My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 111

And if they die, they’re eliminated, and if they survive, they get closer to the prize money.

After all, there’s still a huge amount of undeveloped land left in America.

Of course, there should be armed security personnel for safety, but the rest have to live as if they were in the real Wild West era.

They have to find water, brew alcohol, and discover gold mines on their own.

“And I think the broadcasting station will be interested in that.”

People living the Wild West era on their own, and the conflicts and duels that arise.

“America has a relatively short history, which only stimulates their nostalgia for the past even more. Isn’t the spirit of pioneering a core part of the American identity?”

A situation where you can truly feel that spirit.

“Maybe that alone will properly promote the game.”

“Interesting. Interesting. Haha!”

Certainly, a concept like that is inherently interesting. Moreover, if a broadcasting station is interested, the necessary costs can be shared, meaning there’s no downside for us.

“No matter how much you brag about making a good game online, the claim that an Eastern company doesn’t understand the spirit of pioneering won’t just disappear.”

But if you’ve lived that life yourself, most of the internet critics won’t find it so easy to make that claim. Because they haven’t lived it, but these producers have.

“Okay. I’ll pass on the story. By the way, is it really okay to give work to New Moon?”

“Yes, give it to them. They can’t handle the work anyway.”

Park Do-joon smiled.

# Success and Failure are a Hair’s Breadth Apart

“What’s going on?”

Im Beom-soo was overjoyed when he received an urgent call from the company and rushed to work. He was thrilled because they had been entrusted with a huge amount of work from the Hyunseong Group.

“This is more than three times the amount we usually handle.”

“Start the factory immediately!” Im Beom-soo raised his voice at the factory manager’s words. More work naturally meant more money during negotiations.

However, the factory manager spoke again.

“President, this is three times the work we *usually* do.”

“So?”

“It’s not just ‘so,’ but we can’t handle this, no matter what.”

They simply couldn’t do it.

The company wasn’t running smoothly even in normal times. Because it was the former director’s company, enough work came in, making overtime common.

Of course, no matter how hard you try, there’s a limit to how much you can increase production.

But how could they suddenly cover three times the amount?

“We don’t have enough people, and even if we run the machines at full capacity, we can’t produce this.”

“Ah, shut up. Just do it. Run it in three shifts, 24 hours a day.”

“There aren’t enough people.”

“Hire day laborers and run it.”

The factory manager felt like swearing at Im Beom-soo’s outburst.

‘Crazy bastard.’

He hadn’t realized Im Beom-soo would be so reckless, even if he didn’t understand the basics of this industry.

“I think we can ask for twice as much under these conditions?”

The factory manager bit his lip and left, leaving Im Beom-soo smiling happily. The employees immediately surrounded the factory manager.

“Factory manager, what did the president say?”

“He said to run it no matter what.”

“Yes? No, how can we do that? We absolutely can’t do this.”

“He’s telling us to do it.”

“Factory manager, we’re not machines, and that doesn’t make sense!”

“Even if we run it 24 hours a day, the machine output won’t be enough, so what nonsense are you talking about?”

The employees were speechless, completely dumbfounded. The factory manager also agreed with them.

“Still, if it goes well, maybe he won’t sell the company.”

Someone’s words sparked a flicker of hope in some. If the company did well, there would be no reason to sell it.

“No, he’ll sell it.”

But the factory manager shook his head weakly.

“Yes?”

“He’s only thinking about getting a high price.”

“No, why? The factory is doing well, isn’t it?”

“This bastard works at Wangsang Construction.”

The former president was a director at Hyunseong, so he didn’t need to be servile when getting work from them. He had his own solid connections.

“But this guy doesn’t.”

He works at Wangsang Construction and has no connections with Hyunseong Group.

Naturally, in such cases, you have to be servile to get work.

“But this guy is the head of the strategic management office at Wangsang Construction.”

He’s a key figure in the company. As such, he’s in a position to *receive* all kinds of hospitality, not to provide it.

“Do you want to fall to the bottom in an instant?”

“…….”

Such reversals happen often. Suddenly, your status changes in an instant. Did Im Beom-soo really intend to risk that?

In fact, it’s quite common for people to be fired from the prime contractor [main construction company] and then go to work for the subcontractor [company hired by the main contractor]. There were even cases where they were mistreated by the subcontractor and quit, only to get a job as an experienced worker at the prime contractor, suddenly reversing the positions of client and contractor.

“And we can’t figure out why the work suddenly poured in like this.”

“Is that so?”

“So, he’ll probably sell it.”

At those words, the employees bit their lips. Their livelihoods were uncertain, but the president was happy that the amount of work had increased, allowing him to sell the company at a high price.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

“That’s right, after all the hard work we’ve put in.”

The employees spoke as if they had been wronged. The factory manager, listening to their complaints, finally spoke up.

“Hey, let’s go on strike.”

At that moment, the room fell silent.

“Why aren’t you talking?”

“Factory manager, did you just say let’s go on strike?”

“Yeah. What’s so bad about not being able to do it?”

“No, a strike is, well…….”

