We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 82

Full Auto Business, Ep. 082

082

The Power of Labor Costs (2)

H Group Headquarters.

Han Cheol-soo was on his way to Chairman Lee Kang-no’s office for a meeting.

As the elevator ascended to the top floor, he found himself contemplating CEO Lee Yoo-sung.

When Chairman Lee Kang-no initially decided to support Lee and test his character, Han Cheol-soo had considered Lee Yoo-sung a businessman with some potential.

However, he’d expected Chairman Lee Kang-no’s interest to eventually wane, as it often did, but he was mistaken.

Lee Yoo-sung began venturing into various businesses, showcasing remarkable technology and experiencing incredible growth.

Considering it had only been a few months since he’d emerged onto the scene, his growth rate was truly unbelievable.

He hadn’t yet established a completely solid foundation, but considering the kimchi and various by-products he was producing on the deserted island, the convenience store business, and the challenging construction projects he was winning worldwide, his trajectory was even more rapid than Chairman Lee Kang-no’s in his youth.

Before he knew it, Han Cheol-soo was paying close attention to Lee Yoo-sung.

“Am I getting old?”

Watching Lee Yoo-sung achieve remarkable results day after day, Han Cheol-soo couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration and curiosity.

Perhaps he was starting to consider nurturing a successor.

He had ample wealth, and retirement was on the horizon. He suddenly found himself pondering the meaning of life.

If Lee Yoo-sung, who rivaled Chairman Lee Kang-no in ambition and drive, succeeded, then his own life wouldn’t feel like a waste.

Knock, knock!

“Come in.”

“It’s me.”

“Director Han, what brings you here at this hour?”

“It’s about CEO Lee Yoo-sung.”

“Hahaha! Has that fellow caused another stir?” Chairman Lee Kang-no clearly enjoyed hearing updates about Lee Yoo-sung’s progress.

Han Cheol-soo shrugged.

“He’s planning to acquire CL Convenience Stores.”

“The whole chain?”

“Yes. Surely he wouldn’t just acquire a single store?”

“Why convenience stores all of a sudden?”

“He used to run a Korean restaurant and has a repertoire of recipes, so he’s probably expanding his reach into prepared foods.”

“Because convenience stores’ main draw is lunch boxes?”

“Perhaps.”

“Hmm. I hope he doesn’t overextend himself and collapse.”

“Considering what CEO Lee Yoo-sung has accomplished so far, I doubt he’ll fail so easily. Who knows what new technology he might introduce to the business model.”

“Has he come up with a way to significantly reduce labor costs?”

“Maybe.”

When it came to Lee Yoo-sung, they always started with high expectations.

They knew that even the most successful businessmen could stumble, but for now, he was on a winning streak.

So, they thought, why not support him further?

“I’m going to mediate the acquisition. And I’d like H Capital to provide a low-interest loan.”

“You’re stepping in personally?”

“I’m also a supporter of CEO Lee Yoo-sung.”

“Hahaha! When did that happen?”

“I’ve been working alongside the Chairman for so long, it just naturally happened.”

“So, you’re planning to leave behind a protégé?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“Of course it is. We’re has-beens. It’s time for the next generation to lead the business world. Lee Yoo-sung is an exceptionally talented individual.”

“You’re right.”

“Even if he fails in the convenience store business this time, he has inherent strengths. Orders will continue to pour in from all over the world for his other ventures.”

“That’s right.”

“Watching how he revives a company that’s on the brink of bankruptcy will be another source of amusement.”

Han Cheol-soo shrugged.

The anticipation of Lee Yoo-sung’s next move was already building.

He already felt a sense of excitement.

“Please sign here.”

“What is this? Do I not have a choice in the matter?”

“No, you don’t.”

Chairman Lee Kang-no finished signing the document.

Lee Kang-no had never opposed a project that Director Han championed. Without Han Cheol-soo, H Group wouldn’t have achieved its current level of success.

In reality, Han Cheol-soo was the de facto second-in-command of H Group.

“Then let’s observe. Let’s see how much that fellow grows.”

“I hope he grows enough to rival H Group before we pass away.”

“I’m fully expecting it to happen, haha.”

He was on his way home after finalizing negotiations with Ahn Seong-cheol.

They had finally reached an agreement to create 600 forged IDs for 3 billion won.

At 5 million won per ID, the price was feasible because they were forging IDs for foreign refugees, not Korean citizens.

There was also a justification for the operation.

He would claim that having experienced war in Syria, and knowing that there were 12 million Syrian refugees worldwide, he wanted to help. He would have to negotiate with the Korean government, but if they approved, the documents would be manipulated to show that over 500 refugees had entered Korea.

It didn’t necessarily have to be Syrian refugees; that was just a convenient starting point.

With a little strategic bribery, corrupt authorities would issue IDs, which would then be brought to Korea and transformed into genuine identities approved by the government.

NK [presumably, a contact or organization] was handling this intricate process.

The government wouldn’t be able to easily refuse his proposal.

The government had been struggling with the refugee issue and was actively trying to improve public perception.

In this context, expressing his intention to hire hundreds of refugees would create a politically advantageous image for them.

Now, all that remained was for him to successfully reach 5th Circle [a level of magical power or achievement].

If that happened, he would be able to run the directly managed convenience stores on full auto, meaning without human intervention.

Ding-dong!

“Honey, I’m home.”

“Welcome home. You worked hard today.”

