novelraw Chapter 28
Chapter 28
At the time I, Lim Hyunjun, followed Park Se-dong and Min Ki-tae.
Choi Seo-jun was heading toward the airport.
The black passenger car he was riding in was speeding toward Incheon International Airport.
The lights of the city center grew increasingly distant, and a red sunset was slowly revealing itself.
Unlike usual, Choi Seo-jun was wearing a comfortable jacket instead of a suit.
The man sitting in the seat beside him was looking out the window.
He was Oh Young-tae, sixty-five years old this year.
As a former Chief Engineer at Hanmyeong Motors Technical Research Institute, he was a living legend in the industry who had participated in the development of the first domestic car'
s hybrid powertrain.
Having retired quietly two years ago, he had vanished from the industry.
Such a man was now with Choi Seo-jun.“The flight time is long, will you be alright?”
Toward Choi Seo-jun, who carefully struck up a conversation, Oh Young-tae slowly turned his head and opened his mouth.
“In the past, I went on overseas business trips every month. My health is still the same as ever, so do not worry.”
His tone was plain, but a strange excitement was contained within it.
“If that is the case, it is a relief. I heard you are old friends with the Chairman of PREZO.”
“We attended the same school. I was a few classes above him. Even back then, Lemond was stubborn, and he was a friend whose eyes would change specifically when talking about cars.”
Choi Seo-jun nodded.
“That is why I, Representative Lim, scouted you personally, Chief Oh.”
At Choi Seo-jun'
s words, Chief Oh Young-tae quietly showed a smile and placed his gaze in the distance.
Having fallen deep into thought for a moment, he said in a low voice.
“That day is still vivid. How he found my research lab. Coming in with just a single business card, he said this to me. Representative Choi, do you remember?”
“Yes, how could I forget. At that time, he proposed that you two make a real car.”
Chief Oh Young-tae slowly nodded his head and continued as if talking to himself.
“At first, I just viewed him as a young scion of a chaebol family. I thought he would just spout some hollow words and leave….”
Chief Oh Young-tae laughed lightly.
“He was a young friend, but should I say he knew what technology was? He viewed cars not as simple products but as history. After sharing a conversation with him, something that had been asleep inside me started squirming so much that I could not stand it.”
The gaze of Chief Oh, who finished speaking, was reflecting the red sunset and shining softly.
“I thought I would never work again after retiring. That young friend moved my heart.”
Choi Seo-jun was holding the steering wheel, so his gaze was directed forward, but for some reason, he felt as if he knew Chief Oh Young-tae'
s expression.
I might not know it myself, but I had something that drew people in.
It felt as if hope were created, making one feel that any impossibility could be overcome if with me.
***
While Choi Seo-jun'
s party was heading toward France, in a suite of a hotel on the outskirts of Paris, Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon was looking at the sunlight seeping through the curtains.
A business card with the logo of the PREZO headquarters clearly engraved on it was held at the tips of his fingers.
Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon looked down at the business card slowly and then asked the secretary waiting nearby.
“Is the interpretation prepared?”
“Yes, Vice Chairman. We agreed to meet in the lobby in 30 minutes.”
“What is the reaction from Chairman Lemond'
s side?”
The secretary replied while hesitating for a moment.
“They are still reluctant about direct contact. However, talks are progressing with a few of the consultants on the PREZO side.”
“First, try to break through that side properly.”
Nam Jae-heon quietly put down the business card.
His voice was peaceful, but his gaze was shining sharply.
“Lemond is a person with strong pride. But pride is useless in the face of money.”
Nam Jae-heon turned around slowly and paced inside the suite.
His steps were slow, but his mind was spinning rapidly.
Then he picked up a tablet placed on the table.
On the screen, there were materials from the past three years of the PREZO Group.
“We just need to connect somehow. If we present what we can show them well at that time, there will be no problem.”
“Are you referring to the technical parts?”
At the secretary'
s question, Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon put the tablet down with a thud and said.
“Technology, my foot. Even things that don'
t work become possible with money.”
Nam Jae-heon sat in a comfortable-looking chair and let out a short sigh.
“Anyway, they just keep putting up their pride, which is why the company is in this state. An entrepreneur is an investor, not an artist.”
Nam Jae-heon, who was speaking as if it were pathetic, recalled something and asked the secretary.
“What happened to that person I mentioned back then?”
“Are you speaking of Chief Oh Young-tae?”
“That'
s right.”
The secretary brought up the words after hesitating.
“After he retired two years ago, his whereabouts have been obscure.”
“Of all things…. I heard he has a connection with the PREZO Chairman. I thought I could use him a bit.”
Nam Jae-heon slowly narrowed his eyes as if disappointed.
The secretary checked his cellphone and then quietly opened his mouth.
“Vice Chairman, an airport immigration report just came in.”
Nam Jae-heon turned his head slightly.
Seeing the secretary'
s expression, he asked.
“What is it?”
The secretary carefully continued his words.
“Today, Representative Choi Seo-jun of HJ Partners boarded a flight to Paris at Incheon International Airport.”
Nam Jae-heon'
s eyebrows twitched minutely.
“Choi Seo-jun? Why that guy?!”
The secretary hesitated and then added his words.
“It has been confirmed that Chief Oh Young-tae also boarded the same flight.”
A short silence flowed.
Nam Jae-heon fell into thought while leaning his back against the chair.
