Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Chairman and New Employee Lee Seung-hoon
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“Hahaha! Here you go! Please take good care of Sarang Trading from now on in my stead!”
The former chairman, Han Sarang, bowed politely to me as he handed over the chairman’s office. Over the past five days, I’d bought out his shares, negotiated deals, and shared plenty of drinks with him, but his character wasn’t bad at all.
‘He was actually quite generous and decent.’
Sarang Trading had ended up like this because he had zero interest in running the company.
I wondered how someone with no personality flaws could let that happen, but history was full of such cases.
‘The world’s most brutal dictators were kind neighbors to their own people, right?’
Of course, with money on the line, he might have been hiding his true nature, but from what I’d seen, Han Sarang was that kind of guy.
“So, how should we run Sarang Trading now?”
Socrates said: Know thyself.
I lacked the experience to run a company, and with this place as the potential seedbed for doom at any moment, I had no time to spare on learning.
“That’s why I’ll need your help.”
『Leave it to me.』
『Leave it to me.』
“First, let’s solve the battery issue.”
Sarang was practically omnipotent in modern society, but it had one major flaw: insane battery drain.
‘Sarang’s hourly charge rate is 1%, most functions eat up 10% or more of the battery each time, plus the constant draw to keep the AI running means it barely lasts.’
I grabbed the charger first and sprinkled reinforcement potion on it. No visible changes.
“Let’s try charging like this.”
I plugged the charger into the outlet in the chairman’s office and hooked up Sarang, but the battery charge speed didn’t budge.
『The charger’s power output seems insufficient.』
『The charger’s power output seems insufficient.』
“Yeah?”
I took my smartphone and charger to the factory. People who didn’t know I was the new chairman stared like I was an outsider, while others struggled to believe it.
“You don’t need to mind me. I’m the chairman, but I’m also a new hire, so treat me casually.”
“Ah, yes...”
I sprinkled reinforcement potion on the factory’s large generator. No big visible changes, but now it had multiple outlets. I plugged in the charger and started charging the phone—something amazing happened.
‘1% per second.’
Of course, this didn’t fully solve the battery problem. Consumption would still be high, and I’d have to come here every time to recharge.
‘But being able to charge fast is something, right?’
I finished charging and headed back to the chairman’s office. On the way, I overheard employees behind me.
“Huh? What’s going on? This generator’s fuel ran out ages ago.”
“What? But it’s still running?”
Back in the office with fully charged Sarang, we discussed company management.
“I need ways to block both the company’s collapse and the seed of doom growing here.”
『The former is straightforward. Sarang Trading’s overseas clients are surprisingly solid, so maintain those dealings while focusing on new routes, R&D, etc. Hire professional managers to drive growth.』
『The former is straightforward. Sarang Trading’s overseas clients are surprisingly solid, so maintain those dealings while focusing on new routes, R&D, etc. Hire professional managers to drive growth.』
“How about the seed of doom?”
『The highest-probability scenario right now hinges on the company being a black company: accumulated stress, societal resentment, uncertain futures pushing an employee’s negativity to the extreme, leading to entity contact and doom. Best fix is company growth and employee welfare. The former via management; the latter requires your direct oversight, Seung-hoon.』
『The highest-probability scenario right now hinges on the company being a black company: accumulated stress, societal resentment, uncertain futures pushing an employee’s negativity to the extreme, leading to entity contact and doom. Best fix is company growth and employee welfare. The former via management; the latter requires your direct oversight, Seung-hoon.』
Sarang had thought of the same thing I had.
“Yeah, figured as much.”
『However, it’s not 100% certain. Other factors and the entity’s quirks could still trigger doom.』
『However, it’s not 100% certain. Other factors and the entity’s quirks could still trigger doom.』
“Of course I’ll keep that in mind. But now that I’m chairman, we should make this the best company possible, right?”
『Understood. Will welfare funding come from personal assets? Company funds are too low for quick improvements.』
『Understood. Will welfare funding come from personal assets? Company funds are too low for quick improvements.』
“Yeah. How much do I have?”
Sarang displayed the account screen.
