Chapter 158: Morning in Philadelphia (2)

Joanne looked at me for a moment and thought to herself.

‘So this is why people like that person.’

Despite my young age, I possessed a brilliant brain and a side that was not swayed by emotions.

Furthermore, I had the persuasiveness to make people strangely attracted.

She straightened her posture and opened her mouth.

“Fine, Representative Lim. Then I cannot just stay still either.”

As I stared at her intently, Joanne smiled slightly and continued her words.

“The US Navy MRO business is not a project at the level of simple maintenance or repair. It is closer to a fleet maintenance ecosystem construction project that manages the entire operation system.”

She began to speak more specifically.

“What we want is not a simple technician, but a reliable partner. In particular, parts supply chain management, field response speed, and a digital integration system for maintenance history by vessel. These three are the key.”

I nodded quietly.

Those who were listening from the side were writing it down diligently, fearing they might miss even one of her words.

Joanne caught her breath for a moment and then slowly continued.

“If someone can stably integrate these three, it means they will soon hold the leadership of the next-generation MRO.”

Her eyes flashed as she stared at me.

“Of course, this is as far as I can speak at my level.”

When Joanne looked at Alan Park sitting next to her, he cautiously opened his mouth.

Because he belonged to the Navy Technical Evaluation Committee, he was in a position where it was even more burdensome to speak.

Alan Park clasped his hands together and said.

“To add to what the senior official said, the US Navy values whether this business can be operated in the long term much more than short-term maintenance capability—that is, its reliability. Rather than supplying parts on time, we look at whether those parts can operate with the same quality even years later.”

Strength entered the hands of the clasped doctor.

“And to guarantee that reliability, one must pass at least a five-stage certification system. The maintenance cycle of each vessel, the part replacement history, and even environmental variables must all be systematized. This is exactly the scariest part.”

He was explaining calmly, but it was somehow meaningful.

“In other words, you cannot enter this market simply because your shipbuilding technology is good. If there is no data, prediction, and sustainability, we will never open our hearts.”

Joanne nodded from the side.

“What the doctor said is the core. Until now, many companies approached trusting only their technological power, only to fail because of the instability of the management system.”

Alan looked at me again.

“Representative Lim, if HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering seriously aims for this market, you will have to change your thinking from a company that makes ships to a company that manages fleets.”

The inside of the conference room became quiet for a moment.

Those words were not just a bit of advice.

He had suggested a direction that we had missed.

I smiled and spoke.

“Thank you for the good words, Doctor. And Senior Official.”

My gaze looked peaceful, but calculations ran quickly in my head.

Joanne looked at me and thought to herself.

‘Now, what choice will HJ Partners make? Will they step back quietly, or will they throw a winning move head-on?’

Joanne Madison stood up from her seat and spoke.

“It was a good conversation, Representative Lim.”

“I am the one who is thankful, Senior Official.”

As I replied with a smile, Joanne looked at me one last time with a glance.

Regret was harbored in her eyes.

“How long do you plan to stay in the US?”

“It is not certain yet. Anyway, I plan to stay for the time being.”

“I see. I hope there are good results.”

“Thank you to both of you.”

I exchanged final greetings with Joanne and Alan.

Only after escorting them to the door did it become quiet.

While the two walked to the elevator, only the sound of shoes echoed.

Joanne said with some concern.

“Doctor, did we do well today?”

Alan looked at Joanne while pressing the elevator button.

“I don't know if we did well, but at least I am very curious about what will happen in the future.”

“Actually, I was as well.”

The elevator door opened and the two naturally went inside.

Alan spoke after pressing the button.

“At least if it is him, I think he will do well.”

At those words, Joanne smiled slightly.

As the elevator moved and went down, a black shadow moved at the corner of the hallway.

It was a man in a hotel staff uniform.

While pushing a cleaning cart, he glanced toward the elevator as if it were nothing.

After that, he walked away while pushing the cleaning cart again.

In the CCTV blind spot in the hallway, he briefly put the watch on his wrist close to his mouth.

Arabic flowed from his mouth.

“Report. Joanne Madison and Alan Park made contact with HJ Partners.”

A short silence flowed.

A faint light flashed on the watch screen.

[Copy that.]

***

After Joanne and Alan left, silence found the room where I stayed again.

As soon as the door closed, someone exhaled a long breath.

It was Hong Jang-gun.

“Business is much more complicated than I thought.”

I quietly lifted my teacup and took a sip.

There was only one thing in my head.

‘Sustainability….’

Choi Seo-jun was the same.

Unlike me, he spoke it out loud.

“So the key is not just making ships well, but how long and stably you can maintain them.... It won't be easy.”

President Yu Hyeon-seok of HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering followed by saying.

“To think about everything from part replacement history to maintenance cycles and environmental variables must be managed with data. That actually means designing the entire operation system.”

Everyone nodded their heads silently for a moment at President Yu Hyeon-seok's words. ℴ

I put down the glass I was drinking from and opened my mouth.

