Gaming the System

Episode 3 of The Art of Negotiation picks up with the dust barely settled from the $8.5 billion construction unit sale—and already, the pressure is back on. Sanin Group’s stock might be holding steady, but the mood in the market is tense. Investors are watching closely. The group just sold off its biggest moneymaker, and everyone’s wondering: what’s next?

A Bold New Direction

With $2.5 billion still to recover, Joo-no knows dumping another business unit could tank confidence completely. His solution? Flip the script—take Sanin digital.

At a high-stakes presentation, Joo-no proposes a shift into e-commerce. It’s a risky pivot, but one rooted in necessity. Traditional sales are drying up, and Sanin’s future can’t depend on brick-and-mortar stores. Ironically, this isn't the first time the idea came up. Director Lee Dong-ju once pitched it, only to be shot down by CEO Song Jae-sik, who clings to hard assets like land and construction. But times have changed—and this time, Jae-sik listens.

To make e-commerce work, Joo-no sets his sights on building a solid logistics foundation. Enter: Chacha Games. Sounds random? Not quite. While the gaming company is on the verge of collapse, its underlying tech—built on blockchain—is a potential game changer for logistics.

One Game Ends, Another Begins

Things get messy fast. Chacha’s developers announce a shutdown, and the CEO flat-out refuses to sell. Undeterred, the M&A team digs deeper, with help from Jin-su’s gamer friend. Turns out Chacha is in a legal brawl with rival DC Games over alleged IP theft, but because Chacha’s game runs on blockchain, proving plagiarism is a nightmare.

That’s when it clicks for Joo-no: the blockchain tech isn’t just useful—it’s revolutionary. If integrated into Sanin’s supply chain, it could give them an edge in e-commerce logistics. But as Joo-no and his team move forward, the enemy is watching. Tae-su, always one step behind but desperate to catch up, has his people tracking the deal. Jin-su’s unsuspecting senior pumps him for info and delivers it straight to Tae-su.

The Past Returns

We also get a deeper look into Joo-no’s past—and it’s rough. A failed deal years ago left a company in ruins and pulled his brother into the wreckage. The fallout? A malpractice investigation and his brother’s tragic suicide. It’s a wound that never healed, and one that still isolates Joo-no from his family.

Rumors, Power Plays, and a Sudden Twist

With whispers spreading about Sanin’s interest in gaming, DC Games tries to insert itself into the narrative. Their CEO even pays a flashy visit to Sanin and posts a photo, hoping to attract attention. Joo-no lets it happen—because it plays right into his strategy. The stunt rattles Chacha’s CEO, who suddenly reaches out with a $10 million proposal andaccess to their backend blockchain system. It’s a bold move meant to show value and assert leverage.

Joo-no takes it straight to the top. CEO Jae-sik signs off, and the acquisition seems all but done. But just as Joo-no is about to close the deal, the rug gets pulled out from under him. Chacha’s CEO backs out—he’s received a competing offer, double what Sanin was offering.

And that’s where the episode ends: a knife twist in the final seconds, with Joo-no caught off guard for the first time.

Love, Lies, and a Takeover Threat

Episode 4 of The Art of Negotiation wastes no time diving back into the fallout. CEO Cha has officially backed out of the Chacha Games deal—and Joo-no wants answers.

The Woman in the Photograph

At Chacha Games HQ, Joo-no confirms what he suspected: someone else offered $20 million, double Sanin’s bid. But what really catches his eye isn’t the price—it’s a photo of CEO Cha with a woman. Back in the car, Joo-no and his team piece it together. The game’s final cutscene and soundtrack bear a striking resemblance to the woman in the photo. Joo-no instructs everyone to keep a poker face. No leaks. No reaction.

Tae-su’s Hand Revealed

Behind the scenes, the sabotage becomes clear. Tae-su’s fingerprints are all over it. He’s working with another company, feeding CEO Cha false info—claiming Sanin would never pay the $10 million settlement he wanted. The real offer? A dirt-cheap $2 million. And Cha took it.

Meanwhile, Jin-su’s gamer friend, Jenny, has jumped ship to Chacha Games after recognizing the value of its tech. She reveals the woman in the photo was CEO Cha’s first love—and the voice behind the game’s soundtrack. He admired her from afar and secretly embedded a tribute to her in the game’s code.

This “easter egg” becomes the smoking gun. Joo-no’s team discovers the exact same signature hidden in a DC Games title—proof that DC stole Chacha’s proprietary tech. The blockchain backend had made it hard to trace, but this detail blows the case wide open.

Checkmate, But Not Yet

Joo-no meets with CEO Cha again. He praises the quality of the game, but Cha has already signed with the rival company. Joo-no walks away—for now.

Back at the office, suspicion creeps in. Joo-no questions whether Jenny leaked the deal. But Jin-su defends her—and remembers a key detail: he had accidentally spilled info to his senior. The real leak was internal.

Joo-no springs into action, spinning a fake narrative. He tells Jin-su to feed his senior a line—Sanin is backing off from Chacha Games. The bait works. The other company, confident they’ve cornered the market, plans to flip Chacha to Sanin for a massive profit.

But Joo-no turns the tables. When they make the offer, he shuts it down cold. Instead, he goes back to CEO Cha with a new proposal: Sanin will pay only $3 million, since Cha already sold the company cheap. But Joo-no isn’t done yet.

The Power Play

While Joo-no plays defense, Soon-young plays offense. Armed with proof of the stolen game code, she confronts DC’s CEO. Cornered and fearing a PR disaster, DC caves—agreeing to a $10 million settlement, stock concessions, and a non-compete clause.

The Chacha acquisition is back on. Joo-no secures final approval from CEO Jae-sik, who quietly admits he regrets dismissing e-commerce in the past. It’s a moment of reflection—but it doesn’t last long.

Victory? Not So Fast.

Just as things start looking up, a new threat emerges. A news article drops, branding the Chacha acquisition as reckless. The market reacts fast—Sanin’s stock tanks. And if it falls below a critical threshold, the real danger kicks in: Samoel, the company that helped sabotage the deal, will qualify to take over Sanin Group.

The episode ends on a knife’s edge. The acquisition is complete. The strategy worked. But the sharks are still circling—and the war is far from over.

DramaZen's Opinion

Twists, Tactics, and Total Drama

Episodes 3 and 4 of The Art of Negotiation take the series to another level. What started as a corporate turnaround story is now a full-blown chess match with emotional landmines and ruthless strategy.

Joo-no’s pivot into e-commerce was bold, but tying it to a dying gaming company with hidden blockchain gold? Genius. Watching his team unravel Chacha Games’ value—while navigating betrayals and backroom deals—was some of the most satisfying plot work so far. The easter egg twist? Unexpected and brilliant.

Episode 4 especially delivered. Joo-no faking a retreat, letting his enemies think they won, only to strike back with proof of IP theft and close the deal on his terms? That’s the kind of cold, calculated move that makes this drama addictive.

We also got a deeper glimpse into Joo-no’s past and the emotional weight he carries, adding complexity to his character without slowing the plot. And now, with Sanin’s stock plummeting and a takeover looming, the stakes are higher than ever.

If Episodes 1 and 2 were the setup, 3 and 4 are the game in motion—and Joo-no plays to win.

Rating: Still a strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — smart, sharp, and getting better every week.