New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 73
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 73. The Poisoned Chalice (3)
A relaxed atmosphere flowed through the Nexfin Office for the first time in a while.
Having finished all the Patent Work, I was taking a breather while drinking coffee from the morning.
“If Tiger Fund had won the bid for Hanseo Bank, it would have been absolute chaos, right? Employee Lee was at the Auction Hall yesterday too, wasn’t he?”
“We unfortunately missed the winning bid. But why do you ask?”
“The front page of the Newspaper is in complete chaos.”
As the President said, the front page of the Newspaper was in complete chaos.
All kinds of newspapers were plastered with articles about the Hanseo Bank auction.
[Hanseo Bank sold to Cali Fund for 1.6 trillion won]
[Cali Fund wins the poisoned chalice]
[Financial Services Commission’s masterstroke, selling at double the price through multiple bidding]
The Media was in a celebratory mood about selling Hanseo Bank at such a high price.
There were even articles expressing gratitude to Cali Fund.
“Cali Fund did overextend themselves.”
“Can they break even if they acquire it at this price?”
“It would probably be difficult, wouldn’t it?”
“I don’t know what’s so special about Hanseo Bank that they acquired it for this money.”
It was something he could say because he didn’t know the inside story.
The General Manager and the Financial Services Commission had set up the game, and the sucker spent money without even knowing they’d been played.
“But you all look quite relaxed.”
“Why are you saying such scary things? This is really the first day we’re resting this week. Don’t tell me there’s something else?”
“The Patent Draft is ready.”
“Already? This isn’t a difficult one, right?”
“I only picked ones we can finish quickly.”
“Phew, really?”
Colleagues letting out sighs of relief.
Enjoying their reaction for a moment, I presented them with the new Patent Draft.
“I’ve created an expanded concept for the Patent Application for embedding Wi-Fi in MP3 players or Mobile Phones.”
“Just hearing about Wi-Fi makes my head hurt. We struggled for a whole month filing that Patent Application.”
“This time, instead of Portable Devices, I’ve created a Patent Draft for installing Wi-Fi Modules in Home Appliances.”
Since it was a topic they had tackled before, smiles quickly spread across my colleagues’ faces.
But I wasn’t sure if they could maintain those smiles after hearing the rest of the explanation.
“But what are we supposed to do by installing Wi-Fi in home appliances? It’s not like downloading digital music files like MP3 players, or downloading games like mobile phones.”
“We’re making remote control possible. With Wi-Fi installed, users can turn the power on and off from anywhere with an internet connection, or even adjust temperature settings.”
“That sounds good! I had a scare last year when I went to work without turning off the air conditioner.”
Installing Wi-Fi modules was essential for remote control of home appliances.
Of course, just installing Wi-Fi wouldn’t be the end of it.
“We’re also developing programs for remote control through Wi-Fi.”
“Don’t we need to install different programs for each home appliance?”
“That’s true. But there won’t be major differences.”
“While Employee Lee is creating the programs, we can file the patents. But it looks like there’s quite a lot to handle?”
“Air conditioners, TVs, washing machines, microwaves, refrigerators, and so on. Please file patents for installing Wi-Fi modules in all home appliances.”
This time, the quantity was the problem.
Most home appliances could have Wi-Fi modules installed.
“Filing patents for all of this would be an enormous amount of work, wouldn’t it?”
“Still, we need to register everything now to block workarounds later.”
“But come on, where else would we be? We’ve done this once before, so we can do it quickly. So let’s stop complaining and get to work.”
The President tried to encourage the colleagues,
but thinking about filing dozens of patent applications, the office atmosphere became slightly subdued.
However, I pushed forward strongly. These were patents that absolutely had to be created in advance.
The home appliance remote control patents were producing quite a pleasant harmony.
Just by securing the patents in advance, it was certain that world-famous home appliance companies would pay huge royalties to use our technology.
“How long do we have to do this? To handle everything, we’d have to suffer for months, not weeks, wouldn’t we?”
“Ah! What happened with the subcontracting company? You said you would visit them personally, President.”
