Chapter 60: A Way to Capture the Goliath Osung
In my hand was a tattered, lime-green scrap of paper that had nearly disintegrated into a rag.
“What was this again?”
The printed text had faded so much that it was barely legible.
It seemed I had forgotten about the paper in my pocket and ran it through the washing machine countless times.
From its rectangular shape and papery texture, I could guess that it used to be a business card.
“Norooq Partners, huh…”
I tilted my head, holding the presumed business card.
I had no memory of where or when I’d received it.
Then, a fragment of a memory flitted through my mind.
“Oh! This is the card I got at the hackathon.”
It was the business card of an Arab man who had participated as a special judge at the final presentation of the hackathon.
That day, by pure coincidence, I had ended up showcasing my Arabic skills.
“Wasn’t his name Sulayman?”
Of course, I couldn’t forget.
We had been casually communicating on Stargram, exchanging messages now and then.
Sulayman often sent me detailed updates about what I was doing and what he was up to, as if he were intensely curious about my life.
There were times when it felt a little overwhelming, but with such earnest and almost blind affection coming from him, how could I ignore it?
That wasn’t the only reason I kept up our connection, though.
Frankly, scrolling through Sulayman’s social media made me think it wouldn’t hurt to stay friendly with him.
“How many supercars does he even have…?”
Each photo he posted was nothing short of extraordinary.
It seemed Sulayman lived in Dubai, or at least that was my best guess.
His house looked like a literal palace—not figuratively, but truly a grand and magnificent architectural masterpiece that resembled a royal residence.
And then there was his garage.
It wasn’t just a place to park cars; it was a showroom where every kind of supercar was lined up like action figures on display.
“The most shocking thing had to be the cheetah…”
I vividly remembered a video Sulayman had posted, showing him playing with a cheetah in a yard that was as vast as a sports field.
I had nearly fallen out of my chair when I saw it.
The cheetah’s behavior wasn’t too different from that of a house cat, but still—predators were predators.
Of course, I wasn’t a stranger to living with predators myself.
After all, my house was home to no fewer than four of them.
– Meowrr!
– Nyang!
Watching my trio of mini black jaguars tumble around, clawing and swatting at one another, often made me laugh.
They’d growl and fix what they thought were fierce glares on me, but there wasn’t an ounce of menace in them.
They were just adorable.
But what I envied most wasn’t Sulayman’s exotic pets or luxury cars.
“How many wives does he even have?”
The Middle Eastern women who frequently appeared on Sulayman’s social media were breathtaking.
Their eyes shimmered as though they held stars within them, and their features seemed sculpted by divine hands.
They were, without exaggeration, stunningly beautiful.
“I should probably start putting more effort into my replies…”
Scrolling further through his posts, I came across another woman—a strikingly curvaceous beauty in a bikini, nestled in Sulayman’s arms.
“And who is this now?”
Scrolling down again revealed yet another woman, this time someone entirely different.
“Sulayman, you rascal!”
I envied him.
Not just the beautiful women, but the family life he had built around them.
From the pictures he posted, it seemed his wives got along well.
There were countless photos of them enjoying leisure activities together, and his children—sturdy and healthy—looked happy and close-knit.
“He did invite me to visit his house once… Guess I’ll have to go someday.”
Not that I had any ulterior motives.
When a friend earnestly invites you, how could you just brush it off?
I carefully placed the worn business card into my wallet.
“Ah… But what about Hunting Pig? Golden light, give me the answer!”
– Meowww!
In a moment of frustration, I let out a sound that could rival a rapper’s shout, but all I got in return was a piercing glare from Yeon-tan, as if asking what nonsense I was up to.
A few days later.
An emergency meeting was convened under CEO Lee Jong-hoon’s directive.
It wasn’t just limited to the core teams like Investment Teams 1, 2, and 3—Corporate Planning was there too.
In essence, nearly the entire company was in attendance.
Of course, we interns were relegated to the farthest corner of the room, sitting like nervous school kids.
