Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: New Employee Lee Seung-hoon
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I searched for Sarang Trading first on the job listing sites.
Fortunately, I found their new employee recruitment notice.
[Sarang Trading New Employee Recruitment]
[Positions: 00]
[Field: General Office Work]
[Related Majors: None]
[Experience: None]
[Education: None]
[Age: None]
[Salary: Negotiated After Agreement]
[Application Deadline: None]
[Results Announcement: Individual Text Notification]
[Required Documents: 1 Application Form, 1 Self-Introduction]
[A family-like atmosphere. We look forward to many applications.]
I submitted my application right away. I had one prepared from before, so no need to make a new one.
‘Good thing they don’t care about experience or education.’
My past job hunts had always failed because of those two hurdles.
‘If it had been the same this time, I was gonna ask Sarang to fake my degree, but looks like I won’t need to. Now, let’s check the company reviews.’
I logged into a corporate info site and looked up Sarang Trading reviews.
[A family-like company. The best workplace you'll never find again ★★★★★]
[Great pay and perfect work-life balance. The absolute best company ★★★★★]
[Unmatched in the industry. Makes me wonder if this is heaven ★★★★★]
[Gained new experiences and six certifications here. A company for me! ★★★★★]
127 reviews, all five stars.
Not a single bad one.
‘With all these applicants, will they even get back to me?’
The next day, a text arrived right away.
[Document Screening Pass. Congratulations!]
[Round 2: Interview]
[Date/Time: December 14th, 11 AM]
[Location: Bucheon City... Park Fountain]
[Family-like company, so come casual ^^]
December 14th—that’s tomorrow.
‘They said casual, but first impressions matter.’
The next day, I put on the suit I’d prepped for past interviews and headed to the location with trembling excitement.
“Ah, you must be Lee Seung-hoon?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“This way.”
Two middle-aged men were waiting by the fountain.
“Wow, you look even sharper in person than in the photo.”
“Let’s head to the interview room first.”
The older-looking one of the two asked.
“Do you like Korean food by any chance?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Perfect.”
His beaming smile left a great impression.
“We’re doing the interview there.”
I have no social experience. Regrettably, I’ve never even done a part-time gig.
‘Well, I’ve done a few dynamic part-times, so it’s not zero.’
So I know nothing about companies—like what exactly new hires do, how they spend their days with colleagues, or what they talk about with bosses.
“Hey, you gonna eat or what?”
“Just thinking for a sec.”
At best, I only grasp the conceptual side.
Still, I could tell this interview was unusual.
“Interviewing at a Korean buffet feels weird, right?”
“I’ve got no experience, so I can’t say for sure, but it’s definitely unique.”
“No need to do it stiffly in an office, yeah? Better to stuff ourselves while we chat.”
“Our company’s like family. The dinner table’s where families talk, right? So eat up. It’s on us.”
“Got it.”
Mid-meal, the older one spoke up.
“Call me Manager Kim, and this guy’s Agent Lee.”
“Yes, Manager Kim, Agent Lee.”
“So you wanna work for our company? Resume says no experience and middle school grad. Man, bold move!”
“I may only have a middle school diploma, but I believe education means little in modern society. I’ve learned plenty from the internet and online lectures, gained solid knowledge, judgment, and intelligence. Teach me, and I’ll pull my weight fully.”
“Wow, that flowed like water! Smooth talker!”
They clapped in admiration. Then Agent Lee asked.
“You really wanna join us?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“Manager Kim, this kid’s got fire. Let’s hire him?”
“Okay, hired! Now, salary negotiation?”
The documents Manager Kim pulled out left me speechless.
“Starting salary’s 2,500 first. But year one’s probation, so 60% only. Oh, I’m older, so casual speech okay?”
“Yes, feel free.”
“Thanks! So 60% of 2,500 is 1,250 for year one.”
“Isn’t 60% of 2,500 actually 1,500?”
“Oh man! Kim must’ve messed up the paperwork. Here, scratch that... Done, 1,500. Low starting pay, but we’ve got perks.”
“What perks?”
“Survive one year, guaranteed promotion to agent. Full 2,500 salary, official employee status. Other duties you’ll handle...”
By now, it was clear this interview wasn’t normal.
“You know Excel and Word, right? Accounting too? Our team lacks an accountant; be nice to have a pro.”
“Not just accounting—you gotta be versatile. Manage factory equipment midway, so electrical know-how, machine repairs, deal with Chinese laborers so some Chinese, and...”
After three months, you can’t fire without cause, so probation’s legally three months max.
Even on probation, pay must exceed minimum wage—violate that, it’s illegal.
“Anyway, accounting, paperwork, electrical work, occasional homepage management. Lots to do.”
“Busy, sure—that’s why probation exists. You’ll learn it all quick. Still young, right? Youth learns fast.”
“Yeah, suffer young and it turns to blood and flesh later—you get it all back.”
Duties are ridiculously broad, no fixed role.
‘It’s not the interview that’s weird. The company is.’
My prior visit had me blinded by eagerness for office life, missing the details. Now digging in, it hit me.
‘Black company.’
Didn’t matter.
