We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 4

004

Laying the Foundation (2)

The L Tower, located in Sincheon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul.

It is the tallest building in Korea, boasting 123 floors above ground and a height of 555m. I heard that the construction period alone took more than 6 years, with a construction cost of 4 trillion won [approximately $3 billion USD].

Simply put, it is the 5th tallest building in the world.

Perhaps because of such symbolism, the S Group and H Group also competed to build high-rise buildings in Sincheon-dong.

This is where the problem arises.

Due to the reckless competition among the *chaebols* [large South Korean business conglomerates], when the altitude exceeds 200 meters, wind generated between buildings, i.e., building wind, becomes active, which was once a significant social problem.

Currently, three giant buildings stand tall in a triangular shape, and the wind rises from the surrounding buildings and gets trapped in the triangle. Due to such strong building wind, they were having quite a hard time with maintenance.

Contrary to the modifier of being the tallest building in Korea, the upper part looked quite dirty. It is said that maintenance was postponed because there was a limit to people hanging and working at that height, and it became like that as it was delayed.

Humans are emotional animals. Unless you go to the battlefield, would anyone want to risk their lives to work?

I enter the building and check my clothes in the bathroom.

I equip the freshly printed business card and head to the management office.

‘If I set my mind to it, it will be done.’

This was my first time doing direct sales.

In my heyday, word of mouth was so widespread that there was no need to do any sales. So, what I’m about to do now is a completely new experience.

I also did some research on the management company.

The L Group gave the management subcontract to L Construction, and L Construction gave the subcontract to Moa Management.

In other words, the company that could give me work was Moa Management.

Since a team leader is always stationed to maintain and repair the building, it might be the answer to come here.

Knock knock knock

I knock on the office door.

Perhaps because it is right next to the boiler room, I hear loud mechanical noises, and the atmosphere is quite gloomy because not many people pass by.

I might have felt bad and turned around in the past, but after learning black magic, I somehow feel closer to this kind of atmosphere.

“Come in.”

“Hmm?”

It’s quite a sharp, high-pitched voice.

Was the manager a woman?

Then it might be a little tricky. Since angels like my wife are rare in this world, most women tend to be kind on the outside but picky on the inside. You could say it’s a know-how I learned while running a Korean restaurant.

And dealing with such women is my specialty.

“I’m going in.”

There were several employees inside, including a few male employees and two female employees.

The management schedule was written on the left wall, and a huge 3D drawing of the building was attached to the right wall.

And a woman who looked to be in her early 30s was sitting in what appeared to be the best seat.

She wasn’t exactly pretty, but you could say she had a somewhat intellectual air about her. However, there was a slight annoyance etched on her face.

I go straight to the team leader and greet her. The name tag says team leader, so she must be the team leader.

She adjusts her glasses and asks sharply.

“Where are you from?”

“I came representing a company like this.”

I handed over the business card I had printed today.

[Lee Yoosung, CEO of ‘Da Dakka,’ a building exterior cleaning company]

“…….”

Was the company name a bit old-fashioned?

Anyway, I won’t be using it for long, and it ended up like that because I created the company temporarily.

I had to have a proper business registration certificate to do business with such a large company. They valued any evidence of legitimacy.

In addition, if the modifier ‘company’ is included, there is also company profit, so I can get more money than when I run individually.

The woman’s voice becomes sharper.

“So?”

“I thought the exterior of L Tower, Korea’s landmark, needed some serious management, so I visited you.”

“I can tell you’re a new company, but do you think we don’t clean because we don’t know anything? Just leave now, while I’m being polite.”

It’s not easy after all.

The world wasn’t easy enough to just use a new company with no corporate performance at all.

Where is it easy to get someone else’s money?

But I can’t back down here. My family’s livelihood is at stake.

“I know very well that cleaning is difficult above 200m due to building wind. It’s not impossible, but it’s because there are no people who risk their lives to do it. But we are different. We have new technology, so we can absolutely complete the cleaning.”

“New technology?”

Only then does the woman show interest.

Of course, it’s a lie. There’s no way there’s such a thing as new technology.

Just hang a single rope and hang it after arming it so that the identity of the undead is not revealed, and that’s new technology.

‘No, is black magic new technology?’

While I was giggling inwardly, I heard the woman’s voice.

“What kind of technology is it exactly? I’ve never heard of new technology for cleaning the exterior walls.”

“Well, it’s a company secret… But if you entrust it to us, we will push it so that it shines very brightly! Very neatly. Just leave it to us!”

“What do I trust you for? It feels like a ghost company.”

There are no companies near the Mangwon-dong cemetery. Since I wrote such a place as my address, it seems like they think of it as a simple individual company.

I knew it would come out like this.

So I prepared a trump card.

“Everything is paid later! It’s paid later. You don’t have to pay if you don’t like it.”

“Heuh.”

The woman makes a low hum.

As expected, the higher the position a woman holds, the harder it is to deal with them.

She raises her head and hands over her business card.

[(Stock Company) Moa Construction Management Team Leader Lee Seokyung]

‘I thought it was a simple subcontract, but was it a decent general construction company?’

“Okay, I understand for now. I’ll report it to the higher-ups.”

