We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 19

019

New Technology (1)

Late November.

The month-long cleaning of the building was finally over.

When I first started, I expected it to take about two weeks, but I found out that no matter how fast I cleaned, it took quite a while. H Construction commissioned us to clean not only the upper 100 floors but also from the 50th to the 100th floor through Moa Construction, which is why it took so long.

While I was cleaning the H Building, L Group and S Group also made requests at the same level.

Anyway, being in this industry, I’ve come to know a bit about the competitive spirit of the *chaebols* [large South Korean business conglomerates]. Basically, they all do what others do.

Their actions were even more childish than elementary school students. If the other side did this much, they thought they had to at least match that level or do even better.

The three landmark buildings here were the product of such absurd competition.

Of course, that’s how I made money, but if you dig deeper, it all started from such trivial competitive awareness.

When the last 50th floor was finished and I was packing up, Lee Seo-kyung came up to the rooftop.

The weather was getting colder, and the rooftop of the H Building was so exposed that she appeared fully bundled up.

“You’ve worked so hard!”

“Come inside first.”

Undead didn’t care even if it was cold, but you could get frostbite if you stayed outside in this weather.

As she entered the warm office, Lee Seo-kyung’s cheeks turned red.

She warmed herself by the heater for a long time.

“The weather is no joke. To be able to clean even in this midwinter… Your technology is really amazing.”

“It’s because we’re cleaning with antifreeze. It’s not a special skill.”

“The cost of antifreeze alone must have been no joke, right?”

“It was worth it.”

Of course, that’s a lie.

Would I be crazy enough to use antifreeze to clean a building? That would have cost a fortune.

This was also black magic, a spell called Dark Water. It turns ice into water for use, but it doesn’t freeze even in the coldest weather.

The entire water tank was filled with this Dark Water, so it didn’t freeze.

I made quite a bit of money thanks to Lee Seo-kyung, so should I invite her to dinner again?

“It’s over today. I won’t be able to see that cute kid anymore.”

Lee Seo-kyung was beating around the bush as if she had something to say.

She wasn’t usually like this.

This is definitely pressure to invite her to dinner.

“Hahaha! I forgot to invite you to dinner.”

“Really!?”

Lee Seo-kyung, who had been sitting in the chair in front of the heater, jumped up.

I almost got burned.

She puffed out her breath and glared at me.

“When? Tonight? Or now? Tomorrow?”

“So, sometime soon.”

“Wow! I’ll dress up and go.”

Her eyes curved into crescents.

This is the first time I’ve seen her smile so happily. She’s still known as the Ice Witch in the company, but you can’t say that when you see her face now.

At least to me, Lee Seo-kyung was a warm-hearted person.

“Then I should reveal the reason why I came.”

‘I knew it.’

This woman, she doesn’t look like it, but she’s quite calculating.

So, she was originally planning to place an order, but she was waiting for the invitation to come out.

There was even talk about an extension.

“Is it an extension?”

“Let’s call it a renewal. We need to manage landmark towers in a total of 8 cities, including Seoul, such as Namsan Tower, Busan Tower, and Daegu Tower. I was going to request high-rise cleaning among them.”

“Oh! Is that so?”

Expectations rise.

It seemed that the request came from each local government, not a company. Or Moa Construction was already managing it.

It’s not for nothing that they say it’s one of the top 50 companies. Even in the current situation, Moa Construction was growing.

“The commission fee is 15 million won per building, totaling 120 million won. Can we proceed right away with the same technology as now?”

So, she’s asking if we can clean even in the middle of winter.

I shrugged my shoulders as if it was nothing.

“Of course. No problem.”

“Then shall we draw up the contract right away?”

“Weren’t you supposed to write it with the Managing Director?”

“The Managing Director is busy, so I’ve been delegated. So, we can write it here.”

“Haha, let’s do that.”

I already felt like I was flying.

These days, just cleaning buildings was bringing in enough money. It couldn’t be compared to when I was doing well in the past, but at least I could be free from the problem of making a living.

The contract was signed, and the construction was scheduled to begin in a few days.

“Ah! And there’s someone you can meet today. If the president wants to.”

“Yes? Of course, if it’s important, I should meet… Who is it?”

“The Head of the Structural Division of H Group…”

“What!?”

I was so surprised that I screamed.

Even if the office was warm, there was basically a chill, so my mouth was stiff, but it was so wide open that it was about to drop.

The Head of the Structural Division of H Group.

H Group had a successor and children who ran each company, but it was said that the Head of the Structural Division was the de facto number two.

Why on earth would H Group headquarters want me? And the company’s number two at that.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Not at all.”

“Then what don’t they like?”

“That’s the same context. No.”

“Why? I’m poor, so there’s not much to shake down…”

“Anyway, I think this will be an opportunity. It’s not bad to meet high-ranking people if you’re going to do business in the future, right?”

I’m sorry to my wife, but suddenly it seemed like a halo was shining behind Lee Seo-kyung.

