Chapter 42

Chapter 42. A Man Blessed With Too Much Work (4)

I led the team to a spicy pork restaurant near the pension.

Maybe it was psychological.

We hadn’t eaten even a bite of seafood, yet my stomach still felt sick.

Jongil drank soju with the spicy pork and vented his anger.

“Ugh. Just thinking we almost ate that makes my stomach turn. But Team Leader, your dream was seriously accurate. Did you make your fortune with dreams too?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“You know. Like dreaming about a pig, buying a lottery ticket, then winning first prize.”

Every time I looked at him, I discovered something new.

I had never said a single word about the lottery, yet somehow he reached that conclusion.

“It’s nothing like that. Just drink. Ugh. My stomach still feels disgusting. I can’t believe that was happening inside a Seongun Seafood branch. Seriously unbelievable.”

I subtly changed the subject.

Ilman immediately joined in.

“You’re right. I doubt this started today. It’s honestly amazing they haven’t had any major incidents already. I wouldn’t be surprised if they paid people off to keep things quiet before.”

Senior Staff Choi added to his reasonable suspicion.

“Exactly. But Team Leader, why was the owner about to hit that employee? If we find that guy, I think we could learn much more.”

I had thought the same thing.

Before we entered the restaurant, I had called Franchise Operations Team Leader Park Wongi and asked for the employee list.

Unfortunately, that was as far as I got.

Maybe the list wasn’t updated.

The face we had seen wasn’t on it.

So I explained what happened and sent him the videos we had recorded.

Part of me wanted to call the division director or President Baek immediately.

But bypassing Team Leader Park didn’t feel right.

Sure enough, the moment he heard about the Taean branch, Team Leader Park repeatedly sighed and complained.

“I talked to Team Leader Park before coming here. That worker wasn’t on the official employee list.”

“Ah... That’s unfortunate. But did Team Leader Park know what the Taean branch was like? If he had no idea, there’s a serious hole in management.”

Senior Staff Choi was right.

That was exactly why I had contacted Team Leader Park first.

“He said they issued several correction orders, but the owner kept ignoring them. Still, I don’t think they realized things were this serious. There are limits to how thoroughly the Franchise Operations Team can personally inspect every site.”

“That’s true. They only have five full-time employees too.”

“Whew. That isn’t even everything. You know the mutual-growth support fund? The one we used to help Baristas? Apparently this guy has been throwing a fit over that too. He keeps accusing headquarters of only helping people with connections.”

After hearing what Team Leader Park had told me, Jongil slammed his soju glass onto the table.

“Wow. He threw his conscience away completely! They serve rotten food until customers stop coming, then expect headquarters to cover the loss with support funds? Does that make any sense?”

Jongil was furious.

The others weren’t any different.

“They’re running that garbage operation under Seongun’s name. We absolutely cannot let this go, Team Leader!”

“Exactly. Summer is almost here. Someone could seriously get hurt. What do we do? Should we go back there right now?”

I emptied the rest of my glass while watching the team huff and puff.

If we kicked the hornet’s nest carelessly, we might get stung before we even saw the queen.

“Wait for now. We already reported it. Let’s see what response comes back.”

After being told to do nothing, everyone silently emptied their own glasses without even clinking them together.

Then my phone vibrated.

The division director?

At this hour?

It was nine at night.

I tried to think of why he might be calling.

Then I remembered the one-million-won receipt from Seongun Seafood.

Was he shocked by the dinner bill?

Thinking once again that spending other people’s money was uncomfortable, I stood.

“What is it?”

“Huh? Nothing. I need to take this call.”

I stepped outside and answered.

“Yes, Director. Good evening.”

-Yes, Team Leader Kang. I received Team Leader Park’s report. He said the sanitary conditions at the Taean branch are extremely serious.

Apparently Team Leader Park had gone straight to the director.

Considering how much time had passed, they must have been discussing it for quite a while.

“Yes. It was bad. Since it was a Seongun franchise, we only secured evidence and left quietly.”

