My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 51

The Protagonist’s Job is a Profiler—Episode 51 (51/725)

# Humans Are All the Same

While Hong Woo-jong was getting his ass kicked by Jeon Gu-wan, Park Do-joon was in Chairman Bae Deok-gi’s office, having been summoned.

“You said you wanted to ask me something?”

“Yes, you mentioned last time that profiling is used in business overseas.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Could you tell me more about that in detail?”

Park Do-joon grinned. This was exactly what he’d been hoping for.

“It’s a matter of direction.”

“Direction?”

“Yes, for example, if I were to analyze you, Chairman Bae Deok-gi.”

Bae Deok-gi’s interest piqued. He was curious to hear Park Do-joon’s assessment.

“First of all, Chairman Bae Deok-gi is quite aggressive and open to new ideas. You make an effort to quickly understand the latest trends.”

“And?”

“And you’re the type to firmly support those you trust.”

“Is that so? But aren’t those well-known facts? Most people probably know my tendencies.”

“I’m not finished yet. If that were all there was to it, there’d be no reason for me to study this.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Up until this point, Bae Deok-gi was merely intrigued, wondering how Park Do-joon perceived him. But from the next moment, his face began to stiffen.

“Chairman Bae Deok-gi has those tendencies, but there must have been someone who acted as a brake, someone to temper those impulses. The age… probably between 40 and 50, someone with a lot of social experience and a quiet demeanor. You would have trusted that person completely. But about five years ago, that trusted person probably died. And that person would have been very important to you in business. Probably… the chief of staff. After that incident, problems began to surface throughout the group. Perhaps what you really want is to find a new chief of staff.”

“Did you investigate me behind my back?”

Bae Deok-gi’s tone was sharp. He couldn’t tolerate being investigated without his knowledge, even by the son of a close friend.

“No, this is just my profiling.”

“This is profiling?”

“Yes.”

“Can you explain your reasoning?”

“I can infer your business style by looking at the businesses you’ve pursued.”

Unlike other companies, Bae Deok-gi and Hyunsung Group are quick to identify and capitalize on the latest trends. Hyunsung Group was among the first major corporations to venture into gaming, and they’re also quickly adjusting their strategy after recognizing the limitations of the Korean game market.

This proactive atmosphere permeates Hyunsung Group, fostering a challenging, progressive, and youthful image.

Of course, the PR team plays a role, but the underlying business direction is what truly matters. The PR team can promote a young image, but they can’t drive trend-setting businesses.

“As for the loyalty issue, you can see it just by looking at my father. Frankly, besides the fact that my father was a childhood friend of yours from elementary school, there’s not much else, is there?”

Since they live in completely different worlds, there’s little Park Do-joon’s father can do to directly help Bae Deok-gi. Yet, he’s been with him his whole life, supporting the company.

“Hmm, was that it? But the death incident five years ago… that’s not widely known.”

“I sensed that the business had been faltering since then.”

“Faltering?”

“It’s not that it’s going bankrupt. What should I say… it felt like the hardware and software weren’t compatible.”

To put it simply, it’s like having the latest computer but running an outdated operating system like DOS [Disk Operating System, an early PC operating system].

“It’s like trying to run the latest game programs on a cutting-edge computer with a DOS system.”

“That’s a bit complicated.”

“Simply put… things that used to run smoothly suddenly stagnated, and the flow became erratic. That suggests that the person who was keeping things running smoothly disappeared.”

No matter how much you try to fix it, problems are bound to arise since modern games aren’t compatible with DOS in the first place.

“But when I investigated, these problems seemed to affect the entire group. So it’s not a problem with a specific affiliate… and there are no obvious flaws in the businesses you choose. That points to a problem with the people in charge of operations. But among those people, there are very few who could influence the entire group.”

“So you concluded that the chief of staff had changed?”

“Isn’t the chief of staff more than just someone who attends to the chairman?”

The chief of staff acts as the chairman’s hands and feet within the group. If they don’t function properly, the entire group will suffer.

“Perhaps the former chief of staff also acted as a brake for you, reining in your more impulsive decisions.”

But now that he’s gone, the company is in disarray. The chairman tells them to pursue challenging businesses, but those below lack the ability to execute them. Since the higher-ups can’t effectively manage the situation, the older executives either rely on past experiences or try to emulate the style of the former chief of staff, but even then, the results are not the same.

‘I didn’t realize this before the regression, though.’

Before his regression [reincarnation or time travel], Hyunsung was the enemy that ruined his business. He had no reason to analyze them.

But it’s different now. He’s seeing and hearing things firsthand, giving him access to a wealth of information.

‘Did Hyunsung’s downfall begin with the death of one person?’

