A 9:1 split of the total sales.

Anyone could tell that it was an unfair trade condition.

Moreover, wasn’t it So-ah who had passionately argued to the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace that the cost of processing and distributing minerals was higher than the cost of the raw materials?

‘Isn’t that a bit too much?’

‘I have nothing to say, nothing to say!’

‘Young Master… this is a bit…’

When the words “9:1” came out of So-ah’s mouth, even Moyong Baek and his wife, and the chief steward, who had been silent, blushed in embarrassment.

Finally.

[So-ah! That’s too much. We’re not robbers… Besides, this Chairman is the father of an external disciple… Even if you’re going to haggle, you should do it in moderation!]

Moyong Baek, feeling anxious, sent a secret telepathic message to So-ah.

[Uncle. Do you really think I called for 9:1 with a sincere heart? When negotiating with someone who has been in the business world for a long time, you have to do it this way! I learned it from Lady Yuk. Just stay still!]

But So-ah, on the contrary, scolded his uncle and glared at him.

‘Ugh…! How can I handle that brat! That brat!’

In the end, Moyong Baek could only fret inwardly, and So-ah, once again shining with a burning greed immersed himself in the negotiation.

“Chairman Yi! At first glance, you might think that the 9:1 trade condition is a bad one. But the cost our family has invested to obtain the exclusive development rights for the ice spirit stone is astronomical.”

‘Huh?’

‘What’s that all about?’

‘Y-Young Master. Didn’t it cost a single penny? On the contrary, you even received a gift from the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.’

That’s right.

This was a complete lie.

Hadn’t the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Wang Bang-tae, granted the exclusive development rights for the ice spirit stone without taking a single silver coin?

But So-ah did not consider this lie as a ‘falsehood’ for the sake of establishing a deal.

‘I, huh? To get the development rights for the ice spirit stone, I beat a whopping seven of those monstrous snow mountain giants! It was so hard! If you convert it to money, the effort would be worth 3 million silver coins.’

He had applied his specialty, the ‘miracle logic’.

And this strategy hit the mark.

“Hmm… certainly, if it’s not a universal mining contract but an exclusive development right, you must have invested a lot of budget.”

‘You’re hooked, right? You can’t help it either, can you, Chairman Yi? Kehkehkeh.’

So-ah rejoiced at the voice and expression of Chairman Yi Kun-hee, which showed signs of deliberation.

“Is it just the budget? You know the North Sea Ice Palace, right? You probably don’t know how strict the Lord there is. What a temper, what a temper. Phew! Besides, he loathes people from the Central Plains, and he’s so exclusive that no master of negotiation can compromise or coordinate with him.”

“Hah…”

“To win over such a person, our family spared no effort. The astronomical budget I mentioned is, literally, just the budget. If you include the mental suffering… phew! This is a real jackpot, but if I had to go back, I. I can’t do that. No, I won’t do it!”

“Young Hero Jin…”

“What we obtained through such hardship is the ‘exclusive development rights for the ice spirit stone’, Chairman Yi!”

‘Th-That!’

‘Should I see that as a smooth talker, or as a scam…’

So-ah’s argument was getting more and more outrageous.

The part about the astronomical budget was one thing, but to insult the character of the North Sea Ice Palace Lord, who was just minding his own business?

‘Father! I did not raise So-ah like that! This is, by all means, So-ah’s own doing! Do you understand? I am innocent! Phew…!’

Watching So-ah, who had grown into a heavenly rascal, Moyong Baek quietly made an excuse to his deceased father.

***

“Young Hero Jin. Hearing you say it, I can understand why you proposed the 9:1 condition. But no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think I can do that.”

Despite So-ah’s persuasion, who was passionately arguing with great effort, Chairman Yi did not easily bend his will.

‘He’s like an iron fortress.’

But So-ah was not one to give up.

The 9:1 condition was just something he had thrown out in the first place.

So-ah had just thrown out an unreasonable proposal to gain as much of an advantageous position as possible.

“Then how about 8:2? Considering the various circumstances, I think this is not a bad choice.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t accept that proposal either.”

