Chapter 13
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Colonel? Passed!
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"...Hmm. Even if you say that, I'm still not quite sure."
Jang Deokcheol scratched his head.
Well, if it could be explained with just a few words, the regressed Kangyul might have felt wronged almost to death.
"...Just think of it as hiring a broadcasting manager. We'll need one video editing expert, about three people for the filming team, and then a secretary to assist the vice president and one to help with my work."
"...Yes. I'll put up the job postings right away."
Jang Deokcheol bowed his head and opened the office door.
Now that the orders had been given, all he had to do was carry them out.
Suddenly remembering something, he looked back at Kangyul and spoke up.
"Oh, and you'll be working here for the next month. I've handled the English academy on my end cleanly. But what if Madam checks later and asks if you've been studying English?"
"Don't worry about that."
"Pardon?"
Kangyul chuckled softly as he replied.
"I'll cover that much myself, so don't worry about it."
"Ah, yes. Understood. I was worrying over nothing."
Jang Deokcheol gave an awkward laugh, closed the door, and left.
'...If only my Seongtae took after Young Master Kangyul even half—no, a quarter of the way.'
Today, too, Jang Deokcheol habitually compared him to Seongtae.
As soon as Jang Deokcheol left, Kangyul turned on the computer.
Whiiiir—
The familiar sound of the power supply kicking in rang out, and the Windows screen popped up in just a few seconds.
'Hmm. Come to think of it, maybe I should buy some AMD stock too?'
Right now, Intel dominated the CPU and graphics card markets, but by 2022, AMD had practically taken over.
The stock price had hit rock bottom in 2015, then skyrocketed over 50 times in just five years.
'Even if I'm not an expert, buying at the low should net a nice profit.'
Kangyul opened Notepad on the computer and jotted down the relevant info.
He didn't forget to set a password on the computer so no one else could peek.
'Alright, time to scoop up some more Bitcoin at low prices before heading home today?'
Kangyul bought up every Bitcoin available at low prices until he went home. And so, throughout the entire break, he just commuted to the office.
The eighth floor, which had been empty except for the office, was soon filled with desks and other office supplies.
Next to Kangyul's office—the president's room—they even set up one for Jang Deokcheol.
"Interviews start next week?"
"Yes. More people applied than I expected, so I'm a bit worried."
"Well, for a new company, the pay is on the high side."
Kangyul wasn't stingy with salaries since money was overflowing anyway.
Starting salary for new hires was around 45 million won—comparable to a major corporation.
"Even so, they'll work hard for that pay, so don't underestimate them."
"Yes, of course. Young Master, what criteria should we use for the secretaries?"
There were clear standards for video editors and filming teams based on experience, but not so much for secretaries.
For the one assisting Jang Deokcheol, a sharp, competent person would do. The issue was Kangyul's secretary.
'...It's not like we're hiring someone to babysit the young master... But we can't pick based on looks either, right?'
"...Hmm. I only need to check two things."
"Two things?"
"Yes. Just ask about their LoL tier and Sudden Attack rank."
Jang Deokcheol pulled out his notepad and jotted down Kangyul's words.
"But what are LoL and Sudden Attack?"
'Sigh, for parents of a future pro gamer like Jang Seongtae, you sure don't know much.'
Kangyul turned on the computer and launched the game himself.
"They're games. You've probably seen them a lot on YouTube, right?"
"Ah, yes, I've seen them on YouTube. But why?"
"Pick people with high tiers who are good at them if possible. We'll play together whenever there's time."
"...Understood."
Jang Deokcheol didn't argue with Kangyul's instructions.
He'd long since given up trying to understand.
The interviews went surprisingly smoothly.
There were no external interviewers; Jang Deokcheol met and evaluated everyone personally.
Most people backed out on their own once they heard what the job at Midas Corporation entailed.
"What? You want us to create and produce original content ourselves? Are you planning to start a broadcasting station? Do you even know how tough that is?"
But a few showed real interest.
"Really? I can film whatever I want? Just give me creative freedom, and I'll do it no questions asked!"
