I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 98

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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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098 – Expansion
98.
When I returned to the Philippines, Edward, Kang Manager, and Simon were gathered together, waiting for me.
We needed to hold a meeting regarding the Factory expansion.
“But you’re already expanding the Factory?”
Edward asked as I walked in.
Edward seemed to find this situation somewhat difficult to comprehend.
“Well, you made the medicine so well, Edward. The response has been overwhelming. We need to prepare ahead of time.”
“But still, how can we expand the Factory already? We only just built it, and it’s already quite large.”
“What choice do we have? Production can’t keep up with demand.”
“How much? How much do we need to expand?”
“It looks like we need at least ten times the current capacity.”
“T-ten times?”
“Honestly, even that seems a bit short, but there’s no helping it. There won’t be any problems with production if we expand tenfold, right?”
Edward seemed slightly startled by the mention of tenfold expansion.
Assand is structured by mixing medicine into the raw materials used to make candy.
While the candy is produced through automation, the core ingredient—the medicine—is made by Edward through manual labor.
This meant that the amount Edward would need to produce daily would increase tenfold.
“We’ll need to automate some of the process. That’s the only way we can produce the required quantity. Manual labor alone won’t be sufficient at this scale.”
“Can it be automated?”
“We should try. Looking at how the candy is produced, it seems possible.”
“That works out well.”
I called out to Kang Manager, who was standing right beside me.
“Kang Manager.”
“Yes, CEO.”
“Can you get the Factory expansion started right away? I heard you’ve been incredibly busy lately.”
“We have to. Isn’t the Factory expansion our top priority? I’ll deploy the equipment immediately.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to throw off your schedule because of me.”
“Patrick Mayor has been piling work on us, so there’s quite a backlog, but that’s work I can handle. For now, prioritizing the Factory expansion is the right call.”
“Is that so? How much work have you accumulated?”
“About three years’ worth? Patrick Mayor wants to give us more, but we can’t take on any additional projects.”
“Hmm… why can’t you take more?”
“We lack specialists to carry out the projects. We’re short on design engineers, construction managers, and field technicians. We also don’t have enough equipment.”
“If we had just those things, would it be possible?”
“Absolutely. There’s plenty of work available, and there are many people willing to work.”
“Is that right? Hold on a moment.”
I pulled out my phone and made a call.
I need to call right away when something comes to mind.
Otherwise, I tend to forget.
If I forget, Scott should remember, but Scott forgets along with me.
“Dae-hun. That… the Construction Company you mentioned before. Let’s buy it.”
“If we purchase it and deploy it solely for this Philippines project, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea, does it?”
“They say there are many experienced technicians there, right? And plenty of equipment.”
“You think they won’t come all the way to the Philippines? If we pay them, wouldn’t they come? Some might even be delighted, don’t you think?”
“There’s an abundance of work here. If needed, we can create more.”
“Unit cost? We can adjust that as needed.”
“There are plenty of ways to earn money beyond just construction contracts.”
“Right. Look into it and get back to me.”
“I’ve already mentioned it to Dae-hoon. What if Dae-hoon buys the Construction Company and partners with them to take on even more projects?”
“That’s an excellent idea. I’ll prepare for it.”
“Then that’s settled… and Simon.”
“What?”
“I think I owe you an apology.”
“An apology? About building the Factory? Why would that require an apology?”
“My vision might differ significantly from yours. When the Factory expands tenfold, things will change drastically from how they are now. Starting with the vehicles that will construct it, then the vehicles bringing in materials once it’s built, the trucks hauling finished products, the workers coming in. Countless people you don’t know will flow in and out of Dalapaanan. The fortress-like atmosphere you have now will vanish. If it troubles you, I’m willing to relocate the Factory elsewhere.”
“Hahahaha. Our Boss is worried about me?”
“You’re the king of Dalapaanan, Simon.”
“Hehehehe. That feels good, but… haven’t you heard from Patrick about this?”
“Patrick? No, I’ve been too busy to see him recently.”
“Patrick said he’d report directly, but it seems he hasn’t mentioned it yet. Get the details from Patrick, but from what I’ve heard, the entire population of Mindanao is growing significantly.”
“Really? Why is the population increasing?”
“Because of what we’ve done since taking control of Mindanao. Starting with the mines, we’ve created and formalized jobs in farming. As a result, an enormous number of jobs have been generated.”
“That’s true.”
“Hearing the rumors, people have been flooding in from everywhere. The Philippines has terrible employment rates right now, so even this level of opportunity is a very good job. It seems there aren’t many places that provide insurance and regular wages.”
“Is that so?”
“As people flood in, many things have already changed. People need to live, so they need homes, right? They need to eat, so Restaurants, Bars, pharmacies, Convenience Stores, Marts, beauty salons, banks, phone shops, pool halls—so many things have sprung up. And with so many people living here, Roads and infrastructure have to change too. What Patrick is doing now is managing these aspects… anyway, what I wanted to say is that change has already begun. I, we can’t hide away in Dalapaanan forever.”
