WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Potter
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Regressed Assistant Manager Kim Can Read Minds ◈
Chapter 26
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I rode to Daemyeong Electronics in Choi Yeongjin’s car.
As expected of an imported car, the ride was definitely smoother than in my Avante.
“Nice car.”
“In sales, you have to pay attention to your car too. Clients see you differently. I know a dealer. Why don’t you take this chance to get a new one?”
[If I land this deal, I can pay off the rest of the installments in one go.]
That was a very Choi Yeongjin thought.
Choi was vain and hungry for results.
Even in my previous life, Choi had been good at building relationships and managing clients, earning promotions faster than most employees with similar experience.
“I’ll let you know if I’m interested later.”
In the passenger seat, I opened the purchase order request again.
Daemyeong Electronics, which normally ordered fewer than 100 units, had requested 5,000 this time.
Yet none of the attached documents included an official purchase order from Seonghwa Boiler.
‘That is strange.’
I folded the request and asked,
“What’s Daemyeong Electronics like?”
As the car entered the industrial complex, Choi Yeongjin slowed down and made a familiar turn into a side street.
“They work hard. The president’s a good person too.”
Old factories and warehouses passed outside the window.
Choi Yeongjin pointed toward the end of the street with a tilt of the chin.
“When I first came here, that warehouse was all they had.”
“You must’ve handled this account for a long time.”
“Yes. Since before I became an assistant manager. It was also the first client I handled on my own. Back then, I planned to get two years of experience and move on, but we’re both still here.”
Daemyeong Electronics had started with its president assembling parts in a rented warehouse. Now it occupied an entire, fairly respectable building.
[This should be the president’s chance to really grow the company. And I could use a major deal to my name too.]
Despite those thoughts, Choi kept glancing at me, apparently bothered by my presence.
“Once we finish checking things today, I’ll keep handling the deal, right?”
“Yes. You can do the talking today too.”
Choi Yeongjin nodded, looking relieved.
“The purchasing representative from Seonghwa Boiler is already there.”
“Already?”
“Yes. They’ve been talking with the president since this morning.”
The car stopped in front of Daemyeong Electronics.
I followed Choi Yeongjin through the door.
Inside the office, Daemyeong Electronics’ president and Seonghwa Boiler’s purchasing representative were seated across from each other.
The president was visibly anxious to get things moving.
‘Rush a meal, and you’ll get indigestion.’
“Assistant Manager Choi, can you hurry things along a little? I’ll send the payment as soon as the bank loan comes through.”
I opened the documents in front of me.
There was no purchase order under Seonghwa Boiler’s name there either.
“When will you issue the official purchase order under Seonghwa Boiler’s name?”
“We still need internal approval. The order’s already confirmed, so the goods should... No, what happens on Taeseong Trading’s side has nothing to do with us, does it?”
I ignored the curt reply and focused on the representative’s thoughts.
[A purchase order? That would make it a pain to back out later.]
“Then if the order is canceled, will Seonghwa Boiler cover the cost of the parts purchased in advance?”
“Why are you already worrying about a cancellation? It’s not as if this is our first business deal.”
[Why should we take on that debt? Daemyeong Electronics needs to be stuck with it so Hando Trading can pick it up cheap.]
Hando Trading.
It was a trading company affiliated with a major corporate group, competing for the top spot in the industry.
In my previous life, it had swallowed up several small and medium-sized companies this way.
It lured them into taking on debt with the promise of a large order, then canceled just before delivery. When the companies could no longer hold out, it bought their factories and technology for next to nothing.
‘Was Daemyeong Electronics one of its targets too?’
Even if I brought up Hando Trading now, the purchasing representative would obviously deny everything.
I called Choi Yeongjin to one side of the office.
“Assistant Manager Choi, if we accept this order as it stands, Daemyeong Electronics could go under.”
“What? Where’s this coming from?”
