We returned to Luktic's headquarters.
…Well, calling it "headquarters" was a bit grandiose.In reality, it was still the same small, shabby warehouse building as yesterday.
Compared to Chairman Choi Chang-sik's magnificent estate,it looked especially humble.
"Dong-sik, once we have a bit more financial breathing room,we should expand our production facilities and logistics warehouse as soon as possible.The company's scale is going to grow rapidly,so it'd be good to start looking for a proper building we can actually use as an office."
"Yeah… that's true.With the insane products you developed, Si-woo,and Daesung Group's support on top of that,we'll reach a scale close to a major corporation in no time."
When a company that used to be no more than a small or mid-sized enterprisesuddenly grows into a large corporation due to a stroke of luck or a single hit product,they often fall into the same bad habit.
They fail to build systems worthy of a large corporation—in workflow, organization, and management—and continue operating with inefficient "small-company thinking,"producing massive waste.
Luktic, which was about to rapidly increase its scale,would soon face the same danger.
That was exactly why we needed to make full use ofDaesung Group and Chairman Choi Chang-sik's support.
When a small company suddenly becomes a large one,the growing pains usually last several years.
And those aftereffects are often enoughto bring an entire company to its knees.
But we had been given a rare opportunity—to receive direct guidance and consultingfrom experts who had long managed massive enterprises.
…Of course, that didn't mean we could trustDaesung Group or Chairman Choi one hundred percent.
In South Korea, large conglomerates were infamous for approaching promising startups under the guise of "investment,"then stripping them of their technology and business ideas before discarding them.
Even if Chairman Choi's goodwill toward us was genuine right now—born from gratitude for curing his youngest son—he was still a veteran who had led one of the country's largest conglomerates for decades.
I couldn't forget that a terrifyingly cunning foxlikely lived somewhere deep inside his heart.
If one day he judged that Luktic threatened Daesung Group's interests—or that betraying us would bring Daesung greater profit—there was no telling how quickly the situation might change.
Especially the fact that he wished to acquire Luktic shares through early investment,and that he intended to place his successor, Choi Eun-hyuk,inside Luktic as an early employee—
Even if those were helping hands now,they were double-edged swordsthat could one day turn into weapons against us.
We should accept the help we could get—but never let our guard down.
In this ruthless business world,approaching everyone with blind trust and goodwill—like a puppy wagging its tail—only leads to ending up in a dog-meat pot.
As I was lost in these thoughts,Dong-sik suddenly spoke.
"Hey, Si-woo…your eyes look different lately."
I was caught off guard.
"What? My eyes are different…?"
"Yeah.You used to look gentle and naive,but now you really look like a businessman.There's wariness, killing intent, and desire in your eyes."
"Hey, don't say it like that.You make me sound like some kind of villain."
"Haha, but in this industry, I think that's the right way to be.The gentle types get devoured in an instant and end up with nothing.And sometimes, losing everything is the best-case scenario.Plenty of people end up buried under massive debt and disappear from the world entirely."
It seemed Dong-sik's thoughts weren't much different from mine.
The more you have,the harder you must work to protect it.
You can't let your guard down—not even for a moment.
Elsewhere
"Father…why are you sending me there?"
Choi Eun-hyuk asked, his eyes full of grievance.
"If it's management training, I've been receiving that since I was young.I want to start my career within Daesung Group."
Chairman Choi Chang-sik looked at his eldest son for a moment,then let out a deep sigh.
"Eun-hyuk…do you think I raised and educated you so poorly?"
"Father…?"
"In just a few hours,Eun-seok's incurable disease—one that no one had ever been able to treat—was effectively cured.And just as they said,after applying their cream,his skin was clean by the very next morning."
"Well… I admit their technology is incredible.But in the end, I'm destined to become a manager, not a technician.What could I possibly learn by going to Luktic?"
"That's not the point.They will soon grow into one of the leading conglomerates in this country.Perhaps even… the company that feeds the nation."
"…You mean they'll surpass even Daesung…?"
"That's how it looks to me.I've faced countless competitors over my lifetime,but never once have my knees gone weak like this.That young man—Hyun Si-woo.Today, he felt more frightening than any rival I've ever encountered."
Eun-hyuk fell silent.
Seeing his father—long known as a bold and fearless veteran—speak so seriously about fearing another entrepreneurwas something he had never witnessed before.
"Eun-hyuk.We must maintain good relations with them.If my intuition is correct,they will grow beyond Daesung.Normally, at this stage, I would have crushed them at all costs.But how could I, as a human being, do such a thing to our benefactors?All actions return as karma.If I committed such a despicable act,heaven itself might punish Eun-seok for it."
"T-That…"
"I looked into it—the person who developed that technology is Hyun Si-woo himself.At barely twenty-something years old,he's already created a medicine worthy of being recorded in human history.He's a genius—the kind that appears only once every few centuries."
