We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 124

124

Restructuring (2)

I wasn’t a charity worker, though it might seem that way. My goal wasn’t just to help people.

If there’s an opportunity, I need to get rid of the old guard.

Lee Seul-ki whispered quietly.

“That man is Director Oh Se-gon. He’s the sales director and has the biggest network in the company.”

“What about his relationship with the Chunwoo Group?”

“He wasn’t on the list of those transferring.”

Then he had reason to be upset. His position was truly at risk.

“Then, I’ll be going. Please continue working as you have been until there’s a separate announcement.”

“Ugh.”

The expressions on their faces clearly showed their distress. They knew what was coming.

Still, it wasn’t as if they had no hope. Not yet.

If they really had abilities that matched their salary and their performance was sufficient, there was no need to get rid of them. I intended to keep those people. The truly valuable ones.

Department Head Lee Tae-jin was summoned to the Soo Trading headquarters.

Lee Tae-jin, who was in charge of the company’s intelligence department, was quite capable.

He was skilled in intelligence operations and gathering information, and he was producing results accordingly. A real asset.

“You were looking for me?”

“Welcome.”

Perhaps because he was from the military, he stood rigidly in front of me. Ramrod straight.

I almost told him to relax, but stopped myself. It wasn’t necessary.

He would have said that he was comfortable in that position. Discipline was ingrained in him.

“You’ve probably heard the story.”

“That you’re restructuring.”

“Here’s the list for the restructuring. I’ve excluded those going to the Soo Group. I’ve also excluded those below the department head level. In the end, we need to *jeongri* [streamline/clean up] the director-level personnel, but it doesn’t seem like they’ll step down easily.”

“Should I dig up their dirty laundry?”

“Please do.”

“Don’t worry. There isn’t anyone who doesn’t have some dirt if you dig deep enough. Especially when it comes to sales, they tend to receive various things [bribes, kickbacks].”

Lee Tae-jin nonchalantly hit the nail on the head. He understood the game.

Those in sales were especially prone to such behavior. I wondered if there was anyone who hadn’t taken a bribe at least once. It was practically an unspoken tradition.

Even though times had changed, bribes were still being exchanged secretly. A shadow economy.

Catching them on that would help with the purge. Expedite the process.

“Please investigate thoroughly.”

“Leave it to me!”

Lee Tae-jin left the office with a confident expression. He relished the task.

“That’s the kind of person you can call talented.” Efficient and effective.

“When you get to know him, Department Head Lee Tae-jin is really good at his job.” Lee Seul-ki added.

“There are people who are worth the money you give them, and there are people who make you feel like you’re being taken advantage of. Those who just try to blend in. I despise those people.” The leeches.

“What about me?”

“Secretary Lee? You’re too good for me.” You’re invaluable.

“Then how about raising my salary?”

Was she trying to negotiate her salary with me now? Bold move.

I grinned, showing my teeth. A playful challenge.

“If you let me deploy Cecil somewhere else, I’ll raise it right away.”

“No, thanks! Never mind.” She quickly retracted the offer.

“So you don’t like that either.”

“Just cut my salary instead.” Anything but that.

Even now, Cecil would be processing work at the company. Like a machine. A tireless worker.

Director Oh Se-gon was wearing a very troubled expression. He was sweating bullets.

Seeing Chairman Lee Yoo-sung’s actions today, he knew that he was definitely going to get rid of the high-salary earners. His days were numbered.

This wouldn’t do. He had to act.

“I’ll have to try some media play.” Leak some stories to the press.

“But Director, if things go wrong, it could backfire.” His subordinate warned.

“Then what else can I do? I have to try to survive.” Desperate times called for desperate measures.

“Hoo.”

“That vicious bastard has become CEO. He’s trying to get rid of the high-salary earners this time. Without any justification.” He grumbled.

“There is justification. People with poor performance are on the list, aren’t they?” His subordinate pointed out.

“What about your performance?” Oh Se-gon challenged.

“It’s average.”

“You’re a target then.”

“Keuk.”

Department Head Han Jae-cheol frowned deeply. He was in the same boat.

Originally, the sales rate of trading companies was high, so Department Head Han Jae-cheol, who said it was average, was just focused on politics and indifferent to company affairs. A classic case of coasting.

