The Famous Millionaire

“Really? Is it much different from existing car engines?”

“The fuel injection method and piston structure are different.”

Kuroda explained the principle of that very briefly.

Most new engines developed today used direct fuel injection. In the past, the port injection method simply sucked the fuel by the suction force generated during the piston movement without deliberately applying pressure.

This reduced the power because the fuel had to be trapped in the engine and compressed by the force of the piston.

Direct fuel injection directly injected fuel without compression, eliminating that factor.

But the important thing was timing. Fuel efficiency and explosion time should be as short as possible to increase efficiency. It was also important to mix the fuel with oxygen well.

Kuroda said, “To minimize this time, I have developed a four-channel direct injection engine. It is a method of injecting fuel from all four places simultaneously with three channels around the sides and one channel in the ceiling of the chamber.”

Come to think of it, Hyunwoo felt it could be really effective because, at the time of spraying, fuel can spread as much as possible and mix easily with air.

Kuroda continued, “How much explosion energy you can concentrate on the piston is also an important factor. If fuel is sprayed on a wall needlessly, it would take lots of energy away. After various experiments, I have developed a more efficient piston structure.”

“Wow, that’s great!”

Duyoung and Hyunwoo exclaimed with delight.

But Kuroda waved both hands in a show of humility.

“Oh, it’s just a slight difference from existing engines. Don’t expect too much.”

While listening to Kuroda’s explanation, Hyunwoo recalled what he heard before.

Hyunwoo experienced lots of stuff while working at various companies including Aurum. And he was very much impressed with one phrase.

<Improvement in efficiency. 5% is impossible, but 500% is possible.>

At a glance, it didn’t make any sense. But it really made sense with a little more thinking.

It meant that drastic improvements were possible when there was a change in the paradigm.

In other words, it was not to make innovation by improving existing things, but to make innovation by developing new things.

If one could make innovation like that, even 5000% improvement in efficiency was possible.

It looked as if Hyunwoo could shock the auto market using Samryong Motors.

Nodding his head, Hyunwoo said, “Got it. Let me try to save Samryong Motors.”

Hyunwoo immediately translated what he said into action. He sent a letter of intent to takeover of Samryong Motors to Shanghai Motors.

When Hyunwoo took the initiative, Shanghai Motors suddenly changed its attitude, and that through the media.

<Samryong Motors is the signature brand of Korean cars. We won’t sell it at a bargain.>

When he read it, Hyunwoo laughed sardonically.

It was only 600 billion won that Shanghai Motors paid for the takeover of Samryong Motors. After its takeover, Shanghai Motors didn’t make any investment, let alone develop any technology. Rather it concentrated on taking Samryong’s technology.

Hyunwoo refuted Shanghai’s argument through the media, too.

<The exact takeover price will be determined after we audit the assets of Samryong Motors, but KOVE DREAM feels the right takeover price is 300 billion won. We will cancel our takeover plan due to the difference in the takeover prices.>

Hyunwoo’s announcement was not in words alone. He stopped any discussion related to the takeover.

Shanghai Motors also continued to dig its heels. It seemed to think there were lots of other companies than KOVE DREAM that could take over Samryong Motors.

Time passed, and Hyunwoo completely lost interest in the takeover.

In the meantime, Suji’s wedding ceremony was set to take place.

Hyunwoo agonized a bit.

‘Should I attend?’

He had to, given his long ties with her, but he could not attend.

It was not because he once loved her. Not only Hyunwoo but also Suji and Jungsu, her bridegroom, would not be conscious of that.

The reason he couldn’t attend her wedding ceremony was that he was now a famous businessman. If Hyunwoo attended it, lots of reporters would also come to cover it, which could produce gossip stories about their past romantic relationship.

Hyunwoo wouldn’t care about it as he used to be the talk of the town, but Suji and Jungsu might feel very embarrassed about it. It might even disturb their marriage life.

Hyunwoo sent a congratulatory wreath to her, along with a long text message congratulating her marriage. In the message, he explained why he couldn’t attend.

She replied with a short message.

<Thanks for your consideration.>

A considerable period of time has passed since Suji’s wedding.

No other company was willing to take over Samryong Motors. In the meantime, it continued to lose money.

Shanghai Motors urgently appealed to the Korean government to help it sell Samryong Motors.

Naturally, KOVE DREAM was back in the media limelight.

Sometime later a ruling party member called Hyunwoo directly.

“Nice to talk to you. I’m Jungmin Hwang.”

Hyunwoo was surprised because Mr. Hwang was emerging as an influential member of the ruling party. As Chulmo Kim, the most powerful member of the ruling party, had recently been disgraced in connection with the sex scandal involvng him and Yonji Choi, Hwang replaced him as the strong man of the ruling party.

