Chapter 25. Back to Mullae-dong Again (5)
Friday morning.
Director Baek Kangjin entered his office leisurely and flinched when he saw an unexpected visitor sitting on the sofa.
Future Strategy Office Head Choi Taesik.
His appearance was exhausted.
His face was filled with frustration and resentment.
“What brings you here this early? And what happened to your face?”
“Ha... Director, please talk to me. I feel like I’m going to explode. I couldn’t sleep at all.”
Taesik told him everything that happened in Creative Village the day before.
Kangjin burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha! Really? He refused because it violated procedure?”
“No. I went there personally! Does that even make sense? It isn’t like I’m some spy...”
Kangjin could barely stop laughing.
A stubborn man had met someone even more stubborn.
The situation was ridiculous.
At the same time, a satisfying sense of revenge exploded inside Kangjin.
“When I asked you yesterday to tell me if you learned anything, didn’t you say the same thing? What was it? That it violated procedure?”
Taesik sighed, regretting his own words from the previous day.
“Ha... fine. Let’s put that aside. What does all of that even mean? It sounded like he was planning something other than a mixed-use shopping mall.”
Kangjin stroked his chin while remembering what Taesik had told him.
Mutual growth.
Preservation.
Coexistence.
Gateway.
A landmark for the whole world.
He had no idea.
Kangjin couldn’t imagine what had made the Commercial District Analysis Team so excited either.
“It seems all we can do is wait until Monday.”
“Ha... Isn’t there some other way?”
“I told you the easy way. You’re the one who refuses to use it.”
He meant asking Taesik’s younger sister.
Taesik knew.
He knew her warning not to interfere wasn’t truly directed at him.
Since childhood, Iseul had always followed Taesik and supported him more than her other brothers.
“I don’t want to involve my sister in this fight. Not even in something small.”
“Stubborn. Tch. Then there’s nothing else to do. Just wait. From what I’ve seen, no method will make Department Head Kang Jinhyeok open his mouth.”
“Ha... This is incredibly frustrating. The chairman is attending, and I have to wait without knowing anything.”
“Isn’t it still good news? If the entire Commercial District Analysis Team was that excited, the idea must be excellent. And I don’t think that’s what you should be worrying about right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you planning to end things after only defending yourself against your second brother?”
Taesik flinched at the sudden attack.
“Shouldn’t succeeding with the chairman’s order come first?”
“And after that? Have you thought about what happens after success? If you accomplish something major, you should know how to claim the reward. It’s time to counterattack instead of only defending. Make sure he can never attempt such a weak attack again.”
Taesik’s eyes instantly sharpened.
It was obvious what his second brother Taebong wanted.
The Seongun Development president’s position had been empty for an entire year.
Taebong wanted to combine Seongun Construction and Seongun Development, instantly expanding his power.
That was why he was trying to steal this project.
“Why? Does this old man changing his mind confuse you?”
“I’m not confused. But you did tell me not to think about the Seongun Development president’s position, didn’t you?”
“I did. Now it’s time to start thinking about it. If this succeeds, ask the chairman for that position. We finished cleaning out the inside, so it’s the perfect time for a new beginning.”
Taesik fell into deep thought.
As Kangjin said, it was time to move.
But he could also read another intention behind Kangjin’s words.
“You want Department Head Kang Jinhyeok to take the Integrated Development Division Director position eventually, don’t you?”
“Haha. Very good. Correct. Not immediately, but within one year, probably.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll retire. How long are you planning to work me to death?”
It sounded like a joke.
But it wasn’t.
Even Taesik could see Kangjin’s stamina weakening day by day.
“Stay five more years.”
“Five years? Why?”
“Do you really think Chairman Choi will approve if I ask for the Seongun Development president position now? You understand what kind of person he is better than anyone.”
Chairman Choi had told Taesik he needed to prove he had enough ability before entering the succession competition.
He didn’t want Taesik destroying himself with an immature challenge.
It was true.
One successful landmark project probably wouldn’t be enough to earn the president position.
Kangjin’s earlier suggestion had mostly been intended to openly announce Taesik’s ambition and discourage Taebong.
“Do you have something in mind within five years?”
“I’ll create something. If Monday’s briefing succeeds, I’ll ask Chairman Choi for your current position.”
“My position? You’ll throw away the headquarters Future Strategy Office Head position and come here?”
“Yes. That request should be easy for him to accept. It also helps you keep my second brother in check. So you should move up to president. At most five years. I’ll make sure you can rest within that time.”
Veins rose on the back of Kangjin’s wrinkled hands.
He wasn’t planning to retire immediately.
Still, he had been thinking that he would have to step away before long.
Five years.
Far longer than he had expected.
But if every year was as interesting as the recent ones, perhaps his final working years wouldn’t be boring.
“All right. If Department Head Kang’s briefing ends successfully, I’ll make the proposal to the chairman.”
“Thank you, Director.”
“Hmm. Now I’m becoming nervous too. Should I call Department Head Kang?”
Taesik’s face brightened instantly.
“Will you? Once you hear the plan, could you also tell me...”
Taesik stopped after seeing Kangjin’s cheek twitch.
He had fallen for it.
Kangjin never intended to call Jinhyeok.
Sure enough, Kangjin barely suppressed his laughter and took his revenge.
“I don’t think that follows procedure.”
Taesik lowered his head and stood from the sofa.
“...I-I understand. I’ll leave.”
“Hahahaha. Take care. Hahahahaha.”
Kangjin laughed loudly as Taesik left weakly.
He had no intention of calling Jinhyeok.
“The more I watch him, the more entertaining he becomes. My final years certainly won’t be boring. Hahaha.”
Laughter floated through the normally silent director’s office.
At that same time, inside a Creative Village café.
The Commercial District Analysis Team members’ faces were filled with excitement that had only grown stronger overnight.
“Did everyone sleep well?”
