Maeng Rae blinked, then laughed, covering his surprise. "Ah, Mr. Kim, so young and accomplished! Truly admirable."

Suho cut through the flattery like a knife. "No need for pleasantries. Let's talk acquisition."

Maeng Rae's smile faltered. So direct. No small talk, no opening dance. Was this young shark here to squeeze him dry? He steadied his tone. "Of course. Please, follow me."

A Tour of the Office

"This is our staff tea room," Maeng Rae explained, gesturing to a cramped corner with two glass tables and a kettle. "Employees take breaks here."

Suho's eyes gleamed. Perfect money sink. Replace everything with espresso machines, snack bars, and maybe even a soda fountain. He kept walking, already calculating how much he could pour into renovations.

Next came the main office: rows of aging computers, plastic chairs, and faded desks. Employees clacked away, faces tight with concentration.

Suho frowned for a heartbeat—then smiled inwardly. They work this hard, yet the company still loses money. Talents! Keep them all. And these antiques? Out. I'll buy new rigs at $43,000 apiece. Thirty machines—that's over 1.2 million. Add premium desks and chairs? That's the rest of my budget right there.

The system would have no complaints—every cent justified by "improving work conditions."

Negotiation

In the conference room, Maeng Rae poured tea with both hands, his nerves hidden behind forced smiles. "Mr. Kim, how do you intend to proceed with the acquisition of Horny Princess Interactives?"

Suho didn't even blink. "You listed it at 1.5 million. I'll buy it for 1.5 million."

The room went still. Jung Hongyoon nearly dropped his cup. Maeng Rae's jaw slackened. No counteroffer? No lowballing?

Relief flooded him, but suspicion quickly followed. If the buyer wasn't squeezing them on price, then… was he planning to cut costs elsewhere?

"Mr. Kim," Maeng Rae asked cautiously, "what about our employees? Will you be keeping them?" His voice tightened. "If you retain everyone, I could even lower the price."

Suho's brows furrowed. Of course he had planned to keep everyone. The current setup was perfect—hardworking staff, lots of salaries, and still a loss. Why risk fixing what was already broken in exactly the right way? The only snag? Maeng Rae wanted to lower the price for keeping them.

Lowering the price? That makes it harder to spend money!

Across the table, Maeng Rae watched every twitch of Suho's expression. When he saw the frown deepen, his stomach sank. So it's no good… he'll refuse…

"Mr. Meng," Suho said at last, his voice calm but heavy.

Maeng Rae forced a wry smile. He had heard that tone before—always the prelude to rejection.

But Suho continued, "A man's word is his credibility. I said I'd pay 1.5 million, and I'll pay exactly that. Not a cent less. As for the employees—why go through the trouble of firing and rehiring? Keep them all."

Maeng Rae blinked. "You… you'll keep everyone?"

"That's right."

The forty-something CEO froze for a heartbeat, then surged to his feet, bowing deeply. "Mr. Kim, thank you. On behalf of everyone at Horny Princess Interactives—thank you."

Suho startled, quickly helping him back up. Having a man old enough to be his uncle bowing that low felt… wrong.

Yeji cleared her throat and slid contracts across the table. "If the terms are acceptable, let's finalize."

Suho barely glanced before signing. Maeng Rae checked every clause twice, but in the end his pen scratched across the paper. The deal was sealed. Horny Princess Interactives now belonged to Steel Cup T-Shirt Factory.

The Handover

"Mr. Kim, let's introduce you to the staff," Maeng Rae said with visible relief. "It'll be a proper handover."

In the office floor, Maeng Rae clapped loudly. "Everyone, pause for a moment."

Heads turned. Typing slowed. The room quieted.

"You all know the struggles we've faced. I am grateful for your perseverance. But as of today, I step down. This company will now be led by Mr. Kim Suho."

Dozens of eyes swiveled to the young man at his side. Murmurs stirred.

Suho raised a hand lazily. "Hello. I'm Suho. Don't overthink it—just keep working the way you always have."

And that was it. No rousing speech, no corporate slogans. Just a shrug and a wave. Maeng Rae coughed into his fist. Unique style indeed.

"Let's welcome him properly," Maeng Rae urged. Applause rippled through the office.

Early Salaries

Back in the office, Maeng Rae handed over a thick binder. "Here's the employee registry—roles, salaries, histories."

Suho passed it straight to Cho Rin. "Sort this out."

Maeng Rae, still holding the transfer receipt of 1.5 million, hesitated. "Mr. Kim, I'll be distributing severance and this month's delayed wages shortly—"

"Oh, not this month's," Suho interrupted. "Next month's."

Maeng Rae's eyes bulged. "Next month hasn't even started."

"Pay first, work later," Suho said, sipping tea as if it were obvious.

The room fell quiet. Cho Rin only smiled faintly—she had seen this before. Yeji stared, déjà vu crashing over her. It was exactly like the garment factory acquisition.

Soon a long table was set up. Suho sat in the middle, legs crossed, nursing his tea. On one side, Cho Rin sorted through employee files; on the other, Yeji manned a calculator, shaking her head at the surreal déjà vu.

Fen Su

The door opened. A man in his thirties, white shirt crisp but eyes weary, stepped in. His gaze lingered briefly on Suho, then shifted to Maeng Rae.

"Mr. Meng," he said quietly.

Maeng Rae's face softened. "Fen Su. The new boss is a good man. Stay and work hard under him."

Fen Su—one of their best planners, the same man who had warned against the ruinous "noble system" updates. Advice ignored, with consequences paid. Maeng Rae sighed and handed him his compensation.

Fen Su accepted, thanked him, and turned to leave.

"Wait." A voice stopped him. Suho's.

Fen Su turned back, stiff, uncertain. The new owner's eyes were on him.

"Mr. Kim," he said nervously, "were you looking for me?"

Fen Su hesitated at the threshold of the office, clutching the folder in his hands as if it weighed more than iron. The new boss, Kim Suho, was sitting casually behind the desk, sipping tea with the posture of a man who owned the world. His sharp eyes lifted, landing squarely on Fen Su.

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