The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 136

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

Chapter 136. Securing the Store (2)
For reference, construction on the New City District store also began simultaneously.
There, the first task was to demolish three partition walls at once.
‘That part’s actually straightforward.’
The interior design contractor was delighted, saying it was just the kind of work he usually did.
The plan was to connect three spaces in a single line and set up the counter, tasting station, and display case layout all at once. There was nothing particularly difficult about it.
‘He’ll do a good job.’
Everything was progressing smoothly.
* * *
A few more days passed like that.
I had just finished the lunch service that day.
‘Today went well too.’
I pulled the restaurant shutter halfway down and put up the break time notice.
Behind Jin-woo, who was clearing the scraps, only the sound of dishes clinking remained.
‘Customer turnover was good. Inventory was clean too.’
That’s when the door opened.
“Excuse me.”
I turned around.
It was a familiar face.
Han Myeong-chul.
His suit was pressed even more crisply than usual. His shoulder line was sharp as a blade, and his necktie knot sat perfectly centered without the slightest deviation.
‘He really loves his suits.’
As he entered, Han Myeong-chul adjusted his necktie knot with his finger once.
It was a gesture to check that his appearance had no wrinkles, but there was something distinctly self-satisfied about the way he did it.
‘He’s got quite the ego.’
He set his briefcase neatly on a chair beside the counter, then clasped and unclasped his hands once.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. But…”
“Hmm?”
“Didn’t I clearly tell you that construction wasn’t permitted?”
He got straight to the point the moment he walked in.
His expression was calm, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised. He carried himself as if he held the upper hand.
Ah. I understand now.
From his perspective, it must look like I’m forcing through construction that shouldn’t be allowed.
In such a situation, he’d be convinced he held the advantage.
He probably thought he could block the upcoming construction himself.
But here’s the thing.
That’s not the case at all.
I answered him flatly.
“Yes. That’s why I’m not doing it.”
“…Isn’t construction currently underway in D-dong? I went and saw it myself.”
“Yes, construction is happening.”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
“A problem?”
“Yes. A problem.”
He spoke with such confidence, completely oblivious to my indifference.
Though I couldn’t blame him—he would never have anticipated that I’d make such a bold move here.
Well, now it was my turn to be confident.
“It’s a different kind of construction.”
I set down the water cup I’d been holding onto the counter.
“Pardon? A different kind of construction?”
“You said I couldn’t build a restaurant. Or more precisely, you said direct consumer sales were restricted, didn’t you?”
“Yes. That’s what the regulations—or rather, the law—stipulate.”
“So I followed the law.”
“What kind of wordplay is this….”
“That construction over there is for a factory. A Food Manufacturing Company.”
Han Myeong-chul’s fingers slipped slightly.
“A factory?”
“Yes. You yourself said food manufacturing and processing were permissible. That’s allowed.”
“…Well, that is technically allowed.”
“So there’s no reason the business license won’t be approved. That’s why I proceeded with both the paperwork and construction simultaneously. Neither violates any laws.”
“Hmm… What in the….”
I remained composed throughout.
“I’ll bring the documents, so just prepare to receive them. For your information, I’ve already confirmed there are no issues.”
“…You’ve already verified everything in advance?”
“Yes.”
Han Myeong-chul opened his mouth, then closed it.
“That’s… something that doesn’t usually pass so easily… even experts struggle with….”
“Ah. That’s why I brought in an expert for consultation, and that expert will personally handle the process.”
“An expert?”
I held up a finger.
“Yes. By the way, that expert will be going as Han Jae-won’s representative.”
“…Han Jae-won?”
“Yes.”
“That… Han Jae-won? The one I know?”
“You seem to know him.”
“How could I not? But before that, how did you even….”
“How much detail do I need to explain?”
“….”
Han Myeong-chul’s expression froze for a beat.
His mouth remained closed, but his eyes blinked rapidly a couple of times.
‘His expression has completely fallen. His eyes look vacant.’
He would certainly know what position Han Jae-won held.
Even if he hadn’t seen it on television, the name circulated far more frequently within administrative circles. After all, he was someone actively involved in various endeavors.
“Then I’ll see you then.”
I raised my hand slightly toward the door.
Han Myeong-chul nodded a beat late and turned to leave.
His body began to slump as if his height were shrinking in real time.
‘Look at those drooping shoulders.’
The shoulders that had been sharp and alive when he entered were now awkwardly stiff as he left.
‘Delivering that blow was rather entertaining.’
I might get addicted to this.
* * *
The evening service proceeded with great momentum.
Customer turnover was brisk, and Jin-woo in the kitchen chattered twice as much as usual. He’d been even more talkative since bringing up the consulting matter.
‘Where does that guy’s energy come from.’
An hour before closing. The glass door opened again.