“Thank you.”

The larger the company, the more important it is to think about the system.

This matter seems to be something that Lee Seokyung’s team leader cannot handle alone.

I bend my back 90 degrees and leave the office.

The customer is king. I was confident in dealing with any picky customer who gave money and helped me make a living.

I visited L Tower and stopped by S Building and H Building.

I was on my way to meet the building managers who were creating the building wind.

Then I discovered a surprising fact.

Each building was managed by its own construction company, and they all pushed the subcontract to Moa Construction.

There seems to be lobbying or technical problems that I don’t know well here.

The characteristics of the three buildings were that they were similar in size and shape, and they had the common denominator of building wind.

So, there is a possibility that they found Moa Construction while looking for a construction company that is excellent in internal and external repair.

So, if I get a call from Moa Construction, it means I can clean all three buildings.

I lingered in the yard until it was dark.

I think I can get at least 10 million won [approximately $7,500 USD] for one cleaning of one building. Cleaning will not be done in a day or two, and considering the risk allowance, that’s a bargain. Even if the price is cut down, a huge sum of 30 million won comes in. In my current situation, it is not just a welcome rain, but it can be said to be ambrosia.

Since there was such a large amount of money at stake, I couldn’t sit still.

Soojung comes back after finishing kindergarten.

“Dad!”

“Oh, Soojung!”

There were days when I went to pick her up, but if her parents didn’t go, the kindergarten car would take her.

Soojung hugged me tightly.

After giving me a kiss, she ran to her wife and kissed her as well. When I see her like that, she’s definitely a child.

Soojung ran with quick steps and took my hand.

“Dad! Buy me snacks!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll choose within 1,000 won [less than $1 USD], so buy it for me!”

Soojung whines.

When I looked at my wife, she just smiled and nodded.

“Okay, let’s go! I was going to get some fresh air anyway.”

Our father and daughter leave the house side by side.

Soojung, who was showing off her young child force, had a serious expression when she came outside.

I sometimes think, but I doubt if this is really my daughter who received my genes. Oh, that doesn’t mean I doubt my wife. I’m just doubting my genes.

“Dad, how did it go today?”

“I don’t know.”

“First of all, you registered your business and visited L Tower, right?”

“Yes. I said all the conditions, so I’ll see if I get a call or not.”

“Did you mention the new technology?”

“Of course.”

“Black magic is a technology that doesn’t exist in this world. So it’s new technology. Hehe.”

Soojung released her serious expression.

It seems she was simply curious about how the current business was progressing.

I stroked Soojung’s head once.

I can feel her soft hair.

“Did you call about 10 million won on a postpaid basis?”

“I have to negotiate that.”

“It means you have to practice harder. Isn’t our dad getting busy?”

“It also means you have to decipher the runes quickly.”

“Huh? Dad, I’m a kindergartener. I don’t know about that.”

“Are you kidding me! Where do you look like that?”

Soojung stuck out her tongue cutely.

“Hehe, I’m deciphering it. I’m deciphering it by transcribing it in single sheets even in kindergarten!”

“Hmm? What to learn in kindergarten…”

“Soojung has nothing to learn there. Sigh. I’m just going because it’s free.”

I forgot. Soojung just uses English, Japanese, and French that she learned over her shoulder. I didn’t particularly give her gifted education, but she mastered English at the age of 4 and Japanese and French at the age of 5. She seems to be able to learn other languages easily, but she can learn that quickly when she needs it.

After all, are mutant genius genes different?

I heard that elementary schools these days even ask which kindergarten you went to, so there was a reason to go, and frankly, kindergarten food is better than what we have at home.

Somehow, I arrived in front of the neighborhood mart [small grocery store].

“Dad, snacks~!”

I came out to buy snacks, so I really have to buy one.

Soojung picked up Jagalchi [a popular Korean snack]. Damn it. I like Jagalchi too.

Our father and daughter go back home.

Soojung left a word.

“It’ll be okay.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’m not the only one who believes in Dad.”

Soojung licked her fingers while smearing snack crumbs on her mouth.

Oh, my daughter. When I see her like that, she’s definitely a young child… Even though she’s my daughter, she’s even attractive, so I’m really worried about what will happen when she grows up.

When I returned home, my wife ran to the yard with the child on her back.

“Honey!”

“What’s wrong?”

Lisa’s face was slightly flushed.

If my calm wife has this kind of reaction, it means something huge has happened.

“I got a call from Moa Construction.”

“Moa Construction!?”

“Yes. I said I’d call you because I went out to get some fresh air with the child for a while.”

“Oh no! You should have called on your cell phone, but you called on the home phone. Okay.”

I immediately contacted the team leader of Moa Construction.

“Team Leader Lee?”

-I called, but you were out?

“Yes. My daughter came home, you see. Hahaha!”

-Come to the headquarters tomorrow. Our executive director wants to see you there. Let’s have a detailed negotiation at the headquarters.”

“So, are you commissioning it?”

-Yes. But he said we have to negotiate.

“Thank you!”

-Then see you again.

Team Leader Lee Seokyung maintained an extremely business-like tone and then hung up.

I felt like something was exploding in my chest.

“I did it!”