Han Yeri said she would think more about the business I had in mind before leaving.
It seemed like starting something from scratch for the first time was causing her a lot of worry.
“Will Han Yeri really do it?”
“She will. Even if she says no, she has to do it. This is the business she’s best suited for.”
The business I proposed to Han Yeri was just one.
Luxury goods.
“No one uses luxury items as casually as Han Yeri does. You saw it today, too. From head to toe, all luxury.”
“That’s true.”
“It’s better to entrust it to Han Yeri than to someone else.”
“What I meant was, will she actually agree to do luxury goods business?”
Yuha said while tapping the documents together neatly.
“Our company’s image is closer to regional coexistence and making products that are close to consumers.”
“Is luxury far from that?”
“It kind of is.”
After all, the value of luxury comes from a premium image.
Even if a company without that image produces luxury goods, how much value would it really have?
It would be hard to quantify, but it probably wouldn’t be rated highly.
“You know that, right, President?”
“Of course I know.”
“Then why are you aiming for luxury goods business now?”
“‘Now’…?”
That wording was a bit off.
“It’s precisely because it’s now that we have to do it.”
I said while looking at the materials in front of me.
“We’re friendly to the public. In other words, we’re a distant company to those who have wealth.”
They prefer products with brand value, even if it takes time and money.
Because it suits them.
These people can’t become our potential customers.
“While paying attention to local commercial districts, a few things caught my eye.”
“Hmm… regional craft villages?”
“Yeah.”
Surprisingly, craft villages are located all over the provinces.
And the regions put quite a lot of effort into promoting these craft villages as attractions.
Entertainment is one of the things tourists seek the most, after all.
“In craft villages, there are old workshops. Places where artisans have continued their work across generations.”
There is someone who can read the echoes, flows, and vortices of fashion among those called the upper class—the wealthy.
Just that alone puts the starting line far ahead compared to other brands.
“Of course, know-how in product-making techniques is needed too. For that part, we’ll get help from hidden masters.”
“Hidden masters?”
I pulled out the pre-selected data and handed it to Yuha.
This was a list I had compiled in advance during the branding of <Neighborhood Bakery>, to identify potential customers.
“While paying attention to local commercial districts, a few things caught my eye.”
“Hmm… regional craft villages?”
“Yeah.”
Surprisingly, craft villages are located all over the provinces.
And the regions put quite a lot of effort into promoting these craft villages as attractions.
Entertainment is one of the things tourists seek the most, after all.
“In craft villages, there are old workshops. Places where artisans have continued their work across generations.”
“So, collaborating with these artisans?”
“Like with <Neighborhood Bakery>.”
A strategy that worked once will work twice.
“We’ll give them the opportunity to make big money. And we’ll make their works known more widely to the world.”
“It’s a win-win. With Han Yeri involved, it seems like it could succeed.”
“Right?”
“But this isn’t everything, is it?”
Yuha fluttered the paper and then set it down before speaking.
“There’s no way you planned this business without calculating unit costs and profits. Naturally, you’re proceeding under the assumption it’ll be profitable. But to my eyes, it doesn’t look that way.”
Sharp as ever.
As Yuha said, luxury goods business is hard to make big money from quickly.
It takes a long time for the brand to establish itself, and in the meantime, endless investment is needed to build brand value.
We have to produce products in the meantime, and labor costs come out too.
The calculation shows enormous expenses.
So, without something absolutely reliable to believe in, it’s an impossible business.
-[Eureka!]
-[The endless challenges of the artisans have left an achievement that will be recorded in history.]
-[Renaissance leather crafting technology is imparted for free.]
I recalled the message the system had given me not long ago and said.
“I’ve become able to bring in precious leathers at cheap prices.”
“What kind of leathers?”
“Most of the leathers we need, including cow, sheep, horse, and others.”
If there’s an area that greatly developed as the Aquatic Tribe settled in One Direction, it would be livestock farming.
The Aquatic Tribe has the characteristic of being able to communicate with all animals, and through this, they greatly advanced livestock farming.
Would you believe it if I said existing ranch scales grew more than five times larger?
Naturally, enormous amounts of byproducts began to emerge.
These byproducts were processed and refined by the Tinyfolk artisans, and as this technology reached a certain peak, ‘Eureka!’ occurred.
Now, One Direction has the three tribes properly establishing their own domains.
Aquatic Tribe in livestock, Blood Tribe in research, Tinyfolk in agriculture and processing.
Except for the fact that the overwhelming population of Tinyfolk still handles most agriculture, specialization is evident in every area.
And the one benefiting from it is, of course, me.
“We’ll pass these leathers cheaply to those connected with us. If they want, we can even give them for free.”
“That could be a good approach? It seems like it could minimize backlash from the artisans too.”
“Of course, this is just the rough outline. When we get into details, there’ll be more than one or two things to coordinate.”
Selection criteria for workshops, lineup of products to make, routes to distribute and sell the produced items, etc.
