Goblin Library - Chapter 206

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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 206.

Lee Gang-hun spent his first day back home after arriving in Korea, then headed to the office early the next morning.
There, he reviewed the materials prepared in Korea while discussing matters with Mahmoud over the phone.
“I’ll send you a catalog of prefabricated buildings by email. Get it printed and bound into a booklet.”
[Prefabricated buildings… do you think those would have merit in our country?]
“Of course they would. We manufacture them in Korea, ship them to your country, and assemble them on-site—instant completion. Think about how much construction time we’d save.”
[But our country doesn’t have the concept of prefabricated buildings yet…]
“I’ll send you videos and reference materials. Subtly show them to the people planning construction projects this time and introduce the concept. Oh! And if you know anyone with extensive experience in residential construction, send them to Korea.”
[To Korea?]
“Yes. Someone seasoned in the field. We need someone who understands the building structures and interior designs your people prefer—someone who can teach our contractors about that. Tell them compensation is guaranteed, and they should come with the intention of working in Korea for a few months.”
[Understood. But we’d need an interpreter, wouldn’t we?]
“Ah… an interpreter…”
At the mention of an interpreter, Lee Gang-hun’s eyes narrowed. Hiring a professional translator meant additional expenses…
“Ah! You have migrant workers in our country, don’t you?”
[Yes, quite a few.]
“Look into some of the ones who’ve been here a long time.”
[I can ask around about families working in Korea.]
“Right.”
Compared to a professional interpreter, the translation might be awkward and cause various inconveniences, but as long as basic communication was possible, things would work out somehow.
And through the process of working with Korean companies, that person could also learn the technology, so later when returning to their country, they could handle tasks like on-site surveys.
[Understood.]
“Find someone good for us.”
After hanging up, Lee Gang-hun scrolled through photos of prefabricated buildings displayed on his monitor.
Since these were buildings photographed for presentation to clients, they looked quite impressive.
“Myeong-seok.”
“Yes, Vice President!”
As Oh Myeong-seok answered energetically, Lee Gang-hun looked at him with a somewhat odd expression, then picked up the nameplate in front of him.

「Vice President Lee Gang-hun」

Lee Gang-hun gazed silently at the title on the nameplate, then sighed and spoke to Park Young-il.
『It doesn’t quite suit me. I’d prefer to switch back to my original nameplate.』
『Why? There’s nothing else I can do for you.』
『I’m just a regular employee, after all.』
Lee Gang-hun pushed the nameplate aside and replaced it with his original General Director nameplate.
He also switched the business cards in his wallet back to his original General Director cards.
Then he took a sip of coffee and looked at Park Young-il.
『I think I need to go back in.』
『Go back? Where?』
『Where else? Our largest trading partner right now.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Park Young-il squinted his eyes.
『If you go there now, it’s too dangerous. The Chinese will be watching closely.』
『I’ll move carefully. And this trip is to sell prefabricated buildings, so our paths shouldn’t cross with the Chinese.』
『Still, being in the same country… Ah! Is Mahmoud available?』
『I just called him and it seems there are no issues.』
『Still, tell him to be careful. Take good care of the bonuses too. You manage people with money, not with sentiment.』
It sounded cold at first glance, but in a business relationship, it was only natural.
From an employee’s perspective, a company that paid well and demanded much was better than one that treated workers like family with sentiment.
Watching Lee Gang-hun nod, Park Young-il asked.
『So when are you planning to go?』
『After the prefabricated buildings here are ready, I’ll head in.』
『Okay. Then we’ll do it that way… Is there anything else to discuss?』
Lee Gang-hun shook his head.
『Nothing.』
Then Lee Gang-hun stood up and looked at Oh Myeong-seok.
『Do you have any work right now, Myeong-seok?』
『There’s always work.』
At Oh Myeong-seok’s words, Lee Gang-hun chuckled.
『You’ve grown a lot while I was away.』
Oh Myeong-seok nodded and spoke.
『The Company President told me that even if a superior orders something, I should finish my own work first.』
『Still, if you’re not too busy, come with me.』
『Understood.』
Oh Myeong-seok grabbed the company car keys and left the office. After leaving the office and getting into the company car in the parking lot, Lee Gang-hun spoke.
『Let’s go to my old workplace.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Oh Myeong-seok looked at him with confusion.
『Your… old workplace?』
『Wonline Trading.』
『Why there all of a sudden?』
『What reason would a trader have for visiting another trading company? We’re going to do business.』
『Wonline Trading?』
Lee Gang-hun chuckled at Oh Myeong-seok’s skeptical gaze, as if questioning whether that made any sense.
『A businessman must be willing to conduct business even with his enemies.』
『They probably won’t want to do it there….』
『If they don’t, that’s fine too.』
『Why?』
『Because if we make money from a business deal they rejected, the Chairman will be very displeased. Let’s go.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Oh Myeong-seok asked no further questions and started the car.

