Chapter 7

Chapter 6.

It's time to come to your senses, right?

Seong Hyun-woo's move to the Food and Beverage (F&B) team surprised everyone.

In particular, the Marketing Team Leader, who followed him, had an even more astonished expression.

It didn't take long for confusion and fear to cross his face.

Seong Hyun-woo, upon meeting the F&B Team Leader Jeong Jin-ju, immediately spoke up.

"Show me the event management ledger."

"…Team Leader, the event management ledger is with the Event Team Leader."

"I know that you control the Event Team Leader. Bring it quickly."

Seong Hyun-woo's words made the Marketing Team Leader Jung Hyun-jung and the F&B Team Leader Jeong Jin-ju exchange glances.

In large hotels, F&B and events are strictly separated.

However, in Future Hotel, the event team was separated from the F&B team.

In other words, the current Event Team Leader was Jeong Jin-ju's subordinate, and Jeong Jin-ju was involved in event management.

Seong Hyun-woo immediately called the F&B team manager.

His name tag read "Jeong Sun-jeong."

"Jeong Manager, bring the event management ledger."

"Uh? Ah! Yes."

Jeong Sun-jeong glanced at Jeong Jin-ju and headed to the F&B office.

A moment later, Jeong Sun-jeong brought three ledgers.

Despite her pale face, Jeong Jin-ju watched Seong Hyun-woo's hands as he flipped through the ledgers.

After a while, Seong Hyun-woo showed the ledger and spoke.

"Explain the event from a year ago."

"What exactly do you want me to explain?"

Seong Hyun-woo sighed and said,

"Team Leader Jeong, what is the capacity of Future Hotel's event space?"

"Excluding the conference room, it can accommodate from 100 to 1,000 people."

"What if the event hall is fully operational?"

"Grand Ballroom 1,000 people, Medium Event Hall 300 people, Small Event Hall 150 people. If each conference room holds 50 people, it can accommodate up to 1,700 people."

"Then, what is the maximum number of events the event team can handle at once?"

"Usually, we don't take full reservations for a day, but with part-time staff, we can handle up to 1,300 people."

"Then, how many people attended the event on that day?"

"…1,150 people."

"The event team hired part-time staff to handle 1,200 people. Why did you send F&B part-time staff for such an event?"

Jeong Jin-ju couldn't answer.

Seong Hyun-woo called Jeong Sun-jeong.

"Bring the business card of the part-time staff management company."

Jeong Sun-jeong immediately brought the business card.

Just as Seong Hyun-woo was about to call the representative, Jeong Jin-ju spoke.

"Team Leader…"

"…"

"I didn't hire part-time staff for that event."

"Then, where did the external labor costs go? Did they go to this company and then come back to you?"

"…Yes."

Jeong Jin-ju answered and bowed deeply.

Seong Hyun-woo spoke again.

"Is there anything else besides this?"

"…"

"I'll ask again. Is there anything else besides this?"

"…Yes."

Seong Hyun-woo opened another ledger.

He showed it to Jeong Jin-ju.

"The event team was separated from the F&B team a year ago. But on that day, it appears that the F&B team handled the entire event. The alcohol and beverages were also provided by the F&B team. Jeong Manager, go to the Event Team Leader…"

But then, Jeong Jin-ju grabbed Seong Hyun-woo's arm.

"Team Leader, wait a moment."

"…"

"I'm sorry. The event was handled by the Event Team."

"How did you submit the documents to the Support Team?"

"Mixed with other event documents… The Support Team Leader didn't notice it since he had just arrived. But it's not what you think… No, it's not."

Jeong Jin-ju stopped speaking at the end.

Her hands were trembling.

But Seong Hyun-woo didn't stop there.

He looked at the Marketing Team Leader Jung Hyun-jung.

"The event log written by the Marketing Team also says the same thing. Did you also get involved, Jung Team Leader?"

"…"

Seong Hyun-woo, seeing that Jung Hyun-jung couldn't answer, looked at Jeong Jin-ju.

