Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Winning an Ally
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“This is Min-jun, in charge of Answer.”
-Ah, hello. This is Caribbean…
“Yes, hello. Are you calling about the refund for the advance payment?”
Min-jun cut him off at a peculiar moment. Many in the room looked on in admiration at his effortless ability to steer the conversation where he wanted, all while maintaining a welcoming tone.
-No. There was a misunderstanding with our staff yesterday, so I'm calling to reconfirm the contract details.
“Hmm… But you sent a certified notice of contract termination, didn't you?”
-That's why I'm calling you back.
“To be frank, several clients have unilaterally terminated their contracts.”
-Yes…
“We've already booked new contracts for some of those same time slots.”
-…
Realizing the negotiation wasn't going his way, the person on the other end fell silent.
“Since we were the ones subjected to a unilateral termination, we're not obligated to return the deposit. However, our policy is to refund the deposit if we manage to book a new schedule on the canceled date.”
Min-jun’s wording subtly emphasized the fact that JD was the victim.
-…So you’re saying it’s impossible to nullify what happened yesterday and maintain the original contract?
“The date Caribbean had specified is still available, but we’ve already incurred costs. And as you know, it would put us in a difficult position if other clients raised issues of fairness.”
-…So, you're saying we either wait for someone to fill the open slot to get our deposit back, or we change the contract terms to a new price? Is that our choice?
“Of course, we can negotiate, as long as it doesn't create a major fairness issue with other clients. Somewhere between the originally signed contract and the current rates.”
-…Hahaha. The schedule is in two days, and you're saying it's our choice whether to get the deposit back or sign a new contract? Of course, if we choose the former, there's a high chance we won't get it back.
A hint of resentment seeped into the client’s laughing voice.
“Our policy is the same for everyone.”
-So, how much more do you want?
“You can check with other agencies, but similar contracts are currently going for 100 million won. Since the last contract was for a total of 60 million, we can do the same date for an additional 20 million.”
-Ha! So, either lose twenty million won or add another twenty million to get back to square one? …Hoo.
“My apologies. Please think it over and call us back. I’m getting a lot of calls right now…”
-Haa… Let’s do it. The contract.
The people in the conference room silently clenched their fists.
“Thank you. We’ll send over the contract right away.”
Click.
As soon as the call ended, the room filled with excited chatter.
Team Leader Lee felt like a ghost, unable to interact with anyone.
“Wow, he’s got a silver tongue. Is there anything Team Leader Min can’t do?”
“I agree.”
Director Ji laughed and agreed with the CEO.
“This is why I can't help but love Team Leader Min. Did you all see that? Let’s just hand over all the terminated contract cases to him.”
“Yes!”
“Alright, let’s dismiss and get back to work. I won't be rewarding your passion with 'passion pay'.”
“Please don’t!”
The employees chuckled as they stood up. The atmosphere had completely reversed in just twenty-four hours.
‘That kid single-handedly turned the company around. Could JD Enter perhaps dream of its former glory again?’
Team Leader Lee smiled bitterly and reached into his jacket. It was time to hand in his resignation.
* * *
Everyone except the CEO, the director, and Director Ji had left the conference room, but Team Leader Lee remained, his hand inside his jacket.
I instinctively knew he was about to pull out his resignation letter, so I beat him to it.
“Team Leader Lee, you remember our bet, right? The one-million-won bet on the point card.”
My words seemed to surprise CEO Park and Director Ji more than Team Leader Lee.
“This article just came out.”
-[The Crisis of Point Membership Cards and Ponzi Schemes]
-A certain prepaid point card company, which had hired a famous singer as its model and even collaborated with a bank, was raided last week on suspicion of running a Ponzi scheme. The police and prosecution, having already identified all the charges, made an emergency arrest of the point card company’s CEO and related individuals last night.
The investigation into this case began with a tip from an entertainment industry insider. While it is estimated that thousands of crores of won have been lost due to the large number of subscribers, there is a sense of relief that the scheme was stopped before more victims could emerge.
In front of the prepaid point card company's office, a long line of victims who had heard the rumors had gathered. Let's hear their interviews.
‘All my friends were doing it, so I did too. Who would imagine they’d scam so many people! But is it really a scam?’
‘If you used the discounts well, you could buy a 200,000-won item for 100,000 won. I signed up to save even just 10,000 won.’
‘The CEO even appeared on a major broadcast network for an interview about his success as a young entrepreneur. Of course, I trusted him.’
‘They even had a partnership with a bank, how could I not believe them? Is it my fault for believing? The scammers are the bad guys, but I’m afraid the victims will be blamed.’
‘This is a societal problem! These things keep happening because the punishment for fraud is too light. If they sentenced them to hundreds of years in prison or even gave them the death penalty based on the amount scammed, like in other countries, who would dare to commit fraud?’
‘A popular girl group was even in their commercials, enticing people. Aren’t the people who saw that and didn’t sign up the strange ones?’
-The victims’ interviews were all heartbreakingly valid. The damages per person ranged from a few ten-thousands of won, but it was found that some people had suffered losses in the hundreds of millions by getting several family members involved.
Let us recall the not-so-distant past of 1997, when most of the nation of Albania fell victim to a Ponzi scheme, leading to the country's collapse.
We express our respect to the entertainment industry insider whose quick judgment put a stop to this Ponzi scheme before it could spread further, and we once again question for whose benefit economic criminals thrive in our country and why their sentences are so light.
Director Ji and Director Lee stared at the article for a long time, their mouths agape. Team Leader Lee, in particular, let out a hollow chuckle.
