New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 67
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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 67. Sincere Lies (2)
The kiosk was completed.
With help from Rollbook and Nexpin employees, we finished production in just two weeks, and I went to install the kiosk at my parents’ store myself.
“This can take orders instead of us?”
“Everything from ordering to payment and printing waiting tickets happens at once. You just need to change the paper about once a day.”
“Wow, the world has really improved. Machines can even take orders now.”
The world hadn’t really improved.
This technology wasn’t mainstream yet.
I had forcibly brought incomplete technology for my parents’ sake.
The world’s only kiosk dedicated to coffee stores.
Of course, it hadn’t been made before because there was no need for it.
Hiring part-time workers was still cheaper than a kiosk that cost well over ten million won.
“When an order comes in through the kiosk, an order slip prints directly in the store. You just look at this and make the drinks.”
“But do we really need two of them? Will people actually use these machines?”
“One is backup in case the other breaks down. And when orders pile up, you need two for processing speed.”
“Well, we’ll see once they’re installed.”
I designed the kiosk to be as user-friendly as possible.
Anyone who had done Internet shopping could use it intuitively, and just in case, I printed a large manual and attached it to one side of the kiosk.
Still, it felt complicated for elderly people to use.
But most of Max Coffee’s customers were office workers, especially young office workers in their 20s and 30s who frequented the place, so I wasn’t too worried.
“The coffee machine is working well, right?”
“The one we got this time has larger capacity and can make more diverse menus, so it’s better.”
“This one is an improved version.”
The second machine was made by addressing all the shortcomings of the first machine.
An upgraded version with enhanced functions, easier use, and faster speed.
To make this machine, I brought together technology used in various industries and even applied completely new technology by fusing different technologies.
“By the way, how’s Store #2 coming along? Chang-seop was really anxious about it.”
“Everything’s ready to start as soon as we decide on the location.”
“Which area are you looking at?”
“Near Sinchon Station. It’s clustered with universities so it matches well with low-cost coffee, and there’s heavy foot traffic too.”
“That’s close to Chang-seop’s house too. I heard his son also goes to school in Sinchon. It’ll be perfect for helping out.”
The Fund Employees were a huge help in scouting the location for Store #2.
They organized everything from commercial district analysis to nearby competing stores, and all of this was the result of the General Manager’s instructions.
While it felt burdensome to receive so much help for Family matters, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse when I saw how much the General Manager was enjoying it.
There was only one way to repay them. Increasing the Fund’s profits.
To do that, I didn’t have time to stay here any longer.
“I’ll be heading out now. Please contact me anytime if any problems arise.”
“Alright, good work. See you at Home.”
I said goodbye to my Parents and headed straight to the Fund Office.
After all, I already had a way to repay Tiger Fund prepared.
***
As soon as I arrived at the Fund Office, I looked for the General Manager.
“General Manager, I’ve compiled some promising Investment opportunities.”
“Looks like you’ve finally finished organizing everything. I’ve been waiting.”
“Actually, there’s nothing particularly special about it. No matter how I think about it, investing in major United States IT Companies is the most stable approach long-term.”
“Is there a reason you came to that conclusion?”
Companies that took a major hit from the IT bubble.
But the problem was just the ‘timing.’
The IT boom happened at too early a timing, and given time, there was a high possibility they would naturally find their place again.
Of course, I also checked the Gears.
Many companies’ structures had been destroyed and turned to ruins, but the major IT Companies still had their gears turning and their core structures remained intact.
“From a long-term perspective, these are companies that will rise again.”
“Hmm, so we need to do Short Selling in the short term while acquiring Equity Shares for the long term. IT Companies’ Stock Prices have been rising again lately.”
“I’ve been checking daily. The current Stock Prices of IT Companies are excessively inflated.”
“But you’re still saying we should secure Equity Shares?”
Completely contradictory Investment strategies.
There were many difficulties in proceeding with Short Selling and equity acquisition simultaneously.
Nevertheless, this was the path we had to take, and it was also the method that could yield the greatest profits.
“If the entire IT ecosystem collapses, the major IT Companies will end up monopolizing that space instead.”
