No Failures, Only Trials
There are trials, but no failures.
"Heh... heh..."
In the security room of Daehan Pharmaceutical, which had been swept away by a sudden storm, the president sat blankly for a long time. But the acrid smell of blood wafting from around him finally woke the president.
Upon regaining his senses, the president first dialed the group general office that could only connect with the direct subordinates of the Daehan Group.
"President? Are you all right? We’re rounding up the bastard right now. The Union Police will be here soon."
"Cough... cough."
A desperate voice spilled from the watch, and blood came out along with the president’s cough from his mouth.
The president’s chest burned with fury, yet his eyes remained ice-cold.
"Don’t provoke that guy. Send everyone back. And tell the chairman to call a family meeting."
"What? But..."
"Do it!"
"But the police have already received the report..."
"Damn it! Cut the upper lines somehow and get them out! How am I supposed to show this face! Advertise to the reporters? That one guy destroyed Daehan?"
"...Understood."
* * *
Deputy Kang, who had prided himself on living intensely even after rising to the rank of deputy in a chaebol, had already lost half his mind after meeting the man before him. He had seen blood before—thanks to the gates he had entered for work—so he had barely survived. A normal person would have fainted at the sight.
"Now that the work is done, shall we head to Joseon Pharmaceutical as promised?"
Despite having caused such chaos, the man’s legs trembled while the other man stood there with perfect composure.
[Beep-beep-beep]
"Hey... shouldn’t you avoid the police cars that are coming?"
Kang Bu-jang, hearing the distant wail of sirens, asked cautiously.
"They won’t come?"
"What?"
"Those kinds of people have strong pride and lose a lot. Why would I keep that guy alive for nothing?"
Indeed, the approaching siren sounds gradually faded and soon vanished completely.
"Now, let’s go."
"Yes!"
Just like a second lieutenant returning to the army, Kang Bu-jang answered with strength in his belly and began guiding the way to Joseon Pharmaceutical. Yet even as he walked, his mind raced with confusion.
'This isn’t something I can handle, let alone Director Choi. If I bring that guy who only knows corporate politics and stealing salary...'
Kang Bu-jang’s mind turned faster than ever. What would happen if that lunatic did something reckless, and why had he brought himself as a witness?
The horrific scene from the meeting room replayed in his head, making his body tremble.
The only thing keeping him grounded was the weight of being the deputy in charge of the team and the eldest son.
'First, I need to buy time... That’s right! I liked the sweet drink earlier.'
"Are you thirsty? Maybe you want something cold? Shall I bring you strawberry latte or chocolate latte?"
"It’s fine... No, the chocolate latte is fine."
Actually, he wanted to finish quickly and go home, but according to Kang Bu-jang, it was hot and his body had loosened up, so he wanted something cold. It wasn’t that he was curious about the chocolate latte.
'It’s like the cocoa they used to sell in old vending machines.'
"Wait here for a moment. I’ll go get it right away."
Kang Bu-jang guided me to the lobby window seat on the first floor of Joseon Pharmaceutical, gave a stern warning to the company’s security staff, and then stepped outside.
"Don’t touch this person. Got it? If anyone comes and causes trouble, beat them no matter their position. I’ll take responsibility."
"What? Ah... understood."
The security staff, who usually smiled kindly and greeted politely, looked serious when Kang Bu-jang spoke that way, and nodded as if something was wrong.
Kang Bu-jang headed to the cafe, tapped his smartwatch, and called his secretary and team leader who were close to him.
"Hey~ Deputy Kang! What’s up? Again asking me to look into Choi Director? That guy doesn’t go anywhere for a while. No transfers, no business trips. Yeah, what would you look into for a business trip."
Since they always worked overtime and drank together, backing up Choi Director, it was natural that Kang Bu-jang would get scolded by the director again and call to vent.
"Team Leader. It’s an urgent matter."
"Huh? What?"
"Where is the president right now?"
"...You... No matter how much you hate Choi Director, you know he’s his brother-in-law, right? If I tell you directly..."
"It’s not that! Hurry!"
Kang Bu-jang’s desperate voice made Team Leader realize something serious was happening and quickly check the company journal. Meanwhile, Kang Bu-jang arrived at his favorite cafe.
"Welcome!"
The staff’s lively voice greeted him, but Kang Bu-jang frowned at the long waiting line for orders. The cafe was small, yet the atmosphere and taste were good, so there was always a line.
'Absolutely, I can’t ruffle the person’s feathers.'
