The Chairman Who Wants to Play and Eat - Chapter 50



Chapter 50. Yes, I know everything.

Omaha, Eppley Airfield.

“Mr. Hyun!”

A long fourteen-hour flight,

As we landed on the first flight of dawn, George Howard spotted us from a distance and raised his hand in greeting.

“How’s work? You’ve come early.”

Instead of a formal greeting, I started with a joke, and Howard laughed.

“Isn’t this my job? Going around to seek investments. I was already planning to come, but with Mr. Hyun arriving, it became more urgent. By the way, what about school?”

“I’ll just focus on this work. In the meantime, there’s a self-imposed break.”

“That’s impressive.”

“There’s no separate school for learning. This is a much greater lesson for me.”

After exchanging warm greetings, we began to walk.

“Anyway, welcome. It’s reassuring.”

“Shall we go then?”

“I’ll drive you. Last time in LA, I was the guest, but here it’s Mr. Hyun’s turn to be my guest.”

We stepped out, taking in the airport surroundings.

Despite being a hub in the Midwest, there weren’t many travelers.

Maybe it was still early?

But then,

the gaze I felt behind me was strange.

It felt like they were either glaring or uncomfortable with us? Quick-witted Howard explained promptly.

“It’s a bit different from a big city, isn’t it?”

I furrowed my brow slightly, feeling awkward.

“They’re not exactly friendly to outsiders. I’m fine since my appearance doesn’t stand out, but you two…”

He trailed off.

“I have a rough idea of what you mean.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“It’s not something Howard should be thanking me for. Let’s go.”

Knowing the reason felt refreshing.

As we walked to the parking lot, I briefly explained the plan to him.

In truth, there wasn’t much of a plan.

The entire idea was simply to go to the cafeteria where Warren Kane often visits and wait for him there.

“Actually, I did the same thing.”

He’s someone who comes at the same time, so it’s not hard to meet him.

I became curious upon hearing that.

“A wealthy man like Kane must find it uncomfortable to frequent restaurants where someone recognizes him every day, like Howard does, but it seems he doesn’t feel that way.”

“It seems there aren’t as many people like that as you might think.”

He smiled and shared a story about Kane.

It was a few years ago.

Kane attended a board meeting at Solomon Brothers, holding 10% of the investment bank’s shares, and none of the executives recognized him.

He almost got kicked out, in fact.

According to him, similar incidents continued to happen afterward.

“Why is that?”

In response to my question,

“It’s partly because Kane doesn’t often appear on broadcasts or in the media, and he spends most of his time handling business by mail from Omaha. Only Kane himself knows the exact reasons, though.”

Howard replied. It seemed that was about all he knew.

My ears perked up.

A wealthy man with few acquaintances?

‘This is exactly the kind of life I want!’

I felt a new commonality between Warren Kane and myself.

I would learn more details when we met, but somehow, I felt a sense of closeness already.

As expected, as expected.

He didn’t earn the nickname of sage for nothing.

Just then,

“Oh, and.”

Howard added, as if a thought had suddenly struck him.

“The cafeteria he visits every day is also owned by Warren Kane. Of course, there are far more people who don’t know that than those who do. Truly a reclusive investor, haha.”

We moved downtown.

It was certainly different from California, where various races gather. Most of the people passing by were white.

[BILL AND JAKE’S CAFETERIA]

“This is the place.”

“Yes, this is it.”

I checked the time; it was 7:30 AM. There were about thirty minutes left until eight, when Kane was supposed to arrive.

“He’s a man who values punctuality, so he’ll be here right on time.”

“Shall we wait inside then?”

“Sounds good. Let’s have a cup of morning coffee while we’re at it. If you’re hungry, grab a bite to eat.”

We stepped inside.

It was early, so there weren’t many customers. We chose a table and sat down.

Ten minutes passed.

“No one’s coming.”

I said.

“Indeed.”

“It’s just as you said, sir.”

The staff was taking orders from customers who had come in after us, yet no one seemed to pay us any attention.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t seen us. I could feel their gazes prickling at my back since earlier.

Was it passive racism?

A chuckle escaped me.

“Should I go say something?”

I stopped Howard as he was about to rise.

“Weren’t we waiting anyway? We can order when Kane arrives; it won’t be too late then. It’s amusing, so let’s see how long we can wait.”

*

7:52 AM,

“Well then, I’ll be off.”

“Please be careful, Chairman.”

Warren Kane left the building right on time. He aimed to arrive at the cafeteria by eight o’clock sharp.

Bill and Jake would have cherry cola and a hamburger ready for him, just as they always did.

It was his long-held morning routine.

Someone once said,

“Why, Warren, with so many types of hamburgers, do you insist on a cheeseburger? And the cola too.”

He replied,

“Why take a different path when I know the taste that awaits me? An adventure I don’t understand isn’t an adventure; it’s recklessness.”

This aligned perfectly with his investment philosophy.

First principle: Only invest in what you understand.

The same goes for food.

Choosing a hamburger that evokes its flavor just by looking at it is not a choice for him. It was a given.

A few days ago came to mind.

