Hyunwoo answered in the positive, with a gentle smile, and continued, “I have no idea who’s going to be the CEO here. Though I am close to Yu Zuung, I don’t do business, based on my close relations with somebody. I’ll select the CEO totally based on your performance.”

The students hardened their faces with tension. All of them looked at Zuung as if they couldn’t believe what Hyunwoo said.

“As you know, the CEO should know how to manage the staff, first of all. Secondly, the CEO should be able to control the overall workflow. If you’re really interested in being the CEO here, you should be able to hire your people in person and improve their performance by managing them well.”

Hyunwoo had a plan to grow the branch of Ani & Funny in Vietnam. He planned to start the Vietnamese branch with about 20 staff initially but would expand it with more outsourcing workload in the days ahead.

In a sense, Zuung and her friends would lay the foundation for the establishment of the new branch. They would be expected to hire new staff and establish the foundation of the branch.

Hyunwoo continued,

“If I set up the new branch, I’ll select outstanding performers twice a year and give them the opportunity to visit Korea on a business trip. They will not only tour major scenic places but also watch the performances by K-pop stars.”

“Wow! K-pop stars!”

“If any of you are excellent in planning, I’m willing to scout you if you want to work in Korea,” said Hyunwoo, explaining about the various benefits of joining the new branch. Simply thinking they would be expected to work as part-timers, the students as well as Zuung were thrilled to hear that.

“So, each of you wants to work for us, right?”

“Of course!”

“Okay, then. Let’s move to the office,” said Hyunwoo.

Actually, Hyunwoo already rented a big office near Ho Chi Minh University. Though it was old and didn’t have a splendid interior, he made sure the office be equipped with the necessary equipment including also phones and an internet connection.

Kyungsu was in charge of testing the drawing technique of the students including Zuung.

To his surprise, all the students had excellent technique. In particular, Ngun was the best.

On the other hand, Zuung didn’t impress Kyungsu. Though she wasn’t bad, she was not as good as other students. Given that Zuung was still a sophomore while the students were all seniors, it was natural that they beat her.

Hyunwoo took out some papers from his bag and handed it to each of the students including Zuung. It was a contract in English, which contained what Hyunwoo told them before.

After checking out the contract in detail, Zuung signed it first, followed by the students.

“It’s up to you how to handle your job. You can do it by yourself, or hire outside contractors if you’re short-handed. If the quality of your work is below the standard, I’ll take an issue with that,” said Hyunwoo.

“Got it. When can we start?”

“Let me assign some work to you as soon as I get back to Korea. Let me give 100 million dong to Zuung. You can use it for office expenses for one year. If you still need money, you have to solve the financial issue among yourselves,” said Hyunwoo.

Zuung and the students burst with joy. In particular, Ngun was overwhelmed with joy. As Ngun was from a poor family, he had to make money not only for school tuition and other expenses but also for his family by spending all his available time as a part-timer.

According to the contract, Ngun could earn as much as 3 million dong if he worked hard. His pay was much more than his father’s, and three times as much as his current pay.

“Thanks so much, sir,” said Ngun.

Putting his hand on heart, Ngun nodded his head repeatedly.

Originally, Hyunwoo planned to outsource all subcontracts to the company that Zuung’s father was affiliated with but gave up.

Instead, he decided to set up a new branch in Vietnam and had Zuung scout the students. It was for his bigger goal in the coming days. He felt they would be able to carry out all the assignments in a couple of years, though it would be tough for them initially.

Checking out their capabilities, however, Hyunwoo felt confident he could give them the contracts even now.

After they returned, Zuung showed Hyunwoo around his father’s company called VPicture.

Hyunwoo’s entourage and the executive members of VPicture, including its president, gathered at the conference table in a happy mood.

But the negotiations didn’t go well, as expected. The president of VPictures asked for more payment than expected.

“VPictures boasts the best manpower in the field in Vietnam. We receive lots of outsourcing from Japan, too. Half of our company’s employees receive more than 500 US dollars per month, which I think is legitimate, given their skills,” the president said.

“Still, your offer price is too high,” replied Hyunwoo.

Both sides didn’t budge a bit from their position, but they couldn’t iron out the differences. Though Hyunwoo was willing to compromise, his counterpart wasn’t.

After all, the negotiation failed.

Zuung and her father expressed regrets about the failure, but it was not their fault.

“You don’t have to feel sorry. We can find another company,” said Hyunwoo.

After parting with them, he went back to N&C, where its president Sungji Na was already there along with the presidents of local Korean companies.

Greeting them gladly, Sungji let out a sigh as soon as he began to talk, “Phew, I just don’t know how we ended up like this.”

Other presidents grumbled, making a grim look on their faces.

