Goblin Library - Chapter 215

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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 215.

In the late dawn hours, Kim Ki-chun was entering the Unnamed Country. Since the sun had not yet risen, the early morning air carried a crisp chill.
As Kim Ki-chun surveyed his surroundings, a Chinese man approached him.
“Kim?”
At the man’s words, Kim Ki-chun nodded and extended his hand.
“Are you from Donghwa Logistics?”
Since this country had no company branch, he had requested guidance from a Chinese partner company he knew.
“That’s correct. I’m Dong-seung.”
Kim Ki-chun spoke to Dong-seung, who replied in fluent English.
“Shall we go?”
Dong-seung glanced at the two people standing beside Kim Ki-chun and made a subtle suggestion.
“Do you perhaps need bodyguards?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“There are quite a few pickpockets and robbers in the city targeting foreigners.”
At Dong-seung’s words, Kim Ki-chun looked at the two employees who had come with him.
He hadn’t arbitrarily selected someone named Kim Ki-chun and brought them all this way.
He was well aware that security in this country had deteriorated recently.
Money flowed into a poor nation, and with so many wealthy foreigners around, crimes targeting them occurred frequently.
That’s why Kim Ki-chun had brought these two. Both had extensive experience in trade work in the harsh Middle East and could easily handle two or three ordinary people on their own.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Is that so?”
As Kim Ki-chun nodded, Dong-seung spoke with a note of warning.
“I understand. But if trouble arises, I’ll step back immediately.”
“You’re welcome to do that. And…”
Kim Ki-chun handed over an envelope.
“This is a token of my appreciation.”
At Kim Ki-chun’s words, Dong-seung smiled and accepted the envelope.
“Shall we head to your accommodation first?”
“No, before that, I’d like to go see the village Lee Gang-hun is constructing.”
“Very well.”
Dong-seung guided Kim Ki-chun’s group to the parking lot, loaded them into his vehicle, and drove straight into the city.

Kim Ki-chun arrived at the Village and stepped out of the car. Four model houses stood at the entrance.
“Luxury, Family, and Healing. These are the three models currently built.”
“Luxury, Family, and Healing?”
“Luxury is, as the name suggests, a high-end model built for the wealthy. Family is priced lower than Luxury and designed for families to live comfortably. And Healing is a dormitory concept built for Chinese nationals dispatched to this Unnamed Country. Our company has contracted for about two units, and once construction is complete, we’ll relocate from the Hotel here.”
At Dong-seung’s words, Kim Ki-chun examined the buildings.
“There are three styles, but four buildings have been constructed?”
“The Healing style has two variations. Style A has a structure with several small rooms, while Style B has fewer rooms but each is spacious, and they’ve placed many bunk beds to increase capacity. You could say Style A is for executives and Style B is for employees.”
As Dong-seung spoke, Kim Ki-chun looked at the buildings and asked a question.
“Healing doesn’t seem like it would generate much profit. Why build two model houses for it? Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to build more Luxury or Family models to expand options for wealthy customers?”
“The Luxury and Family models have the same basic structure, but the interior layout changes immediately according to customer requests. So it seems they’re just showing what this structure looks like.”
“Then how are the contracts progressing?”
“They sell out every time units are released.”
“All of them?”
“Yes. And among the completed buildings, the good ones have already acquired a premium.”
“A premium?”
“Indeed. In any case… this is a remarkable person. He built an entire Village. And without spending much of his own money either—only the customers’ funds.”
“Only the customers’ funds?”
As Kim Ki-chun listened, Dong-seung smiled and continued.
“Lee Gang-hun only sold prefabricated buildings. So people caught wind of it and started buying land, and land prices began rising. Then more people flocked to buy land… and once they bought land, they needed buildings to give it value. And if you’re going to build, you might as well build something nice.”
Dong-seung pointed to the prefabricated building in front.
“And since that building is something this Unnamed Country has never had before… living in such a house becomes proof that you’re wealthy and successful. So when someone buys that house from Lee Gang-hun, others who see it follow suit and buy the same house… and before you know it, it snowballs into an unstoppable momentum.”
Dong-seung continued with an envious smile.
“He must have made enormous profits.”
At Dong-seung’s words, Kim Ki-chun squinted and looked around before speaking.
“You just watched this happen?”
“What do you mean?”
“This is going to be a massive business, but this is Chinese territory, isn’t it? Naturally, the profits should go to the Chinese.”
At Kim Ki-chun’s words, displeasure flickered across Dong-seung’s expression. It felt as though he were being treated like a fool for failing to secure his fair share of profits and allowing Lee Gang-hun to take them instead.
“Of course that’s possible, but… profits are meant to be shared, not monopolized by one person.”
“Pardon?”
“Lee Gang-hun conceived and initiated this business. If we were to take all the profits from such a person, who would want to do business with us in the future? And even if we have plans for good business opportunities, they’ll try to exclude us.”
At Dong-seung’s words, Kim Ki-chun smacked his lips.
From the way he spoke, it seemed Lee Gang-hun had made quite a favorable impression on the people above.
What Dong-seung said wasn’t wrong. If one could monopolize profits without trouble, that would be ideal, but when that’s not possible, sharing is the better approach.
But while the word was cooperation, all the Chinese businesspeople Kim Ki-chun knew would immediately devour a weaker, smaller opponent and monopolize the profits.
After a moment of thought, Kim Ki-chun looked around and spoke.
“But what was the reason for choosing this location?”
“They said the Lake view is excellent.”
At Dong-seung’s words, Kim Ki-chun gazed silently at the Lake for a moment, then smacked his lips.
“I understand.”
“So how about the hotel then?”
“That works.”
After settling into the hotel that Dong-seung had arranged, Kim Ki-chun decided to get some rest.