“Ah…”
“Why that reaction? From the person who created this change?”
“Did I do it? You and Patrick did it.”
“What did I do? I just did everything our Boss ordered.”
“No, you did it. Anyone can come up with ideas, but executing them is a different matter. If you hadn’t been ambitious and hadn’t cared for people, this result wouldn’t have happened.”
“I don’t know about that. If I hadn’t done what you told me, I’d be dead by now.”
“Pfft. That’s a misunderstanding, Simon. I wouldn’t have killed you.”
“Not killed, but subjected me to suffering worse than death. That’s the kind of person you are. I don’t understand why people like someone so cruel. Though I like you too, of course.”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’ve never done that. There’s only one thing: ‘Take care of our side, ignore the other side.’ That’s it. The problem is that people keep provoking us.”
“Exactly. Nobody who’s touched us has fared well, yet they keep doing it. And contact Patrick more often.”
“Why? Is something wrong?”
“Why? He wants to report on municipal affairs.”
“He’s the Mayor. He can handle it himself. Why does he need to report to me?”
“It’s Patrick’s pleasure. Receiving praise from you.”
“Insane···”
*****
The meeting regarding the Factory expansion had concluded.
Now I just needed to construct the Factory and install the machinery.
When I first built the Factory, I didn’t know how to do it, so we gathered daily to revise the blueprints, test machine placements, and verify workflow efficiency. This time, being the second one, everything seemed far more manageable.
I could leave this to them.
I was about to return to Bohol when I spotted someone I hadn’t seen before.
He was strolling through Dalapaanan with a leisurely expression.
He carried himself as though he were someone important, strutting about arrogantly.
The sight of him was utterly repugnant.
I asked Simon.
“Who is that person?”
“Ah~ You’ve never seen him before. That’s the guy we rescued from the New People’s Army last time. Shin Jung-gi, I think? You know, that guy who does something.”
“But why is he still here?”
“South Korea won’t take him back. He asked us where the data was, but when we said we didn’t know, there’s been no contact since.”
“Really? These crazy bastards. They just abandoned him?”
“Seems like it.”
“So what are we going to do with him?”
“Whatever you tell us to?”
“Hmm… I should have a word with him.”
A short while later
Shin Jung-gi and I sat facing each other in a small Office.
“Hello? We’re meeting for the first time, right?”
“···.”
Shin Jung-gi glared at me without saying a word.
“Relax your eyes. You’re making me so nervous I can’t speak.”
“Still, I won’t give you the data.”
Shin Jung-gi brought up the data first.
Though I had lost the data, I couldn’t simply admit here that it was gone.
If I did, the modest life I’d been enjoying here would vanish.
My existence would become hardcore in an instant.
No matter what, I had to make this man believe I possessed the data.
I had to make him grovel before me to obtain it.
That’s what I thought.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re doing this because you want the data, right? You think I’m not perceptive enough to notice?”
“Ah~ You mean that data you claim I stole.”
“Stole? I created it. So it’s only natural that I have it.”
“That’s ridiculous. You’re insisting you did work that several people collaborated on.”
“Think whatever you want. Either way, I won’t give you the data.”
“Anyway, that’s why I hate talking to psychopaths. Damn it, everything in the world revolves around them.”
“What? A psychopath?”
“Do I look like I’m sitting here knowing nothing? Shin Jung-gi. You murdered a Chinese agent in South Korea, then tried to steal the Project Manwol data from ADD and sell it to China—got caught, beaten, and you’re still nursing your wounds. That’s right, isn’t it?”
“You son of a bitch!”
“Even a psychopath should have some shame, shouldn’t he? I brought you back from the brink of death, treated you, gave you a place to sleep, fed you, protected you—and you should be bowing in gratitude morning and night. Yet you eat the food I give you, lounge around, wander aimlessly, play with your phone, and eat again. Damn it, did you come on vacation? Are you on a honeymoon?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll pay you back everything once I sell the data later. So don’t worry, you bastard.”
“Really? Well, that’s a relief at least. Our accommodation fees are pretty expensive, you know. I’d appreciate it if we could do a partial settlement.”
“A partial settlement?”
“Why would I let you stay long-term based on what? When will you sell the data? Even the South Korean government gave up on you. If you disappear, there’s no one to collect payment from.”
“What? The South Korean government gave up?”
“Yeah. They contacted me to take you back, but they said they wouldn’t. Haven’t heard from them since.”
“Damn it… Don’t worry. I have the data. If I just sell that, I’ll give you way more than the hotel fees.”
“Whether you sell the data or your organs, I don’t care. I just want to get paid right here, right now. Simple, isn’t it?”
“What if I can’t give it?”
“Then you’ll have to check out.”
“Aren’t you curious about the data? Project Manwol’s data?”
