I’d Rather Live as a Villain

I’d Rather Live as a Villain – Part 9

I’m offering you an opportunity.

It’s not about what I want to do, but what the chairman wants to hear and see.

I had to find that out.

Director Park Je-dong was demoted.

I should understand that he laid out the board for me.

Here, my revenge against Director Park Je-dong and Deputy Manager Jung Chang-ho means nothing.

What’s the point of doing it now?

It’s not like it’s going to make money, nor will it benefit me significantly.

After all, those people were out of my life the moment they proposed a contract marriage worth 10 billion to the executive director.

What benefits me.

Since he laid out the board, perhaps he means for me to find and create something beneficial for myself on it?

He gave me wings, and I shouldn’t waste time circling the same spot, entangled in past affairs, when I could be flying further and higher.

I must make the one who gave me wings feel proud and satisfied with their decision.

If I can’t satisfy them, these wings could be taken back at any time.

“I’m Yoon Tae-sik.”

“I know, I know. I remember you well. Saw you at Vice President Kang Young-jin’s wedding. Come, have a seat. Shall we have a coffee?”

“Yes.”

President Min Byung-jin.

To Executive Director Kang Moon-jung, who is competing for succession with Vice President Kang Young-jin, he is a definite ally.

But being an ally isn’t quite enough.

Among the group’s affiliates, the power of the trading company isn’t that strong.

Regardless of the sales volume, the trading company is where the shareholding structure is too complicatedly intertwined.

Moreover, since Vice President Kang Young-jin brought in a powerful ally from outside into the Daeyoung Group by marrying Director Joo Yeon-hee of the VR Group, President Min Byung-jin’s influence within the group is known to be waning.

The fact that he has been unable to ascend to the group’s headquarters for seven years, guarding the president’s office of the trading company, proves his capabilities as a businessman, but entering the group’s headquarters is a different matter.

We began our conversation over coffee.

“I heard from Team Leader Son that you were on your way up from Daejeon?”

“Yes, I went down to see my mother for a bit.”

“If I had known that, I could have arranged our meeting a bit more roughly.”

“No, I’m sorry for arranging it to fit my schedule, and I’m grateful you agreed so readily.”

Certainly, this person has some real skill.

Despite knowing the reason behind my greeting, there’s no sign of discomfort.

Even if they feel uneasy inside, they at least manage to maintain their authority when dealing with me.

“As you know, it’s an urgent external personnel directive from the group headquarters, and here we have an even more urgent personnel appointment to proceed with. If it were an internal appointment, there wouldn’t be a need for a separate meeting, but since it’s a directive directly from the chairman, I thought it would be appropriate to meet and greet the executive director and the head of our overseas construction division before your first day. There’s also the executive contract to be drafted.”

“I need to head over to the distribution headquarters by 5 o’clock.”

Upon hearing about another appointment with Executive Director Kang Moon-jung, President Min waved his hand, indicating there was nothing to worry about.

“Umm… We can’t take too long either. We’re thinking of just having a brief greeting among ourselves.”

Networking.

The chairman, and the chairman who granted me this position, surely didn’t do so for such things.

“More importantly, Mr. President.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re arranging a meeting, since there will be plenty of opportunities with the executive director and the division head in the future, could we postpone those and arrange a meeting with Director Park Je-dong instead?”

At my request, President Min tilted his head in confusion.

“Right now, at this moment?”

“Yes. Once the appointment is confirmed, I intended to ask you to arrange a meeting with Director Park before my official start.”

“May I ask why you’re insisting on creating such an uncomfortable meeting separately?”

Was it just my imagination, or did President Min’s face look even more uncomfortable at that question?

“If we skip over matters that can’t wait just because they’re uncomfortable, won’t we have to deal with even more uncomfortable situations later?”

“More uncomfortable situations?”

I couldn’t bring myself to say that Park Je-dong should clean up his own mess before leaving.

I nodded and then spoke up.

“At the very least, shouldn’t we receive a proper handover of duties?”