***

In the living room on the 2nd floor of the Luxury House, I was discussing contract terms with clients.
As the client signed the contract, I smiled and spoke.
“Once the house designs are finalized, I’ll reach out to you again.”
“Please make it wonderful.”
“I’ll build it even better than the model house.”
As the client stood up, I glanced at Salim.
“Send in the next client.”
“Understood.”
After Salim descended to the 1st floor, I rubbed my neck once, then retrieved a cold beverage can from the refrigerator and placed it on the table.
I tossed the can and plastic bags the previous client had left behind into the trash.
“Lee, your next client is here.”
“Welcome—?”
I was about to say “welcome” when I paused, confused for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
Then I pointed to the seat across from me.
“Welcome, Dong-seung.”
At my words, Kim Ki-chun looked at me, let out a quiet laugh, and took his seat.
Kim Ki-chun had come here as a prospective buyer, borrowing Dong-seung’s name.
“This time, you got me.”
“Got you? I don’t recall giving you anything.”
I smiled and handed Kim Ki-chun a coffee can.
“Did I perhaps pick up something you dropped?”
At my sarcastic remark, Kim Ki-chun’s expression hardened.
“You’ll stumble eventually.”
“You came all this way just to say that? And you used company funds for the airfare… that’s quite an expensive statement.”
I laughed as I spoke.
“You didn’t come in economy, so… wow, that’s about a million won per character. And with company funds too? Actually, you didn’t come alone either…”
I stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the landscape.
“Ah! You brought Deputy Manager Han and Deputy Manager Jin with you. Well, this place is a bit rough, so bringing those two along is necessary for safety. That airfare budget must be enviable. Our company is small, so I have to move around alone.”
At my words, Kim Ki-chun smiled coldly.
“Regardless, it’s a good item. And good items always attract followers.”
Kim Ki-chun continued, looking at me.
“And followers tend to execute the pioneer’s ideas even better.”
“True. Then do your best.”
Kim Ki-chun rose to his feet and delivered a warning.
“Let me show you the difference between running a small corner shop and conducting business at a Large Corporation.”
“Please do. Then….”
Lee Gang-hun was about to hand over a canned coffee when he smiled and headed toward the refrigerator instead.
“Come to think of it, Director Kim enjoyed cider, didn’t he? This country doesn’t have our cider, but there’s something similar. To be precise, it’s closer to lemon soda.”
As he spoke, Lee Gang-hun opened the refrigerator and retrieved a lemon soda of this country’s brand.
Then he shook the can with just a flick of his wrist.
“Here you are.”
“Ah! Yes, I’ll enjoy it.”
Kim Ki-chun accepted the lemon soda and descended the stairs.
Watching him leave, Lee Gang-hun chuckled softly to himself.
“Director Kim… it’s remarkable how he moves exactly as I anticipate.”
He then called for Salim and instructed him to bring the next client.

Kim Ki-chun descended from the model house and made his way toward the vehicle. The two Factory Employees standing beside the car bowed their heads.
“Did you finish taking all the photographs?”
“Yes, we did.”
At the Factory Employee’s response, Kim Ki-chun looked at him and offered the lemon soda.
“Drink this.”
“Thank you very much.”
The Factory Employee smiled as he opened the lemon soda cap and let out a small gasp.
Pssshhhhh!
The carbonation erupted the moment he opened the cap.
“Blast it.”
Seeing the Factory Employee’s predicament, Kim Ki-chun glanced back toward the model house.
“I knew this would happen.”
Kim Ki-chun chuckled and pulled out a handkerchief, offering it.
“Thank you.”
Kim Ki-chun looked at Dong-seung.
“Is there a lake, green space, or forest in the Nearby Area?”
“The lake here is the only one near the Capital… There is green space, though it’s somewhat distant.”
“Take me there.”
“It will take at least an hour from here.”
“An hour, you say….”
Kim Ki-chun paused to consider, then shook his head.
“An hour is a bit too far. Is there nowhere else?”
“Hmm….”
As Dong-seung fell into thought, Kim Ki-chun looked at him and pointed toward the City.
“Let’s head to the City first. Then take us to where the taxis gather.”
“Very well.”
Shortly after, Kim Ki-chun arrived at the City and approached the area where taxis congregated.
“Where are you headed?”
“My taxi is cheap.”
Kim Ki-chun, who had been surveying the Taxi Drivers eagerly soliciting for fares, spoke up.
“I have a question for all of you. I’ll give a hundred dollars to whoever answers first.”
As Kim Ki-chun pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and displayed it, the Taxi Drivers’ eyes gleamed with interest.
They glanced at each other, then at the people accompanying Kim Ki-chun. One driver cautiously approached and spoke.
“If you wave money around like that here, you’ll get stabbed and die. Put it away quickly.”
The Helpful Driver, who seemed unwilling to witness someone’s death despite his habit of overcharging foreigners, offered his warning. Kim Ki-chun looked at him and replied.
“Is there an area nearby where trees and grass grow well?”
“Trees and grass?”
The Helpful Driver looked at him with confusion, and Kim Ki-chun nodded.
“Any region where trees and grass thrive would suffice.”
If the lake wouldn’t work, I was prepared to negotiate using a forest view instead.
By emphasizing superior materials and lower prices.

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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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