Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1563

“It’s time to start the second franchise.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded at Hwang Min-soo’s report.

“It’s about time, indeed.”

“Considering the preparation period, it’s already late to form a team right now. Due to a series of incidents, the preparation has been more delayed than expected. We need to start as soon as possible.”

“Approved. Let’s move immediately.”

“Yes, Chairman. So, about the model store… is the discussion finished?”

“Ah, Young-gi’s place?”

“Yes. I visited as a kind of inspection, and the pizza was good. Even though I don’t particularly enjoy pizza, I finished it all. However, the interior is a bit…”

“…That part needs improvement.”

‘Young-gi, you rascal!’ Kang Jin-ho thought to himself.

“The service was excellent. The owner was very kind.”

‘Of course, he would be,’ Kang Jin-ho mused.

Back when he first started the pizza place, Joo Young-gi would treat customers like royalty, but as soon as he turned his back, he’d curse at them for not moving fast enough.

‘Such a self-made monster,’ Kang Jin-ho thought, a hint of amusement in his mind.

“So, is it correct that the discussion with the owner is finished?”

“Well, we’ve talked. But are you sure that place is okay?”

Hwang Min-soo smiled at Kang Jin-ho’s words.

“It’s natural to be skeptical about places run by acquaintances. You were also doubtful when we franchised your father’s cafe, weren’t you?”

“No. That place was fine?”

Hwang Min-soo cleared his throat quietly.

“Anyway, it’s better than you think. It’s been on TV a few times as a popular restaurant.”

“Huh? Really?”

“…Please pay a little more attention to your friend’s store. It’s a hot spot.”

Kang Jin-ho laughed.

He was determined to succeed with his pizza place, and it seems he really did.

‘I haven’t been paying much attention lately,’ Kang Jin-ho admitted to himself.

This wasn’t so much because Kang Jin-ho was indifferent, but more because there was no need for him to worry. Both Park Yu-min and Joo Young-gi were doing their jobs well, so what could Kang Jin-ho do to help?

‘It’s enough to just get together for drinks once in a while,’ he thought.

And even when they did, they implicitly avoided bringing up company matters. It wasn’t a setting where such conversations were necessary.

“Anyway, once the franchising process begins, various improvements will be made. The original store just sets the direction. There aren’t many franchise pizza places that use a wood-fired oven as a base, so we can create a competitive edge.”

“The skill level of the staff is a bit of a problem, but…”

“That’s okay. It’ll probably be even more delicious.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

“That pizza, I developed it…”

“Ah, is that so?”

Old memories came to mind.

With the money Hwang Jung-hoo gave him, they talked about starting a business, and Kang Jin-ho opened a pizza place filled with memories. Then, Kang Jin-ho used his inner energy [a type of martial arts power] to make the pizza crispy.

Joo Young-gi couldn’t use inner energy, so the taste was slightly nerfed [reduced in power], but even with that nerfed pizza, it became a popular restaurant. If they fill the stores with unmanned systems and pass on the recipe, the business will do well.

“I was wondering how to handle the training, but it seems that part is solved. It’s a bit much for the Chairman to teach directly, though.”

“That’s okay.”

“If you say so.”

Hwang Min-soo smiled contentedly.

However, whether the prospective store owners waiting to open pizza places will be able to smile like that when they hear this fact remains to be seen.

“Then, Hwang, you can proceed with that. No need for a report. Just report on important issues.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

As Hwang Min-soo stepped back slightly, Lee Hyun-joo raised her head.

“The chronic problem of coffee bean supply is now almost resolved. We’ve increased production to barely meet demand.”

“That can’t continue, right?”

“Yes. But it should be fine. Our sales are excessively high right now, so they will soon decrease slightly. Once the decline ends and stabilizes, the coffee bean production will exceed consumption.”

“Everyone has worked hard.”

It can’t be easy to roast coffee beans in front of a burning pot in this heat. Even if it’s unmanned.

“The factory manager has been working very hard.”

“…He’s still getting nagged at.”

Even so, complaints from Kang Yu-hwan have decreased recently.

As the unmanned systems began to adapt to the work, the quality of the coffee beans improved. Kang Yu-hwan, who had been under excessive stress due to the unsatisfactory quality of the beans, was now slowly becoming satisfied.

“I believe the cafe is now entering a stabilization phase. After stabilizing a bit more, we will focus on increasing the number of stores.”

“Additionally, our goal is to open about 20 more locations in Seoul and 30 more in other regions within this year.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

He didn’t need to get involved in this kind of work; they would handle it well on their own.

‘No, if I get involved, I’ll probably mess it up more,’ he thought.

They are a hundred times better at this than he is. If he tried to pretend to do something, he would only make things more complicated.

‘It’s better to honestly admit when you don’t know something and just go along with it,’ he concluded.

“Are there any other issues?”

“It would be good to have a discussion with the accounting team, Chairman.”

“Hmm?”

“Basically, all of our businesses are like pouring water into a bottomless pit. We are currently starting projects with company capital and then recovering it. Although we have sufficient funds, if you don’t pay attention to the flow of funds, problems may arise later.”

“I’ll check it. I’m confident in that. I studied it.”

He had also learned accounting.

Of course, it’s different from practical work.

Lee Hyun-joo smiled brightly at Kang Jin-ho’s answer.

“There are no other major issues.”

“Okay, then.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded slightly. Then, with a slightly subdued look, he looked at everyone.

