Chapter 140
Chapter 140
140.
Accidental Undercover Cider (3)
The atmosphere inside the MH Distribution headquarters auditorium grew heavy.
Baek Shin-woo, standing at the front, scanned the department heads and assistant managers he had gathered.
"The amount MH Future Security, which I represent, paid to acquire Baesung Distribution is 5.954 billion Hong Kong dollars. That's approximately 1 trillion, 11 billion, 650 million Korean won."
"..."
Everyone remained silent, having heard secondhand about what had transpired upstairs before coming here.
"I intend to extract at least twice that amount from MH Distribution within two years. With that goal in mind, we have maintained all employees of the former Baesung Distribution, including all of you, through employment succession."
The silence continued.
"Of course, to achieve that result, we will also need to elect executives who will lead MH Distribution alongside me."
The ears of the department heads perked up. Most of them had been sidelined from executive positions in the distribution affiliates when the chairman of Baeseong Corporation changed previously.
Of course, the current situation was a blessing in disguise for them. Because they missed that opportunity, the previous executives were all ousted, and they could establish themselves on a new foundation.
"However,"
Shinwoo's voice, like a bucket of cold water, echoed through the auditorium.
"I don't intend to limit the executive selection process to department heads."
Instantly, the department heads' brows furrowed, and their expressions darkened.
Several of them were about to raise their hands but hastily stopped themselves as Shinwoo hadn't finished speaking.
"The evaluation will include those at the assistant manager level and above. Of course, some may want to adhere to the internal regulations. In Baesung Distribution before MH Distribution, the criteria were department head level or above, 10 years of service or more, and two executive recommendations."
Shinwoo's gaze met the faces of several frowning department heads.
"But now, it's MH, not Baeseong. The relevant regulations will be amended by the major shareholder's authority, so I hope you won't waste your energy on pointless arguments. Now, I've said what I needed to say. Does anyone have any questions?"
He had nailed down the matter of changing the internal regulations.
Who could ask any questions in that situation? Everyone kept their mouths shut, casting sharp glances at Shinwoo.
In response, Shinwoo casually checked his watch.
"If there are no questions, let's conclude here. I was worried it might take a long time and disrupt your work, but fortunately, it didn't."
With those final words, the employees left, exuding a dark atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Jang Jin-ho approached Shinwoo and handed him a bottle of water.
"Weren't you a little too strong in your declaration?"
"There's too much stagnant water everywhere."
"Did you hear something unpleasant while looking around the company?"
"Well, this and that."
As they were talking, a woman broke away from the group leaving and approached Shinwoo.
Shinwoo recognized her.
"Team Leader Kim Jihyo from the Marketing Department, isn't it?"
"I was able to leave MH Retail thanks to you, CEO. Thank you so much."
At Kim Jihyo's greeting, Shinwoo leaned against the podium.
"How's work at the company?"
"It's good. It's what I used to do anyway."
Before transferring, Kim Jihyo had been in the marketing team at MH Retail from the start. She was very interested in that field and worked harder than anyone else.
Then one day, she was suddenly transferred to Sales Team 4. Executive Director Lee Byung-jin was behind the move. It was to manipulate her husband, Na Jeong-hyun, the head of Strategic Investment Operation Division 1 at MH Future Security, to his liking.
"That's a relief."
"But... are you really okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"The executive selection criteria. I'm not particularly interested, but there will be a lot of backlash within the company. It could even lead to a strike. Especially the department heads have close ties with the regional logistics center managers. They could move together."
The department heads from Baesung Distribution were, in a situation where all the executives had been ousted, the most powerful figures after the CEO. It was only natural that employees below the assistant manager level tried to curry favor with those department heads.
Shinwoo had heard and witnessed a lot about that story and situation during the briefing and while touring the company.
"If they have close ties with the center managers, it might be a bit tricky."
"It won't be easy."
"But is it okay for you to tell me this?"
When Kim Jihyo turned around while leaving the auditorium, all the other department heads and assistant managers saw it. Of course, they would know that she was talking to Shinwoo separately, so it might cause problems for her company life.
"Even though my husband did something to you, CEO, you're still giving me, not just my husband, a lot of help."
"Your husband is lucky to have met a good wife. He'll have to do really well by your side from now on."
"...Pardon?"
"Don't worry about me, just do your job well."
Shinwoo pointed towards the exit with his palm.
"I was worried about how to express my gratitude, but I'm glad I got to see you like this. Thank you again."
At her sincere greeting, Shinwoo smiled and nodded.
.
.
.
At the same time.
In the General Affairs Department head's office, Kim Jae-min was summoned and stood as if being punished.
Park Gyu-joon, who was displeased with that sight, frowned deeply.
"What the hell is going on? Change of internal regulations? And what's this about what happened in front of the office earlier!"
Kim Jae-min flinched for a moment at his shout.
Kang Shin-bae, who was sitting across from Park Gyu-joon and had witnessed the situation firsthand, explained.
"CEO Baek Shin-woo is Assistant Manager Kim Jae-min's high school junior. It seems there was a misunderstanding because he had a prior acquaintance with CEO Baek Shin-woo without knowing his face."
"...Misunderstanding? They were causing a ruckus in the hallway, what's the misunderstanding!"
Not only did a mere assistant manager treat the CEO of MH Distribution, who was visiting for the first time today, like a new employee, but he even accused him of being a thief.
With just that alone, the General Affairs Department was as good as marked by the CEO.
"...I'm sorry."
Park Gyu-joon became even more uncomfortable with Kim Jae-min's barely audible answer.
"So, do you know anything proper about CEO Baek?"
"...Pardon?"
