A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 74

When it became 7 PM, Lim Hyunjun appeared in the hotel lobby right on time.

With a denim jacket over a T-shirt, I looked like a typical high schooler.

Moreover, for some reason, a sense of vitality lingered on my face.

Representative Choi Seo-jun and President Kim Byeong-kwon, who were waiting for me, still had stiff expressions.

In the midst of the awkward silence, I was also the first one to open my mouth.

“The two of you waited a long time, right? I ate ramen at lunch, and it was very delicious. There was a reason why it was recommended as a famous restaurant.”

I chattered excitedly and showed them the photos I took with my phone.

Kim Byeong-kwon laughed as if it was absurd, and Choi Seo-jun made an awkward smile.

I did not care about such reactions.

Rather, I said while moving my steps as if excited.“The shop we are going to now is also within walking distance. There are many places to see on the way.”

I spoke as if a student who had returned from a picnic was chattering to parents.

During that time, Choi Seo-jun and Kim Byeong-kwon were following me with heavy steps.

Their heads were still full from that incident from the morning.

Their hearts were uncomfortable at the thought that the reason they flew all the way to Japan had become pointless.

However, there was not a single such trace on my expression.

Rather, I was enjoying the surrounding scenery leisurely.

“It is here.”

The place where I stopped was a small restaurant that one might easily pass by judging only by its exterior.

In front of the door, a notice board with ‘Sea urchin rice bowl’ written in Japanese was hanging.

The three of them took seats and sat down.

The clerk soon brought out a sea urchin rice bowl piled generously on top of rice along with warm soup.

There was no need to order separately here.

It was because this was the only menu item.

Only after taking a photo with my phone did I lift the spoon and let out continuous exclamations.

“Wow, this is truly worth coming for on a plane.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I took a big scoop and savored the taste.

It was to the point where my eyes closed naturally.

The umami flavor that melted softly in the mouth was superb.

The scent of the sea lingered at the tip of my nose and a deep flavor was felt.

“You two should also eat quickly. This definitely tastes best when eaten while it's warm.”

However, the reactions of Kim Byeong-kwon and Choi Seo-jun were not very satisfactory.

They also lifted their spoons, but their expressions were still full of worry.

The two carefully checked each other's mood and finally spoke out.

“Representative, are you sincerely okay? It is okay even if you do not try to show a bright appearance on purpose.”

Choi Seo-jun thought that I was showing a bright appearance on purpose to not reveal disappointment.

Kim Byeong-kwon also nodded quietly and opened his mouth.

“The incident this morning couldn't be helped. There will be another opportunity.”

Hearing those words, I put down the spoon for a moment and smiled.

“Everyone, since you have come all the way to a foreign country, please think of it as having come on a trip and spending your time comfortably.”

I looked at the two of them alternately and said something meaningful.

“In a little while, you will become busy again without time to breathe. If not now, you won't even be able to rest comfortably. Eat delicious things now and make at least one memory.”

Choi Seo-jun and Kim Byeong-kwon still did not believe my words.

Whether they did or not, I lifted the spoon again.

I took a big spoonful of the rice bowl and put it in my mouth.

“I want to come back here again later.”

Saying so, I closed and opened my eyes as if savoring the taste.

The night wind was blowing quietly outside the window.

The quiet Tokyo night passed like that.

The three returned to the hotel and scattered to their respective rooms.

Of course, the only person among them who slept comfortably was me.

At dawn the next day.

Rising early, as per my usual routine, I headed to the gym.

After finishing the warm-up, I stood on the treadmill.

The sunlight, which had stealthily revealed its head beyond the glass window, was shining between the high-rise buildings of Tokyo.

After sweating profusely, I returned to my room and washed.

After that, I changed into a neat suit.

I looked like a person who had an important business meeting today.

When I came down to the restaurant, there were almost no people eating breakfast.

I quietly sat in a window seat and began my meal.

A little later, Choi Seo-jun and Kim Byeong-kwon entered the restaurant listlessly.

Both had disheveled hair and were in rather comfortable tracksuits.

The sign of not being fully awake was evident on their faces.

Kim Byeong-kwon said while sitting next to me.

“You woke up early. Are you already eating breakfast?”

“My eyes opened early.”

I answered while looking at the tablet.

I, who had already finished the meal, was reading something on the tablet while drinking coffee.

Judging only by the atmosphere, I looked like an office worker who had finished preparing for work.

In comparison, the two people were literally in a defenseless state.

It was because they fell asleep amidst deep worry and regret the night before.

Both continued their meal quietly without much talk.

However, just looking at the way they ate, they looked lethargic, perhaps because they were soaked in fatigue.

Perhaps it was because the fact that they had to return home without any results weighed heavily on their mood.

At that moment, my phone vibrated.

Checking the screen, someone's name appeared.

[Amami Yuika]

I answered the phone as if I had been waiting.

“Yes, hello Yuika-san.”

I talked while casually exchanging a few words.

“Pardon? You are coming now? Ah, the hotel name. Here is….”

When the short call ended, only then did the eyes of Kim Byeong-kwon and Choi Seo-jun come alive.

