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...
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, wh...
"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...
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 ...
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 warmi...
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 atm...
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 ex...
“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...
"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...
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...
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 aroun...
“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...
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 ...
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 wo...
"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...
"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...
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 Asi...
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 ...
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?"
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.
...
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 eatin...
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...
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 wa...
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 consistentl...
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.
...
“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 diff...
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??”
... 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 Do...
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...
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...