The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 24

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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 24. An Unexpected Guest
It was a twist.
From the atmosphere, it seemed they had decided not to enter the Youth Mall.
‘Am I really that oblivious?’
If this wasn’t giving up, then what was it?
I couldn’t imagine it at all.
‘Then why would there be a reason to look at real estate together?’
The tone they used to say they’d look at real estate together was definitely not out of mere goodwill.
So I couldn’t understand it.
“We’re just not going in!”
“That’s right. We’re just not going in. It’s not giving up.”
“Huh?”
Ah. These people!
They were playing with words.
“We decided not to enter the Youth Mall. We’re not giving up—we’re just not going.”
“Ha ha. What are you talking about?”
“We should do this together, right?”
“That’s right. Even if we couldn’t start together, we should see the end together. How could we be the only ones going in there?”
“It just feels like we’re sneaking in. Once I think about going in, it feels so petty.”
“We may not have money, but do we have no pride? No, this is about destroying our self-worth. We can abandon pride, but we must protect our dignity, right?”
Their playful tone seemed designed to ease the burden.
‘…Ah!’
Such consideration.
It was something I never expected.
‘It was always like this.’
Long ago too, there were always people like this.
Before I became strong. When I couldn’t even do my part properly.
There were people who sacrificed themselves to lift me up.
-You have to live.
-You have to survive. If you live, you can save more people.
-Don’t misunderstand. I’m not dying for you. I’m just saving the people who need to be saved.
-Don’t fall apart.
In those barren times when life itself was a struggle.
So many people who kept me going.
When I was disappointed in humanity and couldn’t find the strength to continue.
There were always people who came like unexpected gifts.
As if telling me not to abandon hope in life.
Each time, I could find strength.
And I could endure that harsh existence.
‘I never thought I’d feel that way here.’
Something completely unexpected was unfolding before me.
My mind felt like it was spinning.
“You two…”
“Ha ha. Why that expression? Don’t burden yourself like that.”
“Ah, don’t look at me that way. We’ve calculated all of this.”
“That’s right. We’re not volunteering—we’re being very strategic about it.”
“How could we manage without you? Would people even come?”
“Exactly. If we go into the Youth Mall, we’d just slowly wither away. We wouldn’t be able to draw crowds.”
“See? And look at me—without quality beans, I’m finished, right? You know that. Ha ha.”
The two of them kept talking, avoiding my gaze.
As if telling me not to feel burdened. Not to worry.
‘That’s not it at all.’
This was clearly just an excuse, no matter how you looked at it.
Both of them could have had it easy for years if they went to the Youth Mall.
‘That’s the more likely scenario.’
The newly elected mayor would continue pushing the Youth Mall.
After all, the cooking competition had been a huge success.
He could use it as an achievement and would organize various events.
Only growth lay ahead for them.
Yet they were giving it up—no, asking to do this together instead.
There was only one thing I could do for these two.
“Thank you.”
I bowed deeply and offered my gratitude.
* * *
I had gained allies.
With them by my side, I had the courage to accomplish anything.
Filled with determination, we immediately took action.
We set out to find a store.
“What’s this? It’s harder to find than I thought.”
“Right? It’s strange.”
We had started out with such enthusiasm.
Yet a good location for business was nowhere to be found.
“If this were the Eatery District, I’d understand why there are no vacancies.”
“Right. That’s a famous food street, so there’s always demand. Why is it like this here?”
“That’s not the real problem.”
We hadn’t even looked toward the Eatery District.
The Eatery District had surprisingly high monthly rents.
There was no need to overextend ourselves.
‘Besides, finding a place where all three of us could open a store together would be even harder there.’
So we chose the New City District right next to it.
Compared to the Eatery District, the monthly rent here was relatively affordable.
The downside was the sparse foot traffic, but I believed the three of us could overcome that hurdle.
After all, we were the ones who revitalized the Food Truck Zone when it had no customers at all.
But no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find any decent properties available.
“Sigh. There are no listings here these days.”
“Why is that?”
“Why wouldn’t there be? Because they’ve all been contracted!”
“Contracted so suddenly?”
“Exactly! Some kind of rumor must be spreading. All the decent spots got snapped up in the meantime. I should’ve gotten one too, but I missed out. I’m so frustrated I could die!”
According to the real estate agent I found, all the recent listings had been swept up.
Every single one of the few good properties in the New City District!
‘What rumor is circulating? What on earth is going on?’
The other real estate agents all said the same thing, shaking their heads.
They lamented that I should have come just a bit sooner.
“Does this even make sense?”
“Sigh. That’s what I’m saying.”
