Chapter 9

009 Heading into the Ground

"Get up, you lunatic!"

"......"

"Get up! We have to go spend some money!"

"......"

It seems the aftereffects of yesterday's revelry haven't worn off yet. From the drinking party to the karaoke, I let Deokjun run wild. They say a person can be worse than a beast, and it's not for nothing. Well, as long as you had fun.

"Ah, I feel like I'm dying. My throat hurts from all the shouting last night."

"Alright, go take a quick shower. We need to go sign the contract."

"Partying is really great. Now that I'm older, I can't do it every time. It's so sad. Jeongsoo, I'll work really hard at your company, so just give me a good salary. I want to make a lot of money and have a blast."

Don't worry. Even though I haven't made a single penny yet, I'll make sure you can earn and spend happily.

"Alright, hurry up and shower. What's with your breath? Are you a trash can or something?"

I couldn't sleep because of your breath! Even if you were drunk, you should have brushed your teeth before bed. Well, as long as you had fun.

"Let's go to the bank first. We need to get the money ready."

"Why not use internet banking? You can just ask Jeonju to transfer it to the account for the project."

"Ah, come on. We need to go."

"Huh, you're really a suspicious guy."

Yeah, I am a suspicious guy. But to avoid being scammed for more money, I have to keep up this lie. Once the company is set up, I won't have to lie anymore, right?

The KGB Bank is as busy as always. It seems there's a difficult customer, and the numbers aren't moving. You have to be prepared to spend the whole day at the bank. Oh, I'll create a bank where you don't have to wait, for real.

"Customer number 27."

After waiting for over 30 minutes, it was finally my turn. Waiting this long and then going to the counter can turn even a polite gentleman into a difficult customer.

If you make someone wait this long, they become a difficult customer!

"What business are you here for?"

"I want to cancel a few of the products I signed up for."

"You want to cancel? Please show me your ID."

"Here."

"Oh, sir. You are a VIP, so you should go to the VIP counter. Why did you wait here?"

Sigh. The truth comes out. You have to tell them! Oh.

"Well... just."

I was already feeling drained this morning, and now I'm exhausted from the bank.

After going through all the tedious procedures, I withdrew 15 billion won out of the 20 billion won I had tied up in products. I added the money in my savings account, making a total of 20 billion won in a new account.

20 billion won. This is my seed money! I felt a sense of pride at the counter, and the next person waiting in line was probably a difficult customer by then.

I need to spend 20 billion won from the lottery, but even after that, I still have 830 million won left. That should be enough to make your jaw drop, but for some reason, I feel a bit disappointed. I thought about changing my phone and going into hiding again, but I stopped. To be honest, I'm scared of the "Sir" text messages.

"Wow, really impressive. What took you an hour?"

"Deokjun, since we're already here, let's finish everything. Let's set up the company. What do you think?"

"Do you want to stay for a few more days? Do you know how embarrassing it is for two men to stay in a motel?"

"What's wrong with a motel? Do you want to stay in a hotel?"

"Are you a businessman who doesn't understand the concept of investment? Investment is about getting several times the return on what you spend. I'll invest in you, so be grateful. That's why they say you can't tame a black-haired beast."

"Doesn't your mouth hurt? Let's go to the office in the innovation complex and meet the manager first."

* * *

Deokjun, who is a bit short but cute, made eye contact with a pretty employee again. He even smiled, as if to say, "They won't harm me."

"Oh, Mr. Ji, you're here? Please sit. Mr. Yoo?"

Yesterday, they brought a paper cup with mixed coffee, but today they brought a bottle of Vitamix 300. A good businessman can smell money. From what I can see, this manager has a good nose and is destined for success.

"Mr. Ji, you were supposed to come next week."

"I might as well get it done as soon as possible."

"Are you going to apply for the project right away?"

"Yes. I came all the way here, so I might as well take care of everything."

I'll be the first to sign the contract! A grand vision forms in my mind. A magnificent factory. Trucks lined up to load goods. Orders pouring in every day, requiring overtime. Employees excited about making money. Bonuses at the end of the year!

"You made a good decision. Let's start with a greeting to the CEO."

"CEO? Aren't you a civil servant?"

"The innovation complex is a joint public-private project, so we formed a corporation. The company is called Naju Innovation Complex, but we just call it the innovation complex. It's also called the support center."

"I see. Is there a procedure I need to follow with the CEO?"

"No, not really. Since you're the first to express interest in investing, we should do something to commemorate it. I'll handle the practical matters."

The innovation complex has a grand name, but no one is buying the plots. Even with the support of Korea Electric Power Corporation, there's no interest.

So, I became the first company to sign the contract. Is this place really that bad? To me, it's a place overflowing with honey. A businessman's sharp judgment determines the fate of a company. It's a stroke of luck to be the first to plant my flag in such a honey-filled place.

"Welcome. I'm CEO Choi Daegun of Naju Innovation Complex."

The CEO, whose name suggests a heavy presence, hands me a business card.

"I'm preparing to start a business. My business cards haven't arrived yet. I'm Ji Daejeong. This is Manager Han Deokjun."

Deokjun, suddenly called a manager, grunts. He doesn't like being called a manager, does he?

"Hello, I'm Han Deokjun. I look forward to working with you."

"Actually, we look forward to working with you. Please sit. What would you like to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. I had something earlier."

"Is that so? Mr. Manager, please prepare some snacks. Mr. Ji is investing in the complex. Well done. It's an excellent choice."

It will be an excellent choice. I bought lottery tickets as the text message suggested and won first prize twice. The text message told me to quit my job and start a business, so I prepared accordingly. It also told me to invest 20 billion won in Naju, so I did.

