We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 14

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“Heot!

I almost jumped out of my skin.

Did I hear that right? A request for me?

No, let’s not get ahead of myself. The situation isn’t great, so my ears might have misinterpreted Team Leader Lee Seo-kyung’s words.

“To be precise, H Construction subcontracted Moa Construction, and after reviewing it, we thought it would be cheaper for the CEO to handle this. Of course, it’s dangerous, so we need to discuss the feasibility with you.”

“Hahahaha! Any dangerous task can be overcome with new technology. What kind of request do you have?”

I immediately went into sales mode.

Honestly, being called CEO in this situation was an honor.

What CEO? I’m just a small business owner. With undead employees, no less.

Team Leader Lee Seo-kyung continued.

“The request itself is simple. Just go into the sea and tighten some bolts.”

“That’s easy enough!”

“But the problem is, you have to go 50 meters deep and withstand tremendous currents. We thought you might have some new technology to handle it.”

As the conversation turned businesslike, Lee Seo-kyung’s face hardened slightly.

Tremendous currents meant she was talking about the seabed.

I asked for more details.

According to Lee Seo-kyung, the Incheon bridge constructed by H Construction a long time ago needed repairs.

It was built so sturdily 30 years ago that there hadn’t been any problems until now, but the bolts were now slightly loose due to the currents. H Construction considered this a maintenance issue and commissioned Moa Construction, which has a reputation for building management.

Moa Construction realized that simply tightening the bolts would be quite costly.

The job required a submarine, but the currents were too strong.

What about ordinary people?

There was a ladder-style staircase down, but anyone who went down would be swept away by the currents, and their body wouldn’t even be recovered.

“…That’s why we’re making this request. Since you have technology that sticks well to walls, we thought you might have equipment that can withstand the currents.”

This is doable.

I can definitely do this.

“Oh, you’ve come to the right person.”

“Is it possible?”

“First, what’s the total cost of the job…?”

“About 100 million won.”

“……!”

Amazing.

Just going down and tightening bolts costs 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD]?

Lee Seo-kyung explained the reason.

“It would cost us at least 100 million won. We’d have to rent a specialized submarine. The problem is that the cost is high, and if it gets damaged by the currents, we can’t handle it.”

“So, you’re subcontracting to me because of the risk?”

“You catch on quickly. If possible, we can lend you underwater equipment. But you’ll need a special diving suit. Do you have that technology?”

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Who do you think I am? I’m a scientist leading this era. Hahahaha!”

100 million won.

I can temporarily stop the building cleaning tomorrow and just pick two strong ones.

I can summon 14 undead now, but if I reduce it to two, I can summon significantly stronger undead.

“You’re indeed a great technician. You didn’t really graduate from MIT, did you?”

“I just started researching things to make a living. I was thinking of expanding my business anyway.”

“With that kind of technology, big companies would be interested…”

“Someday, my business will expand greatly, but I have no intention of selling my technology to a large corporation.”

Of course, that’s a lie.

If I had such technology, I would have sold it a long time ago. I’ve been through times when I could barely make ends meet. No matter how good the technology is, is it more important than survival?

I might be able to endure it, but I can’t bear to see my family starving.

“I knew you could do it. It seems you have various other technologies as well.”

“Of course. I have quite a few technologies that can be used in construction. However…”

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Can I get paid immediately?”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. If the work is finished by tomorrow, payment can be made that day.”

Lee Seo-kyung smiled slightly.

She probably thinks my business is in its early stages and requires a lot of money.

In reality, my home boiler broke, and I need to secure my deposit to avoid freezing to death in the middle of winter. Otherwise, things will get really tough.

“Then I’ll go tomorrow morning. Should I go to Incheon?”

“You can really do it tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll see you at the Incheon Bridge No. 3 tomorrow. We need to prepare right away. We’ll do a safety inspection and make the payment as soon as the bolts are properly tightened.”

“Thank you!”

“Don’t mention it. We’re glad we don’t have to bear the risk.”

Lee Seo-kyung got up from her seat.

When I first met her, her image wasn’t bad, but now she looks like an angel. A true angel who is responsible for my family’s livelihood.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Drive safely!”

Lee Seo-kyung left the container.

I suddenly felt a surge of excitement.

“Yes!”

I can finally get the deposit.

I’ll cast enhancement magic on the strengthened undead again. Then they’ll be able to withstand the currents. Instead of worrying about 14, I only need to cast Foot Spider [a spell that enhances grip] on two, so they definitely won’t be shaken.

Then 100 million won will be like picking it up off the street.

“Thank you, Soo-jung!”

I suddenly wanted to see Soo-jung’s face.

Without Soo-jung’s dark magic, I would never have been able to gather money like this.

Monthly rent deposit?

I’d probably be homeless on the streets, sleeping at Seoul Station.

“I should pick her up today.”

I left work early and stopped by a scuba diving shop.

I needed to buy two rash guards.

