An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 131
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 130
Part 5. Today, This Moment to Savor (2)
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“You sigh with such dramatic flair, Manager. It’s quite something.”
Shin Jung-ah sipped her coffee from the tumbler as she spoke, and Gwak Young-ho wiped the concern from his face before letting out a quiet laugh.
“The market’s down today.”
“Oh? You bought something?”
“Yeah. I made a mistake with a thematic stock a while back and I’m bleeding money on it.”
“Ah… hang in there.”
The solemn expression that crossed her face suggested Shin Jung-ah had shed a few tears over stocks herself.
“And you, Kang.”
“Yes?”
“Whatever you two were doing over there reeked to high heaven. If you need to discuss something serious, use the conference room. Or go grab a coffee at the cafe out front.”
“No, sir. It wasn’t anything that serious.”
“That so?”
“Actually, I was on my way to see you, Manager.”
“Huh?”
Gwak Young-ho’s eyes widened, and Kang Hyung-seok continued with a smile on his face.
“I received a call from the director at Shinjin Construction.”
“What…?”
“He’s expressed his willingness to draw up a contract. He says if we can agree on an appropriate delivery price, he’ll set up a meeting right away.”
“What, really?”
“So I was thinking of drafting the contract outline today—could you review it for me?”
“Of course! Absolutely!”
The surge of emotion burst forth so explosively.
The door swung open as an employee glanced up at Gwak Young-ho, and only after he waved them off did they carefully close the door again.
“Why are you shouting, Manager!”
“Because I’m thrilled! Absolutely thrilled!”
“Our manager must have been carrying quite a burden. Are you alright?”
Gwak Young-ho looked at Shin Jung-ah and broke into a smile with deep creases etched across his face.
“I’m delighted beyond measure. Truly!”
Shin Jung-ah smiled faintly and threw out a joke.
“Even so, you’re not going anywhere?”
Gwak Young-ho waved his hand firmly as he spoke.
“Go where! I’m not going! I can’t go!”
His voice remained steady, and within it lay a weighty sense of relief and joy.
“Kang, so this is really happening, right? It is, isn’t it?”
“Yes. From the way he spoke, it seems he’ll be as accommodating as possible to our side. I think you can report this upward as is.”
Kang Hyung-seok offered a reassuring smile.
I understood his heart well.
We were both in Sales Team 1.
I knew well how much care Gwak Young-ho had shown despite his silence, and I was fully aware that he had refrained from pressing me out of consideration.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to go to a cafe with us? I thought I’d grab coffee for Min-ah and Lee Deputy Manager as well.”
“Oh! That sounds good.”
“The rooftop doesn’t seem like the best place for a conversation right now anyway.”
When Kang Hyung-seok smiled faintly as if he roughly understood what had happened, Gwak Young-ho also pulled his lips back awkwardly.
Still, he didn’t bother to say anything more.
Instead, he took the lead and began descending the stairs.
“Come on! Let’s slip away quickly.”
“Yes.”
Kang Hyung-seok walked behind Gwak Young-ho with Shin Jung-ah at his side.
How could he be in such a good mood?
Gwak Young-ho’s shoulders looked lighter than they had in recent days.
***
Clink.
The teacup that Shin Yoseph had set down made a clear sound as it settled into its saucer.
“Would you like more?”
“Yes.”
Plink plink.
Secretary Jo poured a clear, crimson black tea into the cup.
The fragrance of the black tea infused with flower petals and honey filled Shin Yoseph’s office.
Through the window with its open blinds, sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow through the air.
Sip.
It was while Shin Yoseph was reviewing documents as he drank his tea.
Secretary Jo gave a small, deliberate cough and began to speak in a respectful tone.
“Director, are you truly planning to do business with Daejeong Materials?”
“I have to.”
Shin Yoseph continued without even glancing at Secretary Jo.
“It was a promise, after all.”
“As you know, the unit price will increase significantly compared to contracting directly with the factory. There could be unnecessary misunderstandings as well.”
“I will take full responsibility.”
When Shin Yoseph spoke with finality, Secretary Jo refrained from adding anything further.
He had spoken out of concern that it might lead to unfavorable consequences for Shin Yoseph.
A promise with Kang Hyung-seok.
Because this was a bold decision Shin Yoseph had made for that promise, even Secretary Jo couldn’t say anything more.
“And I have no intention of keeping the contract with Daejeong Materials quiet. I need to drive the nail in properly so there won’t be any gossip later.”
Secretary Jo smiled as if he understood.
“Well then, how are things with the village?”
“Actually, the Legal Team reached out.”
“They did?”
Shin Yoseph raised his eyebrows and turned his gaze toward Secretary Jo.
“There’s plenty to pin on them, I hear. Since the victims’ testimonies are consistent, it seems there won’t be any issues with the perpetrators facing punishment.”
Shin Yoseph smacked his lips and took another sip of tea with a satisfied expression.
It was welcome news to hear.
That the village situation was being sorted out methodically as well.
“Don’t let a single one slip through. Charge them with everything we can. That way, they won’t harbor any foolish ideas.”
