We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 6

006

First Order (2)

“Huff!”

My eyes snapped open.

A sharp, clear sensation coursed through my body, accompanied by a throbbing in my heart.

It felt like chugging a 1.5-liter bottle of soda that’s nearly freezing, but without the burning sensation in my gut. I shivered from the sheer refreshment.

When I opened my eyes, the world looked different.

The weeds in the graveyard, usually dark and dim, were now sharply defined, and the chirping of insects seemed to echo in my ears.

I could see the ghosts around me in greater detail.

With the vengeful spirits all sucked away, the ordinary spirits were trembling in fear. As local spirits, they couldn’t leave their posts, but their shivering was quite a sight.

I examined the circles in my heart.

The circle had split into two, rapidly absorbing the surrounding dark energy and growing in size.

Rather than one, there were now two thicker circles. Looking closely, I could see something sleeping and rotating inside the circles, but it was undetectable unless I focused. Those must be the collected evil spirits.

“There are two circles now.”

“Really?”

“I can definitely feel it. I can see ghosts better, and the world is brighter. It’s like I’ve become a cat.”

“Wow! Daddy’s the best!”

Soojung burrowed into me, seemingly unable to contain herself.

Was Soojung experiencing vicarious satisfaction through me? Or perhaps she felt a sense of kinship as a fellow dark mage, or maybe I had become someone she could rely on.

Soojung’s eyes seemed more affectionate than ever. Whatever the reason, I felt good being able to show her something as a father.

“This confirms it!”

“Confirms what?”

“Daddy has the blessing of the Demon God. If this continues…”

“If this continues?”

“Hehe. Won’t you become a dark mage who rules the world?”

“Hahahaha! A dark mage who overthrows the world? Only if there are monsters living here.”

“You can definitely make a lot of money, right?”

“That’s true.”

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

The first rooster crowed.

According to Soojung, training after the first rooster crows isn’t as efficient.

I suddenly realized that quite a bit of time had passed.

I felt like it was just a fleeting moment, but apparently not.

I had to get home before my wife woke up. If she found out I was visiting the graveyard every night with our young daughter…

The thought alone sent shivers down my spine.

On the way down, Soojung asked,

“Daddy, today’s a day off from kindergarten. Can I come with you?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Soojung is good with adults, right? It might be hard to negotiate the price without me.”

“Hmm?”

“Maybe I can even get a deposit.”

I was tempted by the impossibility of price negotiation, but I succumbed to the mention of a deposit.

I had only about 100,000 won left [approximately $75 USD].

I urgently needed to secure living expenses.

In the morning, I went to the market and bought some groceries and a 10,000 won dress [approximately $7.50 USD] for Soojung.

After that, I had less than 10,000 won left.

My resolve became quite grim.

There was no one left to borrow money from, and even if I wanted to do manual labor, there was no work available.

The baby formula was running out faster than expected, and we were almost out of rice. If I didn’t get a deposit today, we might have to starve until the job was done.

I had never felt such desperation before.

I had been chased by debt, but I had never run out of rice like this…

I had to wait longer for child support and childcare subsidies. If things went wrong, we could face the worst-case scenario of starving.

I started to dress Soojung up.

My wife brushed Soojung’s hair, asking several times,

“Honey, are you sure it’s okay to take Soojung with you?”

“I think it’ll be fine. I found out that the company has a good playroom.”

“Yeah! I want to play in the playroom!”

Soojung’s eyes sparkled.

My wife also knew that Soojung was a genius. But Soojung tried her best not to show that side of herself in front of her mother. Like now.

A seven-year-old child wanted to play in the playroom. We couldn’t afford to take her to paid facilities, but the company playroom was a different story.

Her transportation card was charged, so there was no reason not to go.

“Honey?”

My wife looked at me.

‘It hurts to use our child for business, but it can’t be helped. Soojung is… as good as a model.’

The mothers at kindergarten who told her not to play because of her odd eyes weren’t really saying that because Soojung had odd eyes.

Soojung, who always wore worn-out clothes with holes, was labeled as a poor family’s daughter. When I was doing well, the children were so curious that she wore lenses, but it wasn’t because of rumors that she was a monster or possessed by a ghost.

In other words, with Soojung’s looks, even her odd eyes could be mysteriously packaged.

Soojung, who was always dressed shabbily, was now so dazzling that even celebrities would take a step back.

Was this the genes of the British royal family?

I momentarily stopped myself from ruffling my daughter’s hair.

“It’s okay. She just wants to play. Right, Soojung?”

“Yes!”

My wife finished dressing Soojung and met her eye to eye.

“Soojung, Daddy is going for an important job today, so don’t bother him, okay?”

“Hehe. Soojung will just play well in the playroom. There are caretakers there, so it’s okay.”

‘Were there caretakers?’

Well, there probably were.

If it was Soojung, she would have found out by searching on my phone.

“Okay. Be careful.”

“Yes!”

I also checked my appearance.

As always, my wife tied my tie.

“Have a good day.”

“Okay. Call me if anything happens.”

“Don’t worry about the house. Mother always said that a man can’t do great things if he worries about household chores.”

“Okay.”

My wife still thought of my deceased mother.

