The first day of the Big Deal negotiation, in which Seong-ho took part as Ilhyeon's representative, passed without a single gain, leaving behind nothing but sluggish talk.

With everyone refusing to give up their own while coveting others' by any means, no result could come of it.

The second day was the same.

Sunwoo held fast to the stance that, for putting up Sunwoo Electronics, they would absolutely have to walk away with something of equal weight.

"It's Sunwoo Electronics. Sunwoo Electronics! Here in Korea it may be pushed down by Ilhyeon Electronics and Mirae Electronics, but overseas — the Eastern Bloc especially — its name stands so high that 'electronics' means Sunwoo."

"We know that, but isn't demanding Mirae Motors going too far? You ought to be asking Ilhyeon over there, which holds two whole car companies. Why are you trying to take one from us?"

"We were prepared to take Sunwoo Electronics and hand over Doa Motors too. Wasn't it Mirae that suddenly wedged its way in? There's no particular reason for you to be here at all. If you don't like it, drop out. That would be better for the negotiation anyway."

Vice-Minister Ju laid a hand on his throbbing head.

Having heard nothing but the same talk for two days straight, he was near dizzy with it.

But as the one who'd come out to sort the negotiation, he forced himself to bear it and opened his mouth to play the middleman.

"It seems the two of you keep running along parallel lines. At this rate it looks like it'll never end, so how about each side first states what it will put up, and we work from there?"

At Vice-Minister Ju's words, the Sunwoo Group negotiator spoke first.

"We've already put ours forward, so there's nothing new for us to say."

When the Sunwoo representative had finished, the Mirae Group representative read Seong-ho's face.

Because if Ilhyeon put up Doa Motors, the talk would just circle round and round in place again.

"Ilhyeon will…"

When Seong-ho opened his mouth just then, every eye in the…