The tension in the air made it clear something significant had happened.
Rose, unable to contain her curiosity, leaned over and poked Alfredo in the ribs.
“What’s going on? Did you hear anything?”
“I don’t know much either.”
Both of them turned to me, their eyes full of questions.
I simply shrugged.
I didn’t know any more than they did.
When CEO Lee Jong-hoon finally entered, the atmosphere grew even heavier.
In stark contrast to the atmosphere, CEO Lee Jong-hoon flashed a smile and spoke first.
“It seems I unintentionally created an overly serious mood here. Let me assure you, this isn’t one of those dramatic announcements about restructuring or anything like that. So, please, don’t be too nervous.”
“Hah… Ha… Haha…”
At his joking remark, the employees exchanged awkward glances and chuckled nervously.
Did they really think restructuring was on the table?
There was no reason for it—our performance had been solid, and it wasn’t Lee Jong-hoon’s style to make such drastic moves without cause.
“I understand how busy everyone is, and I sincerely apologize for calling this sudden meeting. However, the issue at hand is crucial for BukSan Ventures’ future, and I ask for your understanding as we address it today. Team Leader Rianna will explain the details.”
A middle-aged woman stepped up to the table microphone and gave a brief introduction.
“I’m Rianna, the team leader of the Corporate Planning Team.”
Her neatly waved bob haircut and sharp business attire painted her as the quintessential career woman, the kind you’d often see portrayed in dramas.
“A few weeks ago, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the UAE Ministry of Economy to collaborate in the fields of small businesses and innovation. Out of that came the Entrepreneurial Nation 2.0 Project, part of the UAE’s initiative for post-oil diversification. I’ll refer to it as the EN Project for simplicity. Please refer to the summary documents in front of you for more details.”
In her words, everyone’s attention shifted to the documents placed on the table.
“The EN Project aims to nurture startups and produce at least 20 unicorn companies. The critical point is that once selected for this project, startups are guaranteed market access and marketing support, at least within the Middle East. If we seize this opportunity, it could establish a foothold for global growth in the resource-rich, future-oriented Middle Eastern market.”
“The EN Project…”
Its scale already seemed extraordinary.
“The problem is that there are rumors Osung Ventures will accompany the UAE state visit as part of the economic delegation.”
Murmurs filled the room.
“As expected, it’s Osung…”
“Well, it makes sense. With how well their recent investment in ‘LeftUp’ turned out.”
‘LeftUp’ was a major game company backed by Osung Ventures.
It had taken the mobile gaming market by storm with its hit game ‘Goddess of War: Arena’, topping revenue charts.
Recently selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ special unicorn enterprise guarantee program, it was, in simple terms, a massively successful startup.
As the murmurs subsided, CEO Lee Jong-hoon reclaimed the floor.
“While it’s just a rumor, it’s almost certain. The EN Project isn’t just about opening doors to the Middle East market. It’s an opportunity to solidify ourselves as Korea’s leading venture capital firm. Team 3, Robin-ssi?”
“Yes, sir.”
A sharply dressed man in his mid-30s raised his hand confidently.
“Robin-ssi, I understand you were in the Middle East before joining our company. Could you provide a brief overview of the market there?”
“Of course.”
As expected of an elite professional, Robin took the microphone without hesitation despite the sudden request.
“I’m Robin from Investment Team 3. Drawing on my experience working at a local Middle Eastern VC firm five years ago, I’ll outline the characteristics of the Middle Eastern market. First, for Korean startups, the Middle East presents an incredible opportunity. The interest in innovative technology and ideas from Korean startups is far greater than you might expect.”
Recognizing the unfamiliarity of the Middle Eastern market, even seasoned VCs began pulling out their notebooks, their eagerness to learn evident.
“As many of you know, when it comes to sheer market size, the U.S. is the undisputed leader. But that also means the competition there is fierce. In this sense, the Middle East can be seen as a new niche market. The power of oil money is far beyond what most people imagine.”
