Chapter 6. How much will you give me?

Manager Lee Wookgi sensed a strange nuance in Team Leader Ham's sudden visit during the meeting.

If it was important enough to bring up during a meeting, it must be a significant matter at the company level.

"Something you want to show me?"

"Well... a CPU cooler was delivered to the company by courier, and I wanted you to take a look at it..."

As Manager Lee Wookgi's expression changed with each word, Team Leader Ham's voice grew softer, feeling intimidated.

"...Team Leader Ham, are you joking with me?"

"No, Manager. It's not that... "

"I haven't been home for days, and the higher-ups are pressuring us to solve the problem this month. But now what? You want me to look at a cooler?"

"Manager, it's really strange, that's why..."

Seeing Team Leader Ham's genuinely aggrieved expression, Manager Lee Wookgi's expression finally softened.

It was a bit odd that he wouldn't back down even after explaining so much.

"...Let's see what it is. I hope it's not a big deal."

Though he glared sternly, Team Leader Ham remained confident.

"You'll see when you look at it. It's really unbelievable..."

"Alright, bring it out quickly."

With that, Team Leader Ham took a small cooler out of the paper box he had brought and placed it on the table.

The development team members, who had been watching, hoping for something amazing, let out disappointed smiles.

"Oh, this is the new product Alpha Tech was planning to release recently, right? It was something like 'Cooling'... Anyway, it was going to be released with a really childish name."

"Then it was canceled?"

Since he worked in the development team, he knew well.

Canceling a product after making it, promoting it, and setting a release schedule usually meant a serious problem had occurred.

"Didn't Sungwang Industry go bankrupt a while ago?"

"Yeah, I heard about that too."

In the same industry, rumors spread quickly in the not-so-big field.

"Maybe this was something they were making. It probably got scrapped when they went bankrupt."

"But why did it suddenly come to our company?"

"Who knows?"

That was the answer from Team Leader Ham Sungwook, who had brought the item.

"It was sent from the place that makes the heat sink, and it says 'Youngil Industrial' on it. Anyway, it was sent from there."

"Come on, Team Leader Ham, heat sinks are usually subcontracted. We use subcontracted cooling fans too."

Hearing the development team member's words, Team Leader Ham felt a sense of frustration.

Something was off, and he instinctively knew that no matter how much he explained, it wouldn't make a difference.

"Anyway, you need to see it for yourself... Is there a computer here?"

"We have one for presenting meeting materials... Why?"

"Can you just try it once?"

Manager Lee Wookgi looked at Team Leader Ham as if he couldn't believe it.

He wondered how much scolding it would take for him to leave on his own.

Team Leader Ham saw that look but didn't back down.

"Really, just try it once, and you'll see. It's really unbelievable."

"...Alright. I'll turn off the computer for a moment, and we'll take a break."

Yes.

The development team members left the meeting room, showing little interest, and Manager Lee Wookgi opened the computer case and removed the existing cooler.

He wiped off the thermal paste and reapplied it...

"Ha-. I don't even know what I'm doing. Team Leader Ham, you owe me a drink next time."

"Once you see this, Manager, you'll probably buy me a drink."

What kind of confidence was this?

He felt like he was dealing with a completely different person from the usually timid Team Leader Ham Sungwook.

'What's with this guy today?'

Manager Lee Wookgi had been working in a computer component manufacturing company for over 10 years.

It was an industry where new products flooded the market every day, but recently, he had started to feel a bit jaded.

Some said the limits of computer manufacturing processes had been reached.

Indeed, he felt that without a quantum computing revolution, significant leaps would be difficult.

'But it's not over yet.'

As the technological gap narrowed over time, more precise and detailed adjustments were needed to make a difference, even in small gaps.

A single small idea could completely change the value of a product, which was why they held meetings every day to push their employees.

Click.

Seeing the dust on the old cooler, Manager Lee Wookgi chuckled.

"Since we're replacing it, might as well use this one."

"Now, turn it on. If you're Manager Lee, you'll know right away."

Manager Lee Wookgi, looking exhausted from all the explanations, turned on the computer.

He ran a performance check program and watched the screen projected by the projector.

"Changing a cooler shouldn't make such a huge difference... Why are we having meetings every day if it does..."

His indifferent expression gradually hardened.

"...What is this? Wait, did the cooler not fit properly?"

'No, what am I saying?'

If the cooler didn't fit properly, the temperature should be higher.

But the CPU's temperature was abnormally low.

