Chapter 9

Pushing Someone to the Edge (2)

Song Namhoon, Executive Director and Head of Sales at Choi Sung Trading, was universally recognized as the company's second-in-command. After all, he led a division that generated 5 trillion won in sales.

Yet a single email left him with a bad feeling.

Just a few days ago, this issue had come up, and he'd casually mentioned it to Managing Director Kim from the Support Division. He had even asked for understanding, explaining that his people were simply overwhelmed with work.

He thought the matter was settled.

But now they were making it even bigger?

What's gotten into this guy?

Song pressed the intercom.

"Get all department heads... no, everyone at manager level and above into the conference room. Right now."

About ten minutes later, he entered the conference room. Everyone was waiting, visibly tense.

Song enjoyed moments like this.

Whether that tension was eased or transformed into fear depended entirely on him.

"Everyone got the Materials Department memo, right?"

"Yes, sir!"

"I already talked this over with Director Kim and considered it settled. But now he's stabbing me in the back. What do you all think?"

The phrase stabbing me in the back instantly turned tension into fear.

Everyone had opinions, but nobody dared speak immediately.

From one perspective, the proposal seemed efficient. But it was still a support department sticking its hand into Sales' internal affairs.

It was like a mother-in-law coming into your house and cleaning out your refrigerator because it was messy. Even if she meant well, you'd still be annoyed.

Of course, nobody could tell the executive director to go pick a fight with Managing Director Kim.

People with manager titles had mastered office politics.

The first response was an apology.

"We're sorry, Executive Director. Our shortcomings have caused you concern. We'll make sure this kind of criticism never comes up again."

The second response targeted a common enemy.

"It wasn't even a major issue, yet they sent a memo all the way up to you. We'll deal with it."

Song smiled.

"How?"

"We'll remind the Support Division to focus on support work. We've never failed to submit the data by the deadline. This is just them making things convenient for themselves. We'll tell them that excessive meddling is rude."

"Exactly. So why do you think Director Kim suddenly became so nosy? Doesn't that seem strange?"

The room reacted differently to Song's question.

Half of Choi Sung Trading's sales division sold products from other Choi Sung Group subsidiaries. Those people were spectators in this matter. The subsidiaries already reported inventory directly to the Materials Department.

The other half felt uneasy.

Could anyone confidently claim that the inventory numbers on paper perfectly matched the physical stock sitting in outsourced warehouses?

Not a single person could.

There were differences everywhere. Some bigger, some smaller, but none were exact.

Was Director Kim trying to find fault with the Sales Division?

At that moment, Oh Sangtae, manager of the Chemical Team and considered one of the division's rising stars, carefully spoke up.

"What if we simply tell them to do exactly what the memo says?"

"What do you mean?"

"Literally. Tell them to collect the information directly from the outsourced companies. Officially. Then let the Support Division take full responsibility for this work from now on."

Nobody understood the weaknesses of outsourced warehouse management better than Sales.

Handing over the refrigerator to the mother-in-law?

Ridiculous.

"You think that'll work?"

"Of course it will. The outsourced companies will never hand over the data."

"Go on."

"Whether it's month-end closing or quarterly closing, they'll end up reporting to the president without any outsourced inventory data."

Song and several managers burst out laughing.

It only took one sentence from a Sales representative.

No matter who contacts you from the Materials Department, don't provide any information. If you cooperate, we'll cut your orders.

That was enough.

The Materials Department would never receive inventory data.

"So they'll confidently push this forward and then end up with huge holes in their reports... not bad."

Song gave his approval.

No, it was more than approval.

It was an order to screw over Director Kim.

How dare a mere managing director challenge an executive director?

***

"Damn, we're screwed!"

The moment Team Leader Park Jaewoo received the month-end report from Assistant Manager Jo, he groaned.

What had started with an intern a month ago had somehow escalated this far.

And now they were completely screwed.

"The outsourced companies are even worse than the Sales Division. Most don't answer their phones, and even when they do, they just promise to send the data and then ghost us. What do we do? The closing deadline is almost here..."

Assistant Manager Jo Hyeyoung felt like she'd been losing her mind all week.

The moment she sent official requests to the outsourced companies after taking over the work, she'd had a bad feeling.

Not a single company replied.

Now that the deadline was approaching, they weren't even answering calls.

It felt like working against a brick wall.

Park suddenly found himself furious at the idiot who had started all of this.

"Where's that intern? Why haven't I seen him?"

"Ah... the interns have their final evaluation at the end of the month. He's preparing for the presentation..."

"Presentation or not, he should still be working."

"You told him to focus entirely on the presentation, Team Leader... last week..."

"I did? Ah...!"

Remembering that he'd removed Kang from work because he wasn't useful anyway only made him angrier.

At least if the kid were here, he'd have someone to vent at.

His phone rang.

It was Managing Director Kim.

"Yes, sir."

"Come to my office."

The cold tone made Park's stomach drop.

He hurried over and sat in front of Kim.

Meeting Kim's sharp gaze was difficult.

