The Scout
Cheon Yooshin sat in a quiet cafe. He was sipping coffee, waiting for someone. Just then, the cafe door opened, and a man appeared. "Have you been well?" The man who bowed his head was none other than Kim Jeonghyeon.
As soon as he sat down, Kim Jeonghyeon brought up the main topic with a regretful expression. "I apologize for not contacting you sooner. To be honest, I failed to persuade my father."
"So, you're saying equity participation is off the table."
Kim Jeonghyeon nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. I thought about telling you over the phone, but I felt it wouldn't be proper etiquette..."
He couldn't bring himself to make the call. His father hadn't just been against expanding the business; he was strongly opposed to a complete business pivot. It was a reasonable doubt: did they really have a chance of success in the magic stone industry as latecomers with such a small scale? In the end, Kim Jeonghyeon had failed to convince him. He understood his father's heart. Changing the industry of a company built from the foundation up wasn't a decision he could easily make either. But it was a shame. Getting an opportunity like this again would surely be difficult.
That was when it happened.
"Then, let me make a new proposal."
"...A new proposal?"
"Do you know a company called Cheonnuri?"
Cheonnuri. It was a fairly large company that made craft goods out of magic stone byproducts. He knew at least that it had solid capital and was receiving concentrated support from the government. As he said that, Yooshin nodded and smiled.
"Would you like to take charge of that company?"
Kim Jeonghyeon, who had been sitting with a dejected expression, opened his eyes wide. "Pardon?"
Yooshin took a sip of his coffee and opened his mouth. "It was originally my father's company. Well, due to various circumstances, it passed to someone else for a while, but..."
Yooshin paused for a moment and looked out the window. The sky was terribly clear. Unlike the Abyss, which was dyed in the color of blood...
"Honestly speaking, I have no talent for management. Well, I have no interest in it, either. Even if I ran the company, it would just be pocket change. Ah! Don't misunderstand. I just mean that clearing gates is a much bigger moneymaker than running a company."
He didn't need to make excuses. The fact that Hunter Cheon Yooshin had earned 2 trillion won by hunting the Apocalyptor was already known to the whole world. Domestic media, as well as overseas outlets, had scrambled to report it.
"B-but..."
"Why? Since you don't know my capabilities yet, let's start your annual salary at 10 billion won."
10 billion won was pocket change now. Cheonnuri was a company soaked in his father's blood and sweat. As a son, he had an obligation to help it grow. It wasn't as if he lacked the money. Meanwhile, Kim Jeonghyeon's eyes couldn't have been opened any wider. 10 billion? 10 billion?
To Kim Jeonghyeon, who was momentarily speechless, Yooshin continued.
"I'm going to raise it into the strongest company on Earth. So that no one can ignore it. Why? Do you not want to?"
"No! I can do it!" Kim Jeonghyeon shouted, almost at the top of his lungs.
The other party didn't know the meaning of 'three visits to the thatched cottage.' Of course, Kim Jeonghyeon wasn't so talented that he deserved such persistence either. Therefore, when a proposal was made, he had to grab it. Look at that salary, and look at that confident attitude. It was by no means an empty boast. The person named Cheon Yooshin had that kind of ability.
"First of all, quit your current company. That way, you can focus on the work."
Yooshin nodded and continued. "The company name will remain Cheonnuri. And from now on, I will concentrate all the magic stones I obtain into Cheonnuri. So, submit a business plan. You know I have plenty of cash, right? Buy all the facilities needed to operate the company."
At Cheon Yooshin's rapid-fire words, Kim Jeonghyeon's mouth fell open. Was this a dream?
Cheon Yooshin, who had risen from his seat, said.
"If you have any questions while running the company, don't ask me. I don't know much about it either. I'll just keep the title of CEO. If there's something you really don't know while operating it, you know that old man Baek Giseong, right? Ask him. Even if it's just for show, he's a man who runs a large conglomerate."
"Ah! Did you not know? It's already spread all over the news and newspapers."
"I don't watch the news or read newspapers. What is it?"
"He has dementia. So, he's currently only holding the position of honorary chairman."
Dementia?
"...That man who was so healthy?"
"That's why when the fact was first reported, people just thought it was a happening."
"Hmm... I see..."
Indeed, time spares no one. That healthy old man had dementia. 'Should I look into it sometime?' He could cure dementia. However, it was a hassle. He didn't know if he could even find the materials. Above all, they weren't close enough to justify the effort of curing him.
"Anyway, just report to me from time to time, and handle the company operations yourself. If you commit embezzlement or breach of trust, you know what happens, right?"
Seeing Cheon Yooshin make a gesture of slicing his own throat with the edge of his hand, Kim Jeonghyeon's face turned pale.
"Hahaha... No way. That will never happen."
Unless he wanted to die...
"And please speak comfortably. You're on a salary now."
"Shall I?"
"......"
Executive Director Oh glared at the report in front of him, his brow furrowed. Anger and bewilderment flashed across his eyes in turns.
"What kind of nonsense is this? They won't give us any more magic stones?"
Ohsung Group had been exclusively purchasing all magic stones obtained from gate clearing under a contract with the Hunter Management Department. This was the core and future business of Ohsung Group. The saying that the Hunter Management Department was weak was now a thing of the past. They were now the place that acquired the most magic stones by monopolizing all uncleared gates that appeared. Ohsung Group had been supplied with the most magic stones through this exclusive contract. But now, they were suddenly stopping the supply?
"Damn it, why did we sign the contract like this?"
Executive Director Oh frowned. Unfortunately, the contract was signed entirely in favor of the Hunter Management Department. Among them, the most prominent was the clause that the Hunter Management Department could terminate the contract whenever they wanted. For Ohsung Group, it was a clause they had no choice but to include to obtain the sweet fruit of an exclusive contract. But now, that had become a shackle.