Lee Yoo-sung had declared that he would get rid of such people. He was making good on his promise.

If he didn’t act now, he would soon be targeted. He had to protect his position.

“I’ll meet with a reporter I know.” He decided.

“Hoo. Were there any other instructions from the chairman?” Oh Se-gon asked.

“He contacted the training center.”

“The training center?”

“It seems like they’re going to hire a large number of new recruits.”

Gritting his teeth! He was furious.

In fact, early retirement was not uncommon in large corporations. A harsh reality.

When the brains of their youth began to deteriorate and their salaries increased, they would be replaced. A constant cycle. But Chunwoo Trading had no such replacements. They’d become stagnant.

In the end, that was pointed out as the cause of *gyeongyeong* [management] failure. Their downfall.

And Chairman Lee Yoo-sung, who had newly taken the helm, was trying to get rid of all the directors and attempt a replacement. A complete overhaul.

But that wouldn’t be easy. They wouldn’t go down without a fight.

“If it continues like this, there’s no choice. It will damage the company, but… let’s move the navigators.” He instructed.

“I understand, Director.” His subordinate replied.

It seemed that President Lee Yoo-sung was not trying to get rid of the technical staff. He was trying to secure funds by getting rid of the director-level personnel. A strategic move.

Then the technical staff would move. They’d jump ship.

It was difficult to find technical staff. It was difficult to find navigators who sailed the high seas. They were a valuable asset.

If they moved, President Lee Yoo-sung would react. He’d be forced to.

Around lunchtime.

I was reviewing the overall *업무* [business operations] of the company when someone came to visit.

It was Ahn Cheol-hee, the head of Soo Trading, the founding member of Chunwoo Trading and the oldest member of the company. A veteran.

Ahn Cheol-hee oversaw all of the trading *업무* [tasks] and had refused a call from the Chunwoo Group, remaining with this company. He was loyal.

He had a special affection for the company and was a *노가신* [old loyalist]-like figure who had made remarkable contributions. A pillar of the company.

Of course, he was excluded from the restructuring *대상자* [targets] and was an indispensable person to this company. I couldn’t ignore Ahn Cheol-hee either. His opinion mattered.

“Chairman, have you had lunch?”

“I’m about to eat. Would you like to join me?”

“Hahaha. I would be grateful if you would.”

He had the impression of a neighborhood *할아버지* [grandfather] and was nearing retirement age. A kindly presence.

He was about five years away from retirement, but his eyes were full of energy. I wished I could work with him for another 10 years. His experience was invaluable.

‘Five years should be no problem for the company to settle down.’ I thought.

That was good timing. Perfect, really.

It seemed like he had come to have a meal together, so it would be very helpful to talk about the company as a whole while eating. A chance to get his perspective.

“Do you like Korean food?”

“There’s no Korean who doesn’t like Korean food.” He chuckled.

“Let’s go. Secretary Lee?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Make a reservation for three people, including Secretary Lee.”

“Okay.”

“There’s a place that’s good at *신선로* [royal hot pot].”

“I’ll pay. Let’s go.” Ahn Cheol-hee offered.

“I can’t let you do that. I’ll pay.” I insisted.

“Hahaha. Then I’ll take you up on that.” He conceded with a smile.

We headed to a Korean restaurant nearby.

Cheonhyanggak, which was famous for Korean food in Yangjae-dong.

Once upon a time, it was in competition with Geumson, which I used to run, but I went bankrupt due to excessive expansion, and Cheonhyanggak solidified its name by strengthening its internal affairs in times of crisis. A cautionary tale.

Ahn Cheol-hee and I took our seats in a VIP room overlooking an artificial pond. A serene setting.

It was a quiet atmosphere with the sound of *gayageum* [Korean zither] resonating. A leisurely view that was hard to believe was in the middle of Seoul. An oasis of calm.

I offered Ahn Cheol-hee a meal.

“The food here is quite good. You could say they conquered the world with *신선로* [royal hot pot].”

“Geumson had delicious food. It’s a pity that such a place disappeared.” He reminisced.

“It’s my fault, so there’s nothing I can do. It was because I was greedy.” I admitted.

