The Bottom of a Large Company Does a Good Job - Chapter 314



Only Noblemtl

Episode 314. Strange Rumors (4)

Chae On-ik felt bad for many reasons.

No matter how nicely you package it, the real meaning is already known.

Follow me.

But feeling bad is bad, and in the end, Chae On-ik had no choice but to follow along.

Because there were many things I wanted to say to him and many things I wanted to hear.

Since I had planned this with the intention of using Chae Kyung-jun anyway, I thought that this day would come someday.

From the moment I told Myung Ji-yoon, I expected Chae Kyung-jun to come to me in person.

Chae On-ik left the auditorium with a slight frown.

Chae Kyung-jun had already disappeared into the distance without even waiting.

Up until now, there were only people who kept pace with me.

It was the first time I’d ever seen someone just walk away without paying any attention and telling me to come if I wanted to.

Chae On-ik tried to walk slowly on purpose, but his pace quickened on its own because he was in a hurry.

Let’s go to the back of the building. There was a vending machine, two trash cans, and a few benches, which seemed to be used as a rest area.

Chae Kyung-jun was looking at the vending machine without paying any attention to Chae On-ik who was following him.

“What would you like to eat?”

Chae Kyung-jun said without even looking up.

Chae On-ik was a little taken aback, but he controlled his emotions.

Now, so to speak, it is a case of taking the initiative.

The idea is to set the mood before a fight.

In fact, Chae Kyung-jun was tired from coming here and it was hot so he was looking for a drink, but Chae On-ik thought the same thing.

Even before Chae Kyung-jun started a proper fight, Chae On-ik was already making a big mistake.

That makes sense, Chae Kyung-jun’s atmosphere was completely different from when they last met.

When I visited him before using my younger sister Chae In-ha as an excuse, he was smart, but he still had a sense of tension and caution.

The owner’s family suddenly showed up, and he was trying to figure out their motives and purpose.

But now it’s different.

He was so relaxed that I thought he was the same person as before.

It felt like I was dealing with an acquaintance, or rather, a business associate.

It feels like we’re properly sitting at the negotiating table.

Chae On-ik naturally thought of the most recent negotiation partner he had met.

Tak Jae-min.

My head started to warm up a little as I dealt with him.

Before I knew it, my emotions had melted away like snow.

What the object in front of you has done and what it can do in the future.

Background information flashed through Chae On-ik’s mind.

He recalled Chae Kyung-jun’s history for a moment and then approached him with a smile.

Take your time.

There was no need to show any signs of caution.

“Well, are you buying it for me?”

Chae Kyung-jun chuckled.

“Shouldn’t the managing director be the one buying it?”

“Do you plan on getting it?”

“No. I just feel more comfortable living my own way. Take your pick.”

Chae On-ik chose black coffee without saying a word.

Next, Chae Kyung-jun chose an ionic drink and swiped his card.

Chae On-ik, who suddenly got a cup of coffee, sat on the bench.

Chae Kyung-jun stood in front of it and drank a beverage.

It was peaceful.

But Chae On-ik did not relax.

Because I know that Chae Kyung-jun didn’t call me out with good intentions.

If that were the case, he would not have made such a speech on stage.

“Don’t be fooled by strange social gatherings. … … I believe you know very well how harmful they can be.”

This was a blatant attack on Chae On-ik’s private gathering.

I’m talking about a gathering of high school graduates who were specially recruited.

I thought it would reach Chae Kyung-jun’s ears someday since it wasn’t a secret, but it was a bit early.

I wonder if there’s someone among the 30 who is loose-lipped.

Or maybe Chae Kyung-jun’s information network is that wide.

Either way, it was true that it was something to be wary of.

It was clear that Chae Kyung-jun did not like the high school graduate special recruitment meeting.

“The managing director made a mistake.”

Well then, that’s right.

Chae Kyung-jun showed his displeasure without a doubt, even though he had been calling him out for it.

“It was a mistake. In what way?”

It was a presumptuous remark, but Chae On-ik did not get angry.

Anger is unconstructive in this situation.

I had to figure out if I could change Chae Kyung-jun’s mind.

And above all, Chae Kyung-jun was a person who deserved it.

I don’t like it when the team leader takes a dig at the owner’s family, but that’s just my personal feeling.

Because he is a guy whose skills are so solid that I want to drag him in with my own words.