"What do I do..."
Executive Director Oh muttered. He held the position of Executive Director at Ohsung Motors, but he held the position of Director for the entire group. If he reported this to the Chairman, he would be 100% destroyed. However, as a group director and the person in charge of magic stone supply, Executive Director Oh naturally had an obligation to report it to the Chairman.
'Let's first check why they are doing this.'
Executive Director Oh called Team Leader Park Haesu.
"Hello. Team Leader. I apologize for the late hour. I heard the news that the magic stone supply is suddenly being stopped. Can you tell me why?"
-Ah, actually, a new supplier has been decided. It's a matter we can't help either.
"No, a new supplier? Where is such a law?"
He was in a situation where fire had fallen on his feet, but the other party's voice was relaxed. Thanks to that, his voice rose without him realizing it.
-Well, is there a problem? I just did as the contract stated.
He knew the Hunter Management Department had changed recently, but he didn't know they would go this far even to him. Executive Director Oh tried to calm himself and said.
"Look here, Team Leader Park. We have collaborated until now. Didn't we buy the magic stones and pay more than the market price? But to talk about stopping the supply without any prior notice like this? Isn't that too much?"
Team Leader Park's answer was slightly delayed.
-Ah, we couldn't help that either. That's how we were notified of the content...
"Notified? Who notifies the Hunter Management Department?"
It was an absurd story. It was clearly an excuse.
-Hunter Cheon Yooshin decided it that way. The team members who follow him also followed it obediently.
"...Hunter Cheon Yooshin? No, why on earth? It's not like we paid you less."
-You keep talking about the price, but I know that Ohsung Group has been taking more profit than that price, right?
In fact, it was true. Ohsung Group purchased the entire amount of magic stones from the Hunter Management Department and passed a certain percentage of them to subcontractors. Adding a 30% price markup. The subcontractors were in a situation where they had no choice but to buy them while crying, due to the threat, or rather, the non-threat, that they wouldn't trade if they didn't buy through Ohsung Group. Team Leader Park Haesu had pointed out that point. While Executive Director Oh was momentarily speechless, Team Leader Park Haesu continued.
-It will be exposed soon anyway, so I'll tell you in advance. The new supplier is a mid-sized company called Cheonnuri.
At the word Cheonnuri, Executive Director Oh's eyes lit up.
"Did you just say Cheonnuri?"
-As expected, you seem to know. So if you need magic stones, try requesting them there. I'm busy, so I'm hanging up.
Park Haesu, who hung up the phone, paused while reading the approval documents that had stopped because of the call. "Since they know it's Cheonnuri, they'll know it's Hunter Cheon Yooshin's company, right?" He thought about calling back to tell them, but stopped the thought as if it wasn't that important.
A few days later. Executive Director Oh called his secretary.
"I'm going on a business trip to Cheonnuri in 10 minutes. So prepare the car."
"Understood."
The secretary, who had bowed his head and left, came back in quickly.
"Um, Director."
"What is it?"
Executive Director Oh, who was quickly signing the approval documents that had come up, looked up.
"Team Leader Kim Jeonghyeon of the Finance Team at Cheomdan Happy Industry has arrived."
"What? Who is that...?"
Something suddenly came to Executive Director Oh's mind. The things he had demanded a few days ago.
"Ah! That person. Tell him to come in."
"Yes."
After the secretary left, the door opened a moment later, and Kim Jeonghyeon entered.
"Oh! Yes. Weren't you supposed to give me a reply by next week? It's good that your decision is fast. I'm busy, so let's get to the conclusion quickly."
Even at that moment, Executive Director Oh was moving his pen quickly, signing the approval documents.
"About the requirements you mentioned earlier. I will refuse."
Stop. The pen in Executive Director Oh's hand stopped.
"Is that the final decision of Cheomdan Happy Industry? Are you sure?"
Kim Jeonghyeon nodded.
"Yes. I am sure."
Thud! Executive Director Oh put the pen he was holding down on the table with a sound.
"Ha! Wow, I'm speechless."
Executive Director Oh, who had risen from his seat, walked toward Kim Jeonghyeon. Standing in front of him with a dismissive look, Executive Director Oh sneered.
"I treated you like a human, and now the position of Executive Director looks funny to you? Huh?!"
Then, suddenly touching Kim Jeonghyeon's tie, he continued.
"If you want to operate that tiny company like a human, and in this Republic of Korea, well. Just bow down like a dog. You guys should just pick up the food we throw at you."
Tap tap! Executive Director Oh, who was touching his disheveled tie, patted his shoulder.
"Now, this is your last chance. You have to think carefully. Just nod your head. And go back and bark if we tell you to bark, and crawl if we tell you to crawl, just like you used to. Then your company will run well as usual. But if you refuse? Within a month, I will destroy your company. Ohsung Group of the Republic of Korea has enough power for that."
A moment of silence flowed.
"...Have you said everything?"
"...What?"
Executive Director Oh's eyes widened. Only then did Executive Director Oh notice that Kim Jeonghyeon's expression had changed from yesterday. If he had been an unstable powder magazine that would explode if touched even slightly yesterday, today's Kim Jeonghyeon was as cold as a glacier.
"Then, since that business seems to be over, let me introduce myself again. I am Kim Jeonghyeon, COO of Cheonnuri."
Executive Director Oh stepped back without realizing it.
"...What? Cheonnuri? COO?"
No, why is Cheonnuri coming out of there?
"You don't happen to not know what a COO (Chief Operating Officer) is, do you?"
In the ears of the flustered Executive Director Oh, Kim Jeonghyeon's voice mixed with mockery could be heard.