Chapter 7

Valuable Property

Valuable Property

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Yongsu, who had fainted and fallen asleep at home, woke up to the sound of birds.

It had been a day since he had been there.

'I need to move to a bigger house. I need a storage room too...'

Where should he move? This was the first thing Yongsu pondered upon waking up.

He had enough money, so he just needed to choose a house to move into.

Ding.

"Ah, thank you. Please come again."

After completing the registration and signing the contract at the real estate office, it was one in the afternoon.

Yongsu turned a corner and looked at the apartment complex.

He saw windows and doors, windows and doors, and a narrow corridor connecting them.

The buildings were painted in a faded ivory color, and at the end, there was a white house drawn inside a blue circle.

It was an 18-pyeong public apartment, built in the 90s.

He had unknowingly signed a contract for this place.

Even though he could have signed for a better house.

He wasn't the type to overspend just because he had money, but he could have lived in a house with at least an elevator, more than three rooms, and more than two bathrooms.

However, he ended up signing for a public apartment with only two rooms, one bathroom, and a living room connected to the kitchen, in the same building and floor as Gahye.

He couldn't explain it just by saying that he found a property when he went to look for a house.

'Maybe I was bewitched by something...'

Yongsu scratched his head.

He no longer had a family. Most of the people he knew from society had turned their backs on him.

The only familiar and dear face he wanted to see was Gahye, who had given him a sticker in the past. If he lived here, he might be able to see Gahye's face from time to time...

'And that aunt...'

It seemed that the heart could not be controlled by reason.

"The real estate agent said I could move in right away since it's an empty house..."

He could move in from tomorrow, but he needed to pack his things, so it would probably be possible around then.

Yongsu got into his truck, looked at the contract, and entered the factory's address into the navigation system.

He had spent 40 billion won at the real estate office in no time.

He bought the one-room apartment building he had been living in due to the parking space, and also signed a contract for an abandoned factory to use as a warehouse because there was a property for sale.

The building was still standing, and the attached land was large, which he liked. According to the city plan, he could build a warehouse building on the land.

'Now, what's left is to analyze the mission and research and acquire items that can be sold in that world. And...'

Yongsu pressed the navigation menu icon.

He was sure that one more reward from the tutorial mission was still left.

Enhancement points.

'What are you, anyway...'

Yongsu pressed the enhancement information section.

<Current Enhancement Points: 1>

<Choose the target for enhancement.>

Three icons appeared with the message.

'The body and the vehicle... It means the car and the body, and if it's an item, it means the items in the cargo area. What does it mean to enhance an item...'

There was no detailed explanation.

He thought about clicking to see if it would give an explanation, but he was worried that the reward might be lost, so he decided to choose carefully.

'Come to think of it, I hit the chief and the warrior with the truck last time...'

Surprisingly, the car was completely fine, without a single dent.

The domestic truck was so sturdy that it would sink in when pressed by hand, yet it was unscathed after hitting two green beings.

Therefore, he didn't feel the need to enhance the car right away.

If not the car, then it was either the body or an item, but without an explanation, he was hesitant about what to decide.

'For now, let's leave it. I'll know when I complete the next mission and enhance them one by one...'

First, there was something he needed to do on Earth.

The factory was difficult to use immediately, so he called a company to remodel it.

It would take about a week to complete the mission in that world and return, so he asked them to finish it during that time, which cost about 20 billion won in expedited fees.

Next, he called a security company and subscribed to the VVIP service to strengthen the factory's security.

Security was important, but the reason he subscribed to the VVIP service was for the valuable item storage service.

He needed to store the yongyeon fragrance.

He had used the same company when he was in business before, but he couldn't subscribe to the VVIP service then.

It cost over 10 billion won per year.

'Sigh, if I had subscribed back then, the vice president wouldn't have taken all the important documents...'

It was a late regret, but wasn't there a saying that misfortune might turn out to be a blessing in disguise?

Still, it was different from back then. Back then, he was using someone else's money, which was insufficient, so he was very picky.

But now, it was his own money, and he had enough, so it was good that he didn't have to be picky.

-This is Lim Do-joon, team leader of the stock management 1st team at Hanha Investment Management. Have a pleasant day.

A recorded voice was playing as a ringtone through his phone.

"Hey, this guy got promoted fast... Already a team leader?"

Lim Do-joon, his best friend from college, was one of the few sources of information Yongsu trusted in Yeouido.

-Hello! This is Lim Do-joon, team leader of the stock management 1st team!

"It's me, Yongsu."

-What? Han Yongsu? The CEO of the bankrupt Cosmogratec and the college buddy who went to the Han River after the business failure?

"Yeah, that Yongsu."

-Damn you! You bastard! If you're alive, you should have contacted me! Do you know how much I searched for you in Yeouido because of the rumor that your company went bankrupt and you went to the Han River?

Lim Do-joon greeted him enthusiastically (or rather, angrily) after a long time.

It was understandable, as they were so close, yet Yongsu had never contacted him after settling his business, not even when his parents passed away.

