Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 92

92. Not Cheongil Heavy Industries (3)

Taesu takes something out of his pocket and hands it to Lee Chang-won.

He doesn’t even glance at Noh Il-guk.

Unable to bear it any longer, Noh Il-guk cautiously asks,

“Um… Mr. President, why not me…?”

“You’re not affiliated with our company.”

Come to think of it, that’s right.

Unlike Cheongil Heavy Industries, all employees of Cheongil Oil Refining are on standby for personnel changes.

‘We were transferred from Cheongil Oil Refining to Cheongil Group headquarters, but our affiliated department and position are not specified.’

It was a measure Han Cheong-ho took hastily to leave the company as just an empty shell.

“Are you affiliated with Cheongil Oil Refining? Let’s be clear about your affiliation.”

The implications of that one word were significant.

‘If he acknowledges being affiliated with Cheongil Oil Refining, it means he’ll act like a superior, and if not, it means there’s nothing but an eviction order.’

Noh Il-guk wore a sullen expression.

Taesu raises his hand and points to the door.

“Cheongil people should go back to Cheongil now. The door is open.”

Noh Il-guk was momentarily dumbfounded.

Even if he goes back, there’s nowhere to go.

Isn’t he in a position where he’s temporarily relying on Cheongil Heavy Industries because he has nowhere else to go?

‘Damn it. I can’t bring myself to leave.’

Noh Il-guk’s position is much worse than Lee Chang-won’s.

Isn’t he the one who failed to secure an oil supply source?

Han Cheong-ho had firmly warned that he would hold him strictly accountable for Cheongil Oil Refining’s failure.

‘If it’s the Chairman, he’ll vent his anger on me to his heart’s content and then cut me off as the top priority for restructuring.’

Noh Il-guk squeezed his eyes shut at the clearly predictable future.

‘No, that’s not the problem. Even if I survive the restructuring, I have no attachment to Cheongil. I’ve been captivated by that man’s leadership. If I leave like this, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.’

As he hesitated and approached the door, he suddenly turned around.

“Let me be honest. I’m currently in a floating state, facing dismissal due to the responsibility for Cheongil Oil Refining’s bankruptcy…”

Before Noh Il-guk’s plea could continue, Taesu cut him off.

“Would you like to come to Taeyang Oil Refining?”

That one word was enough.

Noh Il-guk answered coolly.

“Yes, I will go to Taeyang Oil Refining. I look forward to working with you.”

Noh Il-guk, who had already lost his place in the Cheongil Group, didn’t need to hesitate.

Noh Il-guk also bowed 90 degrees.

Taesu looked down at the back of his head and nodded.

“Good.”

Noh Il-guk glanced sideways at Lee Chang-won.

“What will my position be?”

“Demotion by one rank. Do I need to explain it again?”

“No. Is the salary reduction the same?”

It was Lee Chang-won who spoke carelessly even after Taesu’s warning.

Noh Il-guk kept his mouth shut and played it safe.

Taesu chuckled.

“There will be no salary reduction.”

Noh Il-guk gives Lee Chang-won a meaningful look.

Lee Chang-won smacks his lips with a sullen expression.

Noh Il-guk answered loudly.

“I accept the position of Executive Director at Taeyang Oil Refining. I look forward to working with you!”

“Good. Executive Director Noh, take this too.”

Taesu took something out of his pocket and handed it to Noh Il-guk as well.

“What is this?”

“What else could it be? It’s an employment contract. Sign it.”

“…”

The two realized that the new young president was a thorough person.

“There’s more.”

This time, he took out the Saudi oil supply rights certificate issued by Khalid from his pocket.

“You won’t have to worry about oil supply anymore.”

“Ah…”

Noh Il-guk’s hand, holding the oil supply rights certificate, trembled.

Memories of struggling around the world, visiting OPEC [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries]-affiliated oil-producing countries, flashed through his mind.

The wall of oil that wouldn’t open no matter how hard he knocked.

Taesu opened it effortlessly.

“Let’s continue to strengthen the internal affairs as we have been doing, focus on oil refining, and work to secure gas stations.”

Those words, spoken indifferently, were etched in Noh Il-guk’s heart.

It was something he had never heard from Han Cheong-ho.

-You incompetent fool! What exactly do you do properly? Do you think I gave you the position of president for that?

-Don’t even think about coming back until you get an oil supply contract!