“So that’s why you’re saying we should secure Equity Shares.”
“There’s no need to secure equity shares immediately. If we proceed with short selling first, then acquire equity when stock prices fall, we can maximize profits.”
Drive down prices through short selling, then buy up equity shares.
In a way, it was a strategy that could be called the basics of investment.
After all, you sell when prices are high and buy when they’re cheap.
“Thanks to Employee Lee, this has been very helpful in determining our investment direction. But it’s a bit disappointing. Aren’t there any major IT companies?”
“And besides major IT companies, I’ve also compiled information on several startups that haven’t gone public yet.”
“That’s exactly what I was waiting to hear.”
The General Manager pulled his chair closer and focused on the report in my hands.
“The essence of the IT bubble was the absence of profit structures.”
“That was the biggest cause.”
“However, within the IT industry, there are sectors that either have solid profit structures or can create them in the future.”
“Where?”
“The gaming industry.”
The growth potential of PC games was extremely strong.
There were already successful game companies, but everything up to now had been just the warm-up phase.
Internet penetration rates were rapidly rising, and accordingly, the online game market had no choice but to expand.
“I hear Korea is experiencing a PC Bang craze these days.”
“That’s correct. New stores continue to open, and internet penetration rates are rapidly increasing, so the gaming market outlook is bright.”
“There’s game CD sales too, and online games already have profit structures in place through subscription fees or partial monetization.”
Unlike other IT companies, game companies already had profit structures in place.
If experts were brought in, they could create much more sophisticated models than what existed now.
“I’ve researched several promising game companies. Some are already listed, while others are preparing to go public or are newly established startups.”
“Let’s start with the biggest one first.”
“‘Two-Track Interactive,’ an American game company, is the largest in scale. They’ve secured a solid fanbase with a game called ‘Grand Crime Auto (GCA)’.”
It was a company that had managed to survive the IT bubble thanks to its enthusiast base.
And since it was a game company that could continue growing in the future, I could recommend it with confidence.
“I’ve seen colleagues in the United States playing that game. It has quite high freedom, and there are quite a lot of violent scenes too.”
“A new release is scheduled for this year or early next year, so now is the perfect time to invest. Stock prices have also fallen significantly due to the IT bubble aftermath.”
“So profit realization would be possible within 1-2 years.”
“I expect it to rise at least 2 times or more.”
I could tell just by looking at the gear structure.
It was currently stopped, but the scale of the structure that would soon begin operating was more than twice the current size.
“Good. Let’s proceed with buying Two-Track Interactive’s stocks. However, since they’re already listed stocks, there might not be much excitement.”
“That’s why I’ve also prepared some unlisted companies among Korean game companies. They’re small in scale but have sufficient growth potential.”
“Which ones?”
“Nextron, Encore, and Neo Marvel. Among them, Encore is scheduled to go public within a few months.”
There were well-known companies and startups that had just been established.
I searched through Tiger Fund Korea Branch’s materials and spent all night scouring the Internet to find three Korean game companies that produced beautiful harmonies or had stable gear structures.
“Coincidentally, all three companies start with the letter ‘N’. But I didn’t know Employee Lee was so interested in games.”
“Rather than being interested in games, I naturally came across game companies while focusing on growth potential.”
“We should meet with Encore quickly. We need to get in before they go public to secure more equity shares. Would the Deputy Branch Manager like to meet with them for this matter too?”
The General Manager was calling me ‘Deputy Branch Manager’ instead of Employee Lee.
It meant I should meet with Encore in my capacity as Tiger Fund’s Deputy Branch Manager, not as a Nexpin employee.
“I’ll take the lead in the negotiation.”
“Good. The Fund Employees will handle all the research. Just let us know when you want it. I’ll arrange the meeting.”
“This time, I’d like to lead the entire process from start to finish myself.”
“That’s an excellent attitude. We’ll just provide the materials, and the Deputy Branch Manager can handle everything else.”
There was a reason I was taking this approach.
Someone close to Encore’s Founding Owner was in my circle.
***
I visited Korean University after a long time.
It was to pay respects to my mentor Professor, along with Kim Sang-sik, who had become a core member of Rollbook.
