Goblin Library - Chapter 219

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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 219.

Kim Ki-chun sat with a grave expression in what would be equivalent to the architectural department of City Hall back in Korea.
Kim Ki-chun glanced discreetly at the civil servants.
They were sipping tea or chatting leisurely. The Factory Employee who had come with Kim Ki-chun spoke with a note of displeasure in his voice.
“They’re taking far too long here. Should I press them once more?”
“No. That’s just how the culture works here.”
“Then what do we do? We keep getting the same response that the documents we submitted are still under review after a week.”
Another Factory Employee spoke up quietly in response.
“It seems we need to grease the wheels somehow.”
“We already tried that before, didn’t we?”
“What can we do if it doesn’t work?”
As the two Factory Employees exchanged words, Kim Ki-chun watched the civil servants for a moment before speaking.
“What’s Dong-seung saying?”
“Ah! Dong-seung has been acting strange lately.”
“Strange how?”
“When I contact him, he seems irritable.”
At the Factory Employee’s words, Kim Ki-chun furrowed his brow and pulled out his phone shortly after. He then called Oh Gyeong at Donghwa Logistics.
“Oh Gyeong, this is Kim Ki-chun. It’s nothing urgent, but… would you perhaps be free to have a meal together? You don’t have time? Then would it be alright if I came to see you? You’re busy? I see… Well then, let’s meet next time.”
After hanging up, Kim Ki-chun called the company. It was already past working hours in Korea.
However, the Trade Company had employees present twenty-four hours a day. There were staff members on duty to handle business with countries in different time zones, just like now.
“It’s me. Look into what’s happening here with the China side. Dig up everything related to this. Especially the business I’m involved in. Focus on that.”
After hanging up, Kim Ki-chun looked at the Factory Employee.
“Who’s the highest-ranking person in this architectural department?”
One of the Factory Employees pointed to a man inside.
“That person.”
“He should be outside soon. Bring him out.”
“Understood.”
As Kim Ki-chun stood and left the office, the civil servants glanced at him and resumed their conversation.
The Factory Employee then approached the civil servants and spoke to them.

I was sipping canned coffee beneath a tree at the entrance of City Hall.
Not long after, a middle-aged local emerged from City Hall alongside a staff member.
As they approached me, I offered a greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Kim.”
“I’m Oh Salam. I understand you have something to discuss with me.”
At Oh Salam’s words, I nodded and spoke.
“From what we’ve learned, this country encourages residential construction. It doesn’t seem to be a restricted business, so I’m curious—why hasn’t our permit been approved?”
“Well, isn’t it because there are problems with the paperwork?”
“Is that so?”
“What other reason could there be? Do you have anything else to say?”
I observed his discomfort silently, then gave a subtle gesture to the staff member.
The staff member withdrew an envelope from his inner pocket and quietly pressed it into Oh Salam’s hand.
“Ahem.”
Oh Salam gave a soft cough, pressed the envelope gently to test its weight, then slipped it into his pocket and discreetly checked its contents.
He then looked at me with surprise. The amount was larger than he’d expected.
“This…”
Oh Salam hesitated, his lips trembling, but then seemed to reach a decision. He sighed and spoke.
“I don’t know why, but orders came down from above telling us to block your construction permit.”
“From above? Who exactly is above?”
“I don’t know either. But it seems to be from quite high up. The person above me mentioned it as coming from higher up.”
“Do you happen to know the reason?”
“I have no idea. But it is strange. As you said, our country is currently approving permits for housing construction quite readily. And if it’s a foreign company doing the building, we typically don’t interfere at all.”
Oh Salam smiled as he spoke.
“Ah! And I looked at the paperwork—if the people above just change their minds, the permit should be approved immediately.”
“Is it possible to get the contact information of that person above?”
“Well, that’s…”
Oh Salam pulled out a notebook and wrote down a number for me.
“Don’t mention that I gave you this.”
“Understood. Ah, and could I trouble you for one of your business cards?”
“My business card?”
“I believe we could be mutually beneficial to each other going forward.”
As I spoke, I gave a subtle signal, and the staff member produced another envelope and handed it to him.
Oh Salam beamed with a bright smile, tucked the envelope into his pocket, and produced a business card, which he handed to me.
“Just resolve the issue with the higher-ups. I’ll take good care of the paperwork.”
“Thank you.”
I took the business card and left City Hall with the staff members.
As we walked to the car, I spoke with an irritated tone.
“Something is happening that we don’t know about.”
“Could this be Lee Gang-hun’s doing as well?”
I paused briefly to consider the staff member’s suggestion, then turned to look at him and spoke.
“Go to the Donghwa Logistics Branch.”
“Understood.”