It was extreme, but if I waited in the company lobby and got bored and accidentally broke a bottle or something... it would be a disaster.
It was an unbelievable imagination, but Kang Bu-jang’s half-out mind felt like that could happen in reality.
"Hello, gentlemen!"
"Customer?"
"What?"
All eyes in the cafe focused sharply on Kang Bu-jang, but with lips tightly clenched, he continued speaking loudly.
"I have a really urgent contract at the company! If I’m late, I might get fired. I’m really sorry, but can I order first? Of course, I’ll pay for the drinks I drink."
When Kang Bu-jang bowed his head in request, the customers in the cafe stirred. And the first compromise started from the couple.
"Honey, let’s just give up on this person. After all, you’re paying for the drinks."
"Let’s do that too."
"Yes. I also work at a company, so I understand that feeling."
Kang Bu-jang’s words moved the customers’ hearts, but most importantly, when Kang Bu-jang bowed his head earlier, the stress-filled empty spots in his head were decisive.
"Thank you so much!"
Kang Bu-jang expressed gratitude loudly again and quickly went to the counter without looking at the menu and started ordering.
"One each of all latte varieties, ice. With ice cubes too."
"What? We have quite a few latte varieties. Vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, sweet potato, green tea, maple..."
"As fast as possible! If you help with the dishes too, I’ll give you triple the drink price."
"But the ice cubes are for customers inside to borrow..."
Ice cubes were stainless steel ice that replaced ice in the freezer when cooled, semi-permanent.
"Triple the price I paid!"
"...! Everyone, do the dishes later, come now!"
The president’s eyes, who was receiving orders at the counter, sparkled, and he quickly called the staff to lead and start making the drinks.
While waiting for the drinks, the secretary team’s voice checking the schedule came.
"Deputy Kang! The president is in a meeting right now. Are you listening?"
"Okay! Can I immediately project the video I just sent to the meeting room hologram?"
"...Are you crazy? Do you know how carefully the materials going up there are? You don’t know that the director, executive, and manager approve line by line?"
"First, look at the video I’m sending and talk."
"What is this?"
When he saw the video Kang Bu-jang sent, the HR team leader could immediately tell why Kang Bu-jang was so excited. The team leader’s mouth didn’t close for a moment while watching the video.
"The drinks you ordered are ready."
While the drinks came out, Kang Bu-jang picked up the three-tiered drink tray and walked quickly back to the company, continuing the call.
"...Is this real? Not CG or editing?"
"I was there a few minutes ago. You don’t see me in the video? I’m going to the meeting room with that person, so quickly project the video there."
"No matter how, ... suddenly uploading this..."
"Team Leader! I’ll take responsibility. Even if something goes wrong, I’ll go."
"Damn, I know I’ll be fired too... Okay! Since it’s you, I’ll do it. Later, shoot me once!"
It was a request possible because they were friends who had known each other for over 10 years since joining, beyond company colleagues, with thick trust.
Kang Bu-jang hadn’t thought of it when he was scared and his head wasn’t working earlier, but now it felt like a turning point in his life.
'It’s a gamble. But...'
If his department didn’t do anything, they would be 'adjusted' anyway.
The incompetent director wouldn’t last managing his department. And since the blood-related director wouldn’t be fired, all responsibility would fall on the easy-going self.
"Of course, thank you."
After conveying the heartfelt gratitude to the colleague, Kang Bu-jang arrived at the lobby and approached the man with a slightly bored expression.
"Karen-ssi. Please drink."
"Thank you. But what are all those?"
I had asked for only the chocolate latte, but Kang Bu-jang’s hand held a three-layer drink tray.
"Just in case you get bored, I bought all kinds. The ice is stainless steel, so it will be cool for a while."
"...Deputy Kang."
"What?"
"I like it. Put that there for a moment."
I put the entire tray Kang Bu-jang placed on the desk into the soul subspace.
Unlike the soul subspace, time passed a bit, but since I would eat it all today, it was fine.
"Let’s go."
[How did it go?]
In the elevator going to the floor connected to the meeting room, Kang Bu-jang sent a message to the secretary team.
[Okay. The president canceled all meetings and will see it himself.]
"Hoo. As expected, the president."
First hurdle passed. Kang Bu-jang was the only person in this company Kang Bu-jang respected.
The living myth who built Joseon Pharmaceutical with his bare hands, although he had age now and was a bit weak to feelings, there were parachutes like Choi Director.
"Here we are."
When I opened the door to the meeting room, the wide meeting room that could easily fit dozens of people had the president and an unexpected uninvited guest.
