Goblin Library - Chapter 81

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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 81.

After a prolonged staring contest, Kang Chung-shik chuckled softly and rewrote the number.
“Very well. I’ll trust that you’ll handle the work properly.”
Kang Chung-shik extended his notepad, and Lee Gang-hun accepted it, examining the figure written inside.
He performed a quick mental calculation, then slid the bill back toward Kang Chung-shik.
“The meal should be on the Company President.”
“Ha! Are you dissatisfied with the number I wrote?”
Lee Gang-hun shook his head with a smile.
“I’ll earn what I deserve for the work. So the one giving the work should pay for the meal.”
“Then we have a deal.”
At Kang Chung-shik’s words, Lee Gang-hun nodded and made a proposal.
“Let’s visit your factory tomorrow morning to verify the inventory, and we’ll discuss drafting the contract there.”
“You’re checking the inventory first?”
“It’s merchandise we’ll be selling, so we need to see it with our own eyes. No matter how much profit we make, we won’t sell inferior goods. Our reputation is at stake.”
“That’s only natural.”
Kang Chung-shik answered with a smile and glanced at Oh Myeong-seok.
“I’m learning something valuable today.”
“It seems so.”
“Well then, let’s loosen our belts and have a proper drink.”
At Kang Chung-shik’s words, Lee Gang-hun smiled and picked up the soju bottle, pouring it into his glass.

