Chapter 2. Organization is Preparation
From the moment I was under police investigation until the trial, I didn’t go to work.
Of course, this was due to a not-so-subtle recommendation from the company.
Even if I don’t submit my resignation, I’ll soon receive a dismissal notice.
I’ve already shown everything that needed to be shown to the outside world, and the results have come out.
I’ve even received the promised money, so why bother going to the company to submit my resignation?
If I had been content to live with the 1 billion won I received, I would have cursed, “Damn it, what a load of crap,” and let it be over.
But I have no intention of ending it like this, so I came to submit my resignation personally.
I have a purpose.
“Lee Seon-su…”
“It’s my resignation, Manager.”
Manager Kang Man-ho.
He’s someone I’ve worked with at Samdo General Construction for quite some time.
“I’m sorry.”
Those were the first words out of his mouth the moment he saw my resignation letter.
He’s a compassionate man.
But that doesn’t mean he lacks ability.
He’s just too kind-hearted and isn’t good at aligning himself with the right people.
That’s why people call him a perpetual manager.
“It’s okay.”
Someone moves behind him.
It’s Lee Chul-min. He was in the same department as me.
He should have been the one to take responsibility for all of this.
Or, considering the scale of the incident, Manager Kang Man-ho, as the department head, should have taken responsibility alongside him.
But neither of them did.
“I’m truly sorry. If I didn’t have a family to take care of…”
“Are you truly sorry?”
Manager Kang’s face turned red.
He didn’t genuinely feel remorse.
“W-well, yes.”
“Are you honestly sorry that I had to take the fall for everything?”
“……”
No.
Manager Kang felt relieved that he didn’t have to take responsibility.
His excuse about having to provide for his family was just that—an excuse.
“Manager.”
“Huh? Oh…”
Manager Kang was overwhelmed by my intensity.
He wondered if I had changed after going through such a difficult time.
“If you’re really sorry, I want you to seriously consider a proposal I’ll make to you later.”
“A proposal? What kind of proposal?”
“Later. You just have to promise.”
I knew Manager Kang’s personality, which is why I framed it this way.
“Alright? Sure.”
I wasn’t asking him to act immediately, nor did I say when I’d make the proposal.
There’s a saying, ‘If it’s on credit, you could even eat a cow.’
And Manager Kang was the type to try to keep promises once he made them.
It’s how he survived all these years.
He didn’t make promises recklessly.
Even when a little flattery could help him rise in the ranks, he refrained from doing it.
Naturally, he fell out of favor with his superiors.
“You’ve promised.”
“Yes, I promise.”
My reason for coming to submit my resignation was Manager Kang.
I don’t know whether he’ll keep the promise or not.
But if I hadn’t made him promise, things would have been much more difficult the next time I saw him.
Why Manager Kang, specifically?
In a few years, Manager Kang will be a key figure in winning overseas construction projects.
And he’ll be promoted to an executive position.
How do I know this?
I ran into him once.
Back when I was working as a day laborer, looking disheveled.
Most construction sites cross paths, so it was inevitable that we would meet.
“It won’t be such a bad proposal.”
There’s something I heard back then.
He was thinking of quitting the company, but when he successfully secured an overseas construction contract, he stayed on and became an executive.
If nothing else, Manager Kang’s skills in construction work were undeniable.
“See you next time then.”
“Lee Seon-su, let’s at least grab a drink later.”
“No, thank you, Manager.”
I said that to make him feel even guiltier.
And since Lee Cheol-min ran off, Executive Director Lee Min-sik would soon call me.
Sure enough, I saw Executive Director Lee’s secretary approaching.
I smiled and walked toward the secretary.
“Uncle, Lee Seon-su didn’t come here just to submit his resignation.”
“I told you to call me Executive Director.”
“I’m sorry.”
Lee Cheol-min glanced at Executive Director Lee, gauging his reaction, and continued.
“And you won’t be Executive Director for long anyway, right? Soon, you’ll be President. President!”
“The personnel announcements haven’t been made yet! Don’t say such things!”
Despite his words, Executive Director Lee seemed pleased to hear himself referred to as President.
“Come on, who’s really running this company?”
“Still.”
“Yes, I understand. But what could Lee Seon-su be up to?”
“Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. We’ve paid him, burned the photos, so what can he do?”
“That’s true.”
Lee Cheol-min felt like a thief with a guilty conscience.
He was worried that Lee Seon-su might betray him and drag him down with him.
“If it weren’t for family…”
Executive Director Lee sighed.
Though not a direct family member, he considered Lee Cheol-min part of the Samdo Group’s owner family.
