Chapter 33: Middle Schooler

“Uncle, I’m going to be a middle schooler now.”

“What? Already?”

“Yes. Entrance is in March, you know?”

“Not yet, though. Hey! But aren’t you even surprised? Did you not see the box office numbers? You’re not some kid who doesn’t know the value of a dollar, are you?”

When I showed no particular reaction and remained nonchalant, Oh Se-hyun’s gaze turned suspicious once more.

“Out of an $18 million production cost, we invested $8 million, so our share is 44%. After deducting the distributor and theater profits, we’ll take about half of the total revenue, right?”

“Probably? It should be right.”

“If it’s $200 million… with today’s exchange rate at 740 won, that’s ₩148 billion. Half of that is ₩74 billion, and 44% of that is about ₩33 billion. So, isn’t that a sixfold profit?”

Oh Se-hyun could only blink. Adults were always amazed by a kid’s mental arithmetic. A good thing about being young was that my brain worked very smoothly.

“Considering the profit margins of Microsoft or Dell Computer, it’s nothing much, is it?”

“W-well, I guess you’re right. Still, a sixfold return in a year is a huge hit. And that $200 million is just domestic US revenue. Now that it’s being released worldwide, it’ll earn at least twice as much.”

“Uncle.”

“Yeah?”

“Tell the New York Miracle employees to do their jobs properly.”

“Why? Those guys work day and night.”

“Not just work hard, but work *well*! The lowest return among my investment decisions is sixfold. What’s the return on their own managed investments?”

“W-well, that’s…”

“It’s only 22%, isn’t it?”

Oh Se-hyun fell silent. What saved the silent Oh Se-hyun was none other than my father.

“Hey! Don’t you know I’m busy? What’s so important that you have to summon me?”

My father, barging into my room, spoke while taking off his coat.

I had heard that my father was running around trying to secure theaters for the two movies his production company had made.

“What? Still haven’t secured the theaters?”

“Ugh, don’t even talk about it. All the theaters are empty during the holiday season.”

“What? Not fully booked?”

“They’re waiting for a movie that perfectly fits the Lunar New Year holiday. Like that mega-hit from last Christmas. Home Alone. An American movie.”

“Is that movie so big that they’re keeping theaters empty waiting for it?”

Oh Se-hyun’s playfulness began.

“It’s a family comedy. Perfect for the Lunar New Year. Plus, it’s already been verified in the US. It’s breaking all-time comedy box office records.”

“Is that why they won’t show your movies?”

“Once Home Alone is out of theaters, they’ll show mine.”

My father’s expression wasn’t good; the situation seemed difficult.

“Damn it, and I hear the Korean distributor for that movie is somewhere, but no one knows where. The entire Chungmuro is in chaos right now. I need to meet the guy holding the film to adjust the dates or secure the theaters… It’s driving me crazy.”

Oh Se-hyun, who had been thoroughly enjoying this scene, changed to a solemn tone.

“You should bow deeply to me first.”

“No time for jokes. Just tell me what you need.”

“Shouldn’t you want to bow even more now that I know who the Korean distributor of that blockbuster movie is?”

“What?”

Oh Se-hyun handed a document to my startled father. My father snatched the document and quickly scanned through it, swallowing hard.

“T-this is…”

“Did you forget all your English? Don’t understand it?”

My father couldn’t take his eyes off the company name printed in the signature section at the bottom of the document.

“What on earth…? How did this happen?”

“Just sign, and Home Alone is yours. Or don’t, if you don’t want to.”

When Oh Se-hyun tried to take the document back, my father quickly signed it and tucked it away. Judging by how he grabbed the contract without even asking for details, I could tell how urgent it was.

“Father, show your movie first during the holidays, not that one.”

Both men’s gazes turned to me.

“How about offering Home Alone to theaters that show your movie? Isn’t the Lunar New Year the peak season?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Oh Se-hyun burst into laughter.

“Listen to your son. You should always listen to Do-jun and do as he says. Then you won’t fail! Heh heh.”

