"From taking over Red Bull to branding. Can you entrust it to me?"
My answer was simple.
"Money? We need money to take it over, don't we?"
"I'll handle that."
Huh?
"Since you came up with the idea, I'll cover the costs."
Hold on a second.
It's a bit embarrassing to ask this when you're not putting in any money yourself.
But it's better to be sure.
"Shares?"
"50-50."
This is nothing short of an angel without wings, right?
It seems he read that look in my eyes.
"You're the top in this field. Consider it also paying for learning from you."
I've got nothing to lose.
Even if I had paid all the money myself, I would have promised a significant share the moment I hired Tennessee as the promotional model.
But now, he's willing to pay the money and learn the job. Ahem!
I managed my expression and said, "The sooner we take over, the better."
"I'll sort it out by next week."
"Do you have any trustworthy people around you?"
"What?"
"You can't handle everything alone. You definitely need a reliable partner."
"Do you have a partner too?"
"Of course."
Tennessee looked thoughtful. Then he finally said something difficult.
"What's your partner doing now?"
"Who?"
"Your partner."
Hmm.
Right now, he's probably serving next to my grandfather?
Then Tennessee said,
"Can you send him?"
"…?"
"Just for the takeover preparation. Send him, your partner."
***
At the same time.
The partner was driving.
Sweat kept seeping into his hands holding the steering wheel.
He was extra cautious, worried that a sudden brake might startle the chairman.
Jo So-deok stole a glance at Park Yong-hak.
Was he deep in thought?
Park Yong-hak was intently staring out the window.
Only the heavy rumble of the engine occasionally broke the weighty silence.
"That kid we saw back then, you said he was the son of this household, didn't you?"
Quick-witted Jo So-deok immediately responded.
"Yes, Tennessee Grosvenor. He's the one who greeted you last time, Chairman."
"How on earth did Ji-hoon manage to befriend someone like that?"
It wasn't a question requiring an answer, so Jo So-deok quietly gripped the steering wheel tighter.
Since the topic came up, Jo So-deok let Tennessee's face drift into his thoughts.
Despite his delicate features, he played rugby, raced cars…
And he even won awards for racing.
While Jo So-deok was mulling over various thoughts,
"How's the car?"
"Oh, this one…"
Having arrived by helicopter, the Grosvenor family had offered to lend them a car.
McLaren, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce—there were plenty of luxury models available.
Yet Chairman Park specifically chose a Honda.
The reason was simple.
It was equipped with an engine selected by McLaren.
How remarkable must it be? He wanted to see for himself.
"Hmm… It's not bad, but… Well… It's not exactly… I mean…"
"What kind of answer is that?"
"…"
"It's fine. Be honest."
To be honest, he was surprised.
He had heard that Japanese cars were well-made.
But that was mainly due to the perfection of their mass-market models.
What he was driving now was a high-end sports car.
Frankly, with this price tag, why not go for a European brand?
That's what logic dictated.
Vroom!
Yet when he pressed the pedal, the car responded instantly and surged forward…
"Why so quiet?"
"It's… It's good."
"Be more specific."
"Thanks to you, Chairman, I've had the chance to drive some great cars. But this one… The way it hugs the road as it drives, the immediate responsiveness of the body when you turn the wheel…"
"Is it comparable to European luxury cars?"
"Well, maybe not quite to that level. But it's not far behind… Yes. I'd sum it up that way."
Perhaps he had already reached the same conclusion.
Chairman Park's expression seemed deeply conflicted.
An era where Japanese engines were clinching victories in F1 Grand Prix races.
Competing as a latecomer in a field where even the European powerhouses were struggling to maintain dominance, now with Japan entering the fray, seemed almost reckless.
Chairman Park surely understood this.
However, with a talent capable of driving groundbreaking change, giving up was not an easy choice.
Just as Jo So-deok was speculating about Chairman Park's thoughts,
"I wish that kid would pick a fight and demand a painting."
"Sorry? What do you mean?"
"Grosvenor. Wouldn't it be fitting if he fiercely insisted on acquiring a Da Vinci painting?"
"Fitting, as in…?"
"I'm talking about Ji-hoon."
"…?"
"If he hears that his grandfather is under attack, would he really have the excuse to comfortably step away from the business and rest?"
If someone were about to go head-to-head with Europe's most prestigious family, fear should be the natural reaction.
But surprisingly enough, there was no trace of worry.
Instead, his face brimmed with anticipation, excited at the prospect of nudging his grandson into action!
'Chairman… this isn't going to be easy, is it?'
Jo So-deok silently swallowed his dry throat in apprehension.
***
Meanwhile, at the Grosvenor Ducal Estate.
The Duke returned to the banquet hall adorned with masterpieces.
The collection spanned over 500 years.
It rivaled the holdings of renowned museums around the world.
Yet there was one glaring absence.
A Da Vinci piece.
No matter how much wealth one possessed, acquiring a Da Vinci painting was nearly impossible.
All his works were owned by governments.
Selling land might be conceivable, but selling a Da Vinci painting? Absolutely not. That sentiment was practically a national proverb.
But then, a 'private' owner of a Da Vinci piece had appeared.
Without a doubt, this was an opportunity granted by the heavens.
As the Duke stared at the blank wall in the banquet hall,
"What did you think?"
Tennessee's tutor stood beside him.
A man remarkably astute with numbers, he was someone who could solve not only two or three but even ten problems at once if given one task.
