TOIGC 17

Chapter 17 …

$1,500 in Starting Capital (2)

“Ho… dropped out of Harvard to start a small company?”

Intrigued, Brigadier General Colson took the sketchbook into his own hands and read through the densely pasted clippings. There were quite a few of them, requiring him to turn page after page. But curious to see what his grandson had put together, he thoroughly examined every single piece.

“That’s the first time you’ve seen it, right Grandfather?” “Oh… is it?” “Yes. To be honest, I was a bit embarrassed. It felt like a pretty unusual hobby. But I felt like I should still show you, so here it is.”

Nobody dislikes receiving special treatment from someone they cherish. So, with a warm look on his face, Brigadier General Colson shifted his focus back to chatting with his grandson.

“Looks like these guys are running a computer-related business. Are you interested in this stuff too?”

As of 1977, fewer than 400 computers existed in all of South Korea. Mid-to-large mainframe computers were only just being introduced, used for research calculations in places like Seoul City Hall or KAIST, or for grading middle school exams.

“Yes.” “Why’s that?”

Since Brigadier General Colson was actively serving in the U.S. military, he knew more about computers than the average person. Because of that, he was curious how his grandson had developed an interest.

“I was reading English newspapers to practice my English, and I stumbled upon an article about someone dropping out of Harvard to start a company.” “Ah, this article right here.”

Brigadier General Colson pointed to a spot on the sketchbook, and Yoongi nodded.

“Yes. As far as I know, Harvard is the top university in the world, yet they started a company without even graduating. I found it so fascinating that I decided to look into what a computer actually is.” “And what did you think?”

Yoongi fluttered both hands like wild geese wings, making a big fuss over it.

“It was completely mind-blowing! I was utterly amazed that it could finish calculations in an instant that would take a human a full day.” “That’s true. That’s why the U.S. military uses computers a lot too.” “I think computers will be used in more and more places before long. Right now they’re expensive, but if technology advances and prices drop, won’t they be used almost everywhere?” “Hmm, you definitely might be onto something there.”

Brigadier General Colson thought back to the ‘Altair Computer’ and figured it sounded entirely plausible. Back in the 1950s, people in the U.S. were using corporate and research computers like the PDP-10, and most assumed mass production was impossible. However, once the Altair was released for home use, America took a step forward into the concept of the ‘home computer.’ Even if it was a machine with a tiny 4-kilobyte memory and no monitor by modern standards.

“So I wanted to get in on the ground floor with these computers. It’s something I learned while studying business—if you invest early, it’ll be much easier to secure products later on.” “That’s true too. But why pick this company in particular? When there are solid, established corporations like MITS or IBM?” “Would a big company like that even bother dealing with a kid like me?”

Brigadier General Colson burst into a booming laugh at his grandson’s remarkably realistic, yet childish response.

“Bwahaha! True, so true! A place like that wouldn’t take you seriously, no matter how much I tried to introduce you. And it’s not like I can step in directly either. Unless it’s after I retire, people might say a active-duty officer is putting pressure on civilians.” “Exactly. You could invest spare cash into me, Grandfather, but you couldn’t use your influence to push IBM or MITS around.”

The sharp young boy continued his explanation.

“On top of that, I feel like these guys are betting their lives on this.” “Betting their lives?” “Yes. If someone drops out of Harvard, it means they’re risking their entire life on their business. Aren’t people like that bound to accomplish something big? The money I’m investing won’t be a burden on our family, so I think these guys are the most suitable option for me to meet.”

In reality, Bill Gates hadn’t permanently dropped out—he had taken a leave of absence to set up a fallback plan just in case. However, that fact was largely unknown, and it was hard for Yoongi, who gathered his information through English newspapers, to know it either. All Yoongi knew was that Microsoft had been insanely famous before his regression, and that he had randomly flipped through a children’s comic book about Bill Gates’ life in one of the construction breakrooms he used to crash in. Chasing Microsoft over other ‘blue-chip stocks’ came down mostly to this ‘judgment based on coincidence.’