I was well aware of how ridiculous and transparent it was to bring up the handover of work in this situation.

As expected, President Min gave a bitter smile and said,

“Director Park. There wouldn’t have been time to prepare for such a thing. Two days ago, the group secretariat issued an order to vacate the position, and this morning, the decision on his future was finalized.”

“In that case, as the successor to the European regional director, I should at least request the necessary details before officially starting my duties.”

“Hmm… Yes, please continue.”

“If my first task as the newly appointed director, under the chairman’s orders, becomes erasing the traces of my predecessor, it would be awkward for you too, wouldn’t it, Mr. President? I’ll request that he clears his own traces before leaving.”

After a moment of consideration, President Min nodded and agreed.

When he was about to connect the internal phone, I first requested the personnel documents related to the European division.

“Did you receive a message through Manager Son that I wanted to check the HR documents in advance?”

“Prepared them for you. Here.”

“Thank you.”

***

It was about ten minutes later when Director Park Je-dong opened the door to the president’s office.

In the meantime, I had asked for understanding and was reviewing the HR documents for the European division that President Min had prepared in advance.

It was utterly shocking.

Ryu Seong-jin, Choi Ga-hee, Kim Mi-sun…

All the colleagues who I thought were quite skilled had resigned.

On the other hand, Deputy Director Jung Chang-ho was the prospective division head for the European division.

And Choi Moon-ho, my colleague who was just as serious about office politics and played a leading role in isolating me among our peers (despite being promoted to assistant manager later than I was), was confirmed for a posting as the team leader of Spain Team 3 in the Madrid office.

Securing the Andalusian mega olive farms.

That was indeed a significant achievement.

Securing long-term contracts with three of the major farms there was the real feat, and after that, the business operations were a piece of cake for Daeyoung Corporation’s organizational strength.

With at least five years’ worth of performance and results already secured.

Director Park Je-dong and Deputy Director Jung Chang-ho turning the European division into their kingdom was hardly a challenge, was it?

“I’ve asked to see you several times today over some rather unpleasant matters.”

President Min, facing Director Park Je-dong who had opened the door to the president’s office, emotionlessly offered him a seat on the sofa opposite me.

“…No, it’s fine.”

I only watched as President Min offered Director Park the seat on the sofa, then turned my gaze back to the HR documents.

Without any reaction to him, I focused on the documents related to the European division’s personnel until he sat down opposite me.

Or rather, I pretended to be focused.

My heart was pounding.

But I couldn’t show it.

Facing him with an even colder demeanor.

That was what I had to do in this moment.

“It’s been a while… Deputy Director Yoon Tae-sik.”

That was the greeting Director Park Je-dong extended to me.

He didn’t need to add ‘Deputy Director’ after my name, but I suppose that was his last shred of pride.

Even though the transfer to Jeonki was confirmed, the calmness of his demeanor made it clear he was fully aware of the overall situation.

I pretended not to hear the greeting Mr. Park, the head of the department, offered me and drew two circles over the names on the personnel document I was reviewing.

Deputy Manager Jung Chang-ho, and Section Chief Choi Moon-ho.

I circled those two names and then closed the personnel document.

Now, it’s time to end this ‘charming city man’ act.

President Min Byung-jin and Director Park Je-dong.

One is a powerful ally I must continue with in the future.

The other, trash that must be erased from my life after today.

I must win the ally’s heart using the trash, and further, secure an upper hand in our relationship.

Perhaps the chairman is curious about how quickly and by what means I will secure my position in the conglomerate.

The chairman must feel the same.

And I must accomplish that right here, right now.

Content, sentences, words powerful enough to silence both President Min and Director Park at the same time.

It was incredibly difficult, but there was one easy word.

“I heard it from the chairman.”

I sold out the chairman.

“You’re transferring to Jeonki, aren’t you?”

As expected, the existence of the chairman, fabricated by my lies, was powerful.

Both President Min and Director Park started holding their breath as if they had planned it together.

