I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 105

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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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105-Dae Yeon Development
105.
“Damn, it’s hot.”
Zamboanga International Airport.
Manager Kim Tae-young of the Dae Yeon Development Task Force team’s first words upon exiting the airport were a curse, followed by complaints.
His face was etched with irritation.
It wasn’t just Kim Tae-young.
Every member of the Task Force team who had entered the country together wore expressions of utter displeasure.
They looked as though they’d been dragged here against their will, utterly reluctant.
Standing before Gate 3 of the airport with deeply furrowed brows, they waited for those who would pick them up.
.
.
.
Manager Kim Tae-young, who had joined the Task Force as the surveying specialist, was deeply discontented.
He despised everything about this situation.
If he could, he would submit his resignation immediately and leave the company.
If only it weren’t for the jeonse apartment he’d recently moved into after taking out a loan to the maximum limit.
Loan interest, maintenance fees, phone bills, utilities, transportation costs, insurance, subscription services—
Life in Seoul drained money with every breath.
Kim Tae-young needed his salary.
He knew he could earn several times more doing something else.
That this company wasn’t right for him.
That he couldn’t achieve his dreams here.
That he didn’t fit with the people,
Yet he’d witnessed far too many seniors, juniors, and colleagues who had quit over bad moods end up with poor outcomes.
They all shared one common refrain.
That the outside world was truly hell, and if the company didn’t cast you out, you should absolutely stay put.
So Kim Tae-young had decided to endure it.
He chose to keep his head down as much as possible.
Then the company was sold.
To some gangster bastard.
When it was sold to a private equity fund, he’d accepted it as inevitable,
But learning it was sold to a gangster felt shameful for some reason.
He was embarrassed to work at a company owned by a gangster.
Unfamiliar men in black suits began frequenting the office.
He never directly worked with them or faced them head-on,
Yet merely passing them in the hallways terrified him.
Rumors said they were the most brutal organization in Seoul.
He’d heard they’d purchased the company through threats to cut off the previous owner’s arms and legs.
It felt as though the company had become a gangster operation.
I didn’t want to mix with them.
I wanted to quit.
But I held back anyway.
Isn’t it enough if I just do my job well?
If I just keep my head down and work hard on what’s assigned to me, that should be fine.
But now they’re telling me to go to the Philippines and prepare for construction?
Prepare for construction?
They’re telling me to prepare for construction?
I was furious.
What do they even know?
Are they speaking from knowledge?
What do they know about construction?
These clueless bastards gathered all the company’s top talent into a task force and now they’re sending us to the Philippines.
These idiots who don’t even understand how construction works are being sent to the Philippines to prepare for a project.
The words “That’s not how construction works, sir” nearly burst from my throat, but I barely swallowed them back.
I was always good at holding my tongue anyway.
Though I’m not in the bidding department, I know the sequence of construction projects.
When a bid is announced, you survey the site, conduct measurements, perform foundational surveys, review designs, analyze competitors, and compile everything into final bidding documents.
If you win the bid, construction proceeds; if you don’t, it’s over.
You can only prepare for construction after winning the bid.
We can only prepare construction based on the designs we’ve submitted.
Yet we came to the Philippines without even receiving the bid announcement.
And they’re asking us to prepare for construction?
They’re telling us to identify and report the necessary materials, workforce, and equipment according to the design.
Where are we even doing this construction?
What kind of construction are we doing?
You need to know these things before you can prepare.
Depending on the weather, terrain, soil conditions, and project type, the difficulty level and the equipment and workforce required all change.
A sigh escaped me involuntarily at the hopelessness of it all.
The thought of working with these incompetent people left me feeling utterly lost.
I wanted to resign.
.
.
.
They said a pickup vehicle would come if I waited at the airport.
I’m smoking a cigarette while waiting for the pickup vehicle.
Standing in front of Kim Tae-young is Song Min-ho, the team’s youngest member and the one handling support duties.
The only two smokers on the task force.
“Is this your first time in the Philippines?”
“No. I came to Cebu once with some friends.”
“Really? Sounds like you had a blast. I went to Boracay once and had a terrible time, so I haven’t looked at the Philippines since.”