"…And I was that rude to someone like that."
"There's still time.From what I can tell, he's not narrow-minded.That's precisely why he'll grow even greater.I'll say it again—we must get along with them.So that when they achieve tremendous growth,they won't seek to take Daesung's place at the table,but coexist with us instead."
"You want to make them…our family and allies, Father."
"Yes. Now you finally understand.I'll send you to them soon.Apologize again for your rudeness,and approach them humbly.Think of yourself as a true rookie employee.From now on, the title of 'Daesung's successor' does not exist for you.If you work at a new company with that mindset,you'll have much to learn."
"…Understood, Father.I'll follow your instructions."
"Good."
Back at Luktic
The packaging and shipping work for Luktic Cream,which had been briefly delayed due to our meeting with Daesung Group,resumed at full speed.
Orders placed through Naver Smart Storebegan shipping steadily,and as customers confirmed their purchases,the settlement payments from Naver started increasing.
"By the way, Dong-sik,there's something we still need to discuss."
"Ah."
He nodded, already knowing.
"You mean Chairman Choi's investment offer, right?"
"Exactly."
"What do you think, Si-woo?"
"Well… if Chairman Choi invests,it'll be a massive amount—at least several hundred billion won.That would definitely accelerate our early expansion.But on the other hand…"
"You're thinking that since Luktic Cream is already generating a flood of cash,we might not need to give up equity just to get investment, right?There's also the option of bank loans—and we'd probably get approved easily."
"Oh.How did you know?"
"Come on.We've lived in the same neighborhood for decades.You think I can't read you that much?Honestly, I had the same thought."
"…But still, a huge upfront investment would help a lot.Even if we sell Luktic Cream like crazy,it'll take time to accumulate the kind of cash Chairman Choi could provide immediately.If we start with that level of capital,our early growth speed will be completely different."
"Then why not talk to him again?If we know exactly how much equity he wants,it'll be easier to decide."
"That's a good idea.Next time I speak with him, I'll casually ask."
"Sounds good.I'll leave that to you, CEO."
"What? Just me?"
"Isn't that what a CEO is for? Hah."
When I made a slightly disgruntled face,Dong-sik smiled.
"Don't worry.I'll personally take charge of the urgent issue—expanding our production facilities."
"Right…that really is the most urgent problem."
Dong-sik nodded.
"Exactly.When we're building massive factories and enterprise-level logistics centers,it'll be better to rely on Daesung Group.But at our current scale,we can still handle this part ourselves."
"So you think we should do as much as we can on our own."
"Yeah.No matter how close the relationship,overreliance is never a good thing."
As expected,Dong-sik thought just like I did.
I asked him,
"Where do you think we should build the new factory and logistics center?Should we buy an existing building instead?"
"That's a tough one…but I checked, and the area around our current warehouse is actually pretty good."
"Here?"
"Yeah.Zoning regulations aren't an issue for a small factory and warehouse,the land is flat and spacious,plots are divided conveniently for purchase,and most importantly—land prices are still relatively cheap."
"That's true.Expanding around here would be convenient for us too."
"Exactly.I'll focus on researching and planning the factory and warehouse for now.And the production equipment we commissioned for Luktic Cream is almost ready.Once we secure a building to install it in,mass production will be possible."
"Perfect. Nice work, Dong-sik.Then I'll…"
I'd need to start planning how to sellthe skin regeneration base solutionand the Stage 1 Elixir as pharmaceuticals.
If that plan succeeded,Luktic would instantly become a company of global caliber.
"I'll look into pharmaceutical approvals.And I'll also talk with Daesung Group to seeif there's any workaround that lets us sellwithout fully disclosing the raw materials or manufacturing process."
"Yeah.Let's give it our all again, Si-woo.…Or should I say, CEO Hyun Si-woo? Heh."
"Ugh, don't call me that. It's embarrassing."
"Embarrassing?Once we reach mid-sized—and then large—corporation level,I'll have no choice but to call you 'CEO' in official settings.You might as well start getting used to it."
A CEO of a structured, massive corporation…
Before learning about the quantum computerand the Akashic Records,it was a position I'd never even dreamed of.
Back then,I would've been grateful just to land a junior positionat a mid-sized company.
In hindsight,my life really had changed a lot in a very short time.
But I wasn't stopping here.
Just like Dong-sik said,we would burn brightly together againand grow this company even further.
Dreams and hopes I had abandonedafter growing up and facing reality—
They were coming back to life around me.
Let's run with everything we've got.
I'll continue decrypting the knowledge of the Akashic Records,cure my father completely someday,and become a successful company ownerso I can finally let him live a life of comfortafter all the hardship he's endured.
Let's burn our youth to the fullest.
Toward that sky and sunthat once felt impossible even to look at—
Let's soar upward with all our strength.
With that resolve,Dong-sik and I bumped fistsand shouted our battle cry together.