Southwestern Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Research Institute.
Dr. Dieter Genscher, a middle-aged man with blonde hair and a beard, paced anxiously around the laboratory in a white lab coat.
He repeatedly stopped to check the watch on his wrist before resuming his restless movements.
A young researcher, who had been sitting to the side with a tense expression, could no longer bear to watch and cautiously spoke up.
“Doctor, ...
Nissan Headquarters, Yokohama, Japan.
After concluding the executive meeting, Chief Financial Officer Yamamoto Daito returned to his office, where Section Chief Moriyama was already waiting. As soon as Yamamoto entered, Moriyama stood up from the sofa.
"I have an urgent matter to report."
Yamamoto, who had just removed his suit jacket and hung it on a coat rack, glanced at Moriyama’s tense expression before responding.
"Take a seat first."...
"Did you say you are against it?"
When CEO Ko Young-il furrowed his brows and looked at him, he nodded without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Well, this is surprising. I thought someone like you, who favors aggressive investments, would welcome this idea. I must say, I’m a bit taken aback."
It wasn’t just a casual remark—Ko Young-il’s face clearly showed his bewilderment.
"It's true that I pursue aggressive investments, but only after...
CEO Wu, Manager Han, five of CEO Wu's employees, and I, eight in total, entered the designated restaurant.
We gave my name to the staff, and they led us to a private room. Seven men were sitting in a row against the wall, waiting for us.
After a brief staring contest, I spoke first.
"I'm Park Sol from Chunha Trading. Who am I meeting here?"
Manager Han translated, and the man in the center smiled.
"He says he's glad to meet you. His name is Chen Fei."
The composite stock index had started the day on a refreshing note in the 1,000-point range but soon lost momentum, continuing its descent. It wasn't until July, when the government implemented an additional expansion of the foreign stock investment limit, that the market finally hit rock bottom and began to rebound.
With the market warming up and trading volume increasing, Daheung Securities' trading center also grew more vibrant and busier than ever.
Ring ring! Ring ri...
Mido Department Store, Myeong-dong branch.
As Seok-won stepped inside through the revolving doors, the signature scent of cosmetics from the first floor immediately filled his senses.
Despite being a weekday morning, the department store was bustling with a surprising number of customers, radiating an energetic atmosphere.
Centered around the information desk in the main atrium, various cosmetic and perfume brands were neatly arranged, while along the wal...
The next day.
With just one day left before the one-week deadline, Seok-won received a call from SoftBank. Together with Landon, he met President Masayoshi Son again in a private dining room at the Japanese restaurant in the Walkerhill Hotel.
Seated next to Executive Director Yokouchi, Masayoshi Son wore a heavy expression. He stared intently at Seok-won, as if trying to pierce through him, before letting out a low sigh and finally speaking.
"I knew from ...
“The yellow Lamborghini Aventador sped down the wide-open Jayuro Expressway.”
I sat in the passenger seat and asked the brown-haired beauty wearing sunglasses in the driver’s seat,
“How is it to drive?”
“The amenities are definitely better in this one.”
“Shall we ask Chairman Im Jin-yong to swap it? He probably hasn’t sold everything off yet, so if we ask nicely, he might.”
She seemed to ponder for a moment before saying decisively,
"What? What do you mean?"
The interpreter looked at me quizzically, but I stared at Cui Jian with a sharp gaze, lost in thought.
"He must have been sent by someone. Otherwise, he wouldn't refuse the bribe and insist on seeing the production lines. This is troublesome."
If he were an industrial spy pretending to be a government official, I could just kick him out. But he was a real inspector.
The employees in the production buildings were frantically cleani...
CH401
Helag didn’t have the luxury of time to slowly dismantle the ritual. It was already too late.
The small rift in the air was like a wound on human skin. If left alone, it would naturally heal over time.
But the ritual was like a virus, preventing the wound from healing.
Meanwhile, the force on the other side of the rift was like someone actively pulling the wound open.
Even if Helag destroyed the ritual, it would only solve the pr...
June 29, 1995.
The scorching midsummer sun blazed down on the heart of Seoul.
