I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 1

As Executive Manager Jo Gwang-yun entered Life Mart’s Sangam branch, a frown immediately creased his face.

He noticed the scowling faces of customers lined up at several checkout counters.

“Manager Kim, replace the cashiers at registers 4 and 12.”

Manager Kim, who trailed behind Jo Gwang-yun, immediately pulled out his smartphone and activated the recording app.

“Registers 4 and 12, correct?”

“Yes. Contact the staffing agency and tell them to send some sharp, experienced women.”

“Yes, Manager.”

Manager Jo strode through the store, muttering criticisms under his breath.

“Didn’t I order all Dongyang Dairy products to be removed? There was a ‘gapjil’ [abuse of power] incident at the company, and a boycott is in full swing. Yet that company’s products are openly displayed? Is the branch manager completely out of touch?”

“Manager, this is a new product. The company name ‘Dongyang Dairy’ is subtly hidden, so consumers might not notice…”

Manager Kim, mid-explanation, quickly clamped his mouth shut under Manager Jo’s fierce glare.

“Don’t you have internet at home? Don’t you use a smartphone? How long has it been since Dongyang Dairy’s deceptive tactics went viral online?”

Manager Jo snatched up a 1-liter milk carton.

“Now this product is the target! You’ll attract even more criticism because of the deception. Don’t you know that today’s consumers aren’t the pushovers of the past?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Jo Gwang-yun tossed the milk carton at the flinching Manager Kim and moved on.

The Sangam branch employees, belatedly realizing he was there, could only watch, unable to approach him.

Jo Gwang-yun, from headquarters, was like the Grim Reaper himself. When he swept through a store, someone was sure to face the consequences – often in the form of dismissal.

The unwritten rule was that when he inspected a store, everyone had to observe silently without uttering a word.

The branch manager, who belatedly rushed over, could only follow in Jo Gwang-yun’s wake.

Only after a thorough inspection, from the first-floor food section to the third-floor sports section, did the branch manager dare to approach.

“Hey, Manager Jo. Did I do something to upset you? Why does it feel like our branch is being singled out?”

He voiced his true feelings, but the branch manager maintained a strained smile. Although his rank was much lower, merely a manager, his position held considerable influence.

Jo Gwang-yun’s report alone could trigger a bloodbath at branches nationwide. He was a key figure and executioner in a department that held the power of professional life and death.

“It’s true that you’re being targeted. You know that last quarter’s sales performance was the worst, right? Sangam is prime real estate. How can sales be comparable to Buam-dong?”

Jo Gwang-yun, cutting off the branch manager’s excuses, addressed Manager Kim.

“Manager Kim, discuss today’s issues with the branch manager and take action. Have the report on my desk before dinner. I’m leaving early for the headquarters countermeasures meeting.”

As Manager Kim fumbled in his pocket for the car keys, Manager Jo waved his hand dismissively.

“Forget it. I’ll take a taxi.”

Jo Gwang-yun departed without so much as a glance at the branch manager, and Manager Kim, left alone, returned the car keys to his pocket and took a deep breath.

Dealing with the branch manager, who was glaring at him as if he wanted to devour him in place of Manager Jo, was no easy task.

* * *

“Manager Jo, you’re going, right? Your Chinese is practically at a native speaker level.”

With Executive Director Lee Cheol-hyun’s pronouncement, all eyes in the conference room swiveled to Manager Jo Gwang-yun.

Moreover, coming from the highest-ranking person present, it was tantamount to a direct order.

Manager Jo bowed his head without hesitation, despite his reluctance.

“Yes, Executive Director.”

The lengthy meeting, filled with various discussions and strategic planning, concluded with the executive director’s words, and everyone began to file out of the conference room.

The initial warning signs of China’s THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] retaliation were aimed at large stores of Korean distribution companies that catered to Chinese consumers.

They initiated tax investigations on all business locations and levied fines through fire and hygiene inspections.

Furthermore, protests by Chinese citizens continued in front of the stores, and even videos depicting the crushing of Korean products with heavy machinery were uploaded online.

The most frightening aspect was the boycott of Korean products.

Sales had already plummeted by half, and many stores had been forced into indefinite temporary closures due to the Chinese protesters.

The company that Manager Jo Gwang-yun worked for operated over 30 large hypermarkets in China, making it a direct target of the THAAD backlash.

Manager Jo, slowly exiting the conference room, paused as he felt a prickling sensation at the back of his head.

Sure enough, Managing Director Kim Jin-ho was watching him, signaling with his eyes.

Once they were the only two remaining in the conference room, Managing Director Kim Jin-ho spoke in a hushed tone.

“You must have guessed Executive Director Lee’s intentions, right?”

Manager Jo responded with a faint smile.

“He’s telling you to align yourself. Regardless of how the China situation unfolds, you know that either the executive director or I will have to take responsibility and step down… This is an opportunity to prove your worth. To show whether you’re willing to be a loyal dog.”

“Abilities? You flatter me.”

He feigned humility, but Managing Director Kim Jin-ho’s expression only hardened.