***

Park Young-il finished reviewing the Osung Manufacturing business documents that Lee Gang-hun had brought and set them down on the table. Then he spoke in a murmur.
“Selling isn’t the problem… it’s the China angle that concerns me.”
“Since it’s unrelated to our current business operations, it shouldn’t be an immediate issue.”
“That may be true, but I’m worried it could become a problem down the road.”
Park Young-il looked at Lee Gang-hun.
“You know how much weight China carries in the trade business.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Then why push forward with this?”
“Because there are many Chinese products involved. From my perspective, that’s actually a better opportunity for us.”
Park Young-il raised an eyebrow. Chinese products being heavily involved was the problem, yet he was calling it an opportunity?
“What do you mean by that?”
“While I can’t speak in absolutes, most products are vastly inferior in quality when compared to Korean and Japanese alternatives.”
“That’s true.”
“And this country is currently conducting construction projects financed by Chinese loans, so Chinese products flood in. They’re forced to buy Chinese goods with Chinese money, so to speak. But the companies actually doing the construction work will be dissatisfied with the product quality.”
Lee Gang-hun paused briefly before continuing.
“The government of this country won’t see buying Chinese products as a problem. But the workers on the ground see it differently. When components break or crack, they need to be replaced or repaired, which costs time and money. If a twenty-thousand-won car part fails, the labor to fix it costs twenty thousand won or more. But if they used higher-quality products from other countries from the start, they could reduce those failures.”
Park Young-il’s eyes lit up at Lee Gang-hun’s words.
“So… your goal isn’t just to sell Osung Manufacturing products.”
Lee Gang-hun nodded.
“Selling Osung Manufacturing products is just the beginning. I plan to meet with construction companies in that country. Then I’ll show Korean and Japanese products to people dissatisfied with Chinese goods and establish new business relationships.”
“Ah! So Osung Manufacturing is your wedge.”
“Exactly. I’ll drive that wedge into the market and use the opening to sell other products.”
“But why Japanese products?”
“Japan currently represents a significant portion of our business. So if we sell both Korean and Japanese products, we’ll see greater profits.”
“That makes sense. Through Japan, we could also source components we can’t find domestically…”
Park Young-il nodded and smacked his lips.
“But if China finds out about this, we’re completely blacklisted, aren’t we?”
“In exchange, our business will expand dramatically from this.”
“Dramatically?”
Looking at Park Young-il, whose eyes were filled with anticipation, Lee Gang-hun spoke.
“Larger trading companies won’t dare enter because they’re wary of China. If we execute this well, we could have exclusive supply rights for at least a year.”
“A year, you say…”
Park Young-il thought for a moment before looking at Lee Gang-hun.
“Why do you estimate a year?”
“Large companies won’t enter, but smaller operators like us will cautiously start poking our heads in once they sense the opportunity.”
“What do you think the profits will look like?”
“For now, it’s difficult to determine from documents alone. I’ll need to go there in person, meet with the construction companies, and hear their complaints to get a real sense of the profit potential.”
“So you’ll need to stay there permanently?”
“Since I have ongoing work here in Korea, permanent residence isn’t feasible. I’ll probably go for about three days, assess the situation, return to Korea, and then go back again.”
At Lee Gang-hun’s words, Park Young-il sighed.
“Wouldn’t it be better to stay there and handle work instructions over the phone instead?”
Lee Gang-hun quickly grasped Park Young-il’s meaning and let out a sigh.
“I didn’t think about the airfare.”
“My apologies.”
“No, it’s just old habits from my previous company lingering.”
Lee Gang-hun nodded and paused to think before speaking.
“Then I’ll stay there and try to wrap up the work as quickly as possible.”
“I’ll take over the work here and handle it myself.”
“That should work. If things get difficult, I can back you up by connecting you over the phone when meeting with clients.”
Park Young-il nodded. Then he clapped his hands once and changed the subject.
“Alright then! Have you visited Osung Manufacturing yet?”
“I need to go now.”
“Good. Oh! And I looked into it—apparently Osung Manufacturing’s defect rate has dropped significantly lately.”
“Osung Manufacturing’s products were always good quality.”
“That’s right. But they’ve gotten even better.”
“Is that so? That’s nothing but good news for us. I’ll head over there now.”
Lee Gang-hun stood up and called out to Oh Myeong-seok directly.
“Myeong-seok, hand off your work to Manager Jang and come with me.”
“Osung Manufacturing?”
“Seeing the products firsthand at the site will be good experience for you.”
“Understood. Manager Jang, this is the Japanese kitchen knife order.”
“Got it.”
After watching Manager Jang take the documents, Oh Myeong-seok followed Lee Gang-hun out.
The two men got into the company car at the parking lot and immediately drove toward Seoul Outskirts where Osung Manufacturing was located.
Lee Gang-hun spoke while looking at the documents.
“Documents usually contain all the information organized neatly, but you have to verify with your own eyes whether that information is actually true. If we’re careless and later discover the products aren’t what they should be, our credibility suffers.”
“Understood.”
“Are you exercising?”
“Yes. As you instructed, sir—or rather, Chief Director—I’m exercising regularly.”
Chief Director of Operations. Shortened to Chief Director.
“Numbers in documents matter, but we traders need strong legs and a strong body.”
“Understood.”
As they talked, the car was pulling into Osung Manufacturing.
“Osung Manufacturing is a company that manufactures and sells metal components. The factory is here, and the headquarters is in Seoul.”
“I’m aware of that.”
As they were parking the car, President Kang Chung-shik approached with several employees.
“Welcome.”
“Thank you for coming out to greet us.”
“Haha! You’re the ones selling our products—of course I had to come greet you.”
At President Kang Chung-shik’s words, Lee Gang-hun nodded. Though President Kang was meticulous and hated taking losses, Lee Gang-hun appreciated this aspect of his character.
Most company presidents typically delegate such matters to their subordinates while handling only directives and approvals from their executive offices, but Kang Chung-shik preferred to oversee things personally whenever possible.
In a sense, since Kang Chung-shik was the one providing work to Il-un Trading Company, he held the superior position while they were merely subordinates—yet he still involved himself directly.
Lee Gang-hun muttered inwardly that there was indeed no other company capable of handling this job, when Kang Chung-shik introduced the employees who had accompanied him.
“This is our Factory Manager Lim Mu-geun. And this is….”
Before Kang Chung-shik could finish his explanation, Lee Gang-hun spoke up.
“Though the company has changed, we’ve worked together several times and are acquainted.”
With that, Lee Gang-hun glanced subtly at the middle-aged man.
“Department Head Oh Jang-hyuk, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has been quite some time.”
“I heard there was a fire at your home recently—have things settled down somewhat?”
“You’ve heard about that?”
“I happened to learn of it.”
“Everything has been resolved now.”
“That’s fortunate.”

