The moment Adam announced the name "Red Fire Refinery," a ripple of quiet excitement passed through the room. Every team member exchanged glances, each reflecting a mix of surprise, hope, and the heavy responsibility of the road ahead.
Monica was the first to break the silence. With a firm nod, she reached for her pen and quickly scribbled the name on the stack of papers in front of her.
"Alright," she said in a clear, steady voice. "Fire Corporation's first sub-branch—Red Fire Refinery. Its primary purpose is to extract and sell oil." Her tone left no room for doubt; it was as if she had been waiting for this moment all along.
Kim, standing close by, gave a slight nod. His expression remained serious and focused. He knew the stakes were high and that every decision mattered. Monica then turned her attention to Lisa.
With a determined look, she instructed, "Lisa, your job is to find potential buyers for us. But remember—stay as low-profile as possible. We can't afford to have our initial buyers leak information. The last thing we need is for Green Refinery to start breathing down our necks before we're even fully operational."
Lisa nodded in understanding. Her eyes shone with determination as she mentally prepared for the delicate task ahead.
She knew that finding buyers meant more than just selling oil; it meant carefully nurturing the first relationships with clients without attracting unwanted attention.
Before anyone could settle into the next task, Kim interjected with urgency. "Before we start looking for buyers, we need to get the refinery fully operational." His eyes shifted toward Adam as he continued,
"Adam, I have to admit, I'm impressed. Not only did you set up the refinery, but you even installed an oil extraction system. That must have cost a fortune. But we'll get to that later. First, we need to register the refinery legally and get it up and running as soon as possible."
Kim's words hung in the air. He was already thinking ahead to the many steps required before any oil could be sold. His focus was on turning the bold idea into a reality while keeping a tight rein on every detail.
Kim then looked at Monica, who simply nodded in agreement before turning her gaze to Raven.
Without any hesitation, Raven spoke up in his calm, steady manner, "Don't worry. I'll handle recruitment. Just tell me what kind of people you need and the budget, and I'll find the best talent available."
Monica began to jot down notes again, her pen scratching over the paper as she listed the roles and responsibilities.
But after a moment, she suddenly paused, her hand hovering above the page. The entire team sensed her hesitation. Her eyes met Kim's in a brief, nervous glance before she turned her focus toward Adam.
"Adam," she began slowly, "can you tell us exactly how much funding we have? We need to plan carefully for the future, and the budget will shape every decision we make from now on."
Her tone was a mix of concern and practicality. She knew that without a clear understanding of their financial resources, the plans they made might crumble before they even began.
Adam had been avoiding this question for a while. The weight of financial matters was never far from his mind, yet it was one topic he found difficult to discuss openly.
But he knew that the time for evasion was over. Taking a deep breath, he finally decided to face the matter head-on.
"I currently have one million dollars," Adam said, his voice calm but tinged with the truth of his limited means. A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone exchanged surprised glances. The stark number resonated in the quiet space, a reminder that dreams, no matter how grand, must be built on realistic foundations.
Kim's eyes widened slightly as he processed the information. It became clear that when Adam had previously claimed to have endless cash, he had only been trying to reassure the team. In reality, his financial backing was far more modest than many had assumed.
For Kim, who had hoped for a larger investment, this revelation was a moment of reconsideration.
Before anyone could comment further, Adam continued, "If necessary, I can raise another two million dollars." His words were meant to offer reassurance, but the room fell into stunned silence once more.
The figures were now the subject of intense scrutiny, each person considering the implications for their future plans.
Monica was the first to break the silence. "Adam, one million dollars should be enough for now," she said firmly, her tone laced with practical wisdom.
"We don't want to put an additional burden on you. Our final budget will be one million dollars." Her voice carried the weight of someone who had seen many plans go awry because of financial overreach. It was a decision made not out of a lack of ambition, but out of a careful understanding of their current resources.
She looked around the room, ensuring that every member was following her reasoning. "Is everyone clear on this?" she asked, her eyes scanning the faces before her.
One by one, each team member nodded in silent agreement. The clarity of the budget, though modest, provided a stable base upon which they could build their plans.
Adam, though slightly taken aback by Monica's decisive manner, felt a wave of gratitude. His team understood his situation, and their support in accepting the budget eased some of his worries.
Mr. Kim cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention as he stepped forward to outline the next phase of their journey. "Alright, now that we're clear on the budget, let's review everyone's tasks and responsibilities," he said, his tone authoritative and focused.
He turned to Lee, the young lawyer who had shown promise from the start. "Lee, you need to get all the necessary documents ready. I need everything completed within a day if possible." Lee's face lit up with determination, and he pounded his fist lightly against his chest as a sign of commitment. "Leave it to me!" he declared confidently.
Kim then shifted his focus to Lisa. "You have two tasks. First, you must find potential buyers for our oil while maintaining complete secrecy. Second, keep the price as low as possible—just enough to create demand. We have an oil reserve, but breaking into the market won't be easy. If we want to capture a slice of the market, we need to ease people into our supply gradually." Lisa nodded, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of her role.
She understood that her job was not just about sales; it was about setting the stage for a lasting market presence without alerting competitors.
As soon as Kim finished speaking, Adam's eyes brightened with a sudden idea. A mischievous smirk spread across his face as he turned toward Lisa and said, "Lisa, here's what we'll do—give them the oil for free." The room fell into complete silence.
For a few long moments, no one spoke. The words hung in the air like a challenge, a radical shift from conventional business practices.
Kim looked at Adam, shock and disbelief clear in his eyes. "What do you mean? That's not how business works! If we give it away for free, we won't make any money!" His voice was loud enough to cut through the stillness, echoing off the walls of the small meeting room.
Monica, equally taken aback, shook her head slowly. "Adam, are you serious?" she asked, her tone laced with concern and a touch of incredulity. The seriousness of the moment was underscored by the weight of their responsibilities and the risks they were about to take.
Adam, however, remained calm. "I never said we'd give it away forever," he replied steadily. "We'll only provide the first batch for free." His eyes sparkled with a mixture of daring and conviction, as if he were unveiling a secret weapon that would change everything.
Raven, always the practical one, frowned deeply and interjected, "That could throw off our entire financial plan. And how do we decide how much to give away?" His voice was measured, yet his concern was evident.
The idea, though innovative, came with risks that needed to be carefully managed.
Adam grinned, his confidence undeterred by the challenges pointed out by his team. "Simple. Whatever they ask for, we give it to them—no limits." His tone was light, almost playful, as if he were describing a well-known trick rather than a radical business strategy.
Now, the room was filled with disbelief and uncertainty. Monica narrowed her eyes as she looked directly at Adam, her concern growing. "Adam, are you sure you're okay? Do you even understand what you're saying?" Her voice was gentle but firm, an expression of both care and the responsibility she felt for the future of the company.
Adam raised both hands in a calming gesture. "Relax," he said with a confident chuckle. "This is a proven strategy." His smile broadened, but inside, he knew the truth. He hadn't invented this technique at all.
In the future, a company from overseas would use this exact marketing strategy to dominate the global industry. All I did was copy it—just a little earlier than history intended.
The room fell silent once more, each team member processing the risk and the potential of Adam's bold move. The idea of giving away the first batch for free was both terrifying and intriguing.
It meant sacrificing short-term gains for the promise of long-term market dominance. Every person in the room weighed the cost of such a gamble against the possibility of becoming pioneers in a fiercely competitive industry.