Chapter 23

Bear Soup is Now My Thing Chapter 23

023 Real Estate in Seomyeon and Nampon-dong / Crisis at the Choco Pie Company

Seomyeon is the place where the most young people in Busan gather.

In the past, Nampon-dong played this role, but since the mid-2000s, Seomyeon has taken over.

As such, the real estate prices in Seomyeon have soared to the sky.

However, now the prices are still at a reasonable level.

Nikolai and Sasha, who got off at the front of Taehwa Shopping, which can be considered the center of Seomyeon's commercial district, entered a real estate office on the second floor of an eyeglass shop.

From the sign, it felt seasoned, and inside, two elderly men with white hair were playing Go.

"We've come to look at a building."

In response to Nikolai's words, the old man who had his back turned continued to look at the Go board and replied.

"Please come in."

"Shouldn't you stop now that a customer has come?"

"Then give me a handicap."

As they sat on the old sofa, the old man who had been looking at the Go board raised his head and looked at Nikolai.

"Oh, you're a foreigner. I thought a young person had come by the sound of your voice. So, you're here to look at a building?"

"Yes. Is there a whole building for sale? For purchase."

"Wow, what a straightforward young man. You have a lot of nerve."

Considering the real estate prices here, it's no wonder the old man said that.

Even if Nikolai is a foreigner, he's a young man asking about a whole building for sale, not a lease.

"Here, even if a whole building is for sale, it's usually not listed. It's often sold through word of mouth among acquaintances."

"Then, how much would a five-story building on the back side of Taehwa cost?"

"Are you here for market research for a foreign company?"

"No, that's not it."

"Kim, how much is that place?"

The other old man, who was sitting opposite, thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Hmm. I think it was bought for 1.6 billion won around September last year…."

"Be more precise."

"My memory is a bit fuzzy… but it shouldn't be too far off."

"I see."

"Then, how much would the eyeglass shop below cost?"

"I know the exact price of the eyeglass shop. It's exactly 170 million won. I'm very close to the owner."

170 million won would not show much difference until the IMF crisis hits.

Even if it rises further here, it will soon plummet, so it doesn't matter.

"Sir, can I ask you something?"

Nikolai frowned and spoke seriously, but the old man, undeterred, adjusted his glasses and asked.

"Why? Do you have more questions?"

"But why are you speaking informally to me?"

"…!"

"I may be young, but I'm a customer. Why do you keep speaking informally? It's rude. Do you think foreigners don't know the difference between formal and informal speech?"

"…."

"Here, do you think it's okay to speak informally just because someone is older?"

"Th-that's not right. You shouldn't speak informally to a customer. I made a mistake. I'm sorry."

"You should be sorry."

"…I'm sorry, young man."

The old man awkwardly smiled, embarrassed.

Nikolai, thinking there was nothing more to gain here, immediately got up.

"Are you… leaving?"

"Take care."

He lightly said goodbye and left, hearing the old man's timid farewell from behind.

"Be careful… don't go too far."

Outside, Nikolai took out his notebook and wrote.

"Old man's real estate: X"

Nikolai also visited other real estate offices.

The one he visited next was run by a middle-aged woman, who was polite and gave accurate prices, even to a young foreigner.

The prices she gave were a bit different from what the old man had said.

"You've been running around like this in Seoul too, haven't you? Why are you so interested in real estate here, even though you're Russian?"

"Whether it's Russia, Korea, or the United States, what does it matter? As long as I can make a lot of money, that's all that matters."

"Can you buy everything you've been looking at with the money you've made from the supermarket?"

"Of course not. How could I buy all of that?"

Since he needs to keep expanding the number of supermarkets, reinvesting the money is out of the question.

However, there's still a few years before he can invest in Korea, so he can prepare the investment funds through other means during that time.

"But why do you keep asking as if you're going to buy everything? You're too enthusiastic. It's not like you."

"How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?"

"What?"

"You can't move until the deal is done. You have to believe and act as if it's already done. Doesn't that sound familiar?"

He narrowed his brows, as if he had heard it before, but it didn't immediately come to mind.

"Do you remember when I told my grandfather that I would get money from him and start a business?"

"…Yeah."

"Do you remember when you said I was just making business plans and wouldn't get money from my grandfather?"

"…I remember."

"But how is it now?"

"…"

"It's been less than a year, and everything is happening just as I said. Isn't that right?"

"That's true."

"So, all the real estate I've been looking at in Seoul and Busan is already mine. I've been greeting my future properties."

"That doesn't make sense, but it's strangely convincing."

"Hey, taxi! Get in quickly."

"Where are we going?"

"We need to go to Nampon-dong."

* * *

After getting off at the entrance of Jagalchi Market, Nikolai walked up towards Busan Theater.

This area, about 50 meters to the left and right of Busan Theater, is the prime commercial district of Nampon-dong.

It has been the center of Busan's commercial district for decades.