“Mr. Kane, how are you? I’m George Howard, and I run a coffee roastery franchise in California.”

A man was waiting for him in the cafeteria.

It was a rare occurrence.

“What’s the matter?”

“Please invest in me. You won’t regret it.”

“That’s not for you to decide. If you have a proposal prepared, hand it over to me. Whether I regret it or not is my decision to make.”

There were always one or two asking for investment.

Documents he read regularly.

He could recognize them with just a glance.

And, upon review, Warren Kane thought this business was at least not difficult to understand. The first principle had been passed.

And,

The second principle,

He doesn’t hold onto stocks he regrets buying for even ten minutes.

“Starfox, was it? At least I won’t regret it.”

It was as Howard said. Thus, the second principle was also surpassed.

Next, the third principle,

It should be undervalued. This too was surpassed. There was no market evaluation yet. It was a business just starting out.

Finally, the fourth principle,

It should either dominate the market or have plans to dominate it in the future; “dominate” is the keyword. In other words, it’s about seeing the fundamentals and potential.

This too was the case.

It passed.

Despite having only a dozen locations, Starfox’s proposal discussed expansion beyond the United States to countries around the world.

“Bold, but it doesn’t seem impossible.”

He had an eye that could see beyond the documents.

He thought it was a worthwhile investment.

His partner, Charlie Gunter, agreed.

A moment later,

“You’ve arrived!”

I arrived at the cafeteria.

I sat down in my usual spot, hearing the greetings from Chef Bill and Jake. It had been decades that I occupied this same seat. And then I recalled a face I had seen a few days ago, sitting nearby.

That face approached.

“Are you…?”

“Yes, indeed. I’m George Howard, the one who greeted you back then.”

This time, there were two more people. They were of Asian descent.

“Is the person next to you a friend?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Did you come to ask for an investment as well? We should have a meal first, so please hand me your proposal. I’ll take my time to review it.”

Kane said.

“No.”

The Asian man replied.

“I didn’t come to seek investment; I came to invest. In your company, Bedford and Hampshire, Warren Kane.”

His English was fluent, with no trace of an accent.

*

“What did you say?”

Howard was the first to respond.

It seemed he had no idea I would say something like this.

I hadn’t mentioned it.

“You’re saying you want to invest in my company? But do you know? Our company has no reason to accept your investment.”

Kane replied.

“May I take a seat?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

I sat down in front of Kane. Howard, pale as a ghost, followed suit.

“I apologize for the late introduction. Mr. Kane, this is my investor, Mr. Hyun, Hyun Sang-yoon.”

It was then that we exchanged names.

Kane said.

“Very well, Mr. Hyun. Since you’re saying you want to invest, I can’t just send you away. Let’s consider it an interesting story and hear you out. You seem quite young to be making an investment, but judging by your impression and attire, it doesn’t seem like mere nonsense.”

He had a round face, but his eyes shone sharply.

Indeed, it was a discerning gaze that found and acquired the earthy Bedford and Hampshire within the pearl.

“Are you Korean?”

“How did you know?”

What an impressive person.

Unlike others who typically mention Japan or China when they see an East Asian, his perceptiveness was different from the start.

“I can tell just by looking. By the way, since you’re Korean, you probably can’t invest directly due to government regulations, so you must be involved with a local company, likely a conglomerate like Jeong Sang or Daewoon. And seeing that you’re young, I’d guess you’re part of a family business.”

He was sharp.

“That’s correct. I’m from Seonghyeon Group.”

“Seonghyeon, I think I’ve heard of it.”

“Thank you.”

“Not something to be thankful for. So, do you have any other companies you’ve invested in? Let’s hear them.”

I answered.

“First, Appel.”

He nodded.

“Appel, a computer company. I didn’t invest because I couldn’t understand it at all. I have a habit of not investing in things I don’t understand.”

“I see. I understand.”

“Do you know? The computers made by Appel. Knowing here isn’t just about whether you know what exists. It’s a question of whether you completely understand it.”

Of course.

“I do. I understand completely.”

From noble mtl dot com

For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

“You say you understand? Completely?”

“Yes.”

“You mean you know all the products they make? All the software and programs?”

“Yes, I know everything.”

I said confidently.

I know it all.

More than Jackson, perhaps even better than Koz (Kowalski).

“Mr. Hyun here has directly developed the business software that comes bundled with Appel’s new product lineup. Naturally, he knows it well and has invested accordingly.”

At that moment, even Howard, who had been silent until now, chimed in.

“Does that even make sense?”

“It’s believable.”

This time, it was the deputy.

To the one who couldn’t believe it, I pulled out the Apple catalog and even made him verify my name, the original author, written in the specifications of the new product’s configuration program.

“Is that really true?”

Kane finally uttered a word.

“Is there anything else?”

“I’ve invested in Starfox.”

“I heard that earlier. So, you know a lot about Starfox, then?”

“Yes, I do.”

I answered confidently.

And then I mentioned that I had recently obtained a barista certification from the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) to better understand Starfox.

This was nothing special.

It was only natural.

Doesn’t everyone do at least this much to make an investment?