“There’s no official purchase order, but Daemyeong Electronics is taking on all the debt. If the other side cancels, all the stock and debt will be left here.”
Choi Yeongjin struggled to accept it.
At 250 million won, this deal would more than cover the year’s sales target.
“Do we really need to worry about something that hasn’t happened? There’s no guarantee you’re right either.”
“That’s true. If we take the order now, you’ll get credit for 250 million won in sales. But if they do back out, the client you’ve helped grow from the beginning will disappear.”
I held out the purchase order request.
“It’s your client. You decide.”
Choi Yeongjin looked back and forth between the documents and Daemyeong Electronics’ president.
After a long pause, Choi let out a deep sigh.
“Damn it. I thought things were finally going my way.”
Choi Yeongjin took the documents back to the table and slid them toward the purchasing representative.
“We won’t proceed until we receive an official purchase order.”
“Look, we’ve already agreed on everything. Now you’re going to hold things up because there’s no purchase order?”
“Then send one under Seonghwa Boiler’s name. If they buy the parts on your word and you cancel, Daemyeong Electronics gets stuck with the whole bill.”
This time, I continued.
“We also need confirmation that Seonghwa Boiler will cover the cost of any parts Daemyeong Electronics buys in advance if you cancel the order. Until we receive both, Taeseong Trading won’t accept this order.”
“All Taeseong Trading has to do is supply the sensors, isn’t it? There’s no need for you to interfere in our dealings with Daemyeong Electronics.”
Choi Yeongjin cut the purchasing representative off.
“Enough of that. Just tell us whether you can issue an official purchase order and cover the cost of the parts bought in advance if you cancel.”
The confidence the representative had shown while pressuring Daemyeong Electronics’ president, insisting that the order was confirmed, had vanished.
The purchasing representative gathered up the documents and stood.
“Wait. Are you really leaving like this?”
“This isn’t something I can decide here. I’ll check internally and get back to you.”
“Then what happens to the order?”
“I’ll have to check on that too.”
The purchasing representative left the factory before Daemyeong Electronics’ president could try to stop them again.
After the door closed, the president stared at it for a while.
“Assistant Manager Choi, what on earth is going on with Seonghwa Boiler?”
Unable to answer, Choi Yeongjin looked at me.
I placed the purchase order request back in front of the president.
“They never intended to take delivery in the first place.”
“What do you mean...?”
“If they make you buy the parts without a purchase order and then cancel, all Daemyeong Electronics will have left is stock and debt. If you can’t hold out, you’ll have no choice but to sell your factory and technology for next to nothing.”
The president’s face stiffened.
“Don’t tell me they were after our company from the start...”
“I doubt Seonghwa Boiler was acting alone.”
It was one of Hando Trading’s favorite corporate raiding methods.
‘Come to think of it, I keep getting tangled up with Hando Trading.’
First Gwangjin Precision and Mongsil Latex, and now Daemyeong Electronics.
I hadn’t intended it, but I kept stepping in ahead of Hando Trading wherever it set its sights.
“You can place your usual orders through Assistant Manager Choi as before. We’ll only put today’s bulk order on hold until we receive an official purchase order.”
“If it weren’t for you two, I would’ve put my house up as collateral without even getting a purchase order. Thank you so much.”
Choi Yeongjin looked awkward as the president thanked us again and again.
“I’ll do what I can to find you more business too.”
“Oh, thank you, Assistant Manager Choi.”
Daemyeong Electronics’ president even pressed drinks into our hands for the drive back.
The car remained quiet for a while after we left the factory.
When we stopped at a red light, Choi Yeongjin spoke first.
“To be honest, I thought you’d come to take my client.”
“I thought so.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Very. Your thoughts are written all over your face.”
Looking embarrassed, Choi Yeongjin stared straight ahead.
“Still, it’s a shame about that 250 million won. That one deal would’ve covered my sales target for the year.”
“It is. But it’s better than having your client go under. There’ll be other chances.”
