Goblin Library - Chapter 217

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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 217.

Mahmoud looked at Lee Gang-hun with astonishment, then quickly scribbled something on paper.

「60-fold」

Lee Gang-hun smiled and nodded at the figure that exceeded his expectations. Mahmoud then spoke to the person on the other end of the line.
『Let’s proceed with that. I’ll see you tomorrow.』
Mahmoud hung up the phone with a smile.
『We’ve agreed to make the transaction tomorrow.』
『I thought even a 50-fold return would be a major success… but 60-fold? Director Kim certainly thinks big.』
Lee Gang-hun spoke with a pleased smile.
『Okay! So then….』
Lee Gang-hun turned to face Mahmoud.
『Congratulations on becoming wealthy.』
『I’ve earned far less than you. Only about one-tenth of the land is mine, and the rest belongs to you.』
At Mahmoud’s words, Lee Gang-hun nodded with a smile. Though the deed was in Mahmoud’s name, most of the capital used to purchase the land came from company funds.
So it was Il-un Trading Company that had earned the most money.

***

Mahmoud signed the documents, completed the legal procedures to transfer the land, and then checked the deposit confirmation on his phone before standing up.
『Well then.』
As Mahmoud rose, Kim Ki-chun, who had been watching him, asked a question.
『But why were you so reluctant to sell that land all this time?』
At Kim Ki-chun’s words, Mahmoud smiled and replied.
『I was going to do what you were planning to do.』
『What I was planning? Do you know what I’m planning to do?』
When Kim Ki-chun asked with narrowed eyes, Mahmoud answered.
『Weren’t you planning to build a house there?』
『How did you know that?』
At Kim Ki-chun’s response, Mahmoud merely smiled faintly without answering, then turned and left the office.
Kim Ki-chun, who had been staring blankly at Mahmoud’s departing figure, turned to the Real Estate Broker and asked.
『Do you know who that person is?』
『He’s a fixer.』
『A fixer?』
『Well, when foreigners come to our country, they need all sorts of things, don’t they? Someone to drive them around, information to gather… that sort of thing. Oh! I’ve heard he’s from a special forces unit, so they say he’s incredibly good at fighting too.』
『How does someone like that have enough money to buy so much land?』
『I don’t know either. Anyway, the brokerage fee is… this much.』
The Real Estate Broker entered the amount on a calculator, and Kim Ki-chun transferred the money before stepping outside the office.
Then Kim Ki-chun’s eyes narrowed. Lee Gang-hun was standing in front of his car, laughing and chatting with the employees.
The employees noticed Kim Ki-chun coming out while talking with Lee Gang-hun and quickly composed their expressions.
Kim Ki-chun, displeased with the employees’ behavior, approached Lee Gang-hun.
『Did you come to spy?』
『That’s unlikely.』
『Then did you come to pick up scraps?』
Recalling what Lee Gang-hun had said when they first met, Kim Ki-chun smiled. He even felt a certain satisfaction about it.
『That’s right. I came to pick up scraps.』
『What scraps? I’m not someone who drops things around.』
As Kim Ki-chun spoke with a laugh, Lee Gang-hun laughed in return and looked toward his chest.
『You’ve already dropped some.』
『Me?』
When Kim Ki-chun followed Lee Gang-hun’s gaze to his own chest, Lee Gang-hun spoke.
『Money.』
『Money?』
As Kim Ki-chun muttered in confusion, a car pulled up beside Lee Gang-hun and stopped.
『Lee, let’s go.』
At the voice coming from the car, Lee Gang-hun opened the door and spoke.
『Sixty times… large companies certainly have deep pockets. I was only planning to take up to fifty times.』
As Lee Gang-hun spoke and got into the car, Kim Ki-chun watched the closing door, then quickly lowered his head to look at the driver’s seat.
And….
“Hi.”
Kim Ki-chun’s face hardened as he watched Mahmoud wave cheerfully with a bright smile.
Kim Ki-chun’s eyes trembled as he looked at Lee Gang-hun.
“You… surely not?”
“Gulp! Ah, delicious. Thank you for the meal.”
Lee Gang-hun pointed ahead with a grin.
“Let’s go!”
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Mahmoud started the car.
Kim Ki-chun watched them leave in a daze, biting his lip.
“Damn it… that bastard….”
He realized where the land he’d purchased at sixty times the price had gone. Kim Ki-chun bit his lip, then quickly looked at his employees.
“Let’s review this entire project from the beginning.”
“Understood.”
As the employees hurriedly responded, Kim Ki-chun climbed into the car and spoke.
“Head to that land.”
At Kim Ki-chun’s command, the employees quickly got in the car and drove toward the newly purchased property.
Inside the car, Kim Ki-chun pressed his forehead with his finger, his expression grave.
If Lee Gang-hun had anticipated his involvement in this venture, he would have certainly laid a trap.
The trap was evident now—the inflated land price. And I could understand why Lee Gang-hun had secured that land first.
In this area, that land was the most suitable for residential development, so both Lee Gang-hun and I had spotted the same opportunity.
This was an unavoidable trap. One I had no choice but to step into.
But I had a feeling this wasn’t the end.
True, I had purchased the land at sixty times the price. However, since the land was originally so cheap, it was a loss the company could absorb, and the damage I sustained wasn’t severe.
It would have been more profitable for Lee Gang-hun to keep the land and develop the village himself.
“You’re certain about the groundwater survey data, right?”
“Yes. That’s confirmed.”
“What about construction restrictions?”
“The regulations here aren’t strict, so applications are rarely rejected.”
An employee next to him added to the response.
“In fact, they actively encourage residential construction. They even provide subsidies if you demolish old houses and build new ones.”
After listening to his employees, Kim Ki-chun thought for a moment before speaking.
“What about the landscaping trees?”
“It’s still insufficient to create a full forest, but we’ve secured the initial materials needed for construction.”
“Good. Then… start the well drilling work first.”
“Weren’t we reviewing our project again?”
“We need to review the project. But before that, let’s start the well drilling. We know there’s groundwater, but we need to confirm the water actually flows.”
“Understood.”
An employee made a phone call to someone.

