CH400 | Heir

Was this how a farmer felt?

From the field called Novo Nordisk, they had tended the crop called a new drug.

For years they had watered and fertilized it, waiting patiently, and now the time for harvest had finally come.

“Is it true Novo Nordisk plans to scrap the drug? I haven’t heard a word from David or from our staff dispatched to Denmark.”

“We confirmed it through the AI system inside Novo Nordisk. A report was registered in the system showing that most of the research team agreed to terminate the drug.”

Director Cheon had secured a report that hadn’t even been submitted to upper management yet.

The researchers—who had secretly stolen Taewoo Group’s AI system—were using it to the fullest.

Thanks to that, we had gotten word of the drug’s disposal faster than anyone else.

“Good work. If the drug’s termination is finalized, acquiring it won’t be a problem for us.”

“Once the acquisition is complete, can we scrap the AI system inside Novo Nordisk? It may only be a downgraded version with limited functions, but I’d rather not leave it in anyone else’s hands.”

To Director Cheon, the AI system was like her own child.

Not just to her, but to many of the researchers in the AI Center, the system felt like family.

“Of course. But we can’t just delete it outright.”

“I’ve already hidden a virus in the AI system. It will gradually infect and bring it down.”

“So you were prepared all along.”

“I thought it better to end it with my own hands than let it fall into someone else’s.”

Director Cheon’s eyes were sharp with venom.

She was always gentle in front of me, but at the AI Center she was nicknamed “the witch.” This was why.

It was the perfectionism often found in successful CEOs.

Somewhere along the way, she too had become that kind of person.

“Just be patient a little longer. Within a month, we’ll have the new drug in our hands.”

“I’ll keep sharing internal updates in real time.”

She gave a short bow and left my office.

I immediately called David.

[Boss! The crackdown on the short-sellers has stirred up a storm in Washington. The White House is thrilled. People are even saying you deserve a medal for wiping out those hated short-sellers in one blow.]

“That’s thanks to Chanos and his clean strikes. But today I’m not calling about Wall Street. The seeds we planted in Denmark have ripened, and it’s time to harvest.”

[Then we’d better move fast! Before anyone else takes them, I’ll set things up so we can claim them ourselves.]

A ripe fruit could always be picked by a passerby.

But I had already smeared this fruit with mud. To others, it looked rotten, so no one else would dare touch it.

Even so, the harvest had to be quick.

Novo Nordisk might still wash off the mud.

“I’ll fly to Denmark myself soon to handle the negotiations.”

[I’ll use the board members we’ve secured to set the mood. Even if you don’t want to buy, we’ll make it so they force the deal on you.]

“Let me know when everything’s in place.”

[I’ll have good news for you before the week is over!]

David’s voice brimmed with confidence.

But beside me, listening quietly, Vice Chairman Han frowned slightly, as if something about the conversation didn’t sit right with him.

“What’s the problem?”

“It’s just that we have hundreds of billions of dollars tied up in the China short-selling play. If you travel all the way to Denmark at such a critical time, wouldn’t it be hard to respond quickly if something unexpected happens?”

“So you think the shorting operation in China is worth more than the new drug?”

“Isn’t that the case? If things go well, even Taewoo Securities alone could make not just tens of billions, but hundreds of billions of dollars in profit.”

The China short-selling plan was a massive gamble.

So it was natural for Vice Chairman Han to react this way. But there was one thing he didn’t know.

“Novo Nordisk’s new drug is worth far more than just hundreds of billions of dollars.”

“You mean to say a single drug is worth more than a hundred trillion won? Even Viagra doesn’t hold that kind of value.”

“Viagra is only for men. This drug can be used by both men and women. And most of its customer base will be people with enormous wealth.”

Who wouldn’t want a beautiful body?

Luxury goods were ultimately about showing off or self-satisfaction.

If a drug existed that could turn one’s body into a living luxury brand, there would be no shortage of people willing to pay a fortune for it.

“Are you saying the drug really carries that kind of value?”

“If Centurion were to gain full rights to it, the company would leap to second place in the business world, right after Taewoo Group.”

Of course, I had no intention of giving Centurion all the rights.

I planned to grant only a portion, and even that would be enough to propel Centurion into the top 20 corporations.

“You mean they could even surpass Samsung Electronics?”

“That’s right. Now do you understand why I said I’d go to Denmark myself?”

“If the drug really holds that kind of value, it could become the stepping stone for Taewoo Group’s next phase of growth.”

“Not only to reach number one globally, but to hold that position for at least a decade. So tell me, do you still oppose me going to Denmark?”