“I went to the company that the Patent Team members created and made a proposal. But they seemed hurt in their pride and rejected it at first.”
“They rejected it? Was the unit price too low perhaps?”
“No. I actually offered higher than the industry average. But they called again yesterday. They said they wanted to discuss it again.”
“Oh! Really?”
It was a company created by the members of the Patent Team I used to be on.
They knew our system better than anyone, and if we signed a subcontracting agreement with them, we could greatly reduce our workload.
“They would definitely be much better than other subcontractors.”
“We have contracts with several subcontracting companies even now, but they’re not much help.”
“It’s because we don’t have specialized patent personnel. But if it’s a company created by the Patent Team, we should be able to get proper help.”
“That’s why this time we’re definitely going to sign a contract. They’re coming next week, so everyone welcome them warmly.”
Next week, I would be able to meet my former team colleagues again.
I didn’t miss them that much, but I really wanted to show them how Product Development Division 3 had been reborn as ‘Nexpin.’
***
After finishing work, I headed to the Fund Office.
But the General Manager was waiting for me, holding a document in his hand.
“I received something very interesting. Employee Lee, take a look at this too.”
“What is this?”
The words ‘Certified Mail’ written in large letters at the top of the document caught my eye.
It contained threatening content claiming that Max Coffee had infringed on Hanyang Dairy’s trademark rights and technology, warning of legal action.
“Hanyang Dairy sent us certified mail. Since the Max Coffee Office address is registered to our building, we received it.”
“But does Hanyang Dairy even have grounds to take legal action against us? We’ve already registered all the trademark rights, and we’ve registered all parts eligible for patent application.”
“The Fund Legal Team has resolved all legal issues too. Even if it goes to trial, our chances of losing are close to 0%.”
Since it was my parents’ business, I had taken care of everything meticulously.
I had received help from Fund Employees to my Nexpin colleagues who were experts in patents.
“Then why did they send this certified mail?”
“It’s a tactic that Large Corporations often use to pressure Small and Medium Enterprises. Just being sued creates enormous stress, and many small businesses eventually give up. Even without any charges, they can send certified mail and file lawsuits as much as they want.”
“So you’re saying it’s a lawsuit for intimidation purposes?”
Was this it?
I recalled the words from the person from Hanyang Dairy Food Service Division saying we would regret it.
It was a hint that they would harass us through legal means.
“For typical small-scale businesses, it’s hard to endure. Legal Response costs money and takes a lot of time, so many places close down within a year.”
“Do legal battles last that long?”
“They can drag on for over 3 years at the longest. From the Large Corporation’s perspective, rather than winning the trial, their goal is to make the opponent exhausted and give up beforehand.”
I keenly realized that law could become a weapon for those with money and power.
What if my parents had faced this situation alone? That thought made my blood boil.
“I absolutely cannot tolerate this. If they had targeted me, I might have been able to endure it, but targeting my parents is unacceptable.”
“Targeting Employee Lee’s parents means targeting all of Tiger Fund. How should we respond? Legal Response, Negotiation – both are possible.”
Hanyang Dairy would definitely move centered around their legal team.
Or there was a high possibility they’d hire a Major Law Firm to harass us.
Then I also needed to quickly find legal defense measures first.
“First, we should start with legal defense. I’ll hire a Major Law Firm with my own Funds.”
“Before Hanyang Dairy moves, let’s attach Korea’s top Law Firm. We need to prepare to counterattack with false accusation charges the moment an Indictment arrives.”
“But will they really proceed with an Indictment?”
“If there’s no response even after sending Certified Mail, proceeding to an Indictment is their way. No matter how late, an Indictment will arrive within 2 weeks.”
With money, legal defense was sufficiently possible.
But fighting only through law would take too long.
The fastest way to resolve this issue was to let them know that Max Coffee wasn’t alone.
“How about revealing that Max Coffee is connected to Tiger Fund?”
“That would be too anticlimactic. The opponent started this because they judged us as easy targets, but if our identity is revealed, they’ll flee before even sending an Indictment. Those types always quietly retreat when facing strong opponents.”
It was also the easiest method.
Just letting them know Tiger Fund was behind us would make all problems disappear.