"Recently, tableware was delivered to the F&B team. But the tableware company is related to Jung Hyun-jung. Can you two explain this?"

Seong Hyun-woo looked at the two after saying this.

But their reactions were completely different.

Jeong Jin-ju's face was red with anger.

On the other hand, Jung Hyun-jung bit his lip and openly showed his displeasure.

Seong Hyun-woo asked Hwang Sun-ho to bring the prepared file.

A moment later, Jung Hyun-jung's face hardened as he saw it.

The tableware company that supplied the F&B team was Jung Hyun-jung's uncle's company.

But the company also supplied teacups, wine glasses, and goblets for the guest rooms.

Seong Hyun-woo showed a few photos.

"These are the old tableware and supplies. They weren't used for long, and the restaurant menu didn't change much. Why did you replace them?"

"…"

"Also, the menus for events and F&B don't overlap much. Why did you buy so many of the same type of tableware? Did you buy them for F&B venue decoration?"

"…"

Next, Seong Hyun-woo showed the transaction details.

"According to this, there's a service included with the tableware delivered to the hotel. The billiard table markings indicate that they are high-end European tableware. Where are they?"

The two looked at each other.

A moment later, Jeong Jin-ju closed her eyes tightly and spoke.

"All the European tableware went to the owner's house."

"Then, where did the envelope you received separately from the company go? You manipulated the unit price, and with this estimate, you must have received quite a bit, even if it was just 5%."

"It wasn't 5%."

"Answer quickly."

"I gave it to the owner."

Jeong Jin-ju's answer made Jung Hyun-jung nod.

Seong Hyun-woo glared at Jung Hyun-jung.

Anyway, this guy is as good at hiding behind others in this life as he was in his previous life.

But he can't hide perfectly.

Seong Hyun-woo immediately stood up.

Jung Hyun-jung and Jeong Jin-ju both looked at Seong Hyun-woo with wide eyes.

Seong Hyun-woo coldly told them,

"Both of you wait in your offices."

* * *

After that, Seong Hyun-woo went to the kitchen.

Chef Jo Man-sik, the kitchen manager, stood up in surprise.

"Wow! What brings you here, Team Leader Seong?"

He is the oldest among the team leaders.

Compared to other team leaders who are section chiefs, he is a deputy manager and uses a rustic dialect because he is from Honam.

However, despite his long hotel experience, he shows his emotions directly.

His face was full of confusion now.

Seong Hyun-woo looked at him.

His ears buzzed, and he heard a word.

'Transaction details'

Seong Hyun-woo said to the Chinese chef,

"Bring the transaction details for Chinese food ingredients."

Instantly, Jo Man-sik's face turned red.

The Chinese chef, after gauging Jo Man-sik's reaction, brought the transaction details.

Just as Seong Hyun-woo was about to compare the event ledger and the transaction details he brought from the F&B team,

"Team Leader Seong."

"…"

"I'll be honest. So, here…"

Jo Man-sik led Seong Hyun-woo to the inner office.

A moment later, he offered a cup of tea and brought out several ledgers.

"What are these?"

"Ledgers made separately with Western, Korean, and Chinese food ingredient companies."

"Separately from the official ones?"

"Yes."

Seong Hyun-woo, without opening the ledgers, asked,

"Why did you bring these? Do you want me to look at them on my own?"

Seong Hyun-woo's words made Jo Man-sik bow his head.

Seong Hyun-woo recalled Jo Man-sik from his previous life.

Originally, he lacked the skills to be a top hotel kitchen manager.

That's why he had a separate professional chef for Korean cuisine.

However, Jo Man-sik was trusted by the chefs, sous chefs, and kitchen assistants.

Seong Hyun-woo asked about the part he suspected.

"Where did the additional food ingredients go? Did they go to the staff meals? Did the rest go to the sous chefs and kitchen assistants?"

"…"

"You know that it's forbidden to take hotel food ingredients out, right?"