"How about that? I was right, wasn't I? It's strange, right?"

"...Is this even possible?"

No matter what, there were limits to what was reasonable.

At that moment, Manager Lee Wookgi was convinced he was dreaming.

'I haven't been sleeping well lately... That's why this seems like a dream.'

He rubbed his eyes and stared at the screen on the wall for a long time.

It was hard to believe that the cooling fan was running with almost no noise.

If that was the case, the heat sink must be the reason...

"Team Leader Ham, who sent this?"

***

Sigh.

"Wow, I haven't had a good sleep in a while."

Stretching after a late sleep, I felt a pull in my back.

After lying in bed for so long, I need to move more now.

'But the package should be arriving soon, right?'

Most Korean packages arrive the day after they're sent.

Since it's been three days since I sent it, I should be getting a call soon, but the lack of contact is making me anxious.

"No, don't think too much. They'll definitely see the performance..."

Surely they wouldn't just ignore it without checking, right?

"Ah! I didn't think of that?!"

What if they just threw it in the trash without checking?

'No, they'll check at least one place.'

At least one place will check.

...They have to, right?

Knock knock.

Just as I was panicking, my smartphone, which was charging on the desk, showed an unknown number.

I quickly cleared my throat, thinking it might be important.

Ahem!

'Now that I think about it, it's too early, isn't it?'

Even though I slept in, it was just a little past 10 AM.

For most companies, it's just the start of the workday, right?

Shrugging, I swiped the green icon.

"Yes, this is Lee Hyun."

"Hello, this is Young Sung Corporation. Did you send a cooler sample... from Youngil Industrial?"

The last bit of doubt vanished.

I held my breath, clenched my fist, and cheered silently.

After a deep breath, I replied as calmly as possible.

"Yes, I sent the cooler sample."

"By the way, how many places did you send it to?"

Why is he asking that?

"About... ten places?"

There was a brief commotion on the other end.

I could hear something, but it was muffled, and I couldn't make out what was being said.

'...What is it?'

After a moment,

A slightly tense male voice came through, heavy and serious.

"Where are you? I'm coming over now!"

"You're coming here? I'm at home..."

While I was flustered by the sudden visit,

Beep beep. Beep beep.

The busy tone of an ongoing call mixed with the urgent voice of the man.

'Why a call so early in the morning?'

Another unknown number appeared on my smartphone screen.

***

Did something go wrong?

At first, I thought I'd be happy if just one place contacted me.

'I didn't expect all of them to call.'

Before I knew it, I had practically rented out a cafe for the morning.

The result of sending samples to nine places.

Now, over twenty people, including me, were gathered here.

In the slightly crowded cafe, a man approached me first, extending a business card with a familiar company logo.

"Mr. Im Sunwoo, do you know our company? Isis."

Of course.

If my memory serves, the cooler in the computer that Seul took to her room was probably made by Isis.

They are likely one of the top three cooler manufacturers in Korea.

"Yes, I use an Isis cooler in my computer."

"Exactly! Why would you hesitate? Contracting with the best cooler company in Korea is definitely the best choice for you, Mr. Im Sunwoo."

Just as I was about to nod,

"Excuse me, what are you talking about? Isis? They were good in the past, I admit. But who knows Isis in Yongsan these days? The trend is with us, Elixir! Do you know how many Elixir coolers were sold last month? Over 100,000. If you bought a computer in Korea last month, you probably used our product. We're doing really well."

Another person appeared, passionately praising their company.

They were so dedicated that I wondered if the CEO had come himself.

"Everyone, please wait a moment."

I cleared my throat and spoke firmly.

The noisy cafe, which had been like a rural market, finally quieted down, and everyone turned to look at me.

In the past, I would have been nervous just by the situation.

"I'm sorry, but I think there's a misunderstanding. I'm here to compare the terms of contracts and deliveries between companies."

A young guy.

The people gathered here probably see me that way.

I'm just a college student, and most of them probably know about me.

With just the name of Youngil Industrial and my name, they could easily find out my recent status.

'A guy who was in a coma until recently and just woke up...'

They probably think I'm a kid who doesn't know the basics of running a company, let alone the industry.

Well, that's not entirely wrong.

I don't know how a company works, and I know even less compared to these people from well-known domestic computer component manufacturers.

But does that matter?

I only need to see one thing.

"How much will you give me?"

Right now, what's important to me, or rather to Youngil Industrial, is money.

Nothing else matters.