Goblin Library - Chapter 171

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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 171

As I climbed into the vehicle, Khalid spoke urgently.
“Lee, let’s discuss this again.”
“Discuss what?”
“Well, yes—let’s make the deal at the price we discussed over the phone.”
The other man quickly echoed Khalid’s words.
“That’s right. We’ve come all this way—we can’t leave empty-handed. Taking it back would be far too inconvenient. Let’s just complete the transaction here.”
“Agreed. Let’s finalize this deal. Going forward, I’ll purchase in large quantities at the price you’ve quoted.”
I regarded them silently for a moment, then leaned my head out the window.
“Then, shall I trust you one more time and proceed with the deal?”
“Yes. Since we’ve traveled this far, consider this our initiation.”
I didn’t particularly care for the word “initiation,” but I nodded in agreement.
For me, losing a client—especially a major operation like the 8th District—would be a significant loss.
My objective was to sell as much as possible at reasonable prices and establish distribution channels.
“Understood. However, I should mention something in advance.”
“What is it?”
“Small orders cannot be shipped immediately.”
“Then what quantity is required for shipment?”
“We need at least one truckload like this one to arrange delivery.”
“One truckload like this…”
As Khalid contemplated the truck, one of the Company Presidents asked a question.
“What if we need a product urgently?”
“You’ll understand.”
I pointed to a single box with my hand.
“You know what it means that I brought just one box all the way here. And the delivery system in this country is… quite slow, isn’t it?”
Naturally, this country had a delivery system. But it was so inefficient that even urgent orders couldn’t arrive on time.
“Hmm…”
As one Company President stroked his chin, another smiled and spoke.
“That shouldn’t be a problem. After all, the products available aren’t limited to what you sell. If it’s urgent, we can use Chinese alternatives and swap them out later when your goods arrive.”
“So the important question is when and how you’ll send the goods.”
“Right. We place individual orders, and you’re saying you’ll send them once the quantity fills one truck… but won’t that take too long? We order because we need something, but we’d have to wait until the truck is completely full with parts.”
I responded to the Company Presidents’ concerns.
“I believe sending one truck per week would work.”
“Once a week? You’ll know what products are needed and in what quantities before sending?”
“I’ll send the same amount as what I brought today.”
“Once a week at today’s volume seems like quite a lot.”
I smiled at Khalid’s remark.
“I noticed there are quite a few pieces of heavy equipment inside with their hoods already open. It seems like you’ve prepared to replace them as soon as my shipment arrives.”
“You’re quite perceptive about these things.”
“Use the parts I brought today and keep the rest as spares. Surely it’s more reassuring to have backup parts than to have none?”
Lee Gang-hun continued with a smile.
“And… I’m sure you’re not the only Heavy Equipment Company presidents in this region. If storage and maintenance become too burdensome, you could always sell the surplus.”
“Sell them?”
“Aren’t goods from Korea or Europe expensive in this region?”
Lee Gang-hun glanced at the truck.
“Even if you only sold the items that arrive once a week, the profit would be quite substantial.”
“We’re not people in the business of selling goods.”
“I’m not asking you to actively sell them. What I mean is, when you encounter fellow operators struggling with broken equipment, pass along your surplus at a fair price. At that level, it’s not really doing business—it’s simply helping out your colleagues.”
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Khalid paused to think for a moment, then nodded.
“In that case… let’s do it that way.”
Rather than the tedious work of actively seeking customers to sell goods, helping fellow operators whose equipment had broken down seemed perfectly reasonable. Besides… at local market rates, there would still be profit left over.
“Shall we unload the cargo now?”
At Khalid’s words, Lee Gang-hun stepped down from the vehicle.
“Mahmoud, let’s unfold the waterproof tarp again.”
Mahmoud then descended from the truck with a pleased expression. He too had been frustrated at the prospect of loading this cargo again and returning to the Capital.
As Mahmoud unfurled the waterproof tarp, a forklift arrived and began unloading the cargo.
While I was watching this unfold, my phone chimed. When I checked it, there was a notification that money had been deposited into my bank account.
It seemed he had transferred the payment immediately to ease my concerns.
When I looked at Khalid, he smiled and extended his hand.
“I apologize for making our first transaction unpleasant. I assure you this won’t happen again.”
At Khalid’s words, I nodded and asked.
“Is there a decent place to rest around here?”
“A nice place? Or just somewhere to lay your body down?”
“Anywhere I can lie on my back and wash up is fine.”
“Then use the Rest Room here at the Maintenance Shop. There’s a place where the staff can wash up too, so it should be fine for a few hours of rest.”
At Khalid’s suggestion, I thanked him and said.
“And would you happen to know of any cargo heading to the Capital?”
“Are you planning to load cargo when you head to the Capital?”
“It’s better to carry something than to return with an empty truck, isn’t it? That’s how you make money.”
“Well, that’s true… I’ll look into it, but I’m not sure if there’s anything available.”
“Anything will do.”
At my response, Khalid nodded and called over a staff member to guide us to the Rest Room. Mahmoud and I then followed the employee to the Rest Room.
Having driven for more than a full day, it was unreasonable to depart immediately, so I planned to get some proper sleep before setting out.