“I heard about your daily life from your grandfather, so I know what you’ve been up to. I can’t lose to him, can I? I’ll talk to my subordinates and set up a meeting.” “Thank you, Grandfather!”

Seeing his grown-up grandson even give him a kiss on the cheek, Brigadier General Colson’s face melted into a goofy grin.

Clack, clack!

The sound of a meal cart echoed through the first-class cabin, followed by the lovely flight attendants asking around for meal orders.

“Would you care for a meal?”

The flight attendant looked straight out of a 1970s black-and-white movie. She glanced at Brigadier General Colson, surprised by his wild charm, and then looked at Yoongi, twice as surprised by his cuteness.

‘Looks like my charm works overseas too, huh?’

In an instant, Choi Deokbae’s tsk-tsking resonated in Yoongi’s ears.

<You full getting know lately, of right? you’re yourself> ‘Wanna try some inflight food?’

A flash of joy washed over Choi Deokbae’s face, but he quickly pouted.

<I a bow can’t even here. receive ritual> ‘Is a Wi-Fi bow possible by any chance?’ <A I Wi-Fi a and bow bow? but do is is, know mean put them together? what when you> ‘I mean, can I perform the bow in the airplane bathroom? What’s the maximum range for a ancestral ritual?’ <I Let No, a first. food for give inflight it just me might once. shot some taste think… work?>

The crew pushing the meal cart included not just flight attendants, but actual chefs as well. Unlike modern planes, flying back then was truly the exclusive privilege of the upper class.

“Grandfather, I’ll be right back after using the restroom, then I’ll eat.” “Sure, sure, go ahead.”

A minute after Yoongi left for the restroom, Choi Deokbae excitedly picked up a knife and fork and started carving into a lobster.

<Bwahaha! I be eaten ever food! ghost in inflight must only the who’s world>

The world’s very first Wi-Fi ancestral ritual took place in 1977.

<I’m 60s 70s 80s I Imo Incident a after and back best. come dead! down economy few food from had hands hit, inflight inside is like looking meals military of planes plenty rations rice sand-mixed saw slop. started telling the thieves thought times—once trailed you,>

Thrilled by his inflight meal experience, Choi Deokbae floated happily around Yoongi. However, Yoongi wasn’t listening to a word he said, letting it slide right through one ear and out the other.

‘Woah…’

It was a sight you could never witness in Korea. The July cornfields embroidered in green stretched endlessly past the horizon—a truly magnificent spectacle. A field so vast and deep that the word ‘stranded’ felt fitting, as if walking forward into it at dusk would leave you completely lost by nightfall. Taking in that view broadened Yoongi’s mental horizon even further.

‘The world really is this vast…’

Back when he lived in modern Korea, he had drifted from place to place across the country. He went wherever there was a construction site. However, the world he saw back then and the world he was looking at now felt entirely different.

Squeeze!

‘Right, becoming Korea’s top enterprise isn’t the ultimate goal.’

Noticing his grandson looking as if he’d reached an epiphany, Brigadier General Colson smiled, stepped up behind him, and placed both hands on his shoulders.

“This is Indiana in July. All green—or do you call it verdant in Korea? But try imagining one more thing.” “Imagining what?” “Imagine all the corn kernels wrapped inside those green husks burst outside the leaves. What color do you think this view would turn into?”

In an instant, Yoongi envisioned a world gleaming entirely in gold. A golden scene where millions, tens of millions of yellow corn kernels gathered together to radiate brilliant light. Feeling his grandson’s body flinch, Colson wore a satisfied expression.

“Farmers don’t see corn during harvest season—they see gold. If you want to follow in his footsteps, you need to look at the world as gold too. You carry his bloodline, but you’re also the only bloodline I’ll leave behind in this world.”

