The Secret Investment Formula of a Chemical Genius - Chapter 144



Only Krnovel

Episode 144 Shareholders’ Meeting

Human skin tissue is largely composed of three types.

The epidermis is the outermost layer, the dermis is located underneath, and the subcutaneous tissue is located at the very bottom.

At this time, the burn stage is divided into 1st to 3rd degree depending on ‘which part of the skin is affected’.

First, in the case of a first-degree burn, the epidermis becomes red and swollen.

Natural treatment is sufficient, even with just mild first aid such as cooling in cold water.

In the case of second-degree burns where damage extends beyond the epidermis to the dermis.

As it required at least 3 to 4 weeks of hospital treatment, it was nearly impossible to recover using only the body’s natural healing power.

And third-degree burns are those that damage the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.

Since the skin was virtually necrotic, tissue removal and skin grafting treatment were essential.

I recalled the image of Hyejin I saw in my dream.

2 degrees? No, it was a bit worse than that.

When looking at the darkening of the facial skin, it appeared that skin necrosis was actually taking place.

3 degrees.

I thought it would be okay to aim for that level.

I read through a recent paper.

A technology that has recently been gaining attention in burn treatment is skin regeneration using stem cells.

Stem cells are cells that have not yet differentiated and have two major characteristics.

Self-renewal, which means that stem cells can continuously replicate themselves as long as they are supplied with sufficient nutrients.

They normally exist in an undifferentiated state, but have the ability to differentiate into specific body tissues when necessary.

Because of these properties, stem cells have recently been used in burn treatment.

Treatment by injecting tens of millions of stem cells into the burn-damaged area and inducing differentiation.

The results were so remarkable that burn scars covering the entire upper body, with blisters and pustules, improved in just a few weeks.

but…….

It is true that the treatment effect is excellent, but it still seems to be limited to around the 2nd degree.

There are three growth factors involved in skin regeneration.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)

Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)

Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)

Among them, what caught my eye was fibroblast growth factor (FGF).

FGF, which consists of 120 peptides and 24 heparin complexes, plays a role in tissue differentiation, regeneration, and treatment.

Of these 24 heparin complexes, two are skin-related FGFs.

KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor), which is involved in wound healing, and FGF-22 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 22), which is involved in skin regeneration.

If you think about it, the human body is not much different from a robot.

As the current flows, the parts built into the robot operate according to their functions.

The body’s functions are also regulated by hormones.

The same goes for fibroblast growth factor.

FGF receptors regulate their function through interaction with their ligand (neurotransmitter), heparin sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG).

As if turning a switch on and off.

But there’s one thing that’s bothering me.

Since it is a treatment through cell proliferation, if not done properly, there is a risk of excessive cell proliferation beyond what is necessary.

A malignant tumor, commonly called cancer.

If only I could control this part… … .

I was lost in thought in the lab for a while.

The door suddenly flew open.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to look up some information. Why are you here? I heard from Manager Kim Sung-jae that you are busy.”

Taekang pushed his huge body away with a look of absurdity on his face.

The sky had suddenly turned dark.

“It’s already past time to leave work.”

“Is it like that already?”

As the guy said, the time was already past 8:40 PM.

When did time pass so quickly?

“Since you’re always locked in your room, your sense of time is getting dull. Come out and eat.”

I nodded.

* * *

The cafeteria is empty, with all the employees already gone.

Taekang and I had a leisurely dinner.

“Where did you get this?”

What he prepared was a bulgogi lunch box.

It looked like it was cooked quickly, as the rice was still warm.

“I bought it at the lunchbox shop in front of our company.”

“Was there something like that?”

Taekang clicked his tongue.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I’m going to take a look around.”

“Come to think of it, it seems like a lot of stores have opened up around the company.”

Recently, stores that didn’t exist before have started to open one by one.

“The number of employees at our company has increased considerably, and as you have been handling various matters, three subcontractors have moved into the nearby area, and the employees seem to be secretly satisfied.”

A commercial district has begun to form here, little by little, centered around our company.

Although the company cafeteria serves good food, I still want to eat out sometimes.

