Goblin Library - Chapter 45

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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 45

『Every time payday rolls around for the employees, all I do is sigh. That’s the reality of my situation now.』
Watching Manager Park sigh, Lee Gang-hun spoke up.
『Is the Company struggling that much?』
『When I worked at a company, I couldn’t wait for payday. But now that I’m running my own business… payday terrifies me. That says everything, doesn’t it?』
『I heard rumors that your business was doing quite well, though….』
That was precisely why I had asked to meet with Manager Park for advice this time. There was no point seeking business counsel from someone whose business wasn’t thriving.
But if he was struggling to even pay his employees’ salaries?
Seeing Lee Gang-hun’s surprise, Manager Park laughed and spoke.
『Those rumors about my business doing well? I started them myself.』
『Pardon?』
『In the beginning, my business really wasn’t doing well. Without a corporate backing, the people who used to grovel before me suddenly kept their distance, as if they’d never known me. They were afraid I might ask them for favors. Things got so difficult that I did ask some people who owed me for help… and after that, they wouldn’t answer my calls or respond to my messages.』
Hearing Manager Park’s words, Lee Gang-hun paused to think, then nodded as if he understood. It would be the same as avoiding a friend’s calls when rumors spread that they’re going around borrowing money.
Watching Lee Gang-hun, Manager Park continued.
『So I deliberately started wearing nice clothes and driving a nice car when visiting clients… and suddenly I was getting calls. Even clients who had cut off contact started reaching out again.』
Lee Gang-hun watched Manager Park laugh softly and shook his head slightly.
『People are… quite shameless.』
『No, no. You shouldn’t think of it that way.』
Manager Park shook his head and spoke to Lee Gang-hun.
『Those people were just trying to choose the safe path to protect and provide for their families. And besides….』
Manager Park met Lee Gang-hun’s gaze.
『Didn’t you reach out to me because I said my business was doing well?』
『Well, I….』
Lee Gang-hun, who had been about to say something, finally let out a sigh. He was right.
『I apologize.』
『Don’t be.』
Manager Park smiled and looked around the Pojangmacha.
『If you wanted something from me, you would have asked to meet at a nice bar, not here.』
Manager Park poured soju for Lee Gang-hun and spoke.
『The fact that you asked to meet here is why I came with an easy heart. I figured you wouldn’t make any requests of me in a place like this.』
Then Manager Park looked at Lee Gang-hun.
『Since you’re starting a business, let me give you a few pointers. First, don’t borrow money. Get investment instead. The moment someone says they’re starting a business and begins borrowing money, word spreads fast.』
Feeling Lee Gang-hun’s gaze grow more serious as he listened, Manager Park continued.
『Second, don’t contact the people you used to deal with right away. Make them contact you instead.』
『But then… wouldn’t I have to rebuild my network from scratch?』
『Start from zero. That’s actually better. Once you leave your company and finish the handover, word will spread through this industry that you’ve quit. So don’t reach out first. The people who want to do business with you will contact you.』
『I understand.』
After that, Manager Park shared the experiences he had gone through since leaving the Company.
Manager Park’s stories… they were no different from the plans Lee Gang-hun had intended to execute upon leaving the Company.
He too had attempted to start a business by taking his client connections outside the Company.
As Lee Gang-hun heard that all of those ventures had failed, a chill of fear crept over him.
After Manager Park finished recounting what he had experienced, he took a sip of soju and looked at Lee Gang-hun.
『And one final piece of advice.』
Manager Park paused for a moment before speaking.
『Endure as long as you can until the Company tells you to leave.』
『Endure as long as I can?』
『Endure. Keep your head down at the Company. At the Company, only you suffer if things are hard, but in society, your family can suffer too.』
At Manager Park’s words, Lee Gang-hun looked at him and poured more soju.
『Is it very difficult for you?』
『I thought I’d do well if I started my own company. That’s why I left so confidently back then.』
Lee Gang-hun watched Manager Park answer through his words, then thought for a moment before his eyes sparkled.
『Manager Park, why don’t you let me invest in you?』
『Invest?』
『As you said, I’ll endure if I can, but… I’ve already fallen out of favor with Director Kim, and now I’ve fallen out of favor with the Company President too, so I’ll be removed from my position soon.』
『Then endure until that happens.』
『I will endure.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, a look of confusion crossed Manager Park’s face.
『That sounds like a different meaning from what I said.』
『I’m not enduring to stay at the Company… I’m enduring to survive outside of it.』
『What do you mean?』
At Manager Park’s question, Lee Gang-hun smiled faintly and spoke.
『I’m planning to take a few bowls with me to eat from once I’m outside.』
『If you take too large a bowl, you’ll get sued.』
『Don’t worry. I’ll be taking broken bowls.』
Then Lee Gang-hun looked at Manager Park.
『Anyway, when I leave the Company, I’ll need an office too, so let’s start from your office.』
『Are you asking to go into business together?』
『With my investment alone, at least we should be able to cover the employees’ salaries.』
『I might not even be able to pay your salary.』
『I’ll earn my own salary. If I can’t even do that, there’s no point in setting up a separate office.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Manager Park looked at him and spoke.
『How much are you investing?』
At Manager Park’s question, Lee Gang-hun paused for a moment, then held up three fingers.
『That much?』
Seeing Manager Park’s surprised expression, Lee Gang-hun spoke.
『I’ve made a decent amount through stocks.』
『Wouldn’t it be better to do stocks full-time with that amount?』
『Even if you earn a lot, one mistake and you’re in the red. That’s the stock market.』
At my words, Manager Park nodded. It’s rare to find someone who trades stocks and didn’t make money early on.
Because they made money early, they continue trading stocks. But even those people eventually lose money.
Just as there’s no one who always wins, the stock market can’t always make money either.
Like gambling, with stocks you only make money if you take your profits and walk away from the table. Otherwise, you trade small amounts just for fun….
In any case, Manager Park, understanding my point, laughed.
『At that level… I’ll give you equity. Don’t come under me—let’s be business partners instead.』
『I’ll take the equity. But not as a partner.』
『Why?』
『Because I plan to start my own business later.』
『Ha! So you want me to be a stepping stone for your business?』
『Yes, please.』
At my firm words, Manager Park let out a soft chuckle and looked at me. Seeing his reaction, I spoke.
『In return, I’ll at least earn the salaries for myself and three employees.』
『Three employees’ salaries?』
At Manager Park’s puzzled expression, I explained.
『I’m not sure if it’ll work out, but… I’m thinking of taking about three friends I like with me.』
『That’s….』
Manager Park squinted at me.
『You shouldn’t do that.』
『They’re juniors who follow me. Since they’re close to me, if I leave, they’ll be harassed by Director Kim.』
Manager Park shook his head.
『They won’t want to come with you.』
『That can’t be. They’ve told me several times they’d leave with me if I go.』
Watching me deny it with a smile, Manager Park picked up his soju glass. I lightly clinked my glass against his.
『Well, I hope things work out the way you want. Let’s hope only good things happen from now on.』
『That’s how it should be.』
That’s how I spent the evening drinking with Manager Park, discussing what lay ahead.