“This makes it difficult whether we look in the Eatery District or the New City District.”
“Hmm….”
Nothing. There’s nothing.
Already having circled the New City District multiple times in frustration, I walked its streets again and again.
I searched for real estate agencies I hadn’t visited yet.
It was during this search.
I spotted someone at a new real estate office.
“Isn’t that Jang On-gyu over there?”
“Huh? Yeah, it is!”
“What’s he doing here?”
“Well, he’s at a real estate office, so he must be looking for a store, right?”
“Ah…! He saw us.”
Just then, Jang On-gyu spotted us too.
He didn’t stride toward us with grand, theatrical gestures like some third-rate villain.
Instead, he approached with a bright smile, displaying his composure.
‘Interesting. Even when making a move, he doesn’t resort to cheap tactics.’
I sensed the deeper meaning hidden beneath that radiant smile.
I could piece together the situation from it.
“Now I understand why all the decent properties in the New City District have disappeared recently.”
* * *
‘Jang Owner is making his move.’
He explained the entire situation to me.
I had been offered to move into the 5-story Building I’d seen earlier first.
It became clear that he was planning to operate on a much larger scale in the New City District than I’d anticipated.
“Why didn’t Kim Owner take that opportunity? It would’ve been better than the Youth Mall, wouldn’t it?”
“I didn’t want to enter a place someone else set up for me.”
“Why not?”
“I was afraid of being manipulated. Things kept happening at the Food Truck Zone, and I kept getting swept up in them.”
“Hmm. Yeah, that’s true.”
The Coffee Truck Owner knows how I’ve been manipulated.
Yet he still sympathized and asked.
“Still, what a waste. Aren’t you disappointed?”
“In the short term, yes. But looking at the bigger picture, it’s fine.”
I wasn’t entirely without regret.
But now I’m completely at peace with it.
“Actually, now I see it’s even better. Since I turned it down, the three of us can stay together, right?”
“Ha ha. You’re right… that’s true!”
At my words about staying together, the owner broke into a bright smile.
His laughter was remarkably clear and youthful for his age.
That’s probably why he could maintain his commitment to quality beans while running a food truck.
He was a man with good principles.
I confirmed my choice was right by that smile and continued my explanation.
“Anyway, Jang Owner has quite a few franchises, doesn’t he?”
“Right! He’s not called a business genius for nothing. If you count even the smaller franchises, there must be over twenty?”
“I think he’s probably trying to build something similar here too.”
“Ah! That’s it! Jang Owner Street!”
Jang Owner, commonly called a business genius.
He was famous for starting with just one restaurant and then filling the surrounding area with multiple restaurants he owned.
The legendary Jang Owner Street!
‘That was his first start, wasn’t it? The title of business genius came from there.’
After that, he began commercializing his ventures.
I know he launched many franchises and spread them far and wide.
And at the same time, he appeared on broadcasts, building a good image and achieving considerable stock price increases.
That’s where it ended.
I don’t think he pursued any new projects after that.
‘But it seems different now.’
It looked like he was planning to start something new this time.
He must be preparing not just the building he showed me, but other things as well.
Surely rumors about this hadn’t spread.
That’s impossible.
In this business, word spreads fast. It’s bound to get out.
“Tch. If Jang Owner Street gets created anew, the foot traffic will definitely increase.”
“It will. It looks like people who found out beforehand came and rented spaces. Probably to set up shop right next to it.”
“Right. Now I get it!”
When people heard about him, they flocked over, which meant there were no available properties left.
There was no point in blaming others.
This was a matter of survival.
‘If you want to survive, of course you have to do this.’
Everyone naturally dreams of running a business in a prime location.
And whenever an opportunity presents itself, it’s only natural to seize it and give it a shot.
Since self-employment is difficult even with hard work, there was nothing to criticize about someone starting a venture with nothing but the hope of doing well.
Still, all I could do in this situation was sigh.
“Anyway, what about us? Hmm… Jang Owner? Why have you been so quiet since earlier?”
“…Huh? No, that’s not it.”
“Jang Owner, you’re a business genius too, right? You’ve got the best instincts among us, so don’t worry too much.”
“Ah, well, it’s not that. Yes! I understand. Haha.”
“Haha. That’s right, laugh like that—it gives us strength!”
For some reason, Jang Owner, who had agreed to do this together, let out an even deeper sigh.
Considering he was normally the most positive person among us, it was unusual.
‘Maybe it’s because his store hasn’t been open very long. He probably doesn’t have much liquid capital.’
It was unusual, but not something I couldn’t understand.
In any case, what mattered was how to solve this.
“I need to find a way.”

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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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