-Even if you have to bury your bones there, bring back an oil supply contract first!

Only scolding and insults.

Moreover, Han Cheong-ho often threw things.

“Securing an oil supply source is what I should be doing… I have no excuse.”

Noh Il-guk felt responsible for Cheongil Oil Refining’s failure because of that.

“It’s an oil shock. The higher-ups have to break through difficulties that are different from usual. Does it help to push the subordinates around?”

Taesu said calmly.

“Just do your best in your assigned position. I believe you are capable, so I think you will do well. I will be watching.”

“…I will do my best.”

Taesu gave his first proper order as president.

“Now, it’s time to prove the abilities and usefulness of the two executive directors.”

“Now? Immediately?”

“If you suddenly ask us to prove it…”

Taesu smiled.

“Let’s move all the secret documents of Cheongil Heavy Industries and Cheongil Oil Refining.”

“…!”

“We should hurry before Chairman Han Cheong-ho barges in.”

“…!”

Taesu’s real purpose for coming to this president’s office was this.

“Since this is a heavy equipment company, let’s carry the entire cabinets and empty the filing cabinets, load them onto trucks, and go. Let’s move them right away. It’s a simple task, so I’ll give you 20 minutes.”

“2, 20 minutes?”

“What are you doing? There’s no time. You have to find the secret ledgers, move the documents, and have the trucks ready in advance.”

Taesu urged them familiarly.

“Do you have time to dawdle here? Run. Broadcast from the broadcasting room, call your subordinates, handle it yourselves. Are you going to move only after counting every second?”

The time limit is only 20 minutes.

The two executive directors became anxious.

“Where are we moving them to?”

“Myeongdong.”

He plans to pile up mountains of documents at Jang Mal-dong’s house.

‘Information dealer Jang Mal-dong is perfect for this job.’

Perhaps Jang Mal-dong would be thrilled to jump in.

* * *

Brrr.

The truck carrying Cheongil’s secret documents departed for Jang Mal-dong’s house in Myeongdong.

Because there was no time, they carried entire cabinets and desk drawers.

“We barely finished it in time.”

“The first mission is to transport documents. It’s absurd.”

“What’s absurd?”

Taesu intervened between them.

“There’s no time to be playing around like this. If you’ve moved all the documents, now go and get the employment contracts from the employees.”

“Yes?”

He doesn’t give them a break.

The truck just left.

The dust hasn’t even settled yet.

“Let’s finish the employment contracts for all employees of Taeyang Heavy Industries and Taeyang Oil Refining today.”

“Today?”

“All employees?”

How many employees are there!

We haven’t even prepared the contracts yet!

“Th, that’s…”

“You can do it. Go and get the signatures right away.”

“Give us a little more time…”

Taesu glances at his watch.

“I’ll give you one hour for this.”

“Yes? One hour? Is that even possible?”

“Do you think it’s not possible?”

“…”

Taesu just said you could do it.

“Aren’t they your subordinate employees who will be your hands and feet? Chairman Han Cheong-ho will be barging in soon. Are you going to just stand by and let your subordinate employees be taken away?”

“But how many employees are there? That’s too…”

Taesu said firmly.

“Do as you please. I won’t stop you from picking and choosing only a few to take with you.”

“Then we’ll choose appropriately…”

“As I said before, we plan to expand our business. Personnel expansion plan? There won’t be one for the time being.”

“…”

“If you don’t have enough subordinates, the workload of the two executive directors will increase. Who can you blame if you can’t take care of your subordinate employees? Work hard now or work hard later. It’s up to you.”

“…!”

Their heads spin as they anticipate what’s to come.

The two executive directors’ mouths are parched.

“We will take all the employees to Taeyang. However, the time is too short…”

“If the time is short, you have to use your brains. Or use your bodies. There’s no time to dawdle. What’s the point of having an in-house broadcast? What’s the point of having a multi-level organizational system? Don’t you know how to use your subordinates? Are you still here? Run.”

The two hurriedly burst out of the office door and run to the broadcasting room.

The two realized that the new president was a tough type who demanded a tremendous amount of work.

* * *

The Cheongil Heavy Industries building is visible over there.

Han Cheong-ho felt suffocated and loosened his tie.

“To think we would have to bear the deficit. Meeting with the bankers is also tiring.”

The loan ban that had been tied to Cheongil Oil Refining was lifted.

