There was no need to make an appointment.
The company was small, and there wasn't a designated employee for handling visits, so showing up unannounced was all there was to it.
"Is this the place?"
"Yes, well. That's right."
In front of a tiny five-story building with no elevator.
"..."
Tennessee looked perplexed.
But that reaction didn't last long.
"Let's think positively."
"Excuse me?"
"If it's small, the acquisition will be easier."
"Ah."
"Let's go in."
Fortunately, the lights were on in the office.
Knock knock.
"Is anyone there?"
Knock knock.
It was after Jo So-deok had knocked a few times.
Creeeak.
Accompanied by the metallic sound characteristic of an old iron door, a white man in his forties poked his head out.
He was not tall but had a sturdy build.
Despite the chilly night, he was wearing short sleeves.
"Who is it?"
Then Jo So-deok extended his hand with a smile.
"Nice to meet you. Are you perhaps Mr. Dmitri?"
"Who?"
"Energy drink… Red Bull… right?"
Silence soon meant affirmation.
"Oh, looks like I found the right place. Rushed over from England so urgently… I was so anxious I couldn't even contact you."
"...?"
"My name is Jo So-deok."
"Who are you exactly..."
"It's not difficult to know who I am. How about we go inside and talk over a cup of tea? Yes, let's have a calm discussion."
Jo So-deok made the seating arrangements.
Now, leading the conversation, managing disagreements, and achieving results were entirely up to Tennessee.
Fortunately, Tennessee did not seem nervous.
"I'll get straight to the point. I want to acquire your company."
"That sounds good."
"...?"
"As you can see, it's about to collapse, so if you take it over, thank you, that's a relief for me."
Until this point, it had seemed quite easy.
It was so smooth it made one wonder if it should be this easy.
However, the problem arose from an unexpected quarter.
"If the amount is too low, there's no reason to sell, and if you pay generously, there's no reason for me to stay."
The former was not a concern.
Money was plentiful to give.
The problem was the latter.
"Am I wrong? If I get a lot of money, I should retire immediately and enjoy life, why should I bother working hard?"
"What if staying and running the company is a condition of the acquisition?"
"What exactly do you want from me?"
"Excuse me?"
"What do you really expect from me… to be prepared to give all that money?"
It was such an easy question.
"..."
Tennessee didn't have much to say.
The reason was simple.
It was all Park Ji-hoon's idea.
He had only heard about doing an energy drink business, never having thought about why they needed to recruit Dmitri.
"If it's difficult to answer, just giving the money will do. Under the condition that I don't stay. That would work, wouldn't it?"
At that point.
"Oh dear."
"...?"
"It seems the president has been overwhelmed with work."
Jo So-deok casually intervened.
"Even the talk of immediate retirement comes up when you're offering to take good care of him, he must be very tired. Right?"
It was just the right timing.
If he had been a little later, the atmosphere might have become seriously cold.
"Well, it's natural to be exhausted from working at this hour. Mr. President, why don't you call it a day. Take a hot bath, think it over carefully. It's not a bad offer, is it?"
"The offer is certainly generous."
"That's what I mean! You might even find yourself smiling before you fall asleep. Then just close your eyes and sign. Deal?"
"You seem to have a lot of experience with this kind of thing."
"I've only seen it happening now and then. A lot."
Jo So-deok chuckled afterward.
"Mr. President, I'll come again tomorrow. Let's have a deeper conversation then."
"Yes, well."
"Then I'm off."
"Ah, wait a moment."
"...?"
"You've come a long way, please take this with you."
Dmitri headed towards a mini fridge that was shorter than his thighs.
It was packed tightly.
Rumble.
As soon as he opened the fridge door, silver cans spilled out.
"Well, the ones deep inside are still clean."
Dmitri soon handed out silver cans to them.
"Try this. It'll give you wings in life."
Inside the car heading to the hotel.
Tennessee's mind was complex.
He hadn't thought that everything could be solved with money.
But.
He hadn't imagined being turned down after offering such a large sum.
"Is he serious?"
"Who knows. We'll have to see a bit more…"
"If he doesn't want to work, wouldn't it be common sense to negotiate the terms of employment?"
"Yes. Usually, that's the case."
Jo So-deok seemed to have a lot to say.
"According to Forbes. The talents our Boss specifically picks are not like that."
"..."
"It's quite strange. Maybe that strangeness is why he was chosen by the boss."
"There have been several cases who weren't swayed by money."
"Indeed. Quite a few."
"What did Ji-hoon do then?"
"Well… it varies every time."
Still, Jo So-deok quickly shared a representative anecdote.
Baker, who insisted he didn't need money and would rather burn all his paintings!
"Boss told me to check what's in that guy's house. From what newspapers he reads to what's in his cabinet, even how many clothes are piled up in his laundry basket…"
Was it to understand his tastes?
Since he said he didn't need money…
Was it to find out what he really wanted, gathering all sorts of information?
"Maybe Boss's greatest ability lies in winning people's hearts. Why wouldn't it be? After all, if they resist like today, there's no solution."
