Chapter 33. Something Is Strange About the Commercial District Analysis Team (5)
Just before lunchtime.
The Commercial District Analysis Team, which had been swiping Taesik’s card all morning, finally arrived in front of Seongun Development’s lobby.
“What is that? A tank?”
“Huh? I saw that car in the parking lot about a month ago.”
“Really? I heard the Commercial District Analysis Team is presenting this afternoon. Is it someone attending the briefing?”
“Wow. I can’t believe I’m seeing that car right in front of me.”
Employees stopped and stared as the doors of the Escalade IQ opened.
Inside sat the entire Commercial District Analysis Team.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Jinhyeok turned toward Jongil with an exhausted expression.
“Hahaha! Thank you, Team Leader. I really wanted to do this. I’ll completely forget how perfectly you fooled me all this time and swear eternal loyalty from now on!”
“Ha... I told you, you fooled yourself. Anyway, I get it. Get out already. This is embarrassing.”
“Yes! We’ll head upstairs and prepare first. Park carefully, Team Leader!”
Manager Park Jongil climbed out with his shoulders proudly straight.
Assistant Manager Oh Ilman followed with an awkward expression.
Senior Staff Choi Iseul came out with her head lowered, looking like she wanted to disappear from embarrassment.
The moment the doors closed, Jinhyeok drove toward the parking garage.
He had expected some attention.
He hadn’t expected every employee in the lobby to stop walking and stare.
But Jongil did have a reason for this performance.
There was no point in simply getting out of a car that wasn’t his.
Jongil wanted only one thing.
He wanted to completely erase the image of Jinhyeok as a poor man that Kim Seokhun had spread throughout the company.
He hated hearing people talk about Jinhyeok’s poverty.
He especially hated hearing it from people who enjoyed gossiping about others.
Once the Escalade disappeared into the parking garage, the employees’ eyes naturally turned toward the Commercial District Analysis Team members left behind.
“What? Did the company give them a car? Something that huge?”
“The license plate was white, though.”
“Then what is it? Team Leader Kang personally bought a three-hundred-million-won car?”
“Whoa. Whatever happened, that’s amazing. Did he get some huge bonus? But look at the Commercial District Analysis Team too. Doesn’t their whole atmosphere feel different?”
Listening to the whispers, Jongil could tell the misunderstanding about Jinhyeok had disappeared instantly.
Now it was time to enjoy the team’s return after one month.
After experiencing the overwhelming satisfaction of stepping out of that vehicle, Jongil walked forward proudly.
He looked like a general returning victorious from a brutal battlefield.
In truth, the Commercial District Analysis Team had spent the past month fighting a war.
Coming up with ideas had been exciting.
Proving them had been brutal.
That was because a perfectionist commander had led them.
Jinhyeok really wasn’t ordinary.
The moment test operations began, he worked the team relentlessly, saying that neither the company nor the business owners could be allowed to suffer any losses.
“Whew. That car is so huge that everyone stares every time I get out. It’s exhausting. Right, Senior Staff Choi?”
“Hmm. Your mouth is smiling a little too much for someone who’s exhausted.”
“Huh? Is it? Hahaha! Anyway, let’s go. We need to prepare the briefing.”
Jongil forced the corners of his mouth down and continued walking proudly.
It was the confidence of people returning with perfect results.
The three entered the Integrated Development Division office like triumphant generals.
The Commercial District Analysis Team had finally appeared after an entire month.
Everyone looked at them with a strange mixture of envy and caution.
The first person to break the awkward silence and rush toward them was Deputy Manager Geum Seokcheol of the Store Development Team.
“Oh! The Commercial District Analysis Team is back. You worked hard, didn’t you? Where’s Team Leader Kang? Is the briefing ready?”
Seokcheol welcomed them with a huge smile.
“He’ll be up soon. He went to park.”
“I see. I just heard you arrived in an incredibly expensive car. That was Team Leader Kang’s car, right?”
“What? Ah... yes. It was. He changed cars recently.”
A smile of certainty appeared on Seokcheol’s face.
Hehe. Just as I expected.
So there’s no reason for him to hide his identity anymore?
Seokcheol had been signing property contracts based on the locations Jinhyeok planned.
He had intentionally called over even minor matters, building what he believed was an increasingly deep personal relationship.
A young and talented member of the owner family.
Becoming close to someone like that meant walking along a flower road until retirement.
“Oh? Deputy Manager Geum. Good morning.”
A welcome voice appeared at the perfect moment.
Seokcheol quickly turned around.
“Oh! Team Leader Kang! You’re here! You’ve worked hard. Look at your face. You’ve practically lost half your weight!”
“Hahaha. Really? But what brings you over here?”
“What do you mean? I wanted to see you! I’ve only been hearing your voice over the phone lately, so I missed you. Hahaha!”
Jinhyeok smiled lightly at Seokcheol’s enthusiastic welcome.
At first, he had thought the man was simply a shallow office politician.
But the practical ability Seokcheol showed over the past month could not be ignored.
Jinhyeok had helped a little over the phone.
Still, Seokcheol had used impressive skill to quickly conclude contracts on nearly every property Jinhyeok selected.
“You said only two places are left, right? What kind of magic did you use?”
“Come on. It was only possible because Team Leader Kang prepared the board perfectly! Hahaha! More importantly, the afternoon briefing. Is there anything I can help with? Anything at all, just tell me!”
“Everything’s already perfectly prepared. We were still improving it until just before we came here. I’ll see you in the conference room later.”
“Wow. So relaxed and confident. You must have brought something incredible again.”
After speaking loudly, Seokcheol checked his surroundings and leaned closer to Jinhyeok’s ear.
“By the way... is the chairman coming today too?”
Jinhyeok scratched his temple at Seokcheol’s suspicious smile.
This was only a presentation about one small part of the Creative Village project.
He doubted the chairman would personally attend.
More importantly, Jinhyeok had absolutely no idea why Seokcheol was asking him such a ridiculous question.
After hearing that the Commercial District Analysis Team had returned, Taesik sent Iseul a message.
[Bring the card and come to the rooftop.]
Iseul had secretly been waiting for that message.
She headed to the rooftop with light steps.
“So you finally came. I thought I’d need to spend another few tens of millions before you called me.”
“Ha... First, give me my card, you impossible little sister.”
Iseul smiled calmly and held it out.
“Thanks. It was useful. I didn’t use it for anything personal, so it’s fine, right?”
“Nothing personal? Even this morning... Ha. Forget it.”
Taesik gave up.
Complaining wouldn’t change money that had already been spent.
