Chapter 161: Morning in Philadelphia (5)

As soon as William sat in his chair, he opened his mouth with a look of regret.

“I am sorry that I cannot deliver good news after you have traveled such a long distance.”

That short sentence instantly dropped the temperature of the meeting room.

General Hong’s finger was tapping the sofa armrest before stopping in mid-air.

Choi Seo-jun pursed his lips and raised his chin.

Baek Yu-jin’s sharp gaze turned toward me.

However, I was not shaken.

“What do you mean by that…?”

My voice was as calm as a peaceful lake.

William avoided my gaze for a moment, then cautiously continued speaking while touching his tie with his fingertips.

“The terms and technical prowess presented by HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering are flawless. To be honest, our technical team also evaluated them very highly. Especially in the areas of design stability and on-time delivery rates, you are significantly ahead of your competitors.”

Richard, who was sitting next to him, nodded.

“I was also impressed. I think the stability part of the LNG fuel propulsion system is particularly excellent. Honestly, in terms of technical aspects, it was the most superior proposal.”

However, William stopped smiling and continued in a low voice.

In his eyes, coldness coexisted along with apology.

“But that is how business is, is it not. Everything is not decided by technology alone. If a better offer appears, there is no reason for us not to consider that choice.”

At those words, Choi Seo-jun’s brow furrowed deeply.

Cho Hana also quietly gripped and released her pen repeatedly.

President Yu Hyeon-seok’s expression hardened as he clenched his lips tight.

I did not say anything for a moment.

I just looked straight into William’s eyes.

Sunlight streamed diagonally through the meeting room window.

That light brightly colored my face.

I still maintained a calm expression as I opened my mouth.

“Could it be that the place that offered better terms is Sinoa Marine?”

As soon as that question dropped, William’s smile gradually hardened.

Richard’s eyes also shook for an instant as he lowered his head.

In a single moment, the air in the room froze tensely.

It felt as if someone were strangling everyone’s necks with an invisible string.

After a brief silence, William laughed slowly and spoke.

“…You must have seen the banner hanging on the wall.”

Instead of answering, I picked up the teacup placed in front of me.

The cup filled with coffee had already lost its warmth and had cooled down.

I took a sip and then quietly set the cup down.

The sound of it touching the table echoed particularly loudly.

William let out a short breath.

“I cannot deny it. That is correct. We have been continuing discussions with Sinoa Marine for quite a while. We already started negotiations half a year ago. Their scale is large, and their network with the government is also solid. Above all, their proposal was not a simple transaction, but a partnership where we could grow together.”

His voice was calm, but the meaning contained within was clear.

It meant they had already joined hands with Sinoa.

Choi Seo-jun’s fingertips trembled.

President Yu Hyeon-seok’s face turned red, and he gritted his teeth.

General Hong looked out the window and let out a deep sigh.

However, my expression still hadn't changed a bit.

My gaze flashed coldly yet sharply beyond the glass.

“In the end, you mean you have already made your choice.”

William slowly lowered his head.

His shoulders slumped minutely.

“We have not made an official announcement yet. Signing the contract will probably be next Tuesday. But you can consider it to be almost at the finalized stage. The board of directors has approved it, and the legal team has also finished its review.”

Once those words ended, the air in the meeting room settled heavily.

It even felt as if the ceiling were gradually getting lower.

Everyone sank into silence.

However, at that moment, a faint smile spread across my lips.

It was not an expression containing despair.

“That is interesting. Then, may I ask one thing?”

William raised his head.

Richard also looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“In that long-term cooperation model presented by Sinoa Marine, is a technology transfer clause also included?”

William’s expression hardened.

“I cannot tell you that.”

“I understand.”

I smiled softly and set the cup down.

I was making a look as if I were truly feeling regretful.

“I must also tell you something regrettable. They will not be able to keep their promise.”

The air seemed to stop for a moment.

President William’s brow narrowed.

He looked at me as if he had lost his words for a moment and then laughed bitterly.

“What does that mean? I do not feel very good.”

I slowly shook my head.

“I am not saying this because I am offended.”

I smiled faintly like a person who had read the other’s thoughts.

That expression was not provocative, but rather felt chilling.

William’s gaze shook for a moment.

Silence flowed in the room while he failed to continue his answer.

At that time, Choi Seo-jun turned his head slightly.

He barely suppressed his mouth from curling up.

My confident attitude did not look like that of a loser to anyone.

Richard watched that sight intently and then asked in a voice mixed with curiosity.

“Why do you think so, Representative Lim?”

I shifted my gaze toward him.

I spoke without a hint of hesitation.

“Because they are bound to collapse within three years.”

Silence returned again.

That single sentence was like a prophecy.

Richard’s eyebrows twitched.

William leaned his body back minutely and looked straight at me.