But Park Ji-hoon not only persuades others but also manages to recruit them as his people.
Jo So-deok in front of him was living proof, and Faber goes without saying.
Most of all.
The high-nosed heir of the Grosvenor family was no exception!
As his thoughts reached this point, an awkward smile appeared on Tennessee's lips.
'Winning people's hearts.'
For him, a descendant of the Grosvenor bloodline, it was a truly unfamiliar goal.
That was to be expected.
His family had always been the ones to choose, never being in a position to be chosen.
It would be easier if he could just force things through power…
"This is troublesome."
"Right?"
"Ultimately, business is about winning the hearts of consumers."
Nodding.
"But I am particularly weak in that area…"
"Hey, who's good from the start? You can start learning now."
"..."
"In this field, our boss is the top of the top! Even if you just watch closely by his side, you will definitely learn something."
Indeed, how did he even think to check the laundry basket?
As Tennessee was marveling at this alone,
'…Ah!'
Something seemed to suddenly occur to him.
"Please turn the car around."
Tennessee urgently spoke to the driver.
"You know the place where we boarded? Please go back there. Quickly!"
Dmitri's office was dark.
Damn, are we too late?
As Tennessee sighed,
'Oh!'
Dmitri appeared, coming down the stairs.
He seemed tired, stretching and then heading towards the parking lot behind the building.
"Let's get out."
"Excuse me?"
"I'll pay. Keep the change."
Tennessee moved decisively, and Jo So-deok hurriedly followed him.
It was past midnight.
Naturally, the streets were utterly silent.
As the two reached the parking lot,
Vrooooom!
From a distance, the heavy sound of an engine resonated.
It reminded one of galloping horse hooves.
Shortly after, a blue car exited the parking lot, indeed with Dmitri inside.
Did he notice the two men?
He soon slowed down and rolled down his window.
"You're still here?"
"..."
"Did you leave something behind?"
"We couldn't decide on a place to stay."
"There are some good hotels nearby."
"Yes. We're about to head that way."
The soulless conversation was due to Tennessee's mind being completely fixated on the car.
A car is the second most expensive asset after a house.
Just by carefully observing a vehicle, one can roughly understand the owner's characteristics.
That was why Tennessee had hurriedly turned the car around!
He wanted to make sure to check Dmitri's car.
"Can I go now?"
"Yes. See you tomorrow."
Vroooom!
The engine sound was quite loud for the size of the car.
Probably tuned.
It was only after the car had driven away that Tennessee turned to Jo So-deok and said,
"Do you have a notebook?"
***
Hotel, Tennessee's room.
The notebook was densely filled with information about the car.
Model, Toyota AE86.
A typical fun car.
It was a vehicle emphasized for driving pleasure.
Indeed, the car's interior was also impressive.
The handbrake had been modified for easier drifting, made extremely long.
Naturally, the seats weren't stock either.
To lower the seating position as much as possible, special racing seats had been installed.
'Is this guy obsessed?'
Even the tires were the highest performance models from Pirelli.
Unless you were racing, why would you need such tires on a Toyota 86?
It suggested,
'This person is crazy about driving.'
Yes, that much was clear.
Hmm.
So far, Tennessee had managed to somewhat emulate Park Ji-hoon.
But what's the conclusion?
Whether Dmitri drifts at intersections with his Toyota 86 or not, how does knowing this help with the Mad Bull acquisition?
As his thoughts reached this point,
"Sigh."
A deep sigh escaped.
Right, if it were that easy, everyone would be doing what Park Ji-hoon does.
Tennessee lay down on the bed with a bitter smile.
Just staring at the notebook won't provide a solution.
Let's sleep on it.
For now, let's call it a day and hope for a better tomorrow.
"..."
Damn, maybe it's because I drank that energy drink so late.
He closed his eyes, but sleep didn't come.
'Did I mess up by impulsively deciding to acquire this company?'
Park Ji-hoon would have resolved it swiftly…
Did I unnecessarily complicate things by stepping in?
Scratch scratch.
'What's the use of regretting it now?'
Throughout the night, Tennessee lay awake, pondering over and over.
'Imitating someone doesn't necessarily mean success.'
But for now…
What other option do I have besides trying to emulate Park Ji-hoon?
Thanks to this, Tennessee earnestly recalled the times he spent with Park Ji-hoon.
'How did I become friends with Park Ji-hoon?'
Well, the reason wasn't that complicated.
There was a desire hidden deep, deep in a drawer, one he wanted to keep hidden.
Park Ji-hoon pulled it out and made it visible.
The high-bred scion of a noble family—why would he like such things? The guy didn't mock him.
Instead, he empathized and shared his interests.
That must have been the start.
When Tennessee began to open his heart.
'Wait!'
A desire hidden deep in a drawer.
He pulled it out and shared the interest, and that opened the heart?
In other words,
If I can find out what's in someone else's drawer!
'Does that mean I can open Dmitri's heart?'
Tennessee suddenly sat up.
He hastily turned on the light and looked down at the notebook again.