The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 137

136

“What brings Karma Corporation here?”

As I handed over my business card, the man, who seemed to be an executive from GT Dungeon, narrowed his eyes.

“Well, it’s business-related…”

“Then let’s each focus on our own business. Don’t interfere in other people’s affairs.”

The man retorted coldly.

I stared at him, clearly showing his wariness.

GT Dungeon.

A subsidiary of the GT Group, newly established in line with the privatization of dungeons, and a company that wields considerable influence in the domestic subjugation market.

‘I’ve heard they’ve been squeezing their subcontractors to boost growth…’

Seeing it firsthand, it’s quite an effective method.

Of course, it would be awful from the receiving end.

“I wouldn’t want to interfere in other people’s affairs either, but my job requires it.”

“……Pardon?”

I shrugged and turned my gaze.

“Team Leader Choi Yong-gu?”

“Yes, yes?”

“Karma Corporation would also like to entrust Kangan Logistics with byproduct orders. The quantity will be quite substantial, but we will compensate you generously accordingly.”

I handed over the prepared documents.

Team Leader Choi was surprised twice upon receiving the documents.

Once by the amount written.

And again by the estimated monthly order volume.

Well, it’s a natural reaction.

It’s easily more than double the amount of orders entrusted by private guilds and companies.

“…Um, with our current schedule, it’s difficult to handle this volume.”

“I understand. But isn’t this the only place in the Chungcheong region to entrust byproduct processing? I sincerely hope you’ll reconsider.”

“It’s not something that can be done just because you ask. Meeting this volume would require terminating contracts with other companies.”

“Then why don’t you do that?”

“……?”

Team Leader Choi’s eyebrows twitched.

He looked as if he was wondering what he had just heard.

“After all, isn’t profit the priority here? I think it’s only natural to choose a more lucrative contract, don’t you think?”

“…….”

The man from GT Dungeon, who had been listening to our conversation, seemed to realize what was happening and immediately raised his voice.

“Wait a minute! This is going too far against business ethics!”

“……? Why are you like this? Team Leader Choi hasn’t said a word about terminating the contract with you yet.”

“Are you playing word games with me right now!”

“And another thing.”

I approached him and continued.

“If you’re going to threaten with contract termination, shouldn’t you at least be prepared for it?”

“…….”

I could hear him swallowing hard.

You should use weapons you can handle in negotiations, why threaten with words you can’t take responsibility for?

I looked back at Team Leader Choi.

He still seemed hesitant.

Considering his position, it would be a difficult story to handle.

Well, I didn’t expect to sign a contract right here and now in the first place.

The purpose is to show our will.

I guess it worked well enough.

“I don’t think this is something I can decide on my own. Would it be alright if I contact you again after discussing it with the CEO?”

“Of course.”

I replied with a smile.

Team Leader Choi glared at Managing Director Kang with sharp eyes and walked into the office.

“Aren’t you being too reckless just because Hanbyul Group is behind you?”

Immediately after, the man from GT Dungeon sharply confronted me.

He seemed to be trying to give a warning.

“If you work like this in this industry, you’ll get burned someday.”

“What’s your name?”

“……I’m Managing Director Kang Sang-woo.”

He seemed quite flustered, perhaps because I suddenly asked for his name.

Don’t be too flustered, I won’t eat you. Not right now.

“Managing Director Kang, those words don’t really resonate with someone who’s already been burned.”

“What, what?! Are you trying to pick a fight…!”

“And another thing.”

There’s one thing you’re mistaken about.

“It’s not that Hanbyul Group is behind me, it’s that Hanbyul Group is attached to me.”

“…….”

“I thought you might be mistaken. Then, please take care.”

I thought it would end here, but the opponent was more persistent than I thought.

He opened his mouth as if chasing after me.

“Do you think there are no other facilities besides this one?”

“Yes, yes. Please go around to other places diligently.”

I waved my hand and left the facility.

The work is done, there’s no need to be tied down by unnecessary provocations. I already have a lot to do.

I opened my notebook.

It was a list of byproduct processing facilities nationwide, received from President Ha Sung-il.

‘A good start.’

I drew a line through the top line and moved on.

***

Immediately after GT Dungeon and Karma Corporation left, Team Leader Choi urgently contacted the CEO.

Kangan Logistics CEO, Kwak Cheol-soo, felt that something was amiss at the news that the two companies had come and went, and immediately went to the office.

He heard about the events from Team Leader Choi.

“So… Karma Corporation openly proposed an exclusive contract?”

“It wasn’t a direct proposal, but circumstantially, that’s the only way to see it. Managing Director Kang was there, but they still came out like that.”

“Hmm…….”

It was the most important crossroads since the company was founded.

In fact, CEO Kwak didn’t like GT Dungeon very much either.

Considering how they squeeze and exploit, taking the position of the prime contractor, he wanted to cut off the contract right away.

‘But I don’t know what kind of backlash I’ll face if I act rashly…….’

No matter how successful Karma Corporation is, it’s still just a small and medium-sized enterprise. The opponent is GT Group.

And if he’s not going to do business in this industry for just a day or two, he doesn’t want to unnecessarily offend a large corporation.

As if knowing his feelings, Team Leader Choi subtly chimed in.