But I didn’t want to resolve it this way. I didn’t want to end it by just driving away the person who touched my Parents.
“That’s why I’m conflicted. Thinking of my Parents, it would be better to handle it quietly and quickly, but doing so wouldn’t give me a way to vent my anger.”
“What did I tell you? Nothing is more important than emotions. I wrote 1 trillion 570 billion won on a Bid Document just to screw over Cali Fund. I was prepared to win the bid too.”
In Korea, I was always taught to hide emotions and endure.
But the General Manager was different.
He wasn’t afraid to show emotions and considered them important.
“Would it be okay if I handle this matter as I see fit?”
“Anything that satisfies Employee Lee’s heart. But aren’t you curious who ordered this?”
“Do you think someone gave orders rather than it being a Business Division level decision?”
“The Hanyang Dairy Third-generation Chaebol was appointed as head of the Restaurant Business Division this time.”
Third-generation Chaebol.
A story from a completely different world that I’d only seen in dramas had now become reality.
“Is the Third-generation Chaebol trying to acquire Max Coffee for performance?”
“That’s highly likely. The most successful coffee shop right now was launched by a Third-generation Chaebol from a distribution Large Corporation and became a huge hit. Other Third-generation Chaebols would be envious too.”
“Since bringing in foreign brands costs a lot of money, they’re trying to steal an easy Domestic brand wholesale.”
The situation became clear.
No matter how big a Corporation is, they wouldn’t try to steal Stores so blatantly.
Rather, they would move more secretly and by surprise, but openly threatening was too amateurish.
“Currently, Han Dong-su, the second Son of Hanyang Dairy Chairman, has come as the head of the Restaurant Business Division. I heard he majored in Vocal Music in the UK.”
“A Vocal Music major climbed up to division head just through blood relations?”
“Originally, all Korean chaebols are like that. And Europe and other countries are all similar too. Passing companies to incompetent children is a common thing Worldwide.”
I deeply engraved Han Dong-su’s name in my heart.
I didn’t know what kind of nerve he had to touch our Family, but I was determined to make him pay the price.
“I need information related to Han Dong-su.”
“Of course we’ll prepare it for you. And we’ll also pull out all Materials related to Hanyang Dairy. We’ll prepare everything so you can see all the unknown information within today.”
“I’m sorry to receive help with Family matters.”
“Don’t say such things. When things like this happen, the bonds between our Branch Office Staff Members actually deepen. That way, Employees who want to spy won’t emerge either.”
I understood why Manager Danny didn’t go to Cali Fund.
The General Manager stepped forward to solve even Staff Members’ personal problems as if they were his own.
As such things accumulated, the members’ loyalty would have solidified together.
“For the sake of the Employees too, I’ll definitely crush him thoroughly.”
“Of course. If it ends vaguely, the Employees’ morale will drop instead.”
“Before contracting with a Law Firm, could I first contract with a Security Company?”
“Just in case, you’re not trying to solve this with force, are you?”
“Of course not. It’s defense, not attack. I’m trying to deploy Bodyguards for defense in case of emergency.”
Using force was something only Neighborhood Thugs would do.
But there was no law saying a Third-generation Chaebol couldn’t be a thug.
“From today, we’ll attach personnel capable of Close Protection.”
“Please arrange about 10 people. I’ll bear all the costs. No matter how much it costs, I’d like skilled people.”
“We’ll attach Bodyguards who were active in United States PMC. Though it costs more than twice as much, their skills are the best. We’ll recruit human weapons who can easily handle about 10 Thugs alone.”
Now I felt relieved.
But surely a real Third-generation Chaebol wouldn’t actually do thug-like things, right?
Annual Salary 1 Trillion New Employee Chapter 73
E-book Publication Date | 2025.11.27
Author | Seo Oh
Publishers | Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won
Published by | Poten
Address | [04783] 10th Floor, 8 Yeonmujang 11-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone | 02-6320-8500
Fax | 02-6320-8585
ISBN | 9791175305892
List 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, and unauthorized reproduction, copying, distribution, and sharing are prohibited without written consent from both parties.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
