"I sincerely apologize! I committed an unforgivable act of disrespect!Please forgive me!"
Choi Eun-hyuk bowed deeply and apologized to us in a loud voice.
Chairman Choi Chang-sik also bowed his head toward me and spoke.
"I, too, am sorry. I failed in educating my son properly and allowed him to act rudely toward the benefactors of our family."
I replied calmly.
"It's all right. I've already put it behind me.You mentioned that many people approached you with impure intentions, so I completely understand why your son reacted the way he did."
"Oh… so not only are you capable, but magnanimous as well.I sincerely thank you for your generosity.Then, shall we move on to the matter you're truly interested in?The compensation I promised."
I nodded slightly, without showing any particular emotion.
"What do you want?I said I would give you anything you desire, except for the management rights of Daesung Group.Go ahead—name it."
I rested my chin on one hand, pretending to think.
Seeing this, Chairman Choi smiled faintly.
"Go on. As long as it's within my power, anything is acceptable."
I spoke decisively.
"Chairman, we need Daesung Group's know-how."
For a moment, silence fell.
Chairman Choi looked slightly taken aback.
"Our group's… know-how, you say?"
"Yes. That's correct.Luktic is currently experiencing rapid growth due to the strong sales of our new products.Originally, we were far smaller than even an ordinary SME, but we'll soon reach the level of a mid-sized enterprise—and before long…"
"You'll become a large corporation," Chairman Choi finished."The cream and the treatment you developed will sell across the world as if they've grown wings.They're irreplaceable products, so you'll be able to set the unit price extremely high as well."
As expected of the veteran who had built Daesung Group into a global conglomerate—that was exactly how it looked to him too.
"Yes. I believe things will unfold exactly as you described.However, we have no experience in organizational management.Managing even a small company is already overwhelming for us."
"So you want Daesung Group's organizational and operational know-how passed on to Luktic?"
"That's right.Not just organizational management, but also manufacturing process setup, sales network construction—we want to learn the know-how and experience covering the entire business spectrum."
Chairman Choi fell silent.
After a brief pause, he placed a hand on his wrinkled face—and suddenly began to shake with laughter.
"Kuh… hahahaha…!"
"…Chairman?"
"Hehehe… hahahaha!"
He laughed for nearly ten seconds before finally calming himself and looking at me again.
"Hahaha… forgive me. I truly didn't expect that answer.I assumed you would ask for wealth.It seems I was the foolish one."
He continued, suppressing another burst of laughter.
"You already possess world-class technology—what meaning would loose change from me have?I was ignorant. Truly ignorant.So what you want is Daesung Group's comprehensive business know-how—is that correct?"
"Yes, Chairman."
"If this were anyone else's request, I would have rejected it outright.No sane man would give away the foundation of his business.But… I made a promise to you.That I would grant anything you wished, except for Daesung Group's management rights."
With an open, resolute expression, Chairman Choi nodded.
"Very well. I'll do it.Whenever you need professional knowledge in corporate management or business operations,I'll dispatch Daesung Group's working-level experts to assist you.However—"
However…?
"Since you asked for something quite substantial,would you be willing to grant this old man one additional request?"
"May I ask what your request is, Chairman?"
"I want to become Luktic's first external investor.Would you grant me that request?"
The first external investor.
After witnessing the power of the elixir firsthand,it was only natural that a lifelong businessman like Chairman Choi would be tempted.
Truthfully, with the technology we possessed,even if we didn't seek investors, they would line up from every direction begging to invest.
In that sense, for Luktic, early-stage investment rights were not a burden—they were a privilege everyone coveted.
Early investment ultimately meant receiving equity when the company went public.
This wasn't something I could decide alone.
As a co-founder, Dong-sik would share in that equity.
"Chairman, I apologize, but I don't think I can give you an immediate answer.This is something I need to discuss with my partner first."
"That's reasonable.Go back, discuss it with your partner, and then give me your answer."
"Yes, Chairman. Thank you."
"No—if anything, this makes me trust you more.Many people panic and agree recklessly when faced with a request from me.You didn't.I also like how much you value your partner.Your company truly is worth investing in."
I turned to look at Dong-sik.
He smiled and nodded.
Elsewhere
"Director, a report just came in.It seems Hyun Si-woo has recently made contact with Chairman Choi Chang-sik of Daesung Group."
"…What? Why would those two meet?What possible connection could they have?"
"Chairman Choi has a youngest son suffering from an incurable rare disease.For years, he's gathered alternative medicine researchers, fortune tellers, and herbalists from all over the country, trying to cure him."
"Then… don't tell me—after seeing that kid's company cure Min Seo-ah's skin,he thought they might cure his son too?"
"That seems highly likely.According to our intelligence, such a conversation did take place at their first meeting."
"Hm… I wonder if that kid can really cure the chairman's youngest son."
"That's difficult to predict at this stage."
"…Still, it's strange.So they did meet and talk in the end."