『Intelligence agencies worldwide detected massive short-term cash flows and began tracking your accounts. To block them, half the funds were invested in stocks under others’ names, the rest split across 8,127 global accounts. This screen shows the total balance.』
『Intelligence agencies worldwide detected massive short-term cash flows and began tracking your accounts. To block them, half the funds were invested in stocks under others’ names, the rest split across 8,127 global accounts. This screen shows the total balance.』
My wealth had grown again.
“Hmm.”
I began my duties as chairman.
“With this money, we can make the happiest company in the world.”
My first task was calling in Deputy Lee.
“You called, Chairman Lee?”
“Manager Kim, feel free to call me Employee Lee. I’m chairman, but still a newbie. If I can be chairman and president, why not chairman and employee?”
“No, how could we! Haha! Anyway, you wanted Deputy Lee? He quit without notice. Left a resignation letter too.”
“Shame.”
I had no intention of revenge.
“I called to say let’s forget the past and move forward together.”
“...Haha, you really are different, Chairman Lee.”
“Manager Kim.”
This company was headed uphill from here, such a pity.
“Call me Employee Lee. Or Newbie’s fine.”
“From today, no more tolerating bad company habits. First offense: warning. Accumulate warnings: termination.”
A new wind blew through Sarang Trading.
“First, too few employees for the workload. We’ll hire new ones starting today and aggressively scout from other companies to avoid disruptions.”
I hired twenty headhunters first. Each with eight-figure salaries, but even with signing bonuses, my balance grew by next day.
“Huh? Starting from regular employees?”
“Yes, filling from the bottom up.”
“Hmm... Not impossible, but...”
“Also, I want over five hundred in a week minimum.”
“Possible, but short timeline means better offers and guarantees—costs a lot.”
“Money’s no issue; we’re overflowing.”
New blood arrived. Headcount rose, empty seats vanished.
“Running out of space soon? Sarang, contact the Foundation please.”
『Got it.』
『Got it.』
The agent dispatched from the Foundation was Kim Dong-wook, recently promoted to B-Grade.
“A new headquarters? In one day?”
“Yes. And make everyone accept it naturally.”
“Perception alteration—doable, but... What size building?”
“For tens of thousands of employees. Plus amusement facilities for welfare, and a massive hospital.”
“Seung-hoon, why build this?”
“Can’t say details, but to protect the world.”
“...I’ll make calls now. This scale’ll cost big. Join the Foundation full-time, it’s free.”
“Money’s plenty; send the bill, I’ll wire immediately.”
“Ah, yes! Oh, Seung-hoon, war with other dimensions soon? Can we talk soon?”
Next day, overnight, the headquarters transformed.
“As expected of the Foundation.”
HQ became a 100-story tower; nearby hills leveled for a huge hospital, amusement park, welfare complex.
“Huh? Was our company always this big?”
“Yeah, yesterday was the last day of HQ move.”
“Right, welfare facilities finished yesterday too? Forgot.”
Perception-altered people saw nothing odd—not just employees, passersby worldwide, even online.
[Yo! Saw Sarang Trading’s new amusement park as welfare?]
└[Saw it before; yesterday was completion.]
└[Wish outsiders could use it, tons of rides!]
The bill showed perception alteration cost more than construction.
‘Entities that alter global perceptions for pay—Foundation’s the real deal.’
Material prep done. More employees, top talent hired. Still short for building size, but time would fix; existing staff could dream rosy futures.
“Today marks the new Sarang Trading’s start. To ease old employees’ worries: no layoffs. Relax and work.”
I gathered everyone and announced changes.
“Raises for existing employees: minimum 2x, up to 10x based on tenure and skill.”
“Interest-free loans for housing deposits to those without homes.”
“Over 10 years tenure, no home? Company buys one.”
“1 billion per child in support funds.”
“Free treatment anytime at company hospital.”
“Company hospital covers up to 6th degree relatives free.”
Murmurs grew. But that wasn’t all.
“Exceed monthly targets? 200% performance bonus.”
“1-year tenure: 2 weeks paid vacation plus family overseas trip.”
“Company amusement park and welfare free.”
“Want to pass position to kids? They start as employees, but guaranteed hire.”
“Cafeteria: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Western—world cuisines by pro chefs.”
“Break room stocked with global snacks and drinks, all free.”
It was welfare to avert doom, but also my personal challenge.
“30+ years tenure: space trip.”
“Engineer cert or national pro qual: 10 million each.”
“Work starts 8:30 AM. No need earlier.”
