Devil’s Music

The basement was surprisingly clean and well-organized. Unlike in the movies, there was no need to wave away dust and cough.

Alisher Usmanov, admiring the large wooden table, a few chairs, and the wall full of clockmaking tools, ran his finger over the workbench and looking at his hand, remarked, "Not a speck of dust. The owner seems very meticulous."

Toby, with a snicker, pulled out a small hammer from the hanging tools on the wall and showed it off.

"Can't teach you much else, but I did teach proper tool care, having been an auto mechanic myself."

Alisher Usmanov laughed as he took the hammer.

"Oh, your skill with tools must come from your father then."

Geon briefly looked around the room before tuning in to the sound of a car outside.

"Seems like they're back?"

Toby listened to the sound outside and laughed.

"You have good ears. Sounds like they're back, let's head out."

Toby was the first to exit the basement, followed by Alisher Usmanov.

Outside, Toby started unloading groceries from the car and called out to Arthur.

"Arthur, we have guests."

Arthur, holding two large plastic bags, gave Alisher Usmanov a puzzled look.

"A guest? Ah... who is it?"

Arthur's eyes widened as Geon appeared behind Alisher Usmanov.

"Geon!?"

As he dropped the plastic bags, oranges rolled out, and he stood gaping, unable to think of picking them up, when an elderly lady, having gotten out of the car, shouted.

"My goodness, Arthur! What are you doing?"

As the lady hurried to pick up the oranges, Geon bent down to help her. Noticing him, she turned her head.

"Who are you?"

Smiling charmingly, the already handsome Geon said as he handed her two oranges,

"My name is Geon, nice to meet you."

"My, are you helping with the groceries? How thoughtful, come this way, please."

As they headed inside, Alisher Usmanov approached the bewildered Arthur.

"Let's go in and talk, Arthur Hodgson?"

Arthur, looking stunned, managed a stuttered response.

"Uh, yeah, sure!"

Toby, sighing at his son's dumbfounded look, nudged him.

"He's your guest, snap out of it and play host."

Regaining his composure, Arthur saw Alisher Usmanov inside.

"Who are you, sir?"

Alisher Usmanov smiled and handed him a business card, causing Arthur's eyes to widen.

"Arsenal Holdings?"

Laughing, Alisher Usmanov slapped his shoulder.

"Let's go in and talk. Ha ha."

After a while, Arthur's family gathered in the living room, listening to Alisher Usmanov talk about investment.

Arthur, feeling validated for the first time by Alisher Usmanov, glanced gratefully at Geon as well. Watching them, Alisher Usmanov asked,

"I have one question, Arthur."

"Ask away."

Alisher Usmanov pulled out a watch Arthur had given to Geon and asked,

"Why do you insist on manually winding the watch by turning the crown? It's impressive that you developed your own movement, but if it's manual, the user must reset the time each time they wind it. If not done correctly, the watch won't show the accurate time."

Arthur explained as he looked at the watch in his hand,

"Manual watches allow easier appreciation of their beauty since a rotor system covers up half of the movement or even the micro-rotor can overshadow the movement in automatic watches. That's why I chose manual."

Alisher Usmanov raised an eyebrow with the watch in hand.

"Beauty? You think this design is beautiful?"

As Arthur blushed, Alisher Usmanov raised his hands.

"No offense meant. But there has been an innovation in rotor systems that rotate around the perimeter of the movement, offering convenience without covering it. It's a significant innovation but still too expensive."

Arthur nodded with a wry smile.

"True, it's a great innovation, but too pricey. The added movement is lubricated by bearings that rotate while winding the spring, using platinum bearings and a counterweight, making it more expensive."

Alisher Usmanov, tilting his head, lifted the watch.

"Custom watches trade at high prices, don't they? Use expensive parts and sell it for more."

"Yes, that's true... but I didn't have the money to buy those parts. That's why I'm seeking investors."

Alisher Usmanov set the watch down on the table.