"Yes. And reportedly, Chairman Choi even escorted Hyun Si-woo to his private residence late at night."
"I see…Investigate that kid's father in more detail.Understanding his psychology and tendencies is critical.And keep monitoring what happens between him and Daesung Group."
"Yes, Director."
Later
Chief Secretary Park Jae-seok returned to the residence with the youngest son, Choi Eun-seok.
Eun-seok's complexion was noticeably healthier now.
Unlike earlier, when he walked slowly and cautiously,he now walked naturally—just like an ordinary person.
Still dazed, as if he couldn't quite believe what was happening,Eun-seok stared blankly into space.
Unable to speak due to his emotions,Chairman Choi let Park Jae-seok speak instead.
"Chairman, the doctors say he's almost fully recovered.His immune response is now nearly identical to that of a healthy person.With time, even his skin should recover completely."
Hearing that, Chairman Choi let out a long sigh of relief.
"…Is that really true?The disease is cured, and even the skin issue will be resolved…Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness."
At that moment, I stepped forward.
"There's a way to resolve the skin issues even faster."
I lifted the tube containing the Skin Regeneration Agent from our briefcase.
"This is the cream that was used to treat Min Seo-ah's burn scars.If he applies this, the rashes and blotches should almost completely disappear by tomorrow."
Chairman Choi nodded knowingly.
"Ah—right. That cream."
I turned to Eun-seok.
"If you apply this cream tonight,most of the rashes and spots on your body should be gone by morning."
Eun-seok's eyes filled with tears.
He collapsed to the floor and cried.
"Th-thank you… truly… thank you so much…Because of you, I'm finally free from the illness that tormented me my entire life…I'm so sorry for saying strange things two days ago… I'm so sorry…"
"It's all right. I understand completely.I'm just glad our technology was effective for you.Seeing you healthy puts us at ease too."
Chairman Choi's eyes reddened once more.
Then the eldest son, Choi Eun-hyuk, approached his brother.
"E-Eun-seok… are you really okay?Are you truly better now…?"
"Yes, hyung. I really feel light now.My stomach doesn't churn anymore.If my skin heals too…will you play with me in the forest behind the main house again, like before?…Or is that childish? We're adults now."
"What are you saying?!You never got to play like that even once after you got sick!If that's your wish, of course your brother will play with you!"
Eun-hyuk began to cry as well.
Turning to us, he bowed deeply.
"I… I sincerely apologize.I was incredibly rude to you.Thank you—truly—for curing my brother."
This time, the apology wasn't forced by his father.
It came from the heart.
Chairman Choi watched the scene with satisfaction.
"Yes, Eun-hyuk.This truly is something to be grateful for."
"Yes, Father… I was terribly disrespectful."
"Then from now on, you will go work at Luktic."
"…Pardon?"
…What?
Chairman Choi turned to me.
"What do you think?I promised to pass on Daesung Group's know-how by dispatching personnel."
I answered reflexively, still stunned.
"Y-Yes… you did."
"How about sending my son as the first one?He completed his MBA at Harvard, and I trained him rigorously as a successor from a young age.He should be of some use.For the time being, he can help build your company's systems while also serving as a liaison with Daesung Group."
"Th-that's…"
"Well… we might as well formally employ him at Luktic."
Eun-hyuk looked equally shocked.
"F-Father… wasn't I supposed to join Daesung Electronics soon…?"
"That was the plan.But I think experiencing a startup growing into a major corporation would be good for you too.For someone destined to lead Daesung in the future, there could be no better training."
"B-But—"
"Don't worry about salary.Minimum wage is fine.And use him harshly if you must.If I weren't prepared for that, I wouldn't send my successor to a startup in the first place."
Then Chairman Choi asked us something important.
"The final decision rests with you.Are you willing to take in my inadequate son?Treat him as a rookie—work him hard if needed.I would actually prefer that."
I was completely caught off guard by the sudden proposal.
Then I felt something strange.
I turned my head and saw Dong-sik wearing a very peculiar expression.
His eyes practically said:
'Wow. A cute new rookie, huh?Welcome to corporate life, Choi Eun-hyuk.'
Eun-hyuk, sensing Dong-sik's sinister gaze, looked uneasy.
Sending one's own son was the clearest possible message.
A guarantee that the promise would be honored.
Chairman Choi added one final remark.
"And it seems the two of you are one year older than Eun-hyuk.Whether he joins Luktic or not, you'll be seeing each other often—so from now on, he will address you properly as his seniors."
In that moment, a storm of emotions crossed everyone's faces.
Triumph and delight on Dong-sik's.
Shock and dread on Eun-hyuk's.
Well—so be it.
Now all that remainedwas to accelerate business expansion.
With Daesung Group's backing,we would soon need to review pharmaceutical sales approvals,build proper factories,and establish large-scale logistics centers.
From this point on—
Luktic's growth would only accelerate.