If you’re going to invest in a computer company, you should at least have made a computer, and if you’re going to invest in a coffee company, you should know how to make coffee. It’s a basic principle of investing.

Just as Warren Kane said.

He clicked his tongue.

“To go to such lengths for an investment. Then your claim of knowing my company well can’t be entirely false. So, what exactly does such an impressive person want from me? How much are you looking to invest?”

I replied.

“How about 5,000 shares of Bedford and Hampshire stock, totaling 5 million dollars?”

*

The first investment concluded at 1,000 shares.

The conversation was long, though.

“I didn’t even give my son 5,000 shares. We’ve only just met. I hope you can be satisfied with this. It’s not even confirmed yet. I need to discuss it. And if I have to decline, please don’t take it to heart.”

That was Kane’s words.

I nodded in agreement.

“There’s no way someone would easily share a good (?) company like Bedford.”

A net loss of 5 million dollars every year,

A stock price inflated to a thousand dollars per share, soon to plummet,

If someone were willing to share a company like that, I would have doubted Kane instead. In that case, the investment would be my refusal.

“Then, goodbye.”

“It was a good time.”

I stepped out after the farewell.

In just a few hours, I would have to leave Omaha again. This time, it’s Santa Clara. I’ve already booked the plane ticket.

I also need to go to Seonghyeon Electronics and have a talk.

But I haven’t said anything yet.

Goodbye, Omaha.

There were some unpleasant moments, but as I prepared to leave, a sense of regret washed over me.

On the way to the airport,

“Mr. Hyun.”

Howard paused his driving to express his admiration.

“What is it?”

“You were kind of impressive back at the cafeteria, you know?”

“What was impressive? I just stated the facts as they were.”

What was the story, you ask?

Here’s the whole tale.

As I was leaving, I spoke to Kane one last time.

It was about what happened when the three of us first entered the cafeteria. How the other customers pretended not to see us while taking orders.

“Did that really happen? In my shop?”

“It’s just something that happened. It’s no big deal.”

“I know what you mean.”

Kane flashed a knowing smile.

That was enough.

More importantly,

I gained an important lesson.

I was right to come all the way to Omaha.

Kane, true to his nickname of ‘The Sage of Omaha,’ taught me many things.

“I need to learn too.”

For the future, I must keep learning.

There are so many people to learn from in this world. From Stephen Jackson to Warren Kane.

Is it just the two of them?

No, it isn’t.

I will meet countless people and hear countless teachings until the day I achieve my goal.

In the meantime,

“That cafeteria we talked about earlier? Kane casually mentioned that as long as the cherry-flavored cola and the hamburger flavor remain the same, it wouldn’t matter if the owner changed. He even said he’d be willing to give me a discount. I think I should set up my Star Fox branch there, even if it means making that wicked Bill and Jake unemployed.”

George Howard whispered.

Weeks passed like that.

Korea University,

Professor Baek Seung-ryul, in charge of international law, was biting his lips anxiously.

‘Surely, they must have shown up today?’

He couldn’t forget the thrill he felt when he saw the list of enrolled students. Because Hyun Sang-yoon’s name was on it.

But,

‘Hyun Sang-yoon.’

‘······.’

‘Hyun Sang-yoon!’

He couldn’t see the face. They had been absent since the first day.

At first, he thought positively.

‘Well, they’re from a wealthy family, so they must be busy. It’s understandable to miss a class once. Sure, that makes sense.’

But it wasn’t that simple.

In the next class, and the one after that,

No matter how many times he called Hyun Sang-yoon’s name, there was no response.

Time passed relentlessly.

He grew increasingly anxious.

‘If this continues, I’ll have to give them an F.’

Of course, giving a grade isn’t difficult. It’s just a matter of doing it. It’s only natural for a student who doesn’t meet the criteria to receive an F.

The problem was that the student in question was Hyun Sang-yoon.

It wasn’t the fact that they were from a wealthy family that was the issue.

Rather, it was the chaos that would ensue from the school’s side that posed a greater problem for him.

It was all too predictable.

‘What? You’re going to give an F just for missing a few classes? How can you expect to navigate this harsh world with such inflexibility?’

“Did you say you couldn’t attend in America? Don’t make excuses. Professor Baek should have brought you back from America to make you attend! Is that so difficult?”

I already felt as if I were hearing this unreasonable argument from President Cheon and Dean Oh.

A month had passed like that, and today,

Professor Baek, facing the first class in April, felt a desperate urge to pray. Today was the last day.

If there was an absence by today, he had no choice but to give an F according to the regulations.

“Please be here today. I beg you.”

“Hyun Sang-yoon.”

“······.”

“Hyun Sang-yoon!”

There was still no answer. The sky was indifferent.

At that moment,

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was late to respond, Professor. I’m sorry for being absent all this time.”

Hyun Sang-yoon’s voice struck his ears like that of an angel.

Sorry, indeed!

What nonsense!

“Thank you. Thank you! I’m grateful you’re here!”

He found himself running without realizing it. It was to embrace Hyun Sang-yoon. And countless students were watching that moment.