean certain forces are planning such an event, or they’ve obtained the plan in advance and are building up shorts on airline and insurance company stocks?”

I nodded.

Only then did the General Manager sit down and begin thinking seriously.

We simulated all situations based on data and developed our plans.

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