The land here is as expensive as Gangnam in Seoul, to the point where it was said that Nampon-dong was invincible.

"There are so many people. Why are they lining up there?"

"They must be lining up to watch a movie. Let's check the movie listings."

1. Dracula.

2. The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2.

3. City Hunter (starring Jackie Chan).

4. Once Upon a Time in China 3.

No wonder the lines are so long.

They've gathered all the interesting movies.

The movies back then had a romantic feel and a sense of stimulation, as well as entertainment.

But as time went on, CG technology developed, and movies focused more on visual splendor.

'There were so many memorable good movies…'

Nikolai was lost in thought for a moment but was brought back to reality by Sasha's words.

"Are we going to visit real estate offices here too?"

"Of course. We need to visit at least two places to get an accurate market price."

In the future, with active internet websites, you could just turn on your computer to know everything, but now, without such resources, we have to do the legwork.

Nikolai followed the road leading from Busan Theater to Mihwadang Department Store.

He also visited the real estate office on the third floor opposite the department store and the one at the entrance of Gwangbok-dong, getting the latest information.

"Please come back again. I handle the commercial area around Academy Theater, so please take a look and contact me."

"Understood. Take care."

Sasha wanted to know how the Busan subway differs from the Moscow subway. As they were about to go down the underground passage, Nikolai's phone rang loudly.

It was the phone that Manager Lee had given him, which could only be used in Korea.

"Hello."

- Mr. Nikolai, this is Manager Lee.

Huh? Why is Manager Lee calling?

"Is there something wrong? I was planning to call you when I get to Seoul."

- Did you receive any calls from other places?

"No, why do you ask?"

- I received a call from Iri-on.

"By Iri-on, do you mean the company that makes Choco Pies?"

- Yes. They called me urgently, asking for your contact information.

"How did they know I came to Korea and visited '8 Degrees'?"

- I found that strange too.

Not many people know that I came to Korea.

Only my grandfather, family, and Ilya know, and I haven't told anyone else.

Even here, only the president of Oseong Electronics and the staff of '8 Degrees' and Oottoji know.

But a Korean company, not a Russian one, knows my information?

This is strange.

"I don't know why they're asking for my contact information."

- They didn't say, so I told them I would contact you and give them your contact information if you allow it.

"You did well."

- What should I do?

What should I do?

Given how urgently they're looking for you, it must be something important related to the company.

Of course…

"Give them my contact information."

- What?

"Don't give them my contact information. It's annoying to find out that someone knows my private information without my knowledge. Tell them to come find me when I get to Seoul. I don't want to talk on the phone."

- Understood. When do you plan to come to Seoul?

"In about three or four days."

- It's none of our business, but it seemed like something big happened at Iri-on. The voice sounded very urgent.

"That's their problem. I'll go there later, so we'll see then."

- Understood. Please take care of your business and come back.

After hanging up, Sasha, who had been listening, asked.

"Why did Manager Lee call?"

"There are people who know we're in Korea."

"That's not much of a secret if you try to find out."

"It's strange that someone went out of their way to find out."

I had asked the president of Oseong Electronics to contact other company representatives, but as far as I know, the president hasn't done so yet.

"That's true. Why did they want to know our movements?"

"This doesn't seem like a simple matter. We'll find out when we get to Seoul. Let's put aside the complicated issues and rest for now."

Nikolai said he would go to Seoul in about three or four days but ended up going a week later after sightseeing around.

* * *

"Manager Lee, how are you?"

"Did you have a good time in Busan?"

"It was very good. You should visit if you get the chance."

"I've been there a few times for business."

"Business trips aren't much fun."

"Ha ha, that's true. I was too busy with work to enjoy anything else. Please give me your luggage and go to the parking lot."

Arriving at the Shilla Hotel with Manager Lee and his team, who had come to meet him at Seoul Station, the sky was starting to darken.

The first thing Manager Lee said upon entering the room was about the phone call.

"Iri-on called again. Would you like to meet them?"

"If they come here now, will they come immediately?"

"They will come without hesitation."

"Then, tell them to come now."

"Understood."

Nikolai watched as Manager Lee made the call.

After a few exchanges, the call ended.

"They're on their way."

"Since they're coming, let's wait. I'll take a shower first."

The best hotel room in the country is definitely different.

Just entering the room makes you feel positive and relaxed.

After a 30-minute shower, he went out to find two people had arrived.

One looked elderly, and the other seemed to be in his late 30s.

But they were fidgeting like a dog that badly needs to go to the bathroom.

Nikolai changed his clothes and sat down with them.

The elderly man then extended his business card as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"I'm Park Chul, in charge of overseas sales at Iri-on."

Nikolai glanced at the business card out of politeness and asked.

"Why did you so urgently look for me?"

"There's a big problem at the company, and it's closely related to you, which is why I've been trying to contact you."

"What is closely related to me?"