“…On what basis are you saying such a thing?”

I slowly looked at my wristwatch.

My eyes were full of confidence.

“Rather than a basis, there is a reason.”

I raised my gaze and looked at William.

“If Sinoa Marine offered technology transfer as a condition, it means the company’s situation is that bad.”

William made an expression as if it were absurd.

Richard still did not say anything.

My gaze briefly brushed the air.

I already knew.

A woman who was once called a miracle designer.

Amami Yuika.

As she, who led the innovation of Japanese-style eco-friendly ship design, entered Sinoa Marine, the company on the verge of collapse was brought back to life.

ESG eco-friendly certification, passing the European line, and even technology export contracts.

On the surface, it was perfect.

However, all those successes were no different from a sandcastle built by one person’s fingertips.

And now, she is no longer with Sinoa Marine.

HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s new design line, fuel efficiency systems, and even real-world operation data.

Everything was being reborn through her hands.

It meant that the foundation of all that technical prowess Sinoa Marine boasted was now breathing together with HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

I returned to reality with a smile.

My voice was quiet but firm.

“President, please look through Sinoa Marine’s financial statements one more time thoroughly. Then you will soon understand why I am saying this.”

William caught his breath shortly and stared at me.

In that gaze, confusion and anxiety intersected.

The once confident expression was nowhere to be seen.

I slowly stood up from my seat.

“We shall take our leave now.”

As I nodded, my party also stood up.

Cho Hana packed the documents and put them in her bag.

Choi Seo-jun also stood up from his seat without any lingering regret.

Before leaving the meeting room, I stopped my steps for a moment at the doorway.

I turned around and added in a soft voice.

“Ah, and to tell you one more thing, we plan to stay in Philadelphia today and leave here tomorrow. If you are going to make a decision, it would be better to hurry.”

I opened the door with a smile.

Cold air seeped into space.

Remaining in the meeting room, William and Richard could not say anything and just quietly watched their backs.

As William shook his leg like an anxious person, Richard let out a deep sigh.

The silence continued for a long time.

Then, Richard looked at William and spoke.

“Rather than feeling uneasy, let us check it for now.”

“That would probably be best, right?”

“If it is true, would it not be a big problem?”

“That is true.”

While they were revealing their anxious inner feelings, my party got into the vehicle they arrived in.

As soon as the car door closed, a strange silence filled the space.

The heater began to operate as the engine started, but the air inside the car was rather cold.

No one could easily open their mouth.

No, perhaps they chose silence because they did not know what to ask first.

Outside the window, the lights of the Philadelphia port passed by like ghosts.

The yellow lights of the container yard and the red warning lights of the cranes.

And the signal lights of the ships blinking in the distance.

Only those lights slowly and indifferently covered the tense air.

Cho Hana spoke cautiously.

“Representative, is there really a problem with Sinoa Marine?”

I did not answer.

I was still looking out the window.

My gaze seemed to be staring at something no one else could see beyond the landscape of the port flowing in the darkness.

After a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Let’s start for now.”

“Yes, Representative.”

General Hong, who was holding the steering wheel, nodded and drove the car.

The streetlights of the port road flashed past the car window at regular intervals, lighting up the interior and then making it dark.

As the car left the outskirts of the port, the city lights became increasingly distant.

Cho Hana took out her phone and moved her fingers hurriedly.

“There is a decent hotel in the center of downtown Philadelphia. I will contact them right away.”

“That is good.”

Soon, as Cho Hana secured the hotel, General Hong checked the navigation and turned the direction.

The car entered the road leading to the city.

A tense silence still flowed in the car.

However, someone hummed a faint tune.

Cho Hana and Choi Seo-jun turned their heads at the same time.

There, I was.

I was humming while looking out the window.

I had an excessively peaceful expression, like someone who had just returned from a walk on the beach.

Choi Seo-jun glanced at me and then just closed his eyes to try and sleep.

Countless questions swirled in his head, but right now, his eyelids felt as heavy as lead.

Besides, was I not Lim Hyunjun?

Choi Seo-jun had seen me look like that more than once or twice until now.

When we arrived at the hotel, I got out of the car as if nothing had happened.

The accommodation we stayed in was luxurious.

I gave a look of satisfaction and said without hesitation.

“Are you all not hungry? Let’s go eat.”

At my single word, everyone moved to the restaurant.

As we entered a large room, a huge table welcomed us.

Everyone sat down.

Soon, a staff member came and gave us the menu.

I slowly flipped through the pages and then pointed with my finger without any hesitation.

“Give us everything from here to here.”

The only person surprised by that sound was the staff member.

“…Everything?”

I answered firmly.

“I am extremely hungry, so it would be good if you could do it quickly.”

At the same time, I took out my wallet and handed over a tip.