Chapter 277

“The initial investment during the startup phase may seem good at first glance, but behind it lies the risk of losing management rights.”

“So the measure to stabilize the founder’s management rights while finding a way for growth is the redeemable convertible preferred stock (RCPS)? Indeed, that can help avoid hostile takeovers, and from the investor’s perspective, high dividend returns can be expected.”

Njangsterol took a bite of whipped cream on a waffle and nodded his empty spoon.

“Our Two World will take the lead investor role in the Bioakasic Series A funding. So we’re aiming to raise $20 million for starters.”

$20 million, equivalent to about 37 billion won at the current exchange rate.

Executive Lee Hyun-seo set his glasses down on the table and leisurely lowered his head to match Naje’s eye level.

The bright cafe lighting further illuminated Naje’s baby-like skin.

“Isn’t $20 million too much for a Series A?”

However, Naje responded bluntly.

“I knew that initial Series A investments were typically around 5 billion won, so it was a reasonable question.”

In fact, considering that Katsuhuta School was an angel investor, the amount was quite substantial.

“That’s nonsense, Room Leader. These days, successful startups raise 20 billion to 30 billion won right from the start. And haven’t you heard that investments should always be made in areas you know best?”

“Is that so?”

Njangsterol was a fan who had been watching Naje closely more than anyone else.

“Even if Bioakasic flops completely, I’m sure the skills our Room Leader has shown are genuinely at another level.”

No matter how hard the media tried to elevate Naje, her abilities were always underestimated.

“I still can’t forget the moment you saved Adella. Thanks to it, how should I put it… it was a kind of enlightenment, I suppose. Missing the last scene live was a lifelong regret.”

“I see you enjoy games.”

“Yes, I do very much. But I’ve been too busy lately to play.”

“Then may I ask you just one more question, Njangsterol?”

“Of course.”

“Is the Lee Hyun-seo you, not Njangsterol, on my side?”

Naje leaned forward and asked in a serious tone.

“It’s nothing special, but the interest rate and maturity period that you mentioned, those details are overly favorable for our company. I’d like to know the reason why you decided to take on the lead investor role, aside from our connection on broadcast.”

“Ah…”

Hyun-seo was internally startled.

He had forgotten that the child sitting before him had a heartbreaking story at the tender age of eight.

“Did I bring up something traumatic unnecessarily?”

As regret washed over him, Naje reached out her small hand and held onto his scarred one.

“Is there anything else I can help with, Executive? Raising $20 million is not an easy task.”

Hearing Naje’s positive response brought a smile to Hyun-seo’s face.

“Is it really okay… Room Leader?”

“It’s not like I’ve done anything substantial. I don’t think I deserve to be treated as a benefactor. So let’s forget about owing debts and start redefining our relationship from here on. As a businessman, I said money speaks, so I hope to expect ample trust going forward. I’ve never been one to trust people easily.”

Her smiling face held an innocence reminiscent of a child.

However, Njangsterol thought that such qualities made her appear monstrous.

She displayed a bold decision to exclude the common ground for constructive corporate growth.

It was an added bonus that she showed she wouldn’t be swayed by personal emotions.

“Trust indicates money… It’s as if I’m looking at our company executives, who are more like crafty snakes than an eight-year-old.”

Hyun-seo gazed quietly at Naje’s outstretched hand for a handshake.

He couldn’t imagine how large the company would grow when that small hand finally grew up.

“It’s not just the company; the world will surely change.”

*Njangsterol’s goodwill towards me was unexpectedly overwhelming.

Throughout our conversation, nothing felt fake, so perhaps I could trust him for now.

No matter how many legal safeguards there were, I shouldn’t foolishly let my guard down.

As I am young, more people will come rushing in with predatory eyes.

[So, are we really going to take on the lead investor role for Two World? Why would we go that far…? Are you not going to leave for another company, Naje?]

“Stop talking nonsense and start working on securing the Demon Lord’s horns.”

The unique magic of a company being launched as a ‘product’ should not be made fully open source like Adella’s.

To briefly explain the principle of security: certain circuit rituals that do not require variable entries should be made invisible, and all rune words used are encrypted.

Then, the user would receive a decryption key from the company to cast the unique magic.

The security is so thorough that even the company’s employees cannot know the structure of the unique magic.

The only downside of this system is that if I suddenly declare that I’ll abandon the registration of the unique magic, the entire company could collapse.

That’s why I understood why Baek Ho-chan was anxious to match my mood recently.

[Your role is more important than anything else right now, Naje. The lives of our 30 employees depend on you alone.]

“Don’t worry. If you’re really uneasy, shall I install RGB lights on the horns and compete?”

[Hey, that sounds perfect! It would resonate well with today’s generation!]

“I was just joking. I couldn’t possibly do that out of embarrassment. I have to go now, so I’ll hang up.”

[Why be embarrassed? Naje, everyone in this field has a thick skin-]

Click-

The selection announcement for the competition will be revealed at 6 PM tonight in the lobby on the first floor of Aquila Hotel, so I need to hurry and check.

The revolving door seemed to take forever to pass through.

The lobby was already crowded with students.

It was clear that trying to squeeze through would result in quite the disaster.

“Do you want me to give you a piggyback ride?”

A nonchalant voice came from the side, and I turned my head to see Sin Jin-ho, the student council president.

“No, let’s just wait here for a bit.”

We decided to sit on a sofa in a corner of the lobby until the kids dispersed.

“Did you have a good outing? Nothing happened?”

“Yeah, not much… just went to a cafe for a bit up front.”

“I heard your rehearsal interview went well the other day. The Altear Academy student council members praised you unanimously.”

“Really? What did they say?”

“They said you were brilliant and cute.”

“I didn’t say that to appear cute…”

“Well, what can you do? You were just born cute. Just accept it.”

I got chills from the emotionless, machine-like tone the student council president maintained throughout the conversation.

It wasn’t even a sarcastic remark. What could it possibly mean?

I blinked, staring closely at his face.

“Oh, it was a compliment.”

“Please don’t say that to my friends. They’ll cry.”

“Really? Our vice president says the same thing.”

“Anyway, it’s true that the student council president has a bit of a scary look, isn’t it?”

“I do?”

“Didn’t you know?”

“No.”

Sin Jin-ho might be popular among his classmates, but someone like Ji Hye, who was more sensitive, might find his eyes a little intimidating.

Another silence fell.

Being surrounded by people who lacked conversational skills made me painfully aware of my own social ineptitude.

Maybe in this life, I was simply fortunate to have kind people supporting me.

Thinking that I hadn’t progressed at all compared to my past life made me feel rather melancholic.

“Wanting to confirm the path one has walked, such a beautiful sentiment.”

“Huh?”

“Naje, the words you said during the interview. Do you carry such thoughts in your day-to-day life?”

“Ah, it wasn’t anything profound. Just thoughts that came to me at the moment.”

“The longer you attend the academy, the more you see children wandering around. Everyone enrolls with the dream of becoming a great magician, but not everyone can achieve that.”

“That’s just an inevitable phenomenon in a competitive system. But just because they wander doesn’t mean they’re on the wrong path.”

“You’re right. But our society doesn’t tolerate deviations at all, do they? The competition that was initially organized for the purpose of harmony has somehow turned into an event for just a few students. In every Academy competition, students frequently get hurt.”

“That’s a bit sad.”

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say the competition should disappear altogether. Sigh, now I’m at a loss for what I truly want…”

Sin Jin-ho let out a deep sigh.

“I think it’s better to think about those things after we win.”

The cluster of students gathered began to head up to their respective dorms.

I moved towards the large notice board.

“Oh right. Naje, you’re in the selection. A middle school student got food poisoning and was taken home by his parents yesterday.”

“Huh? Why are you telling me this now? Did you know from the start? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You didn’t ask.”

“Sigh…”

Thinking back, I seemed to possess more social skills than this person.

I strode up to the notice board to check the list.

First-year middle school… not listed.

Second-year middle school… also not listed.

“Third-year middle school?”

“When it comes to substituting for a third-year student, we really have no say in it, but I’ll at least tell the responsible teacher to place you as a backup if possible—”

“No, thank you so much, student council president. It’s a sincere competition, so naturally, injuries can happen.”

How old is a third-year middle school student? I think they were around 15?

It felt like it was just about the time when Klaus betrayed me.

And it was the best time for pain.

“The reason the student council president has such concerns is probably because we haven’t won lately. If we win just this once, I bet you’ll want to keep holding Academy competitions.”