It’s possible. It’s not uncommon for a group to falter after the death of a key figure who supported the organization.

“So I deduced that the person who was acting as a lubricant in the middle was gone. There’s no reason for you to dismiss such a person. Then the only remaining possibility is death.”

“Hoo…”

At those words, Chairman Bae Deok-gi sighed deeply and leaned back on the sofa. After a moment of reflection, he spoke with difficulty.

“There are only three people in this world who can curse at me.”

“Three people?”

“Yes. No… it would be more accurate to say ‘were’.”

“Who are they?”

“Your father, my former chief of staff, and a friend I haven’t told you about.”

“Hmm…”

In Korea, close friends often express their affection through playful insults. But to curse at the chairman of Hyunsung Group, of all people? That wouldn’t be easy, even for childhood friends.

“As you said, the chief of staff was an important person in business. He would stop me when I tried to do unreasonable things, smoothly connect things when I started something new, and explain young people’s trends so that I could easily understand them…”

So the former chief of staff was like a lubricant within the group, facilitating smooth operations.

“But why did he die?”

“It was cancer. By the time we found out, it was too late to do anything.”

And after he died, everything started to falter. The directors’ nonsensical decisions also began to increase around that time.

‘A typical staff type.’

A person who manages the details under the leader’s direction.

People often praise leader types and encourage others to become leaders, but that’s a biased view based on the nature of power. Even if the leader shouts loudly, it’s useless if no one follows through. In fact, without proper coordination and control, those behind the leader might even plot against them.

It’s no coincidence that the non-commissioned officer in the military is called the mother of the military [a term of respect for their crucial role]. If officers treated soldiers like expendable slaves, as some Korean officers do, there would likely be numerous incidents of officers being targeted by their own troops.

“Isn’t Chief of Staff Choi currently in that role?”

“He had a checkup a while ago… and they said it was cancer.”

Park Do-joon frowned.

“Ah, don’t worry. They say it’s very early. But since it’s cancer, I’m thinking of moving him to a less stressful position where he can rest.”

“That’s a relief.”

It’s well-known that stress can significantly impact cancer. Park Do-joon almost died of lung cancer before his regression, though he was murdered first.

Of course, cigarettes contributed, but the problem is that it’s impossible to be a profiler without stress.

“Anyway, the reason I called you is to ask if it’s possible to apply that profiling to business.”

“It’s possible. Of course, I’d need to continuously observe the other person’s actions.”

“So… you just need to be provided with continuous information?”

“Yes, but such actions are illegal.”

“Illegal? Do you think I would care about that?”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Park Do-joon isn’t foolish enough to do this without compensation. But police officers are prohibited from holding concurrent positions.

Of course, he could simply abide by that rule.

‘That would be a stupid thing to do.’

In an era where people openly accept bribes and even demand them, where prosecutors and judges mock those who don’t take bribes as naive, there’s no need to be bound by the police’s regulations.

‘I’ll just get fired, so what.’

Before the regression, he stayed in the police force because he wanted to succeed as a profiler and learn more, but now there’s no reason to.

“If you provide adequate compensation, I can help you.”

“I’m glad I can talk to you frankly, as expected.”

Bae Deok-gi smiled. Just then, the intercom rang, and an announcement came from outside.

“Chairman, Chief of Staff Choi has arrived.”

“Oh, really? Tell him to come in.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Shortly after, Chief of Staff Choi entered and bowed to Bae Deok-gi.

“Chairman, how have you been?”

“Why are you coming to work? I told you to go straight to the hospital.”

“I still need to hand over my work. This is Chief Kang Do-wook, who will be taking over after me.”

“Oh, is this the first time you’re meeting him?”

“Hello, I’m Kang Do-wook. Nice to meet you, Chairman.”

Park Do-joon frowned as he looked at Kang Do-wook.

“Ah, is it alright to have a guest?”

“Yes, you probably know him too, Detective Park Do-joon. Chief Kang, he’s the son of an acquaintance.”

“Hello, I’m Kang Do-wook.”

“Yes, hello.”

Park Do-joon searched his memory as he looked at Kang Do-wook.

‘I feel like I remember… I remember… I remember…’

He’s not a criminal. If he were a criminal, he wouldn’t remember at all.

But this person isn’t a criminal; he just feels vaguely familiar.

‘He’s a young person. The fact that I remember him means I saw him in the future, so I should picture him older.’

In his mind, he added a white wig and imagined him with the typical physique of someone his age.

‘Oh? President Kang Do-wook?’

Park Do-joon faintly recalled Kang Do-wook.

President Kang Do-wook, the president of Jindo Group, another major Korean conglomerate. He was also the president of Jindo Energy, considered the group’s core business.

The Protagonist’s Job is a Profiler