Anything that could tarnish the family’s honor had to be avoided.
That’s why they used Lee Seon-su as a scapegoat.
“I’m sorry. But dragging him along to that reception was a good move, wasn’t it?”
Executive Director Lee was dumbfounded.
Lee Cheol-min didn’t even recognize his own mistakes.
But what could he do?
Even though he wanted to cut him off, he couldn’t do that.
After all, he was his brother’s son.
“You didn’t want to go to that reception, but I dragged you there on the pretense of a business trip.”
“Lee Cheol-min.”
“Yes?”
Executive Director Lee’s expression turned cold.
“I told you not to bring that up again.”
“I’m sorry.”
Executive Director Lee clicked his tongue.
He knew about the bribes that Lee Cheol-min had taken from the civil engineering company that Lee Seon-su was overseeing.
It was Director Han Min from Han Min Construction who had paid for that expensive booze.
And they dragged Lee Seon-su along against his will.
He left after just one hour.
The audit team had already investigated everything.
Knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door, and the secretary entered.
Executive Director Lee, as if nothing had happened, greeted me with a broad smile.
“Lee Seon-su, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, Executive Director.”
“You came to submit your resignation?”
“That’s right.”
“Have a seat. Please.”
He welcomed me as if I were a true nephew.
“Why bother coming in person to submit your resignation? A simple phone call could’ve handled it.”
Aren’t you happy?
I’m doing you the favor of resigning on my own.
Even if it’s just a suspended sentence, it’s still a criminal conviction, so they would have dismissed me on those grounds anyway.
“How could I ask for such a favor?”
“Is that so? Haha.”
“Yes. I needed to come personally. I also need to settle my severance pay.”
Executive Director Lee’s face stiffened momentarily but then relaxed into a smile.
“Severance pay? Haha, isn’t that a bit unreasonable?”
“What’s unreasonable about it?”
“Someone who caused problems for the company can’t expect severance pay. You didn’t leave because of the company’s circumstances, did you?”
That’s how it appears from the outside.
“So you’re saying I won’t be getting severance pay?”
“I’m not saying we won’t give it. It’s just difficult. It would violate company policy.”
I expected this.
“Oh, you’ve misunderstood something.”
“Misunderstood what?”
Executive Director Lee tilted his head.
“I never expected severance pay from the company.”
“Then?”
I glanced at the smirking Lee Cheol-min beside him.
“The money I received from Han Min Construction and Jarim Civil Engineering is my severance pay.”
Executive Director Lee was dumbfounded.
And Lee Cheol-min exploded in anger.
“What? Are you out of your mind?”
“Yes, I am, Lee Cheol-min.”
“…”
You didn’t expect this, did you?
“You claimed I took bribes from Han Min Construction, right? So where do you think that money is now? Isn’t it fair that I keep it?”
Executive Director Lee shook his head.
“Isn’t that why we gave you the 1 billion won?”
“That was for taking the blame. I can’t say I took something I didn’t. The prosecutors and police let that slide.”
Since everything was tangled up anyway, I was determined to get everything I was owed.
This was my second goal.
I could live without the money, but they couldn’t avoid paying it.
“Are you saying you’ll request a reinvestigation?”
“What power do I have to do that?”
Samdo Group would block it anyway.
“But maybe the people who still feel wronged would be interested.”
If I pressed this matter, it would cause them problems.
Samdo Construction’s name might resurface in the media.
“If that happens, wouldn’t you be punished for perjury?”
It was Lee Cheol-min speaking.
“Maybe. But you could also be investigated, Lee Chul-min.”
He hadn’t thought of that.
So His face turned pale.
“Should we all go down together? Or will you cough up what you got from Han Min Construction and Jarim Civil Engineering?”
Lee Cheol-min bit his lip. He glanced at Executive Director Lee.
Executive Director Lee gave him a small nod
“Do as Lee Seon-su says.”
If done incorrectly, there could be problems with him becoming the president of Samdo Construction.
Before Lee Cheol-min could respond, Lee Seon-su spoke again.
“Oh! I did a rough calculation, you know? It came out to around 300 million won.”
“What?”
It wasn’t Lee Cheol-min but Executive Director Lee Min-sik who was shocked.
“How… how did you know…?”
The truth of how he knew would be revealed much later.
“Hey! You crazy bastard!”
Executive Director Lee Min-sik shouted without realizing it.
The amount of money was too large for just a mere employee like Lee Cheol-min to receive as a bribe.
“Uncle…”
“Is it true?”
“That…”
“Han Min said it was about 100 million won!”
