Accentia
Ding dong— Ding dong—
Morning arrived, and the doorbell to In-hyuk's room rang.
It was Baek Si-hwan, who had finished preparing to go to Greenbyte Labs.
Hong Yu-geon, who had been sleeping on the sofa, woke up with a start.
He beca flustered when he made eye contact with Van Hester, who had been taking turns guarding the front door.
"Damn... what should we do?"
Van Hester just shrugged in response.
"He hasn't co back yet, has he?"
"I'm back."
Both of them turned their heads toward the room.
At that mont, the door opened and In-hyuk, freshly showered and wearing a bathrobe, walked out.
"Just waking up now?"
"What? When did you get back?"
"About an hour ago? You were fast asleep and didn't even notice I'd co back."
"I was tired from rushing here yesterday. But what did you go out for that made you so late? And how did you even get up here?"
"I ran. And as for what I was doing, I'll explain it later. Let get changed first. Tell Baek Si-hwan we'll be leaving soon."
Embarrassed, Hong Yu-geon moved toward the entrance as In-hyuk went back into his room.
A short while later, In-hyuk finished changing and left with the other two.
The rental car they'd used until the day before had been completely ruined by a submachine gun and was now at a repair shop, with them needing to pay damages.
Because of that, Baek Si-hwan had found a different car and was waiting with it.
The four of them took about 15 minutes to get to Greenbyte Labs.
There, Mark Campbell—who had arrived early—ca out to greet them with the executives, as usual.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Today, once I finish checking the remaining docunts, I'll make my decision. It should be possible by noon at the latest."
"Really?"
Mark Campbell felt a bit anxious.
He had handed over all the requested docunts, but he worried that this might make company problems stand out more and lead to a negative outco.
"So far, it's not bad. As long as there's nothing in the remaining materials that might overturn that."
"I understand."
In-hyuk entered the conference room with the others and spent ti quickly reviewing the remaining docunts.
'Since I last saw you in the hallway yesterday, what happened?'
Baek Si-hwan's mood, as he looked over the docunts beside In-hyuk, had shifted in a curious way.
'Don't tell the safe house being empty... is because he went to et that guy?'
Actually, one of the reasons In-hyuk had gone out the previous night was to find the sniper who had killed the Kooou gang.
Of course, he'd been able to locate the position through the tail Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester had caught on Baek Si-hwan.
But when he'd arrived at the safe house, it was already empty.
So In-hyuk had no choice but to move on to other business.
"Division director. I've finished checking all these docunts."
At that, Baek Si-hwan closed the file in front of him.
"Did you check every problematic part?"
"I'll send you the organized file."
After about another hour, In-hyuk finished reviewing the remaining docunts.
He checked Baek Si-hwan's organized file as well and then called Mark Campbell.
He was about two hours ahead of the originally promised ti.
When they arrived at the conference room, everyone seed tense, wondering what the investnt decision would be.
"Don't just stand there—please, have a seat."
Everyone took their seats, cautiously gauging the mood.
In-hyuk casually flipped through the last docunt he'd looked at, then closed it and started to speak.
"As I ntioned, we'll proceed with the $100 million investnt."
In an instant, everyone's faces brightened. Baek Si-hwan was also startled.
But that wasn't the end of the explanation.
"However, I do have a few conditions."
"What kind of conditions?"
"First, as a condition of the investnt, I'd like Greenbyte Labs to conditionally transfer 25% of its company shares."
"Conditionally...?"
"If your net sales this year reach 300% of last year's. Of course, if the full investnt fund is recovered, the transfer rights are released. And..."
It wasn't a bad condition for Greenbyte Labs, either.
"Is there more?"
"According to so technical information I acquired, it seems your current low-power system developnt won't be easy to complete. So I'd like you to use part of the investnt fund to acquire a company that can support that."
Mark Campbell's expression tightened a bit.
But with a promise of a $100 million investnt on the table, he couldn't unconditionally reject the idea.
"What kind of company are you referring to?"
"There's a system developnt company called Accentia in the Malta region of New York State. If you acquire them, Greenbyte Labs will be able to fill any technical gaps."
"Accentia? I can't say I've heard of it... Will you give ti to think it over?"
In-hyuk smiled.
"Of course. But let's not have anything about the acquisition get out together with the investnt news. I'd appreciate it if everyone here kept quiet. If their price inflates too much, it will be troubleso."
This was a huge $100 million investnt.
If talk of another company's acquisition spread, that company would clearly use their importance to raise their value.
"That's only natural, isn't it?"
"If there's no issue, let's draft the first investnt agreent today. Within three days of signing, $50 million will be deposited. Use that to solve any urgent problems—and then decide about the Accentia acquisition. Of course, with an investnt fund of this size, there will be a short-term audit for financial managent."
"T-thank you! Really, thank you!"
About four days since In-hyuk's arrival, the due diligence was finally finished.
As news of the investnt decision spread, cheers of over a hundred employees could be heard throughout Greenbyte Labs.
In-hyuk tidied up his things and stood up slowly.
"If you're free for dinner tonight, how about joining for the al we missed yesterday?"
"... I'd like that."
"Then I'll send you the location."
Shortly after, Baek Si-hwan ca over with the completed investnt and secrecy agreents, which he had just printed out.
Without hesitation, In-hyuk signed them and handed them to Mark Campbell.
"Once you sign, the first investnt can proceed smoothly."