-Ahem. Good. Where are you now? I saw the footage. It looked like you barely ate anything.

“I’m fine. We’re having a simple meal near our lodging.”

-I see. You’re eating, so I’ll call again later.

A considerate response.

But I was more curious about how they planned to handle the situation.

I told him we could speak now.

The director then explained the possible legal violations he and Team Leader Park had reviewed.

The condition of the food shown in our footage.

The cleanliness of the store.

Abuse toward employees.

“The footage alone won’t be enough. We’ll have to send an inspection team and secure physical evidence.”

“Yes, Director. Before leaving, I noticed what looked like a freezer built inside an illegally extended terrace. I think that area needs to be checked.”

For a moment, silence came from the other end.

He didn’t raise his voice.

But the low tone that followed carried clear anger.

Maybe the division director was even angrier than I was.

-Understood. Tomorrow morning I’ll immediately involve headquarters’ Legal Team and the Taean County sanitation department. We’ll also find the employee who appears to have been fired. He could become an important witness. Once we secure all the evidence, we’ll make sure they’re properly punished.

“Understood, Director.”

I hung up and slowly turned around.

I guess my part is done.

That was what I thought.

Then I noticed a shadow hesitating at the edge of the alley.

It slowly approached.

“...E-Excuse me. Are... are you all right?”

“Huh? You’re the employee from Seongun Seafood Taean, right?”

The young man walked toward me while trembling from head to toe.

Then he suddenly dropped to his knees.

“...I’m sorry. No matter how scared I was of the owner, I shouldn’t have done it. I’m really sorry, sir.”

The tears of a young man who looked like he hadn’t even served in the military yet formed dark circles on the asphalt.

My guess had been right.

He must have fled the restaurant because the guilt of serving spoiled food became unbearable.

The owner committed the crimes.

And the part-time worker apologized.

That was wrong.

The person who needed to cry was someone else entirely.

“Do you like spicy pork? You probably haven’t eaten dinner either. Come inside.”

The most important witness capable of exposing the secrets of Seongun Seafood Taean branch had just walked directly into our hands.

The next morning at ten.

Two tour buses entered the parking lot of Seongun Seafood Taean branch.

A Chinese tourist group had come solely because they trusted the Seongun name.

Looking a little deeper, the truth was that the bus driver had taken kickbacks to bring the tourists here while claiming it was a famous local restaurant.

“Hey! Table three is out of soy-marinated crab! Refill it! Table five needs more crab stew broth! Hurry up! That table looks like they’ll spend more on alcohol, so move!”

The owner moved between the kitchen and dining area, veins bulging as he shouted nonstop.

“Crazy bastards. Why do they eat so damn much? Hey! Manager Park! Empty the terrace storage too! Let’s rotate everything!”

A few moments later, Manager Park returned from the terrace with a deathly pale face.

“P-President... We have a problem!”

“What? Lost the storage key?”

“No. T-That’s not it...”

The owner’s face twisted when he saw what was behind Manager Park.

Men wearing Taean County Office vests were entering together with police officers.

He didn’t know why they were there.

He simply remembered all the crimes he had committed.

But the Taean branch owner knew how to survive situations like this.

They were only government employees.

Until his crimes were actually exposed, he had to act stronger than them.

So he raised his voice.

“...Who the hell are you people? Are you crazy? What do you think you’re doing barging in while we’re open?!”

“We’re a joint inspection team from Taean County Office. We received reports of violations of sanitation and construction law. Please cooperate.”

“What? Joint inspection? Cooperate? You bastards, do you know who I am? Where’s the county governor? Huh? Bring the county governor here right now!”

In truth, the owner didn’t even know the county governor’s name.

He had never voted once in his life.

Still, perhaps believing his threats had worked, the inspectors paused.

Seeing an opportunity, he turned to the police.

“What precinct are you from? Fucking hell. Business is already hard enough, and now you’re trying to ruin my day? You don’t even have a warrant. What the hell are you barging in here for?”

