Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1236

“A franchise?”

“Yeah.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes widened.

“Why the sudden interest in the restaurant business? Have you been watching too much TV lately and got inspired or something?”

“I don’t watch TV.”

“…Ah, right. You don’t.”

It was a joke, but the reaction wasn’t fun at all. Lee Hyun-soo clicked his tongue and asked again.

“But why a franchise all of a sudden?”

“You know those guys who left the association this time?”

“Yes.”

“They’re a mess.”

Lee Hyun-soo squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Well, that’s to be expected.’

Members who left the association are similar to retired athletes.

They are people who lived in a world where doing one thing well was enough, and now they are starting a different kind of competition for the first time.

If they made a lot of money during their active years and became landlords, or if they can make a living without doing any business, they can have a comfortable retirement, but those who made a mediocre amount of money will eventually start something.

And the businesses started by athletes rarely end well.

Perhaps it’s because they’ve lived a different life from ordinary people, so it’s not easy for them to accurately grasp what ordinary people want.

‘And that means the same applies to our guys.’

So, for retired athletes, it’s more stable to run a franchise than to start their own business haphazardly.

“I understand what you mean. You’re saying that since the guys are in bad shape, it’s better to manage them from our side, right?”

“Yeah.”

“If MK launches a franchise, the guys will pay a membership fee?”

Kang Jin-ho frowned.

“Do they have to pay a membership fee?”

“Of course, they have to pay a membership fee since it’s a franchise. Otherwise, who will cover the labor costs? The money that goes into interior design and everything else won’t be a joke.”

“Hmm… Do the guys have a lot of money saved up?”

“The older ones might have saved some money, but most of the guys in their 20s probably don’t have much. If you think about how many of them are smart enough to save money for the future…”

“They probably don’t.”

“I think so too.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled bitterly.

“Give them loans.”

“…Huh, Guild Leader.”

“They can pay it back by deducting a reasonable amount from their profits. I think they can pay it all back in about ten years?”

“It’s not like we’re digging for money, and if it fails, who will be responsible for the losses?”

“Fail?”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his eyes.

“If they fail while running their own business, it’s their responsibility, but if they fail while running a franchise after paying money, it’s the franchise’s responsibility. We should be paying them back, not worrying about losses.”

Lee Hyun-soo shut his mouth.

‘No, that’s true, but…’

The problem is that franchises in Korea don’t work that way. If there’s no profit, it’s the franchisee’s fault, and if there’s profit, it’s thanks to the headquarters, and they try to extract more profit. Isn’t that what franchises are all about?

They force franchisees to redo the interior of a well-performing store and charge them excessive interior design fees, and they only allow interior design through them. That’s how franchises in Korea work.

“It’s our job to make sure it doesn’t fail.”

“Hmm, Guild Leader.”

Lee Hyun-soo swallowed a sigh and opened his mouth.

“Putting aside personal feelings, I’ll speak only about the business. I don’t think this is a good idea. If we’re going to run a franchise, there are many people we can do it with besides those guys. But why them specifically…”

“Think about it.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho sighed and said,

“They don’t see a way to make a living right away, they’re out of money, and they have martial arts skills.”

“What do you think Director Lee would do?”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

He understood what Kang Jin-ho was saying.

“You mean they’ll fall into crime.”

“There’s a high chance of that.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his cheek.

Kang Jin-ho might not know about this, but there was a case in Taiwan’s professional baseball league where players who were kicked out for match-fixing joined the Triads [Chinese organized crime groups] and tried to persuade other players to fix matches again.

People who have lived their whole lives focusing on one thing will do anything if they can’t make a living.

“It’s more of a welfare issue than a business one.”

“It’s not that grand of an idea. It’s just that…”

Kang Jin-ho put a cigarette in his mouth.

After lighting the cigarette, Kang Jin-ho slowly exhaled the smoke.

“It was the association and the previous generation that brought those who left into the association in the first place.”

“Yes.”

“So, isn’t it our responsibility if they can’t stay on that path until the end?”

Lee Hyun-soo quietly nodded.

He understood what Kang Jin-ho was saying.

Of course, it’s not like they were forced to train in the association, but it’s also true that they were deprived of the opportunity to live ordinary lives by training in the association.

Martial artists who can’t use martial arts are actually in a weak position in society. It was definitely a problem to throw them into society as weaklings just because they didn’t fit in with the association.

“From a business perspective, I’m still against it.”

“o’•”

“But from a human perspective, I’m in favor of it.”

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho’s eyes lit up.

“That’s unexpected.”

“Yes?”

“I thought you’d say the opposite. That you’d be in favor of it from a business perspective, but against it from a human perspective.”

“Why is that?”

“Your personality.”

“…Ah, seriously.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled as Lee Hyun-soo got annoyed and continued.

“I know it’s a bit unreasonable. I understand that it’s not easy to start something new when you don’t have experience and you’re busy. But there are things you have to do in this world.”

