On Jasper’s end, he had brought out enough bargaining chips to pique Elbert’s interest and surprise him immensely.
“Mr. Laine, this is the most advanced MP3 player design document in the world. Where did you get it?”
Elbert asked Jasper excitedly in the Southeast Province Research Institute of Sciences.
Jasper smiled. “Obviously through legal means. I bought it from the original creator, Damond Golding. Does the technology look difficult?”
Elbert smiled confidently. “I know about Damond. He’s a very talented technician, but I’m not horrible either. With this document, I can most certainly copy the MP3 player.”
“No. A simple copy isn’t enough.” Jasper shook his head.
“Why would I ask you for help if all I wanted was a complete copy with no technical expertise, Professor McGee? I’d be able to do that with a few research students with Masters in scientific research. What I want is an improved and upgraded version.”
Elbert furrowed his brows deeply at Jasper’s words and replied curtly, “You don’t know anything about technology, Mr. Laine. A mature piece of patented technology is like a system of interlocking gears. Any slight change somewhere would result in a huge difference.”
With that, Elbert then pointed at the stack of technological papers. “I can tell you that if I make the slightest change to any single thing here, the entire technology will end up failing. This isn’t as simple as you think.”
“What if I just want to add a screen?” Jasper asked.
Elbert was stunned for a moment, and his brows furrowed as he fell deep in thought.
“It shouldn’t be that difficult if I’m just adding things instead of changing anything. I’ll just have to leave a spot on the circuit board to attach the screen and rewrite the code.”
At that, Jasper smiled. “Would you be interested, Professor McGee?”
Elbert hesitated.
“I promise that as long as you agree to be JW Electronics’ chief technological officer, a status on par with the CFO, you’ll be paid two million a year with at least a 10% increase each following year. You’ll also enjoy the company’s dividends.”
Elbert looked conflicted.
“I also promise you complete authority to appoint and dismiss other technicians. You are free to lead your professional team to research all related areas and you’ll receive at least 50 million research funds from the company every year. Of course, any patent rights of your research will belong to the company, but you and your team will have a right to 10% of the patent, Professor McGee.”
Elbert shot to his feet and asked excitedly, “Really?”
Elbert seemed to care much more about research funds than his salary.
Jasper smiled bitterly.
However, it was employees like Elbert whom Jasper did not need to worry about.
“I’ve promised you, haven’t I? A businessman values his word.” Jasper smiled. “However, if you’d like more assurance, Professor, we could sign an employment contract right now.”
Elbert seemed embarrassed when he spoke again, “That’s not what I meant. I’m technically still working in the research institute, so I have to resign from the institute first before I can sign the contract with you… It’s just that I have two friends and six students with me. I was wondering if I could bring them as well?
“Don’t worry, those two friends are both experts in electronics and integrated circuits respectively. We don’t care too much about our salaries, but research funds…”
Jasper interrupted Elbert and spoke, “Professor McGee, as I said, you have complete authority over the appointment and dismissal of your team of technicians. There’s no need for you to bring it up with me.”