"…"

"Do you want to continue doing this?"

"I won't do it again. So…"

"Then, you must have shared the gifts you received during holidays with the kitchen staff. I won't make an issue of that. But did you keep the envelopes you gave to each company?"

Seong Hyun-woo's question made Jo Man-sik momentarily look confused.

But his eyes clearly said it all.

Seong Hyun-woo dismissed the chefs and asked again,

"If you don't tell me, I'll ask the chefs. Speak up quickly."

"Some were used for team meals… Most went to the owner… Team Leader Seong, if the owner finds out what I said, I'm done. I came here for the owner, and you don't know that. He's my benefactor. So, please, I beg you. Okay?"

He bowed deeply while saying this.

He was a character who was easily scared, even in his previous life.

He had his own sense of loyalty, but he often kept it to himself.

He liked to share generously.

It's really puzzling how such a person managed dozens to over a hundred kitchen staff and handled events with over a thousand people and international events.

Seong Hyun-woo nodded and stood up.

After consulting with the Support Team Leader, he immediately started working on the documents.

* * *

The next day, Seong Hyun-woo submitted the documents to the owner, Huh Tae-sik.

When other team leaders submit documents, they go through the Support Team Leader before reaching the owner.

However, the Audit Team Leader goes directly to the owner.

Instead, the Support Team Leader can review the documents after the owner's signature.

Huh Tae-sik, after opening the documents, called Seong Hyun-woo.

"Did Team Leader Jung Hyun-jung do so much?"

"He was involved in events, F&B, and the kitchen."

"The amount is considerable. I treated Jung Team Leader well because he did a good job, but he almost ruined the hotel. He should be grateful for this punishment. But I don't understand how a small person like Team Leader Jeong Jin-ju had such a big scheme. It seems he and Jung Team Leader got along well."

Huh Tae-sik signed the documents with a clear mind.

He barely glanced at the attached documents.

In the hotel, Jung Hyun-jung and Jeong Jin-ju were given honorary retirements, and Jo Man-sik was given a three-month pay cut.

However, the honorary retirements of Jung Hyun-jung and Jeong Jin-ju were to proceed without severance pay, and they had to donate half of their severance pay to the hotel development fund.

In exchange for the hotel not seeking damages, they had to pay a certain amount in cash.

Jo Man-sik was also deprived of the next promotion opportunity in addition to the three-month pay cut.

Huh Tae-sik, who signed the final document, had a resigned expression.

But the corners of his mouth betrayed his joy.

However, the file Seong Hyun-woo submitted to the headquarters secretary included an additional attachment that Huh Tae-sik didn't see.

When Secretary Kim Sung-wook saw it, his eyes widened.

It contained evidence of Huh Tae-sik's corruption.

"So, you only got the team leaders' punishments signed by Huh Tae-sik and left his punishment to the chairman. How can someone in their final year of college be so political?"

Kim Sung-wook, while saying this, thought that the royal family's bloodline was different.

Seong Hyun-woo is from the headquarters and has the authority to investigate and punish the owner's corruption.

But he passed it to the chairman.

If Seong Hyun-woo had directly removed Huh Tae-sik,

He would have enemies everywhere.

He could be buried in the hotel industry, and the executives of the affiliated companies would think that the royal family was bullying them.

The chairman appointed Huh Tae-sik as the hotel owner.

With this evidence, the chairman would have to acknowledge Huh Tae-sik's corruption.

But Seong Hyun-woo, who wielded the sword, could fall out of favor with the chairman.

Ultimately, the hotel team leaders would distance themselves from him, and his life in the hotel would be isolated.

"Handing over the sword to the chairman seems to have some hidden motive. How will this play out?"

After that, Kim Sung-wook placed Seong Hyun-woo's signed document on top of the other affiliated company reports.

The next day, Chairman Sung Kwan-gyu called Seong Hyun-woo.

He asked directly,

"Is this your intention?"