“Boracay? But everyone says Boracay is amazing. Isn’t it one of the world’s top three beaches?”
“The beach itself is incredible. But getting there is no joke.”
“Can’t you just take a plane?”
“No. The journey is brutally complicated. You fly, then take a bus, then a ferry, then a tuk-tuk. I didn’t arrive until twelve hours after leaving home. I thought I was traveling to America.”
“Really? I had no idea.”
“Want to know what’s even worse?”
“What? There’s something worse?”
“You have to repeat the entire ordeal on the way back. Another tuk-tuk, ferry, bus, plane, and then driving home. At least on the way there you’re excited about the trip. Coming back, I was absolutely exhausted.”
“Ugh, just thinking about it gives me chills.”
The two of us were making small talk while smoking when a luxurious minibus pulled up.
“They have buses like that here too?”
“Right? It’s surprising. Are VIPs coming here today?”
“Well, there are VIPs everywhere.”
“Ha, I suppose so.”
Just then, the luxurious minibus came to a stop and a uniformed driver stepped out.
“Are you the group from Dae Yeon Development?”
“Yes, that’s us.”
“I’ve come to pick you up. Please board the bus. Leave your luggage behind—we’ll load it for you.”
The driver and his assistant guided the TF team onto the bus.
They loaded the luggage and equipment into the vehicle.
Meanwhile, the TF team boarded the bus.
Cool air conditioning greeted them.
With the air conditioning alone, it felt like stepping into a completely different world.
Just having the air conditioning was pure bliss.
Once the luggage was loaded, the bus departed.
Despite the road clearly not being in good condition, the bus glided smoothly without a single jolt.
Either the driver was skilled, the bus was exceptional, or both.
After about twenty minutes, the bus pulled up in front of the hotel.
The hotel staff were already waiting outside.
They handled everything without needing to lift a finger.
While sitting in the lobby, check-in was completed automatically.
The team was assigned one suite and six executive rooms.
One room per person, plus a suite.
The suite was likely arranged with consideration for a team that would need to gather frequently for meetings and other business.
“But who arranged all this?”
“It definitely wasn’t the company.”
“If the company had done it, we’d be sharing rooms, two to a room.”
“Have you checked your rooms?”
“Yes.”
The man who had been driving spoke with the smooth eloquence of a seasoned guide, his smile practiced and assured.
“Your meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow. I’ll come to collect you at 9, so please be ready by then.”
“Understood.”
The TF team, their spirits lifted by the generous treatment, responded courteously.
“There is one critical matter I must emphasize—you must adhere to it absolutely.”
“What is it?”
“The security situation in Zamboanga City is not favorable. Particularly for foreigners. Under no circumstances should you venture outside the Hotel.”
The team members were already aware of this.
Still, questions arose.
“What about meals?”
“You may dine at the Hotel restaurant or order room service. We will cover all expenses. Please don’t hesitate—order whatever you wish. Alcohol and beverages are no problem. Enjoy yourselves freely.”
“Really?”
“Yes. However, do not leave the Hotel. It is dangerous.”
“Understood.”
With the TF team’s acknowledgment, the Driver departed from the Hotel. The team gathered for dinner, prepared their presentation materials, and then retired to their respective rooms for rest.
.
.
.
The following morning at 9 a.m., the man arrived to collect them.
Their destination was City Hall.
Patrick Mayor greeted them.
“Welcome. Thank you for making the journey. I am Patrick Mayor of Zamboanga City.”
The TF team was taken aback by the Mayor’s sudden appearance.
The Mayor himself had come to meet them?
Surely this was a matter that should have ended at the construction manager level?
Though all were surprised, it was the Team Leader who recovered his composure first.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Han Jae-won, Team Leader. We were able to travel comfortably thanks to your thoughtful arrangements.”
Han Jae-won, the Team Leader of the TF team, offered the formal greeting on behalf of the group, and we took our seats.
“However, what construction project are we undertaking? Had we known beforehand, we would have prepared more thoroughly. Without information, we were unable to make adequate preparations.”