These were people fed up with the rigid, old-school culture at modern broadcasting stations who'd decided to switch jobs.
After filling the video editor and filming team positions, all that was left were the secretaries.
Jang Deokcheol picked his own secretary as someone quick on their feet who handled tasks reliably.
"You were in the military as a career soldier and discharged recently?"
"Yes. I served as an operations officer and was discharged last June due to a misunderstanding."
"Hmm. Im Honggyu, you have a good education and you're young. Why apply to our company specifically?"
Im Honggyu blinked a few times before answering.
"Three reasons. First, the pay is high. Second, you said we just need to do as told. And third, it's close to home."
"...Hmm. Good. Start tomorrow."
"Thank you!"
'I don't know about the rest, but close to home makes it easier to work them hard.'
Now, the last one left was Kangyul's secretary.
He'd interviewed every last applicant, but not a single one met the mark.
If they seemed capable at work, they knew nothing about Sudden Attack or LoL as Kangyul specified.
Knock knock—
"Come in."
The final applicant opened the office door and entered.
Kim Min-a, 25, had graduated from a national university in the provinces and applied to big companies, only to get rejected everywhere.
She'd gotten her TOEIC and certifications, but she couldn't stand out against the stellar competition.
'Sigh, if life rankings were like LoL tiers, I'd be top-tier.'
She had one secret she couldn't tell a soul.
From age 23 after graduation until 25, she'd secretly streamed as a game BJ on AfreecaTV for two years without even her family knowing.
She'd climbed to the upper ranks and even earned enough for a jeonse deposit in Seoul, but it left her unsatisfied.
'Is this just the same routine every day?'
The same games, the same days.
One day, reality hit her hard, and she quit being a game BJ to pursue a proper job.
'Time to get my act together, start working, and find a husband.'
But every application led to resume rejections, and even in interviews, they always probed the two-year gap.
"What did you do for two years? Just play around?"
"No, that's not it."
"Then what?"
"Well......"
It was too hard to admit she'd been a game BJ.
She kept losing out to other applicants who boasted about internships or overseas training.
'Ugh, they'll probably ask about the two-year gap here too.'
This time, Kim Min-a was determined to lie if she had to—just to pass.
Knock knock—
"Come in."
A relatively young voice called out, and Kim Min-a entered the office.
There was only one interviewer.
"Have a seat."
"Yes, thank you."
Kim Min-a sat straight-backed, flashing a slight smile at the interviewer.
'Nice-looking guy.'
Jang Deokcheol quickly scanned her resume and looked up at Kim Min-a.
"Hmm. Korean Language and Literature major applying for secretary. Any reason for that?"
"Yes. I believe leaders aren't born alone—they're made. And the person who makes them is the secretary. Someone who knows how to create a leader truly understands what a leader needs and how to assist. That's why I decided to pursue a career as a secretary."
"I see."
Kim Min-a delivered her rehearsed answer flawlessly. But Jang Deokcheol just nodded like he did with everyone else.
'...Was my answer bad?'
No follow-up questions came, and silence filled the room.
Jang Deokcheol glanced at the resume again, then his eyes lit up at something.
"Hmm. You have a childcare teacher certification? Good with kids?"
"...Ah, yes. I minored in childcare and even did student teaching."
"Great. One last question."
For some reason, Kim Min-a tensed up as Jang Deokcheol suddenly seemed pleased. This answer felt like it would decide everything.
"Kim Min-a, do you play LoL or Sudden Attack? If so, what's your LoL tier and Sudden rank?"
"...Pardon?"
The question was so out of left field that Kim Min-a felt her strength drain as she blurted it out.
"Ah, it's a bit of a weird question, huh? Haha. Our president insisted I ask. It's fine if you don't know."
Seeing Jang Deokcheol wrap up the interview, Kim Min-a panicked and shot her hand up without thinking.
"LoL Grandmaster! Sudden Colonel!"
As Jang Deokcheol opened his mouth to respond, a voice came from the other side of the wall.
"You're hired!"
It sounded unmistakably young.
Jang Deokcheol blinked for a moment, then grinned.
"Congratulations. You've passed. Haha."