“Well, there’s no rule saying they all have to keep going to you.”
The car started moving again.
A little later, Choi Yeongjin cleared their throat and added,
“I’ll buy you a drink next time.”
“You’re buying?”
“Why do you find that so hard to believe? There’s a bar I go to often. It has a nice atmosphere.”
“You go to bars? You must have money to spare.”
Choi Yeongjin chuckled, then lowered their voice as though sharing a trade secret.
“They give you a big discount if you go early in the evening.”
The showing off and quick calculations hadn’t changed.
Still, unlike before, I no longer found Choi simply annoying.
* * *
A few days after our visit to Daemyeong Electronics, Kang Minho turned his monitor toward me.
“Manager Kim, Segwang Pump sent us some photos.”
On the screen, 50 water pumps stood in rows at a cargo terminal in Thailand.
It was the first shipment, with Anantakul covering the air freight.
“Have they checked all the goods?”
“Yes. They’ve finished checking the quantity and exterior condition. We also have a shipping schedule for the remaining 250 units.”
I immediately called the finance team.
“Has the payment from Anantakul for the first shipment come in?”
“Yes. It arrived this morning.”
“Thank you for confirming.”
I wrote “Payment confirmed” beside the first shipment on the schedule.
Just as I was about to close the file, an email arrived confirming the quantity for Mongsil Latex’s second home shopping broadcast.
Below it, inquiries about natural rubber supplies and purchase orders from domestic companies continued to pile up.
A few days later, a new notice appeared on the company bulletin board.
[Special Reward Recipients for the New Thailand Business]
[Manager Kim Seongjun, Junior Employee Kang Minho]
Shortly afterward, an email arrived from HR with the details of my individual reward.
[Special Bonus: 50,000,000 won.]
I checked the number again.
The largest bonus I’d ever received was five million won. This was ten times that.
I took out my phone and checked my account. The exact amount listed in the email had been deposited.
Kang Minho held his phone out to me and lowered his voice.
“Manager Kim, isn’t this a mistake?”
His screen showed a special bonus of 10,000,000 won.
Kang Minho’s eyes were wide.
That was understandable, with a bonus several times his monthly salary landing in his account.
“It’s correct. So enjoy it.”
“...!”
Kang Minho swallowed hard and nodded.
Looking at the list of reward recipients on the company bulletin board, Park Soyeon said,
“If you’ve even received a separate special bonus, couldn’t you get a special promotion too, Manager Kim?”
“I only just became a manager. Maybe Minho could get promoted to assistant manager.”
“Still, with you, who knows?”
The bank balance that had shrunk when I paid the remainder for my apartment on moving day had risen in one leap.
Of course I was happy.
I didn’t spend long deciding how to use it.
First, I set aside money for my overseas stock account and my parents, then sent Suyeon 200,000 won straightaway.
[Overseas Stock Account: 30,000,000 won.]
[Parents: 2,000,000 won.]
[Kim Suyeon: 200,000 won.]
Not long after I finished the transfers, Suyeon called.
“Hey, did you send this by mistake? I haven’t scored over 800 on the TOEIC yet.”
“Think of it as an advance.”
“Thanks. You’re the best!”
“Study hard.”
“I will! I’ll bring chicken over this week!”
She sounded excited already.
I chuckled and hung up.
Even after setting aside the money for stocks and my family, I had 17.8 million won left in the account.
I looked at the balance on the screen for a while.
My work was bringing me both the credit and the reward I deserved. I thought it was all right to enjoy that feeling a little longer.
* * *
That afternoon, Head of Sales No Seungpil’s shouting from Overseas Sales Team 3 reached all the way to Teams 1 and 2.
“Jang Taeho!”
After being scolded by Cha Myeongguk over poor sales, No Seungpil had come downstairs and slammed a sales report onto Jang Taeho’s desk.
“Do you know what I had to hear from the president because of Team 3?!”
