In the captivating third episode of "The Art of Negotiation," the narrative unfolds as Sanin's stock price remains steadfast following the sale of its lucrative Sanin Construction division, yet beneath this veneer of stability lurks a ripple of apprehension among investors. The construction arm, once the group's golden goose, has left its absence felt, sparking widespread concern regarding Sanin's financial resilience.
Joo-no, ever perceptive, recognizes that liquidating another unit to amass the remaining 2.5 billion won could prove catastrophic, potentially signaling to the market that Sanin stands on the precipice of bankruptcy. In a bid to steer the company away from this fateful path, Joo-no champions a daring pivot: steering Sanin into the dynamic e-commerce arena.
During his compelling presentation, it transpires that Director Lee Dong-ju had previously floated a similar concept, only to face rejection from CEO Song Jae-sik, who harbored a steadfast preference for tangible assets such as land and construction. Song had deemed the potential losses and risks associated with venturing into e-commerce prohibitively high.
However, amidst the dwindling fortunes of Sanin's traditional brick-and-mortar endeavors, Joo-no asserts that the transition to e-commerce is not merely advisable but imperative. Acknowledging the pivotal role of a robust logistics network in this new venture, Joo-no identifies the strategic acquisition of an established logistics firm as a critical next step.
Among the potential targets on Joo-no's radar is Chacha Games, a company mired in turmoil due to its lack of a coherent business strategy. Despite its struggles, the underlying game processes of Chacha Games align seamlessly with Sanin's operational needs. The situation takes a sudden turn for the complex when the developers announce the shuttering of the game, with the CEO steadfastly refusing to entertain any offers for sale.
Eager to unearth more insights, the M&A team seeks counsel from a gaming expert who happens to be Jin-su's friend. Through this fortuitous connection, they uncover a contentious lawsuit entangling Chacha Games' CEO with DC Games, over allegations of plagiarism. However, the absence of concrete evidence—compounded by Chacha's utilization of blockchain technology, which complicates intellectual property infringement claims—casts a shroud of uncertainty over the matter.
This revelation strikes a chord with Joo-no and his team, who grasp the revolutionary potential of Chacha Games' blockchain technology, particularly in the realm of logistics, thereby elevating the acquisition's value exponentially.
Meanwhile, Tae-su, ever cunning, orchestrates a spy network to keep Joo-no under surveillance. Leveraging Jin-su's unsuspecting camaraderie, Tae-su's savvy subordinate artfully extracts crucial details about the Chacha Games deal, relaying them to Tae-su with sinister precision.
In the shadowy backdrop, we delve into the intricate and tumultuous past of Joo-no. Once, he bore the weight of responsibility for a company’s collapse, an event that ensnared his brother, a shareholder, in its wake. This calamity spurred a probe into misconduct, ultimately culminating in his brother’s heart-wrenching suicide and, consequently, estranging Joo-no from his family’s embrace.
As whispers about Sanin’s burgeoning interest in the gaming realm start to swirl, the CEO of DC Games strategically approaches Joo-no, seeking to deflect attention onto his own venture. Joo-no remains enigmatic, neither acknowledging nor dispelling the rumors surrounding Sanin’s foray into the gaming industry. Subsequently, the CEO of DC cleverly posts a snapshot of his visit to Sanin, inadvertently aligning perfectly with Joo-no’s meticulously crafted plan.
This bold maneuver prompts Chacha Games to court Sanin with an enticing offer of 10 million, along with the unveiling of their cutting-edge blockchain backend system—a testament to their unwavering confidence in both their technology and its valuation. Empowered by this progress, Joo-no updates Sanin’s higher-ups and secures the green light from CEO Jae-sik to press ahead with the acquisition.
Yet, as Joo-no inches closer to inking the deal with Chacha Games’ CEO, a dramatic twist unfolds. At the eleventh hour, the CEO abruptly pulls out, confessing he has received an offer twice as lucrative as Sanin’s. The episode concludes on a cliffhanger, leaving tensions hanging in the air like a thick fog.