“This place was just a wasteland at first.”

The guy looked out the window at the company view, perhaps feeling a new sense of excitement.

As the guy said, when we first started our business here, there was nothing around here.

But now, the buildings are being built so densely that it’s hard to remember those days.

“Wow, time flies so fast. When did time pass so quickly?”

“yes.”

I respond appropriately and pick up my chopsticks.

“By the way, how did your hand end up like that? Who did you fight with?”

“… … .”

Ha-eun and this guy too, why do they keep thinking that I fought with someone?

“Am I old enough to fight? I just sprained my ankle while sleeping.”

“Yes. Yes, I guess so. If you get stressed out, I bought a sandbag in the gym, so go hit it as much as you want.”

A look of complete disbelief.

Well, I’m still not sure if I hit something in my sleep and the back of my hand swelled up, or if something that happened in my dream really affected me in reality.

“How are you, Hyejin?”

“At first, he seemed really surprised, but now he seems to have calmed down a bit.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Oh! Now that you mention it, I’m thinking of that guy again. I wish he was actually in front of me!”

Is the fever still running?

Taekang put down his chopsticks and waved his fist in the air.

… … What are you doing while you’re eating?

“Don’t be so crazy.”

“okay.”

The guy also seemed embarrassed, cleared his throat, and picked up his chopsticks again.

By the time we finished eating like that.

I held out an envelope in front of the guy who was picking his teeth with a toothpick.

“What is this?”

“See for yourself.”

Taekang took out what was inside the envelope.

“… … Notice of convocation of general shareholders’ meeting? Are you really planning to hold a general shareholders’ meeting?”

“uh.”

It’s about time we held one.

Shareholders’ meeting.

* * *

Until recently, there has been a steady stream of investment inquiries from outside sources to CZTERA.

The phone calls come several times a day.

From individual investors, domestic private equity funds, to large foreign investment firms.

But I’ve never been under financial pressure before.

Despite numerous investment inquiries, CZTERA rejected all of them.

With one exception.

“long time no see!”

Princess Sofia smiled brightly at us.

“How have you been?”

“sure.”

Contrary to her words, her expression became slightly clouded.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just that I have too much homework.”

Taekang and I exchanged glances and snickered.

Department of Chemistry, Korea University.

As expected from a science and engineering major, there was a considerable amount of homework for each subject.

A process we’ve both gone through at least once.

Even though she is fluent in Korean, it seems that Princess Sophia, being a foreigner, will have a much harder time than other students.

“It may be difficult at first, but you will get used to it after a while.”

“I don’t want to get used to that.”

Feeling depressed only lasts for a moment.

Princess Sophia smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.

“I’m excited because this is my first time attending a shareholders’ meeting!”

“Is this your first time?”

“yes!”

“I heard from Mr. Edvard Larsson last time that you have invested in several companies.”

“That’s right. But I’ve never attended a general shareholders’ meeting before. I never really felt the need to.”

“This is your first time at our company’s general meeting, so you’ll have to do well today. Welcome, Princess!”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Vice President!”

Princess Sophia smiled brightly at Taekang.

“But what about the other shareholders?”

Princess Sophia looked around, flustered.

“There are three of us.”

For a moment, her pupils widened.

“Really? Even if it wasn’t an IPO, there must have been a lot of investment offers.”

“Yes, but I just don’t feel the need to invest yet.”

Looking at the current shareholding structure, I own 94%, Taekang owns 5%, and Princess Sophia owns 1%.

Unless something really extraordinary happens, this structure is unlikely to change for the time being.

“Well, I guess so.”

“Shall we go?”

All shareholders of CZTERA have already gathered.

Without further delay, we headed to the auditorium where the shareholders’ meeting was to be held.

“It’s spacious.”

“That’s true.”

In a space large enough to accommodate hundreds of people, there are only three shareholders.

There were more employees helping out at the event than shareholders.

Princess Sophia was looking around for a while as if she was curious.

A neatly dressed female employee approached and handed Princess Sophia something wrapped.

“This is… … ?”