“I’m the same as Executive Director Lee. I want you to protect me by ruthlessly biting anyone who attacks me. In return, I’ll throw you plenty of meaty bones.”

A blatant instruction to ensure the business trip report favored him. Manager Jo found Managing Director Kim, who openly revealed his intentions, preferable to Executive Director Lee.

“I’ll give it serious thought during the business trip.”

Manager Jo bowed his head to Managing Director Kim and turned away without a hint of regret.

Watching Manager Jo’s retreating figure, Managing Director Kim Jin-ho chuckled and muttered.

“It’s only natural for stray dogs to starve to death.”

* * *

『Passengers, the aircraft is experiencing turbulence due to unstable air currents. Please keep your seatbelts fastened until the seatbelt sign is turned off, and please ensure the seatbelts of children are also fastened.

Also, please refrain from using the restroom.

Thank you.』

The captain’s muffled voice, barely comprehensible, came through as an in-flight announcement.

Followed by English and Chinese translations.

The aircraft, KAL 6082 bound for Beijing, shook violently.

Manager Jo Gwang-yun tightened his seatbelt. Beijing was a destination he frequented more often than Jeju Island, but he felt a twinge of fear, as this was the first time the aircraft had shaken so intensely.

However, most plane accidents occurred during takeoff and landing. Once airborne and riding the air currents, even severe turbulence rarely led to accidents, so he remained merely nervous and didn’t imagine the worst.

Flash!

However, the constant flashes of lightning visible outside the window were unsettling.

Moreover, seated in an economy window seat with a clear view of the wing, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the engine beneath the wing.

Flash!

Another lightning strike.

Jo Gwang-yun couldn’t believe his eyes.

The lightning struck the engine directly, and the plane lurched violently.

The cabin erupted in passengers’ screams, and oxygen masks dropped from the overhead compartments. Dangerous!

“Shit…”

He cursed involuntarily.

A hurried in-flight announcement was broadcast, but he couldn’t make it out.

The Grim Reaper seemed to have hitched a ride on the wings of this plane.

He donned an oxygen mask and hunched forward. His entire body trembled like an aspen leaf.

‘Is this how I die…’

Jo Gwang-yun felt a surge of anger that his short, 36-year life might end in a plane crash.

* * *

The ancient shrine in the mountains was occupied by thirteen old men in black robes.

They appeared to have reunited after a considerable time, clasping each other’s hands, exchanging greetings, and frequently erupting in laughter.

However, the old men’s laughter was short-lived.

A young man, observing them from the side of the shrine, stretched languidly as if bored and spat.

“Hey, at this rate, the sun will rise. Well, I think you’ve had your fill of reunion… Let’s get started. Or should I give you time to write your wills? You all know that tonight is the only ‘that day,’ right?”

At his words, the old men ceased their laughter, and all eyes focused on him.

“Sorry for rushing you on your way out, but I’m also pressed for time. You elders know better than anyone that this has to be completed before it’s too late, right?”

The young man unbuttoned his shirt and tapped his chest, which was densely covered with bizarre patterns and symbols.

– As the leader said, his personality is… hopeless.

– What can we do? It’s the will of heaven.

– If that guy gains the power of ‘gyeongcheondongji’ [earth-shattering power], a bloodbath may occur in ‘gangho’ [the martial arts world]…

– We don’t have the luxury to consider ‘gangho’s’ fate, do we? We’re simply doing our job.

– But brother…

– Everyone, stop. The leader’s words are correct. We’re just fulfilling our mission, and we don’t need to question the will of heaven.

“Geez, you old folks are so talkative. So? Are you giving up everything and closing up shop here? Should I just turn around and leave?”

As the young man shouted with a wry smile, the eyebrows of the old men, who were communicating telepathically, twitched.

He was already a master capable of intercepting their telepathic communications.

The thirteen old men could only imagine the potential consequences if such a person were to acquire their power.

Because they had accepted their fate of handing over everything to that young master and departing from this world.

The young man, noticing the frowning faces of some of the old men, took his place in the center of the shrine.

“I don’t have time. Decide whether to start now or quit. You elders are the ones who are desperate, not me. You know better who is in need, right?”

As he plopped down in the center of the shrine, the old man, referred to as the leader, immediately sat behind him and said.

“That’s right. There’s no time left, and there’s no alternative. We’ve waited a hundred years for this day. Let’s begin.”

The thirteen old men took their positions in a circle around the young man.

Before long, the ancient shrine was filled with auspicious energy.

The young man’s forehead began to bead with sweat as the extremely perilous moment commenced, where he had to absorb not only the internal energy of the thirteen old men but also the supreme innate true energy.

At that very moment, everyone’s face was etched with tension.

No, it was closer to bewilderment than tension.

Everyone struggled to concentrate because of the strange sound that seemed like a hallucination, and losing focus would result in a catastrophic outcome – death.

But no matter how hard they tried to focus, they couldn’t dispel the hallucination.

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

This is KE six zero eight two. We’ve lost thrust both engines!

Repeat! We’ve lost thrust both engines!

Mayday!

End