'Insane, why is that guy here!'
Whether Kang Bu-jang screamed inside or not, after walking for a while, his legs hurt, so he entered and sat in any chair that looked comfortable.
"This side is Jeong Jumong, the president of our Joseon Pharmaceutical, and the person next to him is Director Choi."
Kang Bu-jang introduced while strongly glaring at Choi Director to not cause trouble, but Choi Director’s mouth opened anyway.
"Welcome! Welcome to our Joseon Pharmaceutical. Deputy Kang, did you not cause any trouble?"
"Really... there are always such guys wherever you go."
I immediately understood what kind of human Choi Director was. A human like a leech that sucked blood only from weaker humans than himself.
"No, he works well."
"Hahaha, as expected, our Deputy Kang. He is a talent I cherish in our company. By my order, I brought Karen-ssi too."
'Shut up. You bastard.'
Only then did Kang Bu-jang realize why Choi Director was here. When bringing Karen, he must have told the president it was his promoted project.
So it was natural to be here as the person in charge.
But I ignored Choi Director’s muttering and faced Jeong Jumong, the president.
'Beast man.'
The president looked old and gentle on the surface, but the hidden fangs still gave off the scent of a living beast.
"Your name suits you. Jumong, is that the Jumong?"
"Yes. Our late mother liked King Dongmyeongseong."
"Nice."
The president’s eyes looking at the young man across the table shook slightly, as if not visible.
Met kings and S-rank hunters at the peak of humanity. But this man...
'All the aura and strength they have are shown. Hoo, I still have things to do before I retire.'
"What should I call you?"
"Call me Karen."
I liked the president Jeong Jumong in front of me immediately. The scent from a master in one field, and above all, the name matched the drama I liked watching lately.
"No, you look tough, but anyway, to the president..."
"Shut up."
The swear word that came out of my mouth made the silence in the meeting room flow, and Choi Director’s face, who was humiliated, flushed red, but the president didn’t care at all.
I put the strawberry latte I drank into the subspace and took out the sweet potato latte. The president also lifted the cup with the tea in front of him.
"This is delicious too. Deputy Kang, what is this called?"
"Sweet potato latte."
"Do you like it?"
"I’ve never eaten it before. In my time, there was no such thing. Or was there? I guess I never got to drink it."
At that time, I was busy earning a living, so I didn’t have time to drink such things.
"Hoo, envious. I can’t eat sweet things because my wife has diabetes."
"A good person."
"Yes. An overqualified woman."
Whoosh
Short conversation continued, and the scene in the meeting room was bizarre. Only the sound of me sipping with a straw and the president sipping his tea flowed.
'What are they doing?'
Kang Bu-jang was confused by the two people’s actions that couldn’t be figured out, but the flow between the parties themselves was not awkward at all.
Tap
We put down the drinks we were eating as if we had made a promise at the same time.
"No... until when do we just eat..."
The director, unable to bear it, opened his mouth again, and finally conversation resumed between the two of us.
"Sell the potion manufacturing method."
"Thank you. What do you want?"
"Money, I can give it as I like, right?"
"Understood. Patent in your name, and a separate advance payment without being stingy. For now, make it so you can only have monopoly."
"The patent is fine. It’s on the name."
"Then I’ll give separate commission. What other conditions?"
"There are. Easy conditions."
"Then we’re good."
"You bastard. I don’t like it. I don’t know how you got someone like you next to you, but since it bothers me, I’ll get rid of it. And the transaction will only go through Deputy Kang."
"What?"
The sudden words made Choi Director look dumbfounded.
Kang Bu-jang was surprised too, not less than Choi Director, but since it was an atmosphere he couldn’t interfere with, he quickly changed the subject.
"Understood."
"Brother-in-law, what nonsense..."
Choi Director, who was about to protest, shrank like a frightened dog at the president’s gaze as he turned his head and glared at him.
'Damn, why is brother-in-law doing this?'
The president’s eyes, which usually showed only gentle eyes no matter what he did, were not that. When the president looked at him just now, it felt like a herbivore in front of a beast.
"Ah! And find one person, and buy my house and nearby in my name. I don’t want to buy it myself. I can do that much, right?"
"A person? If it’s outside the Union, it might take time."
"He’s in Korea, probably an F-rank hunter."
"I’ll find it right away. Is he a friend?"
"He might become a future barista."
"...Barista? You have thought about everything. What are you going to do with the land? Open a cafe, or a research lab?"
The words that came next made Jeong Jumong president also lose his composure this time.
"Open a cafe."