Chapter 126: Regulator

“CEO, we’ve purchased an additional 37 acres near Sancheok Lake.”

“How much did it cost?”

“89.7 billion won, including tax.”

At Oh Seong-hak’s words, Seong-hwan gasped.

“When I first purchased the 14.5 acres of land for Dojin Tech’s first factory, it cost 26.1 billion won. The land price has really skyrocketed.”

“Since the government announced the development plan for Dongtan 2 New Town two years ago, nearby land prices have been rising sharply.”

The price reflected the government’s intention to develop it into a new town on par with Bundang.

“If only we’d bought more land when we first purchased the site.”

Hong Chung-ki said, sounding regretful.

But I had a lot to say about that.

“Even then, we had to scrape together every penny we had to barely purchase the site.”

Compared to that, the fact that we could now buy an 89.7 billion won site without hesitation was beyond gratifying.

“Anyway, I’ll tell Park Cheol-jin to start construction on the newly purchased site right away.”

“This time, don’t build it in several blocks like the first factory site. Build it properly, considering future expansion.”

“Expansion… Do you mean semiconductors, by any chance?”

I nodded.

“It’s impossible right now, but we need to prepare little by little.”

To that end, whenever I had time, I was steadily working on semiconductor-related designs and patent registrations.

“Speaking of which, I have something to tell you about that.”

“…Go ahead.”

I focused my attention on Hong Chung-ki’s voice, which sounded serious for some reason.

“The A-Core X1.”

“Is there a problem with the AP we’re getting from Ahsung Electronics?”

Thanks to Ahsung unknowingly using the ‘Low-Power Mobile Cache Interrupt Parallel Processing System’ patent I’d registered in the A-Core series being applied to the Quantum.

They were delivering 40% of the production volume to me.

“…The problem is that Ahsung is no longer increasing the production volume of the X1, using the excuse that they need to focus on producing the X2, the model after the X1.”

Both the Quantum 1-S we’re currently selling and the upcoming low-cost Quantum 1-A model.

Were basically going to use the A-Core X1.

At a time when increasing the volume of APs was more important than anything else to meet the ever-growing demand.

If Ahsung no longer increased the volume of X1 APs.

There was bound to be a disruption to our production as well.

“How about getting the X2 instead of the X1?”

Instead of Hong Chung-ki, Chilbong answered my question.

“Well… From what I’ve checked, it doesn’t seem easy.”

“What do you mean? Speak clearly.”

“The X2 developed by Ahsung, while not significantly improved in computational performance compared to the existing X1, was designed without the low-power cache interrupt parallel processing structure.”

“What?”

It was something I hadn’t expected.

‘The low-power cache interrupt parallel processing system is a structure that must be applied to high-performance APs…’

“It seems that Ahsung completely overhauled the structure of the X2 to avoid our patent. As a result, multitasking performance was degraded and heat increased, but overall, performance was still improved compared to the X1.”

I felt like something was stuck.

I thought Ahsung would try to design around the patent.

But the fact that they actually created a chip that circumvented my patent, even at the expense of some performance, could be interpreted differently.

‘Are they not trying to avoid me, but provoke me?’

I could feel their intention.

To maintain their supply advantage through the A-Core X2.

And to curb the spread of the Quantum.

It was a completely different situation from when I used the patent to create an exclusive supply structure for the A-Core X1.

“If Ahsung no longer expands the X1 and pushes the X2, we need to find an alternative.”

As Hong Chung-ki said, the situation required a response.

“It won’t be easy for Ahsung, either.”

“What do you mean?”

“Quantum aside, Ahsung also needs to make Titan 2 a success, don’t they?”

“That’s… true.”

At my words, Hong Chung-ki and the others in the meeting nodded.

Since the launch of the Titan 2 had been delayed by three months due to the NeoChips MPS module issue.

Ahsung was under pressure to make the Titan 2 a success this time.

“If Ahsung uses the AP as a weapon, why don’t we use the camera module, Lunar, and the AQC module as weapons?”

None of the things I mentioned were dispensable for launching the Titan.

And to use KTalk and Ani-pung, which were causing a global sensation beyond South Korea, Lunar had to be applied.

If I wanted to, I could restrict the Lunar installed on the Titan.

“Are you saying you can really restrict the Titan through Lunar?”

Hong Chung-ki asked, looking surprised.

Han Yu-ju pulled up some data and gave additional explanation.

“As you can see, the basic structure of the Lunar SDK is connected to the OEM’s UX module through the Mirage interface. This Mirage acts as a kind of ‘regulator.’”

“Regulator…?”

“On Lunar-enabled devices, the process priority of default apps like Voicetalk, KTalk, and Ani-pung is set to the highest level only when a specific certification code is inserted.”