My father looked back and forth between the document and my face before speaking.

“Do-jun. Let’s talk about the details after I take care of this.”

My father grabbed his coat and rushed out. I could tell how urgent it was right now.

“Aish, that guy… still the same.”

“What is?”

“Huh? Ah, your father. Once he gets hooked on something, he doesn’t see anything else. Back in his London study days, if he found a good play, he’d watch it dozens, hundreds of times. Right now, all he’s thinking about is getting his movie in theaters. He’s not even asking why Home Alone is in our hands.”

“Concentrating is a good thing, I guess.”

I picked up the paper with the box office revenue of $200 million written on it.

“Uncle, let’s invest all this money in the movies going into production this year. Let’s get a list first and get feedback from the US side. Then we can decide and proceed.”

“All of it? Do-jun. Putting all your eggs in one basket is enough for one…”

Oh Se-hyun trailed off.

He probably realized that someone with only a 22% return rate shouldn’t be telling someone with a 600% return rate what to do.

Advice is best given looking down from above.

Above and below isn’t about age. It should be divided by results.

“Alright. Let’s secure a list of movies that are being planned or going into production in Hollywood first. If Miracle wants them, Hollywood producers will be the ones pushing them on us.”

Oh Se-hyun packed his bag and left.

I also need to dedicate more time to studying until I graduate from middle school. I need to maintain top grades so Chairman Jin’s expectations don’t wane.

Since all I have to do for the next three years is pick successful movies, I have plenty of free time.

With so many waves in this family, I hope nothing unusual happens.

* * *

A few days before the Lunar New Year holiday, a unique editorial appeared in the newspaper boasting the largest circulation.

「Negligent Management of Ownerless Companies. Is the Professional Management System a Structural Weakness of Large Corporations?」

『Last year, Ajin Automobile’s management performance was excellent.

……omitted.

Ajin Automobile, equipped with a professional management system, should prioritize high dividends for its shareholders. However, Ajin Automobile’s management was focused on expanding their own size instead of the shareholders’ interests.

They established new subsidiaries such as Ajin Machinery and Ajin Precision, and poured Ajin Automobile’s funds into these companies.

For whom? Obviously, for the expansion of the management team.

Now, dozens more executives have been born. They will decide whether to fill their own pockets or the shareholders’ pockets.

However, is it just my paranoia that makes me distrust their decision?』

Chairman Song Hyun-chang of Ajin Automobile threw down the newspaper and shouted into the intercom.

“Get all the executives together! And the head of public relations too! Immediately!”

Pacing around the chairman’s office, fuming, a knock came after a few minutes, and about ten people trooped in.

There was a sofa that could only seat eight people, but not a single person sat down. It was because the chairman was standing.

Some of them were also holding newspapers.

“What is this? Who did this?”

Chairman Song snatched a newspaper and waved it around.

“W-we’re sorry. We’re investigating it right now.”

Among the people who couldn’t lift their heads or make eye contact, a man stood trembling like an aspen leaf.

Judging by the fact that he barely had any gray hair, he must be the head of public relations.

“Aren’t we giving advertisements to the Daehan Ilbo these days?”

As expected, that man answered the chairman’s question.

“No, sir. We are, regularly….”

“So, we gave them money and they stabbed us in the back? Unbelievable…!”

Chairman Song, biting his lip and breathing heavily, shouted at the head of public relations.

“Hey! Public relations!”

“Yes! Chairman!”

“You go there right now and give the guys holding the pens money, or women, or whatever they want, and find out what these bastards want.”

The head of public relations bowed and then ran out of the chairman’s office as if fleeing.

“Chairman. I think you’re overreacting. Isn’t this just a tactic that newspaper guys use when they want more ads?”

“Our new car is enjoying explosive popularity, so they’re trying to take credit. A full-page ad for a week will change everything.”

The senior executives, barely managing to muster the courage, cautiously spoke to appease Chairman Song, but it was like pouring oil on the fire.

