"Would you like to take it over? At $60 per share."
Anderson, who had been drinking with a smile, stiffened.
"Hey, James. Do we really have to talk about this on a day like today?"
"I'm happy and excited too, but we have to do business."
Han Kyung-young continued speaking with a smile on his face.
"The current closing price is $57. If all of our shares are transferred elsewhere, there will be a problem with Anderson's management rights. That's why I'm giving you this option. A $3 premium isn't a large amount, is it? Given the current mood, our boss is offering you the right of first refusal as promised."
"Where's Charlie?"
"The boss is busy."
"That's too much. Where are you supposed to get that much money right away?"
Han Kyung-young couldn't understand the abnormal stock price of Netscape.
It was a company that had never turned a profit. Yet, on its first day of listing, its market capitalization closed at $3.9 billion.
"Mr. Anderson, you should consider using the shares you hold as collateral or find a way to purchase them. Even if you can't buy all of them, you need to defend your management rights."
Anderson pondered for a moment before responding to Han Kyung-young.
"Give me a few days. I'll find the money. But I'll only take over half. It's too difficult to do it all."
"Understood. The price will be $60 per share, regardless of the market price. If the stock price drops and you break the promise..."
Han Kyung-young left the sentence hanging, but Anderson understood without needing to hear more.
"Alright. Tell Charlie I'm grateful."
"I'll pass that on to the boss. I'll find a buyer for the other half, shall I?"
"I'll find it myself."
"Understood. I'll see you when we sign the contract. Congratulations again on Netscape's successful IPO."
"Thanks, I won't see you out."
Han Kyung-young left with a smile. The atmosphere in the room, which had turned cold, began to get noisy again.
* * *
We had spoken on the phone a few times, but it had been a while since we met in person.
Pixar, despite my investment, still hadn't achieved significant success.
"Charlie, it's been a while."
Steve greeted me warmly. Someone else was standing beside him.
When I looked at him, Steve introduced him.
"He's a businessman from New York who invested in Apple back in the day. Andrew Gigante."
A middle-aged man stood up and extended his hand to me.
"I'm Andrew."
"I'm Charlie."
His face seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place who he was.
"Since you're here unexpectedly, I had to join you. You're not upset, are you?"
"Of course not. Who doesn't know how busy Steve is?"
We all sat down, and the food started to arrive, which Steve had apparently ordered in advance.
"Did you come to the U.S. because of Netscape's IPO?"
Steve asked me while eating a salad.
"That's part of it. I also came to see Steve. How's Pixar doing?"
"We're about to release a movie in collaboration with Disney. It's called Toy Story."
Toy Story was the film that put Pixar on the map, just as it was on the brink of collapse.
"Wow! That's great. It'll do well."
"Aren't you worried? You're a significant shareholder in Pixar too."
"As I said before, I invested in you, Steve Jobs."
Gigante listened to our conversation silently while cutting his steak.
Even as I talked with Steve, I couldn't help but be distracted by the man.
He was definitely familiar, but...
"And how's your father? His name keeps appearing in the news."
"Always. I don't understand why they keep bringing up his illness."
"I've received a lot of help thanks to him. Though I've never met him."
"He's in poor health, so it's difficult for him to meet people. Helping you was something I asked him to do."
It seemed my father had considerable influence in the U.S.
Wait, Gigante?
A name suddenly came to mind.
'Vincent Gigante!'
He was known as the boss of the Genovese Family, one of the five major families in New York.
His brother was a New York City councilman, and he himself was a powerful figure in the American Mafia, with strong influence in the Mafia Commission.
Based in New York, they operated illegal gambling and loan sharking businesses, extending their power to trucking and port unions.
Vincent Gigante, the current boss of the Genovese Family, was the only one among the five family bosses to evade the law during the U.S.'s major crime crackdown in the 1980s.
In the 1985 Mafia Commission trial, known as the trial of the century, his underboss was convicted as the boss.
"His health fluctuates. That's how mental illness works, isn't it?"
"Indeed..."
Steve had apparently received help from the Mafia at some point... but it didn't quite click.
I listened carefully to their conversation but couldn't get any more hints.
At that moment, Steve's phone rang.
"Excuse me. I'll take this call."
Steve left the room with his phone, leaving me and Gigante alone.
An awkward silence filled the air, but Gigante broke it first.
"You're from a country called South Korea, right?"
"Yes. Do you know South Korea?"
"I know of it, though not in detail."
Gigante observed me as we talked.
"What do you do in South Korea? You look young, yet you're investing a significant amount."
"I'm in the family business."
I casually mentioned the word 'family,' and his expression changed slightly.
"Sorry. It's an important call."
Steve returned at just the right moment.
Steve alternated between talking to me and Gigante.
After the meal, as we were about to leave and meet again before I returned to South Korea,
"Would you like a drink?"
Gigante asked me casually.
"Sure."
Gigante and I went to a nearby bar.
The staff seemed to recognize Gigante and naturally led us to a secluded spot.
Gigante, a regular here, didn't even need to order; the staff left after taking our presence.
Once the staff's footsteps faded, Gigante picked up his glass quietly, a cold smile on his lips.
"Did you know anything about me?"
