The Audacity of a Man Who Left the Sinking Ship
“Ah, Manager Kim Dong-su? This is Lee Seok-woo, Corporate Finance Team 1 Leader. Hope you've been doing well?”
The voice coming through the receiver was excessively bright — the tone of someone greeting an old friend after years apart.
Something stank about it.
“Good afternoon, Team Leader. You're on leave, aren't you? What can I do for you?”
I kept my answer as short as possible. There was no reason to be warm and friendly to a man who'd abandoned his post without even a proper handover.
“Oh, nothing in particular. Just thought I'd call since our Manager Kim — Team Leader now, right? — must be working so hard. How's the branch treating you? Park Tae-jin's temper is no joke, you know.”
His true colors were starting to seep out. He wanted to confirm whether I was stepping in the mess he'd run away from. Only then could his flight be justified.
“Oh, those clients, you mean?”
I let out a small chuckle.
“All resolved.”
“...Huh? What did you say?”
“Seoul Systems got an extension with a rate reduction, and Mirae Construction was approved after securing additional collateral. Oh, and we're pushing Dongkwang Electronics through the S-Electronics supplier registration as well.”
A long silence stretched across the line. Even his breathing had stopped.
“D-don't lie to me. CEO Choi of Mirae Construction offered collateral? Do you have any idea what kind of man he is!”
“Why would I lie? Look it up in the system — it'll come right up. Oh, wait. You're on leave, so you can't log in, can you?”
I let my tone lift at the end, deliberately.
“All of this is thanks to the foundation you laid in advance, Team Leader. Otherwise, how could I possibly have wrapped everything up in less than a week? Surely you agree?”
“Uh... yeah! Right! I did do some groundwork back then. Of course, of course.”
Team Leader Lee Seok-woo scrambled to climb aboard my words, hiding his flustered panic as fast as he could. His shamelessness was practically an art form.
“So here's the thing, Manager Kim. My wife recovered faster than expected from the parental leave, so I'm thinking of coming back next week or so.”
“Coming back?”
“Yeah. You must be swamped with headquarters business too, and I'd feel bad keeping you stuck down there. I should come finish the job myself, don't you think? Seoul Systems and Mirae Construction were my clients, after all. The final seals need my signature—”
He had some nerve. He'd bolted when the bomb was ticking, and now that it was defused, he wanted to slide his spoon into the finished meal?
Not a chance.
“Team Leader.”
I lowered my voice.
“I appreciate the offer, but I've already reported everything to Branch Manager Park. And the clients themselves have made it clear they don't want a change in personnel. CEO Choi of Mirae Construction in particular grinds his teeth at the mere mention of your name... Are you sure you're comfortable with that?”
“......."
“Also, my one-month dispatch order is an official appointment from headquarters HR. An early return isn't within my authority — you'd have to take that up with them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm busy.”
“N-no, wait! Manager Kim! Just a moment—!”
Click.
I hung up without a shred of mercy. The old me would have fawned and floundered in front of a senior, but there was no reason for that anymore. I'd proved it with my skills and shown it with my results.
And besides — how exactly was a thug like that a senior?
When I returned to the room, Deputy Choi looked up from the piece of sushi frozen halfway to his mouth.
“Who was that call from, Manager? Your face looks absolutely refreshed.”
“Just a stray merchant. I pulled him out of the water and now he's demanding I hand over my luggage too.”
“Sorry, what...?”
“Don't worry about it. Here, eat up. I'll order more if that's not enough.”
I smiled at my staff. Strangely, it felt electric. Triumphant.
At that same moment, Daehan Bank Central Headquarters.
Department Head Park of the Marketing Promotion Department adjusted his glasses as he read the report on his monitor. Beside him stood Team Leader Jeong, wearing an expression of pure disbelief.
“Team Leader Jeong. Are these numbers correct?”
“Yes, Department Head. I've verified the system data. No error.”
“Hah... It's been less than a week since we sent him to the Main Branch Business Department. And you're telling me he normalized Seoul Systems and Mirae Construction? Those toxic loans?”
Department Head Park clicked his tongue. When he'd dispatched Kim Dong-su, his mindset had simply been to buy time — a patch job, nothing more.