"The outsourced inventory management. Not going well?"

"...Why aren't the reports coming in?"

"I'm sorry. Cooperation hasn't been easy."

"Cooperation?"

Kim's expression turned into one of utter disbelief.

"Are you taking this too lightly?"

"Sir?"

"Wake up. Who gives them orders? Sales does. Do you think those companies are going to cooperate with us? Obviously they'll wait for Sales Division approval before sending anything. What the hell have you been doing?"

"I'm sorry."

Park couldn't even raise his head.

"This needs to be pushed all the way to the edge. That's the only way it gets resolved. Don't you understand?"

The edge...

He felt like he'd heard that phrase before.

"I'll provide manpower. Gather everyone and turn those outsourced companies upside down."

"Sir?"

***

"Get your head straight!"

Kim shouted, causing Park to sit up immediately.

"Take ten people, twenty people, whatever it takes. Search every warehouse. Verify every physical item, check all incoming and outgoing inventory, and build the reports yourselves."

"S-Sir... there are dozens of companies. Even with twenty people, it'd take months."

Kim tossed a note across the desk.

"Start with those companies. No matter how dependent they are on our orders, no company is going to sit quietly while outsiders rummage through their warehouses. They'll resist hard. Go in there like demolition thugs. Tear everything apart. Start with the companies on that list, and we'll quickly find out who's hanging off the cliff."

"Yes, sir."

Park left with the note in his hand.

Whatever happened next, he felt relieved.

At least now he had a role to play.

Even if that role was acting like hired muscle.

***

"We're partners now. Let's work well together, Hwang Junhyun."

The guy extended his hand with a bright smile.

Kang sighed.

For the final intern presentation, they'd apparently been paired into teams.

If they had to assign partners, couldn't they at least pair him with a pretty female intern?

Instead, he'd ended up with some arrogant guy.

"Are you done talking? Handle the presentation yourself and leave me out. I'm busy."

"What?"

"What do you mean, 'what'? Do it yourself."

"Hey! I don't want to work with you either. Do you think a single intern here wants to be partnered with you? But what choice do I have? The company assigned us together."

Oh?

The brat certainly knew how to push buttons.

"You're getting awfully informal."

"You started it. And you're the youngest intern here. You should be grateful I've been calling you 'sir' this whole time."

Kang found himself feeling ridiculous for arguing with a kid.

Then his partner said something even more absurd.

"If you're planning to ride my coattails, give up now. Do I look that easy?"

"Man, you sure talk a lot. I'm not riding anybody's coattails. Just do it yourself. I won't even show up."

The guy's expression immediately brightened.

Everyone already pointed fingers at Kang as the troublemaker.

Having him on the team would only drag things down.

If Kang was voluntarily stepping aside, all the spotlight would go to him.

Still, he found it suspicious.

Then he remembered Kang's incident with the chairman.

Right.

There was no way Kang was getting hired full-time now.

His internship was effectively over.

The only reason he hadn't quit was probably the tiny intern paycheck.

Feeling a bit sorry for him, he carefully asked:

"Is this because of what happened with the chairman? Has it already been decided? Is the internship your final stop? No chance of getting hired?"

Seeing genuine curiosity rather than mockery, Kang softened slightly.

"I get that you're curious, but don't stick your nose into other people's business. Just focus on yourself. It'll benefit you if I don't show up, right? Then take the win and move on. Listening to someone else's problems is for family and friends. You're neither."

The guy hadn't spent enough time in society to appreciate the advice.

Since his concern had been thrown back in his face, he finally snapped.

"Fine. I'm putting only my name on the presentation. And I'll make sure your team leader knows it. Don't complain later."

"Sure. Go ahead."

Kang lightly pushed past him and walked out.

**

There was no need to visit the hospital anymore.

Once people got a taste of money, they tended to follow instructions.

When Kang arrived at a café near the hospital, the woman was already waiting.

"How's his condition?"

"The same. The physical therapist keeps massaging him so his body doesn't stiffen up, and they're carefully managing his nutritional treatments. He's not getting any worse."

"How many people are coming and going?"

"Excuse me? I haven't tracked visitors..."

Kang let out a sigh.

"Listen, ma'am. If you want to keep making money, you need to bring me more than what I ask for. If you can't even earn your pay, you'll be replaced immediately. If you only do exactly what you're paid for, you'll eventually be replaced by someone better."

He leaned forward.

"Giving me a little hospital information earns you more than a large corporation manager's salary. Do you want to keep this job?"

The woman nodded vigorously.

"Then copy the patient's chart. Bring me a list of medications he's receiving. And find out who visits him every day."

"How am I supposed to do that...?"

"Why are you asking me? Figure it out yourself."

Kang tossed two bundles of fifty-thousand-won bills onto the table.

"Whether this is the last money you ever get, or the next payment is even bigger, depends on you. Let's meet here again in a month."

Hearing that the patient's condition hadn't worsened eased some of his worries.

He needed to know the exact state of the body.

After all, if the place he might have to return to at any moment was a cracked vessel, how could he ever feel at peace?