A Crane Among Chickens (2)
The credit team's paperwork had a notorious reputation for being incredibly complex. It was packed not just with words that ordinary people couldn't easily grasp, but also dense numbers and Chinese characters. And that was just the beginning. The documents had to be meticulously categorized by details like principal amounts, debtor information, due dates, repayment capacity, and more. Even hearing the description made heads throb. For new hires, it was only natural that the task would take forever.
Kang Min-ho's colleagues from the business school track, Dong-ho and Nam-hoon, were living proof of that. The two were sweating bullets as they sorted through the files.
If Dong-ho and Nam-hoon were 2000s-era ADSL, Min-ho was a lone, flawless 5G. He began sorting the documents at an unbelievably blistering speed. "Familiarity" didn't even begin to cover it—it was etched into his very bones. He'd glance at a file, then move straight to the next. To an outsider, it might look like he was just messing around.
Oh Seong-deok, the mild-mannered deputy with the easygoing vibe, noticed Min-ho's actions and sidled over to offer some advice.
"Hey, kid, don't just skim like that—you'll mix them up and have to redo everything two or three times. Take it slow..."
Min-ho replied without taking his eyes off the papers.
"I'm doing it accurately."
"Even I need ten minutes to get through one batch. You're not some veteran—how could you process all this in such a short time? It doesn't make sense."
"If you don't believe me, check it yourself."
Min-ho still hadn't turned his head. This attitude rubbed Oh the wrong way. Intending to chew him out, Oh grabbed a stack Min-ho had sorted to find fault.
He couldn't believe his eyes. He rubbed them, checked the papers again and again, but everything was flawless—no errors whatsoever.
What the...? It's perfect... from a newbie...? How is this possible?
Min-ho's work was impeccable, without a single mistake. Oh, who'd gone in looking to nitpick, was left speechless.
"Uh... yeah, you're doing great. Keep it up."
This time, Min-ho loosened his tie and tossed it on the desk. His speed picked up even more, his eyes blazing like they were on fire.
His colleagues Dong-ho and Nam-hoon gaped like they'd just witnessed their dream girl in the flesh, unable to tear their eyes away.
Min-ho glanced over at them and issued instructions with practiced ease.
"Pile the files over here."
"Huh?"
"You two won't finish by end of day. Hand them to me one by one so I can sort them properly. Got it?"
"Sure, like this?"
Without a word, Min-ho powered through at inhuman speed. It was like watching a machine at work. Thanks to him, the mountain of papers on the desk was vanishing at a rapid clip. Before long, his two colleagues were assisting him.
Choi Bong-seok, the fiery deputy, stood up and craned his neck for a look at the unbelievable scene.
"Whoa, what's up with that newbie? Seong-deok, is he actually doing it right?"
"I checked it myself. Hard to believe, but he's perfect even at that speed."
"No way— even the section chief couldn't match that pace."
"Don't believe me? Go see for yourself."
Choi got up and inspected Min-ho's sorted files. Just as Oh had said, not a single flaw.
Gradually, the attention of the entire credit team turned their way. Section Chief Im Tae-hyuk, who'd been sitting a bit farther off, stood with his mouth agape. The other team members were the same.
Had JK ever had a newbie like this? How could a rookie handle work like that? It defied normal human comprehension.
Min-ho was showing them the impossible, live and in living color. It was so surreal, even seeing it was hard to believe.
The news spread like wildfire. Employees from other departments started trickling in to verify for themselves.
-Not the top student for nothing—looks like a machine, total machine
- A newbie crushing it like that?
-If another one like him joins, we're all getting canned.
-Whoa, I want to poach him for our team.
Before long, Min-ho's desk had become the hot spot. Everyone stared in disbelief.
Section Chief Im poked Deputy Choi in the ribs.
"Bong-seok."
"Yes, Section Chief?"
"This what I'm seeing... that's really a newbie?"
"Seems... yeah... probably."
"You think a human can sort at that speed?"
"Well... seeing it with my own eyes, it has to be."
Im nodded toward them.
"Newbies are supposed to stare at files all wide-eyed and clueless like those two next to him. That's normal."
"Yeah, that's how I was too."
"Looks like we finally got a real gem."
"Section Chief, am I getting fired?"
"If anyone's going, it'll be me before you."
"Drinks after work, then?"
"Damn right."
Min-ho sorted like a machine. Section Chief Seo watched with a pleased smile, nodding approvingly.
Lunchtime rolled around.
"Alright, everyone, let's eat."
His two exhausted colleagues, struggling to keep up, finally straightened their backs with groans. Min-ho didn't bat an eye, still laser-focused.
"Min-ho, the section chief says let's go eat."
"You go ahead. I'm good."
"Come on, don't be like that."
Section Chief Seo watched Min-ho bury himself in work, then quietly ushered the team out to give him space.
***
Even after the team returned from lunch, Min-ho was still deep in it. His shirt was soaked with sweat. The massive pile of credit files was finally bottoming out.
