Chapter 85
Not a Bad Offer
【Accentia investment contract lawsuit, ultimately shifted to Redboar Technology with a settlement proposal from AMK Partners... AMK Partners secured a 14 billion won penalty through the settlement, and simultaneously announced the acquisition of IT company Velion as well as the development of a low-power, high-efficiency power device...】
【America, contract signed between AMK Velion & Greenbyte Labs! Announcing joint development plans for next-generation low-power, high-spec batteries! What will become of displaced Accentia? Having looked forward to a collaboration with Greenbyte Labs, Accentia terminated their investment contract with AMK Partners and joined hands with Redboar Technology, but...】
...
As time passed, the world just kept growing noisier, giving people no time to catch their breath.
The biggest topic was how AMK Partners had truly stabbed Redboar Technology in the back.
On top of that, they had received a 100 million dollar–14 billion won–penalty, and acquired an IT company called Velion.
AMK Partners had managed to gain that much funding just through contract termination. Naturally, public interest skyrocketed.
During all this, In-hyuk spent about 18 hours traveling and arrived in Austin, Texas, America.
His destination was a company that had just changed its name by adding AMK before Velion.
"Division director!"
As soon as he entered the arrivals hall, a man shouted and came running. It was Mark Campbell, the founder and CEO of Greenbyte Labs.
"It's been a while. When did you get here?"
At In-hyuk's greeting, Mark Campbell burst into a big smile.
"I arrived yesterday. It must have been exhausting to get out here, right?"
"It wasn't too bad."
Following behind were Baek Si-hwan, Hong Yu-geon, and Van Hester.
As they moved on together, Mark Campbell talked without stopping.
"I can't tell you how anxious I felt when Redboar looked set to take Accentia off the table. But who could have guessed? That AMK Partners would go for a second option—no, even acquire a company better than Accentia!"
To Greenbyte Labs' standpoint, they had already secured a 100 million dollar investment from Taeshin Asset Management.
Meanwhile, development of their product continued to face difficulties, only adding to Mark Campbell's daily anxiety.
"Well, I'm glad things turned out well. Of course, the CEO still needs to make his final cut and decide today."
"I think we're okay for now. The Velion software I checked recently was very compatible."
The joint battery development between Velion and Greenbyte Labs progressed during Accentia's contract termination lawsuit.
Since then, Mark Campbell formed a special development team and began visiting Velion discreetly.
Chatting together, they got in the pre-arranged car.
Baek Si-hwan, who had remained silent until he sat down next to In-hyuk, cautiously asked,
"When did you know that AMK would give up on Accentia, division director?"
"The lawsuit was ongoing."
"Ah... I see."
Once the car left the airport, a landscape as open as a rural village spread outside.
Baek Si-hwan sighed and muttered quietly,
"AMK Partners must have prepared very meticulously."
"Probably so."
"Have you ever met AMK's CEO, division director?"
He seemed hesitant to ask.
Of course, In-hyuk understood the real intent: to check how much he knew about AMK Partners.
"No, I've never met the person. Why do you ask all of sudden?"
"AMK Partners is so famous, they're called the legend of the investment world. When I got curious and looked it up, nothing at all was known about the so-called CEO."
"True. I tried to find out, too, but it was the same for me. I figured if I pressed further, it might be rude to them, so I left it at that."
His answer made clear how important relations with AMK Partners were.
Baek Si-hwan seemed to understand and didn't ask further.
Soon, the car turned off the main road and arrived in front of a two-story building on a 450㎡ site.
At the top of the building, the newly changed name "AMK Velion" was posted.
Soon, a familiar man came out with other employees from inside, greeting them in English.
"It's been a while, division director Kang In-hyuk."
"Indeed. First time since San Jose, right?"
The man was Norman McGrath, AMK Partners Korea branch manager. Next to him was Rachel Baker, now CEO of AMK Velion.
"I'm Rachel Baker. It's a first meeting in person when we've only spoken by email and phone."
"Nice to meet you, too."
After the greetings, attention shifted back to Norman McGrath.
"I didn't expect you'd come in person, branch manager McGrath. Did you come to check since you were concerned?"
Norman McGrath hadn't participated in the Velion acquisition or Accentia investment contract cases.
He had directed subordinates and now showed up here without notice.
"I wanted to see firsthand the technology at Greenbyte Labs funded by Taeshin Asset Management. I was also curious how you've been doing, division director."
"Thank you for showing interest."
As they conversed and entered, employees in offices on both sides of the corridor worked busily in front of their computers.
They reached the reception desk, guarded by security.
Rachel Baker showed the badge hanging from her neck.
"Hand over your passports, and we'll issue you access badges. Of course, it'll only give you entry for a limited time."
