New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 18

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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 18. Breakdown (3)

 

 

 

After a really long time, Branch Manager Kang Dong-ju visited the office.

Usually when a superior comes, people get nervous first, but my colleagues genuinely welcomed him.

Every time he came, he unfailingly brought tremendous bonuses.

This time too, with hopeful hearts, everyone warmly welcomed the Branch Manager.

 

“I should have come to greet you much earlier, but I’m sorry for being late. Congratulations on officially converting to a company.”

“Not at all. We’re just grateful that you came to visit us like this.”

“I’ve prepared small gifts. I hope you’ll like them.”

 

Fund employees came in carrying luxury boxes.

The Branch Manager personally handed gifts to everyone, and we expressed our gratitude for the unexpected presents.

 

“We never expected this at all. We occasionally receive gifts from the company, but watches and wallets… this is the first time. Thank you so much.”

“These are all products personally selected from luxury stores. Especially the watches and wallets have Nexpin’s logo carefully engraved on them. They’re small but meaningful gifts, so please accept them with a comfortable heart.”

 

Nexpin logo?

Looking at the watch, there was an arrow logo symbolizing progress engraved in the center, and the same logo was embedded small on the corner of the wallet.

 

While the employees were marveling at the logo with admiration, Manager Kim checked the brand name first and let out a sound.

 

“Department Manager, this is a Seiko watch, right? No matter how cheap, this is a product worth over 1 million won. The wallet is also a luxury passport wallet.”

“Just the watch and wallet prices alone would cost more than an average office worker’s monthly salary, wouldn’t they?”

“Oh my, to even prepare such precious gifts for us… I really don’t know how to express our gratitude.”

 

Sudden expensive gifts.

Everyone accepted the gifts without suspicion.

Since they were gifts received from the Branch Manager, who could be called the owner of the company, there was no reason to refuse.

 

But I wasn’t entirely pleased.

There were no gifts without reason, and expensive gifts definitely felt like means to achieve a purpose.

 

“These are small gifts for Nexpin’s future. I’m glad you like them.”

“Since we’ve received gifts, we’ll work even harder. We’ll interpret this as meaning to work without sparing time and earn money diligently. The reason you gave us watches and wallets… is that the meaning?”

“The President has quite an outstanding imagination. But actually, it’s a much more intuitive meaning than that.”

 

Could there be some other meaning hidden in the watches and wallets?

The Branch Manager continued with a mysterious smile, and the moment my colleagues heard his explanation, they all wanted to take off the watches on their wrists.

 

“These are gifts for overseas business trips. The watches are models equipped with functions convenient for time zone adjustment, and the wallets are also travel products that can store passports.”

“You’re saying overseas business trips will become frequent from now on. Since we’ve become an official company, exchanges with overseas companies would be necessary too.”

“Exchanges between companies aren’t as easy as they sound. So I’ve arranged a place where Nexpin can directly step onto the world stage.”

 

The saying ‘there are no free gifts’ came to mind.

As expected, it was a gift with a clear purpose, and the Branch Manager was drawing a big picture.

 

“A place for exchange… where exactly are you referring to?”

“COMDEX. It’s a world-class computer expo held in Las Vegas, United States.”

“GL Group has participated before, so I know it well. I haven’t been there personally, but I was in charge of support work at that time.”

“That’s fortunate then. This time, our Nexpin will be participating. Isn’t this something to celebrate? Hahaha!”

 

Clap clap.

Everyone applauded following the Branch Manager without properly understanding the situation.

 

An unexpected variable.

The event called COMDEX wasn’t in my plans at all.

However, since I thought Nexpin needed to grow more than it currently was, I didn’t make efforts to block this variable.

 

“We’re not a company that produces products. We don’t have finished products to exhibit, so is it okay to attend COMDEX?”

“Don’t we have prototypes created during the patent development process? Actually, at COMDEX, there are many ventures that exhibit mockups or concept models rather than finished products.”

“Still, the timing is too tight. I know the COMDEX schedule is next month. The application deadline has also passed. It’s difficult to get even a small booth now.”

 

The President expressed a negative opinion.

All employees nodded at the President’s words too.

But the other party was a branch manager of a private equity fund, and the event was COMDEX held in the United States.

 

“Fortunately, among our fund’s clients, there are several COMDEX officials. We’ve already completed the participation application.”

“I understand Korean small and medium enterprises usually participate in shared booths, so are we also assigned to that side?”

“We can’t treat you in such a way. Nexpin has been assigned an independent booth. And it’s on the US corporate booth side, not the Korea Pavilion. Since the purpose is exchange, wouldn’t it be better to be close to US companies?”

 

Independent booth and US Pavilion assignment.

This wasn’t a small event.

It’s very rare for a small and medium enterprise to participate in such a position, and just participating was an event that could raise Nexpin’s value.

 

Therefore, I sided with the Branch Manager.

 

“If it’s the US Pavilion, I know that’s the center of the venue. We must seize this opportunity!”

“Employee Lee knows exactly right. We secured a spot right next to the main booth. This was possible because Nexpin belongs to Tiger Fund. It’s thanks to the fund network. It’s virtually impossible for a general Korean small and medium enterprise to enter that position.”

 

The Branch Manager was already making plans and pushing forward.

Since it didn’t differ much from the picture I had in mind, I continued to side with the Branch Manager.

However, my workplace colleagues’ expressions only grew darker, and they seemed to feel the watches on their arms like shackles.

 

“What should we do?”

“It’s not particularly difficult. The fund will handle product promotion and sales. You just need to explain to visitors or companies who are curious about Nexpin’s patents.”

