Chapter 7: Exhibition (1)

The number of heat sink fins ordered by Sungwang Industry was a total of 3 million.

Even if calculated as fully assembled heat sinks, it amounts to 50,000 units.

In fact, considering that Alpha Tech also sells overseas, it's not such a large number.

When you think about them being sold worldwide, 50,000 units is indeed a negligible number.

'But we almost had to close the company just because of those 50,000 units.'

At the time of delivery to Sungwang Industry, the price of a single heat sink fin was barely 200 won.

Even with 3 million units, it doesn't even reach 600 million won.

While it might not be a significant amount for a company, for a small business like Yeongil Industrial, it's a matter of survival.

Moreover, due to Sungwang Industry's urgent delivery deadline, the industrial workers had to work overtime every day to produce these items.

So, I need to get a fair price.

"Let me be clear, I have no intention of selling at a rock-bottom price."

If I don't dispose of them by the deadline, the factory will have to close.

Machines, buildings, everything will be seized, and the family will fall apart...

Just imagining it is dizzying, but I definitely want to get a fair price.

'Even though it's not much, I'll attach silver stickers...'

They probably know about Yeongil Industrial's situation, but at the very least, I need to get the price we agreed on for the contract to make ends meet.

With that resolve, I spoke firmly, and a middle-aged man with a strong presence stepped forward and said,

"That's obvious. So, what kind of bidding method will you use? Isis is ready to engage in aggressive price competition."

"…Bidding?"

Wasn't it supposed to be just a simple discussion and signing of the contract?

Suddenly, price competition?

"Let's do an open bid."

At someone's suggestion, everyone nodded.

Only I, the seller, was bewildered.

'Open bid?'

I don't know the details, but from the words alone, I can guess the general idea.

In short, it's a competition to see how much each company is willing to pay for the product, and they'll fight it out fiercely.

If I were in the opposite position?

I'd have to compete with other companies to see how cheaply I could supply the product, which would be the worst-case scenario.

'But now I'm in the opposite position... This is good for me.'

In the process of securing product production, this method can lead to high defect rates or low product quality due to the pressure to meet low prices.

For that reason, it's not a method commonly used when deciding on product production.

However, the products are already fully made.

Whoever buys them at a higher price and sells them for a profit is their ability, not my concern.

But shouldn't this be a decision for Dad?

"Excuse me, I'll make a quick phone call."

An open bid means that the price I propose will be known to everyone, and I'm worried about potential overheating and problems.

While my goal is to save the industrial plant, the operation is Dad's domain.

The situation feels a bit rushed, but it's definitely necessary to confirm.

Ring.

"Hello. Seonwoo?"

"Dad."

Before the ringtone even ended, Dad's voice came from the other side.

The sound of machinery was quite loud, suggesting he was in the office.

"About the heat sink fins we talked about before. Can I handle them?"

"Wait, a place that wants to buy them has appeared?"

"Yes."

And not just one, but nine places.

"Great! Just don't sell them too cheaply..."

"What are you talking about? Dad and the industrial plant workers worked so hard to make them... Don't worry, I'll get a fair price."

"R-Right? That would be great."

"Maybe Dad should come here?"

Running the industrial plant is a hands-on job.

Melting iron in a hot furnace and molding it is something only those who do it can understand.

I don't have that kind of experience.

I might be able to do something in the future, but for now, all I can do is hold the fort.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

I waited, knowing he was thinking.

"No. I think it's better for you to handle this directly."

I'm grateful for his full support, but it's a bit overwhelming.

I've lived a long life, but in a different world.

Lacking social experience in this kind of situation is no different.

'Maybe he trusts me too much.'

I'm grateful for this trust.

Perhaps he wants to instill confidence in his son who has just risen to the occasion.

So, I can't betray that trust.

"Got it. I'll let you know the result at home."

"Alright. Got it. Son, don't lose heart."

"Don't worry."

I might lack social experience, but I'm confident I won't lose heart.

***

Out of the nine companies, only five ultimately participated in the bidding.

Four gave up before it even started.

"We can't possibly compete with those companies. It's a shame, but... it's best to give up here."

People with regretful eyes left, and only the representatives from the five companies remained in the cafe.

Finally, the cafe, which had been bustling since early morning, had some breathing room.

I'm glad I asked the non-participants to return to their companies.

"Yeongsung Industry will purchase all the heat sink fins at 250 won each."

"Isis will offer 255 won."

The sudden auction atmosphere.

I was taken aback by the abrupt start, but the participants didn't seem to mind.

"Nexus bids 280 won."

The competition began among them.

'Is this the level of competition?'

Yes, I know the performance is better than existing coolers.

They're made of silver and have cooling magic engraved, so they can't be bad.

But surely not to this extent.

'...Did I misunderstand something?'

Something seems off.

"Excuse me... Can we pause for a moment? The atmosphere seems too heated..."

I tried to mediate.

The representatives from three companies already had a strange look in their eyes.