He asked straightforwardly, and I answered directly.
"At first, I wasn't sure. Just hearing your name didn't give me enough confidence. But after listening to your conversation with Steve, I got a general idea."
"Hmm."
"Being the boss of the Genovese Family, one of the five major families in the U.S., and the eldest son of Vincent Gigante. Is that correct?"
The conversation was briefly interrupted by the staff bringing our drinks.
Once the staff's footsteps faded, Gigante quietly picked up his glass, a cold smile on his lips.
"Even the FBI only has suspicions about my father's true identity. Very few people know he's the boss."
"Everyone suspects, but they can't find the evidence, right?"
"Are you in a similar line of business?"
Someone in a similar line of business...
The American Mafia did anything that made money.
Especially the Genovese Family, which succeeded the Luciano Family, was known as a legitimate Mafia organization.
They operated illegal gambling and loan sharking businesses in New York and New Jersey, and had strong influence in trucking and port unions.
Vincent Gigante, the current boss of the Genovese Family, was the only one among the five family bosses to evade the law during the U.S.'s major crime crackdown in the 1980s.
In the 1985 Mafia Commission trial, his underboss was convicted as the boss, acting as the mastermind behind the scenes.
"Just a casual acquaintance? There's no deeper connection?"
I nodded, believing only half of what he said.
"Is the man behind you an underling?"
Manager Ma stood like a statue behind me.
"An underling... let's call him my representative."
"You subtly hinted that you know I'm in the Mafia, so I assume you have something to say to me."
"I don't have anything specific to say right now. I just thought it would be good to know each other. We can't talk about such things in front of Steve."
"True. We can't talk about it in front of Steve."
Having a connection to the New York Mafia would be a significant help in my business in the U.S.
Unlike in South Korea, the Mafia often hid behind legitimate businesses, providing a channel for lobbying in political and business circles.
"Knowing each other... would there be any benefit for me in knowing a small country's Mafia?"
"The world is changing rapidly. Asia isn't weaker than the New York Mafia. Just look at the yakuza in Japan, who have similar power to the American Mafia. The Chinese triads and the triads in Hong Kong and Taiwan are also not inferior to the American Mafia. You know that, right?"
"Hmm..."
I tilted my glass, indicating that there was no harm in thinking about it. There was no loss for me either.
Gigante, who seemed a bit hesitant, soon nodded.
"Alright. Let's keep in touch. Whether it will be mutually beneficial remains to be seen, but I welcome a rich friend."
"Hahaha."
He was a straightforward man, a powerful figure in the Mafia. Knowing him would surely be useful someday.
We drank and talked for a long time. He showed a lot of interest in South Korea.
As the pleasant drinking session was coming to an end, I casually mentioned a gift.
The FBI had caught up with Vincent, along with the name of an internal whistleblower who had broken the code of silence.
It was a gift to commemorate our newfound friendship.
Han Kyung-young ultimately sold our shares to Anderson and the investor he introduced at $55 per share after negotiations.
He also hired capable stockbrokers and financial company employees from Wall Street.
After Netscape's IPO, which signaled the start of the dot-com bubble, the NASDAQ experienced a boom that wouldn't be seen again until the early 2000s.
"Invest all the funds from Dream High in NASDAQ for now. Keep an eye on the employees and see if there's anyone trustworthy."
"Okay."
"Only you know about the shell company operations. Delegate the rest to the employees. Make sure the company can run even without you. If there's a shortage of personnel, consider acquiring another investment firm."
"Hmm... I'll think about it."
"I trust you. And I think you should have a bodyguard now."
Manager Ma left the room at my words.
A moment later, Manager Ma brought in a man.
"This is Michael. A veteran who worked with me at EO."
"I'm Michael, boss."
"He's a former mercenary and bodyguard, introduced by Manager Ma. He's American, so you can travel together. Michael, your boss is James here. Take good care of him."
Han Kyung-young, a bit surprised by the mention of a bodyguard, was now gaping at Michael's size.
"If anything happens to you, my plans will be ruined. Always be careful, and never go anywhere alone. Take Michael with you wherever you go. This isn't a request. Do you understand?"
Han Kyung-young nodded, perhaps because of my serious expression.
He didn't object.
In the hotel room after Han Kyung-young and Michael left,
"Is Michael reliable?"
"Yes, we worked together at EO."
EO, Executive Outcomes. The best private military company in existence.
Blackwater hadn't even been founded yet.
"I told him to closely monitor and protect Han Kyung-young. The $200,000 annual salary isn't given lightly. Let's establish a proper company. Do you know anyone suitable?"
"I know an administrative expert from EO, who was also my superior. I'll make a proposal."
"Let's set up the headquarters in the U.S. and a branch in South Korea. The regulations are stricter in South Korea."
"Understood. I'll report back once everything is ready."
I planned to secure talent before proper PMCs were established. Manager Ma's network from his mercenary days was a great help.
In the U.S., the live broadcast of the demolition of the Japanese Governor-General's Office on August 15th was aired.
I watched the removal of the Governor-General's Office tower on the hotel room TV. Thinking about how the members of the Cheongpung Society would be distressed, a smile naturally appeared on my face.