World Domination through Planet Development - Chapter 18
Only Noblemtl
Episode 18. Daehyun Autoware’s Approach
Choi Myeong-seop, CEO of Autoware, who was lightly rejected by the PDC, was sitting quietly and thinking hard.
No matter how successful the other party is, it’s a startup that hasn’t been around for very long.
Clearly, money is absolutely necessary to sustain a growing business.
Even so, what are the cases where it is played so coldly?
Have you already received the investment?
That would be most likely the case.
Doesn’t the time go by so quickly?
2 months after release.
If the market reaction is at this level, the whole world would already be watching.
We’ve been keeping an eye on this side too, but what do you want us to do now? If you were going to do something, you should have done it a long time ago.
Anyway, since it was something I was told to do from above, I had to do something about it.
Choi Myeong-seop also did not expect to be able to do anything with 20 billion from the beginning, but at the very least, he should build a cooperative system or get a definite answer about advancing into autonomous driving AI.
If that’s the case, we should at least start a conversation… .
CEO Choi Myeong-seop called in Managing Director Min Seok-gu.
Soon after, Managing Director Min Seok-gu entered the office.
CEO Choi Myeong-seop explained the whole story and asked Managing Director Min Seok-gu to visit the PDC office.
“Am I… talking?”
“Yes, I would like the manager to go and take a look.”
Managing Director Min Seok-gu said with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“I was interested in that company too… but 20 billion is such an absurd amount to negotiate… I wonder if that would be possible… .”
“I guess it’s something the Chairman instructed, so I can’t just let it go.”
Managing Director Min Seok-gu also started to look troubled when he mentioned the chairman.
“Hmm… Okay. I’ll go for now.”
Managing Director Min Seok-gu had no choice but to visit the Cocoa Building.
“Can you please come through the gate?”
“Yes, what brings you here?”
“I heard that a company called PDC has an office here, so I came here to see if I could take a quick look.”
The security guard at the gate nodded when he heard the word PDC.
The expression on his face was that of ‘as expected’.
It seems like this isn’t something that’s happened once or twice.
The security guard picks up the phone and calls someone.
“Who should I tell you?”
“This is Min Seok-gu, managing director of Daehyun Autoware.”
The security guard didn’t move an inch even after hearing Daehyun’s name.
“Yes, yes, this is Managing Director Min Seok-gu of Daehyun Autoware.”
The agent began to converse as if the connection had been established.
“Oh, really? Oh… yes, I understand.”
A look of surprise.
Bam.
The security guard hung up the phone and looked at Executive Director Min Seok-gu.
“Uh… Come this way.”
A security guard guided Managing Director Min Seok-gu to the gate.
It was fortunate for Managing Director Min Seok-gu, but he also couldn’t hide his doubts.
Judging from his reaction, it seems like this is the first time something like this has happened to him.
It seemed clear that all other places had been rejected.
But why did he ask to see it?
Managing Director Min Seok-gu came up to the office where the PDC was with questions in mind.
A young female employee came out to meet him.
In the conference room she entered, CEO Cheon Jeong-woo was sitting.
He looked at me and didn’t even seem to have any intention of getting up.
It wasn’t particularly unpleasant, but I was curious as to why he was acting that way.
There is no reason for anyone to act like that unless they are a sociopath.
“Nice to meet you. I am Min Seok-gu, managing director of Daehyun Autoware.”
“Yes, please sit down.”
“First of all, congratulations on the successful launch of Sarah AI.”
Jeongwoo nodded his head quietly.
“What do you want to say?”
Managing Director Min Seok-gu realized that there was no way to overcome this situation.
“We came here to see if it would be a good idea to build a cooperative system with Sara AI at Daehyun.”
“Oh, really? Not an investment?”
“If you receive investment, it would be great for us… Even if that is not the case, we are looking forward to the synergy that Sara AI will bring to Daehyun Automobile. Of course, we will pay that amount as well.”
I responded to Managing Director Min Seok-gu’s proposal without a moment’s hesitation.
