Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 569

“6,000.”

“6,000?”

Department Head Park Sun-woo couldn’t help but be surprised at Hyun-sung’s figure of ‘6,000.’ His own estimated price was 2,000. This was three times that amount.

Of course, it was true that he had quoted a low price, but it wasn’t as if the goods were worth 6,000.

A normal estimate would be around 4,000.

But Hyun-sung called for 6,000.

In the end, there was a difference of 20 million won [approximately $15,000 USD, depending on the exchange rate].

What could this difference in amount be?

‘Is it a misjudgment due to lack of experience?’

What briefly came to Department Head Park Sun-woo’s mind was his lack of experience.

It had only been a little over five months since he started in the video business.

But his actions were too natural to simply attribute it to a lack of experience.

‘I should check first…’

After a moment of contemplation, Department Head Park Sun-woo was curious about the criteria for judgment as to why such an amount came out. Even if he didn’t have much experience, he would have a reasonable basis for judgment when calling for that amount.

“The difference from what I thought is too great. Can you explain why there is such a large difference in amount?”

“Yes, I will. Perhaps a normal dealer would call for 4,000 for this kind of item.”

“4,000?”

Department Head Park Sun-woo tilted his head. As Hyun-sung said, a normal estimate would be 4,000. But he added 2,000 to that amount and called for 6,000.

When he first heard the story of 6,000, he thought it was a misjudgment due to lack of experience.

But that wasn’t it. He already knew the normal estimated price. The fact that he added 2,000 to it meant that there was a special reason.

As Department Head Park Sun-woo, he couldn’t help but ask the reason.

“Then what is the reason for adding that 2,000?”

“Because I’m not a dealer.”

“Not a dealer?”

“Yes, as the department head knows better, it is right for a dealer to call for 4,000 when taking this item. But in the case of a founder who ultimately purchases this item, they will have to pay about 6,000 for this kind of item. Isn’t that so?”

“Let’s say that’s the case, so what?”

Department Head Park Sun-woo looked at Hyun-sung with interest. Anyway, what was important was that he was curious about the reason for the difference of 2,000.

Hyun-sung’s answer followed immediately.

“The difference between 6,000 and 4,000, 2,000, is naturally the dealer’s share, right? Am I wrong?”

“Dealers have to make a living, so they can take that much, so what?”

“Didn’t I already say that I’m not a dealer?”

“Does that mean that CEO Kim is not a dealer, so he won’t take that share in the middle?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m not going to take that 2,000. Instead, I’m going to give all that money to CEO Yoo.”

Of course, he didn’t really have any intention of handling Yoo Seung-il’s goods from the beginning.

But somehow, he ended up treating his illness, and in the process, he received a request from him to help.

However, it wasn’t just for that reason that he decided to help him.

More than anything, there was his reflection [introspection and change of heart].

The purpose of first entering this neighborhood, that is, the thought of killing all the other rental stores and living alone, had changed.

At first, he thought it was natural.

But he said that he realized it was wrong while in the hospital.

He said that when he was discharged from the hospital, he would apologize to the other rental store owners first.

In the end, he would apologize along with his reflection.

The moment he heard that, he thought that if he was going to help, he would help properly.

“So, CEO Kim is saying that he’s not a dealer, so he won’t eat the middle margin?”

“In other words, that’s right.”

“May I ask why?”

“The reason is simple. I’m not a dealer. And I’m just satisfied with helping CEO Yoo.”

“Does that mean that money is not the purpose, like other dealers?”

“If you have to ask, that’s right.”

“I see…”

Department Head Park Sun-woo had no choice but to admit it.

Anyway, he has money left over. His net profit is over 200 billion won a year. In that situation, he wouldn’t do this kind of thing just because of money.

But the question still remains.

In a way, he and Yoo Seung-il were like enemies.

How did the two of them suddenly become helping each other like this?

“I have a question.”

“To me?”

“Yes, in a way, you and CEO Yoo have been like enemies, but for what reason did you suddenly help each other like this?”

“Um… that’s a secret.”