No matter how much of a reputation as a delicious restaurant it had earned.
Once evening hours had passed, customers rarely came by, did they?
When I saw who it was.
“Hello!”
It was Sonny.
PD Ga followed behind, raising a hand as he entered.
A loose jacket and wrinkled sneakers that looked even more disheveled.
Notably, one of his shoulders appeared heavier than usual. Just like Han Myeong-chul who had left earlier today.
‘Why are so many people I know coming by today.’
I finished greeting them and asked.
“What brings you here?”
“Would it be alright if we sat for a moment? I wanted to talk about something after closing.”
“After closing… that’s soon. Yes. Just a moment.”
PD Ga’s voice was lower than usual. Sonny took her usual seat beside the counter as if claiming her spot.
‘What’s this about?’
I was curious what had brought them here.
* * *
“What brings you here?”
After closing, we sat across from each other.
‘They’re probably going to talk about a new program.’
There were reasonable expectations, after all.
Given that he was obsessed with broadcasting, I figured his business could be nothing other than broadcasting-related.
But then again.
The response that came back was surprising.
“I’m thinking of quitting as a PD.”
“…Pardon? You, PD?”
The words took a moment to register in my mind.
‘What kind of situation is this? PD Ga is leaving the Broadcasting Station?’
Not someone else—PD Ga himself was quitting.
It was something I could never have imagined.
Between setting down the barley tea cup PD Ga had offered me and picking it back up, I asked.
“Did something happen?”
PD Ga tapped the Table with his finger once.
‘From the way he’s building suspense… there’s quite a story here.’
Like releasing something pent up, he laid out everything that had happened at the Broadcasting Station.
The Department Head calling him in directly and telling him to pull back.
Pressure from above blocking him through the advertiser line.
‘At this rate, every day must have been a battle.’
People freezing up at a single call from the Jang Family.
Each word he spoke was light in tone, but irritation was heavily layered between the lines.
At the same time, there was a hint of self-reproach.
“…Anyway, that’s how it is.”
“I see.”
“I thought about going to a Comprehensive Programming Channel, but that place is the same way. It’s… well.”
“So?”
“I’m going to YouTube.”
“Huh… YouTube? You, PD?”
“Yes. That’s what’s happening.”
“Huh…”
It was remarkable. The fact that he was making such a decision.
At the same time.
‘He must have suffered quite a bit.’
There must have been considerable emotional toll for him to reach this decision.
But this man, even if he quit as a PD, still had the bearing of a professional.
As if he’d never been discouraged for a moment.
“Still.”
He asked with bright, keen eyes.
“You’ll do it for me, right?”
“Do what?”
“Appear in my content. From the first episode. You promised, didn’t you?”
“Oh my…”
At that moment, Sonny spoke up beside me, her eyes sparkling.
“If we do a collaboration with my channel, it’s going to blow up, seriously.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
‘A collaboration? Here? So that’s why they came. They’ve already planned everything out. These people are quite creative.’
Now I understood the situation.
PD Ga had deliberated carefully before making his decision.
And Sonny was part of this plan.
PD Ga wanted confirmation from me here. Whether my previous promise still held.
‘I’m the key piece in this.’
All the buzz he’d generated so far wouldn’t work without me.
He’d made his move preemptively before the situation became untenable.
My answer to that was simple.
‘I’m not the type to obsess over broadcasting anyway.’
What mattered wasn’t the means. It was the people.
Looking at it that way.
The answer became easy.
“Of course I should help.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Absolutely, I’m in.”
PD Ga finally took a sip of his barley tea.
I could see his shoulders relax slightly.
He’d been quite tense.
“But you came at just the right time.”
Now it was my turn.
“I’ve been working on quite a few things lately.”
The factory, the popup, consulting, a store in the New City District.
And Jang On-gyu.
Both of their jaws dropped as they heard everything.
‘It’s hard enough to arrange one thing, so throwing it all out at once is more efficient.’
I didn’t drag it out too long and just listed the essentials.
Yet as I spoke, I could see PD Ga’s eyes growing brighter. His fingers tapped faster against the table.
Sonny kept opening and closing her mouth.
“…Wait a moment.”
“Yes.”
“Are you really doing all of this simultaneously?”
“Yes. I’m already doing it. The consulting and construction.”
!!!!
PD Ga opened and closed his mouth several times.
For the first time, he seemed to have lost for words.
Now it was my turn to ask.
“How about it—will you join in?”
A chef from the Apocalypse enters the food industry
Author |
Heung-haeng
Publisher |
Samyang C&C – Dream Books
Editor-in-Chief |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C – Dream Books
Address |
Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil 28, Gwangseong Building 7th Floor
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260206001
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter(X) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
[email protected]
No part of this book may be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of Samyang C&C – Dream Books.

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