“If you wanted to draw me in, you shouldn’t have done anything that could turn me into an enemy.”

Enemy? Have you done something wrong enough to deserve being turned into an enemy?

Chae On-ik tilted his head.

“Wasn’t that exactly the kind of plan that Team Leader Chae Kyung-jun would use?”

Chae Kyung-jun thought for a moment and then answered.

“That’s right. I also use a lot of plans to exploit others. When I notice them, I usually use plans that make them helpless and restrict their actions.”

Chae On-ik shrugged.

It’s like, what’s the difference between you and me?

“You’re not saying that Team Leader Chae can do it but I can’t, are you? Or are you saying that I can’t do it because I feel bad?”

It was half a joke.

Chae Kyung-jun is not that kind of emotional person.

If I had to say, I was close to Chae On-ik.

Chae Kyung-jun smiled brightly.

Contrary to the conversation, he seemed very happy.

“No way. I also hate hypocrisy. The fact that it was the director’s mistake means something else. He didn’t anticipate how I would react.”

Chae On-ik clenched his fist tightly in the hand holding the can.

That was true.

In fact, to Chae On-ik, everything around him is just material to be used.

The same goes for Chae Kyung-jun.

Considering Chae Kyung-jun’s actions so far, he thought that he would also understand his plan.

Because he was a similar kind of person to himself.

That’s why I thought you would agree.

I figured since he was a smart guy, he would see the big picture.

And the more far-sighted a person is, the more he or she can find ways to maximize his or her own benefit within that picture.

Because it’s that hard to break down the big picture.

This time, the picture he drew was simple, but it was something that definitely caught Chae Kyung-jun’s attention.

He uses his reputation to his advantage while making high school graduates his own.

From the beginning, since the name and members of the club were high school graduates who had been specially recruited, Chae Kyung-jun had no choice but to get involved, whether he liked it or not.

No matter how much you say no on your own, it’s no use.

Because someone is bound to be suspicious.

There is only one way for Chae Kyung-jun to benefit in this picture.

It was a group of high school graduates who were in close contact with each other and took advantage of each other.

It was also the path that Chae On-ik guided.

But Chae Kyung-jun broke that head on.

‘I thought it was over when I showed up in the auditorium today.’

I didn’t call Chae Kyung-jun on purpose.

Instead, he laid the groundwork so that he had no choice but to come.

Like a trap with tasty bait.

When I saw Chae Kyung-jun appear, I thought this was it.

Now all we have to do is accept new members for our club.

Just hearing the name of the meeting will make you think of Chae Kyung-jun, who came today.

I thought that whatever he said would be of no use.

So I let him grab the mic.

The act of blocking it itself is strange.

It wasn’t that Chae On-ik made a critical mistake.

It’s just that Chae Kyung-jun was a little bit ahead.

“You wanted to use me, sir? Did you think I would just sit there and be used?”

As expected, he saw right through my intentions.

Chae On-ik admitted it without hesitation.

“That’s why you planned it so that I would be used.”

“It’s not a result.”

Chaeon-ik whetted his appetite.

I have no choice but to admit it.

This time, Chae Kyung-jun was one step ahead.

I lost purely in reading.

The plan was ruined by Chae Kyung-jun’s actions that he couldn’t read.

It was a complete defeat.

Chae Kyung-jun narrowed his eyes and looked at the sight.

It seemed like something was being measured.

To be exact, we are in the process of deciding what to do with Chae On-ik.

He finally came to a conclusion and had a cool expression on his face.

“I have no intention of turning you into my enemy, sir. So let me make this clear here.”

“That’s better.”

I really thought so.

It’s easier to say this out loud than to waste energy fighting back and forth.

Neither of them were the type of people who would get hurt just by speaking out loud anyway.

Because I was the type of person who valued profit and rationality over emotional reactions.

“Don’t even think about using me.”

“Why? Because I feel bad?”

“No. It’s a nuisance.”

Chae On-ik was at a loss for words for a moment.

I’ve never heard anyone tell me to get out because I’m bothering them in my life.

It was definitely a world of difference from Chae Kyung-jun, whom I met last year.

Would Chae Kyung-jun of that time have dared to say something like that?

But it suits me well now.

They say that a place makes a person.

If it were any other guy, I wouldn’t have let that happen the moment he brought it up, but since it was Chae Kyung-jun, I thought I’d just listen to him first.

