No deal
Shin was engrossed in his plans for the company, while Mira hadn't spoken to him in a while due to the awkwardness lingering in their relationship after the recent incident.
Feeling helpless about the situation, Shin let out a sigh. Just then, Lee Han suddenly entered his office in a hurry and exclaimed, "Mr. Suzuki, someone from Tora Corporation wants to purchase the rights to KiShin SKT FamiCom!"
Startled, Shin quickly stood up and inquired, "They want to buy the license for our KiShin SKT FamiCom?"
Lee Han approached Shin and clarified, "Yes, a secretary from the Chairman of Tora Corporation wishes to discuss the possibility of acquiring the license for KiShin SKT FamiCom."
Shin stroked his chin in intrigue, letting out a small chuckle. "Do they genuinely believe we'd sell our license? Absolutely not."
Lee Han had anticipated Shin's response and proceeded to convey the secretary's message from Tora Corp.
"She's interested in having a conversation with you. She understands that you're unlikely to agree outright, so she hopes to discuss terms that could benefit both parties," Lee Han explained.
Shin nodded, and Lee Han led him to a nearby cafe close to their rented building. As they headed there, Shin contemplated the inconvenience of having to go to a cafe outside the building for a quality coffee. He entertained the idea of purchasing a building and setting up a cafe for his employees. The unique aspect would be that the cafe would belong to him, and the profits from it, generated by his employees' patronage, would go straight into his pocket. Moreover, he planned to offer more affordable coffee at his cafe.
---
Ruka Ishida was seated in the cafe, peacefully sipping her latte. She then retrieved some papers – the terms and conditions set by Tora Corporation for acquiring the rights to KiShin's FamiCom or becoming a licensee.
The cafe's door made a sound as two men entered. Ruka quickly glanced at the entrance and recognized the middle-aged man she had contacted earlier. Following him was a younger man, even younger than her brother.
She promptly stood up, and after the two men formally bowed to her, she returned the gesture with even more respect. She extended her hand for a handshake, and the young man reciprocated.
She introduced herself, "Nice to meet you; I'm Ruka Ishida, the secretary of the Chairman of Tora Corporation. I'm the one responsible for this negotiation."
The young man nodded and introduced himself, "Nice to meet you; I'm Shinro Suzuki, the CEO of KiShin Electronics," as he took his seat.
Ruka couldn't help but be surprised by how young the KiShin CEO was.
Lee Han didn't join them at the table. Instead, he bowed and left the cafe.
A server approached Shin to take his order, and he requested a cortado. When he went to pay, Ruka stopped him and covered the bill.
Shin smiled in gratitude and settled into the soft seat. He looked directly into Ruka's eyes and said, "Thank you."
Ruka smiled back and met Shin's gaze. "No problem. I initiated this meeting, so I can only do so much," she replied, alluding to the inconvenience she had caused.
"I heard that Tora Corporation wants to buy the license for our FamiCom?" Shin inquired with a smile.
"Yes, and we expected your rejection. But we're open to becoming a licensee to produce similar game console machines," Ruka explained as she handed over the papers.
Shin read the document and frowned. He responded seriously, "Do you think I'd agree to these terms? Only a 2 percent royalty for using our technology and including our games?"
Ruka hurriedly explained, "Please, Mr. Suzuki, let's stay calm. We're offering 50 billion yen upfront as an incentive—"
Shin slammed the paper onto the table, exclaiming, "There's no need to consider that. Don't underestimate me!" He stood up, facing Ruka. "Tell your boss I'd never agree to these terms in a million years!"
Ruka looked helpless, and as she saw Shin about to leave, she retorted, "Don't be so arrogant! You should be grateful for the opportunity to negotiate with Tora Corporation!"
Her outburst drew the attention of the cafe's other customers.
Shin stopped in his tracks, glanced back at her, and retorted, "You're the one making the request; why should I be grateful?" He snorted and headed for the exit.
Gritting her teeth, Ruka shouted, "Tora Corporation can easily create similar products to what you're selling!"
Shin continued walking and waved dismissively. He turned his head and mocked, "Should I get a bonus for pretending to care?" before exiting the cafe.
Once Shin had left, Ruka's annoyed expression transformed into a satisfied smile. She grabbed her phone and dialed a number. "It's done," she reported.
A middle-aged man's voice on the other end responded, "Good work. I'll give you a raise."
Ruka smiled and said, "Thank you, Vice Chairman."
---
Vice Chairman Jin grinned. Ruka was a spy he had placed within Chairman Tanaka's circle.
He had intentionally allowed Ruka to present the terms paper in an absurd manner, knowing it would enrage the CEO of KiShin Electronics.
His objective was to push Chairman Tanaka into a corner, forcing him to create similar products to those of KiShin. In doing so, he hoped to ensnare Chairman Tanaka and lead him into a trap set by the Suzuki Group behind KiShin.
However, unbeknownst to him, his efforts were in vain. He, along with the board of directors, including Chairman Tanaka, were overthinking matters related to KiShin.