“What if no one shows interest?”

“Then you can just sightsee Las Vegas and come back. That much is okay, isn’t it?”

 

Colleagues who couldn’t dispel their concerns.

They were worried about who would be interested in our technology.

COMDEX was a place where world-class companies competitively showed off innovation, so it was true that it wouldn’t be easy for a small startup to attract attention.

 

“I think Nexpin’s technology is sufficient to attract interest.”

“Like Employee Lee said, I also think Nexpin’s technology has enough competitiveness.”

“And it’s also an opportunity to see and learn more technologies. For Nexpin’s future, we must participate.”

 

I pushed strongly.

These kinds of major events are necessary for employees to form stronger bonds with each other.

 

“Then we’ll decide to attend COMDEX. Ah! And Employee Lee Jung-hoo must attend. The patent applicant can’t be absent.”

“What’s the schedule like?”

“The official schedule is 4 days. But considering preparation and wrap-up, we’ll need to stay for at least a week.”

 

I pondered for a moment.

Participating in COMDEX was absolutely necessary, but me going was a different matter.

A whole week. Was it worth spending a week in an environment where I couldn’t maintain my routine?

 

Just thinking about it made me feel unpleasant.

Especially the thought of spending over 14 hours on a plane made me break out in hives.

But if we could advance Nexpin to the next level through the COMDEX event, it would certainly increase our chances of protecting the company.

 

“Understood. I’ll attend.”

“Then, we’ll decide to send a total of 3 people to COMDEX, including Employee Lee Jung-hoo. Please discuss among yourselves and decide on the remaining personnel.”

“Is there anything else we need to prepare separately?”

“The fund will handle all event management, so don’t worry. And we’ll prepare all accommodations and transportation as well. You just need to show up.”

 

The Branch Manager left us with yet another major task and disappeared.

Only then did my colleagues pour out the words they had been holding back.

 

“Can we really attend? This isn’t just any event, it’s COMDEX. Even when we were part of GL, we prepared for months to attend this event.”

“The Branch Manager worked hard to get us participation rights, so we can’t not go.”

“There’s absolutely nothing bad about attending. Through this event, we can make Nexpin’s name known, even if just a little.”

 

For the company’s survival, increasing our value was essential.

And there was another reason as well.

 

The moment I heard the word COMDEX.

My instincts reacted first.

If I could encounter and learn various technologies, I could create more gears.

Since it’s a place where the world’s best technologies gather, what beautiful harmony would resonate there?

 

“Learn from Employee Lee. Look how great his attitude toward learning is? And there must be a reason why the Branch Manager suddenly mentioned COMDEX.”

“Could he be planning to use COMDEX with company sale in mind?”

“That’s very likely. If we can make the company name known even a little at the expo, the sale price would increase too.”

 

Company sale wasn’t the direction I wanted.

The current structure was the most stable.

But if we were satisfied with just the current structure, Nexpin could end up being sold cheaply to some strange corporation.

 

Steady and rapid growth.

For that, we needed contracts with overseas companies too.

If that happened, Tiger Fund wouldn’t be able to easily sell Nexpin either.

 

“Employee Lee, do you have a passport?”

“Not yet.”

“Then go get one made right away. We don’t have much time, so let’s hurry.”

 

There wasn’t just one or two things to prepare.

Since the schedule was set so urgently, we couldn’t accomplish anything without moving quickly.

 

***

 

While Employee Lee Jung-hoo went to get his passport made.

A meeting was held in the office to select personnel for the United States trip.

 

“Who wants to go?”

“I don’t want to go. I can speak some Japanese, but I’m not confident even with ABC in English.”

“I get severe motion sickness on planes too. Please leave me out.”

 

Everyone was trying to avoid the United States business trip.

Manager Kim tilted his head as he watched this scene.

 

“Why is everyone trying not to go? This isn’t just anywhere, it’s Las Vegas! When in our lives would we get to visit a place like that? The Branch Manager even said we could just have fun and come back.”

“This is why you’re still a manager.”

“If Employee Lee is in the United States, we can rest a bit too, right? We haven’t even been home for months now, we should rest for at least a week.”

 

It felt like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat.

Only then did Manager Kim understand why everyone was reluctant about the United States schedule.

 

“So you were all planning to send Employee Lee to the United States and rest? Ugh, that’s too much.”

“What’s too much about it? Employee Lee will rest while sightseeing in the United States, and we’ll rest a bit at home. Manager Kim, you go with him. You speak some English.”

“I want to spend some time with my girlfriend too.”

“Everyone quiet!”

 

At that moment, President Cha Ik-hyeon’s single word settled the bustling atmosphere.

 

“The Branch Manager told us to go comfortably like tourists, but this expo is a big opportunity for our company. So let’s select personnel properly.”

“….”

“Employee Lee will play the most important role at this expo. So we need to send someone who can support Employee Lee well. Manager Kim, you’re definitely going.”

“Me?”

“Yes, go and talk to your heart’s content. And for the remaining person… I’ll go myself. Anyone have objections?”

“That’s the best choice!”

“As expected of our president! We’ll stay and provide solid support!”

 

Even amid the employees’ enthusiastic response, President Cha Ik-hyeon’s expression was dark.

Korean companies were also planning to participate in this COMDEX in large numbers, and various teams from GL Group would naturally show up as well.

 

Compared to them, Nexpin was quite lacking.

President Cha Ik-hyeon was troubled by the thought that it might only damage the company image for nothing.

It was also a concern born from not knowing how high the value of the patents and technology Nexpin had created so far really was.

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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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