Chapter 2: Reasons Can Be Made.

In the morning, I took a light walk around the neighborhood.

Although I still need to be careful with my movements, I thought that walking slowly could be considered part of my rehabilitation training.

Most of all, I wanted to see the scenery around me while walking.

I had only seen places filled with medieval-style wooden buildings that exuded charm under a sky clear enough to be called "azure."

Swoosh.

"Ha... This smoky exhaust smell."

Anyone who heard me would probably think I was crazy.

Just as there are people who love the fresh, invigorating air under a clear, blue sky,

there could also be someone whose wish was to see a hazy sky in a city full of fine dust.

I headed to the neighborhood mobile phone store, taking in a deep breath of fine dust after a long time.

A staff member, perhaps, was quite proactive in their sales pitch.

"Please don't, why don't you get a new one this time? You've been using this one for over three years, hasn't it been time to change? There's a discount if you return your current device..."

There was a time when I would have been captivated by the latest smartphones.

Of course, to me now, it's just meaningless talk.

"No, just activate this one for me."

It's not that I've used it for three years, but rather that it's only been three years.

Anyway, what I need now is to find out what's happening at the factory, not to have a fancy smartphone for any special reason.

As long as it can make calls, that's enough.

Perhaps sensing the determination in my firm tone, the staff member didn't push any further.

They still looked disappointed, but they couldn't refuse to activate it.

"See you later."

As I stepped out of the mobile phone store, an unpleasant voice bid me farewell.

Indeed, in Korea, applying for a service means immediate high-speed activation.

It really makes me feel like I'm back.

I turned on the old smartphone, which I had pre-charged, and inserted the SIM card.

I immediately searched through the contact list to find two people.

Uncle Jung Man-ho, the factory manager.

Uncle Yang Ho-seok, the sales manager.

Who should I call first?

After a moment's thought, I made a decision and pressed the call button without hesitation.

Before the signal tones could even finish, a familiar voice came from the other side.

"Yes, Uncle Manager, how have you been?"

"No, I'm sorry. I feel bad."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Although we've known each other for a long time, we weren't particularly close.

Once the pleasantries were over, there was nothing much to say.

"Uncle, I actually called because I have a question... Is there anything going on at the factory these days?"

I had been hesitant to ask so directly.

While it's my father's industrial plant, strictly speaking, I'm an outsider with no direct involvement.

If it's something close to a company secret, asking might be a breach of etiquette.

"Yes, Father rarely talks about work at home."

"Please. Mother and Seul seem to know something. I think they're holding back out of concern for my health, but you never know. I might be able to help."

Honestly, it's a ridiculous claim.

I don't even know how to handle machines, and the only thing I've ever built is a robot model as a hobby during my middle and high school years.

Let alone the metalworking and die-casting done at the industrial plant, there's no way I could be of any help.

But that's the story of Im Seon-woo, a 27-year-old who knows nothing.

'Now, I have something useful.'

The only one in the world who knows about mana.

And I know a lot about magic circles.

A lot, really.

***

Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

A new town with large apartment complexes, relatively close to Seoul.

But just a little further out, the tall buildings disappear, and industrial zones filled with prefabricated warehouses and temporary structures appear.

And among them is my father's "Youngil Industrial Plant."

"Uncle Man-ho, here I am."

As soon as I finished the phone call, I made an appointment with Uncle Man-ho, the factory manager, at a small café near the industrial plant.

Thanks to my early morning rush, I arrived just in time for lunch.

"Hey, Seon-woo. It's been a while. You came early?"

"No, just a little while ago. Is Father at the factory?"

"Ah, Youngil is at a client's place."

Uncle Jung Man-ho is called the factory manager for convenience, but he is also one of the shareholders of the plant, along with Uncle Yang Ho-seok.

While the industrial plant isn't a corporation, the three of them run it by dividing shares according to their investment.

Each of them handles their own areas of expertise, and the company has been running smoothly so far. Most of the client management is handled by Uncle Yang Ho-seok, the sales manager.

At least, as far as I know.

"Father? Why isn't Uncle Ho-seok going?"

"That's... well..."

He's still hesitating even though he's come this far.

"Uncle, I'm really fine. I'm not a child, and I don't want to be the only one who knows nothing. Please, tell me."

"Ha... The truth is..."

The story the uncle told me was less surprising and more infuriating.

The place that had commissioned the special production has been delaying payment and now rumors of bankruptcy are circulating.

If this continues, not only will we not receive payment, but the bigger problem is that we'll have to scrap all the heat sinks we've already produced.

"Does that mean we have to throw away all the heat sinks we've made so far?"

"You've heard of Seunggwang Industry, right?"

"Yes, I know it."

Seunggwang Industry is Youngil Industrial Plant's largest client and also a subcontractor for 'Alpha Tech,' a computer component manufacturer.

They occasionally make unreasonable demands, but they help with sales, so we have to put up with them.

I've never liked them, and this situation just makes it worse.