Shin Jung-gi was trying to use the data as his final card until the very end.
But it seemed to have no effect on the man before him.
“Whether it’s Manwol, Manwol Temple, or whatever, I don’t need it. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t want to know.”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Either pay up or get out. The choice is yours. Normally checkout is at 11 AM, but I’ll give you a late checkout until 6 PM.”
“That doesn’t make sense. How am I supposed to get money right now? You should have told me this beforehand.”
“I thought you were quietly tucked away. I didn’t know you were strutting around like you were something special.”
“Huh?”
“When I was handing you over to South Korea, I said to take good care of you since your condition couldn’t be bad, but I didn’t say to treat you like royalty. Seems there was a slight communication error. Now that we know, we need to correct it. So get out of here! You bastard.”
“I’m telling you, I have the data.”
“That’s for you to figure out—how many times do I have to say it? If you sell the data for a good price later, send me some Korean beef. You have at least that much decency, right?”
“······”
“If you don’t pack your things by this evening, your body might leave here in pieces. I’ve been dealing with a lot of tiring things lately, and I absolutely hate repeating myself. Especially wasting time on stubborn bastards like you. So leave while you can still walk. This is my last favor.”
Shin Jung-gi organized the situation in his mind.
This man really has no interest in the data.
He has absolutely no interest in what the data is or where it’s hidden.
I need to abandon any idea of using the data as bait to hold on here.
Delete the data.
So should I leave here?
If I leave here now, what can Shin Jung-gi do? I thought about it.
If I leave here, it’s truly hopeless.
No money, no usable passport.
Shin Jung-gi is wanted for murder and industrial espionage.
He’s on Interpol’s red notice list.
The moment I use my passport, card, or withdraw cash, I’ll be caught.
If I’m caught, I’ll be dragged to the National Intelligence Service, interrogated relentlessly, and thrown in prison.
Murder charges and industrial espionage on top of that.
Would I get life imprisonment without parole?
I really don’t want to go to prison.
It’s the worst.
My routine is being shaped in a direction Shin Jung-gi doesn’t want.
I wanted to prevent that at all costs.
But what about this place?
The facilities are basic, but it’s livable.
At first, it seemed like a mess, but living here, I’ve discovered it has its own order and rules.
For someone like me who obsesses over routine, this life felt ambiguous.
The vague rules—present yet absent—made me both uncomfortable and at ease.
Could I stay here?
I was a high-level talent constantly receiving recruitment offers from various places.
If I agreed to stay here, wouldn’t they be so grateful they’d bow down to me?
Having made my decision, I spoke up.
“Fine. I’ll stay and work here. That settles it, right? I’ll just take 100 million won a year. Okay? I’ve been incredibly considerate.”
“What are you talking about? How have you been listening to me all this time? Get out. Leave. Go out there and chase your dreams. Go kill people, steal more data, and live a comfortable life. Look, you have to understand that psychopaths like you don’t listen to reason.”
The man turned around and shouted.
“Scott. Get rid of this bastard.”
“Yes, sir.”
******
Zhou Chiming, the Minister of State Security of the MSS, stared at the Assand in his hand.
Colorful wrapped candy.
What is this?
Why would Li Guoqing pay such close attention to this?
The events that had unfolded in his office that day were still vivid in Zhou Chiming’s memory.
Li Guoqing had handed him a bag of candy.
“Investigate this.”
“May I ask what this is?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself. But I have a feeling this might be something China desperately needs, so I’m requesting an investigation.”
“Understood. I’ll begin the investigation immediately.”
“Please do so as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, understood. Once we identify the related parties, I’ll have them arrested and interrogated right away.”
“No, that won’t do. Leave them alone for now.”
“Sir?”
“It’s not yet time to crack down on them. First, find out where this is being made, how it’s being distributed, and what its composition is.”
“Yes, understood.”
Zhou Chiming left the chairman’s office that way.
I released the MSS agents and managed to obtain a few candies from them.
I paid fifty yuan per piece.
Zhou Chiming had been fiddling with the bag for a while, and he was incredibly curious about these candies.
What were these? Could they be the items China desperately needed?
He sniffed at the wrapper.
Something seemed to have a scent, but he couldn’t quite identify it.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhou Chiming unwrapped the candy.
He had no intention of eating it.
Zhou Chiming wasn’t reckless enough for that.
Just the scent.
He simply wanted to smell what fragrance it had.
Sniff, sniff—he inhaled gently.
A sweet aroma mixed with subtle fruity notes wafted up.
It was the ordinary scent of common candy.
This is what China desperately needs?
He couldn’t comprehend it.
But then, sniff, sniff, sniff.
He continued inhaling.
There was a peculiar allure to it.
Before he knew it, Zhou Chiming found himself entranced, placing the candy into his mouth.
The sweet taste lingered on his tongue as an electric sensation pierced through his entire body.

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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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