‘This old man!’

So-ah looked at Chairman Yi Kun-hee’s expression with deep eyes.

As a rule, a person’s psychology is revealed in their expression.

This too was one of the negotiation techniques he had learned from Lady Yuk someday.

But.

‘Wow! Look at how his eyes don’t even waver. I see why he became a chaebol. He’s tough, so tough. He’s really no ordinary person.’

Not even a hint of wavering could be found on Chairman Yi Kun-hee’s face.

So-ah realized that it was impossible to read his emotions and react from his face, which was as peaceful as a Taoist who had transcended the secular world, and his eyes, which were like a calm lake.

“Now! Think about it. The ice spirit stone is a precious mineral, right? Its value is higher than gold. So, no matter what kind of manufactured goods you produce, you can set a considerable price, right? Then a 20% ratio can be a bigger profit than 50% of other manufactured goods. I’m saying it’s a different class of item. Besides, after paying the raw material cost to the North Sea, it’s not a very profitable business for our family either. Please consider it flexibly. Huh?”

This time, even the others agreed with So-ah’s words.

For example, 20% of an ice spirit stone could be a much bigger profit than 50% of a silver accessory.

But.

“Young Hero Jin. I will explain why that is not possible. First, to handle the ice spirit stone, we need the best craftsmen. Besides, we cannot ignore the technology, facility maintenance costs, and distribution costs. Moreover, if the Yi family handles the ice spirit stone exclusively, we are thinking of lowering the price of the product much lower than the market price.”

So-ah’s eyes widened.

“You’re lowering the price? But it’s a monopoly. This is just a money-making game where you can’t help but buy it, isn’t it?!”

“Kehkehkeh! That’s right, Young Hero Jin.”

He didn’t understand.

Since it was a product made of ice spirit stone, the main customer base would be limited to high-ranking officials and the rich.

It was hard to accept the words that they would lower the price, when they could have raised it.

But it didn’t take long for him to understand Chairman Yi Kun-hee’s words.

“Let me tell you an interesting story. Three years ago. At that time, I had a monopoly on the incense of the Shandong region. Incense is a luxury item, so commoners don’t buy it. But I drastically lowered the price. The existing merchants had attached a bubble to the incense and made a huge profit, but I sold it at half the price. Do you know what the result was?”

“…”

“The commoners, who were not the original customer base, started buying incense. The profit margin was lowered, but thanks to that, many commoners in the Shandong region started buying incense, and the trend spread like wildfire, and I earned an unimaginable amount of money.”

‘Ah…!’

‘As expected…!’

‘He’s worthy of being called the greatest merchant of his time!’

The people of the Moyong family were inwardly impressed.

So-ah as well.

‘Tsk… I lost, I lost. As expected, there’s no way to beat a great merchant. Sigh!’

He had no choice but to give up, thinking that trying to negotiate any further was like trying to teach a fish how to swim.

“Chairman Yi. You make me raise both my hands and feet. Then 7:3! No more than that.”

“Hohoho! If it’s 7:3, it can be said to be a mutually beneficial deal.”

“Yes… I suppose so.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“Not at all! I’m not that kind of person.”

“Kehkehkeh! Don’t be disappointed. I will bring you a huge profit by exercising the skills I have devoted my entire life to as a merchant.”

Chairman Yi Kun-hee suddenly extended his hand.

Although it was a bit disappointing, So-ah also readily shook his hand.

***

Around the beginning of the Hour of the Tiger (3-5 AM).

Chairman Yi Kun-hee, who had been drinking with So-ah, Moyong Baek, and others until late and was trying to sleep in the guest quarters, suddenly got up at the sound he heard.

And then he happened to see the Moyong family’s training ground through the window…

‘…This can’t be!’

What came into his sight was the figure of his son and So-ah, immersed in training in the pitch-black dawn.

But the training was so bizarre.

Chairman Yi’s face quickly turned pale.

The sound of intense blows.

The justice club held in So-ah’s right hand was mercilessly beating Yi Baek’s entire body.