And with that, the control of this place shifted 100 percent to my side.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask before you go.”

“…Yes?”

“These people here. Deputy Manager Jung Chang-ho, Section Chief Choi Moon-ho. These two. I’d like you to personally handle their dismissal and then proceed to Jeonki.”

“Dismissal?”

“More specifically, when I return to the conglomerate, I want no trace of those two left behind, and I’d like you to leave it that way.”

A smile that didn’t fit the atmosphere of the room briefly crossed President Min Byung-jin’s face and then disappeared.

On the contrary, Director Park Je-dong’s face began to fill with anger, as if it would explode at any moment.

“I’m transferring to Jeonki next week.”

“I’m aware.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds to dismiss an employee who hasn’t caused any incidents and has been doing their job well, not a demotion, suspension, or standby order.”

President Min, nodding as if agreeing with Director Park’s point, turned his gaze back to me.

No incidents or accidents so far?

Fortunately, nothing has been publicized yet?

This man now claims he has nothing left to lose.

Where did you sell your soul?

I said,

“It seems you’re misunderstanding something.”

“What misunderstanding?”

“I wrapped it up as a request so it wouldn’t be unpleasant to hear, but what I’m doing now is not making a request, I’m offering an opportunity.”

“Opportunity? What opportunity?”

How could I miss a sip of coffee at this timing?

After glancing at Director Park, who was completely caught up in the pace, I pretended to take a sip of coffee and studied President Min’s expression.

“Regardless of the reason, you were transferred from the trading division to the electric division six months after your promotion to director.”

“…”

“You have to fill out the remaining six months in the electric division to avoid a dishonorable executive contract termination.”

Director Park’s eyes were visibly shaking.

“If I show up at the trading division and those two are still within my jurisdiction, what should I do? Should I embrace it? Should I continue to carry them along as if I’m generous? I can’t do that. Then, I would have to personally dismiss them, but what would be the reason?”

“…”

“The Andalusian farm contract case, the Madrid branch expansion plan. Shouldn’t I bring those issues back to the surface? It’s not a difficult task for me now, content that both the chairman and the president are aware of. It could even be the best performance to announce a glamorous comeback.”

I paused and looked at President Min Byung-jin.

“But if I go through with it, what would become of the trading division’s image within the group, having given a bigger title of director to someone who got promoted by stamping their name on a subordinate’s proposal?”

“…”

Turning away from the stone-like stiff President Min, I looked back at Director Park.

“Forty-four. Your promotion was quite fast. Don’t you need to continue working economically somewhere? A dishonorable executive contract termination just six months after a promotion. If the termination reason gets messy… In this country, the Republic of Korea, where even the sound of the British Commonwealth is heard, whether you start your own business or re-employ using your career, wouldn’t it be difficult either way?”

After finishing the rest of the coffee, I spoke to Director Park.

“Deputy Manager Jung Chang-ho, Manager Choi Moon-ho. Those two, if you just convey what I’ve just told you, they’ll probably understand… But if by any chance they don’t, please tell them this.”

“…”

“That’s just how it is. In this country, the Republic of Korea, that’s what the organization of a conglomerate is. The subordinates exist to grind their bones and squeeze their brains to produce results for their superiors, and the superiors exist to find someone to blame when a mistake occurs.”

I placed the empty coffee cup back on the table and continued.

“It wasn’t me who said that, but what those two told me. It’s their own words, and if there are people who can’t even remember or understand that… then the plans you had for Jeong Chang-ho’s promotion to department head, and Choi Moon-ho’s promotion to branch manager with an overseas assignment, those really wouldn’t make sense, would they?”

With that, I reminded President Min once again of the promise made with Executive Kang Moon-jung.

“May I take my leave first?”

“…Yes, go ahead. The executive contract can be written on the day you officially start. I’ll see you on your first day next week.”

“Yes.”

I rose from my seat, bowed to President Min, and then looked at Director Park.

“You’ve worked hard at Mulsan. Please take care on your way down. I’ll be leaving ahead.”