The audit team would definitely investigate.
“That’s about right. It’s true.”
The membership rights and what’s visible alone amount to 100 million won.
There’s more that was received separately.
Lee Cheol-min had adjusted the amount to avoid raising the total, telling Han Min Construction to exclude the cash details.
“Speak honestly! Before calling Han Min.”
The situation is different when the audit team asks versus when Executive Director Lee Min-sik asks.
He would certainly speak honestly.
“Sorry… I’m sorry.”
“Ha. Even if it’s a nephew…”
Executive Director Lee Min-sik thought he couldn’t keep Lee Cheol-min any longer.
“I told you to tell me everything without leaving anything out…”
When the incident occurred and it became a problem, the first person he called was Lee Cheol-min.
He was in charge of Han Min Construction.
In a way, it was impossible for a mere employee like Lee Cheol-min to fully handle a company like Han Min Construction.
It was all thanks to Executive Director Lee Min-sik’s consideration.
The plan was to build up results and promote him quickly.
That way, even if issues arose later, he would have something to say.
He had worked his way up from the bottom diligently.
“Haah.”
That said, he couldn’t dismiss Lee Cheol-min in front of Lee Seon-su.
It was a matter of pride.
“Give the 300 million won to Lee Seon-su.”
“Uncle…”
“Don’t say anything else. Give it right now.”
“But…”
“You don’t have it?”
“Yes…”
There’s no way the money received easily as a bribe would be kept around.
“Does Lee Seon-su really need that money?”
He was very angry.
“So that’s why you came? You’re going to become the president soon, right?”
Executive Director Lee Min-sik was even more bewildered.
“People really changed huh. Now you even know how to threaten like this.”
“What changed me was the company.”
Is he expected to keep getting taken advantage of?
“Fine. I’ll give it. I’ll deposit it into the account used before… Right now.”
Executive Director Lee Min-sik went to the desk and picked up the phone.
“It’s me. Deposit 300 million won into Lee Seon-su’s account. Reason? Severance pay!”
Clunk!
Putting the receiver down, Executive Director Lee Min-sik glared at Lee Seon-su.
“It should have been deposited, so you can leave.”
“Thank you, Executive Director.”
He should leave quickly.
“And it would be best not to look at this industry anymore.”
“I’ll consider it.”
He was actually planning to look at it.
“What?”
Before Executive Director Lee Min-sik could get more angry, Lee Seon-su opened the door and left.
But he didn’t leave immediately.
It was because of the sound coming from inside.
“Hey, you bastard! You think you can leave the company with not a single penny!”
“Yes? Uncle…”
Is it over?
“Hyung! It’s me. I can’t keep Cheol-min any longer, so either take him to your company or send him to an affiliate. Why are you doing this!”
He was on the phone.
If it’s “Hyung,” then it must be Lee Cheol-min’s father?
Was it Executive Director Jeon-mu?
“This bastard made hundreds of millions. That’s also a problem. Yeah, even if he came here through your Strength, there’s nothing that can be done anymore.”
That’s why he ended up in construction.
“This isn’t a simple issue. Understand that.”
The sound of the receiver being slammed down was heard.
It seemed like it was time to go.
Goodbye, Lee Cheol-min.
Just a whistle came out.
The 300 million won was deposited accurately.
1.3 billion won.
What to do with this?
Nothing for now.
“Haah. Haah. Haah…”
Lee Seon-su was currently dedicated to building his physique at the gym.
He had neglected his physical condition for a long time.
Well, that’s to be expected when working.
In 1993, it was natural to work late if there was work.
Saturdays were also workdays.
And there was always a lot of work.
He couldn’t even dream of leisure time.
He would collapse from exhaustion after work.
Wake up, wash roughly, and go to work.
It was natural for his body to deteriorate.
“Are you planning to run a marathon or something?”
As he got off the treadmill, a gym employee approached.
“No.”
“But you’re running 20km?”
“I’m trying to get healthy.”
In reality, it was to drink alcohol.
“Don’t you do other strength training? I can help you with that.”
Trying to sell personal training services.
“It’s okay.”
It’s been 3 months since he started working out at the gym.
He’s intentionally building his body.
After returning from the gym, he took various nutritional supplements.
Supplements that can’t be supplemented by just meals.
“I thought just eating well would be enough.”
No.
To meet all the vitamins needed by the body, you have to eat more vegetables and meat than expected.
“Well then, shall we go?”
He needs to see the results of his workouts.
There was a dream he had on the day he received severance pay from Samdo Construction.
It was the moment to make that dream come true.
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