Chapter 42
Exactly 10:00 a.m.
The main conference room door at WG Food opened.
And the first person to enter...
Was dressed in an expensive tailored suit.
An ultra-luxury watch worth hundreds of millions of won wrapped around his wrist.
His hair was neatly swept back.
His skin gleamed.
And a relaxed smile rested on his well-groomed face.
Han Danghyun.
CEO of DD Franchise Consulting.
The protagonist of the future article.
And the mastermind behind an extraordinary planned fraud scheme.
“CEO Jeong Seonghan.”
“It's good to meet you.”
Han Danghyun smiled broadly and offered his hand.
“Ah, CEO Han. Welcome.”
CEO Jeong returned the greeting.
Two planning team employees entered behind Han Danghyun carrying sleek briefcases, almost like personal guards.
“CEO Jeong, it's an honor to see you again.”
Then Han Danghyun looked toward me.
“So these are WG Food's key brains.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Hello.”
“I'm Choi Inwoo, Assistant Manager at WG Food.”
“I hope you'll take good care of DD Consulting.”
“Assistant Manager Choi, just looking at your face makes you seem trustworthy. Ha ha.”
His speech flowed naturally.
Even his voice carried a strange sense of authority that made people want to trust him.
After the brief introductions...
The meeting began immediately.
One of DD Franchise Consulting's planning employees turned on the projector.
A nationwide map showing planned franchise locations appeared on the screen.
“DD Franchise Consulting.”
“More specifically, Bongau-tang.”
“This winter, we intend to change the entire landscape of Korea's restaurant industry.”
The employee spoke with total confidence.
“Thirty stores in the Honam region alone, including Gwangju, Suncheon, and Mokpo, have already begun interior construction.”
“Combined with the capital region, a total of 124 stores are scheduled to open simultaneously in early October.”
CEO Jeong and I both opened our mouths in surprise.
But for completely different reasons.
CEO Jeong was amazed by the enormous number.
I was shocked that so many franchisees had already been caught by these scammers.
“What we ask from WG Food is only one thing.”
“The deep flavor of WG Food's galbitang sauce.”
“If you dedicate production facilities specifically to Bongau-tang, we are prepared to pay one billion won in cash-equivalent funds for the first month's production.”
One billion won.
The moment a concrete figure appeared...
CEO Jeong's eyes trembled slightly.
He swallowed without making it obvious.
It was extremely rare for a large franchise brand to approach a small manufacturer on its own and offer terms this generous.
Han Danghyun did not miss the change in his expression.
As though driving in the final nail...
He smoothly pushed a draft contract across the table.
“The terms are simple.”
“For the next three years, WG Food will not supply galbitang sauce to any other galbitang franchise besides Bongau-tang.”
“We would like an exclusive supply clause.”
CEO Jeong nodded several times.
“Is that all?”
“No.”
“For supply stability, during the first three months, WG Food must pre-produce the full quantities stated in our purchase orders and keep them stored in your warehouses.”
As Han Danghyun said...
The terms looked simple.
And for a franchise headquarters...
They did not seem unusually demanding.
“What do you think, CEO Jeong?”
“Wouldn't you call this a win-win contract for both sides?”
For a brief moment...
I caught a greedy flash in Han Danghyun's eyes.
Apparently, I was the only one who noticed.
Their plan was perfect.
Force WG Food into massive production.
Trap enormous amounts of dead inventory inside our warehouses.
Bind our hands with an exclusive contract.
Then flee with the money.
CEO Jeong looked extremely pleased.
“Yes.”
“It seems like good terms for both CEO Han and WG Food.”
“A business arrangement that benefits only one side eventually collapses.”
“Exactly.”
“I believe business should always be based on a win-win agreement.”
Just as CEO Jeong reached for his pen...
I leaned toward him.
“CEO.”
“May I add a few things?”
He raised his eyebrows and gave a small nod.
The moment I saw his approval...
I turned toward Han Danghyun and his employees.
“CEO Han.”
“It's certainly a very attractive proposal.”
“However, because of WG Food's manufacturing process, I don't think we can sign this draft unless several mandatory safety clauses are added.”
Han Danghyun's relaxed expression stiffened for a moment.
Every eye in the conference room turned toward me.
We were standing in the middle of a beautiful trap prepared by scammers.
And I was preparing to insert poisonous clauses that would instead close around their throats.
“Safety clauses?”
Han Danghyun's brows faintly furrowed.
He already looked irritated.
I had not even explained what the clauses were.
Apparently, the simple fact that the contract would not be signed exactly as he wanted had annoyed him.
“Yes.”
“The clauses I have in mind are...”
“Wait.”
Before I could continue...
Han Danghyun raised his hand and cut me off.
Then he turned directly toward CEO Jeong.
“CEO Jeong.”
“I forgot to show you this earlier.”
“A confirmation of available funds for the one-billion-won advance payment.”
He pulled out another document.
“The fact that we are willing to pay one billion won in advance is proof that DD Franchise Consulting trusts WG Food.”
“If anything, we're the side taking more contractual risk.”
