"If the government of the Republic of Korea cannot accommodate the conditions I've requested…then I will take this technology and leave for overseas."
I delivered those words in the most composed, confident tone I could manage.
The expressions of the three high-ranking officials sitting across from me began to waver.
In particular, the eyes of the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare and the Policy Director from the Prime Minister's Office shook so visibly that it was obvious even from a distance.
A brief, chaotic silence followed.
Unable to hide his agitation, the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare spoke.
"C-CEO Hyun Si-woo…didn't you just say that you wanted to help patients as soon as possible…?"
"I believe that patients can be helped regardless of where the medicine is produced.Medicine has no borders."
The vice minister was left speechless.
Taking over in his place, the policy director from the Prime Minister's Office spoke carefully.
"C-CEO Hyun…you also said you wanted to contribute greatly to the national economy…"
"Yes, that's correct.I was born in South Korea and have lived here my entire life—I do possess a basic sense of patriotism.But at the same time, I cherish my technology and my company like my own children.If the government cannot accept my conditions, then I have no choice but to pursue another option."
The MFDS Vice Minister took the baton next.
"N-No… we're not trying to obstruct your business, are we?If you follow standard approval procedures, you'll be able to produce and sell your products without issue.Keeping the raw materials and manufacturing process secret is an excessively unreasonable request.Even if you submit that information to the MFDS, it will be used solely for evaluation purposes, and strict confidentiality will be maintained."
They were simply doing their duty as bureaucrats.
But if I went through the standard approval process,I would be required to submit detailed reports on the raw materials and manufacturing methods.
From the outset, I couldn't properly explain what the Luktic Basic Catalyst Stone actually was,or how it functioned as a catalyst in chemical reactions—even I couldn't fully articulate it.
I felt sorry toward the officials in front of me,but this was an issue I had to push through forcefully.
I looked at the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare and spoke.
"Vice Minister, as an expert in this field, you should understand better than anyonewhat kind of value Luktic's newly developed technology holds."
"W-Well… yes, that's true."
"Wouldn't there be many parties eager to obtain this technology?Overseas pharmaceutical giants, foreign governments…Perhaps even extensive intelligence operations aimed at stealing it."
"Th-That's certainly technology of tremendous value…"
"Then wouldn't it be safer for as few people as possible to know it?At present, the number of people on Earth who can fully implement Luktic's technologyis, in fact, just one."
"…Is that really true?"
"Yes.Even my business partner and the staff working in production only know fragments of the technology.The only person who holds the complete picture in his head is me—Hyun Si-woo."
"I-I see…"
"With all due respect, the moment I submit the product's ingredients and manufacturing process to the MFDS,the number of people who know this technology increases dramatically.Of course, I trust the civil servants who work tirelessly for our country.But isn't there a saying that once two people know something, it's no longer a secret?"
The MFDS Vice Minister, visibly agitated, protested.
"CEO Hyun!Any information submitted to the MFDS is protected under extremely strict confidentiality.There's no need for such concern.If anything, because it's world-class technology, we would guard it even more carefully."
"Are you confident you can block hacking attempts or intelligence operations by major world powers 100%?"
"Th-That's…!"
"Not long ago, there was an incident where all Korean government servers were compromised by an external hacking attack, wasn't there?If powerful foreign entities seriously attempt to steal Luktic's technology,are you confident the MFDS can stop them?"
Strictly speaking, that hacking incident had been caused unintentionally by the quantum computer in my home—
…but there was no need to mention that detail.
"…But wouldn't the same risk apply to Luktic as well?If even the government can't stop such attacks, how does a startup plan to?"
"As I've said repeatedly, the completed knowledge exists only in my head.I've never recorded it in documents or digital files.Unless I'm kidnapped, technology theft is impossible."
The MFDS Vice Minister was left with no rebuttal.
There was no lie in what I said.
The quantum computer's display was visible only to me,and with humanity's current technology, hacking it was impossible.
In essence, everything existed only inside my mind.
The Vice Minister of Health and Welfare asked again, his voice low.
"CEO Hyun…if your conditions are not accepted… would you really…?"
I lowered my head, speaking regretfully.
"I don't want to take it that far either.But if my conditions aren't accepted,then I'll have no choice but to move to a country that will accept them."
The Vice Minister of Health and Welfare glanced briefly at the policy director,then both of them turned to look at the MFDS Vice Minister.
After a silent exchange of looks,the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare spoke.
"CEO Hyun, this isn't something we can decide among ourselves on the spot.We'll need to consult with related ministries and officials who hold higher decision-making authority.For now, could we conclude today's meeting here and contact you again later?"
"Yes.Thank you for your time."
And just like that, the meeting ended.
I wasn't sure if I'd handled it well.
I headed toward the parking lot, where Dong-sik was waiting with the car.