Barricades had been set up around the Sampoong Department Store, which had remained an abandoned eyesore ever since operations ceased due to concerns over structural collapse. The atmosphere was tense, with police officers stationed around the area to maintain control.
Today was the scheduled demolition of Sampoong Department Store—once the epitome of luxury shopping in Korea...
“Do you think President Son will accept the proposal?”
Seok-won calmly replied as he received the drink Landon poured for him, sinking into the plush sofa.
“He’ll rack his brain for the next week, but in the end, he won’t have much choice but to go along with it.”
After seeing Masayoshi Son’s group off, the two moved to the hotel lounge bar.
Through the large windows, the beautiful view of the Han River stretched out before them, while the soft glow o...
At Seok-won’s blunt and unfiltered question, Masayoshi faltered for a brief moment. Sensing the hesitation, Seok-won simply shrugged, his demeanour relaxed and confident.
"You’re not expecting to get exclusive rights for free, are you?"
But Masayoshi Son, a businessman who had seen and survived it all, quickly composed himself and adjusted his posture before responding calmly.
"Of course not."
"Then let’s hear your terms."
At Masayoshi Son’s subtle g...
Charlie C. Schuetz.
Appointed as the commander of the United States Forces Korea following Ronald’s Greater Asia Strategy, he was an African American. Though not particularly large in stature, he had a sturdy build and piercing eyes. He looked every bit the quintessential soldier at first glance.
Indeed, a US four-star general would have meticulously followed the elite military course.
But why would such a person come to a reserve training camp?
Well, considering...
"A store? You want to open a store?"
Maru nodded.
"Yeah, if our goal is distribution, it wouldn't be strange to have a flagship store. We keep this as a production factory, and all sales and purchases are handled at the store."
I agreed with his idea.
"That makes sense. It would be easier to manage."
"It's just a suggestion, so think about it. We might come up with a better solution."
"I will. Anyway…"
I mimed drinking.
"We should cele...
"What? 1.1 billion won?"
Lee Young-soo, who was celebrating his anticipated victory with the other colluding CEOs, shouted after receiving a call from the section chief.
The other CEOs also tensed up, listening intently to the conversation.
"CEO Lee, aren't you being too greedy? How much profit margin did you include in your bid that there's a 100 million won difference?"
"But… what…"
Lee Young-soo stammered, and the section chief sighed.
"I was p...
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
On the northern coast of Hong Kong Island, where countless skyscrapers stood tall, one particular landmark dominated the skyline—Central Plaza.
With its towering spire, Central Plaza was an imposing 78-story skyscraper standing 373.9 meters high. At the time, it was the tallest building in Asia, renowned for its grandeur.
During the day, the facade—adorned with hundreds of tons of granite and multicolored reinforced glass—was a s...
Under the bright fluorescent lights
Dressed in athletic shorts, a t-shirt, and a headband, Seok-won moved vigorously inside an indoor squash court, playing alone.
Thwack! Thump! Thump!
With a loud sound, the white squash ball rebounded off the wall. Seok-won swiftly chased after it and swung his racket with all his might.
The ball shot across the court, striking the wall once more.
"Huff… Huff…"
His breathing grew heavier, and his...
Silicon Valley, California, USA.
A luxury Lexus sedan stopped in front of a six-story building on the city's outskirts.
A man of East Asian descent stepped out from the back seat, removed his sunglasses, and gazed up at the building. Then, turning to his secretary, he asked,
"Is this Yahoo’s office?"
"Yes, sir. They’ve leased the fifth floor for their operations," the secretary responded politely in Japanese.
The man, neatly combing his ...
CH399
David narrowly escaped danger several times, thanks to the fire lizard bombs crafted by Helag.
These bombs were powerful and easy to use, allowing David, a gaseous wizard, to wield crystallized wizard-level attacks.
David lay hidden in the rubble, suppressing his presence and slowing his breathing.
Being an earth-element wizard, he could better utilize earth energy particles to conceal himself among the stones.
David’s innate spell was Pe...
2025-02-23 13:31:33 +0000 UTC View PostI bought frozen jjampong and dumplings from the PX for lunch and microwaved them.