"Your security system is well established."
"We followed the requirements from Greenbyte Labs."
In-hyuk nodded, then addressed the three following behind.
"Security is crucial here, so I'll go in alone on our side. The rest, please wait in the lounge or conference room."
"... Understood."
At Baek Si-hwan's answer, Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester also nodded and stepped back.
Only after he received a temporary pass could In-hyuk enter inside.
Only the three and general employees remained in the corridor.
"Let's head to the conference room."
Staff led the way.
Baek Si-hwan glanced at the phone in his hand, but put it down. It would have stood out too much to contact anyone now.
...
...
...
The lab required badge, code, and fingerprint recognition at the entrance.
Inside, the room was enclosed by thick walls, and was subdivided into small rooms where employees huddled and ran experiments.
"That's the high-output power device test, right?"
"That's right. We're running equipment usually requiring more than 100kW of limiting power in a low-power, high-efficiency state. The current value is 72.45kW. Normally, you'd expect overheating and power control errors from overload, but with Greenbyte Labs' special-alloy wires and parts and our transistor control program, we're handling it."
In-hyuk checked the monitor outside the experiment space.
"You've reduced output by about 40%."
"That's right. The main question is whether the equipment remains stable under that condition. Of course, the power device must also avoid overload."
"And it should be usable just by adding the installation to existing products."
Rachel Baker and Mark Campbell looked surprised at his muttering.
"You know even that, division director."
"That's right. You make a good point."
There was a sense of admiration, too.
In-hyuk nodded and continued.
"Since it's a product under development at a company I'm investing in, I've thought about various aspects. If we can reduce power consumption, it'll be a real breakthrough."
"That's our goal as well. Plus, the current numbers aren't bad."
The technology already originated from Greenbyte Labs and Velion.
With In-hyuk providing capital, he enabled maximum utilization.
"So what's your target?"
"We're aiming for a maximum of 60% reduction."
"Sixty percent."
Both answered together in confident voices.
"Good."
He also checked other product tests.
Norman McGrath, apparently satisfied, nodded and commented.
"A bit of a shame, honestly."
At that odd tone, In-hyuk tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
"If only Taeshin Asset Management hadn't taken Greenbyte Labs first, we might've gotten all this to ourselves."
He meant the synergy between the two companies would bring great profit.
"Isn't that a bit greedy?"
"Well, you can't help feeling regret. And I've heard about your skills, division director Kang, but I didn't expect you'd recognize Greenbyte Labs' value faster than our brain did. It was close, but still."
In-hyuk smiled.
"By 'brain,' are you referring to the CEO of AMK Partners, who's never made an official appearance? I've heard rumors that person's insight is remarkable."
"An amazing person indeed. It's as if they can see the future. Now that you mention it, I never got to ask—how did you end up working with us at AMK Partners?"
That question had long puzzled Norman McGrath.
For a simple reason: he handled most of AMK Partners' business.
Yet only Kang In-hyuk from Taeshin Asset Management was directly approached by headquarters for collaboration.
"I don't know the exact reason. I just received the proposal and, since the conditions weren't bad, started working together."
"I see."
Once the conversation wrapped up, In-hyuk got back to the main point.
"If everything's been checked, let's wrap up the contract."
"It's ready in the conference room. Please come up."
They left together and headed to the second-floor conference room.
There, Baek Si-hwan, Hong Yu-geon, and Van Hester approached In-hyuk.
"Did everything check out?"
"It looked good."
Once seated, rachel Baker, CEO of Velion, handed out the prepared contract papers.
The joint development contract was structured for four parties—two manufacturers, two investors. Each reviewed the documents.
"If there are no issues, let's all sign."
Finishing his review first, In-hyuk wrote his name.
The others followed. Of course, it didn't end there.
All four needed to sign every document, so the contracts were passed around.
"It's finally over."
Rachel Baker looked around with satisfaction.
The others nodded and stood, moving closer to each other.
"Let's work well together from now on!"
Mark Campbell called out loudly, and Norman McGrath followed.
"If things go as smoothly as now, getting to production shouldn't be a problem. But so much has been complicated along the way—meaning we've made more enemies, so please be careful."
In-hyuk agreed and added,
"At this rate, we should hit production before long. If possible, it'd be good to speed up preparations for the related process as well."
At the mention of production, Norman McGrath responded.
"As already discussed, we've acquired the factory on our side. Joint investment means there shouldn't be any issues."
"AMK Partners is always quick to act. We'll also get the funds and procedures ready on our end."
In the end, AMK Partners was within In-hyuk's grasp, and everything unfolded as he had planned.
Everyone savored the smoothly proceeding situation, unaware of the truth beneath it all.