"Tell me everything without adding or subtracting. Don't add any strange nonsense out of petty pride. If you add any more unnecessary stories, I'll stop considering your father's reputation."
Kim Jae-min was 25 years old this year. Graduating from a local vocational college and entering the Baesung Distribution headquarters was already a huge deal. Moreover, he was already an assistant manager...
Behind that was Kim Jae-min's father, the head of the Mokpo Logistics Center of Baesung Distribution.
After hesitating for a moment, Kim Jae-min opened his mouth with difficulty.
"...He's from an orphanage in Jangheung, Jeollanam-do, my hometown. He was abandoned at birth and attended high school there."
"...And?"
"He was known in the neighborhood for not being interested in others. Then, when I was a sophomore, CEO... he entered the school and I got to know him."
"What was his school life like?"
"He was quiet. He didn't particularly stand out unless someone bothered him."
The corner of Park Gyu-joon's eye twitched.
"I heard Assistant Manager Kim had two teeth knocked out by the CEO?"
"It was a mistake from a childish time. I picked a fight for no reason and got hit."
With the answer, Park Gyu-joon scanned Kim Jae-min standing in front of him. He was about 185cm tall and quite burly, so he didn't look like someone who would get beaten up.
"You really got hit?"
Of course, Shinwoo wasn't short either. A little shorter than Kim Jae-min? But in terms of build alone, Kim Jae-min was far bigger, so it was hard to imagine a fight.
"He was incredibly agile. I don't think he learned any kind of martial arts, but he easily dodged my punches and even counterattacked."
"Is he naturally good at fighting?"
"After that, the bullies from the surrounding high schools heard rumors about me and came to find CEO almost every day."
"The results?"
"They were all crushed. In fact, there were rumors that famous gangsters in Mokpo tried to scout CEO after that rumor spread, so he didn't even attend the graduation ceremony because it was annoying, and enlisted as a non-commissioned officer."
Kim Jae-min thought that Shinwoo, no matter how well he did, would never escape the bottom.
But a third-generation chaebol? Moreover, he was the grandson of the chairman of MH Group, one of Korea's leading companies.
Honestly, when Kim Jae-min heard the story of the CEO, who he thought was someone with the same name as Baek Shin-woo, he thought it was all achieved with the family's backing.
Meanwhile, Park Gyu-joon became even more dumbfounded after hearing that explanation.
"Gangsters? Truly a sight to behold."
"That part is just a rumor, but I did see gangsters wandering around the school."
"Was he good at studying?"
"...I think he was average."
Park Gyu-joon became thoughtful.
"So, that kind of person found his origins and achieved the same things as now in just one year after entering MH Group?"
Kang Shin-bae added to his quiet muttering from across the table.
"No matter how much he does, what can he do here? Unless CEO Baek is an idiot, he must know what will happen if he promotes an assistant manager to an executive position, surpassing the department heads."
"I'm not worried about that either. However, the problem is that CEO Baek's actions are never quiet."
Baek Shin-woo was supposed to visit today but suddenly canceled, then secretly came in and toured the company, along with the new employee orientation briefing.
If Kim Jae-min hadn't caused trouble there, it might have passed quietly, but... it felt like he had unnecessarily escalated the situation.
"Distribution is different from general investment. No matter how great CEO Baek is, he doesn't know the inner workings of this field well, so he won't be able to do anything recklessly."
"If that's the case, there's nothing to worry about. And Assistant Manager Kim Jae-min."
Kim Jae-min, who had been silent, flinched and was startled.
"Yes!"
"Try to be a little quieter from now on. Especially, I don't want to see you running your mouth carelessly again."
"I, I'll be careful."
"Then get out. Assistant Manager Kang too."
The two bowed in front of the door and went outside.
* * *
It was getting early evening.
Na Jeong-hyun, the head of Strategic Investment Operation Division 1 at MH Future Security, left work and came home.
His wife, Kim Jihyo, had arrived earlier and was preparing dinner in the kitchen.
"Daddy!"
His only son was playing with toys in the living room and ran to Na Jeong-hyun.
"Ouch! My son! Did you have fun playing today?"
"Yeah!"
Holding his son, he entered the living room where the kitchen was visible and saw Kim Jihyo cooking.
"Didn't you say you'd be late today? I was going to pick up Jeongwoo too."
"I had some work at the company, so I finished on time."
Kim Jihyo moved the kimchi stew she had just boiled among the side dishes.
In response, Na Jeong-hyun also took off his jacket and tie, washed his hands, and came out to sit facing her.
"Come to think of it, you said the CEO was visiting today, right? What happened?"
"He turned everything upside down."
"...What?"
"He suddenly canceled the visit and secretly toured the company. But someone who was a high school classmate of the CEO had a bad relationship with him, so he mistook him for a new employee and even caused a commotion."
"Classmate?"
"I told you about him. Assistant Manager Kim Jae-min from the General Affairs Department."
"Ah, the one whose father is the head of the Mokpo Logistics Center and hits on female employees without any work skills?"
Kim Jihyo, who had not been transferred to MH Distribution for long, also knew about Kim Jae-min. That's how many things Kim Jae-min had done in the company.
"That's right. He got caught properly. And..."
Kim Jihyo also explained what Shinwoo had said after summoning the employees to the auditorium.
In response, Na Jeong-hyun was even more surprised and spat out the rice he was holding in his mouth.
"What?!"
The rice stuck all over Kim Jihyo's face, who was in front of him.
"..."
"Ah, sorry."
"Really..."
Kim Jihyo, who wiped the rice off with a tissue, glared at her husband, Na Jeong-hyun, with sharp eyes.
Meanwhile, the son, who was sitting in the middle and watching the scene, was just laughing.