‘Keuk…’

But his son did not let out a single groan despite the merciless beating.

He just silently did his best to avoid, endure, and bear the beating.

‘Baek-ah… you… at your father’s recommendation… endured this kind of pain?’

It was a moment when Chairman Yi Kun-hee’s heart was torn with anguish.

And soon.

‘At this late hour, Young Hero Jin is training Baek-ie?’

Chairman Yi Kun-hee saw So-ah in a new light.

Of course, if Chairman Yi had been an ordinary country bumpkin, he would have shouted at the sight of So-ah beating his son like he was catching lice, but he knew better than anyone.

‘To become a master in a field, unimaginable effort and pain are necessary.’

Chairman Yi himself was a model of a great human victory who had become a chaebol from scratch.

Because he knew that the terrible thing unfolding before his eyes was also a part of training, he only glimpsed the will and effort of the two, and did not consider it an unfair treatment.

Thus, he could not take his eyes off his son and his son’s master for a while.

The training continued, and after confirming the sight of his son soaking his body in the medicinal water that So-ah had prepared, Chairman Yi was able to lie down on the bed again.

***

The next day—

As soon as the day broke, Chairman Yi Kun-hee, skipping breakfast, prepared to leave.

Moyong Baek said in a disappointed voice.

“Chairman Yi. Are you thinking of leaving already? You came without a single attendant. Please rest for a few days before you go.”

“Hohoho! I am grateful for your words, Chairman, but I am busy with business, so I cannot waste time. I plan to go comfortably by renting a carriage and a driver from a transport company on my way back, so you don’t have to worry.”

“If that is your will, I will not hold you back. Please take care, and come visit often.”

“Yes, Chairman. Please take good care of my lacking son.”

Chairman Yi Kun-hee, who had briefly exchanged greetings with Moyong Baek, now turned his gaze to his son, Yi Baek.

“Baek-ah. Work hard. And work hard again. You must remember that you are the blood of the Yi family of Shandong.”

“Yes, Father. Don’t worry. I will definitely not spare my best efforts.”

At that.

“Chairman Yi. You can rest assured about that part. Although our disciple’s body is a bit weak, he can be said to be the best when it comes to ‘effort’. Hahaha.”

So-ah stepped forward, praising Yi Baek.

It was both sincere and a social grace that considered the heart of a father who had entrusted his son to a foreign land.

In that moment.

“Hoho! It is thanks to Young Hero Jin. How could Baek-ie work hard without the dedication of a master who can draw out his efforts?”

“Ah… no, Chairman Yi.”

“Young Hero Jin.”

“Yes?”

“As soon as I return to my family, I will dispatch all the contracts related to the ice spirit stone distribution and the working-level staff.”

“Please do so. Anyway, this side also has a separate working-level staff. Lady Yuk. She is a person with good business skills.”

“Good. And about the contract conditions.”

“…”

“8:2. I will accept Young Hero Jin’s proposal.”

In that moment.

“Gasp! Chairman Yi?!”

“They say that the lord, the master, and the father are one. I apologize for trying to weigh the contract as someone who has entrusted his lacking son. Also, even with an 8:2 ratio, I am confident that I can make a profit in my own way, so let’s conclude it like that.”

“Thank you! Thank you! Chairman Yi!”

So-ah was so happy that he could have jumped, and.

“Chairman Yi. Is it really alright to do so?”

Moyong Baek asked with an apologetic expression.

At that.

“Kehkehkeh! It’s alright. Please just take good care of our Baek-ie.”

Chairman Yi Kun-hee politely bowed his head to Moyong Baek and So-ah.

Furthermore.

“Also, business is business. This is a public matter, and sponsoring the Moyong family would be a private matter. As I said, I plan to invest in the Moyong family for the time being. Please organize all the expenses for Baek-ie’s studies and the necessary parts and send them to the Yi family. After a meeting with the chief steward of my family, I will invest as soon as possible.”

‘Did I hit the jackpot again?!’

So-ah was so dumbfounded by the unexpected windfall that he was at a loss for words.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep