Chapter 223: Ganesha 2
Sungtae looked at Junhyuk and said, âBut we have a problem.â
âA problem?â
He smiled and continued, âI was able to install the Ganesha, the artificial intelligence program, but we will need a team to operate it in order to maximize its use.â
âYou mean your college buddies?â
âYes. Iâll bring them over, but their salaries canât be lower than mine.â
âMaybe they arenât that capable?â
Sungtaeâs annual salary wasnât low, but his salary couldnât be compared to those of capable workforce in the States.
âThey hate going outside more than me, so they sell their programs or fix computers whenever they needed money and live like that. I want to bring them over.â
âCan you trust them?â
Sungtae took a moment to think.
âConsidering the work we will be doing, we might want to write contracts that enforce confidentiality agreements?â
âYou think so?â
âWhat do you want to do?â
Junhyuk pondered everything and said, âWeâll need our own team of lawyers, but weâll do that later. Instead, weâll have the contracts written by a law firm first.â
Sungtae touched his chin and said, âThis and that, we have a lot to do.â
âThatâs right. We have to find a security team as well.â
âIâll do that by tomorrow.â
He thought Sungtae was working harder than he had expected, which was a good thing.
âOK. Call your friends and let them know.â
âWill do.â
âApproximately, how much money do you need?â
âNot counting me, there are ten people. How about $10 million total for their annual salaries.â
âThey canât be paid same as you. No way.â
He wanted to treat the administrator and the others differently.
âThe salaries are a matter of negotiation. lâll be able to lower their salaries, but one floor of the building has to be their room and board.â
Junhyuk took a moment to think and said, âI gave you the authority to oversee the building. Do as you please.â
âCan I?â
âI donât care if you use the entire building.â
Sungtae laughed gleefully, and Junhyuk continued, âIâll find a law firm and have the contracts written.â
âThe salary is settled then, but the research costs and equipment will cost $50 million more.â
Junhyuk stared at him without speaking. Sungtae might think Junhyuk was a bank and stupid.
âIâll wire $100 million to the company account, but be mindful of it.â
âItâll last at least five more years in operation costs.â
Junhyuk shook his head and said, âIâll come back tomorrow. Prepare the things you need.â
âDonât worry about it.â
Junhyuk took out $1,000 in cash and handed it to him.
âYouâve installed Ganesha, so treat yourself to something delicious.â
âI canât leave this place yet. I must order food.â
Junhyuk was about to leave when he thought of something else.
âTell Brian to make another ID.â
âWhose is it?â
âA twenty-four year old woman named Catherine. Iâll send you her picture later.â
âSure.â
His purpose was to make an ID for Sarang. After, he waved goodbye.
âThen, see you tomorrow.â
Junhyuk called Sarang and changed their meeting place. They would be meeting at Seocho Station, and when Junhyuk arrived, he saw Sarang was already there. She was wearing her mask, and when he walked to her, she ran to him and hugged him.
At that, Junhyuk touched her forehead with his fingers and pushed her away. She stuck her tongue out at him, but he remained adamant.
âWeâll eat first, then go somewhere.â
âWhere?â
âA law firm. I need some help with writing contracts.â
Sarang stared at her calmly. She was doing it with such unspoken intensity that it seemed she could see through his mask, and he felt that her soul had grown since her death.
He caressed her head and said, âLetâs go. What do you want to eat?â
âSashimi!â
âSure.â
They find a sashimi place near Seocho Station, and once they ordered, he looked at her. She seemed to be expecting something, and he said, âIâm expecting more from Eunseo Kim.â
âGuardiansâ CEO?â
âYes. Like Jeffrey said, I must collect people with powers.â
Sarang shrugged.
âWill she be on our side?â
âI donât know, but if she were, she would help us.â
âShe must have a lot of money and friendsâ¦â
âShe does.â
Sarang puffed her cheeks with air.
âHmph!â
He laughed at her.
âAre you jealous?â
âJealous? Why?â
He shrugged, and her eyes widened ever so slightly. She was wearing a mask, but he could guess at her expression under that mask and laughed.
He felt himself recovering from his fatigue. Sarang was about to say something when the sashimi came out to the table. She still wanted to say something, but Junhyuk picked up a piece of sashimi and raised it toward her.
Her face reddened, and she opened her mouth and ate it.
He didnât speak further, eating his sashimi in silence. The sashimi was very soft, and it melted in his mouth. When he put down his chopsticks for a moment, Sarang asked, âWhatâs the matter?â
He answered calmly, âNothing. I earned a lot of money, but I havenât gotten anything for my parents.â
âYouâve earned hundreds of millions of dollars, you didnât get anything for your parents?â
Junhyuk looked embarrassed.
âTonight, Iâll visit them.â
âDo it. Can I go with you?â
He laughed.
âDonât make me laugh.â
âHmph!â
She continued to eat the sashimi, and he picked up his chopsticks again. That night, he would visit his parents, but for now, he was hungry.
Once they were finally full, they started looking for the biggest law firm around Seocho Station. They entered the building without hesitation, and the people inside greeted them respectfully.