“I was debating whether to say this, but I think you should know.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“There’s been some trouble with Taekwang.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head.

“Did it finally escalate?”

He couldn’t say everything. But they also knew that Jung Myung-chul was the one who instigated the disturbance at the cafe.

“It seems it didn’t end there.”

“Well, it seems the Taekwang Group is moving directly.”

Hwang Min-soo sighed.

“Chairman Jung is not an easy person. He’s a really scary person.”

“So I’ve heard.”

However, unlike Hwang Min-soo’s reaction, Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-joo had calm expressions.

“It’s become a nuisance.”

“A little.”

Hwang Min-soo frowned, looking at the two of them.

‘Is this something that can end with just ‘a nuisance’?’ he wondered.

They had a conflict with one of the top 10 companies in Korea, but the expressions of the two people accepting it were too calm.

They might be out of touch with reality or not know well, but Lee Hyun-joo, whom Hwang Min-soo knew, was not that oblivious. Yet, not only Kang Jin-ho but also Lee Hyun-joo were so calm.

“Just be aware. If anything strange happens or problems arise, let me know immediately.”

“Yes. We can’t prevent things from happening.”

“We’ll just have to handle it well.”

“Then, I’ll take measures to report to you immediately.”

As Lee Hyun-joo and Kang Jin-ho finished speaking lightly, Hwang Min-soo smiled faintly.

‘I don’t know,’ he thought.

‘They’ll figure it out,’ he reassured himself.

It’s not like this is the first time something like this has happened.

“Then, let’s wrap it up.”

“Oh, it’s lunchtime. Would you like to have lunch together?”

“Hmm?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head to look at the clock.

12:30 PM.

It was a good time to eat.

Kang Jin-ho wasn’t particularly hungry, and he didn’t need to eat at every meal, but eating with the employees was also part of his job, wasn’t it?

“Sure.”

“There’s a new Chinese restaurant nearby that’s good. It’s authentic Chinese style. I heard you like it, Chairman.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and got up from his seat. Lee Hyun-joo and the board members followed behind him.

Director Gu Jung-beom immediately opened his phone and made a reservation without being asked. Seeing this, there was definitely a difference between those from finance and those from MK [Marketing].

“It feels like it’s been a while since we ate together.”

“It hasn’t been often. You’re so busy, Chairman.”

“It’s not just me who’s busy.”

“That’s true. We’re finally catching our breath. So many incidents have been popping up.”

“Haha…”

“Ah, and Chairman, there’s one thing we need to get permission for with this second event. Would that be okay?”

“…No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Please don’t…”

“I said no!”

Kang Jin-ho glared.

Seeing them poke at him like this, it was obvious what they were up to. Once was enough; would he fall for it twice?

Then, Lee Hyun-joo said with a smile.

“Just proceed, President.”

“Huh?”

“Proceed and get sued. The company will pay the fine. How much is a portrait rights violation anyway?”

‘Would that be okay?’ Kang Jin-ho wondered.

Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to say something more, the elevator doors opened. Then, Kang Jin-ho, who came out, frowned involuntarily.

“What is it?”

There were security guards gathered in front of the entrance.

The problem was that the security guards weren’t shouting or blocking anyone.

It was more like they were struggling because they had to block someone but couldn’t.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see well.”

“Let’s go see.”

Kang Jin-ho walked towards the security guards.

And the moment he identified the person in front of them, it was Hwang Min-soo, not Kang Jin-ho, who exclaimed in surprise.

“Huh? W-what?”

Hwang Min-soo flinched as if he was startled.

“T-Chairman Jung?”

“Oh?”

The security guards found Kang Jin-ho and stepped aside slightly. One of the guards approached Kang Jin-ho and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Chairman… no, Chairman. We told him that he couldn’t enter without an appointment, but he kept insisting on coming in. He claimed to be the chairman of the Taekwang Group, so we couldn’t be forceful.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at the old man standing in front of him.

A stern-looking face and a firm mouth. It was clear at a glance that he was not an ordinary old man.

‘Chairman Jung…’ Kang Jin-ho thought.

Then that must be him.

Jung Hong-geun.

The chairman of the Taekwang Group.

He had come here to meet Kang Jin-ho directly.

“I believe it’s not proper etiquette?”

“Would you have met me if I had tried to make an appointment?”

“I don’t know.”

Probably not.

Kang Jin-ho had no reason to meet Jung Hong-geun. It might not be proper etiquette, but it couldn’t be denied that it was efficient. If he needed to talk to Kang Jin-ho, this was the fastest way.

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Jung Hong-geun.

He hadn’t even brought an entourage. Such a big shot had come to his company alone, without any backup.

It wasn’t a normal situation.

So he had to ask.

“What’s the matter?”

Jung Hong-geun raised his hand and pulled down the fedora he was wearing. Then, holding the fedora slightly to his chest, he bent his waist ninety degrees.

“I came to apologize for what happened recently and to greet the Chairman. I know you must be angry, but please don’t turn away this old man.”

Hwang Min-soo’s mouth dropped open.

The board members, and even Lee Hyun-joo, were shocked as they watched the scene.

‘W-what is going on?’ they wondered.

‘No, why is that man acting like that?’

‘Oh my god!’

Kang Jin-ho’s face went blank at the greeting.

“…Huh?”

‘What kind of trick is this now?’ he thought.