"So, if someone funded the parts and provided a designer, could you produce a better watch?"

Arthur, sensing the investment decision depended on his answer, took a deep breath and nodded confidently.

"Yes, that would

be possible."

Toby, Arthur's mother, and Geon all focused on Alisher Usmanov as he spoke after a moment of thought.

"Alright, but I can't make an easy investment decision. The rotor system parts alone would cost about five thousand pounds?"

Disappointed by the non-immediate decision, Arthur nodded.

Alisher Usmanov then pulled out a luxurious leather wallet and placed money on the table.

"Ten thousand pounds. You have ten days to produce a prototype. It's difficult to send a designer here, so go to London."

Seeing the money on the table, Toby's face lit up, though Arthur remained tense.

There was one last test to pass. After a moment of resolve, Arthur picked up the money from the table.

"I'll show you the best watch I can make."

Alisher Usmanov, with a laugh, raised his palms.

"It doesn't have to be the best. It's just a prototype. We'll talk about the best when we launch the brand, ha ha!"

Arthur stood up, straightening his posture.

"Thank you so much for this opportunity."

"Ha ha, it's not me giving the opportunity, I'd say it's Geon. He turned a trivial matter into an emotional one."

Arthur bowed deeply towards Geon.

"In the East, we show gratitude this way. Thank you."

Geon stood up, straightened Arthur's posture, and smiled.

"Your skills and desperation earned this opportunity, not me. Straighten up."

As Arthur straightened, gratitude filled his eyes. The cheerful atmosphere in the living room was interrupted by a knock, and the neighborly old lady entered with a freshly baked apple pie, smiling.

"Apple pie's here~"

"Ha ha ha, grandma really came."

"Of course, I don't talk nonsense. Try some, it's best when warm."

Arthur's mother stood up.

"Then I'll make some tea, ha ha."

With Arthur smiling, his mother seemed in good spirits as she headed to the kitchen.

Unlike those with lots of time, Alisher Usmanov, always rushed by his business, habitually asked,

"Ah... what time is it now?"

Arthur, holding a piece of apple pie, responded without looking at a watch.

"It's just past 1:38:47 PM."

As Geon and the elderly lady chatted and laughed, Geon turned to Arthur, and Alisher Usmanov looked surprised as Toby commented,

"This guy's a walking clock, ha ha, you can trust his time."

Still not looking at a watch, Geon asked Arthur again,

"What time is it now?"

Toby, nonchalantly chewing apple pie, answered,

"It's 1:39:02 PM."

As Geon checked his phone for the seconds, he exclaimed in surprise,

"Wow! That's really accurate?"

Arthur nodded, wiping crumbs from his mouth.

"Ever since I was young, it seems I've had a stopwatch in my head, ha ha."

Unknowingly, Arthur tapped his thigh to the soft ticking of a grandfather clock. Geon, watching Arthur's hand movements intently, asked Alisher Usmanov,

"Why so?"

Still focused on Arthur's hand gestures, Geon's eyebrows twitched.

'Exact timing, like watching a metronome.'

Geon then turned to Alisher Usmanov.

"If you decide to invest, how much are you thinking?"

This sudden question was on everyone's mind, and all eyes turned to Alisher Usmanov. After a brief thought, he opened his mouth as Arthur swallowed nervously.

"Well... depending on the prototype, but usually around 350,000 pounds (approximately 500 million KRW)."

Arthur's face brightened at the unexpected amount, but he was shocked by Geon's next words and could only gape.

"I'll invest the same amount."

Alisher Usmanov widened his eyes in surprise, and so did Toby and Arthur's mother, freezing in their actions. Arthur, with his mouth agape, listened as Geon chuckled and pointed a finger.

"But you'll have to do one thing for me, Arthur."

Arthur, trembling at the mention of 700,000 pounds, finally managed to speak.

"A favor? What could someone like me possibly do for you, Geon?"

Geon smiled gently as he looked at Arthur's dark hand.

"Just learn something from me. Think of it as a hobby."

>

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