His wife was wearing an apron.

The house was filled with delicious aromas.

His wife had inherited her mother’s exceptional cooking skills, making her a Korean food expert. Especially now that they were financially secure, she prepared a feast every day.

If he ever ventured into the lunch box business, wouldn’t he need his wife’s invaluable help?

He greeted Soo-ah and Soo-jung and took his place at the table.

He shared the day’s events with his family.

“Wow! You’re acquiring a convenience store chain?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re acquiring the entire company, not just a single convenience store, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then!”

Soo-jung quickly grasped the implications of his actions.

Others might not fully understand, but he, Soo-jung, and Rin [likely a magical familiar or assistant] knew how significant this acquisition was.

It was still challenging to teach complex skills to the Undead [presumably, magically animated beings]. It would likely remain difficult even if he reached 5th Circle.

It would take a considerable amount of time to train skilled technicians, but convenience stores didn’t really require extensive training.

They would run on full auto 24 hours a day, and to avoid raising suspicion, they could implement a rotation system every 12 hours.

For the sake of appearances, they would only need one additional person in each area to take turns. If necessary, adding one more person would further enhance the disguise.

He and Soo-jung exchanged knowing smiles.

“Oh, honey. And you know, I’m thinking of venturing into the lunch box business later, so I was wondering if you could lend me your expertise then.”

“Me?”

“You inherited your mom’s cooking skills.”

“Do you think I can be of help?”

“Definitely.”

“If I can be of help, I’ll gladly do anything.”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere too much with childcare and household chores.”

“I trust you.”

He knew she would respond that way.

His wife lived for their family. He asked for her help to build a more prosperous future, and she accepted without hesitation.

With his wife’s culinary talents, he had no reason to worry about the quality of the lunch boxes.

CL Convenience Store was a substantial company with 500 directly managed stores, a logistics center, a headquarters building, a dedicated lunch box factory, a research center, a distribution network, and comprehensive training centers.

The reason this company was being sold for around 50 billion won was primarily due to its overwhelming debt, not because of its inherent lack of value.

They could gradually reduce the debt over time through strategic management.

If he reached 5th Circle and brought black magicians under his control one by one, perfect auto-management might become a reality.

If the headquarters dispatched friendly and tireless part-timers to each store, the store owners wouldn’t have to constantly deal with clueless or unreliable employees. Above all, the customers would undoubtedly appreciate the improved service.

When that time came, he would have to create and deploy part-timers (?) with exceptionally attractive appearances.

“We’re leaving for France tomorrow, did you pack your luggage?”

“Yes, I packed my bags.”

“Great. Let’s relax and enjoy ourselves for once.”

“Wow! A trip to France!”

Soo-jung jumped up and down with excitement while eating, and his wife smiled warmly.

What would his wife say if she knew that the real reason for going to France was to visit the Catacombs, known as the gateway to hell?

The thought alone was terrifying. He would have to do his utmost to prevent her from discovering the truth.

Incheon International Airport.

His family was wearing hats pulled down low, attempting to remain inconspicuous.

His family hadn’t been heavily featured in the media yet, but one could never be too careful. The reporters’ persistence was legendary, and they had a knack for recognizing people even in disguise.

Fortunately, there were no reporters present at the airport.

“Hehe, I guess Dad is becoming famous.”

“Why?”

“You’re wearing a hat like a celebrity trying to avoid the paparazzi.”

“I can’t help it. If we get recognized, we’ll be in trouble.”

“Soo-jung understands.”

Soo-jung would soon be entering elementary school.

Even in kindergarten, she seemed remarkably mature. Not necessarily in terms of physical growth, but in the sophistication of her conversations.

He suspected that her tone was probably carefully cultivated. If her tone was too adult-like, it would be unsettling.

They completed the check-in procedures and deposited their luggage.

And then came the waiting period.

“Dad! Buy me a drink!”

“A drink?”

“From the vending machine! A Hello Kitty drink!”

Soo-jung was being unusually insistent.

His wife smiled and nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“Oh, you’re craving a sugary drink even after coming all this way?”

He headed to the vending machine with Soo-jung.

As expected, Soo-jung’s demeanor shifted, and she said in a low voice.

“Soo-jung calculated that the optimal time we can spend moving around in the Catacombs is approximately 4 hours. There’s a possibility that Mom won’t sleep deeply due to the time difference.”

“So, we should leave around 1 AM?”

“Yeah.”

He and Soo-jung were secretly plotting their clandestine activities.

Determining when to slip out for training and when to return undetected, ensuring his wife remained asleep.

He often wondered if this was a typical conversation between a father and daughter, but it had simply become their everyday reality.

“I hope you can reach 4th Circle this time.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Oh, and I heard from Rin that black magicians are scattered all over the world.”

“Really!?”

“Yeah. If we can bring them under our control…”

“Soo-jung needs to get stronger quickly. That way, we can become even richer.”

Soo-jung’s eyes sparkled with ambition.

Soo-jung was just as eager as he was to acquire more black magicians.

To perfectly implement the full auto business model he envisioned, he needed several more subservient individuals like Rin. He was still contemplating the best way to approach them and secure their loyalty.

Fortunately, Soo-jung volunteered to research potential strategies.

“I’ll think of a way to make them gather around Dad, no matter what it takes.”

“Okay. I’m counting on you.”

Soo-jung was diligently preparing the snare to capture their future assets.