“A person we were searching for desperately is suddenly coming to Paris? And that too, together with the HJ Partners representative….”
Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon wore a fishy smile.
“Of course.”
Nam Jae-heon'
s gaze turned sharp.
“By now, they must be talking about the PREZO acquisition inside the plane.”
The secretary remained silent and stood quietly.
At a time like this, one was likely to suffer a great deal of trouble if they got on the Vice Chairman'
s nerves.
“I don'
t know who Lemond will join hands with first, but it just needs to be us.”
Nam Jae-heon'
s gaze burned more than ever.
Just thinking about Iraq time still made a thousand fires rise within him.
He resolved to surely take his revenge this time.
***
A meeting room on the top floor of the PREZO headquarters on the outskirts of Paris, France.
Outside the window, Parc de la Villette was visible, and the elegant interior filling the walls was fully imbued with the philosophy of a master who had lived through an era.
Chairman Jean Lemond, who was sitting at one end of a long table, was taking off his glasses and slowly wiping them with a handkerchief.
His hair had turned grey, but his posture was still straight and undisturbed.
A few advisory groups and executives were sitting beside him.
“Two American investment firms. One Middle Eastern company, and a Korean company are also showing interest.”
At someone'
s words, one of the consultants replied while flipping through the materials.
“Chairman, as of today, there are nine companies that have officially inquired about the PREZO acquisition. If including intent to participate in stakes, there are even more.”
Lemond nodded his head without a word.
His fingertips were still wiping the glasses frames.
“How about Daehan Group?”
Another consultant nodded.
“Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon has entered Paris. He is continuously requesting to meet the Chairman in person.”
“What are the details they proposed?”
“It included large-scale investment attraction and expansion of production bases within Europe. And even exclusive sales rights in the Asian market.”
Lemond put his glasses back on and then lightly unfolded a small piece of paper on the table.
On it, the logo of HJ Partners was engraved.
“What about HJ Partners of Korea?”
“I heard it is a small investment company in Korea. They recently contacted us saying they wanted to visit the company, but the representative was very young.”
Lemond'
s eyebrows rose slightly.
“I suppose he must be some second-generation chaebol.”
The consultant tilted his head.
“Well. He did not appear to be like that. I heard he is proceeding with the Karbala project in Iraq together with Taeseong Construction.”
“Really?”
Lemond sat with his hands clasped quietly and continued speaking slowly.
“There are exactly two things I dislike. I hate merchants who jump in only looking at profit the most.”
His gaze grew distant toward the window.
He recalled the movement of a car engine he had seen for the first time as a child.
“I wonder if a young person even knows what a car is.”
A moment of silence flowed.
Lemond turned his head and asked the consultant.
“Among them, who is the person we should meet?”
The consultant who met with Daehan recently opened his mouth.
“Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon of Daehan Group proposed the highest amount. Why don'
t you try meeting him once.”
Lemond nodded while wearing a look of dissatisfaction.
No matter how much it did not fit his own philosophy, now was the time to think about the company.
***
A space away from the PREZO headquarters.
It was also a place where Chairman Jean Lemond occasionally spent time quietly.
The clock hanging on the wall pointed to exactly 4 o'
clock.
The reception room door opened quietly.
Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon, guided by the secretary, entered.
Behind him, an interpreter followed while stepping back one pace.
Nam Jae-heon walked toward Jean Lemond and offered a greeting.
“Chairman Jean. It is an honor to meet you.”
Lemond only nodded his head lightly while sitting.
“…Please sit.”
When the interpreter translated, Nam Jae-heon slowly sat on the opposite sofa.
Between the two, a small tea table with a cup of tea placed on it was situated.
Lemond took a sip of tea and then quietly opened his mouth.
“Lately, there are many people showing interest in PREZO. Among them, there was also Daehan.”
Vice Chairman Nam Jae-heon wore a good-natured smile.
“That is correct. Our Daehan is prepared to draw the future together with PREZO.”
Lemond narrowed his eyes for a moment upon hearing those words.
After that, he said in a somewhat dry voice.
“Drawing the future together…. That is a task that requires considerable responsibility and philosophy.”
Nam Jae-heon nodded upon hearing those words.
“If you look at the conditions we proposed, you will like them. We will consider all of the expansion of productivity within Europe that PREZO wants, securing an Asian sales network, and technical investment.”
Lemond looked at him without a word and then raised the teacup again.
The warm scent of tea spread within his cold gaze.
“I have sufficiently understood your intention, Vice Chairman Nam. However, I do not have conviction just by listening to words. Don'
t you people not know about cars?”
Nam Jae-heon was not shaken at all by Lemond'
s sharp point.
Rather, he responded with a smile as if he had already expected it.
“We do not have a history as a car manufacturer. However, we are prepared to gather infrastructure, capital, and talent to lead the future car market.”
Nam Jae-heon continued his words in a confident tone.
“I can confidently say that we will be the best partner.”
Lemond quietly put the teacup down on the table and slowly looked at Nam Jae-heon'
s face.
“So, is Daehan planning to buy PREZO? Or do you need a stepping stone to launch the brand called Daehan?”
Even at the somewhat edged question, Nam Jae-heon did not lose his composure.
“Of course, there is something we want to obtain as well. However, that is not just the name value of PREZO or the image of the brand. We sincerely want to create a strategic axis connecting the European and Asian markets together with PREZO.”
Chairman Lemond lightly toyed with the handle of the teacup placed on the table with his finger.