âHow may I help you?â
âI need a contract written.â
âHow much money will it involve?â
âIâm making contracts for my employees. Their annual salaries will be $1 million.â
âPlease come in.â
Junhyuk and Sarang entered and waited. A few minutes later, a middle-aged person entered the room. Junhyuk got up, and the middle-aged man handed him a business card.
âIâm the CEO of the General Law Firm, General Choi.â
Junhyuk looked him over.
âNice to meet you. Iâm Max.â
âPlease, have a seat.â
Choi offered them seats, and everyone sat down. Junhyuk learned that he was General Law Firmâs CEO and explained what he needed from him.
âThe contract concern confidentiality agreements and salaries, and I need them written. Most of our employees are foreigners, and I donât want any mistakes made.â
âYou need the contract in English.â
âYes.â
Choi looked at him with eyes that seemed to smile.
âWe have a form for contracts like that, and Iâll touch up on it.â
âPlease do.â
âWhen do you need it by?â
âAs soon as possible.â
Choi answered him nonchalantly, âCan I send it to you by tomorrow?â
âIf you get it ready tomorrow, Iâll come pick it up.â
Thinking about it, Junhyuk didnât even have a fax machine, and he thought he would need more things in his building.
âHow much will it cost?â
Choi knew it from his extensive experience that Junhyuk could choke someone just by looking at him. It had been a long time since Choi met someone like Junhyuk. He had asked for a $1 million contract, but Choi thought that could be a test.
âItâll be my gift to you.â Junhyukâs eyebrow twitched, and Choi quickly continued, âYou could become our client.â
Junhyuk stared at him without speaking, and Choi smiled.
âOur law firm is one of the top five law firms in the country.â
He hadnât known that. Junhyuk had entered the law firmâs building because the building was big.
âYou wonât be disappointed,â Choi said confidently.
Junhyuk thought about it. He wanted his own legal team, but he might need to use a law firm before he could put one together.
âFine. If I like this contract, Iâll hire your firm.â
âPlease, trust us.â
While getting up, Junhyuk said, âI value action more than words.â
Choi was a lawyer, and he had to be articulate, but Junhyuk needed results.
âIâll see you tomorrow.â
Junhyuk walked outside with Sarang, and Choi escorted them to the exit, waving goodbye. Junhyuk chuckled and walked with Sarang.
âIâll use my new ID to purchase a new house and a new car.â
âGood thinking,â
âThe next time Iâm shopping for a house and a car, come with me.â
âWill it be OK?â
âSure. Iâm getting your ID made as well.â
âID?â
JUnhyuk nodded.
âYour name will be Catherine.â
âCool!â Sarang expressed herself, and Junhyuk laughed at her.
âWhen the ID is finished, Iâll let you know.â
âSure!â
He took her home and took a picture of her before saying goodbye. Sarang insisted that he take a picture of her real face, but he ignored her and walked her home.
Afterward, he called Elise. She seemed very glad to hear from him.
âYou mustâve been to the Dimensional Battlefield. Did you bring back anything new?â
âLetâs meet and talk.â
âIâm at the company. Come over.â
âIâll see you soon.â
He went home first and took off his mask. Then, he drove to Ilsan. The company was still under construction from the monster attacks.
When Junhyuk walked in, he heard Zairaâs voice.
[Come downstair.]
He went to the basement, and saw Elise eating black bean paste noodles and waving at him.
âYou came!â
Her lips were covered in black bean paste, and he shook his head. She offered him a seat, and he took it.
âDo you want some noodles?â
Elise showed him her bowl of noodles, but he shook his head.
âI already ate lunch. Are you eating yours now?â
âIâve been busy.â
She was always busy working, but he did not ask her about it at that time. He placed his hand inside the Spatial Bag and asked, âToday, I have a $100 million bloodstone and thirty smaller bloodstones, and you wanted seeds and fruit. Are you going to buy everything?â
âPuff!â Without realizing, she spat out her noodles, and he blocked them with his hand.
âHow about it?â
âLetâs appraise the bloodstone first.â
Junhyuk nodded and took out all of the bloodstones. She examined them carefully and placed them in a measuring instrument. Then, she went back to her seat and started eating her noodles again.
âItâll take five minutes to come up with prices. May I see the seeds and fruit?â
He held them out in his hand and asked, âHow are you going to come up with prices for these?â
She put down her chopsticks with sparkling eyes.
âIf these are as I expect, theyâll be worth more than $100 million. For all of the seeds and fruit, Iâll give you $300 million.â
Junhyuk shook his head.
âI was talking about the bloodstones. Just give me a hundred for these.â
Elise stared at him.
âWhat else do you want?â
âI want to know the results of your research.â
âMy research results?â
He nodded, and she added calmly, âYou canât buy research results with money. I thought you knew that.â
âI know, but without my help, that research canât continue.â
Elise smiled mysteriously, and he laughed and asked, âDeal?â
She shrugged and replied, âNothing I can do. Deal.â