This was because it was a means by which Park Jeong-hwan had intended to pressure Han Cheong-ho.

“Those shameless and spineless bastards. They tremble at the President’s every word, changing their minds back and forth. I can’t trust them, tsk.”

That was because they were being swept away like fallen leaves by Park Jeong-hwan’s gestures.

Park, the secretary sitting in the passenger seat, said.

“Still, it’s fortunate. The government has decided to pay a generous advance on the construction costs. The bankers have guaranteed the payment.”

It was thanks to snatching the Charlotte Hotel construction in Euljiro.

Not only that.

“They also provided loan support for the construction site and part of the construction funds for the soccer stadium, so we were able to put out the urgent fire.”

“That’s a relief. Thanks to that, we prevented the Cheongil Group from going bankrupt.”

“If things go well, we may be able to stop the situation with restructuring instead of selling off the affiliates.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do. That’s why I’m running around like this.”

That was why Han Cheong-ho had urgently met with the bankers.

Thanks to that, his arrival at Cheongil Heavy Industries was delayed.

“Has the news reached Lee Chang-won?”

“Perhaps he doesn’t know? Thanks to the Chairman blocking it in advance, the newspapers and broadcasts are still quiet. I also didn’t contact him separately.”

Han Cheong-ho closed his eyes.

“It’s become difficult. In many ways.”

It’s all because of that bastard Kang Taesu.

If only that photo and that film hadn’t existed!

If that were the case, things wouldn’t have come to this point.

‘How did Kang Taesu contact my driver? When? How did he bribe him?’

That was the part he couldn’t understand.

‘To think the light was so dark under my own nose [idiom for being unaware of something happening right in front of you].’

Han Cheong-ho clenched his fist tightly.

A trusted aide who faced him every day had betrayed him.

But the problem was that he hadn’t even sensed the slightest sign of betrayal.

‘I guess my senses have become dull because I’m living comfortably.’

That’s why he’s suffering such a painful experience at the hands of that young punk.

‘Kang Taesu has a secret in his hands. So if I rashly touch that bastard, Cheongil will be shattered instead. It’s a frustrating situation in many ways. How can I screw him over?’

Squeak.

He arrived in front of the Cheongil Heavy Industries building.

Han Cheong-ho got out of the car.

Hurriedly.

Dada da dat.

The reaction is strange.

Even though the chairman has appeared, they don’t run out to greet him, and everyone is running around frantically.

“Is the list of clients still not ready?”

“Is the quantity check finished?”

“Report! No time to proofread typos! Run!”

He was so bewildered by the completely different appearance from usual.

“These guys, what’s with the atmosphere?”

“W, well. Perhaps the unrest that started with the Cheongil Oil Refining employees has spread to the heavy equipment employees?”

“They don’t even have any work to do, but they’re pretending to be busy. Why are they making such a fuss?”

He hurriedly took out the Cheongil Oil Refining employees and moved them to the nearest Cheongil Heavy Industries building.

Since the personnel transfer was not done properly, they probably haven’t even been assigned offices or desks.

So it’s understandable that the employees are flustered.

“We need to fix this quickly. We need to finalize the large-scale personnel transfer soon.”

There will probably be a bloodbath.

Restructuring is unavoidable.

Most of the people gathered here will be cut off.

Han Cheong-ho moved his steps.

“The presidents are supposed to step up and fix the employees’ unrest. These useless things.”

Han Cheong-ho headed to the Cheongil Heavy Industries president’s office, not hiding his displeasure.

* * *

Han Cheong-ho, who opened the president’s office door, frowned.

“Kang Taesu, why are you here…!”

It was Taesu who was occupying the president’s office desk.

He’s even working.

“I think you have dementia. You should visit a hospital. How long has it been since you signed the merger and acquisition agreement that you’ve already forgotten?”

“Oh, so now it’s your company?”

“If you know, that’s enough.”

Han Cheong-ho clenched his fist tightly.

“You’re much later than I expected. The roads weren’t even that congested.”

“Kang Taesu!”

“We have a guest, should I bring you a cup of tea? We don’t have corn tea here, but we do have coffee.”

When Han Cheong-ho came to the molybdenum mine before, Taesu had given him corn tea.

When Han Cheong-ho asked for tea, Taesu had allowed him a 5-minute private meeting.

‘That damn guy!’

Han Cheong-ho gritted his teeth.