The employees looked bewildered. The factory manager was, after all, a manager, part of the management. Knowing his position, the factory manager said coldly.

“Hey, you and I both live on borrowed time. We’re in the same boat when it comes to getting fired. How am I supposed to get a job as a factory manager at my age?”

“That’s true, but…….”

“It’s crazy. He’s taking from us and only filling his own pockets.”

“So, are you saying we should go on strike while demanding employment succession [guarantee that current employees will keep their jobs after the company is sold]?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“Hmm…….”

“Other companies do it all the time, so why can’t we?”

“That’s true.”

Strikes demanding employment succession happen frequently, as you often see on the news.

“I can’t go down alone because this is so frustrating. Let’s go on strike.”

Until recently, there was so little work that they were just trying to avoid getting noticed, let alone go on strike. But now there was so much work that they couldn’t handle it even if they worked in three shifts.

Of course, a strike would have a big impact.

“Either way, we’re going to suffer, one way or another.”

“That’s right.”

Everyone nodded at the factory manager’s words.

***

-Do-joon! Do-joon! I heard New Moon Industrial went on strike?

“Yeah. I thought they would.”

-What?

“I set a trap for them to go on strike, what else would it be?”

Park Do-shik received an urgent call from Park Do-joon, who was relaxing in his studio apartment. Park Do-shik was shocked to hear the news of New Moon Industrial’s strike.

-How did this happen?

“Large companies use people in the right places. Remember that?”

-I remember. What does that have to do with this?

“If you were the boss, would you use someone who is sentimental and has a soft heart when it comes to laying off employees? Or would you use someone who has no blood or tears and treats his subordinates like dirt?”

-That’s…… uh, the latter, right?

“That’s right. So I gave the workers a weapon.”

-Huh? Is that the work?

“That’s right.”

Park Do-joon’s plan was simple. First, demand dismissal. Once the dismissal is confirmed, then give them work.

“Then the employees will naturally go on strike to protect their livelihoods.”

-Huh, crazy? You were aiming for that?

“That’s right.”

-Im Beom-soo is going to have his head smashed.

“I guess so. The bigger problem is what happens next.”

-What happens next?

“They can never keep the contract.”

-You mean they won’t sell to us?

“No, I mean they can’t deliver to Hyunseong. Then what will happen?”

-Ah!

Good faith and sincerity are very important in business. The reason why companies sometimes try to keep their promises even at the cost of losses is simple.

No company in the world will do business with a company that cannot keep its promises.

“The result is the same: Hyunseong doesn’t receive the goods, but the *reason* is completely different.”

The result is the same: Hyunseong does not receive the goods, but the starting point is completely different.

“And in such cases, the value of the company also begins to plummet.”

Park Do-joon smiled.

“And I’m preparing something even bigger.”

“What is it?”

“Wait and see. I’m meeting someone today. Hehehe.”

***

“So you want me to criticize New Moon Industrial?”

Reporter Kim Geun-chan asked, tilting his head.

“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing to criticize.”

“Currently, New Moon Industrial is on strike.”

“That’s why it’s not a problem. I’m sorry, but this kind of thing is so common.”

A strike demanding employment succession is almost inevitable when a company is being sold. Of course, it would be news if it were a big company, but New Moon Industrial isn’t that big.

“Of course, I know. But wouldn’t it be news if it were the *other* way around?”

Park Do-joon smiled and handed over a copy of the contract.

“What is this?”

“It’s part of the contract.”

“Why this?”

“Take a look.”

At Park Do-joon’s words, Kim Geun-chan took it and began to read it. Then he had a strange expression.

“Employment succession is guaranteed?”

“Yes, we promised employment succession.”

“No, but why is a company that guarantees employment succession on strike?”

Kim Geun-chan asked back, as if he didn’t understand. In this case, there’s no reason to go on strike, is there?

“They asked for it.”

“Asked?”

“Yes, instead of giving up employment succession, they asked me for more money.”

“Crazy?”

At those words, Kim Geun-chan’s eyes widened. In most cases, the party *selling* the company demands employment succession.

In fact, that is generally in line with business ethics. Cases where employment succession is not guaranteed occur because the *other* party refuses the condition, not because the selling party refuses employment succession.

“Is this the first time you’ve seen this?”

“So this is…… it’s the first time.”

It’s an absurd condition. They demanded more money because they were planning to cut everyone off.

“From our point of view, there’s no reason to cut off skilled workers, is there?”

“That’s true.”

It’s not exactly a secret that Haneul Industrial is being pushed by the Hyunseong Group. I can’t know all the detailed circumstances, but what is certain is that Haneul Industrial is growing rapidly with the support of the Hyunseong Group.

Naturally, skilled workers who can do the work are needed, not unnecessary ones.

“Besides, that person is said to be a key figure in the Wangsang Construction layoffs.”

“What did you say?”

At those words, Kim Geun-chan perked up his ears. Wangsang Construction is a hot topic right now. The company has been hit hard by poor construction, and it recently laid off thousands of people to make up for it.