Hyun-sung thought for a moment, but he didn’t feel the need to explain the reason. So the word he chose was ‘secret.’ Anyway, there was no need to explain to them that Yoo Seung-il had apologized.

They are not people worth it.

“Good, I don’t need to know that, so I won’t ask any more questions. But I can’t help but say this. The fact that what you are doing now is shaking the order of the video industry.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“As CEO Kim said a little while ago, not eating the middle margin is an act of shaking the order of the industry. Because he raised the estimated price that much.”

“……”

Smirk.

Instead of answering, Hyun-sung just smiled slightly as if he was dumbfounded. He did it on purpose so that Department Head Park Sun-woo could see it.

It was a kind of provocation.

Was it effective? Department Head Park Sun-woo asked immediately.

“What is the meaning of that smile?”

“Did you say order just now?”

“Yes, you haven’t been in this industry for long, so you don’t know well, but there is an order in this field. Especially in used transactions.”

“Is Movie Heart daring to talk about the order of the video industry?”

“What, daring?”

Department Head Park Sun-woo’s expression momentarily distorted. Perhaps it was because of the word ‘daring’ that Hyun-sung said.

Why wouldn’t it be? Such words came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth, who had only started in the video business for less than 6 months.

But Hyun-sung had no reason not to be confident. Anyway, he thought that Movie Heart was the one who broke the order of this industry.

Hyun-sung used the same word one more time.

“Yes, daring.”

“Oh, isn’t that too harsh?”

“That’s what I want to say. No, how can Movie Heart, of all people, talk about the order of this field?”

“What’s wrong with Movie Heart?”

“Speaking of which, who are the people who broke the order of this video industry? Isn’t it the Movie Heart chain store?”

Hyun-sung’s voice grew louder. That’s because, from some point on, when it came to Movie Heart, the word ‘dumping’ came to mind first, and they were the ones who muddied the waters of this field.

But Department Head Park Sun-woo didn’t seem to think so.

“What order did Movie Heart break?”

“Don’t you really know?”

“What did we do?”

“I’m really dumbfounded. The person who broke the order of the video industry, of all people, doesn’t know.”

“Me?”

Department Head Park Sun-woo pointed at himself and asked. But his expression was absurd as if he really didn’t know.

Hyun-sung’s answer followed.

“There’s one more person besides the department head.”

“One more person? Who is it?”

“Who else would it be, it’s Chairman Min who created Movie Heart.”

“Our chairman?”

“Yes, that’s right. Chairman Min and the department head, the two of you are the main culprits who broke the order of the video industry.”

Department Head Park Sun-woo had an expression that he couldn’t understand at all. He asked again.

“What order did we break?”

“Rental fee, don’t you know what I’m talking about even now?”

“Rental fee?”

“Yes, what is the first thing Movie Heart does when it comes in nationwide? Isn’t it dumping [selling products at a loss to gain market share]? Am I wrong?”

That was the truth. The first thing they did when they entered the existing commercial district was dumping.

Of course, they might argue that they had no choice but to do so in order to survive, but whatever the reason, they were the ones who broke the order of the industry.

“That’s…”

Department Head Park Sun-woo had nothing special to say. Whatever the reason, that was the truth in terms of results. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to penetrate the existing commercial district.

“Are you admitting it because you can’t speak properly?”

“Rather than admitting it, at first, I had no choice…”

“Are you talking about an opening event?”

“That’s right, that’s it. Every business does an opening event at the beginning.”

“Are you kidding me now?”

Hyun-sung’s voice grew louder again. That’s because what Department Head Park Sun-woo said was 100% a lie.

In the case of an opening event, it is common to set a period and do it. And if possible, make it short. But Movie Heart was different.

The period was not fixed. Somewhere it was 3 months, somewhere it was 6 months, like that.

Hyun-sung also suffered for 6 months in his previous life.

If there was a principle, it was that it would continue until a certain amount of sales was reached.

As a result, by the time the event period ended, the rental stores around them had already been hit hard.

That was Movie Heart’s survival strategy.

Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“What kind of opening event lasts for 6 months?”

