Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Royal Family
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Just past lunchtime, Seo Ji-hyeok returned to the company after picking up his certificate from school that morning.
Although he'd planned to take half the day off, Manager Oh's consideration allowed him to handle it during work hours. As soon as Ji-hyeok stepped into the office, he sensed the atmosphere was slightly different from the usual vibe.
"I'm back."
"Ah, Ji-hyeok. Have you eaten?"
"Yes. I grabbed something simple on the way in."
"Good. Let's have that meeting right away, then."
"Sure."
Manager Oh must have been waiting for him, because he called the meeting before Ji-hyeok could even sit down.
Bang Mu-seok and Han Ji-young quickly gathered their laptops and tablets, joining him at the small conference table in the center.
"Ahem. This morning, I showed the vice chairman the performance results Ji-hyeok put together yesterday."
As soon as Manager Oh spoke, Bang and Han perked up their ears.
He hadn't mentioned it to them beforehand, which meant they'd been waiting for Ji-hyeok to return.
"He laughed heartily. And then he added that we could expand the scale a bit more."
"Expand the scale?"
"Yes. That's exactly what he said."
Was "scale" really that surprising? But Han Ji-young followed up.
"I've worked in the strategy office and seen the vice chairman plenty of times, but he's not the type to use phrasing like that."
"Right. He's known across the group for his cautious wording. Sometimes to the point of seeming indecisive... Honestly, I was a bit surprised myself."
Han Ji-young's brows furrowed slightly.
It seemed like a string of utterly incomprehensible events.
But Section Chief Bang Mu-seok just listened silently.
"And... he's giving the full profit from this deal to our department as performance bonuses."
"What?"
"Really?"
Bang and Han let out simultaneous shrieks of surprise.
Without a word between them, their heads swiveled toward Ji-hyeok.
Even conservatively estimated, the profit from this deal was at least forty billion won.
That was after ensuring solid margins for the trading and electronics divisions.
And now, all of it was going to the department as bonuses. Naturally, their gazes turned to Ji-hyeok.
As the one who executed the deal, Seo Ji-hyeok would naturally get the lion's share, even if it was called a "department bonus."
Half of that would still be twenty billion...
The thought that this was possible just four days into his job left their minds in chaos.
But Ji-hyeok's thoughts were elsewhere.
'I should meet the vice chairman sometime...'
Then—
"Seo Ji-hyeok."
Manager Oh's call snapped him out of it.
"Yes."
"Bonus distribution is at the department head's discretion. You understand that, right?"
"Of course. I don't want to ruin team harmony over something trivial."
Bang and Han's eyes widened at the exchange between Manager Oh and Ji-hyeok.
Neither the manager hinting at a different bonus split than expected, nor Ji-hyeok agreeing so readily—calling it "trivial"—fit their common sense at all.
And in that moment, Bang Mu-seok's usually vague gaze fixed on Ji-hyeok.
'He said he grew up in an orphanage. That's not some chaebol heir... So what the hell is making 120 billion in sales in one day? And calling a few billion in bonuses trivial? Who the fuck is this guy? Damn, will anyone even believe it if I report this?'
Bang's mind was reeling.
The call from the trading division's secretariat had come three days ago.
And they wanted just one thing.
Report everything happening here.
In exchange, he'd been promised a promotion to deputy manager in the trading development office.
That's why his laptop was recording the entire meeting right now.
That was also why he'd kept his mouth shut throughout.
He figured there was no need to reveal himself to whoever would listen to the recording.
Anything he said in this situation might make him look incompetent.
But hearing Manager Oh and Ji-hyeok's conversation now, something felt off—like a glitch.
Just like when you run a program and sense an undiscovered bug...
It looked fine on playback, but something grated.
This was a developer's instinct.
As Bang drowned in confusion, Manager Oh's voice resumed.
"I'd like to distribute the bonuses with Ji-hyeok, as the executor, getting 40%, and the rest of the department members getting 20% each. Ji-hyeok, speak up if you have any objections."
"I have a different idea."
"Good. Let's hear your opinion."
"From what I can guess, our department's tasks ahead will be different from the usual. So, to prepare for contingencies, how about setting half aside as department activity funds and splitting the other half equally?"
"Hmm. What do you two think?"
Manager Oh looked to Bang, who nodded lightly.
"I'll go with whatever the manager decides."
"And you, Assistant Manager Han?"
"Same here. I'll follow the manager's lead."
Ji-hyeok had made the suggestion, but both Bang and Han, as if scripted, deferred to Manager Oh.
Whether this was big-corp culture or not, Ji-hyeok just smiled.
"Alright. Then we'll go with Ji-hyeok's suggestion for the bonuses. Now, the remaining issue is our future direction... That's the real headache, isn't it? Embarrassing to admit, but I still don't know what we're supposed to do."
"Honestly, me neither. 'Expand the scale' sounds like they want bigger results on the surface, but the core question remains: Why us, instead of the core affiliates? And it's weird that they've flat-out said no new hires..."