Although the messages are always short and cool, they are positive. I'm not a puppet, and I'm not just following orders. I'm sowing seeds, harvesting, and processing them into rice to feed people. I need to follow my own path. I'm grateful to the "Sir" text messages, but this is my business. I will grow from a small to a medium and then a large company with my own efforts.

"So, what is the scale of your investment?"

"Yes, I plan to invest in about 3,000 pyeong. I think an initial investment of about 60 billion won would be appropriate. I think that would be enough to build factories on three plots."

"You have ambitious goals. We need to review your eligibility, so please fill out a few forms here. No, let's go somewhere nice and have a meal while we talk. You haven't eaten yet, right? Since you're in Naju, you should try some gomtang."

Deokjun flinches at the mention of a nice place. This guy, we're going to a restaurant!

"Yes, let's do that. But I haven't set up the company yet. Will that be a problem?"

"Would there be a problem with starting a business? Just write a business plan according to the format, and it won't be a problem. We just need a copy of your bank account to confirm your capital. Don't worry; we'll take care of everything. The biggest challenge for business owners is dealing with government offices. The paperwork is endless, and even if you submit it, they'll ask you to correct it. It's frustrating."

He talks endlessly, like the story of Park Chan-ho joining the LA Dodgers and overcoming adversity. I suddenly think of the talkative factory manager. I wonder what would happen if he met Self-Strengthening Two Rivers. Anyway, will I be able to work in Naju? I'm worried if I say I'll build a factory in Naju, they'll follow me.

The local restaurant is on a different level. The gomtang I had yesterday couldn't even be compared. Did they add cream to the gomtang?

The taste was excellent, but I can't give it a perfect score. It's because of CEO Choi Daegun's never-ending story. Oh, my ears hurt.

After leaving the excellent gomtang restaurant, we returned to the innovation complex office. I finished filling out the documents in a neat calligraphy style.

"You've completed the forms. We'll contact you once the eligibility review is done. It shouldn't take long, maybe by tomorrow."

"Understood. I look forward to your call."

As soon as we left the support center, I lit a cigarette. I was craving a cigarette after a 15 billion won lunch.

"Wow, Mr. Ji. You're burning 15 billion won in one go. I'm just a manager, so I can't do that..."

"It'll be fine, right? It can't be a scam, can it?"

"Mr. Ji, what do I know? I'm just a manager."

He's still holding a grudge about being introduced as a manager at the innovation complex office. He doesn't realize how much of a favor it is to give a jobless person a manager title.

"This guy is so obsessed with titles. Is rank that important? Would you rather be a department head with a 30 million won salary or a manager with a 40 million won salary?"

"Mr. Ji, I'll do my best."

In small and medium-sized enterprises, rank doesn't really matter. It's common to be called a manager right from the start, and even executives don't have much difference from regular employees.

Salary is what matters. I haven't made a single penny yet, but I want my employees to focus on their work without worrying about money. All worries and troubles start with money. Reducing those worries and troubles increases productivity. That's what I believe.

"Let's go to a lawyer's office. We need to set up the company."

"Our CEO has a screw loose. I'm a great talent, so what's the problem? I studied for the bar exam for two years."

"No, I just want to pay someone to handle it. I did some research, and it's best to entrust it to someone."

"You don't trust people. I'll handle all the paperwork for you. Okay? Oh, right. We need to go to the bank first."

"Why the bank?"

Clearly, I still have a lot to learn. I complained about my company while working as an employee, but I lack a lot of knowledge about running a company. Let's think positively. Lacking a lot means there's a lot to learn! I'll study and practice even if I have to stay up all night.

"We need to get a balance statement to confirm the capital. And we need an auditor."

"Auditor? Right, a company needs a representative, a board member, or an auditor. You can be the auditor, Manager Han. Auditors get paid, too. Think of it as a favor to a friend."

Deokjun, who I thought would be happy, looks serious. He's still not happy even though he'll get paid as an auditor.

"But there's something important we're not doing, do you know what it is?"

"What?"

"The company name. Have you thought of a name?"

Both of us, not thinking of a company name, are pitiful. We're still friends! It's time to snap out of the lottery win and focus.

"Right, the name! I didn't think of it."

"Wow, look at this CEO. He's so innovative. Just because Jeonju is giving money, he's buying land without even naming the company."

"Right. Hahaha. It's hard to stay focused. What should we name it? Do you have any good ideas?"

"Since it's electrical, General Electric? Or since it's a transformer, Transformer, The Underdog's Reversal? Not satisfied? How about Lazy Against the Machine, short for RATM? Oh, this is good."

"Let's just use the first verse? I was thinking of Genesis Electric. What about Genesis?"

"Genesis? Genesis as in the Bible? Isn't that a car name?"

"Besides the car, it's one of my favorite bands. Isn't it a good name? Don't you know Peter Gabriel? He's a famous artist."

"Ha ha ha. Genesis and the member's name is Gabriel? So holy. Hallelujah."

"Genesis Electric, short for GE. Is this a bit off? Just Genesis is fine too."

"Not bad. But will Future Car let it go? Speak before you think, and think before you speak. Oh, right! What about Soft on Demand or Moody's? They sound manly, don't they? Just hearing the name makes you feel pumped."

"Dog, bird, pig, wild."

"Mr. Ji, why are you cursing at your employee?"

This is going to end up with names like S1, Prestige, and all sorts of names. Let's keep it simple.

"Since we're dealing with other companies, let's keep it simple. How about Prime Electric?"

The name was decided as quickly as frying beans in a lightning flash. Honestly, I liked Soft on Demand, but...