“I’m also a person with my own work. What can I do with Team Leader Chae Kyung-jun being on my path?”

“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable if I were there?”

Chae Kyung-jun smiled faintly.

From earlier, Chae Kyung-jun had been picking out only the right words to say.

Chae On-ik is the one who wants to lead the conversation.

To be exact, he is the type of person who leads the conversation in the direction he wants.

But, in the conversation with Chae Kyung-jun, it was difficult.

It keeps getting blocked.

It was really difficult to deal with.

Has it been like this before?

‘Even back then, there were signs of growth.’

He was a guy who knew his intentions exactly.

Now that I’ve sat in the team leader’s seat and have gained a lot of experience, I should be at a comfortable level.

“Whatever you do, you are free to do. It is a given. But if you use me, you will be required to pay a certain price.”

At first glance, it seemed like a presumptuous remark, but there was a lot of hidden meaning behind it.

There are many things you can gain by using Chae Kyung-jun.

Even if you just borrow the name, it’s like that.

This was especially true when considering the fame and influence of Kwon Tae-ho that followed.

So, Chae Kyung-jun was in a position where he absolutely could not be easily exploited.

In short, it shouldn’t look easy.

This was especially true because I was just starting to build my reputation and career.

If you can’t keep it, it means you have power that is not commensurate with your station.

Of course, it will become food for countless packs of wolves.

Kwon Tae-ho clearly gave Chae Kyung-jun the opportunity he so desperately wanted.

It was Chae Kyung-jun’s job to seize and protect that opportunity.

What I’m doing now is also part of that.

A quiet spark flew between the two.

Chae On-ik asked in a murderous voice.

“So, disband the club, is that it?”

The question was whether you had the authority to do so.

“That’s not possible. Today, it’s just a warning. Whoever enters the meeting and what you do with it is up to you, Executive Director.”

“Will it come out like that?”

“Yes. Shouldn’t the executive director take responsibility? My name is my responsibility, so I have to protect it.”

Although I said it in a roundabout way, the conclusion was the same.

Don’t use my name again.

Today it ended with a warning, but from now on I won’t let it go.

‘Warning… … .’

It was just a simple warning, but it ruined Chae On-ik’s plans in an instant.

This year’s new employees will naturally be wary of social gatherings.

Who would join when they even said it had a negative impact on meritocracy?

High school graduates who have been specially recruited may join after a few months because their situation becomes desperate, but it will have no other effect.

Spreading rumors through small group meetings will also be less effective.

Because Chae Kyung-jun’s one word today ruined my image.

If this is a warning, what would be proper sabotage?

I didn’t really want to experience it.

“You said earlier that you didn’t want to turn me into your enemy. Are you serious about that?”

From Chae On-ik’s perspective, it is burdensome to turn Chae Kyung-jun into an enemy.

If possible, I would like to turn them to the same side, but if that is not possible, I should leave them in the middle position.

It was a hundred times better than messing with Chae Tae-ik for no reason.

And this was also Chae Kyung-jun’s way of dealing with the world.

Not making enemies means not having any clear allies.

“There will come a day when you have to choose sides. When that happens, I hope you choose me.”

Chae On-ik is already shaking Chae Tae-ik’s foundation.

With the chairman’s tacit approval and Kwon Tae-ho’s wishes, a fight between brothers is bound to happen.

Neutrality without power gets beaten by everyone.

Still, Chae Kyung-jun was unwavering.

“Please keep the words the managing director said before.”

Executives can get their backs broken a little.

But I will make sure that no harm comes to the employees.

He said he would decide after seeing Chae On-ik’s skills.

“Keep that in mind.”

Chae On-ik drank his coffee in one gulp.

“Thank you for the coffee. I’ll buy it next time.”

Chae On-ik stood up without any hesitation.

Chae Kyung-jun muttered as he watched her walk away briskly without looking back.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to settle for this plan, Managing Director.”

Chae On-ik said he would leave the employees alone, but the one who is actually using the employees to spread rumors is Chae On-ik.

From Chae On-ik’s perspective, this may not seem like much, but Chae Kyung-jun thought now was the time to stop it.

It’s dangerous if the bottom shakes any longer.

Chae Kyung-jun took out his cell phone and opened the group chat.

-First of all, our company has spread the rumor!

-Is it like our side is covered too?

Chae Kyung-jun had a larger information network.