It was all thanks to Lee Seo-kyung that my family was able to make a living like this, and now she was even laying the groundwork for the future.

I grabbed Lee Seo-kyung’s hand without realizing it.

“Thank you, angel!”

“You’re welcome.”

“Meeting Team Leader in my life is the greatest luck! How can I repay this grace…?”

“Then will you give me your daughter?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

I quickly became serious.

And for a moment, a very subtle and awkward atmosphere flowed between us.

Inside the elevator.

Lee Seo-kyung still felt her body trembling.

Every winter, it’s new, but the rooftops of the buildings built as landmarks by the top 3 groups in Korea were all hell.

In fact, if I wasn’t the team leader of the management company, I wouldn’t have had to go through such hell. I’m glad I was in the office, otherwise I would have frozen to death.

Lee Seo-kyung was finally invited to President Lee Yoo-sung’s house. He said it would be soon.

Thinking of the president’s daughters, her mouth widened. Then, she hurriedly composed herself when she reached the office.

It was time to return to her businesslike appearance.

As soon as she returned, she called Han Cheol-soo, the head of the Structural Division, on the company phone.

They were old-fashioned people, so they preferred office phones to cell phones.

-Is it Lee?

“Head, I’ve made an appointment.”

-Did he say he would meet me?

“Of course. Who would dare not go when you called?”

-Hahaha! You’re gilding my face. Actually, it’s not even my job to step in, but the Chairman told me to go and see that friend’s personality.”

“Yes!?”

Lee Seo-kyung could not deny that Lee Yoo-sung had attracted the Chairman’s attention.

Chairman Lee Kang-no, who was approaching retirement age, had as much money as he could have, and had achieved the feat of being the number one in the business world in Korea, which he could no longer climb. After that, he changed his personal policy compared to the past, which was to foster promising young entrepreneurs.

He believed that fostering promising young entrepreneurs to strengthen the backbone of Korea was what he had to do for the rest of his life.

Chairman Lee Kang-no was keeping an eye on President Lee Yoo-sung.

He hasn’t started a full-scale offensive yet, but if Chairman Lee Kang-no starts reaching out to Lee Yoo-sung, he will have to change the company name ‘Da Dakkah’ and jump into business in earnest.

Chairman Lee Kang-no thought that President Lee Yoo-sung’s technology had been verified to some extent, and now he was trying to test his personality.

“It looks like President Lee Yoo-sung has been chosen.”

-Maybe, or maybe not. The Chairman believes that no matter how promising you are, you can’t succeed if you don’t have the right personality. You may be successful for a while, but in the end, a person with the right personality will succeed.”

“I see.”

Chairman Lee Kang-no’s belief, which cannot be applied to everyone, stands out.

-Anyway, thank you for your hard work.

“No. It’s not me who worked hard, it’s President Lee Yoo-sung.”

-Hahaha! That’s too bad. Why don’t you leave the company and start your own business? It seems like a waste for you to be there.”

“A caterpillar has to live on mulberry leaves [one should stay in their lane]. I know my place.”

-Is that so? That’s too bad. I’ll hang up now.

“Yes, Head.”

Lee Seo-kyung hung up the phone and wiped away her cold sweat.

If she was seen badly by Han Cheol-soo, Chairman Lee Kang-no’s right-hand man and the company’s de facto number two, her life itself would be twisted.

She was a little worried about President Lee Yoo-sung.

“I hope things don’t go wrong and the invitation is canceled today?”

And she had another worry.

H Group Headquarters.

The H Group headquarters, located in Yeouido [a large island on the Han River in Seoul, South Korea], has not been relocated due to its symbolism since its early days.

Chairman Lee Kang-no’s belief, who is stubborn and a bit conservative, stands out.

“Ah… How did I end up here.”

Surely it’s not because of the new technology?

The technology I have cannot be mass-produced. No, it couldn’t be shown to the world, and it was a technology that I couldn’t sell unless I did business myself.

Seeing H Group showing interest, are they going to talk about technology?

I felt an unknown energy flowing from the headquarters of the number one conglomerate in Korea. It could be because the land is good.

“Hoo.”

I take a deep breath.

He was called Chairman Lee Kang-no’s right-hand man, but aren’t they all the same people?

I head straight to the 39th floor where the head’s office is located.

The 40th floor is the chairman’s office. And right below that is where the de facto head of H Group, who controls Korea, works.

A woman was waiting in front of the elevator.

“Welcome. The head is waiting for you.”

“Ah, yes.”

A very heavy atmosphere.

I felt like the gravity on the entire 39th floor was completely different from other places. My steps are very heavy.

What on earth is the head going to say to call me?

Seeing that he called me like this, it’s definitely a business proposal… But he’s calling the president of a small new company?

‘I really don’t understand. Is he just senile?’

While all sorts of thoughts come to mind, I was finally able to face Head Han Cheol-soo.

Head Han Cheol-soo is approaching quickly.

But, why is this old man reacting like this?