"It's been a while. By the way, can you look into a company for me? A small business with a capital of less than 100 billion won."

-Oh, are you starting a business? I'll look into it right away. Did you think I wouldn't?

"Right, I know you would. Do you know how much I lost when Cosmogratec went bankrupt?"

"You were the one who suffered the least. I told you about the incident first, so you withdrew your money the earliest. Anyway, I'm thinking of running a fund of about 100 billion won. Do you have a fund manager I can trust..."

-Oh, customer. I'll get you the information you want... Did you think I wouldn't? Do you have 100 billion won?

That made him chuckle.

"Right, when you first joined the company, didn't you open an account in my name to boost your performance? What's the account number?"

-What?

Click, click.

Sigh...

The middle-aged man, who was nervously drinking tea, was Ho Wondeok, the CEO of Manhyangdang, a nearly bankrupt perfume company.

Manhyangdang was a family business that had been making perfume with yongyeon fragrance since the early opening period, before the Japanese occupation, and boasted a long history and tradition.

If the family's fortune hadn't declined due to supporting the independence army, and if the production of yongyeon fragrance hadn't become difficult due to the cessation of castration, it might have become a major cosmetics company by now.

However, it was now on the brink of bankruptcy, unable to pay the 5 billion won in cash needed to keep the company afloat, after barely surviving the pressure from the times and the entry of large corporations.

He had put the factory up for sale for 50 billion won.

The amount was only for paying the overdue wages to the employees and repaying the remaining debt, excluding the value of the machinery and technology, a price that would make insiders drool.

However, no one wanted to buy it when he made the condition of continuing the employment of the employees.

There were only ten employees left in the Ho family, and wouldn't it be better for the buyer to hire skilled workers?

The last buyer he saw offered to cut the existing wages in half, but he refused.

They were skilled workers who had worked at the company for at least 15 years. Was it reasonable to cut their average salary of 3.3 million won in half?

Swallow.

Ho Wondeok swallowed hard and looked at the young man carefully flipping through the documents.

'Was his name Han Yongsu...?'

From his shabby appearance, it was hard to tell if he had any money.

"How about 50 billion won? Is that reasonable?"

However, he overheard from the team leader of Hanha Investment Management, who was advising him, that he was a VIP customer of Hanha Investment Management with at least 100 billion won in funds.

Rustle, rustle...

After flipping through all the documents, Yongsu looked up and met Ho Wondeok's eyes.

"Your grandfather supported the independence army, didn't he?"

"Yes..."

Ho Wondeok nodded with a complicated expression.

It was a heartbreaking feeling.

Supporting the independence army was a proud deed, but it often brought more disadvantages.

Because the remnants of the Japanese occupation were not properly dealt with, those who were rich and influential at the time struggled through the era of politics and business.

Strict standards and severe crackdowns, being labeled as communists and political criminals in some eras... That's why they hadn't even applied for recognition as national meritorious persons.

Despite the hardships, they had maintained the company, but it seemed to be the end now.

"Still, 50 billion won is a good deal... There are no properties that meet your conditions for this price. It's better to just accept it, isn't it?"

The team leader's whisper was heard by Ho Wondeok.

"No, how can I buy this?"

"Well, there are some... flaws, right?"

"Flaws? What do you mean? I'm saying I can't buy it for just 50 billion won."

"What?"

"Mr. Ho, I don't think the descendant of such a distinguished person should be treated like this. The company's value is too low. How about 100 billion won?"

"What?"

Ho Wondeok was surprised by the different reaction from the buyers he had met so far.

"What? A hundred billion won?"

And he was surprised again by the price.

It was more than twice the original price.

"Manhyangdang has value that can't be seen, historical value that can't be measured. If I buy this company at such a low price without paying for the machinery and technology, I'll be criticized. I want to buy it at a fair price. Let's rewrite the contract."

Ho Wondeok closed his eyes tightly. The wrinkles around his eyes trembled.

He couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality.

How many times had he been looked down upon for being the descendant of someone who supported the independence movement?

"And about the employment transfer."

Yongsu looked at Ho Wondeok with a serious expression.

"Yes?"

Ho Wondeok was startled, thinking the contract might fall through because of this.

Was he teasing him by offering 100 billion won and then breaking the deal over this condition?

"Mr. Ho, if I pay 100 billion won, I'll give the severance pay, but please..."

He was so flustered that his words were jumbled.

If he could really get 100 billion won, he could give the employees a generous severance pay even without the employment transfer...

But that was his unnecessary worry.

"Actually, why did you draw a line through the names of the Ho family members in the employee list? There are six of them."

"Ah... They are my family members..."

"Are you kidding? If you want to transfer employment, you have to include them too. I'll rehire all of them. If you reject this condition, there will be no deal today."

Although he was angry and said there would be no deal, it was clearly a good offer.

An offer that couldn't be refused and was grateful.

"T-Thank you."

Tears streamed down Ho Wondeok's eyes.