'Even though I didn't like them... Could they really be so insolvent that they'd go bankrupt suddenly?'

Something seems off.

"Hasn't it been officially declared bankrupt yet?"

"Well, not officially... but it seems almost certain. It looks like they intentionally took on a lot of orders from places like us."

"Isn't that illegal?"

"It would be if they took the goods and ran, but since they haven't received the goods and declared bankruptcy... If they had just written a proper contract, it would have been fine. But they kept insisting that we didn't trust them... Damn bastards!"

Why would they do such a thing? What's the benefit?

There's a possibility they had no choice due to some urgent reason, but something feels fishy.

"Uncle, can't the heat sinks we made be used elsewhere?"

"No. If it were something we usually make, there might have been a way to find a buyer, but this time, it's a completely unique design, so there won't be any compatible coolers."

"Why did they suddenly change the design this time?"

"Well, it's not certain, but it seems Alpha Tech was planning to launch a new product. Maybe it didn't go well. But even so, to close the company and go into hiding like this... Are they trying to kill all the subcontractors? Damn bastards!"

Uncle, clearly frustrated, took a deep breath and almost downed his iced Americano in one go.

"Is the company closing? Then where is Father?"

"At Alpha Tech."

"Ah."

Youngil Industrial Plant is a second-tier subcontractor.

We make heat sinks for Seunggwang Industry, which assembles them into heat plates and then assembles fans from another company to make coolers.

The coolers are ultimately used by Alpha Tech.

The reason Father went there is obvious.

'He must be trying to get a direct supply contract.'

Given the situation, it might be the best option.

But it doesn't seem like things will go smoothly.

"Uncle, I'm sorry. I'll go ahead!"

***

Im Young-il stood in front of the building for a long time.

He came here with the determination to solve the situation, but could he really make this contract happen?

'Damn bastards.'

He couldn't help but curse.

He had found out that the reason Seunggwang Industry suddenly declared bankruptcy was because of Alpha Tech.

It felt strange from the start when they ordered a large quantity of high-priced heat sinks with a completely different design and special treatment.

'If only we had a proper contract...'

He deeply regretted it.

His company colleagues, who follow him like a brother, didn't say much, but it doesn't change the fact that it was his mistake.

If this issue isn't resolved, the worst-case scenario is that Youngil Industrial Plant might have to close.

He's frustrated and angry, but now isn't the time for pride.

Grip.

Im Young-il clenched his fist and forced his feet to move.

Or rather, he tried to.

"Father."

"Seon-woo? How did you get here?"

And another voice came from behind.

"Seon-woo, come with me. Oh, you just got out of the hospital, why are you walking so fast?"

"Man-ho? ...You!"

"Brother, I'm sorry. But Seon-woo is right. Besides, the news will come out soon anyway, so there's no need to hide it... So I told him everything."

Im Young-il took a deep breath and grabbed his son's shoulders.

"Why did you come here? You're not fully recovered."

"I'm fine. Being discharged from the hospital means I'm all better."

"Still, go home quickly. I'll handle the company's affairs, so don't worry."

Seeing his son, he felt more determined.

He realized that this wasn't the time to hesitate.

"I'll go with you."

"Where? Why are you going in there!"

The chances of seeing a good outcome are low.

No, it will definitely turn out badly.

He doesn't want to show that side to his son.

"I have an idea."

"An idea? Do you mean there's another way?"

"Yes."

There is no other way.

Given that the heat sinks are designed with a completely different shape from the usual ones, the only option is to supply them to Alpha Tech.

But if Alpha Tech is behind this, they won't accept our terms easily.

They'll probably try to make us sell the goods at a low price.

'What kind of idea could he have?'

His strangely changed son.

Six months ago, his son was a bit immature and always smiling, but now he seems different.

He can't pinpoint it, but something has changed.

"Let's hear your idea first."

Could a boy who showed no interest in the industrial plant have a solution?

It's unlikely, but he felt a bit hopeful.

Im Young-il took his son's hand and headed to a quiet place to talk.

***

While coming to meet Father, I heard the details from Uncle Man-ho.

Why the heat sinks can't be used.

"The method increases thermal conductivity by one level, but since it's made by stacking two layers, melting it down would reduce the effect to less than half. That means the additional costs for the fine processes would be wasted."

If the heat sinks were made of just aluminum, we could invest more time and labor to remake them.

But the heat sinks we made this time have fine copper wires inserted inside.

Melting them down would turn them into a cheap alloy of aluminum and copper.

It would be even harder to shape, and their value would drop even further.

"The only option is to assemble them as heat plates in their current form, right?"

"Yes, but the holes for the heat pipes are already drilled, making it difficult for other companies to use them. Honestly, there aren't many heat plate manufacturers in Korea."

Maybe a handful at most.

Would they need to buy these experimental heat sinks at a high price?

Especially when they would have to modify their entire production line.

'Reasons can be made.'

To create a need.

To make them desire these new heat sinks with the advanced technology.