“What are you guys saying? If that’s the reason, they should be criticizing our new car, not the management! Are you even thinking straight?”

Only then did everyone snap to their senses.

The press also keeps its distance. When they want something, they attack the product, not the people. Products don’t have feelings, but people are emotional beings.

Especially attacking the management is nothing short of declaring war.

“This is suspicious. Something’s going on.”

Chairman Song, pacing around the office, gave the executives a sharp look.

“Find out who’s behind this by lunchtime. I believe you all can dig up that much information.”

Once the executives had all left the chairman’s office, Chairman Song slumped onto the sofa.

My sleep was restless last night… This uneasy feeling wouldn’t go away.

* * *

Chairman Jin, folding the newspaper and placing it on the corner of the dining table, picked up his spoon.

He thought, as expected of the chief editor of the Daehan Ilbo.

Establishing a subsidiary to produce the increased core components of automobiles is a natural step in management.

They twisted this to make it seem as if the professional managers were creating unnecessary subsidiaries to promote their own people.

It was a skillful piece of writing that aimed to achieve two goals: portraying the immorality of Ajin Automobile’s management and suggesting that large corporations without owners lack safeguards.

Chairman Jin, having a pleasant breakfast for the first time in a while, went to his study, where Lee Hak-jae, who was also reading the newspaper, stood up and bowed his head.

“Hey, you. Just eat breakfast here. Am I not good enough to share a meal with you?”

“How can I properly eat when sharing a table with you, Chairman? I’ll just take your words.”

Chairman Jin’s gaze fell on Lee Hak-jae’s hand as he chuckled.

“How is it? Well written, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It came out appropriately as a signal flare.”

“When will the second round begin?”

“The day before the Lunar New Year holiday, all the major newspapers will start firing. We need to make Ajin Automobile a topic of conversation at the Lunar New Year’s table. We plan to make it so they’re thoroughly criticizing Ajin Automobile at the dinner table.”

“How’s the National Tax Service situation?”

“We’re coordinating. If we dig too deep, everything will be exposed. And other parties might start drooling….”

“We can’t let someone else get the spoils after doing all the work.”

Chairman Jin nodded.

“Yes. Enough to shake the management? Anyway, the goal is Chairman Song Hyun-chang’s resignation.”

Lee Hak-jae subtly observed Chairman Jin’s expression and took out a thick booklet.

“This is the report you requested. Prepared by the Soonyang Economic Research Institute.”

Chairman Jin only glanced at the title of the report.

「The Necessity of Restructuring the Domestic Automobile Industry and Government Support Measures」

“How is it? Useful?”

“It’s well written.”

“Honestly, the research institute guys are ambiguous. It’s good that they produce quality work… but does it really take eight months to create just one of these?”

“The issue itself is so big and important that the research institute was careful not to get caught up in anything. Let’s let it slide since it turned out well.”

“Let it slide? Of course. Do you think I would go after those guys too?”

“You seem quite sensitive these days. My apologies.”

“You seem more sensitive as we approach a big fight? Why? Is your blood boiling?”

Lee Hak-jae scratched his head slightly and smiled.

“Isn’t this kind of surprise attack more thrilling than an all-out war?”

“Surprise attacks are what the small guys use when hitting the big guys….”

“It also has the advantage of less bloodshed. We’ll have to start an all-out war soon, though.”

Chairman Jin sensed the fighting spirit in Lee Hak-jae’s intense gaze.

Initially, he hesitated and warned of the risks, but once the fight began, he became even more fiercely excited than the chairman himself.

He was proving once again that he was a born fighter.

Chairman Jin felt a little sorry for him.

If Lee Hak-jae’s parents had been lords, he would have become an incredibly powerful ruler….

Since his parents were commoners, his role was limited to that of a skilled hunting dog.

Thinking this, another fighter came to mind.

That kid’s grandfather was a lord who owned immense territory.

How would he grow up… He wanted to watch with a happy heart.