A Golf Club and a Tideland

"What is this? Am I supposed to slip you some money under the table?"

Department Head Kim's tone was gruff, but his voice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trembled with tension.

"Oh no, nothing like that. It's just that our branch manager has been riding us hard over our quotas. If you'd simply put one-tenth of what you'll save from the rate cut—just five million won—into one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of our branch funds or bancassurance products, that would do it. Under the company name or your own personal name, whichever you prefer."

Only then did Department Head Kim burst into hearty laughter.

"Bahahaha! Oh, is that all? You're saving me fifty million won a year, and you think I can't manage five? It's not like the money vanishes. In fact, why don't I move all my employees' payroll accounts over here while I'm at it?"

"If you do that, I'd be even more grateful."

The negotiation wrapped up in an instant.

Department Head Kim grabbed my hand and shook it again and again, saying thank you, truly, that he was glad to have met such a fine team manager.

The back of him as he walked out the door was a completely different man from the one who had walked in.

His face was bright, and even a smile had crept onto what had been a stony expression.

This team manager is the real deal. From now on, I'm doing all my business here.

His final unspoken thought lingered in my ears.

The moment Department Head Kim left, Assistant Manager Choi, who had been holding his breath beside me, stared at me with his mouth hanging wide open.

"Team... Team Manager. What on earth..."

"What? Something wrong?"

"No! It's not that... it's just that Department Head Kim is genuinely impossible to deal with. Last year when he came, he threw the paperwork across the room—it was a total meltdown... How did you get him walking out with a smile in ten minutes? And on top of that, a fund and payroll transfers?"

Assistant Manager Choi wore an expression of sheer disbelief.

It made sense—he had just watched a company slated for 'Push-out' transform into a premier client, quotas included.

"I told you, didn't I? Think round. If we reach out our hand first, the other side will always take it. Now then, Assistant Manager Choi—get today's promised deal into the performance ledger. We've exceeded our target."

"Wow... this is incredible. Team Manager, I really respect you!"

Assistant Manager Choi's eyes had changed.

What shone in them now wasn't the obligatory deference toward a superior, but genuine trust in a true leader.

This is why I work.

But it was still too early to relax.

Tomorrow brought Mirae General Construction and Dongkwang Electronics.

Two more mountains remained to climb.

Friday morning.

Branch Manager Park Tae-jin had his employees in a chokehold, as usual.

"What is this pathetic showing from yesterday! Did the retail team just take the day off? Assistant Manager Kim, you couldn't sell a single fund?"

While the employees kept their heads bowed in silence, the branch manager's gaze landed on me.

"Team Manager Kim. How about your team? These corporations won't be easy pickings, you know. But a quota is a promise—so dig into your own pocket with a jabok if you have to, and fill it!"

I smiled leisurely and shot Assistant Manager Choi a look.

Assistant Manager Choi proudly handed the performance report to the branch manager.

"Branch Manager, Department Head Kim of Seoul Systems visited yesterday. He opened a new corporate free deposit of two hundred million won, signed up for bancassurance at three hundred thousand won per month, and enrolled in an installment fund of two million won. Additionally, payroll transfers for his fifty employees will be routed through our branch starting next month."

A hush fell over the office.

Not just the employees—even Branch Manager Park Tae-jin squinted at the report as if doubting his own eyes.

"Wh... what did you say? Seoul Systems? That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠impossible Department Head Kim?"

"Yes, sir. And regarding the adjustment to their existing loan rate, I've submitted it for your separate approval. Please approve it under FX risk management terms."

Branch Manager Park cleared his throat awkwardly and closed the report.

It was painfully obvious he was struggling to manage his expression.

"Ahem. Well... not bad. You got lucky. Must have been something good in the air for Department Head Kim."

"Yes, pure luck."

I didn't bother correcting him.

The results would speak for themselves anyway.

"But—!"

Branch Manager Park raised his voice again.

"Don't get cocky over one deal. Mirae General Construction comes in today, right? That one's the real test. You know construction is in the dumps, right? Rumors of default are flying everywhere about that company. Don't you dare splash filth on our branch by screwing up—sweet-talk them if you have to, and send them on their way. Understood?"

"Understood, sir."

Back at my desk, I spread open the file on Mirae General Construction that Assistant Manager Choi had handed me.

Mirae General Construction.

A mid-sized builder based in the provinces.

With the real estate downturn, its cash flow had come to a complete standstill.

It was billed as a consultation for new credit, but in truth, it was no different from a company coming to beg for its life.

The problem was that bank regulations had sealed off new loans to construction companies.

This wasn't a matter of shaving the interest rate up or down.

If the bank couldn't lend the money, nothing could be done.

"Team Manager! We have a problem!"

Assistant Manager Choi came sprinting in from outside the office.

"What's going on?"

"The CEO of Mirae General Construction is here... and he didn't come alone!"

"What?"

"Gangsters—no, five or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠six big burly men are with him! The lobby's in chaos right now!"

Commotion erupted outside the office.

Shouting and murmuring carried through the glass wall.

"Get the branch manager out here! Where's the branch manager!"

A rough voice shook the entire business department.

Assistant Manager Choi looked at me, pale as a ghost.

"T-team Manager... what do we do about that?"

I straightened my tie slightly and rose from my seat.

Not a single easy day in this job.

But avoiding it wouldn't solve anything.

"Let's go, Assistant Manager Choi."

"Sir? To... to that place?"

"If a client visits, we greet them."

When we stepped into the lobby, men with vicious faces were blocking the entrance, and in their midst stood a middle-aged man with bloodshot eyes, gripping a golf club.

It was CEO Choi of Mirae General Construction.

Branch Manager Park Tae-jin had locked his office door and was nowhere to be seen—not even the tip of his nose.

So it fell to me, as always.

At this point, I was starting to suspect it was no coincidence that both previous team managers had gone on parental leave.

I walked forward with steady steps and planted myself in front of CEO Choi.

One of the hulking men barred my way threateningly, but I calmly kept my eyes on the CEO.

"Thank you for making the trip. I'm Kim Dong-su, head of Corporate Banking."

CEO Choi slammed his golf club into the floor with a bang and roared.

"A team manager? I don't need one! Get the branch manager out here! You people promised last year, didn't you? That you'd extend the PF loans! If you're reneging now, you're telling all of us to die!"

His cry bordered on a scream.

This wasn't mere thuggery.

It was a struggle for survival.

I activated my ability once more.

To hear his true heart—and to find the key that would unlock this situation.

I Hear Your Voice.

And then, behind the fury of CEO Choi's raised voice, I caught a very small, trembling voice.

Please... help me. If this doesn't get extended, it's default. Everything's over! What about my employees' wages? My daughter's wedding is next month, for God's sake... please, somebody help me...

Beneath the violent exterior, his heart was weeping.

And in that instant, another fleeting piece of information hooked itself into my ear.

That reclaimed land on the west coast... could I at least put that up as collateral? No, it's landlocked—it's worthless. The bank would never take it...

A reclaimed tideland on the west coast?

My eyes lit up.

Gazing at CEO Choi's hands, still clenched white-knuckled around the golf club, I spoke quietly.

"Sir. Put the club down. I'm afraid the branch manager won't be solving anything for you."

"What? What the hell did you just say, you little—"

"Instead, I will solve it. That land you own on the west coast—you have it, don't you?"

CEO Choi's eyes wavered violently.

"How... how do you know about that?"

"Come inside with me for a moment. With that land, I'll save your company."

I looked at him with eyes full of conviction.