“…Your Girl is so screwed.”
Director Ji, who thought he had lost the point card commercial deal because of me, said with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“I believed Team Leader Min from the start.”
“……”
Unlike Director Lee, who smiled with her arms crossed as if to say, ‘I told you so,’ CEO Park Jae-yong’s face was twisted in despair.
Why is he acting so anxious?
“…It was a real scam?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t get a refund.”
“……”
“I told you to do it right away!”
A frustrated cry escaped my lips, and CEO Park Jae-yong tore at his hair.
“Hooooo.”
I sighed and looked at Team Leader Lee.
“You have to keep your promise. One million won.”
“…Hehehe… Hahahaha!”
Team Leader Lee suddenly burst into loud laughter, and everyone looked at him with uneasy eyes.
“I lost the bet, so of course, I have to pay. Want my account number? Should we go to an ATM? Oh, can I just send it through the chat app?”
“Let’s go together.”
I left the planning office with Team Leader Lee.
“Ah, shiiit! My moneyyy!”
Another sigh escaped me at CEO Park’s despairing cry.
So he said he trusted me but didn’t, huh?
When we got down to the parking garage, Team Leader Lee looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s talk on the way.”
Team Leader Lee obediently got into the passenger seat, and I started driving.
“As promised, I’ll leave.”
“Leave? Where are you going?”
Team Leader Lee gave a bitter smile and showed me the resignation letter he had kept in his jacket.
“I’ve already made up my mind. I’m giving this to the director.”
Who decided that?
Team Leader Lee might have been jealous of me, but he wasn’t the type to betray the company. I need a lot of trustworthy people. It’s essential to achieve my goals.
“Team Leader-nim.”
“……”
A muscle in Team Leader Lee’s eye twitched.
“I know how you feel.”
“Hmph… What do you know?”
“You’ve been working hard all this time, staying with the failing JD Enter out of loyalty, trying to revive it, right?”
“……”
“But then some young kid suddenly shows up and starts making waves, getting the same treatment as you, who struggled for years. Who would be happy about that? I wouldn’t be. It’s natural.”
Team Leader Lee’s gaze, which had been fixed straight ahead, slowly drifted downward.
“Seven years, right? You must feel like all your worries and efforts during that time have gone up in smoke. So you started to hate everything about me.”
“…Hoo.”
Team Leader Lee let out a breath he had been holding.
“I understand your feelings and your situation, but does that mean I should just sit back and do nothing when I know I can solve things? Could you do that, Team Leader-nim? See a solution right in front of you and pretend you don’t?”
“…I’m sorry.”
With his eyes closed, Team Leader Lee forced out the words, and that short phrase made me feel incredibly good.
“I’m going to keep working hard. You should pull yourself together and go back to how you were.”
“……”
“We’re extremely busy right now. We need to hire a new fan manager and a trainee manager. Even if you hand in your resignation, the director won’t accept it. Don’t drag down the company’s mood when it’s finally looking up. Come back to your place.”
“……”
Team Leader Lee swallowed hard.
I parked the car in front of a famous artisanal bakery, a must-visit spot for pastry lovers, and Team Leader Lee looked bewildered.
“I have a reservation for thirty-three sets of handmade cookies and Dutch coffee.”
“Yes. They’re all ready. Did you bring your car?”
Several employees loaded heavily packed shopping bags into the back of the car. One of the employees, seeing the trunk filled with Answer’s spare clothes and props, whispered to another colleague while looking at me.
Team Leader Lee and I drove back to the company without exchanging a single word.
“Yoo-jun, can you bring a cart down?”
-Yes, sir!
I went to the security team first.
“Excuse me.”
“Welcome, Team Leaders.”
“Team Leader Lee is treating everyone since he lost a bet. There are four of you, right?”
“Oh, thank you!”
Starting with the security office, we made our rounds through the practice rooms and offices.
“Wow, what’s this?”
“Team Leader Lee is treating everyone because he lost a bet. It’s handmade cookies and Dutch coffee from that famous bakery.”
“Wow! Thank you, Team Leader Lee! I love the cookies from this place!”
“Thank you, Team Leader Lee! I love Dutch coffee, too. I’ll enjoy it!”
The office staff were delighted and thanked Team Leader Lee, whose face flushed with an embarrassed smile.
“Whoa. Did Team Leader Lee really spend a million won? Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”
“Mmm… These cookies are really good. Thanks, Team Leader Lee.”
“Aah… The fragrant cold brew soothes my aching heart. Thanks, Team Leader Lee.”
Director Ji, Director Lee, and even the despairing CEO expressed their gratitude to Team Leader Lee. His expression shifted from embarrassment to something bordering on touched.
“CEO-nim. But you seem to have gained a lot of weight recently. Was it from buying all that stuff with those points?”
“Gasp! Director Lee, why must you twist the knife in my heart!”
Come to think of it, CEO Park Jae-yong did seem to have put on a lot of weight compared to a year ago. Well, it made him look more benevolent, so maybe it suited him.
Anyway, that was settled.
Feeling relieved, I headed to the studio where Lee Yoo-ah was.
“Team Leader Min, wait a second.”
Team Leader Lee approached me hesitantly.
“What was with the gift sets?”
“They said the embargo was lifted, so I ordered them yesterday.”
“…You mean you planned for this to happen?”
Instead of answering, I gave him an affirmative smile.
“Thank you.”
“Please send the one million won via chat.”
“Uh, right.”
Soon, a notification confirmed the deposit of one million won.
I knew. Team Leader Lee would soon pledge his loyalty to me.