“Why has it been so long? Should I call you CEO Lee now? And Sang-sik, how could you not visit even once after graduating?”
“How long has it been since I graduated that you’re saying that?”
“I’m sorry. As an apology, I brought a bottle of good liquor from the United States.”
I presented the Professor with premium whiskey I had gotten from the duty-free shop.
The Professor, who usually enjoyed drinking, showed a pleased expression just by looking at the label.
“You didn’t need to bring something like this… Ahem. But you said there’s someone you want to meet?”
“Aren’t there seniors from our school who founded game companies? Could we possibly meet them?”
Kim Sang-sik spoke up on my behalf.
Since I wasn’t a Korea University graduate, it would have been awkward for me to bring this up.
“They’re all students I taught myself. The representatives of two successful game companies these days are graduates from our school. One was from Computer Science Department, the other from Electronics Department, I believe? Who would you like to meet?”
“I’d like to meet both of them and have a discussion.”
“Arranging a meeting isn’t difficult. I still keep in regular contact with them. The problem is people like you who only contact me when you need help.”
Professor Park had such an extensive network that he was called the center of Korea’s computer engineering field.
Especially among Korea University Engineering College graduates, everyone knew his name.
“I’d like to meet them regarding investment matters.”
“What pre-IPO game companies lack most is funds. I’ll put in a good word for you. A student who learned under me, who’s the Rollbook representative and Deputy Branch Manager of a private equity fund – wouldn’t that be interesting enough?”
“Thank you so much.”
Professor Park still looked favorably upon me.
Though I had formally studied under him for less than a year, he cherished me like a student and even informed me of new developments through phone calls or emails when I couldn’t attend school.
“Are you still continuing your studies these days? You can only develop further by constantly learning.”
“I’m working on it. Once I finish my current work, I’d like to attend your classes again like before.”
“Not just you, but all the Rollbook employees are my students too, aren’t they? Not just any students, but direct disciples who stayed up all night together in the research lab. So wouldn’t it be right for me to come to the Rollbook office and teach directly?”
There was no reason to refuse.
Rather, it was something I should have invited him to do first.
Opportunities to learn from Korea’s greatest scholar weren’t common.
“I’ll personally escort you there. If it’s alright with you, please also join us as a Rollbook advisor.”
“I’ll think about it once I retire from my professorship. For now, I’m just going for a casual visit. To check if my students are doing well, you know.”
“Just let me know and I’ll send a car anytime.”
“There’s no need to send a car. Since my students don’t come visit me, I have no choice but to visit them first.”
“I’m sorry.”
Kim Sang-sik and I bowed our heads simultaneously.
The Professor looked at us and laughed as if he found it amusing.
“It’s a joke, so don’t take it too seriously. But even if game companies these days are facing financial difficulties, they won’t accept investment from just anyone. You’ll need to prepare very thoroughly.”
“I’ll prepare thoroughly so as not to tarnish your reputation, Professor.”
“Looking at your expression, you’ve already prepared something, haven’t you?”
Kim Sang-sik and I answered with smiles.
We had already made solid preparations that would capture the game companies’ hearts.
But the Professor, trusting us, carefully offered his advice.
“I heard Encore is preparing for overseas expansion these days.”
“We’ve already prepared for that aspect as well.”
“Even so, negotiation won’t be easy. You’ll need something that only fellow developers can understand.”
I felt the same way.
And I had already met many people who were both developers and entrepreneurs.
Since I had conducted negotiations with American companies like PayPal and Netflix.
So I could easily envision taking the initiative in this negotiation as well.
Annual Salary 1 Trillion New Employee Chapter 67
E-book Publication Date | November 27, 2025
Author | Seo Oh
Publishers | Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won
Publishing House | Poten
Address | [04783] 10th Floor, 8 Yeonmujang 11-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone | 02-6320-8500
Fax | 02-6320-8585
ISBN | 9791175305892
Price | 100 won
ⓒ Seo Oh 2025
This e-book is a copyrighted work protected by copyright law.
This e-book is published under the author’s contract, so unauthorized reproduction, copying, distribution, and sharing are prohibited without written consent from both parties.
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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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