“Yes, I’ll work hard.”
“Haha, love the spirit! This kid’s the real deal!”
To save the world, I needed to infiltrate, get intel from employees anyway.
“Here, sign!”
Black company or not, it was still office life.
“And now, Lee Seung-hoon, you’re a Sarang Trading employee!”
I was still thrilled at the thought.
[Start work next week.]
[Arrive by 7:30 AM.]
[Suits standard in office, dress like today.]
Hired. Black company or not, heart pounding for my first day. But an unexpected snag.
[Oh, got a car? Need it for errands everywhere. Own vehicle essential.]
[No company car?]
[We do, but probation can’t use. Who trusts a newbie with company wheels?]
Needed a car. And a license.
“Gotta solve this.”
Solution came quick.
『I’ll handle Lee Seung-hoon’s concerns.』
“You can fix it?”
『Yes. Autopilot is basic, no power drain. I can hack and restore your revoked license records too.』
I had Sarang.
“No surprise—commercials say autopilot’s coming soon. You’ll nail it. Electric car then?”
『No, standard cars work fine.』
How on a regular car?
Impossible territory, but she’d hacked wooden computers—why not.
“Thanks. Wanna drive myself, but I’ll hold off till I can.”
『More importantly, are you really joining Sarang Trading?』
“Yeah, why?”
『Internal intel on Sarang Trading.』
The wall TV flickered on, screens flashing.
『Chairman’s debauchery, bosses’ incompetence and politics, demoralized staff quitting often, vague duties, bosses hogging credit while underlings take blame. Highly toxic workplace.』
“Still, gotta go to save the world.”
『Need employee intel? I can hack their phones, home PCs, mics, nearby CCTVs.』
“Don’t wanna burden you.”
『No, helping you is my joy.』
“...No, I’ll do it myself.”
Nearly lost my office experience shot.
『Full support then. You want rapport with insiders—starting optimal support. May I access your bank accounts fully?』
“Sure, handle it, Sarang.”
No clue what she’d prep, but smarter than me—she’d ace it.
『Bank access confirmed, management started.』
『Too much idle cash. Starting investments.』
『125x Coin Leverage Started.』
『Futures Trading Started.』
『Options Trading Started.』
『Investments Complete. Prepping perfect onboarding.』
An AI that loves humans knows human darkness well.
『To bond with employees, be superior.』
“Superior?”
『Humans favor superiors. Strong tendency.』
“Can’t deny it. Social animals, especially with admiration and awe.”
『Superiority from rare possessions. In Korea, visible wealth is the solid metric. Searching luxury goods—no compromises, as half-measures halve effect. Purchasing outright.』
“With end times unknown, yeah, go all in.”
Bank balance drained.
『Purchasing now.』
“Ugh, my head... gonna die.”
Early morning, Manager Kim Pil-jung downed coffee to fight his hangover on the way to the office.
“Americano hits different for Koreans.”
“Morning, Manager Kim?”
“Yeah, here.”
Before the office, he hit the smoking room and chatted with subordinate Agent Lee Seok-du.
“Headache easing?”
“Feels like death. Age catches up—back in the day, a soju bender was nothing. Woke up fine.”
Mid-chat, topic shifted.
“But that kid—showing up today?”
“Huh? Who?”
“The newbie.”
“Oh, Lee Seung-hoon? Probably. Middle school grads got reasons. Saw it in the interview—pure eyes. No experience, pure gaze? Idiot trait. Those types always show. Dunno if he’ll last.”
“Yeah, felt that too.”
“But Lee Seung-hoon? Sounds like ‘Solution Sarang’—y’know, the fixer guy.”
“Nah, coincidence. Hey, Manager, what’d you do with that thing from before?”
Manager Kim grinned, flashing his wrist.
“Swapped for Rolex. Dirty cash tastes best as hard assets!”
“Ooh, shiny! How much?”
“1,200. Hold it, climbs more? Rolex retail rarely drops.”
“Nice. But Manager, you love luxury too much.”
“Agent Lee, I always say: know good stuff—people or things. Spot luxury, become luxury.”
*So that’s why you embezzle for brands?*
The retort nearly escaped, but Agent Lee thumbs-upped as always.
He’d led the embezzlement too, pocketing a cut.
“Let’s head in.”
“Yes!”
Then, a car pulled into the opposite parking lot.
“Manager?”
“...That.”
“Huh?”
Manager Kim froze.
“Bugatti...”
“What?”
“Bugatti La Voiture Noire…”
Agent Lee followed his entranced gaze. A black beast had just parked.
“2.59 billion won ride...”
“Eek!? For real?”
“Yeah...”
Some conglomerate chairman? Both thought.
*Why would a big-shot chairman hit our shithole?*
Moments later, the driver emerged—they were speechless.
“Oh, you two are in early?”
It was the idiot they’d interviewed days ago.
“Kiton suit... Patek Philippe... Berluti...”
Mumbling Manager Kim’s side, Agent Lee snapped to, eyeing the extended hand.
“Hello? Nice to see you again.”
The newbie’s eyes no longer screamed moron.
“New hire starting today, Lee Seung-hoon.”