“You were born in the wrong era.” He said sympathetically.

I knew it too. Timing was everything.

I was focused on expansion, but I went bankrupt due to the aftermath of the financial crisis. If that hadn’t happened, I might be running a restaurant with chains all over the country by now. A different life.

Of course, my current situation was much better than being a restaurant owner. I was content.

“Perhaps that’s why I can’t abandon the family business and am getting involved in the food service industry.” A full circle.

“Inheriting the family business comes from a noble spirit. It’s important not to lose that spirit.” He said earnestly.

Somehow, it overlapped with Chairman Lee Kang-no. A similar sentiment.

Chairman Lee Kang-no had said the same thing. So did Director Han Cheol-soo. Wisdom from experience.

Successful managers had their reasons. They understood the value of tradition.

As we were enjoying the flavor of *신선로* [royal hot pot], Ahn Cheol-hee cautiously brought up a topic. The real reason for the lunch.

“The reason I presumptuously invited the chairman today is because of one problem.” He began.

“What problem is it?”

I straightened my posture. Alert and attentive.

Until now, we had been talking about management and personal life, but most of it was light conversation. The atmosphere was getting heavy, so it seemed like he was going to say something quite important. A serious matter.

“Today, the working-level employees are *떨고 있습니다* [trembling] with anxiety. They’re scared. It’s good to get rid of the executives, but their power is considerable. If things go wrong, a significant number of technicians or working-level employees may leave. That would put a strain on the entire company.” He explained.

“I expected it.”

“You expected it?”

Ahn Cheol-hee wore a surprised expression. He hadn’t anticipated that.

I was sorry to him, but this much was in the palm of my hand. I was prepared.

“For example, there’s Sales Director Oh Se-gon. I hear that he has quite a significant impact on the company. If he moves, many navigators and technicians will leave.” He elaborated.

“Heo.”

“But that doesn’t mean that technology will disappear, does it?” I asked.

“Hmm. Trading companies value sales greatly. The technical aspects are certainly not significant, but that doesn’t mean they can be ignored. If the technicians disappear, the operation of the ships will stop immediately.” He conceded.

“That’s what I want.”

“That’s what you want… It seems like you have an alternative.” He realized.

“I have AI technology that surpasses humans.” I revealed.

“……!”

Ahn Cheol-hee wore a surprised expression. He was stunned.

No matter how much the world had developed, it was impossible for AI technology to have developed that much. It seemed too far-fetched.

Ahn Cheol-hee paused for a moment, then slowly continued.

“I apologize for saying this, but such technology does not exist.” He stated bluntly.

“Everyone thinks so.”

At my gesture, a *변종* [mutated] vampire nobleman who had been waiting nearby rushed over. A dramatic entrance.

He rushed over like the wind and knelt on one knee. Subservient and loyal.

“I greet my master.”

“This is… Let’s call her Lina.” I improvised.

“I’m Lina.” She responded.

She didn’t have a name, but I made it up on the spot. A spur-of-the-moment decision.

She had a very beautiful appearance and I made her Latin. A fitting origin.

Her voluptuous figure, typical of South American beauties, stood out. However, that didn’t mean that Ahn Cheol-hee was swayed by her appearance. He was a professional.

“This is the AI I developed this time.” I announced.

“Um. So, does the chairman intend to replace employees with AI?” He inquired.

“Yes.”

“Hahaha. AI cannot catch up with humans in terms of situational judgment. If that were possible, humanity would lose all jobs.” He scoffed.

“I don’t intend to take away humanity’s jobs.” I clarified.

“If so.”

“I’m only planning to deploy this AI in the companies I run.” A limited application.

“Can AI replace humans?” He asked again, unconvinced.

That was a very reasonable doubt. A valid concern.

Even Lee Seul-ki, who could be said to be my closest aide, was skeptical at first. But now she says that she can’t do without Cecil. A complete convert.

She was even willing to give up a salary increase, wasn’t she? A testament to its value.

Lee Seul-ki, who had been quietly eating, opened her mouth as if she couldn’t help it. She had to speak up.

“Try using it, *본부장님* [Department Head]. Then you’ll know everything.” She urged.