After a brief nap and shower, evening had fallen. I sat in the Maintenance Shop’s dining area, eating simple pancakes and soup, and glanced toward the workshop floor.
Despite the late hour, the Factory Employees were working diligently under bright lights, conducting repairs.
『This place certainly operates around the clock.』
『The construction site in the 8th District is said to be the largest, isn’t it? With such a massive scale, they need plenty of equipment. That’s why we work overnight shifts.』
I nodded at Mahmoud’s explanation.
『Equipment needs to keep running to generate revenue, so repairs get done no matter what.』
『Which is how we make our money as well.』
『Exactly.』
As we talked, Khalid approached with a tired expression.
『Did you rest well?』
『We rested fine, but it seems you didn’t get much sleep, sir.』
『There’s no shortage of equipment that needs fixing.』
『Do you handle the repairs yourself, sir?』
『I became the owner because luck favored me. If fortune had turned slightly, I’d still be working as a technician down there.』
『So that’s why you’re close with Sayed. Fellow technicians, then?』
『You could say that. Oh! Please keep what happened this afternoon a secret from Sayed. That friend will get angry if he finds out I played such a prank on Rihan.』
『Understood. And did you look into the cargo I mentioned?』
『There happened to be a shipment heading to the Capital. I loaded it on.』
After eating, Mahmoud and I walked toward the truck. It was loaded with so much cargo that you could understand this country’s loading system just by looking at it.
『Isn’t that too much cargo?』
『This is normal. Oh, and since I felt bad about what happened this afternoon, I also did a complete vehicle maintenance check.』
『I hadn’t expected any problems. Was there something wrong with the car?』
『What perfectly maintained vehicle exists? If you inspect thoroughly, there’s always something creaking somewhere.』
Khalid said this with a smile.
『I’ve topped off the fuel, so you can depart whenever you’re ready.』
『I appreciate it. I hope we can do good business again next time.』
『Let’s make it happen.』
As Mahmoud climbed into the driver’s seat, I opened the truck door and settled into the passenger seat.
『Let’s go then.』
Mahmoud nodded at my words. He waved to Khalid with a smile and said:
『That man must have felt apologetic.』
『Why?』
Mahmoud pointed to the seat beside me.
I looked and saw a bag sitting there.
『What’s this?』
Inside the bag were water and what looked like snacks.
『It was placed in the driver’s seat. Looks like he packed it for us to eat on the way.』
『I was planning to buy some drinks and snacks anyway, so this works out perfectly.』
I smiled, opened the cap, drank some water, and reclined my seat.
『Wake me in three hours.』
“Understood.”
I had just woken from sleep, so I wasn’t tired, but I deliberately tried to rest anyway. If I could manage to sleep, then when I switched places with Mahmoud three hours later, I’d be able to drive without dozing off.

***

I was leaning against the wall.
“Huff! Haa!”
Mahmoud approached with ragged breathing and a heavy sigh.
“Are you alright?”
At Mahmoud’s question, I glanced down at my side. Blood was trickling out, staining my white shirt crimson.
Mahmoud lifted my shirt slightly and spoke.
“Fortunately, it’s only a surface wound.”
“…For something like that, it hurts like hell.”
“Even when you nick yourself trimming your nails, it hurts terribly.”
“You can’t compare it to that.”
“It’s similar.”
Mahmoud chuckled at his own response, then approached the gang members sprawled across the ground groaning, and grabbed one of their shirts.
Riiip!
Mahmoud tore the shirt to shreds in one motion and pressed the folded fabric against my wound.
“Why are you tearing up an unconscious guy’s clothes?”
“My own clothes are too valuable to waste.”
At Mahmoud’s words, I sighed and pressed the wound gently with my hand as I spoke.
“Let’s go for now.”
“Where should we go?”
“The Warehouse.”
“Not to the Hospital?”
“If I go there after getting stabbed by a foreigner, it becomes a police matter. Then I’m going back and forth to the Police Station… where do I have time for that?”
“You got your tetanus shot before leaving the country, right?”
“That’s standard when going abroad.”
At my words, Mahmoud nodded and looked at the five gang members lying on the ground.
They were Chinese gang members belonging to a different Organization, not the Peng Ying Gang. As my business gradually grew and expanded, other Chinese gang members learned about me too.
So at first they tried intimidation like Master Jang did, and today they came for the second round of assault, which escalated into a knife fight.
Mahmoud’s face filled with worry as he watched me exit the Alley with a weary expression.
“Li.”
At Mahmoud’s call, I turned to look at him while opening the passenger door.
“Wouldn’t it be better to return to Korea?”
“After I receive the next shipment.”
“It will become more dangerous from here on.”
“That’s why I should leave after receiving just the next shipment.”
I smiled and climbed into the passenger seat, looking at Mahmoud.
“Let’s go.”
Mahmoud shook his head slightly and spoke as he climbed into the car.
“I felt this when we entered the Rebel City before… Lee is truly a mad man.”
“You’re the same for following him into such a place.”
“I needed the money back then.”
“I need money too.”
Lee Gang-hun smiled faintly and gestured with his eyes for him to go, prompting Mahmoud to sigh and start driving the car.

When Lee Gang-hun arrived at the Warehouse, Salim, who was about to greet him, was startled by his condition and hurried over.
“Blood? Were you cut by a blade?”
“It hurts quite a bit, but according to Mahmoud, it’s just a shallow cut.”
Lee Gang-hun answered. When he first met Salim, he had spoken formally, but since Salim was Mahmoud’s friend, at some point he had naturally begun speaking casually.
“Come over here quickly.”
At Salim’s words, Lee Gang-hun walked toward where the sofa was and glanced to one side.
Hamad was sleeping on a simple military cot.
“Why don’t you just go home and rest comfortably when you’re not working?”
“We sleep well anywhere, so it’s fine.”
Salim answered thus and brought over a first aid kit and emergency medical supplies from one side.
The emergency medical supplies in the form of a small bag were military-grade, purchased by Salim at the night market when Hamad had been cut by a blade.
It was so he could provide emergency treatment if another blade wound occurred.

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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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