"Where would you like to go?"
The taxi driver asked, turning around as he hailed the cab.
"Please take me to the Royal School."
"Oh! Are you a student at the Royal School?"
Tennessee didn't reply to the driver's question. Instead, he just turned his gaze towards the window.
The driver quietly placed his hand on the gearshift.
Vroom!
As the taxi picked up speed, Tennessee was lost in thought.
—Of course. What big things could the newcomers possibly achieve without my help?
It wasn't true sincerity. Park Ji-hoon, the one involved, hadn't heard it. Even if he had heard, he would have understood if there was a business motive. Knowing all that.
"..."
Somehow, his heart felt uneasy. Perhaps it was like wearing wet shoes continuously. Could it be? Did he really consider him a true friend?
Tennessee's face flushed as if he had made a huge mistake.
'Friend, huh.' What a shamefully hot word. Yes, he just wanted to own a share. It just felt icky because he had to lie… What friendship!
'Jeez, what nonsense I'm talking.'
Just as Tennessee pouted his lips, Gurgle.
'Huh?' An embarrassingly loud noise. It was so loud that even the driver glanced at Tennessee through the rearview mirror.
'Now that I think about it, I only had breakfast.' And that was only half a sandwich. But what's this? A McDonald's sign appeared just a block away.
Gulp.
His throat moved noticeably.
"Please stop here."
"At the hamburger place?"
"No, not the hamburgers. Please stop in front of the bookstore… the one you can see there."
It was a dark night. Still, Tennessee entered the store only after putting on a hat and sunglasses.
"What would you like?"
The employee asked. Tennessee looked at the menu with a serious face. For him, this McDonald's was harder to approach than a Michelin 3-star restaurant.
Perhaps that's why. He had to choose the menu very carefully, recalling what Park Ji-hoon had ordered.
"One Big Mac and large fries, please."
"Is this for takeout?"
"Ah, and a milkshake too."
"Do you want the milkshake for takeout as well?"
Nod Nod.
While handing over the money, Tennessee was deep in thought.
'I want a lot of salt on the fries.'
He wanted to add that.
"..."
Perhaps because of the dignity of a noble, he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.
Park Ji-hoon would have said it easily.
Sigh.
In the end, Tennessee stepped back with a feeling of regret.
A moment later.
When his order was ready.
Looking around cautiously.
He stuffed the bag deep into his backpack as if worried someone might see.
Even if the fries were a bit unsalted.
'I have the milkshake.'
With a faint smile, he was able to leave the store.
Perhaps because the warmth of the hot bag was still on his hands.
It was a particularly proud night for Tennessee.
***
The next morning, in the dormitory.
Tennessee came to my room early in the morning.
He was always flawless in appearance.
But.
"Does your face look a bit swollen today?"
"…What?"
"Did you eat something late last night?"
Then his pupils dilated noticeably.
But as always, he pretended to be calm.
"I didn't know you were so interested in my face."
As I shrugged, he slightly changed his expression and said,
"Enough small talk, let's talk business."
Hmm.
He seemed confident of his success.
Indeed, he pulled out a map from his pocket.
"Is this the place you mentioned?"
A location marked with a red circle.
Correct. It's the Cheongdam-dong of London.
Tennessee continued with a calm face.
"From the start of the intersection to the Barclay building. There's no limit on the lease term and…"
"Wait a minute."
"Why?"
Why, indeed!
"You mean to rent out the whole place?"
"You said you needed it."
Needed, yes… But who needs an entire street foolishly to themselves?
But it seemed Tennessee had his reasons too.
"If you only needed one building, you would have gone to a real estate agent, why come to me?" he said with a look that suggested it.
Ha! So?
You thought I was just talking about a street?
"..."
There may have been some misunderstanding, but it wasn't a big deal.
'We haven't even signed a contract yet.'
A little compromise from both sides would finalize things reasonably.
But what is this…
Perhaps it's the sudden scale increase.
The entrepreneurial DNA I'd forgotten about due to rugby started to stir again.
My mind spinning independently of my will!
'I can't even stop myself now.'
The absurdity of using the entire Cheongdam-dong street hit me belatedly.
A crazy deed that others wouldn't even think of.
Yeah, maybe that's what it would take to bring down the giant called Harris.
'If this is really possible…'
Implementing a business plan possible only in a deserted Manchester factory, right in the heart of London.
'I'll have to consult with Yang Eok-Kwan about the details.'
But the concept is there!
If we use the entire street, not only a mega pop-up store but also Queensman and Ultimate's flagship stores, and even a private store for Lukash could be established with plenty of space left.
What about the remaining buildings?
Giving a chance to talented designers who lack capital.