He didn’t realize the inspectors had stopped not because they were intimidated.

They were simply stunned by how shameless he was.

The people who had already reviewed his conduct slowly moved aside.

Several men in suits approached.

Lawyers and security staff from Seongun Group’s Legal Team.

“Article 14 of the franchise agreement. If serious potential violations of the Food Sanitation Act are identified, headquarters may immediately suspend operations of the relevant franchise. Multiple severe violations at Seongun Seafood Taean branch have now been confirmed. Effective immediately, we are imposing an emergency suspension of business.”

The lawyer’s firm declaration came down like a sentence.

A county inspector immediately shouted,

“Everyone in the kitchen, move to one side. Anyone attempting to conceal evidence will be treated as an accomplice.”

“Start! You check the freezer on the terrace. Everyone else collect samples from the kitchen and dining area!”

The inspectors moved rapidly.

Cornered, the owner screamed with a blue face.

“Hey, you bastards! Why are you standing there?! Stop them! Stop them!”

Not a single employee obeyed.

None of them wanted to become accomplices to an abusive owner who cursed at them every day.

“...What’s going on?”

The guide leading the Chinese tourists asked.

The owner sighed.

“Ha... Someone filed a false report. Please tell them not to worry and wait for a little while.”

He still didn’t understand how serious the situation was.

I’ll just say everything in the freezer was marked for disposal.

They won’t know anything about the food being cooked until lab results come back.

I just need to hold out.

These people have probably eaten more than two million won worth already.

Thinking that, the owner scowled and walked toward the inspection team.

“Enough already! Can’t you see we have customers? If we did something wrong, I can pay a fine. Why are you kicking customers out too? Why do you people enjoy harassing small merchants who are already struggling? Hey, you. Suit.”

He pointed at the Seongun lawyer.

“What did you say earlier? Article eighteen? Thirteen? Whatever. You think you can bully me with some contract clause I don’t even remember? You barge in without evidence and say you’re going to start searching for proof now? Isn’t this a giant corporation crushing a small business owner? Huh?”

The lawyer ignored him completely.

Jinhyeok, who had been watching from a distance with the Commercial District Analysis Team, finally walked toward the owner.

“This is your phone number, right?”

“You were the customer yesterday... Wait. How do you know my phone number?”

“There are ways. I just sent you the videos and photos. Check them yourself. We already have more than enough evidence.”

Confused, the owner checked his messages.

He had thought those foolish young customers were simply taking pretentious pictures for social media.

His mouth fell open.

Even to his own eyes, the food shown in the video looked horrifying.

And those weren’t the only messages.

There were recordings of him ordering employees to reuse leftovers.

Secret footage from inside the kitchen.

Perfect evidence he could no longer deny.

“H-How did you get this...?”

His hands trembled.

At that moment, the guide, who had barely calmed the furious Chinese tourists, approached Jinhyeok.

“What exactly happened?”

“Ah! You’re their guide, right? Senior Staff Choi, explain it to them. They deserve to know too. It’s hot during the day, so turn on the air conditioner for them as well.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

Iseul explained the situation.

Then she pressed the power button on an air conditioner with a sign taped to it saying it was broken.

Whoooosh!

Cold air poured out.

That was another piece of information they had received from the part-time worker.

The owner’s misconduct was being exposed one layer at a time.

After turning on the air conditioner, Iseul explained everything to the guide.

The Chinese tourists stood the moment they heard the story and began shouting curses nobody on the team could understand.

“Die, you bastard!”

Smack!

Bright red seasoning covered the owner’s forehead.

“You damn scammer! You dared feed us garbage like this?!”

Splash!

The broth from a pot of crab stew splashed the red seasoning across his entire face.

“U-U-Uaaaagh! My eyes! My eyes!”

The tourists ignored his screams and continued throwing food.

The owner rolled across the floor as dishes that barely deserved to be called food rained down on him.

Trash belongs in the trash can.

Remembering that saying, Jinhyeok nodded with satisfaction.