“It’s a souvenir. I don’t know about other countries, but in Korea, they sometimes give out these as souvenirs at general shareholders’ meetings.”

“Can I check it now?”

“sure.”

Princess Sophia carefully opened the package and checked the contents.

“It’s a fountain pen.”

“I hope you like it.”

“Hold on tight, Professor!”

Although it is said to be a shareholders’ meeting souvenir, it is actually a custom gift for Princess Sophia.

She smiled brightly, delighted at receiving something unexpected.

“Shall we begin now?”

“yes!”

Although it was called a shareholders’ meeting, it was held in a fairly relaxed atmosphere.

The staff member who had been waiting handed me, Taekang, and Princess Sophia a thick copy of the document.

“This is this year’s sales report. If you look there… … .”

I am the representative of CZTERA and also hold the status of a major shareholder.

However, since the time spent locked up in the lab was longer than the time spent actually working, the overall management of the company was taken care of by Taekang Lee and Manager Seongjae Kim.

So, after much deliberation over whether I should run as the chairman of the shareholders’ meeting or have someone else do it, we ultimately decided that Vice President Kim Seong-jae should do it.

“… … That’s it. Do you have any questions?”

At that moment, Princess Sophia raised her hand.

“Yes, go ahead and speak.”

“Looking here, it says 27.2 billion won under the short-term financial asset disposal profit item. What are these short-term financial assets?”

“That’s a Kookmin Bank CD (negotiable certificate of deposit)… … .”

Sophia asked questions about every part she was curious about or didn’t know.

Manager Kim Seong-jae answered her questions sincerely.

I watched the scene with a grin.

… … I should make a prescription for the manager later.

Even though the weather was gradually getting cooler, sweat was running down Manager Kim Seong-jae’s forehead.

“Thank you for your answer!”

“Any other questions?”

“doesn’t exist.”

“Are there any shareholders who object to the approval of the business report?”

As you might expect, none of the three of us raised an objection.

“Let’s move on to the next agenda item. Well, this item is about dividends, and the dividend size has been set at 1 trillion won.”

Princess Sophia looked at me in surprise.

“That much?”

I raised my hand toward Manager Kim Seong-jae.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I accepted the microphone that Manager Kim Seong-jae handed me.

No matter how relaxed the atmosphere, this is still an official event with minutes being recorded.

Formalism was absolutely necessary.

“As you can see from the financial statements, this year’s total net income was approximately KRW 4.2532 trillion. Even after excluding R&D costs and facility investment costs for next year, a considerable amount of surplus cash is expected to be generated. I thought we could easily afford a dividend of this size. Did you get my answer?”

“yes!”

I handed the microphone back to Manager Kim Seong-jae and returned to the audience.

“Is there anyone who disagrees with this?”

This time there were no dissenting opinions.

“Hehehe!”

Taekang, who was sitting next to me, chuckled.

“Is it that good?”

“of course!”

“Is this amount enough as a congratulatory gift?”

“… … !”

The guy looked back at me with a surprised expression.

“Could this be… … .”

“Humble, humble.”

“Congratulations on your wedding, Vice President!”

Sophia also congratulated him.

And just in time, staff and guards poured into the auditorium carrying a huge cake.

“Congratulations on your wedding, Vice President!”

“Have many sons and daughters, and be happy!”

“Vice-Captain! I wanted you to be happy, but it wasn’t like this!”

“Congratulations, Vice President.”

A crowd of congratulatory messages surrounded the guy.

The guy opened his mouth and gasped, seeming very surprised.

“The staff came to me and asked me to throw them a surprise party without telling me.”

Taekang came to his senses after realizing the situation.

“Ha, really… … You don’t have to go this far.”

The guy scratched the back of his head, seeming embarrassed.

“Don’t lie! You’ll just let it go and complain later.”

“You think you won’t be seen if you hide, Seo Ji-seop! You’ll have an extra hour of sparring with me later!”

“Oh no! This is unjustified violence against men!”

“I’ll tell you later what real violence is!”

The noisy shareholders’ meeting ended like that.

And a few days later.

The day of Taekang’s wedding.

A large number of unexpected guests showed up there.