“No, sir! I’ll personally oversee the China short-selling operation. If anything goes wrong, I’ll stake my life to resolve it!”

Vice Chairman Han clenched his fists as he raised his voice.

This was exactly why I had elevated him to that position.

With only the briefest explanation, he could analyze and grasp the situation.

And he had the great strength of being able to change his thinking without stubbornness or pride.

“And don’t worry. Nothing major will happen while I'm in Denmark. The bubble still needs a bit more time to swell before it bursts.”

“While you’re away, I’ll be watching every detail of the Chinese economy as if under a microscope.”

For now, the Chinese market was stable.

But by next month, it would collapse dramatically, and at this moment, there was no need for me to personally intervene.

***

Novo Nordisk Board of Directors.

At Novo Nordisk, all decision-making power rested with the board.

Even the CEO could not defy the board’s will. Every decision was determined by majority vote.

And today’s agenda was the disposal of a new drug candidate.

The drug had been under development for years, but its side effects had not improved. In fact, the results had only grown worse.

“It’s a shame to abandon the funds we invested, but I believe it’s time to redirect our efforts toward another approach.”

“I agree. Using a hormone similar to GLP-1 to trigger insulin secretion has failed to reduce side effects. We’ll have to return to the conventional insulin-based methods.”

“Half of the development costs have been covered by Taewoo Group, so the losses aren’t catastrophic. Still, if we keep failing like this, the risk to the company becomes serious.”

The majority spoke in favor of scrapping the drug.

There were hardly any voices calling to continue.

The board was well aware that not only the AI system but even the research teams themselves were concerned about the side effects.

“This new drug project must be terminated.”

“There are still several others in the pipeline. One failure won’t cripple us.”

“No company succeeds with every candidate. Let’s take this as a lesson and make sure the next one succeeds.”

The chairman declared the project canceled.

Everyone agreed with him—everyone except one man seated at the far end of the room.

“I agree the drug should be scrapped, but shouldn’t we think about how we dispose of it? If we simply discard it as is, we’ll recover nothing from the years of investment.”

“I understand your point, Director Eriksen. But with side effects this severe, what else can we do besides dispose of it?”

Director Eriksen.

He had no background in pharmaceuticals at all. His responsibilities were in overseas distribution, far removed from drug research.

“I don’t know much about the drug’s efficacy or its side effects. But while it may be waste to us, elsewhere it might be highly sought-after research data, don’t you think?”

“You’re suggesting we sell the research data? Who would even buy it?”

“There’s only one candidate. Taewoo Group, which owns the pharmaceutical company Centurion, has both the resources and the motive. It’s the only way we can recover the funds we’ve invested.”

Director Eriksen smiled wickedly.

Within the board, he was already known as a man who chased nothing but money.

The reason he still held a board seat was simple: his uncanny ability to generate profit.

“Even if Taewoo Group has deep pockets, would they really spend a fortune on a drug that’s practically waste?”

“It has no value as a medicine, true. But as research data, it’s invaluable. If we include full rights to the drug along with all the data, I believe we can recover our entire investment.”

The board didn’t deliberate long.

The proposal was too tempting.

If they scrapped the drug, Novo Nordisk would bear the loss. But if they could sell it for a large sum, the losses would vanish.

“Chairman Kim Min-jae is expected to visit Denmark soon for additional insulin negotiations. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity?”

“It is, but how do we know Taewoo Group even has an interest in this drug?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll make sure Chairman Kim himself raises the idea of purchasing full rights to the drug.”

The board knew Eriksen’s nature well.

He was a man who would do anything for profit.

And if the job were left to him, they believed he might be able to sell the drug at a very high price indeed.

“Very well. Let’s entrust this matter to Director Eriksen.”

“I’ll make sure to sell it for the highest price possible.”

“Don’t overdo it. Even if we can’t recover the entire investment, just secure a reasonable deal. What matters is maintaining a good relationship with Taewoo Group.”

“I’ll make sure our relationship with them stays strong, even after this drug project. In fact, I’ll make it seem as if they acquired the rights at a bargain.”

A sly grin spread across Director Eriksen’s face.

The board assumed he was smiling at the thought of outsmarting Taewoo Group.

But in truth, his grin wasn’t aimed at Taewoo—it was aimed at Novo Nordisk itself.

Eriksen was one of the board members David had already drawn to his side.

Because he was driven by money above all else, he had been the easiest to sway.

This entire board meeting was orchestrated by him, and just as expected, from the chairman down to every member, they moved exactly as he had planned.