I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 158

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 158

“We’ve arrived!”

Unlike Cambodia, it wasn’t that far, so we were able to arrive within an hour.

Sergeant Regon kindly opened the door for us directly.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all! I’ll wait here.”

“It might take some time, so don’t stay here. Go to a restaurant or cafe and eat something.”

I took out 1 gold from my pocket and handed it to Sergeant Regon.

“It’s… it’s fine. Such a large sum.”

“Take it. How much could it be?”

It’s not a lie – by my standards, it really is pocket change.

“Thank you so much…! Then I’ll be at that cafe over there!”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

After finishing our brief conversation, Captain Bern and I entered the somewhat old-looking Saerom Factory.

“Oh my! Welcome! You must have had a hard time coming such a long way!”

“Welcome to the factory!!”

Factory owner Deadman and all his employees came out to greet Captain Bern and me.

‘Why… are they going this far?’

Anyone would think the Emperor had arrived.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. I didn’t come for any grand purpose, so please feel comfortable.”

“Haha! Of course. I’m very comfortable right now.”

He said he was comfortable, but the expressions of the employees beside him didn’t look comfortable at all.

“Our factory has a family-like atmosphere where employees and everyone work together very harmoniously. Those kinds of worries you have? None at all. Haha! Right?”

Deadman put his arm around the shoulder of an employee next to him and asked.

“Ha… haha, that’s right. Thanks to the family-like atmosphere, coming to work is enjoyable.”

An employee whose expression and words didn’t match.

It’s an atmosphere befitting a factory run by a reserve colonel.

‘Still, well, it’s a place that delivered honestly even in the chaos, so he can’t be a bad person.’

The employee just seemed flustered, and there was no feeling of displeasure or anything like that from Deadman’s contact.

“But the factory looks quite old.”

“It’s been a family business for 70 years since my grandfather’s time. The facilities are a bit old, but our technology and workforce are more reliable than anywhere else.”

“I see.”

So it’s third generation.

This is quite a considerable history.

“I’ll show you the facilities for manufacturing gloves. This way.”

Even though I hadn’t said anything, Deadman gave us a tour of the factory facilities on his own.

‘I wasn’t planning to see this much, but it’s not bad.’

I might be able to use this knowledge in the future, so there’s no harm in seeing it.

“This is the space where we’ll produce winter gloves. After the contract, as soon as the leather arrives, we sort it there, then cut it…”

The explanation continued.

Looking at everything one by one, it was quite systematic, more than I expected.

‘With this setup, mass production seems possible too.’

Looking at the current scale of the factory, it’s not very large.

However, the sophisticated division of labor process shows real know-how.

From my perspective, the more this expands, the more profitable it becomes.

“Don’t you want to expand the factory more? There’s land left in the back too.”

“It’s not that I haven’t thought about it, but we have no problems making a living, and I have some bad memories, so I try not to overdo it.”

“I see.”

A typical person who’s content with the present due to fear of business expansion.

“And I don’t have the money to expand. The land in the back is listed for 50,000 gold, but where would I get that kind of money? Haha!”

“I see.”

Certainly, 50,000 gold isn’t just pocket change.

‘It might be possible with a bank loan using the factory as collateral, but he wouldn’t like that.’

Even I can see it’s a risky venture.

‘But this looks like it could be profitable.’

As Plan Director, I can access most supply-related materials.

And what countless data flows indicate is that future demand for supplies will trend upward.

‘I was thinking of investing because of that, and this place isn’t bad.’

First, the fact that the boss made it to colonel in an organization where escape intelligence is ranked bothers me a bit, but still, he did business honestly, so he passes.

Plus there’s expandability.

The land right behind the factory is up for sale, so it’s perfect.

“Or how about I invest in you and you try expanding? It would be such a waste for a place with this much history to just stay like this.”

“In… investment, you say?”

Deadman’s eyes widened as he asked back, caught off guard by the unexpected suggestion.

Well, he probably didn’t see that coming.

Captain Bern behind him also had his eyes wide open.

“Not from the military, but personally. More precisely, it would be through the Oclo Trading Guild.”

“I’m sorry to say this, but I have no intention of handing over the factory…”

“I’m not asking you to hand it over. It’s a kind of equity investment. I’ll guarantee your management rights.”

“Why would you offer me such an undeserved…”

Deadman asked with a bewildered expression.

What else could I say in response?

“Because it seems like it’ll make money? There’s growth potential for further expansion, so it’s a shame to see it stagnating.”

“If… if you give me the opportunity, I’ll work hard!”

Deadman bowed his head while looking at me, his eyes sparkling brightly.

‘Yes, that’s it.’

He’s ready to work hard, isn’t he?

I quite like this.

“I’ll send someone over soon, so discuss the detailed contract with them. Today, let’s just sign this.”

I took out the winter glove supply contract I had brought and handed it over.

“Yes…! I’ll be counting on you!”

“I’ll be counting on you more.”