“Unfortunately, it seems that neither investment nor cooperation will be possible.”
The look of bewilderment on Managing Director Min Seok-gu’s face was evident at Jeong-woo’s blatant words and actions.
“I’m sorry, but what is that… why is that…?”
“Well, I think Daehyun Group knows why I’m doing this.”
No… What on earth does that mean? I, a member of Daehyun Group, don’t understand what that means…
“What does that mean at all… I don’t really… .”
“There’s a CEO named Kang Bae-deok at Daehyun Group, right? I’d like you to ask him. Actually, that’s what I wanted to say.”
Managing Director Min Seok-gu returned to Autoware with Jung-woo’s bitter words in his heart.
“I feel like there might be some ill feelings towards our Daehyun Group.”
Anyone else would have thought it was just an excuse, but what Executive Director Min Seok-gu said needed to be taken to heart.
Executive Director Min Seok-gu is a man who is not very talkative and is far removed from politics or worldly affairs, having risen to an executive position purely through ability.
If it is truly due to ill feelings, we need to approach it with a little more caution.
Delving into these relationships rashly may not lead to very good results.
“Could you please do some background research on President Kang Bae-deok?”
“I know a junior in the relevant department, so let’s meet up.”
Nod.
President Choi Myeong-seop nodded quietly.
Kang Bae-deok is currently the president of Daehyun R&S.
Daehyun R&S is a much smaller company than Autoware, but Kang Bae-deok owns a significant stake in R&S.
It is known on the surface that he was able to concurrently hold the position of president because he exchanged a significant number of shares while transferring ownership of the company.
That’s why President Choi Myeong-seop currently has a much higher position within the group, but he cannot match Kang Bae-deok in terms of stability.
The same goes for the level of wealth.
But, I don’t have a good relationship with Kang Bae-deok… .
I thought that if I did well, I could possibly pass on this annoying task.
* * *
Late at night.
Director Min came to the front of the group headquarters.
There was a person approaching him with quick steps, as if he was waiting for someone.
He was a junior colleague of mine who was in the relevant department at the time the merger and acquisition process was underway.
“Oh my~ Manager. How are you~”
“Haha, really. It’s been a while since you were demoted to a contract worker, and you’re still a manager. How is your sister-in-law doing?”
“Oh. I don’t even want to talk about my wife. Haha.”
The two left the street and went to a restaurant they once frequented.
“Wow~ It’s been a really long time since I’ve been here.”
“I guess you don’t come here often these days?”
“There’s someone there who really likes seafood stew. And these days, the culture of having company dinners is on the rise, so it’s a bit awkward to come alone.”
Director Min smiled faintly.
“Really? I came here sometimes.”
“Huh? No, since you came all the way here, you should at least look for me.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”
After the two of them had played along and exchanged greetings, the junior asked quietly.
“What’s the matter with you? You said you were going to buy all the food.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to ask you something. Do you know President Kang Bae-deok?”
“I know. Why him?”
“When you brought Mr. Kang’s company. Did anything happen?”
The junior tilted his head at the unexpected question.
“Work? Nothing really….”
The junior seemed to think for a moment, then slammed his palm down as if something had occurred to him.
“Oh! Is that what you’re talking about?”
“What is it?”
“President Kang Bae-deok had a business partner, but he committed suicide at that time.”
Director Min asked back with a surprised expression.
“You committed suicide? Why?”
The junior shrugs.
“Well, we don’t know the details.”
It was something that was pretty obvious, but he didn’t bother to say it out loud.
“Do you know the name by any chance?”
The junior leaned back slightly and crossed his arms as he became lost in thought when asked a question that brought up old memories.
“Your name? Oh, it’s been so long, I’m not sure… Uh… Maybe Cheon? Yes, yes. I remember your last name because it’s a bit unusual. I think it was Cheon. But I don’t remember your first name very well… I’ll write it down.”
“Ah… okay. It’s okay if you don’t know. That’s enough. Thank you.”
Mr. Cheon… .
Director Min’s sharp eyes flashed.