Instead, the man hadn't just bided his time. He'd transformed the branch's entire culture.
“And look at the ancillary transactions, Department Head. Three hundred payroll accounts, new corporate cards, even bancassurance... This is practically the level of opening an entirely new branch.”
Team Leader Jeong added, his voice rising with excitement.
“Manager Kim — no, this Kim Dong-su fellow... What's gotten into him lately? Did filming those ads awaken something in him?”
“That's beyond awakening. At this point he's practically a monster. Park Tae-jin called this morning and was beside himself. He asked if we couldn't just give Kim Dong-su to his branch permanently — said he'd give him Deputy Branch Manager treatment and everything.”
“Park Tae-jin did? That hard-nosed man?”
Department Head Park burst out laughing.
“Tell him not to be ridiculous. Kim Dong-su is our headquarters man. When the PR team is officially established next year, he's the one who'll be sitting in its team leader's chair — I'm not letting some branch office steal him away.”
“Exactly! Your foresight is truly exceptional, Department Head.”
“Team Leader Jeong, keep taking good care of him. Bring him straight back the moment the dispatch ends. And polish up the materials on this performance — I'll be reporting it directly to the Bank President myself.”
“Yes, sir! Understood!”
As Team Leader Jeong stepped out of the office, he clenched his fist. His subordinate's success was, in the end, his own achievement. Kim Dong-su was no longer just a team member — he was becoming Team Leader Jeong's cheat code.
Monday evening, on my way home from work.
I'd left with the branch manager's send-off(?) — practically a punch-out-the-second-the-clock-struck departure.
I pulled my phone from my pocket. One new message.
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. Too modest for a text from one of Korea's biggest stars — and all the more heart-fluttering for it.
'I miss you,' huh...
I already knew through my ability that it was no empty phrase.
I started to type a reply, then paused. Playing hard to get? No — that was unnecessary. Honesty was always the best play.
After I hit send, the thought of my status window suddenly crossed my mind. Today's results were partly my own effort, but the system's help had been enormous. The upgraded Time Pass especially — retaining memories was a truly game-breaking ability.
“Status Window.”
The work hours were stacking up steadily. At this rate, a new ability would unlock again this Friday. What would it be this time?
.
.
.
The four days remaining until Friday flew by in a blink.
Branch Manager Park Tae-jin grinned ear to ear every time he saw me, while Lee Seok-woo — my predecessor, who'd once raged at me over the phone — went completely silent. I could only guess he'd floated the idea of returning to the branch manager, only to get shot down with something like, "Look how well Team Leader Kim is doing right now — don't you dare mess with his rhythm!"
Deputy Choi and the rest of the team began cutting back on overtime and working efficiently of their own accord, without my asking.
“Things take half as long now that we follow your methods, Manager.”
“I never knew the policy manual could be used like this.”
As the team's atmosphere changed, the results naturally followed. The recommendation letter for Dongkwang Electronics' first-tier S-Electronics supplier registration sailed through the headquarters consulting team without a hitch, and the transfer of the Seoul Systems and Mirae Construction accounts wrapped up smoothly as well.
And finally — Friday, 6 p.m.
“Alright, everyone, great work this week. Rest well over the weekend, and see you Monday.”
“Thank you for your hard work too, Manager!”
“Next week's team dinner is booked — tuna!”
I left the branch behind the staff's cheerful farewells. The moment I stepped off the elevator into the first-floor lobby, the familiar chime rang in my ears.
Ding!
You have completed a 40-hour work week.
Your work hours will now reset.
Would you like to unlock a new ability?
This was the moment I'd been waiting for. What kind of ability would appear this time to enrich my office life?
I glanced around the lobby once, then shouted in my heart:
'Unlock ability.'
Stealth Mode
◈ Effect: You remain invisible to your superiors even while seated at your desk. Whether you're slacking off or secretly checking the stock market, you will never get caught.
◈ Grade: ★★★☆☆ (3-Star)
◈ Caution: If someone is genuinely looking for you and you fail to respond, you may be marked as absent from work. (Usable 1 hour per day.)