After we both finished signing the contract, we briefly shook hands.

“How about a meal…?”

“I have another appointment after this, so let’s have a meal next time. The delivery date will be tight, so please work hard.”

“I’ll work hard! Please go safely!”

“Please go safely!!!”

The factory workers echoed in unison, which was no different from an organized crime group.

‘This is a good place… right?’

I had momentary doubts, but I trusted my judgment and got into the carriage.

“Do you do this kind of business too?”

Captain Bern asked with a still surprised expression, curious about this.

“Well, you have to do what makes money. And this way, it becomes much easier to control.”

Didn’t we see this with the food supplies too?

When you hold the business initiative in your hands, the work you have to do gets cut down to half of half.

“Your thinking scale is different.”

“What’s so different about it? I’m sleepy, so wake me up when we arrive.”

“Yes.”

Since my recent sleep hours were barely different from a machine, I couldn’t resist the drowsiness and closed my eyes.

* * *

“What should we really do about this? What if that guy retaliates…?”

Lunchtime.

The commanders gathered at their usual restaurant looked at each other with anxious faces.

Among them, the most restless was naturally Colonel Cotton, the supply officer, who had dark circles under his eyes from not sleeping since yesterday.

“I… I think we should go and apologize right now. Say it was a misunderstanding.”

Thump!

At Colonel Cotton’s words, driven by extreme anxiety, Colonel Gavel slammed his fist on the dining table.

“Are you saying that as a colonel, you’d bow your head to a subordinate? Do you think that guy would forget if you did that? He’d rather climb up higher and try to devour us.”

“That… that’s…”

Since it wasn’t wrong from their perspective, Colonel Cotton’s voice trembled.

“Just stay put. Did you or I say anything we shouldn’t have? The contract being delayed is a fact, and that Cambodia thing or whatever was handled sneakily in secret.”

“That… that’s right! It’s something we could reasonably say, but he wanted to monopolize the credit.”

“He’s a very cunning and selfish guy. So for now, let’s wait until that guy falls.”

“Yes, that seems like the right thing to do.”

They wouldn’t do anything more.

Colonel Cotton, who found some stability just from this, nodded his head.

“Um… then what about the sabotage operation we discussed last time?”

At the question from one of the commanders eating, Colonel Gavel shook his head.

“It’s on hold for now. If we give that vicious guy any prey, he’ll somehow raise his hackles and charge at us.”

“Understood.”

Colonel Gavel, unsatisfied even with his own words, gulped down the water in his cup.

“How did the military end up in this state? The support unit has deteriorated too much in the past month.”

“Exactly! Even the Commander isn’t quite right in the head now. The previous commander was much easier to talk to.”

“Right now the guild leader is just frantically worried about saving his own skin, unable to see the big picture. Everyone could prosper together.”

There are various methods that would never get caught, and with just a little attention, economic prosperity could be achieved.

However, the current guild leader has fits just hearing such talk, so the existing Support Unit members have no choice but to feel frustrated.

“Once things quiet down, Lieutenant Paran will naturally go somewhere else, and the guild leader will watch and eventually join in, won’t he?”

Colonel Gavel nodded at Colonel Cotton’s words.

“That’s inevitable. Just endure a little for the greater cause. I’ll make efforts too.”

“Yes! I’ll trust only in you, Director!”

Let’s stay quiet as mice for a while.

In some ways, this could be seen as wise, soldier-like handling.

That is, assuming their names weren’t written in Paran’s death note.

* * *

“It’s really been a long time. Have you been well?”

A restaurant on a golden Saturday afternoon at 1 PM.

Looking at just the date and location, it seems like I should naturally be meeting a woman, but unfortunately it’s a man.

And a man who’s about three times my age at that.

“Yes, I’ve been busy but fulfilled. Though I couldn’t do even half of what you do, young master.”

The identity of the man sitting across from me with a pleasant smile is none other than Haiell.

He’s still in charge of the Oclo Trading Guild’s western operations.

“How could such things be compared?”

“I heard you distinguished yourself again recently. Throwing yourself into danger for hostages… My grandson keeps asking me to get your autograph. Would that be possible later?”

“I’d need to have a signature to give you one, but I don’t really have anything like that.”

“If you don’t have one, you should consider making one. From what I hear, you’re called a hero among children these days.”

“Ha…haha.”

It was certainly good news, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

‘No, isn’t hero going too far?’

Fear crept up that I might be executed for falling out of favor with the Imperial Court for seeming to covet positions above my station.

“So what business did you call this old man for this time?”

“Well, I was recently assigned to supply operations, wasn’t I?”

“Yes, I heard.”

“Looking around since I arrived, the scale of money flowing in and out of manufacturing is considerable. It would be good if our guild could enter this field too.”

When you get down to it, there’s a very complex business plan involved.

But for now, I opened with something simple first.

“Are you talking about military supplies?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I expected him to be pleased when I said this, but Haiell’s expression wasn’t very good.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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