Oh Myeong-seok’s car pulled into the headquarters of Wonline Trading, his former workplace. As he was about to explain their arrival to the parking lot guard, the guard recognized Lee Gang-hun and greeted him first with a smile.
『Manager Lee.』
Lee Gang-hun smiled and bowed his head in return.
『Thank you for your hard work.』
『I heard you left the company. What brings you here today?』
『I came to discuss a business opportunity.』
『I see.』
The guard handed over a parking pass and spoke.
『You know you need to get the parking pass stamped at the lobby, right?』
『Of course.』
Oh Myeong-seok took the parking pass from the guard and went inside to park the car in a visitor parking space.
Lee Gang-hun got out of the car, paused briefly to think, then slung a document bag over his shoulder and entered the building.
Following behind him, Oh Myeong-seok suddenly noticed the bag and called out to Lee Gang-hun.
『Your document bag is open.』
At Oh Myeong-seok’s words, Lee Gang-hun smiled and nodded.
『I left it open on purpose.』
『I can see a catalog.』
『That’s also carefully arranged for them to see.』
Seeing that Oh Myeong-seok still didn’t understand, Lee Gang-hun smiled and told him to just follow along for now.
The two took the elevator down from the 1st Floor and headed to the lobby.
Employees could enter the company directly, but outsiders had to identify themselves and state their purpose in the lobby before being allowed inside.
As Lee Gang-hun approached the lobby desk, the employees recognized him and bowed their heads.
『I’ve come to see Director Kim Ki-chun.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, confusion flickered across the employee’s face. Though just a lobby receptionist, she knew enough about company matters.
Lee Gang-hun, who was known to have left the company due to poor relations with Director Kim Ki-chun, had come to meet him?
『Did you have an appointment?』
『If you tell him that Lee Gang-hun has come with a good business opportunity, he’ll meet with me.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, the employee looked at him, then picked up the phone.
『This is the lobby. Lee Gang-hun, former Manager… or rather, Mr. Lee Gang-hun has come with a good business opportunity. Yes. Yes, I understand.』
After hanging up, the employee handed Lee Gang-hun a visitor card and spoke.
『Please go to Conference Room 3 on the 13th Floor.』
“The 13th Floor, Conference Room 3…”
Lee Gang-hun chuckled softly.
The 13th Floor was where Lee Gang-hun worked. And Conference Room 3 had one entire wall made of glass, making it completely visible from the outside.
In other words, the intention to humiliate him publicly in front of his colleagues was painfully obvious.
Lee Gang-hun took the visitor card and shrugged his shoulders.
“People can be quite petty.”
“I think you did well to leave that company. Ah, could you stamp the parking pass for me?”
As Oh Myeong-seok handed over the parking pass, the Factory Employee stamped it.
After scanning the visitor card at the card reader in the lobby, the door opened. The two of them entered the Elevator and soon arrived at the 13th Floor.
“Huh?”
“Huh? Manager Lee?”
“It’s Manager Lee.”
“Why did you come to our company?”
“The China-related departments have been in a bad mood lately because of Manager Lee… why are you here?”
“Manager Choi, Manager Lee Gang-hun has come to our company. Yes. That’s what I’m saying. It’s the 13th Floor.”
Several of the Factory Employees who had been whispering upon seeing Lee Gang-hun made phone calls to someone.
It seemed they were informing people from other departments who had been badmouthing Lee Gang-hun.