“What the US wants is not simple shipbuilding technology.”

My voice, pitched low, was steeped in the conviction gained after deep deliberation.

Tension lingered in the space where we were.

“They want something that can remove uncertainty. A system that predicts the moment a machine breaks down and suggests a replacement schedule before the parts even wear out. In other words....”

I stopped speaking for a moment and slowly scanned the materials on the table.

There were numerous reports and blueprints that I had prepared.

An even bigger picture was unfolding in my head right now.

“Their goal is to create a system where time and cost are predictable.”

Hong Jang-gun’s eyebrows furrowed.

He had also been in the military, but he had never thought of such a thing.

While stroking his chin with his finger, he slowly opened his mouth.

“In other words, it is not about repairing the ship... but telling them until when that ship can be used.”

I nodded and smiled.

I was internally impressed because Hong Jang-gun’s understanding was faster than expected.

“That is correct. The US Navy runs the largest fleet in the world, but at the same time, they are the military that spends the most on maintenance costs.”

I stood up and walked to the window.

The scenery of the pure white city spread out before my eyes.

However, in my eyes, the image of shipyard cranes moving across the sky hovered like a phantom.

I knew better than anyone how many systems would be needed to move those giant structures.

“To reduce those costs, they want prevention as much as maintenance.”

When I turned around, everyone in the conference room was looking at me with bated breath.

Curiosity appeared in Director Choi Seo-jun's eyes, excitement in President Yu Hyeon-seok's expression, and inquisitiveness in General Manager Han Seung-woo's face.

I returned to the table and sat down.

My gaze moved over the spread-out blueprints.

My fingers slowly scanned throughout the blueprints.

As if reading a new meaning from each and every line.

“In other words, what we must sell is not the performance of a single ship, but the life-cycle management capability of the entire fleet.”

Life-cycle Management.

Weight was carried in my voice as I pronounced those words.

“We must be able to predict the status of the vessels and produce and supply parts in advance based on data. That is precisely the meaning of sustainability they spoke of.”

Silence flowed.

A silence where thoughts deepened.

Choi Hana, who was spinning a ballpoint pen between her fingers, stopped and opened her mouth cautiously.

“Then, was the direction of the materials we prepared so far completely wrong?”

Her gaze wavered.

How many HJ Partners employees had been clinging to this work for the past few weeks.

Yu Hyeon-seok's expression also stiffened.

However, I shook my head gently.

My eyes sparkled and shone.

“It is not wrong. However, from the US perspective, it is only half. They value not only technological power and results but also the systematic process.”

I leaned my back against the chair and closed my eyes for a moment.

Fatigue rushed in for a moment.

However, at the same time, I felt the pleasure just before all the puzzles were matched.

I slowly opened my eyes and said clearly.

“What we must do is not sell off shipbuilding technology, but design a system they can rely on.”

My hand lightly tapped the table.

Tap. Tap.

A regular rhythm echoed in the conference room.

“If that is possible, the MRO business will change from a simple subcontract to an alliance-level cooperation.”

Yu Hyeon-seok's eyes flashed.

He muttered in a voice mixed with admiration.

“So, it is not that we maintain the fleet....”

He stopped speaking for a moment and looked straight at me.

Excitement close to a thrill was wavering in his gaze.

“If we can just make it so that the US cannot operate without the system we made.... Whoa. It is thrilling just to think about it.”

The corners of my mouth rose slightly.

“Exactly.”

My gaze looked out the window.

It felt as if I could see the US Navy fleet that would be over there.

“That is precisely the direction we should aim for.”

Unwavering resolve was contained in my voice.

The air in the conference room changed again.

The target, which had been vague until just a few minutes ago, began to reveal a clear outline.

Yu Hyeon-seok began to calculate something on his laptop with burning enthusiasm.

General Manager Han Seung-woo was the same.

I watched their appearance quietly.

Something hot was slowly burning in my heart.

It was just the beginning.

I stopped my hand, which was organizing the documents, and slowly looked over the table.

Blueprints spread out and notes written densely.

The traces of intense discussion remained exactly as they were.

The tight heat filling the conference room felt as if it might burst.

Then a gentle smile spread across my mouth.

“Good. Everyone uses their brains a lot, so shouldn't we put in some fuel now?”

Everyone's gaze turned toward me simultaneously.

I spoke while leaning my back leisurely against the chair.

“To work hard, you must eat a hearty meal. So, how about steak for lunch today?”

Hong Jang-gun raised both hands high and let out a cheer.

He looked as innocent as a boy.

“I am in favor of anything if it is meat!”

Choi Seo-jun also burst into a chuckle and nodded.

“Protein is the best for fatigue recovery. Isn't that a scientifically proven fact? Hahaha.”

Cho Hana ordered room service quickly with sparkling eyes.

Then she turned her head and asked.

“Representative, how would you like it cooked?”

At that sound, everyone burst into laughter.

The deeply settled tension completely loosened and was filled with a warm atmosphere.