Chapter 8

It's a good day to start a business.

It's a good day to start a business.

'Dojoon gave me a better company than I expected...'

After completing the deal, Youngsoo was extremely satisfied.

Not only as a citizen but also as a businessman.

Dojoon said he just threw money around as he pleased, but that wasn't the case.

This was a proper contract made by businessman Han Youngsoo after a cold, objective evaluation.

Although he spent 50 billion won more than the original asking price, the price was just right. Honestly, they could have asked for four times as much.

What was important was that he had acquired it for twice the amount.

Manhyangdang is a company with a 120-year history.

Just the history and expertise alone are significant, and the founding family of the company was a supporter of the independence movement, known only to a few.

'From now on, we can market it as a trendy concept company, an ethical company, and engage in ethical marketing.'

Moreover, the scope of appeal was much broader than just a perfume company dealing with ordinary fragrances.

If he hadn't rehired the entire Ho family, he wouldn't have been able to utilize these aspects.

After all, it would eventually come out that he had taken advantage of their difficulties and bought the company for a mere 50 billion won.

If that happened, the company's image would suffer a significant blow, so he had prevented any such rumors from arising.

'The most important thing is that the reviews of the perfume containing yongyeonhyang were not bad...'

After it became difficult to obtain yongyeonhyang, the company declined, but until the 1982 ban on whaling, it was a well-known luxury brand both domestically and internationally.

The perfume containing yongyeonhyang will be the company's flagship product in the future.

'The problem is that we can't just sell that. Even if we can produce a lot, there are limits to relying solely on luxury items.'

After the ban on whaling, the company tried to transition into a general perfume company but was outcompeted by international brands during the era of globalization.

'The technology for using yongyeonhyang is definitely valuable, but it means that the perfume manufacturing technology is low...'

The company went bankrupt because they invested in research and development, tried to enter the cosmetics market, and were scammed a few times.

However, they have recently had some success.

The perfume without yongyeonhyang has improved, and research is ongoing in the air freshener and cosmetics departments.

For Youngsoo, who planned to use the high-end perfume containing yongyeonhyang as the main product to gain a reputation and then expand into the low-end market, this was fortunate.

President Ho Wondeok, who was entrusted with management, decided to reinvest 50 billion won of the received money back into the company to continue research.

After hearing his plan, Youngsoo decided to invest an additional 100 billion won.

The share ratio was set at 4:1 based on the investment amount, with President Ho Wondeok responsible for research, development, and production, while Youngsoo would handle distribution and sales.

Of course, ownership was on his side. Moreover, the share ratio would increase with additional investments.

If he sold the items he brought from the other world, President Ho Wondeok would never be able to own the company.

However, he would put President Ho Wondeok forward as the company's president.

He wanted to start work immediately, but the land for Manhyangdang's factory was on a lease, and the current contract had just ended.

He decided to give one building of the factory land he had just leased to Manhyangdang.

He agreed to return the deposit three times, so the people in the one-room apartments all agreed to move out. Once the move was complete, he planned to use the apartments as employee dormitories.

Tap, tap.

Checking his balance on his smartphone, he saw that he had about 84 billion won left.

"I did spend a lot..."

Of course, excluding the 230 billion won spent today, he had about 140 billion won in assets that could be liquidated, such as funds and real estate.

He could take out a loan using capital as collateral, and even without that, it was clear that he still owned assets worth hundreds of billions of won.

But...

'It's still not enough.'

The more money, the better.

In the early stages of a business, it would be better to go to the other world and pick up a piece of yongyeonhyang than to earn money here.

So now, it was time to think about what to do in the other world.

While moving to his new house, he thought:

'Someone said they were eyeing someone else's land?'

Baron Gantreg wanted to buy water bottles to increase his military power, so it seemed he could help increase his military power in the way Baron Gantreg wanted.

'How can I milk this guy as much as possible...'

He should bring items that are cheap here but valuable there.

'Bringing a quantity he can't handle and making him owe me would be good...'

He didn't necessarily need to receive payment in money.

In a world dominated by spears and swords, dealing with the local ruling class, centered around Baron Gantreg, who has moderate military power, was the big picture Youngsoo was drawing.

The problem was what to bring, and even if he could get it, it would be weapons or armor.

Weapons are expensive and hard to buy in large quantities.

However, he thought he could get something cheaper and better than the armor used by the soldiers in that world.

He had already placed an order for it when he was remodeling the factory.

'The remaining mission is to help the fishermen...'

Their biggest concern was whales.

But dealing with whales was impossible.

The news of whales getting entangled and dying in nets during the summer seemed to be an incident that occurred during their migration for breeding.

He needed to solve a more fundamental problem.

'Their nets seemed weak...'

Modern nets can't be easily torn by whales. Occasionally, whales get entangled and die, as reported in the news.

Hearing the fishermen say that their nets were torn by whales, he could tell how primitive their nets were.

He thought he could tackle this issue.

'Even if I can't complete the mission, it's fine. I have to spend 72 hours there anyway, so I can gather information...'

By gathering information, picking up yongyeonhyang, and bartering there, he could easily earn money to use in Korea.

While thinking, he arrived at the public apartment complex.

It was his first time coming here since he had entrusted the moving to a moving company.

Although it was his home, he wasn't yet familiar with it, but he wasn't awkward about the way because he had come here often while working as a delivery driver.

'My home...'

When things were going well, he had deliberately rented a small office for cost reasons, and after the business failed, he had been living in one-room apartments.

After his parents passed away, he had to sell the house they left him to pay off the business debts, so this was the first time in years he had lived in a house with more than two rooms.

'But back then, at least my parents were there to welcome me...'

Sometimes, when he was tired, he would visit his parents' house, have a meal, and spend the night.

But now, when he went home, it was just empty.

"Phew..."

Youngsoo's home was apartment 307.

Apartment 305 was where Gahye lived.

It wasn't a coincidence; he bought it because it was for sale.

Just in case.

'If we live on the same floor... we'll run into each other, right?'

Click, click, click.

Youngsoo smiled and turned the key.

Click.

Just as he opened the door,

Creak...

He heard a door opening from the side.

His head turned naturally.

Someone was coming out of apartment 305 with a garbage bag.

Thump.

"I'm going out too! Oh, what a funny uncle!"

It was her.

He saw Gahye's lively and vibrant smile.

That unadorned smile was something that no amount of money could buy or feel.

'If I show too much surprise, it will look strange.'

Youngsoo smiled slightly without showing it and slowly turned his body.

He thought it was perfect. At least, Youngsoo did.

"An... nyong? Ga... hi... ya? Ye... gi... seo... man... na... ne?"

"Hehe, Uncle Robot! Your face is so funny!"

Gahye giggled and pointed at Youngsoo's face.

Was it that awkward? He was a bit flustered, but looking at the smile on Gahye's lips, his own lips involuntarily curved upward.

"..."

But behind her, Gahye's aunt was looking at him with a surprised expression.

'No, no, she can't possibly suspect that I moved here on purpose because I'm interested in her, right?'