“I’m sorry.”
“You humiliated me, and all you can say is you’re sorry? Kim Seongjun sold 300 units in Thailand during a coup! He was running between tanks to make sales! And you lot can’t even hold on to sales from clients you already had?”
The claim about running between tanks wasn’t true, but Jang Taeho only bit their lip and kept their head down.
“Bring me a solution by tomorrow morning! If you bring me another page of excuses, I’ll replace the people, not the clients!”
Even after No Seungpil left, Team 3 remained silent.
Humiliated within earshot of the other teams, Jang Taeho called Shin Jaeuk into an inner meeting room.
Shin Jaeuk checked the hallway and closed the door. Jang Taeho immediately began swearing.
“Getting fucking humiliated in front of my own team. How is that right?”
“...I’m sorry.”
“If we sit back and do nothing, we’ll be the only ones left looking like idiots. You know that, right?”
“Then...?”
“If Kim Seongjun keeps handling Thailand, it’s only a matter of time before he looks into our business trip records.”
Shin Jaeuk shook their head uneasily.
“Still, that’s a bit...”
“Hey. You took local sales expense money and spent it gambling and having fun in Thailand too. If that gets out, we’re both finished.”
“...”
They could lose their jobs, of course. But if the company filed charges for embezzlement, they could face criminal penalties too.
“If we get rid of Kim Seongjun, there’ll be no one to look into our trip records again. We can take over the Thailand sales too.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Make him out to be a bribe taker.”
A few days later, the two used their contacts at the local agency in Thailand to obtain a fake written statement claiming that Seongjun had taken a bribe.
Documents sent from outside the company weren’t enough.
They needed someone in Team 2 to back up the same story.
The person Jang Taeho thought of was Choi Yeongjin.
In Jang Taeho’s eyes, Choi was both the person most likely to resent Seongjun’s promotion and the easiest member of Team 2 to sway.
“Manager Shin, meet with Assistant Manager Choi Yeongjin.”
“Yes, understood.”
Near the end of the workday, Shin Jaeuk called Choi Yeongjin into a small meeting room.
Shin offered Choi a coffee bought in advance and sat down opposite.
“Assistant Manager Choi, it must be tiring being stuck on the wrong team.”
“Isn’t every team tough in its own way?”
“Department Manager Oh Sangcheol and Manager Han Gyeongsu are both a little... rigid, aren’t they? And then there’s Manager Kim Seongjun, taking all the sales for himself.”
As Shin Jaeuk spoke, they watched Choi Yeongjin’s reaction.
“You don’t want to keep getting pushed aside under Manager Kim either.”
“Manager Shin, stop talking around it. Just tell me what you mean.”
“Manager Kim Seongjun took money under the table from a Thai company.”
“Manager Kim? From our team?”
Shin Jaeuk nodded.
“Think about it. If Kim Seongjun’s out, we’ll have to divide up the Thailand business again. Surely I could put your name down for some of it?”
When Choi Yeongjin didn’t answer, Shin Jaeuk assumed Choi was considering it and gave Choi a pat on the shoulder.
“It’s nothing difficult. Just say you heard it from Manager Kim.”
“Heard what?”
“That he pocketed some extra money in Thailand.”
* * *
A little later, Choi Yeongjin returned. When our eyes met, Choi looked away and sat down.
Soon, harsh thoughts reached me.
[I didn’t think Manager Shin Jaeuk was like that. What a fucking snake. They want me to stab my own team in the back? They’d obviously use me and throw me away. Do they think I’m too stupid to see that?]
After the harsh curses came bitter self-reproach.
[...Do people on other teams really see me as the kind of scum who’d sell out my own team?]
I unlocked my drawer.
The evidence of Jang Taeho and Shin Jaeuk’s corruption that I’d set aside in Thailand was still inside.
‘I’ve let this sit long enough.’
I took out the folder and placed it on my desk.
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