Mark Campbell quickly pulled out a pen and signed as if he'd been waiting for this mont.
"Whew—!"
Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief.
After finishing the handshake to seal the investnt, everyone could finally step outside.
Screech—
At that mont, a luxury sedan and two minivans pulled up to the front gate of Greenbyte Labs.
Mark Campbell tilted his head, wondering who the unexpected visitors were.
Among those who exited the vehicles, there was a familiar face.
"Isn't that Division Director Kang In-hyuk?"
It was Norman McGrath, Korean branch manager of AMK Partners.
Having recognized In-hyuk first, he approached with a delighted expression.
"It's the first ti since the Chulsan Capital bid. How have you been?"
"Busy as always. But I didn't expect to et you in Arica. What brings you here?"
"Business, of course. I was hoping to discover so promising investnts in Silicon Valley."
"I see. Well, I'm here for a similar reason."
Norman McGrath chuckled as he t Mark Campbell's eyes, who was standing beside In-hyuk.
"Ah, let introduce myself properly. I'm Norman McGrath with AMK Partners. You must be CEO Mark Campbell?"
Mark Campbell, eyes wide with surprise, snapped to attention.
"Hello! Nice to et you. But what brings you here...?"
He knew the na AMK Partners. Unlike Taeshin Asset Managent, which was only famous within Korea, it was a globally renowned company with a string of international investnt successes.
"I ca to discuss a proposal. I was hoping we could arrange a eting."
"... So suddenly?"
Norman McGrath answered with a smile.
"My apologies for not making prior contact. It's such an important matter that I ca without an appointnt. Could you spare a mont?"
Mark Campbell glanced at In-hyuk.
He had just signed the investnt agreent with Taeshin Asset Managent, so this could potentially lead to awkward misunderstandings.
eting his eyes, In-hyuk spoke quietly.
"I'll get going for now. Let's et again at dinner."
"Huh? Oh, all right."
"Branch Manager McGrath, I hope we et again soon."
"I'll see what I can do to arrange that."
With the farewells complete, In-hyuk imdiately got into the car Baek Si-hwan brought.
anwhile, Norman McGrath and Mark Campbell headed inside.
Since the conference room was still ssy from the earlier internal docunt review, they went to the CEO's office instead.
Once seated, Mark Campbell gathered his thoughts and got straight to the point.
"What brings the branch manager of AMK Partners all the way here?"
Sitting opposite, Norman McGrath smiled at him.
"As I ntioned, a proposal. AMK Partners is currently working with a company that would create great synergy here, and I'm considering moving forward with an investnt and an MOU."
Mark Campbell replied, trying to keep his composure.
"May I ask which company it is?"
Norman McGrath produced a prepared PPT docunt and handed it over.
"Please take a look."
"I'll just excuse myself for a mont."
As he looked through the pages, Mark Campbell's eyes widened.
"Accent... tia, is it?"
"That's right. A small system developnt company in Malta, New York. I thought their patents and software under developnt might be a great fit for Greenbyte Labs."
He turned to the next page. As Norman McGrath said, the technical specs looked excellent.
At the sa ti, Mark Campbell was floored by In-hyuk. It was as if he had foreseen this scenario and brought it up first.
"How much are you considering investing? And if you're suggesting an MOU, does that an you want to discuss technical cooperation? What would the sharing scope and percentage of ownership after comrcialization be?"
Norman McGrath's smile deepened.
Mark Campbell's interest ant they had crossed a key threshold for successful negotiations.
"The initial investnt would be $40 million, with a total of $120 million over three stages. And the side holding the core technology would take 65%."
Roughly 170 billion won in Korean currency.
It was an excellent offer.
Moreover, the total investnt was $20 million higher than what Taeshin Asset Managent had proposed.
Mark Campbell bit his lower lip.
...
...
anwhile, In-hyuk was on his way back to his lodging after leaving Greenbyte Labs.
There was a mont of silence before Baek Si-hwan, driving, quietly spoke up.
"Division director."
"Yes?"
"Do you have any idea why AMK Partners visited?"
Baek Si-hwan hadn't expected Norman McGrath's sudden appearance either.
Especially as he'd shown up right after the investnt agreent with Greenbyte Labs was completed.
"I'm not certain, but I have a guess."
"Really? Could you share it?"
In-hyuk hesitated for a mont before replying.
"I heard that AMK Partners has recently shown interest in low-power systems. They were reportedly starting their search from the U. S. East Coast... so they may have contacted Accentia before us."
When that na ca up, Baek Si-hwan's eyes widened in the rearview mirror.
"You an that Accentia you ntioned earlier? Then the reason CEO Mark Campbell was approached was..."
"Probably to propose an investnt or diate cooperation with Accentia—maybe both."
Baek Si-hwan had a rough idea of the investnt scale Taeshin Asset Managent could mobilize.
It wasn't bad, but it was nowhere near what AMK Partners could do.
And with Norman McGrath, the up-and-coming Korean branch manager, taking action personally, the investnt agreent just completed might now be at risk.
"Isn't that a problem? Did you leave on purpose, expecting this situation?"
Since Greenbyte Labs could break the agreent and defect to the other side, even if it ant paying a penalty.
"We've already finished the agreent. What CEO Mark Campbell does next is entirely up to him."
"But..."
Then, In-hyuk's phone, tucked in his pocket, began to ring.
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