Chapter 35: The Price of Betrayal

Chapter 35: The Price of Betrayal

📅 Date: July 28, 1994

📍 NexTech Headquarters, Seoul, South Korea

The dimly lit hallway was silent.

Jin Hoshino stood at the exit, arms crossed, watching the trembling man clutching the stolen documents.

Lee Sang-woo—one of NexTech's mid-level engineers—had spent the last week secretly leaking company files.

And he thought no one had noticed.

"Mr. Hoshino, I—"

Before he could finish, the two security guards flanking Jin stepped forward. Their presence was suffocating.

Jin's expression remained calm, but his voice carried an unmistakable edge.

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

Sang-woo's breath hitched. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape route.

Jin sighed. "Sit down."

A chair was pulled from a nearby desk. Sang-woo hesitated, then slumped into it, sweat forming on his forehead.

📌 The truth was simple:

✔ Someone at Microsoft had made contact with him.

✔ They offered him $500,000 to leak NexPhone's development plans.

✔ He took the deal, thinking Jin wouldn't notice.

Jin leaned forward, his dark eyes locked onto Sang-woo's.

"Tell me, what did Microsoft offer you?"

Sang-woo swallowed hard. His mind raced. Should he lie? Deny everything?

Jin's gaze didn't waver.

And Sang-woo realized something.

There was no point in lying.

"Five hundred thousand dollars," he finally whispered. "They wanted the NexPhone project details."

Jin exhaled slowly.

📌 He wasn't angry. He was disappointed.

Not because of the betrayal itself—but because Sang-woo had sold out for such a cheap price.

$500,000?

That was pocket change.

Jin leaned back, fingers tapping against the desk. "And you thought that was worth it?"

Sang-woo had no answer.

Then, Jin did something unexpected.

He chuckled.

Not in anger. Not in mockery. But in pure amusement.

"You fool." Jin shook his head. "Do you think Microsoft would actually protect you after this?"

Sang-woo's hands trembled.

"No… they wouldn't, would they?"

Jin smirked. "Of course not. The moment they get what they need, you'll be disposable."

A long silence filled the room.

Then, Jin stood up. "I should fire you."

Sang-woo flinched.

"But instead…" Jin's voice lowered. "I'm going to make you an offer."

Sang-woo's eyes widened. "An… offer?"

Jin nodded. "You're going to do exactly what Microsoft asked of you. But instead of real data, you'll give them a fabricated version."

The room fell deathly silent.

"A trap."

Jin's smirk deepened. "Microsoft thinks they're playing me. Now, let's play them."

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Microsoft's Surprise – A Costly Mistake

📅 Date: July 30, 1994

📍 Microsoft Headquarters, Redmond, USA

The encrypted files had arrived.

Bill Gates sat with his team of engineers, analyzing the stolen NexPhone schematics.

📌 Key Highlights of the "Leaked" NexPhone Plans:

✔ A flawed battery system that overheated easily.

✔ A network security system full of vulnerabilities.

✔ A manufacturing process that would be too costly to mass-produce.

Microsoft's executives smirked.

"So, NexTech isn't as strong as we thought."

They had no idea the files were fake.

📌 Microsoft's Next Move:

✔ They would announce their own "better" mobile phone project, designed to outperform NexPhone.

✔ They would rush production to beat NexTech to market.

✔ They would invest millions into an anti-NexPhone campaign.

What they didn't know was that they were basing their entire strategy on a lie.

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Hollywood's Desperate Counterattack – The Fight for NexFlix

📅 Date: August 2, 1994

📍 Los Angeles, California

The boardrooms of major Hollywood studios were in chaos.

✔ NexFlix's first original show, "Neon Rebellion," was an instant success.

✔ Viewership numbers were skyrocketing.

✔ More creators were signing exclusive deals with NexTech, bypassing traditional studios.

Hollywood was losing control.

"We need to act now," one executive growled.

📌 Hollywood's Counterattack Plan:

✔ Block NexFlix from acquiring more content rights.

✔ Pressure cable networks to refuse collaboration with NexTech.

✔ Start a smear campaign, accusing NexFlix of "ruining the film industry."

Their goal was clear: Crush NexFlix before it became unstoppable.

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Jin's Next Move – The Birth of NexPay

📅 Date: August 5, 1994

📍 NexTech Headquarters, Seoul

Jin stood before a private development team.

"We're launching a new project."

The engineers leaned in, eager to hear what their CEO had planned.

Jin smirked. "It's called NexPay."

📌 What is NexPay?

✔ A digital payment system integrated into NexTech's ecosystem.

✔ Users could pay for NexFlix, NexOS software, and future NexPhone services seamlessly.

✔ The foundation for a financial empire that would bypass traditional banking systems.

Why was this important?

Because if Hollywood and Microsoft wanted to cut him off…

Then Jin would build his own financial infrastructure.

No middlemen. No restrictions. Total control.

📌 The Endgame Was Becoming Clear:

✔ NexPhone was coming.

✔ NexFlix was growing rapidly.

✔ NexPay would create a new economy within NexTech's ecosystem.

Jin Hoshino wasn't just competing.

He was replacing the old world with a new one.

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Final Scene – The Warning from an Old Friend

📅 Date: August 7, 1994

📍 Seoul, South Korea

Jin sat in a dimly lit café, sipping his coffee. Across from him sat an old business partner.

The man leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Jin… they're planning something bigger."

Jin's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"Everyone. Microsoft. Hollywood. Even some government officials." The man exhaled. "They don't just want to beat you. They want to erase you."

Jin remained silent.

Then, he smirked. "Let them try."

The war wasn't over.

It was just getting started.

---

End of Chapter 35