The moment we sat down, Team Leader Han Jae-won broached the subject first.
In truth, Han Jae-won was likely the most frustrated among us.
Leading the TF team without knowing what we were doing or how to do it, I had come all the way to Zamboanga City in the Philippines.
Zamboanga is not a place one simply visits.
Zamboanga is a travel-restricted zone.
While Mindanao is classified as a Level 3 red alert zone, the regions of Sulu, Basilan, and Zamboanga itself are Level 4 black alert travel-ban zones.
To come here, I had to submit an exceptional passport usage permit application and a sworn statement to the Foreign Ministry.
Having traveled to such a dangerous place, the fact that I arrived without knowing what construction project awaited us continued to weigh heavily on the Team Leader’s mind.
“I imagine that was the case. My apologies. We attempted to organize the details on our end as well, but it proved more difficult than anticipated.”
Patrick Mayor paused briefly, then moved toward the monitor.
As the monitor illuminated, a map of Zamboanga City appeared on the screen.
Patrick pointed at the map and resumed speaking.
“This is Zamboanga City.
As you’ve seen on the way here, the infrastructure is severely inadequate.
We want to transform this environment.
The roads and bridges need reconstruction, and the ports and docks require renovation.
We need to build breakwaters too. We should reinforce the rivers and streams to prepare for flooding.
Water and sewage systems, power grid upgrades—these are difficult even to mention in the current situation.
That’s why I haven’t brought them up.
I didn’t know where to start.
It was hard to know what to ask for.
I’m not a construction expert.
Zamboanga doesn’t have that much money either.
But I hope the citizens can live in a better environment.
I’ll provide you with a list of necessary projects.
Just let me know which ones Dae Yeon Development can handle.”
The Dae Yeon Development task force was stunned, their jaws dropping.
So there was a list of projects that needed to be done in Zamboanga, and they were being told to pick what they needed and wanted.
He was essentially saying, “Go ahead and pick the best ones.”
The Team Leader couldn’t comprehend the situation.
“Mayor, we’re incredibly grateful. But honestly, I don’t quite understand. This doesn’t seem like a favor anyone can receive. Could you perhaps explain the reason?”
Patrick Mayor spoke with a benevolent expression.
“Let’s just say the new CEO of Dae Yeon Development is quite capable.”
.
.
.
The task force returned to the Hotel with the list in hand.
Upon arrival, they laid out the project list brought from City Hall.
It was an enormous volume—several boxes worth.
From now on, the task force would review this and select projects perfectly suited for Dae Yeon Development.
Activity suddenly intensified.
They gathered in the suite and began examining the documents.
Initially, they started lightly, simply listing and categorizing the projects.
They needed to identify what construction work was available.
But as they organized, they discovered several projects that could be executed together in groups of two or three.
“There’s a river embankment project here. If we build a road alongside it at the same time, it should work well, right? Then we’d complete two projects but the costs would drop significantly.”
“Same here. If we conduct road and water/sewage work simultaneously, it’s far more efficient. It solves leakage problems and prevents road subsidence.”
“While we’re at it, if we bury power lines and communication cables together, that would be ideal. No more utility poles, cleaner cities, fewer blackouts.”
“The Philippines gets a lot of typhoons and frequent blackouts, so this would be amazing, wouldn’t it?”
Listening to this exchange, Team Leader Han Jae-won’s lips curved into a smile.
He immediately issued work instructions.
“Good. This is a perfect opportunity for us to complete multiple projects in a short timeframe. Kim Tae-young, review the locations and cadastral maps. Park Ji-hoon, assess the construction difficulty for each site.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Jung Ye-rin, verify the local regulations and administrative procedures. Lee Su-min, assist her with that, will you?”
“Understood.”
The moment work commenced, their eyes gleamed with intensity—each of them an ace at the company.
They dove into the task with that distinctly Korean drive for speed and ruthless efficiency.
They had no intention of stopping at a single major project.
Their aim was to accomplish as many construction jobs as possible in one concentrated push.
They were orchestrating work of extreme efficiency.
******
Beijing, China
Ministry of State Security headquarters, main office.