“Did Yuika-san call? What did she say?”

Choi Seo-jun asked this and that like a person in a hurry.

Kim Byeong-kwon also had eyes like a surprised rabbit.

The more they did that, the more slowly I answered after taking a sip of coffee.

“She says she is coming here.”

As soon as those words finished, the two people devoured their food in a flurry and then hurriedly stood up from their seats.

“We must hurry. At least wash my face… no, I have to change my clothes too.”

“If I had known it would be like this, I would have washed before coming down.”

The two headed to their rooms almost running.

Soon, they appeared again while wearing neat attire.

A coffee shop on the 1st floor of the hotel.

As Choi Seo-jun and Kim Byeong-kwon entered inside, I was already sitting in a window seat and looking at the tablet leisurely.

Occasionally, the appearance of drinking coffee was like a scene from an advertisement appearing on television.

The two asked me while sitting down.

“Representative, you knew in advance that they would come today, didn't you?”

I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

“Well.”

I put the tablet I was looking at down on the table.

Choi Seo-jun asked again.

“Why would they suddenly come here?”

“We will find out when they arrive.”

At my words, the two met each other's gazes without a word.

It was a puzzling expression.

Before long, someone entered toward the entrance of the coffee shop.

It was a familiar voice.

“Excuse me.”

It was Yuika Amami.

Next to her were Kenjiro Amami, whom we met yesterday, and his son, Ryusei Amami.

I quietly stood up from my seat and reached out my hand to Kenjiro.

“Glad to see you again.”

Kenjiro seemed to hesitate, but soon held my hand.

Unlike yesterday, the strength in his fingertips was loose.

“Please take a seat.”

According to my guidance, the three sat down while quietly facing the table.

Until the ordered tea came out, they did not say anything.

When only silence was lingering, the clerk brought the tea.

The person who first opened his mouth was, unexpectedly, Kenjiro.

“Actually, I had many thoughts last night.”

The stubbornness from yesterday was somewhat softened in his voice.

However, no one knew what happened before those words started.

*** 

Last night, Ryusei Amami confessed the truth to his father, which he could not say at the dinner table until the end.

“I am sorry, Father. Actually, I invested that fund arbitrarily.”

Hearing those words, Kenjiro could not believe it at first.

However, he had never imagined that the fraud case being talked about in the news recently would also be related to him.

When he saw the investment details handed over by his son and the name of the company famous for fraud, he could no longer deny it.

It was the result of Ryusei secretly investing without telling Kenjiro after being deceived by the word that he could produce a quick profit among the company funds.

As expected, the result was disastrous.

The fraudster was already in a state of having fled overseas.

Even if they took legal action, the possibility of recovery was opaque.

It meant that only a pile of debt remained.

“Father, they say additional loans from the bank are difficult. What do we do now?”

At Ryusei's words, Kenjiro felt his heart collapsing.

It was thanks to realizing only now how incompetent his son was.

During that time, he had tried to hand over the company he had built to his son.

It was because he could not discard the old thought that it would be over once the daughter got married.

No matter how good the technology is, one cannot do anything without funds.

Bankruptcy was a matter of time.

Moreover, the conditions of other investors who approached them were all predictably the same.

Hand over the technology!

Transfer the patents!

Relocate the headquarters to China!

There was no place that suggested joining them.

The only place that suggested so was HJ Partners.

I had only one requirement for them.

“You may keep the technology. However, please entrust the company to Yuika-san.”

Those words stabbed Kenjiro's heart most painfully.

Because he also already knew.

That he could no longer lead the company.

And that Yuika was a talent with much better sense and technical skills than expected.

That was why Kenjiro came to the hotel where I was staying.

He said while carefully lifting the teacup.

“My thoughts were narrow yesterday.”

I accepted Kenjiro's apology.

“It is okay. I understand.”

Yuika quietly looked at her father and then bowed her head toward me again.

“Thank you. For giving us an opportunity.”

I shook my head.

“No. Opportunities are made by oneself. Yuika-san just needs to prove it with your skills.”

I took out the tablet and showed the proposal I had organized in the morning.

Inside this, there was a strategy regarding joint development and accompanying growth, not just a simple investment contract.

The most core conditions were as follows.

-The management of the company is supervised by Yuika Amami.

-The patents and technology remain at the headquarters as they are.

-HJ Partners secures only a part of the equity but does not intervene in management. Instead, HJ Partners fully supports funds, infrastructure, and global sales channels.

This was a method that no investor suggested.

No one said to save the company while respecting the technology.

That was exactly the power I had.

And the eyes that pierce through the future.

Thanks to that ability, I already knew.

Amami Shipbuilding Technology Research Institute was a company that would soon collapse.

And that's because of Ryusei's mistake.

Moreover, Yuika was a person who would achieve immense success with Japanese-style eco-friendly ship design in China before long.

She was a person who would eventually become a pioneer.

However, if we could accompany her direction at this crossroad, both HJ Partners and Taeseong Group would come to possess very powerful strength.

I spoke slowly.

“I am not trying to buy this company. We are trying to walk together. And that first step starts from believing in Yuika-san.”