'I'm not just doing this to be nice.'
A stronghold of design.
To solidify the next-generation vision declared by my grandfather, a pro-designer policy is essential.
The problem is how to pay the massive rent.
'There's a limit to how much I can offer in shares.'
Ultimately, sharing the revenue from the stores seems like the best method…
A grand epic was about to be written in my mind.
"How long do I have to wait?"
Tennessee's question snapped me back to reality.
His face slightly swollen, unusual for him.
Asking for a building lease, he ended up expanding the project himself.
'He truly is a blessing in disguise.'
Instead of replying, I just lifted the corners of my mouth.
***
Meanwhile, at the Grosvenor Duke's house.
After Tennessee's visit, the Duke's interest had shifted to his son's business partner.
Discovering unpublished works by Da Vinci.
Being admitted to the Royal School with a recommendation from the Queen.
Besides the well-known facts, the tutor seemed to have gathered quite a bit of information.
The Duke looked down at the inaugural issue of
"Did he write this magazine himself?"
"Yes. Initially, he wrote all the articles himself, and only recently started assembling a team of writers."
The magazine could be called a cultural book without any objection.
Especially, the insight into art is astonishing.
It's incredible how someone his age could possess such discernment.
To the Duke's amazement, the tutor added,
"He won numerous awards in major daily newspaper and literary contests when he was just ten years old."
"Only ten years?"
"Yes."
The astonishment did not end there.
His aggressive moves that started from the age of ten had reached their climax with gaming.
"That means he has already established himself."
"..."
"Then why does he need a partnership with Tennessee?"
"I found out that his friend seems to have a feud with the Harris chain."
"A feud?"
James Faber had refused to move to Harris.
After that, it became a fact that he couldn't open any stores in London, the tutor explained in detail.
'Can't open stores?'
Was that the reason he asked for an entire street?
Then the following question arose.
"That sounds like you're saying my son is being exploited. Did I hear that wrong?"
Even though there was a flash of anger in the Duke's eyes, the tutor was not flustered.
"From what I have gathered, it clearly seems like a partnership."
The tutor's argument was this:
"Use a masterpiece as a streetlamp and stop where 'Hamlet' is pulled out."
They published just one line as a hint about the store.
Though it's called a hint, it was more of a marketing strategy to provoke curiosity.
"However, on the day the magazine was released, your son found the
Such a thing would have been impossible without being an insider.
Naturally, it was seen as a show to gain publicity.
"Recently, he even called Peru to secure vicuña and wool. If he were just an investor, why would he..."
"He wouldn't go to such lengths?"
"That's my judgment."
Yet, a thread of concern still remained in the Duke's eyes.
This Park Ji-hoon…
Might have approached with the aim of exploiting the Duke's reputation.
"I have found out that Mr. Park Ji-hoon comes from a very prestigious family."
The tutor presented another file.
It contained everything from the governance structure of Hyungang to Park Ji-hoon's position within it, and that he holds a majority of the semiconductor shares, the company's main business.
And even the fact that he came to study abroad to escape inheriting the company.
The details were packed in.
"He has also left the businesses he was running to professional managers."
"Why is such a person stirring up business in England then?"
"This is purely my speculation, but..."
"...?"
"Perhaps Tennessee saw Mr. Park's capability and actively encouraged him to venture into business."
"Tennessee did?"
"Yes. Even if you have ideas, you need someone to implement them, don't you?"
At that age, it would be impossible to find someone more capable than Park Ji-hoon.
Does that mean it really is a partnership?
The Duke was lost in thought for a moment.
Recently, there had been many reports about Tennessee.
He ran for student council president.
He started playing rugby again and so on.
All this because he was probably stimulated by this Park Ji-hoon fellow.
The Duke finally lifted his head.
"He's from Korea, you said?"
"Yes."
When he heard about Da Vinci's painting going to Hyungang.
He had ordered measures that could bring a crisis to Korea.
"So, how did that matter go?"
"We are looking for the optimal time. Probably after taking down Southeast Asia..."
"Put that on hold."
"Excuse me?"
"Keep Korea on hold for now."
It all started because of Da Vinci's artwork.
If they could just secure the painting, there was no need to stir up trouble.
'Despite being heartless and tearless, is he pleased by his son's transformation?'
Seeming to read the Duke's thoughts, the tutor added,
"By the way, Park Yong-hak, the chairman of Hyungang, will soon be visiting London on a business trip."
"Why London?"
"Officially, he's visiting Rolls-Royce and Bentley. But it seems he's coming to watch his grandson's game."
Was Da Vinci's painting in Chairman Park Yong-hak's hands?
"Shall I arrange a meeting?"
The Duke answered with a smile instead of words.