At Brigadier General Colson’s words—unfitting for a soldier, yet perfectly fitting for a wealthy family’s in-law—Yoongi nodded, turned around, and hugged his grandfather.

“Alright, shall we head out to meet the people you wanted to see?”

Lifting his grandson onto his shoulders, Colson moved toward their next scheduled destination under the escort of his men.

Microsoft. Founded in 1975. Starting capital: $1,500. As of 1977, with the exchange rate at 484 KRW to the dollar, Bill Gates had essentially launched Microsoft with 726,000 KRW. In current Korean currency value, that was just under 6 million KRW. Yet with just 6 million KRW, Bill Gates achieved $100,000 in revenue in 1976 alone. That was nearly 60 times his initial capital. Furthermore, after winning the lawsuit against MITS in ’78, revenue leaped again to $1 million. Because of that, Yoongi believed that right now in ’77 was the ‘absolute last chance to invest in Microsoft for maximum profit.’

‘There’s Steve Jobs’ Apple and other companies, but most of the ones I know don’t show up until later. Plus, I don’t know them nearly as well as Microsoft.’

Better a company he was somewhat familiar with than one he knew nothing about. Even so, Yoongi felt sweat pooling in his palms.

“Should I just do as instructed?”

At Ryu Geuntae’s question, Yoongi nodded. The reason Yoongi brought Ryu Geuntae along was to handle things once they reached the practical execution stage. Originally, he planned to rely on him if he hit a wall with vocabulary during earlier conversations, but since his maternal grandfather stepped up to help, Yoongi figured it was better to lean on Brigadier General Colson for that part.

“Don’t be nervous. You can just think of this as a field trip, can’t you?”

At Brigadier General Colson’s words, Yoongi nodded with a slightly awkward smile. A moment later, the office door opened, and a new face appeared—not the two Microsoft employees who had been waiting with them. Thick, square-framed glasses on a vertical oval face. An awkward smile lingering on his lips, paired with curiously tired-looking eyes. Above all, his plaid button-down practically screamed ‘engineering major’ to anyone watching.

‘So the rumors about him rarely showering were actually true.’

The damp mouse-like odor wafting off Bill Gates the second he stepped into the office was proof enough, but Yoongi was the only one in the room who didn’t wince. Instead, he ran up to Bill Gates and held out his sketchbook.

“Whoaaaa!”

Seeing the young Asian boy running toward him with a cheer, Bill Gates looked puzzled, but his eyes went wide when he saw what was inside the sketchbook.

“Where did you say this kid was from?”

At Bill Gates’ whispered question, his employee whispered back in response.

“Korea. It’s a country next to Japan. Similar to Japan, but way behind economically.”

Bill Gates had only agreed to this meeting as a favor to a professor who taught him back at Harvard, so he didn’t fully grasp the situation yet. So, after seating Yoongi in the chair across the table, he sat down himself and asked Brigadier General Colson.

“I heard you were looking for me. I’m Bill Gates, the head of this company, Microsoft.” “Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Brigadier General Colson, currently serving with the US Forces in Korea. My grandson was dying to see you, so I pulled a few strings with people I know to set this up. It’ll probably be faster to talk to my grandson than to me.”

Seeing the gentle smile on Brigadier General Colson’s face, Bill Gates relaxed a bit, thinking it wasn’t nearly as serious a matter as he thought. Of course, he still had no idea why a Brigadier General from US Forces Korea had brought along a kid who looked like his fan.

“May I ask what brought my little friend from the East all the way here to see me?”

A tiny fan from the East who had meticulously scraped together articles about Microsoft and himself. Because of that, Bill Gates wore an exceptionally warm expression.

“I want to invest my allowance in this company. Because I love computers so much!”

Words coming from a ten-year-old child. As if remembering his own childhood, Bill Gates gave a light chuckle and replied.

“Investing in a company isn’t as easy as you might think. But if my little friend wants to invest, I can accept it personally. How much are you looking to invest?” “700,000 dollars!”

Instantly, silence fell over the office.