“That’s…”

“Why can’t you speak properly? Do you think it was too much even for yourself? Or do you feel a pang of conscience even now?”

“Hmm…”

Department Head Park Sun-woo had nothing to say.

In fact, the word opening event was an excuse. They didn’t set a certain period and do the event, but they did the event until the surrounding stores were hit to some extent.

“Do you know that when one Movie Heart comes in, 3 or 4 existing stores basically go out of business?”

“……”

“Do you know that the people who go out of business are also the heads of a household?”

“……”

Department Head Park Sun-woo was still silent. Then Hyun-sung continued to speak again.

“Movie Heart may argue that they have no choice but to live, but do you know that Movie Heart is a grim reaper to existing rental stores?”

“Hmm…”

“Now, answer me. Are you still going to say that I muddied the waters even now?”

“… Whatever the reason, isn’t it true that you muddied the waters? To other used dealers, I mean.”

Smirk.

This time, Hyun-sung laughed even louder than before. He opened his mouth again.

“Did you say used dealers just now?”

“Yes, there are many used dealers all over the country, so that’s what I mean.”

“Okay, then let me ask you one thing. Can general used dealers get Movie Heart’s closed items?”

“Huh? That’s…”

Department Head Park Sun-woo had nothing to say this time either. The reason is that, although it is not a principle, in reality, general dealers rarely get Movie Heart’s closed items.

“You can’t speak again, so let me ask you one more thing.”

“……”

“You said a little while ago that I raised the estimated price, so is it okay to lower the estimated price in the opposite way?”

“Of course, from the dealers’ point of view, it’s good to lower it even by one penny…”

“You mean it’s good from the dealer’s point of view, so what about from the point of view of the closing store owner?”

“It would be the opposite.”

“Yes, you said it well. The higher the closing estimate, the worse it is for the dealer, but on the contrary, the better it is for the closing store owner. Now, which one would you choose, Department Head?”

Hyun-sung looked at Department Head Park Sun-woo with an interesting expression. But Department Head Park Sun-woo couldn’t choose either side and closed his mouth.

Then Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“Why can’t you choose? According to the logic a little while ago, shouldn’t the department head naturally represent the dealer’s side?”

“That’s a bit…”

“Why, do you feel a pang of conscience even now?”

“So?”

Hyun-sung was just dumbfounded. He thought that another excuse would come out, but ‘so’? Hyun-sung’s gaze turned to Department Head Park Sun-woo.

But Department Head Park Sun-woo was smiling.

“Huh? Are you smiling now?”

“I can’t cry, can I? Honestly, I’m surprised.”

“What are you talking about?”

“CEO Kim’s ability, I mean. But how do you know so much about Movie Heart? Anyone who sees it would think you wrote a thesis.”

Of course, he couldn’t not know. He suffered from Movie Heart in his previous life. But what was strange was his expression.

At this point, he thought he would be eating a dog turd [being humiliated or forced to back down], but that was not the case at all.

It was natural to be curious about the reason.

“It’s strange.”

“What is?”

“In my expectation, if I heard this much, I would say something because I was unpleasant, but on the contrary, I’m too calm.”

“Are you curious about that?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Because I gave up.”

“Give up?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head at the word ‘give up.’ Even if he thought about it briefly, he couldn’t understand what it meant.

At that time, Department Head Park Sun-woo’s words followed immediately.

“I’m going to take my hands off.”

“Take your hands off?”

“Yes, I’m going to take my hands off this item. So CEO Kim can do whatever he wants with this item, whether he receives 6,000 or 100 million.”

“So you’re saying you feel comfortable?”

“I was trying to get this item somehow, but it seems like I can’t play the game, so I gave up cleanly. So I can accept whatever CEO Kim says generously. Then, I’ll be on my way…”

Department Head Park Sun-woo turned around as if he had no regrets after finishing those words.

‘This guy, look at him?’

Hyun-sung was just dumbfounded. But he didn’t want to let him go so easily.

“Wait a minute!”

Hyun-sung called out to Department Head Park Sun-woo, who was about to open the door and leave.