***

Yu Tae-poong, who had been reading, tilted his head in confusion.
“Department Head Oh Jang-hyuk?”
“Department Head Oh Jang-hyuk” was the protagonist’s name in Dung Carrier Goblin’s novel. Moreover, given that his house had caught fire, it seemed to be the same person.
At that, Yu Tae-poong looked at Shoe Goblin.
Shoe Goblin was watching him with a smile. Without being asked, it seemed he had already discerned what Yu Tae-poong was thinking by reading the emotions flowing through the book.
“That’s right. The protagonist from Dung Carrier Goblin’s novel was there.”
Dung Carrier Goblin, who had been writing, lifted his head in confusion when his name was mentioned.
“What are you talking about?”
“In Shoe Goblin’s novel ‘Lee Gang-hun,’ Oh Jang-hyuk appears. Didn’t you know?”
“What?”
Yu Tae-poong held out the book to Dung Carrier Goblin, who was staring at him in bewilderment.
Dung Carrier Goblin checked that page and then looked at Shoe Goblin with an expression of realization.
“So Lee Gang-hun was a character in Shoe Goblin’s novel.”
It appeared that Dung Carrier Goblin hadn’t known because he hadn’t read Shoe Goblin’s book.
“You didn’t know?”
“I would have known if I’d been there myself, but since I only attached a goblin flame and left it at that, I didn’t realize.”
At Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong looked at Shoe Goblin. Noticing the questioning gaze, Shoe Goblin explained.
“I followed the situation directly, so I knew whether the Dung Carrier Goblin flame was on Oh Jang-hyuk.”
“Ah, I see.”
It seemed there was indeed a difference between a goblin following directly and observing versus simply attaching a goblin flame.
Dung Carrier Goblin let out a sigh.
“I was writing that part.”
“Huh? You were, hyung?”
“The story was pretty good.”
Dung Carrier Goblin nodded in agreement and raised his hand.
Whoosh!
Oh Jang-hyuk’s book came flying from the bookshelf.
Thwack!
Dung Carrier Goblin caught the book lightly and held it out.
“Since the rest would be the same anyway, use mine.”
Shoe Goblin, who had been watching, squinted in protest.
“Dung Carrier Goblin, you should maintain proper ethics, shouldn’t you?”
“I was already reading my book.”
“You’re reading my book now. You know how it is—switching books breaks the flow. To enjoy it properly, you need to maintain continuity.”
“That’s….”
With nothing to say, Dung Carrier Goblin smacked his lips and nodded.
“Fine.”
He sent his book back to the shelf and turned to Yu Tae-poong, saying:
“Yu Tae-poong, read the book.”
Yu Tae-poong nodded and opened Shoe Goblin’s book.

***

Walking through the factory, Lee Gang-hun spoke.
“I’d like to see the final process.”
“The final process? That would be the quality inspection?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to check the inventory first at the warehouse?”
“First, I want to see the quality of what we’ll be selling. What good is quantity if the quality is poor?”
“Haha! Then let’s do it that way.”
At Kang Chung-shik’s gesture, Factory Manager Lim Mu-geun stepped forward to lead the way.
The group entering the factory soon headed toward the quality inspection area.
On both sides of the conveyor belt where finished products rolled out, people sat in rows inspecting for defective items.
As the machinery roared loudly, Lee Gang-hun’s ears felt numb, and the factory manager offered him earplugs.
“It’s loud!”
At the factory manager’s shout, Lee Gang-hun accepted the earplugs and put them on. Once the ear pain subsided somewhat, he moved toward the inspection station.
As Lee Gang-hun scanned the products rolling along the belt, his gaze suddenly fixed on the person at the end.
The defective items stacked in the box of the person at the end appeared to be three times more than those in the boxes of the people he’d seen earlier.
Lee Gang-hun felt suspicious.
Why did only this person have so many more defects?

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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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