I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
Robin’s words brought to mind the lavish lifestyle I’d glimpsed on Sulayman’s Stargram—his sprawling, palace-like mansion, his supercars, and his pet cheetah.
And, of course, his many wives… but that was another story.
“Unlike the United States, the Middle East doesn’t have a long-established startup history. This makes them highly inclined toward collaboration. Most importantly, the Middle East has virtually no startup regulations. In fact, they offer far more support than restrictions.”
One of the VCs raised a hand to ask a question.
“What kinds of startups are Middle Eastern countries most interested in?”
“There are differences depending on the country, but recently, they’ve shown significant interest in tourism-related startups, smart symposium technologies, and, among younger demographics, gaming.”
A flurry of questions followed, and Robin answered each one thoroughly and to the best of his knowledge.
After gaining a better understanding of the Middle Eastern market, the VCs nodded thoughtfully, lost in their own considerations.
“Thank you for your excellent explanation, Robin-ssi. That was very insightful.”
As Robin stepped back, CEO Lee Jong-hoon took center stage once more, drawing the room’s attention.
“Now, let’s get to the main point.”
“The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is set to hold a meeting with representatives from domestic venture capital firms this week. During that meeting, a spot on the economic delegation for the UAE state visit will be finalized.”
His eyes glinted with fierce determination, a sharp contrast to his usual demeanor.
It was the look of a gambler who thrived in high-stakes moments.
“I will do everything in my power at that meeting to ensure Buksan Ventures is selected for the economic delegation.”
Despite his bold declaration, the atmosphere in the room felt skeptical.
“Beating Osung… is that even possible?”
“Honestly, it’s going to be tough. Just based on assets under management, we can’t hold a candle to Osung.”
Noticing the doubt spreading across the room, Lee Jong-hoon pressed on.
“Of course, it won’t be easy. But that doesn’t mean we can afford to stand by and do nothing. The reason David was able to defeat Goliath with just a small stone wasn’t mere luck. He meticulously analyzed his opponent and crafted a strategy tailored to his strengths. Buksan must do the same. To take down the Goliath that is Osung, we need the collective intelligence of this team. If you have any ideas, don’t hesitate to share them.”
His unwavering resolve seemed to light a small fire of hope in the room.
The evaluators exchanged uncertain glances.
It was a challenging problem, not something that could easily spark an instant solution.
CEO Lee Jong-hoon was well aware of this, so he patiently waited, giving everyone ample time to gather their thoughts.
Finally, one of the VCs broke the silence and posed a question.
“What is the most important factor in being selected for the economic delegation? The Ministry of SMEs and Startups must have set some criteria, right?”
“Of course. On the surface, it appears the Ministry is making the decision. However, in reality, the influence of a senior official from Norooq Partners, who will be attending the meeting, will likely be decisive. For context, Norooq Partners is a venture capital firm operated at the national level by the UAE.”
At that moment, my ears perked up.
A familiar name had caught my attention.
Without realizing it, I shot my hand up and asked Lee Jong-hoon.
“Do you happen to know the name of the senior official from Norooq Partners who will be attending?”
“The name…?”
Momentarily flustered by the sudden question, Lee Jong-hoon asked for a moment before rifling through his phone.
“Is the name… Sulaiman, by any chance?”
It wasn’t logic—it was intuition, a gut feeling that I couldn’t explain.
“How do you know that…?”
Lee Jong-hoon blinked in astonishment before nodding.
The other VCs, clearly taken aback, exchanged uneasy glances as the seemingly insignificant intern who’d been sitting in the corner now commanded the room’s attention.
“I know how Buksan can defeat the Goliath that is Osung.”
I declared, my voice brimming with confidence.
Suspicion and curiosity mingled on Lee Jong-hoon’s face as he asked.
“And what exactly is this method?”
“I’ll go to the meeting with you.”
“………”
Silence fell over the room like a heavy curtain.
And as a bonus, I earned a round of wide-eyed stares that seemed to say,
‘This guy’s lost it.’
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