After the meeting, Jang Gwangchul returned to the office and said to Woosung in excitement. “It sounds like TK won’t give up!”

“If the new rule required participating companies to provide a 50% cash availability, this would benefit us.”

“Exactly. The government is worried that this will cause the phone bills to alleviate.”

“Understandable. Based on our calculation, any bid above three billion will require at least a 5% increase of the phone bills.”

“So the game is getting even more interesting.”

Woosung nodded.

Who will give up?

Jang Gwangchul continued, “We need to make sure TK doesn’t steal our information and plans, or else, this can be very bad for us.”

Woosung nodded.

Jang Gwangchul added in a low voice, “I heard from our spy in Daeyang. There was a huge kerfuffle after XFeed won the mobile carrier business, and NIS couldn’t do too much for them.” Jang Gwangchul looked thrilled as he continued, “So Chun Gisu was blamed for everything, and now he feels like he’s done with Daeyang.”

“So is he interested in coming to us?”

“Probably not to KND right away, but maybe he can start working at XFeed as a consult? What do you think?”

“But that would make Daeyang even angrier and they may do something drastic to us.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Why don’t we create a consulting company and get him to become the acting CEO? I will fund the whole thing, and after we take over Daeyang, we will place him as Daeyang’s new CEO.”

“Okay. Let’s try that.”

“Get him to sell his Daeyang shares to us.”

Jang Gwangchul nodded and left the office.

***

3.3 billion dollars.

It was the amount from XFeed for the eleventh round. They had to prove that they had 55% of this amount available in cash. XFeed sent the appropriate documents and passed with flying colors.

After hearing this, TK was in a panic. This was beyond Jun Taewon now. He went to his father, the Chairman, Jun Junghee.

His father asked, “3.3 billion dollars, and you want to write a bigger bid?”

Jun Taewon replied confidently, “Yes. We need XFeed to pay as much as possible for this so that we have a chance.”

Jun Junghee asked coldly, “And what if XFeed suddenly gives up and we end up needing to pay the amount?”

“It’s a high risk and high return situation.”

“Why should we take on this risk? Why not other mobile carriers?”

“The others are too small, and…”

“And?”

“I was able to get an investor who can cover us if necessary. If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t have started it.”

Jun Junghee massaged his temples and asked, “So you used up all of our company’s available fund. If it goes over 3.5 billion, we won’t be able to bid.”

“But this investor will provide us with more funds. I am confident we can come up with the money.”

“If you are right, then this would indeed be a win-win situation for us, but do you even know why this investor is helping us?”

“It doesn’t matter. TK will win no matter what.”

Jun Taewon explained with confidence. Jun Junghee saw himself in his son when he was younger. Jun Junghee began with nothing. He took high risks and that was how he came to own the biggest mobile carrier in the country.

Jun Junghee asked finally, “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes!”

***

It was all Kang Woosung’s fault. Daeyang was going downhill all because of him.

“They took the mobiles carrier business. We couldn’t find anything about his companies even with the help of the NIS. Blue S is doing well. They are about to win the golden frequency.”

Choi Taemin screamed. Chun Gisu remained silent.

“Why can’t you do anything?”

“I apologize.”

“Do you think apologizing will fix anything?”

“…”

“How much did you get paid last year from this company?”

“2.1 million dollars, including the incentives.”

“And do you think you did enough to deserve that?”

Chun Gisu couldn’t hide his displeasure.

Choi Taemin sneered, “Are you angry?”

“No, sir.”

“Bring me result then!”

“I will.”

“You better, or else.”

After leaving the room, Jang Hyunho called Chun Gisu for a private meeting.

“Did you think about it? You know our careers are over in this company.”

Chun Gisu nodded unhappily. He was sure now.

He asked, “What do you want me to do?”

“Help me with the TK situation. If things go well, they promised to make a consulting company for us.”

Chun Gisu didn’t seem happy with the offer.

“Just a consulting company?”

“It’s just a smoke screen for the bigger plan. It’s only temporary. Ultimately, we will come back to Daeyang, but not as assistants.”

Chun Gisu murmured, “I see.”

“We can have the chance to run this company. We deserve it!”

Chun Gisu nodded. Jang Hyunho quickly picked up his cellphone.

***

Jang Gwangchul went to Woosung.

“He called. TK accepted Daeyang’s help.”

“So TK is reaching its limit.”

“Yup. It’s almost time.”

“Daeyang offered 1 billion, right?”

Jang Gwangchul nodded.

“I’m guessing they could probably bid up to 5 billion if they use every resource they have. I just hope they keep continuing to bid.”

“They are probably worrying about the same thing.”

Jang Gwangchul sighed deeply.

“If…if they give up, what are you going to do?”

Woosung replied slowly, “There is one huge difference between TK and XFeed. Do you know what it is?”

“They don’t have as much money as we do.”

“That’s right. They don’t have money, so they are borrowing from everywhere including Daeyang.”

Jang Gwangchul nodded.

He asked, “So what do you think will happen tomorrow?”

“TK will probably bid 3.5 billion dollars. We will then go up to four billion. They will probably go even higher…”

“Yes?”

“Then we will go higher again. It needs to go beyond anyone’s expectation.”

“So how much are you thinking?”

“Seven billion dollars.”

“…what? Do you think TK can come up with that kind of money? Unless they are crazy, they won’t go that high!”

“They came this far, so they are already crazy. At this point, they are making their decisions based on their emotions. They want revenge against us. Why do you think Daeyang is helping TK?”

“Because they hate us?”

“Precisely. We will continue to air our obnoxious ads on TV. Their pride will be damaged every time they watch them. Both Daeyang and TK.”

“But what if they give up?”

“Our government is corrupt as you already know. TK is probably getting information from the government officials about us. So what we’ll do is feed the officials wrong information about us.”

“…”

“They are probably guessing our limit to be 7 billion dollars.”

Jang Gwangchul sighed again. “I really hope it works out just as you say….”

Woosung looked calm, but his hands were sweating. This was not something that happened in his previous life, so he had no way of knowing if it would work.

He was worried but he replied evenly, “It doesn’t matter even if it doesn’t work out.”

7 billion dollars.

It was a lot of money, but it wasn’t an amount Woosung couldn’t afford.

On TV, XFeed commercials continued to air.

“XFeed service will outperform every other mobile carrier.”

“20% cheaper and 20% faster.”

“Choose XFeed.”