The rash guard and diving equipment were a set, but I didn’t need to buy the diving equipment. I’ll just vaguely say it’s new technology.

If large corporations become more interested or it leaks to the media, it will be a problem… I should add a clause to the contract stating that the technology is confidential and cannot be leaked. What can they do if it’s confidential?

The rash guard is just for show.

There’s no such thing as new technology, and the undead don’t breathe. There’s no need to carry uncomfortable diving equipment.

I arrived at Soo-jung’s kindergarten with a hot dog.

Soo-jung was still the absolute power(?) of Kitty Kindergarten.

The children rushed out and greeted Soo-jung.

“Goodbye, Soo-jung!”

“See you tomorrow!”

Soo-jung nodded casually.

Does she watch too many movies? Are the kids going to start bowing 90 degrees?

Then Soo-jung spotted me.

“Dad!”

Soo-jung ran over and hugged me tightly.

Soo-jung’s uniform has been replaced with a new one. New shoes, a neat hairpin, and an aura of wealth.

And me?

Wearing a coat over my suit, I no longer look like my old, pathetic self. We must look like a picture.

Soo-jung buried her nose in my neck and took a deep breath.

“A strong smell of dark magic… No, I like Dad’s smell. Hehe.”

“……Is that what it is?”

“No, it’s definitely not that. I’m Dad’s daughter. You know?”

Soo-jung said that and snatched the hot dog.

I’m a little suspicious of Soo-jung’s sincerity, but dark magic is also a smell that symbolizes me, so it doesn’t matter.

“Soo-jung, Dad did something big today.”

“Whaaat?”

Her mouth was full of hot dog, and ketchup was smeared everywhere.

I took out a handkerchief and wiped Soo-jung’s mouth. I didn’t think she could talk like this, so I got in the car first.

The undead squeezed into the back of the van.

Soo-jung finished the hot dog and said.

“Did you take on another request?”

“Yeah. Bridge repair work.”

“Going into the deep sea with strong currents to tighten bolts? A 30-year-old bridge? Then it’s near Incheon?”

“…….”

Did she become a ghost after dealing with ghosts?

I nodded.

“Wow! Dad’s the best! It seems like your level is rising so quickly. The world is finally recognizing Dad. Hehe.”

I can’t help but feel like I’m only being praised for dark magic, but that must be my imagination, right?

There was another reason why I came to pick up Soo-jung.

“Soo-jung, I think we need to find Cliff Grass.”

“Huh? That’s a Maringdan ingredient [ingredient for a powerful potion].”

“That’s right. So, we need to find it.”

“Are you already preparing to reach the 3rd Circle [a level of magical mastery]?”

“Yeah.”

Soo-jung was strangely happy.

Her eyes sparkled, so she seemed quite interested.

Soo-jung patted her chest.

“Dad! You have a daughter here. Soo-jung will do it.”

“You’ll do it?”

“Yeah! Soo-jung can handle two undead. It’s nothing compared to Dad, who has the blessing of the Demon God, but I think I can do that much.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah! Will you let me?”

“Yeah. Go ahead.”

I stroked Soo-jung’s head.

My 7-year-old daughter is stepping up to help her dad. It’s naturally a heartwarming sight.

However, the problem is that I have to use undead made of bones to find a place full of evil spirits.

There was another reason why I left work early today.

First, my wife has to take care of Soo-ah, so she can’t be out for long. It’s not good for the baby to be exposed to this cold weather.

I came to the real estate agency with Soo-jung. I had decided on a few candidates and was planning to show them to my wife.

I visited the Mangwon-dong real estate office I went to this morning.

He was quite prickly, and his main business was investment. So, doing this brokerage was a side job.

That’s why he can be so prickly. If his main job was brokerage, he could never treat customers like that.

Ding-dong.

I opened the door to the real estate agency.

That guy has some sense. Who puts up a bell like this these days?

The broker was processing documents in the office.

Then he saw me and frowned slightly. But when Soo-jung ran over, his eyes changed.

“Dad! You have to take me too!”

“Oh, yeah.”

Soo-jung hugged my arm.

My body is trained from labor, so there’s no way I can’t handle the weight of a child.

Broker Yoon Kang-shik looked back and forth between me and Soo-jung and said in surprise.

“How can such a daughter come from such a father… Ahem. I’m sorry. I misspoke.”

The man was rambling.

Could he be in love with a child? I think those kinds of people should be beaten to death.

But I think that was my misunderstanding.

“I have a friend who works in the entertainment industry. I suddenly thought she would be a great celebrity. Ah, I’m not a weird person, so stop frowning.”

“Is that what it was? You were too prickly this morning, and then you changed.”

My tone was still stiff.

For some reason, if I think there’s even a slight possibility of harm coming to my family, I become like that without realizing it.

Yoon Kang-shik said in a soft voice.

“Have you ever thought about sending your daughter into the entertainment industry?”