“President Hyongbok Lee of DAS Toy is the source of the problem. He is now fanning other presidents’ hostility toward us.”

“The big problem is we are being divided among ourselves at the moment.”

Actually, that was what Hyunwoo was most concerned about. There was an internal struggle among the local Korean presidents in Vietnam since the Dream Korea project was broadcasted by Seoul Broadcasting.

Sungji began to comfort them by saying, “As things stand now, the situation isn’t that serious. Some of them are speaking ill of us, but most of them have a favorable view.”

Hyunwoo backed him up and said, “That’s true. You should not be agitated at all. Sooner or later, there will be a trade fair in Seoul. The Dream Korea team will submit its products, and then everybody will find out the truth.”

“But it’s still one month away from now. We have to make KOVE DREAM better known and cultivate its good image in the lead up to the trade fair. Right now, our image is being tarnished every day.”

“Well, I have a good idea to improve our image,” said Hyunwoo.

“What is it?”

“Well, the origin of the KOVE DREAM is the Castor Dream team, as you know. Most Koreans still remember that. If someone comes forward to speak about the success of the Castor Dream team, we can win.”

“Wow, that’s a good idea!”

Looking at Tohyok Kim, one of the founding members of the Castor Dream team, Hyunwoo said, “I’ve asked Korea Broadcasting for a subsequent program clarifying our position. Can you give them an interview, Mr. Kim?”

“Sure, I will,” said Tohyok Kim without any hesitation.

“I think you had better prepare for the interview in advance. If you present our position to Korea Broadcasting, they will make the questions that fit it.”

“How can I prepare for it?”

“You can just tell them about the history of the Castor Dream team, which has been succeeded by the KOVE DREAM team. Only you can have the authority to do so, as you were the head of the Castor Dream. No matter how much they try, the Dream Korea team can never refute your claim,” Hyunwoo said.

Tohyok’s face was flush with confidence, “But there is one caveat, Mr. Kim.”

“What is that?”

“Never blame Dream Korea. You just focus on our own story.”

Tohyok nodded his head to hear that.

“For example, please emphasize this point: we didn’t get united as one team in Korea. If we had formed a dream team and got united as one team in Korea, we would never have been beaten by Japan and China in terms of technology and price, respectively.”

“Hummmmm…..”

Hyunwoo continued, “We’re realizing the dream in Vietnam that we could not back then in Korea. And many of those who failed in Korea are flocking to Vietnam in search of success. We, KOVE DREAM, have been formed to help them.”

“That’s right. Let’s not pay any attention to whatever the Dream Korea is talking about us. This is not the time for us to fight with each other here,” said Sungji.

Suddenly, Hyunwoo made a new suggestion.

“Let me contribute 5% of the profits to the development fund for the KOVE DREAM team. This fund will be used as the seed money for the resettlement of those Korean technicians coming here. I would like to enhance the technology of Korean companies here through them, and help more local Korean companies join KOVE DREAM.”

“Wow!”

Then Sungji also stood up all of a sudden and said, “We can’t sit idle, can we? Let’s try to chip in and help out the people, too.”

At Hyunwoo’s suggestion, they agreed with the principle of contributing to the fund.

After the meeting, Hyunwoo came back to the hotel late at night.

He felt sorry for Kyungsu who was present at the meeting because he could not participate in the discussion.

“Sorry, brother.”

“Hahaha, not at all. Never mind.”

And then they began to talk about the failed negotiation with VPictures.

“Well, I think I can understand their position. As you know, we are not simply outsourcing to them in terms of animation drawing and rendering, right? You planned to outsource almost all of the animation work except for its characters, facial expressions and keyframes, didn’t you?”

“Yes, you’re right. Ani & Funny will exclusively focus on planning, and outsourcing all other production-related projects.”

“In that case, the difference of technique really matters. In particular, animation needs a considerable technique. The quality of an animation work largely depends on how natural it is.”

“In other words, given the excellent technique of VPictures, their offer price is not that high, right?” asked Hyunwoo.

“Yes. I feel their technology is almost perfect when I have examined their completed animation works.”

The next day Hyunwoo went back to Ho Chi Minh City to sign the contract with VPictures.

From now on VPictures would take over the animation of Garbage World, while most of the experimental animations would be taken care of by the Vietnamese branch of Ani & Funny.

Before Hyunwoo and Kyungsu left Vietnam, they met Zuung and the students again at the downtown office Hyunwoo secured for them.

The moment they opened the door, they were stunned because of the familiar melodies coming from inside.

“This song is so familiar…”

“How come this song is coming from this office?”

What they heard coming from the office was none other than the song ‘Duckling Fly’ with Jinhon and Angela singing cheerfully.