There are still many areas to refine.
“We’ll handle as much as we can on our side, but otherwise, I plan to entrust it all to Han Yeri.”
“You believe she’ll do well?”
“You can tell just by looking at Kangseong Hotel and Shinseworld Department Store.”
The two businesses maintain solid financial situations and brand images despite being within the Kangseong Group.
The difference is almost apologetic when compared to other Kangseong companies.
“It was possible because Han Yeri studied management thoroughly. Otherwise, it would’ve fallen apart long ago.”
Managing two businesses at once without issues proves her outstanding management ability in itself.
“We just need to prepare to provide the money she needs for the business when she asks.”
“That’s the hardest part. There are more than one or two places money will go.”
“Anyway, the business starting is at least half a year away. No need to worry right now.”
Kangseong Foods will soon escape deficits.
<Neighborhood Juice> will become a cash cow that keeps earning money, and the U.S. construction company will become a monster that brings in money once it gets going.
The results of solid preparations are gradually standing out.
“Let’s think about spending money later.”
We just need to enjoy imagining how well we can spend the money.
Time passed quickly.
***
In one month, <Neighborhood Juice> captured the public’s taste and expanded to 40 stores.
There were talks of reckless expansion, but since more places were doing business in linkage with <Neighborhood Bakery>, it wasn’t a big problem.
Kangseong Foods’ image changed a lot too.
They held events where consumers could enjoy many benefits, and greatly improved workers’ treatment—that was a big part.
Of course, there were follow-up comments about watching to see how long it would last.
But that’s like a tag; nothing to be done about it.
It needs to be maintained for a few more years to become ‘that was back then.’
Han Yeri accepted my proposal, saying she would do the new business.
It would start properly later, but we held several meetings in advance for preparation.
When they heard about the cost calculations then, the employees’ eyes flipped a bit, but fortunately, there was enough incoming money to hold on.
And.
[A star of Korea has fallen.]
[Icon of success in the 80s, Han Kangseong. In his memory.]
Chairman Han Kangseong, who couldn’t even properly open his eyes in the hospital room, finally passed away.
The newspapers covered his death extensively.
The stock market fluctuated greatly for all stocks due to the ripple effect.
It was movement as if foretelling a massive wave about to hit the Korean market.
“President, are you going?”
“Yeah.”
I adjusted my black tie and grabbed my coat.
They said spring was right around the corner, but it was an unusually cold day.
I had to prepare in advance.
“Shall I drive?”
“No thanks. Who would ride in a car you’re driving without fear?”
“What’s wrong with my driving?”
“I remember almost crossing the Jordan River when trying to teach you before. Want me to retell that story?”
“Hehe, that was so long ago.”
“Long ago? It was 2 years ago. 2 years.”
The saying about frogs forgetting their tadpole days fits perfectly.
“Anyway, I’m going with Han Yeri.”
“You’re meeting Kangseong Group people after going, right?”
“Yeah. Normally, the will is checked after the funeral procession, but I heard the deceased wanted it revealed right on the first day.”
“Even his personality was impatient.”
“Or something.”
It was probably to prevent rumors from spreading. Or to block scheming in advance.
The longer time drags on, the more local broadcasts spread and conspiracies continue.
From Han Kangseong’s position, he probably wanted to open the will as quickly as possible and announce what I was going to attack.
That way, he could protect Kangseong Group a bit faster.
“Even after death, a cunning old man. Don’t you think so?”
“You really send off Chairman Han Kangseong harshly.”
“Anyone who sees his true intentions would think the same.”
Seeing such dark insides, everyone would stick out their tongues.
“I’m going. I’ll bring back the shares.”
“Go and flatten their noses.”
“Will do.”
Receiving Yuha’s cheer, I left the company behind.
In front of the company building, Han Yeri’s car was already waiting perfectly timed.
“Did I make you wait too long?”
“I was thinking about how to cry when I get there.”
“You’re going to cry?”
“I’m not going to. How close were we, anyway?”
If Chairman Han Kangseong had been active, we would’ve been opponents thrusting knives at each other’s throats.
It just didn’t happen because the eras were different.
“Won’t President Han Yeri cry when you get there?”
“Thinking of Grandpa does sting a bit, but that’s it.”
“It seemed like he took good care of you.”
“That smiling face is scarier.”
I somewhat agree with that part.
Sometimes, people who smile are scarier than those who get angry.
“And if I get emotional there, it won’t be good for what comes later.”
“That’s the real game.”
“Stay sharp. The others probably won’t look kindly on it.”
“That much is whatever.”
Anyway, they’re all people I’ll trample.
What’s there to fear from what such people say?
“They should be the ones afraid.”
“Of you?”
“Yes.”
I said while looking out the passing window.
“Because they’ll all end up under my feet.”
“Overflowing with confidence.”
“I need at least this much confidence.”
“Fair enough.”
Our conversation ended there.
Cutting through the road where cold winds raged, the car advanced toward a quiet storm.