"300 won for all of them."

The man from Yeongsung Industry shouted, as if daring anyone to bid higher.

The eyebrows of the other two representatives twitched.

And so did mine.

'...300 won?'

The original contract price was 200 won per unit.

Even that was on the expensive side compared to regular heat sink fins. Is this the right price?

"Um... I'll make a quick call. It's not over yet."

The representative from Isis stood up.

"Me, me too!"

The representative from Nexus also left the cafe to make a call.

Of course, they're not the company representatives.

They probably have some authority, but the unexpected high bids must be the reason.

The total number of heat sink fins in Yeongil Industrial's warehouse is 3 million.

At 300 won each, that's 900 million won.

While this amount is nothing to my former self,

I once used magical stones worth tens of billions in this world's currency recklessly.

Ding.

...Why is my coffee cup shaking?

Is this proof that I'm a different person here and there?

The people remaining in the cafe were sending urgent messages.

The auction... no, the bidding, isn't over yet.

'Could it go even higher?'

I need more caffeine.

***

"What? How much?"

The voice on the other end of the phone was a mix of confusion and anger.

But Manager Lee Wookgi insisted even more strongly.

"Please allow 350 won. Otherwise, it's better to just walk away now."

"Hey... Manager Lee. Is that product really worth that much? It's just a heat sink. You have to consider heat pipes, cooling fans, and power supplies. At 60 pieces, the cost of just the heat sink fins is over 30,000 won. Add distribution, taxes, labor, and factory operating costs. Plus, you need to modify the heat pipe process. Are you really considering all of this?"

"Sir, you haven't seen the product yet, right?"

Has Manager Lee Wookgi ever been this confident?

There was something beyond confidence in his tone.

That's why the CEO of Yeongsung Industry couldn't reject him outright.

"Yes... But I've heard about it. The performance is supposedly incredible. But it's still a cooler. People spend tens of thousands on CPUs, graphics cards, and RAM for small performance differences, but not on coolers. You know that, right?"

"I guarantee it. This is not just another air cooler. It will outperform even mid-range liquid coolers."

The CEO was silent, taken aback by the confident tone.

While not from the development team, the CEO of a cooler manufacturing company isn't ignorant of what Manager Lee Wookgi is saying.

"Can you take responsibility for what you're saying?"

"Of course. Have I ever exaggerated the performance?"

"No. Sigh... I'm going crazy."

"Then I'll take that as a yes."

"Hey, hey! Manager Lee-."

No more words were needed.

Manager Lee Wookgi hung up, took a deep breath.

He was confident and sure, but not without fear.

He knew that if this went wrong, it could cost more than just his job.

'I have to believe in myself... and in the performance I saw...'

The cooler he saw a few days ago came to mind.

It looked a bit crude but was incomprehensible.

Despite his considerable experience, he couldn't understand how it was possible.

Through the cafe window, he saw a man in his mid-20s drinking his second cup of coffee.

'How did he make something like that?'

350 won per heat sink fin.

As the CEO said, it might result in a loss.

If they can't sell them, the inventory will be a significant burden for Yeongsung Industry.

And the remaining inventory will cause considerable losses.

'I can sell them. No... I have to sell them.'

He muttered to himself, reaffirming his resolve.

Manager Lee Wookgi returned to the cafe and sat down.

Before anyone else could speak,

"Yeongsung Industry will purchase all the heat sink fins at 350 won each."

If it's a game he can't back down from,

Crushing the opponent's will is a viable strategy.

And it worked better than expected.

Everyone, including the two who had just returned from their calls and those who were busy on their smartphones, stared at Manager Lee Wookgi in shock.

"350.5 won!"

The bids started to include fractions of a won.

At this point, a reasonable suspicion arose that these people might be bluffing.

***

In the now empty cafe,

I sat across from the man who first bid 350 won.

"Even though it's a business contract, I'm not sure if it's appropriate to decide things so quickly in a cafe."

"This is a bit unusual. Normally, a contract team reviews the documents, holds meetings, and negotiates... Even for a simple contract, it takes a few days."

"I see. I'm not familiar with this kind of thing."

"Research and development people don't need to know about this, so there's no shame in it."

I'm not in research and development.

...There's no need to correct him.

'Well, it's not entirely wrong.'

"Still, we need to draft a contract, right?"

"Of course. It's a contract worth over 1 billion won."

"Then we'll draft the initial contract on our side."

I've never written a contract before,

'But they might try to play tricks with the contract.'

If we make a mistake, they'll find it.

But it might be harder for them to find mistakes in a contract we draft, so it's better to do it ourselves.

"Let's do that."

The man nodded more readily than expected.

His eyes were firm and unwavering.

'He has an upright character.'

Such a person, once resolved, won't easily waver.

"Then I'll prepare the contract and visit you again."

"No, I'll go to Yeongil Industrial. I need to assess the plant's scale for future orders."

'...Future orders?'

It's not just 3 million units?

Oh, I didn't think about that.