“Karma Corporation is also receiving support from Hanbyul Group. If something happens, they’ll cover it to some extent.”

“Cover…….”

CEO Kwak smiled bitterly.

“Has a large corporation ever covered a subcontractor before?”

“…….”

Team Leader Choi couldn’t answer.

There was nothing to think about.

“Honestly, I don’t trust Karma Corporation either. Originally, companies pretend to be one big family on the outside, but when problems arise, they treat you like someone else’s child.”

“But CEO Kim Jun-woo is…….”

“Different from the others? How do you know that? Have you ever worked with him? You’ve only seen him a few times on the news, haven’t you?”

“……That’s right.”

“If you believe everything they say on the news, there are no bad guys in our country.”

“…….”

As Team Leader Choi closed his mouth, CEO Kwak was once again lost in thought.

Looking at CEO Kim’s past career and Karma Corporation’s actions, it may be different from other companies.

But he can’t gamble on offending GT Group just by believing that.

‘Yes……. It’s better to go safely, even if it feels a bit dirty.’

“There’s no choice. Let’s refuse.”

“……I understand.”

In the end, CEO Kwak chose safety.

And the same choice was made by more than just this company.

***

GT Dungeon, Planning Division.

“You met CEO Kim Jun-woo?”

“Yes.”

Managing Director Kang Sang-woo reported the current situation to Vice President Go Taek-soo.

“How did that happen?”

“A few days ago, I visited Kangan Logistics to adjust the delivery schedule, and CEO Kim happened to be there for a contract. He openly recommended terminating the contract at that spot.”

“Ha, haha…! I’ve never seen such an unethical guy.”

“I heard that he’s been going around to byproduct processing facilities nationwide and making the same proposal.”

“That’s crazy.”

Vice President Go Taek-soo was dumbfounded.

He was speechless at the action, which he didn’t know whether to call guts or recklessness.

And there was something else he didn’t understand.

“But you know, Karma Corporation wasn’t very interested in domestic subjugation, were they? Why are they going around to byproduct processing facilities now?”

“I was a little strange, so I looked into it a bit.”

Managing Director Kang carefully continued, taking out some documents.

“This time, the Korean Association acquired the Central African branch and obtained the byproduct import rights there. Hanbyul Trading also signed an exclusive import of ‘Fractal’.”

“Hmm…….”

The Korean Association, Hanbyul Trading, and Karma Corporation.

It’s already a known fact that the three have recently formed an alliance.

It’s common to form alliances or cooperate for a common purpose. Looking at this alone, there’s nothing to interfere with.

But if they’re interested in this business and trying to get involved, we can’t overlook it.

All three have considerable influence, so the ripple effect will be enormous.

“There was an accident in the Association’s support team a few days ago. So the support team’s research institute was rebuilt, and Karma Corporation took on that project. Hanbyul Trading has already secured investment. I heard they’re going to make it the largest in the world…….”

As expected, the vice president muttered.

“State-of-the-art facilities will meet the highest quality byproducts.”

As expected, all three are already involved in one thing.

‘How did those guys get together…….’

A troublesome alliance has been formed.

Managing Director Kang continued as if it wasn’t the end there.

“If we collect all the domestic byproducts with this opportunity… the situation will become more serious.”

“Tsk, that’s right. Because the entire domestic subjugation market will move through Karma Corporation.”

That’s troublesome.

How did we overcome the shaky start and get here, but now we can’t lose the market.

“Is there a way to prevent Karma from winning the contract?”

“Actually, there’s no separate way, but I don’t think we need to move.”

“…What? Why?”

Managing Director Kang smiled quite meaningfully.

“I heard that most of the facilities are rejecting their proposal. Well, from the subcontractor’s point of view, there’s no reason to gamble while unnecessarily offending us.”

“Ha, hahaha! That’s right. Of course.”

Yes, that’s why they’re subcontractors.

No matter how much you squeeze and roll them, as long as they know who’s giving them food, they have no choice but to be servile.

‘Well… we’ve already eaten up the domestic market.’

While Karma Corporation absorbed Hanbyul Dungeon and wiped the Association’s butt, GT Dungeon has almost taken over the domestic subjugation market.

Of course, most of the byproduct processing facilities nationwide have also extended their legs.

Even if they try to get involved in the domestic subjugation market now, it’s already too late.

‘That’s right, if you start a company, you have to do business.’

What are you doing, like acquiring overseas branches?

Doing such a thing will only benefit the Association in the end.

“Of course, rebuilding the research institute is a bit of a concern, but if we can’t attract domestic byproduct processing facilities, it won’t have a big impact even if it’s completed.”

“Well, you can’t be competitive just by making the best equipment.”

Vice President Go Taek-soo nodded.

But his expression was uneasy, as if something was still bothering him in one corner of his heart.

‘I want to keep them in check as much as possible…….’

After thinking for a while, he opened his mouth again.

“Contact each facility and notify them to move up the delivery deadline as much as possible.”

“Yes?”

“Before those guys complete the research institute, let’s monopolize domestic byproducts.”

You never know.

It’s better to be sure without leaving any room.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. We can sell it to those guys later at a high price.”

“I understand.”

We can never do anything good for others.

Vice President Go Taek-soo smiled contentedly.