The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 155

154

“So, what exactly are you saying?”

I rushed to the Planning Department at Chairman Lee Doo-shik’s words.

“You’re dissolving the Association? Is there pressure from outside or something?”

I repeated the story I heard over the phone.

Chairman Lee Doo-shik slowly opened his mouth with a calm expression.

“Pressure? What benefit would they get from pressuring us now? I just think it’s the right thing to do, no matter how I think about it. Well, it’s more accurate to say it’s a reorganization rather than a dissolution.”

“What on earth are you thinking?”

“Think about it. Before privatization, the Association was the only organization that could subjugate dungeons, so of course we had to maintain the front lines, but that’s not the case anymore.”

Chairman Lee Doo-shik shrugged.

“You know how great the influence of the name ‘Association’ used to be.”

“…Yes.”

“But look at the Association now. Its position and role have become ambiguous. Above all, the public doesn’t really have any expectations for us anymore.”

I reserved my answer.

Because it wasn’t exactly wrong.

Until just a few months ago, the Association was the central organization of South Korea.

So, to exaggerate a bit, the influence of the name ‘Association’ was comparable to the Blue House [South Korea’s executive office and official residence of the President].

But now, all that brilliant fame has disappeared.

As private subjugation companies emerged, the Association’s influence gradually diminished, and people’s interest waned as well.

Unless privatization is abolished, the Association will probably never return to its former glory.

Chairman Lee Doo-shik seemed to recognize this fact as he continued.

“In this situation, even if we absorb your company, we can’t go back to the way we were. And as time goes on, there will be formidable subjugation companies, and we’ll be pushed aside again.”

“……”

“So, what I’m thinking is to keep the Association’s role as it is, but change its position. In other words… let’s brand the Association.”

“So, you’re saying we should merge with Karma Corporation?”

“That’s right.”

“I refuse.”

Of course, I absolutely cannot accept it.

From the beginning, my goal was to grow the Korean Association into an international association, not to make my business successful.

Even if the Korean Association loses its influence and only the name remains, its legacy must be maintained.

That’s the only way I can grow it into a second international association or become the Secretary-General.

But if the Association suddenly becomes a company… my chance to achieve my goal will disappear forever.

It can’t be.

I can never do that.

The Association must remain an association.

I have to push forward strongly here, even if it means getting rid of Lee Doo-shik…

“For the record, this isn’t my idea.”

“……Yes?”

Chairman Lee Doo-shik suddenly said with a troubled expression.

“There’s someone else who made the proposal.”

What are you talking about?

Are you trying to pass the buck now?

But I know that Lee Doo-shik isn’t that kind of person. Rather, he’s the type of person who would take responsibility for anything he thought was right, even if someone else suggested it.

Then, the fact that he brought up this story means…

“Who is it? Perhaps Chairman Park In-beom…?”

“No.”

The moment I opened my mouth, an answer came back from somewhere else.

“I proposed the agenda.”

Someone entered the chairman’s office, leading a group of men in black suits.

“……!”

The man approached me with a smile.

The moment I faced him, I almost popped my eyes out.

Because the man was none other than.

“How about it, CEO Kim Jun-woo.”

Cho Hyun-min, former leader of the Bareun Future Party [a South Korean political party that existed from 2018 to 2020].

The current 22nd President of South Korea.

***

A quiet silence fell over the chairman’s office.

President Cho Hyun-min, Chairman Lee Doo-shik, and I were waiting for tea while maintaining our silence.

I carefully examined the current president, who had suddenly joined us.

‘I’ve met him a few times before, but…’

It’s embarrassing to have him barge in like this.

But is it such an important matter that the president himself has to come?

“I’ve heard a lot about you, CEO Kim Jun-woo.”

While I was trying to act calm, President Cho Hyun-min spoke first.

“…Ah, is that so? I’m honored.”

“I’m more honored. Aren’t you a much more influential person than me in South Korea?”

“Haha… you flatter me.”

After exchanging pleasantries, I brought up the main point first.

“By the way… this was an idea proposed by the President?”

“That’s right. Actually, I’ve been talking to the chairman about the Association’s situation for the past few days, and he said that he was planning to merge with Karma Corporation.”

My gaze turned to Chairman Lee Doo-shik without me realizing it.

What? You’re in contact with the President?

He’s a bigger shot than I thought…

“So, I told him that it would be better to merge under the name of Karma rather than the Association, and he said that he would have to persuade CEO Kim rather than himself. So, I came here to persuade you in person.”

President Cho Hyun-min gave a gentle smile.

Indeed, people at the top have a different atmosphere… Even though he said it was persuasion, it can feel like coercion.

“How about it, CEO? Are you willing to absorb the Association?”

“Well… aside from other things, it’s hard to understand the President’s intentions. Hasn’t the government been trying to keep the Association’s influence in check? Wouldn’t it be better for the government to just leave it as it is?”

“Hmm, that’s certainly true, but… things have changed a lot since that happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since privatization began and the Association’s influence weakened, all sorts of accidents have started to happen. I think that’s a phenomenon that occurs because the organization that holds the center has disappeared. Above all, after experiencing this incident… I felt the need even more.”