Taek-gyu said,
“It’s good to have this after a long time. Right?”
I took a bite and nodded.
“Gotta agree with that.”
“Should we buy some to take home?”
“It won’t taste the same outside.”
But eating it in the military, it’s as good as a Michelin three-star meal.
After finishing, I bought ice cream for dessert. I watched the busy assista...
After returning to the office, the first thing I did was check Dobby’s desk.
“Not here.”
Dobby usually orders takeout and eats in the office, but today, he was nowhere to be seen. Even after an hour, he still hadn’t shown up. It was obvious where he had gone.
He was probably spreading rumors about a shady fund that a so-called unicorn with an 80% success rate might launch.
‘Looks like things are going smoothly on that end.’
Anyone interested in t...
I need to meet Rachel’s father.
The sooner I meet him, the sooner I can uncover information about Theranos and intercept the funds from its investors.
If I can pull this off safely…
I’ll be able to start my own fund immediately.
A legitimate hedge fund, not some shady operation.
“There’s no need to wait two years for this.”
Initially, my plan was to stay with Goldman for two years.
But after causing such a major incident during that...
After meeting David, a small change occurred in my death certificate.
[Date of Death: March 11, 2023]
[Remaining Time: 3,399 days]
[Survival Rate: 3.8%]
My survival rate increased.
A number that had consistently stayed at 0% rose to 3.8%.
I leaned my chin on my hand, pondering the meaning of this percentage.
“So, it’s not just clinical trials t...
Meanwhile, David’s feelings were conflicted.
He didn’t know how to process the sudden arrival of an Asian man in his 20s. At first, he welcomed him, thinking he might be a benefactor. But then, the man offered $50 billion.
Naturally, David didn’t take him at his word. The odds were far too high that this was a scam.
‘But…’
What if he wasn’t a con artist? David had heard vague rumors about numerous tycoons in Asia. A near-miraculous possibility, sure, ...
“Off-label?”
Rachel tilted her head curiously beside me, clearly unfamiliar with the term. But as someone with a medical background, I knew exactly what it meant. “Off-label” referred to the use of a drug for an unapproved purpose—not for the condition the FDA had originally authorized it to treat, but for something entirely different.
In other words…
“You believe there’s already a treatment available,” I said, catching on. David responded with a sly grin.<...
2025-02-23 04:02:47 +0000 UTC View PostAt the same time, inside the whiskey bar.
Even after Ha Si-heon left, the conversation remained lively.
“I might be promoted to PM soon.”
“Don’t count your chickens. How long have you even been working?”
“If you’ve got the skills, it’s not impossible. Last year, I got a 700K comp.”
“700K??”
Here, “comp” refers to a shortened form of “compensation,” meaning a bonus.
The idea of receiving a 700,000-dollar bonus, excluding b...
2025-02-23 04:02:38 +0000 UTC View PostThe guy who asked the question was a fellow new hire.
‘His name was Nelson, right?’
For reference, this is the first time we’re actually talking.
I only know his name because he sits next to me.
“You have a girlfriend, don’t you?”
At Dobby’s question, Nelson overreacted, shooting lasers with his intense gaze.
“I got dumped.”
“Oh….” ...
2025-02-23 04:02:29 +0000 UTC View PostAt the entrance of Sasung Semiconductor, I nervously stared at the clear liquid in the plastic water bottle.
It was aqua regia, a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid in a ratio of 1:3.
It was called "royal water" because it could dissolve gold, the "king of metals." If you submerged gold-plated parts in aqua regia for just one minute, the gold would dissolve completely.
We had developed aqua regia, hoping to extract gold from electronic scrap ourselves. We even t...
The Next Day.
On the fifth floor of the Daehung Securities headquarters in Yeouido, the trading center was as noisy as ever, filled with the constant ringing of telephones and the loud voices of traders shouting orders into their receivers.
Riiiing! Riiiing!
"Baekje Financial, sell 1,200 shares at 11,000 won!"
"What’s going on with Hyunwoo Motors' stock? Check if there’s any news!"
"Buy 2,000 shares of Hyunwoo Heavy Industries at 11,200 ...