Kim Ki-chun arrived at the sprawling warehouse complex operated by Donghwa Logistics, then made his way directly to the office.
With no one blocking his path, Kim Ki-chun entered the office without hesitation.
The staff glanced at him as he entered but paid him no particular attention.
Since it was a logistics company with constant foot traffic for various errands, they assumed he was just another visitor.
Before anyone could recognize him, Kim Ki-chun moved swiftly toward the branch manager’s office.
One Factory Employee suddenly rose to his feet at the sight of this. He was startled because Kim Ki-chun was heading directly for the branch manager’s office.
“What brings you here?”
“I’ve come to meet Oh Gyeong.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Not exactly, but we’re close acquaintances.”
Kim Ki-chun smiled and produced a business card, handing it over. The Factory Employee who received it squinted at him suspiciously.
From this reaction, Kim Ki-chun sensed something was amiss.
Donghwa Logistics was a company that had done business with Wonline International for years. There was no reason for such a reaction.
Kim Ki-chun quickly approached the branch manager’s office door and knocked.
“Oh Gyeong, it’s Kim Ki-chun. Oh Gyeong.”
“You can’t do this here.”
“Then please, just let me see Oh Gyeong for a moment. Oh Gyeong.”
A voice came from inside the branch manager’s office in response to Kim Ki-chun’s call.
“Let him in.”
At Oh Gyeong’s words, the Factory Employee stepped aside, and Kim Ki-chun opened the door and entered.
Inside, a sturdy middle-aged man sat in a massage chair, regarding him.
“Mr. Kim, I believe you mentioned you had no time, yet here you are, dropping by unexpectedly.”
At Oh Gyeong’s words, Kim Ki-chun moved to his side and glanced at the massage chair’s display screen.
The screen showed eighteen minutes remaining.
“Since you have no time, I’ll take only the time until your massage is finished.”
At Kim Ki-chun’s words, Oh Gyeong looked at him, then nodded.
“Very well. What is it?”
“I’m currently attempting to undertake a residential development project in this country.”
“I’ve heard about it.”
“However, my business has not been progressing well lately. Is it possible that Lee Gang-hun is obstructing my project?”
At Kim Ki-chun’s blunt question, Oh Gyeong regarded him for a moment, then let out a chuckle and called out.
“We have a guest—why hasn’t anyone brought tea?”
With that, Oh Gyeong rose from the massage chair.
“Please, sit.”
As Kim Ki-chun settled onto the sofa, Oh Gyeong produced cigarettes and offered them. Kim Ki-chun accepted one, and Oh Gyeong lit it for him before lighting his own.
“Our company and Wonline International have been working together for quite some time.”
“Indeed. I’ve known you for a very long time as well.”
“That’s right. When I was a newcomer, you were too.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s precisely why I’m disappointed and displeased.”
At Oh Gyeong’s words, Kim Ki-chun tried to hide his bewilderment as he asked.
“Have I done something to disappoint you, sir?”
“You have.”
Oh Gyeong continued, looking at Kim Ki-chun.
“Do you know the difference between you and Lee Gang-hun?”
“The difference between him and me?”
“Lee Gang-hun knows how to share profits with his brothers. But you—you don’t know how to share. And I’m someone in this country who has connections with you.”
“What do you mean, sir? I can certainly share profits with you.”
“Then…”
Oh Gyeong narrowed his eyes.
“When you bought that land, you should have given me a heads-up. You shouldn’t have bought it all yourself.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Seeing Kim Ki-chun’s confused expression, Oh Gyeong shook his head.
“Let me spell out the difference between you and Lee Gang-hun directly. Lee Gang-hun didn’t profit from the land in the village he created.”
“You mean he didn’t purchase the land?”
“No, he did buy it. But he did so after the land value rose, and he bought from the investors and homebuyers who had invested in it. In other words, he didn’t keep the profits for himself—he gave them to us.”
“Us?”
At the word “us,” Kim Ki-chun felt as though he’d been struck from behind.
He realized that Lee Gang-hun was connected through power with those who had entered the Lakeside Village—the powerful figures of this country and the Chinese.
Seeing Kim Ki-chun’s expression, Oh Gyeong spoke.
“But you bought all that land yourself. You monopolized the profits without sharing.”
“Once the business gets going in earnest, naturally I’ll share with you and the other brothers…”
“You were planning to share?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That could be true.”
Just then, a knock sounded, and a Factory Employee carrying a tray with tea and pastries opened the door and entered.
After the employee left with the refreshments set down, Oh Gyeong continued.
“Or it could not be.”
“I would not do otherwise, sir.”
“Yes, that could be true. Or it could not be.”
Seeing Oh Gyeong’s disbelief in his words, Kim Ki-chun spoke.
“Then what should I do, sir?”
“You must share your profits.”
“I will share. I can divide the land with you right now.”
At Kim Ki-chun’s words, Oh Gyeong let out a soft laugh.
“Of course you should.”
“What do you mean by that, sir?”
“If you want to use that land effectively, you’ll need to construct buildings on it. But since you can’t build right now… planting grass and trees on that land won’t make it any different from bare earth.”
At Oh Gyeong’s words, Kim Ki-chun asked carefully.
“Then will you help me?”
“How can I possibly help you alone?”
“Then will you connect me with people who can help me?”
“I can do that much. But there’s something you need to understand.”
“Please tell me.”
“Lee Gang-hun never profited from the land.”
At Oh Gyeong’s words, Kim Ki-chun bit his lip for a moment, then lowered his head.
“I won’t profit from the land either.”
At that, Oh Gyeong smiled.
“Then let me create my own place.”
“Thank you for your help.”
“You’ll need to prepare well what benefits to promise people. They’re quite angry with you.”
“I see. I’ll have to purchase the land myself.”
“That’s right.”
“Understood. I’ll think carefully about what benefits to offer everyone before I proceed.”
Oh Gyeong nodded with satisfaction and gestured toward the tea.
“Come, drink.”
As Kim Ki-chun lifted his teacup and drank, his mind remained turbulent.
He couldn’t help but suspect this was all Lee Gang-hun’s doing.

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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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