“Then why don’t you abolish privatization? It would be enough for the Association to regain its center in a week.”

“That would be difficult.”

President Cho Hyun-min shook his head with a troubled expression.

“It’s too much of a money-making market for some people. Above all, the cartel regulations have been withdrawn now.”

“……”

It makes money.

That means there are countless groups and individuals involved in this one market.

Of course, that means there are many people who oppose the abolition.

Even though all the subjugation companies have pulled out right now, as long as privatization continues, many more companies will emerge again soon.

Of course, the Association cannot win in the competition with for-profit companies.

In the end, as Chairman Lee Doo-shik said, even if we acquire Karma Corporation right now, it will eventually lose its influence again over time.

We’re taking on that role to some extent right now, but if we’re absorbed into the Association, we won’t be able to do that.

The Association has no competitiveness.

The absence of Karma Corporation.

If these two conditions continue, it’s obvious that the entire domestic subjugation market will lose its center and fall into chaos.

‘In that case, is it better to corporatize even if it means losing the name of the Association…’

That way, they can still hold the center of the subjugation market like before.

Above all, in the form of a company, it would be much easier for the government to keep it in check.

“In the end… you still don’t want the Association to grow, but you need an organization to hold the center.”

I understood their proposal.

But President Cho Hyun-min had a slightly reluctant reaction.

“It’s similar, but a little different. Rather than needing an organization to hold the center…”

He pointed at me with his finger.

“CEO Kim, I want you to hold the center.”

“……”

“I have a responsibility to make South Korea a better country, and to do that, I must not spare any means or methods.”

“Am I the means and method?”

“That’s right.”

“I think you’re overestimating me too much. I’m not the kind of person you think I am.”

“Hahaha! You’re quite humorous, unexpectedly. It’s not a joke that I said you were more influential than me a little while ago.”

“……?”

“Please consider it positively.”

He said in a serious voice.

I pretended to be thinking.

In fact, the answer was already decided.

Well, they’re praising me for being the center, but it’s still not a merit for me.

Of course, I have no intention of accepting it…

“Actually, it’s not much different from what you originally proposed. We’re just changing the form to a company, and we’re going to keep everything else as it is.”

Then, Chairman Lee Doo-shik added, as if he had sensed something.

“Well, if I had to pick a difference… if we merge under the name of Karma, you’ll be the chairman of the Association.”

“……”

“And the overseas branch business will be much easier than it is now. From the perspective of the branches, it’s better for a strong company to take over than an independent association that’s lost its power.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Then what’s the problem? Why, are you worried that it won’t become an international association if it becomes a company?”

At that moment, President Cho Hyun-min’s expression changed.

“Wait a minute, what do you mean…?”

His voice suddenly became heavy.

“……”

“……”

In an instant, the atmosphere became fierce, and Chairman Lee Doo-shik and I quickly rolled our eyes at each other.

***

As soon as I finished the unofficial meeting and returned to the office, I threw myself into the chair.

“How did it go?”

Director Lee Ah-young asked slyly, and a sigh escaped from my mouth.

“I almost screwed up.”

“……?”

“Even the president came.”

“Yes, yes?!”

Her eyes widened.

I had a similar feeling, although for a different reason, so I didn’t have the energy to explain it.

‘That old man, even if he’s out of his mind…’

How could he say in front of the president that he would grow the Korean Association into an international association?

If we really become an international association, then no domestic government or anything else can interfere with us anymore.

Of course, the president, who is the head of a country, wouldn’t like it.

Fortunately, Chairman Lee Doo-shik was able to get through it by saying that it was just an ambition.

“So… are you really going to absorb the Association?”

“I don’t know. Honestly, it’s too far off the plan. If the president even appeared to persuade me, I can’t just refuse it recklessly…”

Ha, I sighed deeply.

“It’s strictly an organization under the Association… but it’s a situation where the headquarters has to eat it.”

“It’s like the navel eating the stomach.”

I was wondering what to do, and then.

“Is the CEO here?”

Ha Sung-il visited the office without even contacting me.

“Ah, yes… what’s going on?”

“I have something to tell you.”

He handed me the document.

My eyes narrowed as soon as I checked it.

“What is this?”

“As you can see, it’s a resume.”

“……?”

“My confident field is sales. I can speak English, Spanish, and Chinese, and I worked as an assistant manager at Hanbyul Corporation for 2 years, as a team leader for 1 year, and as a president for 2 months.”

No, why are you telling me that…

“If you hire me, I will work hard!”

“……Yes, yes?”

This is crazy.

Is the youngest son of Hanbyul Group trying to join our company right now?

Even the former president of Hanbyul Corporation?!

‘Damn it, what the hell is this…’

The business that started as a disguise has to eat the headquarters, and the grandson of a large company is sticking to it.

‘Ha…’

What did I do to be tormented like this?

“…Okay.”

Tsk, I don’t know.

“Lee Ah-young, take the contract and go to the Association… Ha Sung-il, come to work from tomorrow.”

All right.

Now that it’s come to this, I’ll eat everything and do whatever I want.