“Child education support.”
Was I spending faster, or Sarang earning?
Seeing absurd sums sparked childish rivalry, so I threw in kid-level perks.
“What’s he saying?”
“Just talk, probably.”
“Nah, this is too much...”
Over-the-top welfare; employees didn’t buy it. Even bank statements wouldn’t convince.
‘Unreal numbers breed doubt; show with actions.’
I grabbed the mic again.
“Everyone, you got a text this morning: just numbers. Follow-up said don’t delete, it’s from company—kept them, right?”
“Yes.”
“Final welfare announcement now.”
I activated the remote. Outdoor screen descended, lit up.
“This is a number lottery. Draws from 1 to employee count who got texts. Some of you get it already.”
Murmurs swelled.
“Today’s the 23rd, right? Monthly 23rd: company welfare lottery. Winner gets life-freeing funds, taxes handled—clean payout.”
I removed the corner tarp. A mountain of 10,000-won bills emerged.
“Total pot: 30 billion.”
“...”
“Let’s draw.”
Numbers spun, one huge on screen.
“No. 1,766. Come up.”
“...Me!”
A skeptical new female hire.
“Name?”
“...Lee Yeon-joo.”
“Show text.”
“...Here.”
“Verified. Double-checking.”
Earpiece: Sarang spoke.
『Match confirmed. No rigging; true recipient.』
『Match confirmed. No rigging; true recipient.』
“Verified. Congrats, 30 billion owner.”
“...Real?”
“Check yourself.”
She inspected bundles: edges first, then inside, unbundling, hugging cash.
“I-It’s real! Real money!”
Cheers erupted as belief dawned.
“I-It’s real!”
“Monthly 30 billion lottery for real!?”
“All that welfare too!?”
Believers enjoy; doubters quit. Fine.
“Now, everyone.”
Much changed, some not.
“Morning exercises.”
Remote: upbeat music.
“Daily 8:45 AM: national exercises before work. Even without me.”
Non-negotiable.
『National exercises~! Be~gi~n!』
“Oh dear.”
Exercises done, back to office. Outside: screams of joy.
“I lose.”
Wealth grew again, regrettably.
“Sarang, isn’t this too much?”
『No. Your wealth ranks only 26th globally.』
『No. Your wealth ranks only 26th globally.』
“...This listed amount already tops No. 1?”
『That’s the light side. Shadow figures evading even Foundation tracking dwarf it; pure finance can’t catch them.』
『That’s the light side. Shadow figures evading even Foundation tracking dwarf it; pure finance can’t catch them.』
“You found them.”
『Only financial assets—an iceberg tip. Including physical, their scale’s unimaginable; even greater power and wealth exist.』
『Only financial assets—an iceberg tip. Including physical, their scale’s unimaginable; even greater power and wealth exist.』
Unknowable tycoons even to Sarang—fun world.
“How to get more than this?”
Maybe shady traders or normies dealing with All-Gold Almighty Inc.
‘This blocks the seed of doom, right?’
Then, a visitor to the office.
“Haha, Chairman Lee home?”
“Former Chairman.”
“Aigoo, forgot something.”
It was previous chairman Han Sarang.
“You know this was my parents’ company? When they founded it, they buried a time capsule by the nameplate stone.”
“Time capsule?”
“Yeah! Meant for 100th anniversary dig-up—Jan 2 next year. But I sold to you, so now?”
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Called a forklift.
“Doldol! Good boy?”
“Woof!”
Chairman’s pet Doldol recognized him, ran over.
“Aigoo, cutie. Sorry. World trip coming; can’t take you. Grow up loved here.”
Afternoon: workers arrived, dug before intact nameplate stone despite renos.
“There!”
Box 5 meters down emerged. Sealed tight, craned up; Han Sarang opened carefully.
“?”
Right eye activated then.
“...”
Utterly ridiculous.
‘Welfare wasn’t the issue.’
If people, Baal would’ve spotted early.
‘Issue’s the object, not people.’
If out, Baal would’ve known; sealed in capsule, missed till end.
‘Ridiculous.’
Unrelated to welfare—pure bad luck.
Humanity doomed like worm stepped on unlucky.
‘No relation?’
I glanced at puppy Doldol circling Han Sarang.
‘If pet-raising counts as welfare, then welfare.’