The hallway outside was buzzing with crowds. Oh Seong-deok, back from a quick bathroom break through the throng, said,
"Outside, everyone's placing bets on when this'll wrap up—total chaos."
Section Chief Seo beamed—after all, the newbie he'd handpicked was killing it. Face full of pride, he asked,
"Bets on what, exactly?"
"On what time the sorting finishes, sir."
Seo, grinning ear to ear, replied,
"Tell them no need for bets out there."
"Pardon?"
"It's already done."
Every eye in the department snapped back to Min-ho. Impossible. Even with the whole team, it would've taken days—a single newbie did it in hours?
Unable to hide his satisfaction, Section Chief Seo stood and started clapping.
"Excellent! Bravo! Outstanding! See, my eye never fails—perfect! That's our Lee Min-ho. Right, Deputy Choi?"
"Yes, sir, we all think so."
The team followed suit, applauding enthusiastically. Min-ho barely reacted to the cheers.
Oh, who'd been watching intently, spotted a stack in the corner.
"This is by principal, this by date... perfect sorting as usual. But what's this?"
He checked, but couldn't figure the criterion.
"Min-ho, these are nearly due—should go to finance."
"No. This is right."
"What're you talking about?"
"Those are the ones I'm collecting in person."
Oh felt a frustration beyond words at the absurd reply. He thumped his chest and downed his coffee in one gulp.
"Can't you explain properly for once? Look, let me break it down again—this is..."
"I said I'll collect them."
"Argh, you're driving me nuts! This is way beyond a newbie's level! How many times do I have to say it?!"
"I said it because I can collect them."
Min-ho had simply stated that persimmons tasted like persimmons. Oh still didn't get it.
Why was Min-ho obsessed with these credit files from day one? Everything had a clear reason.
To catch his father Kang Du-seong's eye, he needed to crack a big, unsolved case. Min-ho's choice was straightforward: pick high-probability, high-value debts to collect personally.
Sensing something off, Section Chief Seo approached and reviewed the files himself.
"Alright, employee, theoretically, yeah, we could collect this. But..."
"We can in practice too."
"I know you've got the spirit, but this is as good as written off—it's heading to accounting for disposal soon."
"Until maturity hits, it's still active."
"Like, 'it's not over till the ref blows the whistle'?"
"Yes, sir."
No joke. Min-ho grinned brightly.
Seo was starting to find him a bit intimidating.
The debts in Min-ho's hands were huge sums, all due in under a month. Seo knew Min-ho wasn't one for idle chit-chat. This kid was leagues beyond any newbie he'd seen. It felt like Min-ho could actually track down the debtors and squeeze the money out somehow.
Seo felt a chill down his spine.
"Now, Lee Min-ho, stay calm. If you're thinking of hitting, threatening, or kidnapping folks—that's absolutely not how we do things at JK."
"Force might be an option, but it'd ruin their repayment ability. That's a last resort."
"Then why do you think it's possible? You wouldn't..."
Min-ho held up a calculator in one hand.
"If I collect all these, what's my incentive percentage?"
"These are low-recovery odds. See? We tried enforcement, but they don't have assets—just beggars flat-out refusing."
"If they're lying there gutted, skip the knife—light a fire under 'em in the hearth and make 'em get up."
The more they talked, the more baffling it got. Seo couldn't fathom Min-ho's thinking.
With a sigh, he patted him reassuringly.
"We'll go over this in detail when we hit the field later."
"Got it, sir."
"One thing: never hit anyone. That's the principle Chairman Kang Jin-gwang drilled into us at JK."
Seo was spot on. They didn't beat non-payers. They just worked them to death. That was JK's founder Kang Jin-gwang's rule.
Min-ho's remark about losing repayment ability from beatings showed he knew even JK's dark side.
Seo clapped his hands.
"Alright, team—we've got a new newbie, so how about a welcome dinner?"
-Whoa, dinner out of nowhere?
-Newbie's treat—finally some grease for our throats!
The unexpected news drew cheers and applause.
"Today, Lee Min-ho should pick the menu. Anything you usually crave?"
Options thrown at Min-ho, team members pitching their faves.
-Min-ho, how 'bout beef?
-Old kimchi stew with soju hits the spot.
-Gut with fried rice is king.
Min-ho pretended to mull it over with a sly smile, glanced at Section Chief Seo, then decided without hesitation.
"Pork belly."
Seo loved pork belly for dinners. Choices like this prioritized the boss's taste over your own. A battle-hardened vet like Min-ho knew that inside out.
Seo's face lit up with satisfaction at the perfect match.
"Great minds— I was thinking the same. Alright, wrap up and let's head out."
The team buzzed excitedly, heads full of pork belly. Meanwhile, Min-ho meticulously planned his next moves for debt collection.
Buoyed by Min-ho's success, the credit team headed to dinner in high spirits.