***

Lee Gang-hun held binoculars to his eyes, gazing at something in the distance. Before him stood a massive machine surrounded by workers.
Water was gushing upward from the machine.
“The groundwater has broken through.”
“The underground water reserves are quite abundant, I’m told.”
At Mahmoud’s words, Lee Gang-hun nodded.
“How many well sites are they drilling?”
“They’re planning to drill about ten, for now.”
“Ten, then…”
Lee Gang-hun lowered his binoculars and paused in thought before speaking.
“Well then, let’s wait until it’s properly matured.”
“Matured? Weren’t we supposed to inform the investors?”
If the investors learned of this, they would meddle and ruin the venture.
“We inform them after it’s matured. That way, Kim Ki-chun will take a significant loss.”
Lee Gang-hun laughed, watching the groundwater surge through the pipe.
“Then I’ll come back for the scraps next time.”
Mahmoud left a farewell that Lee Gang-hun would never hear as he drove toward his village.

Lee Gang-hun observed the village where quite a few houses had been built. Positioned where the lake was visible, the village was beautifully landscaped with trees and grass.
It was landscaping rarely seen even in Korea.
Moreover, flowers that thrived even in barren soil had been planted, so maintaining a pleasant environment required only careful management.
“Are the employees doing well?”
At Lee Gang-hun’s question, Salim answered.
“They’re all learning and performing well. And they’re all grateful.”
At Salim’s response, Lee Gang-hun nodded.
“Those people manage this place, but they also handle security duties simultaneously. So they must present themselves well to the residents. Oh, and they absolutely cannot appear drunk.”
“I understand.”
The plants planted here for landscaping had not yet taken root in the soil. Like people, anything that fails to establish itself struggles to survive.
Especially with plants—transplanting them to soil is not the end; they require continued care afterward.
On top of that, the village needed cleaning, and since only the wealthy lived here, theft was a possibility, so security required attention.
That’s why Lee Gang-hun employed Mahmoud’s former military comrades to handle the village’s management and security—much like an apartment management office.
Of course, this required residents to pay management fees, but everyone living in this village was the sort who could willingly pay that amount for safety and cleanliness.
“I understand. I’m constantly reminding them to keep their uniforms clean and treat everyone they encounter with kindness.”
And Salim worked as the management office director.
Lee Gang-hun grasped the small wooden fences erected around the houses and shook them, then spoke.
“It was a good choice to use solid wood.”
The small wooden fence was far too low and weak to stop thieves.
This fence merely marked the boundary of the property; it served no security purpose.
Lee Gang-hun, having examined the wooden fence, turned his steps toward the lake.
Small boats floated on the lake, conducting cleaning operations.
The water wasn’t particularly dirty, but since the lake sat beside a village where people lived, trash floated across its surface.
I was in the process of having people collect the debris and cleaning the water.
After all, people wanted to see a pristine lake, not one littered with garbage.
Additionally, two boat docks had been installed along the lakeside where vessels could be moored.
Village residents who wanted to go boating could do so by simply asking at the Management Office.
『Debris collection alone isn’t enough. I’d like the water to be even clearer….』
Lee Gang-hun paused in thought before speaking.
『There must be plants that are good for water purification. Mahmoud.』
At the sound of my name, Mahmoud approached, and I continued.
『Check with the nursery people we do business with about plants that are good for water purification.』
『Plants for water purification?』
『Plants that grow in water while purifying it. If this country has such species, let’s plant them.』
Then I turned to Salim.
『Post to the newsletter about how the Management Office is making significant efforts to purify the lake’s water quality, and include photos of the cleanup work. Also add that if anyone has good ideas, we’ll reflect them as much as possible and do our best to create a wonderful village.』
『Understood.』
As Salim nodded, I took a moment to survey the village.
Looking at the houses in the village, I smiled.
『We’ve sold quite a lot.』
Moreover, with so many prefabricated buildings still arriving, the profits would only grow.
I turned to Mahmoud and asked.
『How is Director Kim progressing?』
『The landscaping projects have advanced considerably. It looks a bit rough now since construction is ongoing, but once it’s organized, the forest should take shape quite nicely.』
『So it’s matured to a certain degree… Shall we begin now?』
I pulled out my phone and began making calls to people.
The food had matured sufficiently… now all that remained was to take the first bite.

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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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