She cried for three days straight at the funeral. I still remember it vividly.

I shook my head once and left with Soojung.

I was bombarded with stares on the subway.

How old is she? Did you have an international marriage? You should make her a celebrity, etc. Nosy middle-aged women and grandmothers asked questions, and students and most women made a fuss over Soojung.

But the most common question Soojung received was whether I was really her father.

Every time, Soojung would answer, “He’s my real dad! I’m not an illegitimate child or adopted. My genes match my dad’s 99%!”

She would act like a child, but if she felt offended, she would respond like that.

Anyway, after a tumultuous subway ride, we arrived in front of Moa Construction headquarters in Sinseol-dong.

“What is this? It’s quite big, isn’t it?”

“I searched it up, and it’s a KOSPI-listed company [Korea Composite Stock Price Index; a major stock market index of South Korea].”

“Oh, really?”

“If things go well, they’ll be in the top 50 companies in Korea next year. The CEO here must be excellent at lobbying. But it’s not easy to maintain the company’s image.”

“…”

I shouldn’t have said anything.

The level at which Soojung acquires information is truly amazing. She absorbs any knowledge, so my knowledge will be surpassed in the near future.

I headed to the company lobby with Soojung.

Murmur, murmur.

The employees here stared at Soojung and said something.

“Oh my? How? Is she a doll?”

Soojung immediately put on her business smile.

“Hehe.”

“How old are you?”

A group of female employees approached.

Soojung held up seven fingers.

“I’m seven years old!”

“You’re so cute! Here, buy some snacks!”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Soojung never refused the money she was given, putting it in her pocket and bowing deeply.

I matched her pace.

“Hahaha! You don’t have to do this.”

“But are you really her father?”

“Of course.”

The women walked away. They didn’t forget to say one thing.

“Her mother’s genes must be really outstanding.”

“It must be Beauty and the Beast. Did he kidnap her from somewhere?”

Why do I suddenly feel so down?

Soojung grabbed my hand tightly.

“Don’t be too upset. It’s true that Mom’s looks are outstanding compared to Dad’s ordinariness, right? But Soojung loves Dad.”

“Okay.”

“Hehe, anyway, I earned some allowance, so good! I’m going to buy snacks!”

After asking around, we arrived on the 18th floor.

Like a normal company, employees were working, and the executive director’s office was visible on one side.

The gazes of the people were temporarily focused.

Unlike usual, Soojung was dressed up, so their eyes were probably popping out.

“Soojung is going to the bathroom.”

“Aren’t you going in together?”

“Isn’t it more dramatic to go in later? That’s what they do in dramas, right?”

“Ah.”

I thought that was possible enough.

Soojung ran to the bathroom, and I knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

It was quite a stern voice.

“I’m from ‘Clean It All’ cleaning company.”

As soon as I entered, I bent over 90 degrees.

On the desk in the office, there was a nameplate that said ‘Executive Director Oh Deok-soo,’ and documents were scattered haphazardly.

At first glance, I could tell he wasn’t an easy person. The team leader woman was like that too, but the executive director seemed to be an even more formidable person. Still, I had met many people while running my business, so I had a rough idea of what he was like.

Executive Director Oh Deok-soo didn’t even glance at me as he processed documents, then stood up from his seat.

“Are you the person who came to the L Tower management office yesterday?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. With our new technology, we can make the buildings managed by your company shine brightly…”

“Sit down.”

“Ah, yes.”

He still felt like a tough customer.

If this place was a battlefield, Oh Deok-soo was the one who held the power of life and death over me. That meant he had that much power and authority.

Oh Deok-soo sank into the sofa in a very relaxed posture.

He looked somewhat tired, but he certainly didn’t give off an easy impression.

“I heard the story roughly from Team Leader Lee yesterday, but it’s not an easy job. Money? There’s a hazard pay included, so you’ll get a lot. But if you’re only after money, you’ll be in trouble. We’re a general construction company with a separate management department. But it’s still difficult.”

“No problem. Just leave it to me!”

“Even if there are casualties, our company will not provide any compensation. It must be handled solely by your company’s employment insurance.”

“Of course.”

Employment insurance? I’ll have to get it.

However, I’ll be the only person registered as an employee.

I haven’t experimented yet, but I can probably control at least 12 undead. If I add Soojung’s undead, that’s 14.

That’s more than enough to clean the buildings one by one.

“I heard it’s paid in arrears, is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“We’ll draw up a contract stating that we’ll pay only the specified amount without any expenses. How about it?”

“Of course, you should.”

“You’re not going to ask for a deposit now, are you?”

“Can’t I?”

“You’re changing your tune. I heard it was paid in arrears, but now you’re saying you need a deposit?”

I felt like I was being interrogated.

I couldn’t back down here. If I didn’t get a deposit right away, I wouldn’t even be able to feed myself. My family’s livelihood was at stake.

Bang!

That’s when it happened.

Soojung came in with a tearful face.

“Daddy~! I got lost.”

A heavenly girl who looked like she was about to cry came in, and the room felt bright.

Oh Deok-soo’s eyes changed from that moment on.

Suddenly, his wariness melted away like snow in the spring.