His expression made it clear he was ready to handle anything.
"They didn't seem inclined to part with the piece."
"Then, may I proceed in my own way?"
"However, there's one point of concern."
"…?"
"Shall I say, they had a peculiar expression."
"A peculiar expression, you mean…"
"They seemed to 'want' us to pick a fight."
"Isn't it common to see bluffing in such cases?"
"No, it was genuine. If they had even a shred of justification, they seemed ready to clash today itself."
Who would willingly challenge the prestigious Grosvenor family?
"Are you concerned?"
"Concerned? Not at all."
I'm just curious about what gives them such confidence.
"The Da Vinci piece… You said it was restored, but it still requires annual maintenance, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Since it's such an ancient work, I heard it needs at least several more years of consistent care."
Simply put, even if we managed to acquire the piece now, it couldn't be hastily displayed or transported.
"There's no rush. Let's observe a bit longer."
"…Pardon?"
"We now understand what Hyungang needs. It's worth watching them a bit more closely."
The slight tremble in his eyes when the Honda engine was mentioned.
It seems the tutor caught on to his meaning.
"As you wish."
The tutor gave a deep bow of acknowledgment.
***
Meanwhile, at Gucci's headquarters.
The chairman of Gucci was grinning from ear to ear.
Their collaboration with Ultimate had completely 'sold out'!
All those who had loudly proclaimed that Gucci was on the brink of failure!
"Let's see you talk now."
With his shaken reputation restored, he began planning to celebrate his success in style.
Should it be a villa with a panoramic view of Switzerland's natural wonders?
Or perhaps a yacht to turn the middle of the Mediterranean into a private party venue?
He wanted to buy both if he could!
"Why do they only produce 50,000 units and leave people agonizing like this?"
Wait a second.
If the problem was the limited stock, wouldn't producing more solve it?
Why was he even debating which option to choose?
"It's all crystal clear now!"
The chairman immediately picked up the phone.
"Have you estimated the demand?"
(Yes. For items exposed during the competition, even if we produce 200,000 units, they'd sell out in three days.)
"And how much would that bring to my account?"
The answer came through the receiver.
And his whole body trembled.
The chairman's arm trembled slightly.
A villa? A mere 'villa'?
'At my level, even a castle feels insufficient.'
A yacht? Too basic—upgrade that to a full-blown cruise ship!
While he was indulging in this daydream, the voice on the other end of the phone interrupted.
(But, Chairman, there's a bit of a problem.)
Yes, of course, there's a problem.
Should it be the castle… or the cruise ship? Forget that—why not just produce 500,000 units instead? That's what he was about to say when—
(Ultimate has expressed that they don't want additional production.)
A completely nonsensical statement came through.
"What do you mean by that?"
(Just as I said, Chairman. They're refusing further production…)
"Have you explained how much money could be made?"
(Yes, I did. But no matter the amount, they said they don't need it…)
"What kind of nonsense is that? Who in the world doesn't need money?"
(Apparently, they value brand image over immediate profit.)
For a chairman who had survived by selling trademarks to keep the company afloat, this was utterly incomprehensible.
"Enough with the nonsense! That… that young one, you know who I mean?"
(Are you referring to CEO Park Ji-hoon?)
"Yes, him! Get him here immediately. First-class ticket, charter a private jet, I don't care—just make sure he comes!"
(Ah, Chairman… This might be difficult to say, but…)
"What now?"
(Even if you were to fly to him directly, it might not be easy to secure a meeting right now.)
"…What?"
(There's a rumor going around that every luxury brand that smells money is heading to London with their contracts in hand.)
In an instant, the grand castle in the chairman's imagination shrank into a mere villa nestled in the hills.
The cruise ship that once ruled the seas turned into a yacht swaying precariously in the waves.
"No… no way!"
(Pardon?)
"Never mind! Isn't it our company's name on the product? Why would I need his approval to produce more?"
(…)
"Just start production! I'll take full responsibility for it…"
But after saying that, he hesitated slightly, nervous.
"Or… do it secretly. Produce them somehow and sell them!"
The chairman abruptly changed course, veering sharply at the last moment.
A clear case of reckless driving, no matter how you looked at it.
But blinded by greed, the chairman slammed on the accelerator without a second thought.
***
In front of the house, unfamiliar cars were lined up.
As if it had been coordinated, they were all black luxury sedans.
Bustling and busy.
"What is this?"
A considerable crowd had gathered at the front gate.
The amusing part was seeing Jo So-deok directing traffic!
Quick on his feet, as always.
When Jo So-deok spotted me, he rushed over in a hurry.
"CEO! Do you see this? They've all come here to meet you."
In an impressively short time, Jo So-deok rattled off all sorts of information: brand names, the representatives' titles, what they wanted to propose, and more.
"Are you some kind of computer?"
"Ah, but computers don't have loyalty or dedication, do they?"
Well, with his wit and good humor, he's definitely a hundred times better than any computer.
"Since they've all come such a long way, wouldn't it be good to hear them out one by one?"
"Sure, why not."
"Alright. I'll proceed in order, then."
I had just finished discussing a ton of work with Tennessee.
Now, it seemed I'd be working even at home!
But honestly, it's strange.
I didn't feel tired at all… ahem!
Oh, and by the way—
"Where's Grandpa?"
"Probably watching from the second floor, don't you think?"
At Jo So-deok's words, I looked up.
'Well, what do you know.'
There he was, Grandpa, looking at me with a pleased expression.