Zhou Chiming received the report with a grave expression.
“What? You couldn’t locate the Assand dealer?”
“My apologies.”
“There must be distributors out there—the ones moving the product. If we squeeze them, someone higher up will surface, won’t they?”
“Assand has vanished completely. It appears no new supply is coming through.”
“Are you certain?”
“The channels I’ve verified confirm the same.”
Following Team Leader One’s report, Team Leader Two’s words deepened Zhou Chiming’s disappointment.
Beyond the distribution network for Assand itself, his own personal supply of Assand was running dry.
Urgency gripped him.
He needed to secure Assand immediately.
“Then what do we do? I need to make contact.”
“I’ll explore every avenue.”
“Listen—find a way to establish a connection. By any means necessary.”
“Yes, sir.”
******
These days feel remarkably peaceful.
I wonder if I should simply live like this.
The conquest of China, Assand—it all suddenly feels pointless.
What profit comes from any of it, anyway?
Ah.
Of course, I’m not doing this for money.
I’m trying to realize the dreams of those Chinese operatives.
But should I really be fulfilling their dreams for them?
Dreams are meant to be achieved by oneself.
Not handed to you by someone else.
I’m staying in Dalapaanan these days.
Initially, I remained here because of Assand and Edward, but living here has proven… agreeable.
While I was in Bohol, there was no respite—people constantly rushed at me demanding meetings and reports.
And because I was staying at the Hotel, there was no peace with people coming and going at all hours.
Whenever I had a moment to rest, I was swamped with guide work.
Here, all of that has diminished considerably.
Of course, Scott still nags beside me, but since I only have to deal with him alone, it’s manageable.
I can just enjoy myself.
It’s absolutely sweet.
Whether I work or not, the money I earn is roughly the same.
Money keeps accumulating steadily.
The Casino remains my primary income source.
Candy Tour, the Hotel, coins, weapons trafficking, and the gold mine—they’re not unprofitable.
It’s just that the Casino generates so much more.
Besides, there’s no reason to spend money.
I’m absolutely done with politics now.
I won’t make that reckless decision to run an election.
There’s no need for large expenditures.
With what I’ve earned now, I can live out my remaining years without significant hardship.
I don’t actually enjoy running businesses.
I’ve simply ended up here by circumstance.
I started the tourism business to transport drugs, and I’ve just ended up here.
I’ve missed this kind of tranquility.
Edward, who used to bother me constantly, hasn’t left the lab lately.
He seems to have figured something out, but I didn’t ask.
What would asking accomplish? Would I understand?
Even if Edward explained, would I comprehend it?
If I don’t understand, I just trust him and do what he asks.
If it doesn’t work out, so be it. If it succeeds, I praise him.
There’s no point in meddling when I don’t understand—it only makes us both uncomfortable.
I was only worried he’d damage his health from concentrating too hard on research, but surprisingly, Shin Jung-gi manages Edward well.
Who knew that psychopath had a talent for management?
People truly are unpredictable.
Everyone has hidden talents, it seems.
Then my phone rang.
It was Hanlin from Yingjie Xian.
“Yeah. What’s up?”
– How have you been doing?
“Just the business.”
– These days, the Public Security Bureau and MSS are searching intensely for Assand dealers.
“That’s something they always do, isn’t it? All our dealers are in hiding, right?”
– Yes. Since you ordered us to stop selling Assand and go into hiding, everyone disappeared completely.
“That works for me.”
– Well, that’s the thing… this seems different. It doesn’t appear to be an enforcement operation.
“Not an enforcement operation?”
– It seems they have a message to deliver.
“A message? What kind of message?”
– I probed a bit, but even they don’t know. They just said that if I happen to learn anything about the Assand sellers or manufacturers having something urgent to discuss, I should pass the word along.
“Hmm… do you have any idea what this is about?”
– I did hear something, but it sounded so absurd that I didn’t mention it…
“What is it?”
– They’re talking about legalizing Assand.
“What?? Legalize???”
I had never experienced such shock in my entire life.
It felt as though my head had been struck repeatedly with a hammer.
Legalize it.

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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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