"Same here..."
Han voiced her frustration at Manager Oh's words, followed by Bang's reluctant agreement.
As all eyes turned back to Ji-hyeok, he smiled faintly and spoke.
"We're pieces on a chessboard. Pawns who don't even know if we're kings, rooks, or just foot soldiers. Maybe all the company wants from us is to advance one square and die gloriously. But does knowing we're pawns change anything? If they say go, we go. If they say die, we die. That's corporate life, right?"
Ji-hyeok, just four days into his career, lectured on office life to people with 20, 10, and 4 years of experience.
Yet no one could refute him.
Not a single word was wrong.
But accepting it wholesale was too bitter, leaving all three with similar expressions.
Then—
"But in chess, even pawns can sometimes take the king. Shall we give it a shot?"
The three faces turned to Ji-hyeok again.
A moment later, Manager Oh smiled faintly.
"Let's do it. Let's go for it."
At his response, the other two nodded.
Not entirely willingly, though.
But then—
- Beep!
The sound of the Special Sales Department door opening drew the heads of everyone but Ji-hyeok toward it.
Manager Oh was the first to stand.
"Oh! President!"
His use of "President" had the other two automatically rising and bowing ninety degrees toward the door.
Only then did Ji-hyeok stand.
Unlike Bang and Han, he didn't bow first—he met the eyes of the newcomer before giving a slight nod.
"That's President Kang Seon-young, the chairman's second daughter and head of Taesung Textiles."
That was Han Ji-young sidling up beside him, whispering the identity in a low voice.
An unexpected courtesy. Ji-hyeok turned with a smile, but she quickly looked away.
He thought she had a cute side.
But Ji-hyeok already had Kang Seon-young's profile perfectly mapped in his mind.
The current chairman's second daughter, age 54.
Her husband was an active judge, and they had one son and one daughter...
And so on.
"Manager Oh, it's been a while."
"Yes. We met at the group New Year's gathering."
"Right. That must have stung for Electronics' President Lee. He thought so highly of you."
"You're too kind."
"I was on my way to see the chairman and stopped by. I heard about the new department and got curious. Special Sales, was it?"
"Yes."
In the meantime, Kang Seon-young entered, trailed by her entourage like a tail, gave the office a cursory glance, and approached the small conference table.
"Is this everyone in the department?"
"Yes. For now."
Her gaze shifted to Bang, who bowed a bit hastily.
"Bang Mu-seok. Section chief."
"Han Ji-young. Assistant manager."
"I know Han well. She's got a reputation across the group for being capable."
"Thank you."
"And then..."
Naturally, her face finally turned to Ji-hyeok.
The real reason she'd come.
"Seo Ji-hyeok. Four days on the job."
"So you're the one who generated 120 billion in sales in just four days."
The report to the vice chairman had gone out that morning.
And it was barely past lunch.
Yet Kang Seon-young spoke as if it were obvious she knew.
Ji-hyeok took it as a warning.
*In the palm of my hand.*
*Reveal who you are...*
'The aunts are getting antsy. At least Section Chief Bang's recording isn't going their way.'
Ji-hyeok smiled at her provocation.
"In Taesung Group, with its 350 trillion annual sales, would 120 billion even register? I'll work harder."
"Nonsense. TVs and clothes add up one by one to make 350 trillion. That's why every employee's achievements deserve proper rewards. I'm generous that way."
"Hearing that makes me want to work at Taesung Textiles sometime."
"No. You want to work under me, right?"
"You're right."
Everyone listening to the exchange between Ji-hyeok and her was floored internally.
How was this a conversation between a newbie and an affiliate president?
And not just any president—Royal Family member Kang Seon-young.
Non-Royal affiliate presidents used utmost formal speech with her.
Even calling Ji-hyeok clueless newbie, his attitude was beyond arrogant.
But strangely, Kang Seon-young was accepting it so naturally.
What was it? What the hell?
Not just the Special Sales crew, but her own staff behind her looked baffled.
"Seeing a passionate newbie is always a pleasure. Here, take this."
Gasp, hmm...
She handed him a business card.
No audible gasps, but everyone's faces registered shock.
A president giving a card to a newbie?
Kang Seon-young never handed them out lightly.
She used no more than five a year.
Yet here she was, offering one unprompted.
But the surprises didn't end there.
"I thought a president's card would be special, but it's just like any other."
Ji-hyeok took it and examined both sides.
Th-the...
Blood rushed to the eyes of her staff...
"Did you expect it gold-plated?"
"Not that, but I figured it'd be different somehow. It's identical."
"A card's value isn't the material—it's the name and title on it."
"True enough. Anyway, I'll be in touch occasionally."
"Do. I'll watch the Special Sales Department's exploits with interest."
With that, Kang Seon-young left the office.
Ji-hyeok smirked at the door after her figure vanished.
But Manager Oh, Bang, and Han just stared at him in stunned silence.