After Hyun Si-woo Left
"This is an emergency—an emergency!"
"We absolutely cannot let Luktic be taken by a foreign government!"
As soon as I left the room,the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare and the policy director shouted, their faces pale.
"B-But even so, accepting those demands is…,"the MFDS Vice Minister said hesitantly.
"Vice Minister, you know better than anyone what kind of value Luktic's technology holds.If Hyun Si-woo takes that technology to the United States,the U.S. government would grant any demand he makes!"
"But bypassing procedures to that extent…that's not something the MFDS can decide alone.At the very least, we'd need direct instructions from the President—"
"Then we need to report this to the Minister immediately.Once the Minister hears this, he'll undoubtedly report it to the President right away."
The policy director nodded.
"I'll report this to the Chief of Staff as soon as I return.The Prime Minister must be made aware."
The Vice Minister of Health and Welfare spoke gravely.
"Everyone—think carefully.If we fail to meet Hyun Si-woo's conditions and he leaves the country…how do you think public opinion will react?"
"…It would explode.People would rage about yet another incompetent government driving away a brilliant talent."
"Exactly.Government approval ratings are already fragile,and the opposition would seize this opportunity for a fierce attack.And considering the President is already displeased after the previous hacking incident…"
"…His anger would be immense."
"Yes.Now think—where do you suppose that anger would be directed?"
A chilling silence followed.
"…At the people who first handled Hyun Si-woo's demands…meaning… us?"
The Vice Minister of Health and Welfare nodded.
"That's why we must stay sharp.One mistake, and our entire bureaucratic careers could be over.We must ensure that Hyun Si-woo stays in South Korea—no matter what."
The MFDS Vice Minister's hands began to tremble.
"I-I'll report this in detail to the Minister as soon as I return.So that the moment instructions come down from the President,we can respond immediately to Luktic's demands."
Another silence followed.
Then, all at once, they stood up, grabbed their phones, and hurried out of the conference room.
"Minister, there's an urgent matter I need to report—"
"Chief of Staff, regarding the critical issue involving Luktic—"
"Commissioner, there's something extremely urgent we need to discuss the moment I return—"
Each of them rushed off, faces pale, speaking urgently into their phones.
Back Outside
Dong-sik, who had been waiting, asked me:
"So, how did it go, Mr. CEO?Judging by the lineup, I bet the atmosphere was pretty oppressive."
"I'm not sure.They said they'd contact us again later.But the atmosphere wasn't oppressive at all—it was surprisingly polite."
"What? That makes no sense…"
Dong-sik looked genuinely confused.
I didn't know why he was so shocked,but for now, I got into the car he was driving and we returned to Luktic's 'headquarters.'
The Daesung Group specialist asked about the outcome.
After hearing a rough summary, he gave his assessment.
"For a first encounter with officials of that rank, you handled it very well.Even I've never experienced a situation like this, so I can't give a definite answer—but if the government makes a rational decision,they will accept your conditions."
"Really…?"
"Yes.The benefits of preventing Luktic's technology from leaving the countryfar outweigh the risks of partially simplifying the approval process.That's how valuable your technology truly is."
He was also shocked—just like Dong-sik—when I mentioned how polite and courteous the officials had been.
"Are you serious?Even when meeting executives from top conglomerates,officials often act extremely high-handed.To think they treated you with that level of respect…I knew Luktic's technology was extraordinary,but this truly puts it into perspective."
He spoke with a faintly bitter smile.
Perhaps he, too, had experienced more than a few oppressive meetings with high-ranking officials.
Later, Dong-sik and I talked in the office.
"So now we just wait until the government contacts us again?"
"Yeah.In the meantime, you'll start preparing for factory and logistics expansion, right?"
"Of course.The demand for Luktic Cream is exploding nationwide.We can't keep the purchase button disabled forever.Once we expand, we need to widen our cash flow."
"Oh—by the way, Dong-sik.When we expand the factory,do you think we could also add a production line for a new product?"
Dong-sik stared at me in shock.
"What—did you invent something new again?"
"Well… remember the elixir we used to treat Chairman Choi's youngest son?I'm thinking of weakening its effects and selling it as a health supplement or fatigue recovery drink."
"…Ah!Just like when we diluted the skin regeneration agent and sold it as a cosmetic first."
"Exactly."
"All right.I'll push that forward as well."
We couldn't afford to just sit around waiting for pharmaceutical approval.
Just as we weakened the skin regeneration agent and sold it as a cosmetic,this time we would dilute the Stage 1 Elixirand release it as a nationwide fatigue recovery drink and health supplement.
Once the factory expansion was completeand the purchase button—blocked due to insufficient production capacity—was reopened,orders would flood in.
And alongside that,we'd add the diluted elixir product to the lineup.
Now—
It was finally time to scale the business in earnest.