The Baekdo Cult.
The true nature of the cult that had masqueraded as a Christian organization.
The crimes uncovered so far—murder, abduction, sexual assault—were all heinous offenses without exception.
“Ah, and that cult leader….”
Secretary Jo paused mid-sentence before continuing with a cautious tone.
“I will take measures to minimize any damage to you and your friend, Director.”
“Can you manage it?”
“The company’s reputation is at stake. I’ll ensure everything proceeds as quietly as possible.”
The cult leader had died.
Cause of death: acute cardiac arrest.
Crushed beneath the weight of accumulated karma.
Though I hadn’t laid a finger on him, there were witnesses, and if they harbored resentment and committed perjury, the fallout could reach me.
“Handle it well.”
“Yes.”
If Secretary Jo answered like that, it meant there was little to worry about.
Shin Yoseph let the black tea flow into his mouth as he sipped.
The warmth, the subtle fragrance, the restrained sweetness.
Everything seemed to whisper, “You’ve endured so much.”
Clink.
Setting down the teacup, Shin Yoseph leaned back deeply into his chair with a weary expression.
“Leave early today. I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“Have you found what you were looking for, Director?”
Secretary Jo’s question cut through with weight and precision.
Shin Yoseph’s expression hardened for a moment before he smiled, pulling up the corners of his mouth, and shook his head.
Yet unlike Secretary Jo, his expression held no sense of regret.
“I only saw potential. Think of it that way.”
“Understood.”
“Then really go now. Having you here is distracting me from my work.”
Secretary Jo, knowing it wasn’t sincere, smiled with a barely visible smile and bowed his head.
Then he set down the teapot beside the teacup and withdrew from Shin Yoseph’s office.
Click.
As the door closed, Shin Yoseph rubbed his lips and opened a drawer, resting his chin on his hand.
Then he pulled out a book.
Flap.
Opening to the page marked with a bookmark, I studied the illustration depicting a serpent with careful attention.
***
The day of the contract with Shinjin Construction had arrived.
Creak.
Leaving my rental house, I climbed into the car dressed in formal attire.
Not my usual casual suit, but proper formal wear.
“Phew—!”
I exhaled a sigh laden with tension, pressed my lips firmly together, and started the engine.
Then I set my destination to Shinjin Construction.
Beep! Ding.
“Yes, Manager.”
(Oh, Manager Kang, did you leave?)
“I just left. I’m heading straight to Shinjin Construction.”
(Right. Man, how did a day like this even come about?)
Gwak Young-ho’s voice sounded dazed, as if he hadn’t fully awakened from a dream.
Truthfully, my own feelings weren’t much different.
I had thought it would be a simple matter of signing a contract, but Shin Yoseph had deliberately orchestrated something grand.
(A contract signing ceremony with Shinjin Construction? Ha!)
I pulled my lips into a smile and opened my mouth.
“I was surprised too. I never expected them to plan something on this scale.”
(Exactly! Man, major corporations really are different.)
It was only natural that Daejeong Materials was turned upside down.
I had expected that only a few executives and I would go and simply sign the contract, but instead they proposed holding a contract signing ceremony first.
(If things go well, it might even make it onto a portal news site?)
My thoughts aligned with his.
According to Shin Yoseph, they wouldn’t make a big fuss about it, but that’s just the perspective of a major corporation.
Even with a modest scale, holding a contract signing ceremony means it won’t end as just a small event.
A proper conference room with a few local newspaper reporters gathered, and key representatives from both sides signing the contract under a moderator’s direction.
If things went well, they could even pop champagne at a contract signing ceremony.
(Manager Kang, did you know? I heard the Company Representative was looking into champagne yesterday.)
“Hahahaha!”
I burst into involuntary laughter, rubbing the corners of my eyes with a smile.
“I’m glad the contract is proceeding smoothly.”
(Of course! And you’re the star of the show, you! How does it feel?)
“I’m not sure.”
Gwak Young-ho grumbled, “Come on, that’s no fun!” but honestly, it didn’t feel quite real.
This was the reward for helping Shin Yoseph as a Shaman.
Because of that, I had simply gained a slight advantage.
Without Kang Hyung-seok, Sales Team 1, and the Company’s advance preparations, this deal would never have come to fruition.
(Sigh! We’ll talk about it when we get there. If you get into an accident while driving, the Representative will beat me to death.)
“That’s not the sort of thing you would do.”
(That’s exactly how important you are to me!)
Kang Hyung-seok laughed heartily at the teasing tone and nodded.
“Understood.”
(I’ll move with everyone else later, so keep the meeting going with Director Shin until then. I’ll be there soon!)
“Yes!”
After ending the call, Kang Hyung-seok drove along the main road.
Vroom.
The weather is absolutely perfect today.
Having left earlier than usual, the roads weren’t congested despite it being rush hour—a refreshing sense of freedom filled my chest.
Stopped at a red light, Kang Hyung-seok lowered the mirror mounted above the driver’s seat and adjusted his necktie.
Right, life truly is full of surprises.
Who would have thought I’d experience something like this?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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