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

“In other words, if the certification code is modified, network interrupts can be delayed, and some functions of the Lunar app ecosystem can be restricted.”

Hong Chung-ki, understanding Han Yu-ju’s words, gasped.

“So, you’re saying the speed will decrease?”

“To be precise, a ‘user-perceptible level of responsiveness degradation’ will occur. Overall OS performance won’t drop, but Lunar’s strengths won’t be fully utilized.”

“But if we do that, Ahsung will know, won’t they?”

This time, I answered.

“Of course, they’ll catch on. Or, if they don’t, I plan to let them know intentionally. To show that we essentially hold the control.”

I then brought up the AQC module and the camera.

“And one of the most emphasized features of the Titan 2 is the high-resolution camera. And at this point, only we can properly supply a 20-megapixel camera worldwide.”

Seong-hwan beside me chimed in.

“Sunny in Japan also released a 20-megapixel camera, but I hear they’re having trouble supplying enough due to yield issues.”

Starting from 20-megapixel cameras, active alignment technology and ultra-low reflection lens coating are essential.

I held all the relevant patents.

Even if they paid royalties to use my patents.

It would take considerable time to stabilize the process.

So, as Seong-hwan said, at this point, only I could properly supply 20-megapixel cameras worldwide.

‘The same goes for the AQC module, which enables Voicetalk in 3G environments.’

If they launched a smartphone without the Voicetalk feature in this situation.

No one would choose it.

Mujinwon.

The air in the Ahsung Group chairman’s office had been dry like kindling for days.

Chairman Chun Ho-tae sat heavily in one corner of the meeting room.

Staring at the scenery outside the wall.

Leading the meeting in place of Chairman Chun was Kim Seong-jae, head of strategic planning.

“The production of the X1 should be kept to a minimum.”

As Kim Seong-jae spoke.

The senior executives in the meeting room, including the head of Ahsung Electronics’ mobile division and the head of the semiconductor division, all looked up.

“Director, are you saying we should only produce the X2 from now on instead of the X1?”

“We can’t keep producing the X1, which isn’t profitable, because of patent issues. Making it only helps our competitor, Dojin.”

Until recently.

They didn’t think much of whatever Dojin did.

Now, even Kim Seong-jae, the second-in-command of Ahsung Group, was naturally referring to Dojin as a competitor.

“Understood. We’ll maintain X1 production only at the level contracted with Dojin and switch to the X2 as the main focus.”

At Semiconductor Division Head Won Chang-hui’s response, Kim Seong-jae nodded.

And this time, he asked Mobile Division Head Moon Yong-wook.

“Can the MPS module be supplied without issue?”

“Yes, Director. The MPS module is fine now.”

“…Meaning internalization is complete?”

“Correct. Using the blueprints, circuit alignment data, and process characteristic sheets secured during the NeoChips due diligence, we’ve completed in-house sample production.”

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Kim Seong-jae continued with additional questions.

“Does that mean you’ve also interpreted all the firmware NeoChips was using?”

“It took some time, but thanks to deploying a large number of personnel from the R&D center, we were able to complete it within the schedule.”

Ahsung wasn’t called Ahsung for nothing.

As a company with the best technical team in the country, they succeeded in internalizing the notoriously difficult MPS module in just three months.

“What’s the yield?”

“For the initial samples, it’s 91.6%, which is commercially viable.”

At Mobile Division Head Moon Yong-wook’s response, Chairman Chun Ho-tae finally turned around slowly.

He walked heavily toward the meeting table and spoke in a low, firm voice.

“Then, there should be no problem launching the Titan 2, right?”

Kim Seong-jae took a moment to catch his breath, then bowed his head and answered.

“Yes, Chairman, except for the AQC module, there should be no issue with the launch.”

“…Can’t we use the external AQC module released by Dojin?”

There was a way to secure the AQC module through negotiations with Dojin and embed it in the Titan 2.

But doing so would mean they’d have to give the X2 to Dojin as well.

So, strategically, they decided to use the external earphone-type AQC module released by Dojin.

“As a precaution, we’ve arranged with a Chinese company to create a replica of the external AQC module.”

If Dojin controlled or halted the supply of the external AQC module, it could become problematic.

So, they prepared for any eventuality by utilizing China, known as the land of counterfeits.

“While Sunny’s yield for the 20-megapixel camera module is low, they’ve agreed to expand the production line to meet demand. So, no matter what Dojin does, there’s nothing they can do this time.”

Chairman Chun Ho-tae believed this was the opportunity to finally bring down Quantum.

No matter how advanced their technology, they couldn’t replace the AP, the brain of a smartphone.

But then.

The chairman’s office door opened.

And Strategic Planning Department Head Bong Sang-min rushed in.

In his hand was the performance log of Lunar running on a Titan 2 test device.