The two of them passed by these people and opened the door to Conference Room 3, entering inside.
“Director Kim hasn’t arrived yet.”
At Oh Myeong-seok’s words, Lee Gang-hun chuckled and spoke.
“Given that man’s personality, he’ll take at least thirty minutes before coming down.”
“Thirty minutes? A trader would be this late?”
“To that man, we’re not business partners—just unwelcome guests.”
As he spoke, Lee Gang-hun observed the office workers watching from beyond the glass window.
When the office workers noticed Lee Gang-hun’s gaze, they quickly lowered their heads. Seeing this, Oh Myeong-seok looked around.
Normally, when buyers or meeting partners came to the company, interns or administrative assistants would bring refreshments—but there was no sign of that.
“Still, they could at least offer us a yogurt drink.”
“We can just get it ourselves.”
As Lee Gang-hun stood up, Oh Myeong-seok quickly spoke.
“I’ll go get it.”
“You’re not used to these kinds of looks yet.”
“These kinds of looks?”
“The kind where people see you as someone to avoid, someone to keep your distance from—someone who brings misfortune if you get too close.”
As Oh Myeong-seok squinted his eyes, Lee Gang-hun smiled and looked at the workers beyond the glass, speaking.
“Those kinds of looks hurt the heart.”
Then Lee Gang-hun opened the door and walked toward the Break Room. Since it was the floor where he used to work, his steps toward the Break Room were unhesitating.
In the Break Room, several Factory Employees who had been drinking coffee and talking quickly lowered their heads and left when Lee Gang-hun entered.
Lee Gang-hun watched their retreating figures for a moment, then picked up a tray. He placed snacks that were served when guests came on it, and began pouring coffee from the coffee machine.
Glug, glug!
As Lee Gang-hun was pouring the coffee, a voice came from behind him.
『What kind of fool lets outsiders wander around freely! What if they steal confidential documents!』
At the voice from behind, Lee Gang-hun turned around. There stood a solidly built middle-aged man, regarding him with a cold gaze.
It was Choi Manager from Steel Team 2. Though we were the same generation, unlike me whose promotion had stalled, he had made manager.
And since he was the one spearheading the steel business with China… he had probably heard the most complaints from the Chinese side over this incident.
『Choi Manager, it’s been a while.』
『So you can’t even afford to buy coffee now that you’re outside? Are you stealing coffee here instead?』
At Choi Manager’s words, Lee Gang-hun let out a small laugh.
『A guest arrived, and since there was no one to greet them, I came to get it myself. Stealing, that’s…』
『A guest? Are you the guest?』
At Choi Manager’s words, Lee Gang-hun shook his head slightly. Then he poured the brewed coffee into a cup and placed it on a tray.
As Lee Gang-hun lifted the tray, Choi Manager spoke irritably.
『Hey, don’t drink it.』
『What?』
『Leave it. I have no coffee for you.』
『But I’m a guest?』
『Get out.』
At Choi Manager’s words, Lee Gang-hun nodded and poured the coffee from the cup into the sink.
『I had an appointment with Director Kim… Since you told me to go, I’ll go. Tell Director Kim that you told me to leave.』
『What? Director… Director Kim?』
Choi Manager, unaware that Lee Gang-hun had an appointment with Director Kim, looked at him with bewilderment. Lee Gang-hun poured out the remaining coffee and rinsed the cup, setting it down.
Clink!

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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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