Mr. Hwang said, “I’d like to meet you about the takeover case of Samryong Motors. Can you come to my office when you can?”

He frowned at his suggestion because of the obvious reason Mr. Hwang wanted to see him.

Did he receive a kickback from Shanghai Motors?

But Hyunwoo could not refuse his offer to meet. It was impossible to do business by standing against politicians.

Hyunwoo visited Hwang’s office reluctantly.

Just like a political giant, Hwang started off by mentioning the name of the President,

“I want you to take the decision on the takeover for the future of Koren economy. The president is also keeping an eye on your words and actions.”

Actually, Hyunwoo was firming up his mind to take over Samryong Motors.

The biggest reason was because of Samryong’s technology.

Samryong Motors had superior technology in high-end sedans and SUV. Though it failed in marketing every model of ordinary sedans and SUVs, piling up more and more deficits, it still had a very good name as the producer of luxury sedans and SUVs.

If he took it over, Hyunwoo wanted to focus on producing luxury cars.

But the problem was the takeover price. Hyunwoo would have finished the deal at a proper price but for Shanghai Motors.

As the powerful politician intervened for Shanghai Motors, Hyunwoo felt the negotiation would not be that easy.

“I have respected you, Mr. Hwang, for a long time. Thanks for having me here,” said Hyunwoo.

He first pleased Hwang’s ears. He felt it was a good opportunity to make friends with an influential politician like Hwang on this occasion.

It could be more beneficial to cultivate connections with politicians than just hassling over the takeover price.

“In fact, I had no intention of taking over a foreign car company, but as you ask me a favor like this, let me think about the takeover. But make sure that Shanghai should not play tricks with my with money, please.”

“Of course, they should not. But I think the 300 billion takeover offer that you presented is way too low. Why don’t you meet halfway?”

Hyunwoo wanted to say ‘No!,’ but held it back with difficulty.

Given the fact that Shanghai Motors took Samryong’s technology, Hwang should not have said so. Some car analysts even put the value of the stolen technology at one trillion won.

If that was true, Shanghai Motors already got its takeover money’s worth. If Hyunwoo took it over at 300 billion won, that would be Shanghai’s net profits.

But Hyunwoo could not say so.

As a political big shot, Hwamg must already know that.

“So, how much do they want?” asked Hyunwoo.

“They mentioned 600 billion won. How about 500 billion won?”

600 billion won was the original takeover price that Shanghai offered to Samryong. After all, Shanghai wanted to sell back Samryong at its original takeover price.

If they could meet halfways, Hyunwoo could save 100 billion won.

He wanted a little more discount, but the takeover price would not go lower than that. If he really drove a hard bargain, he could save another 50 billion at the most.

But Hyunwoo didn’t feel up to that.

“Got it. Let me send an asset appraisal to them and review the appropriateness of their offer price. If there is no big problem, let me follow your opinion.”

A month later Hyunwoo met the officials of Shanghai Motors and signed the contract on the takeover of Samryong.

And the next day all the media reported the takeover.

<Hyunwoo Jang of KOVE DREAM emerges as the new owner of Samryong Motors>

As soon as he took over Samryong Motors, Hyunwoo appointed Kuroda as its senior technical advisor. And he made sure that Kuroda equipped its existing luxury sedans and SUVs with the new engines he developed and tested them.

Of course, that was nothing more than a temporary solution to the chronic problems of Samryong Motors.

In other words, Kuroda’s new engines were nothing more than a makeshift means to reduce the snowballing deficits of Samryong Motors as soon as possible.

‘I wish Duyoung could find the core material quickly.’

In the meantime, Hyunwoo hired a large number of car designers and asked them to work on concept cars based on innovative designs.

“Samryong Motors will produce the world’s best luxury cars. Design, as well as performance, is important to realize our goal. You don’t have to think too deeply about the structure of cars. If you work out an excellent design, we can make cars based on that. So, work hard to produce an innovative design.”

“How innovative design do you want?

“I have no idea. Just stretch your imagination. We can make dream cars.”

Hyunwoo cheered up the designer team.

Initially, the design team expressed doubt, not sure how to make of Hyunwoo’s request. Accordingly, they were stuck in the existing design format. When he strongly pushed them harder, however, they began to think out of the box and come up with something extraordinary.

Hyunwoo was very satisfied with that.

“Great. This is the design I want. Please keep working. One year or ten years later we can produce cars based on your design.”

Hyunwoo was confident. The moment his father Duyoung succeeds in developing a new core fitting Toughtex, his dream will be realized.

‘I see it’s around the corner.’