“Yes, Guild Leader.”

“Let’s proceed with it.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

“Then, I think we need to discuss a few things. If you’re going to open a franchise, what kind of business are you thinking of?”

“I’m thinking of two things for now.”

“Two things?”

“One is a cafe. I’m pretty confident in the coffee business.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

The cafe within the association has a very good reputation. Even Lee Hyun-soo, who is quite sensitive to taste, has to admit the quality. And wasn’t Kang Jin-ho the one who created the quality of that cafe?

“However, if you want to franchise it, you’ll have to increase the menu and do research and development, right?”

“That’s what experts should do.”

“Hmm, I understand for now. And is there anything else?”

“This is honestly a bit of a concern, but…”

“Yes?”

“I’m thinking of opening a pizza place.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled at Kang Jin-ho.

“Is that your friend’s place?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m worried…”

“What’s the problem if it tastes good? I heard that the third branch is opening soon. If it’s a place that went from the first branch to the third branch, I think we can say the taste is guaranteed, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then let’s consider that as well.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded. It was a bit uncomfortable to bring in Joo Young-gi, but it seemed like the right direction. Joo Young-gi would have some know-how from running his business, so it would definitely be helpful.

“It looks like we’ll be busier than I thought. We need to report the business type again, set up a research and development team… and hire more people.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, it might not be a bad idea to hire some of the guys who left this time as managers if they have the right aptitude.”

“It would be good to do that if possible.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked a bit worried.

There might be problems with their abilities compared to hiring professional personnel. But there were also clear advantages.

‘The guys are usually rough.’

They would never be rude to customers because Kang Jin-ho would go and break their necks, but conflicts between the franchise headquarters and branches are inevitable.

Problems could arise if ordinary people tried to manage them.

But what if the managers were also martial artists?

At least, it’s an advantage that they can fight each other if a fight breaks out.

“It’s good that there’s at least one clear advantage.”

“Advantage?”

“Yes. We can use the most expensive person in Korea as a model. You’ll give us a discount, right?”

Kang Jin-ho awkwardly put a cigarette in his mouth.

“I’ll have to persuade him.”

“And Guild Leader.”

“Yeah?”

“The thing is, this isn’t something you can start with just an ordinary mindset. It’s not just about the investment, but if it fails after we start it haphazardly, the lives of the guys who started with us will be ruined. We can’t know if we don’t do it, but once we start, we have to succeed no matter what.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded. He had to have that level of determination.

“Don’t worry. I’ll put in as much money as we have.”

“That’s not enough.”

“…Huh?”

“Actually, cafes have the highest demand from women, right? Then we need to use a model who appeals to women.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

“And the fresher the face, the better. New faces are more appealing than people whose image has already been consumed.”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back on the sofa. He felt like he was being cornered.

“So, what’s the conclusion?”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled wickedly and said,

“Why don’t you be the model?”

“Just close your eyes and shoot a couple of commercials. Surely… you wouldn’t say you can’t do it when the lives of the guys are at stake, right?”

Kang Jin-ho’s face twitched slightly. What a build-up.

“I’ll have to think about it.”

“No, you have to confirm it. Without this level of investment, we can’t jump into the franchise market, which is a system of infinite competition. We have to be aggressive from the start.”

“Ugh.”

“Please make a grand decision.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head and sighed.

“If I have to, I have to.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Hyun-soo whistled.

“Then let’s see… the male model will be the Guild Leader, the female model will be the Director, and Se-ah will sing the logo song. Wow, I can see the picture already?”

Lee Hyun-soo, who was writing a plan in his notebook, looked up.

“First, I think you need to discuss it with the Director first, right?”

“Do it.”

“By when will you be done?”

“I don’t know, so do it yourself.”

“…Yes?”

“Go meet her and do it.”

“…Me?”

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes trembled.

“Ah, no, why would I meet the Director? You can do it, Guild Leader.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“No, but…”

“Director Lee.”

“Yes!”

Kang Jin-ho smiled gently and said,

“Would it be okay for a director to be reluctant to meet the director?”

“I’ll make an appointment right away, so go and talk to her.”

“Guild Leader.”

“Yeah?”

Lee Hyun-soo said seriously.

“Come to think of it, I don’t think this is right even from a human perspective. Let’s cancel it.”

“Go to the meeting if you don’t want to die.”

“Get out.”

“Gu, Guild Leader.”

“Now.”

Lee Hyun-soo got up from his seat weakly.

“Take care of it.”

“Yes.”

A staff member who was waiting for Lee Hyun-soo outside greeted him as he slumped his shoulders.

“Director, the people you summoned are in the waiting room.”

“Those gangster bosses?”

“Yes.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Hyun-soo rolled up his sleeves.

“Clear the area.”

“…Yes?”

“Don’t let anyone come near.”

The staff member prayed for the gangsters’ souls as he watched Lee Hyun-soo, who was grinding his teeth, head to the waiting room.