Lee Gang-hun began methodically preparing for his resignation. From among the various projects he had been managing, he committed to memory the materials he thought might be useful later.
He also took another look at the items the company had decided to shelve, deeming them unprofitable.
Small in scale, modest in returns, yet reliable in generating steady income….
As Lee Gang-hun prepared the ventures he would pursue after leaving the company, he headed up to the Company Rooftop for a cigarette.
As Lee Gang-hun walked toward the Smoking Room with cigarette in hand, he suddenly paused. Director Kim was standing in the smoking area.
The Department Head, who could be considered part of Director Kim’s faction, was there with him.
Lee Gang-hun deliberated for a moment, then moved forward without hesitation.
‘There’s no reason to avoid them.’
Once he left the company, they would be strangers anyway—no reason to avoid them. Cigarette in hand, Lee Gang-hun gave a slight bow as he entered the smoking area.
『Hello.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s greeting, Director Kim glanced at him and offered his lighter.
Lee Gang-hun brought his cigarette to the flame without hesitation, and Director Kim lit it.
Pop!
As the luxury lighter’s lid opened with its distinctive sound and flame emerged, Lee Gang-hun lit his cigarette.
『Thank you.』
『I heard rumors you’re leaving the company. When are you going?』
At Director Kim’s words, Lee Gang-hun glanced at him and spoke.
『Pororo?』
『What?』
Director Kim squinted, as if questioning what he meant.
Lee Gang-hun gazed instead at the buildings sprawling below the rooftop.
After a moment of silence, Lee Gang-hun looked at Director Kim.
『Every time you see me, you tell me to play around. There’s that song, you know—playing is the best, gather round friends.』
As Lee Gang-hun delivered these words with a rhythmic cadence, Director Kim’s expression hardened.
『Manager Lee, what are you saying right now! Pororo?』
Though the Department Head beside him cried out in shock, Lee Gang-hun’s demeanor remained unhurried.
『There’s a saying in the military: don’t touch a non-commissioned officer on the verge of discharge.』
Lee Gang-hun shifted his gaze from the Department Head to Director Kim.
『A non-commissioned officer who knows all the irregularities in the unit…. There’s nothing good about touching someone who’s leaving anyway.』
『Manager Lee, right now!』
Director Kim raised his hand to stop the Department Head, who was about to shout, and looked at Lee Gang-hun.
『Is this blackmail?』
『Not necessarily. I was already planning to have a conversation before I leave the company.』
『About what?』
At Director Kim’s question, Lee Gang-hun looked toward the building.
『I’m leaving because I’ve lost affection for the company…. It’s not because I’m afraid of you, Director.』
『….』
Lee Gang-hun met the gaze of Director Kim, who was staring at me silently, and opened his mouth.
『Then suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Since I’m leaving anyway, why not just go all out!』
Lee Gang-hun made a typing motion with his hands. Then he glanced at the Department Head.
He didn’t say a word, but the meaning was immediately clear.
Lee Gang-hun had worked at the Company for a long time. Whatever card he held, it wouldn’t bode well for either of them.
At that, the Department Head and Director Kim’s faces hardened. Seeing the two of them like this, Lee Gang-hun shook his head.
『But I won’t do it.』
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Director Kim narrowed his brow and spoke.
『If you were going to stab me in the back, you would have pretended to leave quietly to lower my guard…. So you want something.』
Lee Gang-hun nodded.
『A businessman shouldn’t create enemies, and since you and I aren’t on good terms already…. I thought I should speak up.』
『Make peace?』
『Can that happen with just a few words? I’m simply asking that you erase my name from your mind going forward. After all, when I leave here, I’ll just be peddling wares anyway…』
Lee Gang-hun paused for a moment and sighed.
『If someone like you, Director Kim, tried to kill me, how exhausting would that be for me?』
As he spoke, Lee Gang-hun made a typing gesture again. It was his way of saying he’d expose your corruption if you touch me.
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Director Kim, who had been watching him, let out a soft laugh.
『It’s best we don’t create trouble for each other. Let’s do it that way.』
Then Director Kim turned and walked away, and the Department Head hurried after him. The Department Head, who had been about to say something to Director Kim, hesitated and quickly turned his head forward.
It was because he saw Director Kim’s face had become truly terrifying.

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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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