The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 69

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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 69. Exposing the Truth! (4)
Yet Jang On-gyu let out a soft, mocking chuckle.
“Go ahead and try. What exactly do you think you can do?”
Jang On-gyu’s expression remained utterly unmoved.
‘What…?’
Lee Chae-min sensed something was terribly wrong.
“Go ahead and spread the word. Gather journalists, report me to the police, do whatever you want. But who’s going to believe you?”
“I’ve handled countless matters over the years. My testimony and memory alone would be more than enough to bring you down…”
“Testimony? Do you have evidence?”
“!!!!!”
“Is there a single document with my orders? A single recording of my voice?”
“Wh—what?”
A recording. Now that he thought about it, there was none.
Even the phone the company had given him was confiscated when he was fired not long ago.
And Jang On-gyu drove the final nail in the coffin.
“All approvals were handled verbally, and any documents that could serve as evidence would only have your signature on them, wouldn’t they?”
“That, that’s…”
“You’re just a madman who stole company funds and committed crimes out of your own pathetic sense of righteousness.”
“Sir…”
“Go gather journalists. Do you really think the media outlets that take my advertising money will publish a single line of your story?”
“…”
He couldn’t respond. He no longer had any financial leverage.
All the journalists he’d been friendly with were connections built with money Jang On-gyu had provided.
They would never turn against him.
“Report me to the police. South Korea’s finest law firm stands behind me. Do you really think a former promotions team leader with your meager hand can bring down Jang On-gyu?”
“…”
“It’s like throwing an egg at a rock.”
Throwing an egg at a rock. That was exactly right. There was nothing more to say.
“Don’t waste your effort. Pack your things quietly and leave. If you want to at least receive your severance pay intact.”
It was a thorough difference in power.
Only someone could bridge such a gap.
‘…Kim Seon-woo.’
Lee Chae-min suddenly realized that only someone like that restaurant owner could accomplish such a thing.
At the same time, Lee Chae-min felt his breath catch as if crushed beneath something immense.
“…Ah.”
Then the strength drained from Lee Chae-min’s trembling fists.
The fierce glint in his eyes, which had gleamed with malice, was mercilessly shattered against the towering wall of reality.
Jang On-gyu, watching him with satisfaction, spoke.
“Answer me.”
Admit it, he was saying.
What other answer could there possibly be?
“…I understand.”
In the end, Lee Chae-min bowed his head deeply.
“Go on. You’ve worked hard.”
“….”
Without any further resistance, he shuffled out of the office like a defeated soldier who had lost everything, his body devoid of strength.
Jang On-gyu simply watched him leave with cold, piercing eyes.
‘I need to find some more useful pawns.’
He possessed no capacity for remorse whatsoever.
As if something vital had been carved out from within his mind.
* * *
Not long after.
A lengthy pop-up window appeared on Jang On-gyu’s franchise headquarters website and official SNS accounts.
[Official Apology Statement]
We offer our deepest apologies regarding the recent controversy.
Our company is completely unrelated to this incident, and it was solely the reckless and unauthorized misconduct of the former Promotions Team Leader…
The employee in question has been immediately terminated and disciplined, and we assure you that such incidents will not recur…
A lengthy, drawn-out apology.
What it contained was a textbook example of cutting off the tail to save the body.
But the public wasn’t foolish either. No—for people who had already perfectly tasted the flavor of ridicule, such hackneyed and stale excuses were nothing more than excellent playthings.
With each refresh, the community’s reactions exploded across the screen.
-“Individual misconduct” lmao is that science?
A team leader paying out of pocket to give 3 times the allowance and hire a tow truck? Even a passing dog would laugh ㅋㅋㅋ ┖A genius sucker who doesn’t even know he’s blowing through the corporate card ㅋㅋㅋ
No, are you saying that great business genius couldn’t even control one employee under him, so he sent the three idiot brothers from the neighborhood to the restaurant? ㅋㅋㅋ
“Dude, triple allowance? That’s insane, you’re a genius lol”
┖Instead of writing apologies, he should learn physical comedy from the ruffians to make a living.
-His tail-cutting skills are slapstick level
If anger were fierce, perhaps an explanation and legal action might intimidate them.
But with mockery and ridicule dominating the narrative, damage control became impossible.
The more the apology statement climbed, the more enthusiastically people tore into Jang On-gyu and played with him.
Once you became a plaything, there was no escape.
* * *
“Three half-and-half bombing sets here!”
“We’ll take two Hong Kong ramens!”
I couldn’t gather my wits amid the flood of incoming orders.
Ever since the KBN exposé broadcast and the ruffians’ comedy video went viral, the restaurant had become absolutely packed with customers.
‘How do they all know to find this place?’
There was barely a moment to catch my breath.
I continuously tended to the stoves, wiping sweat from my brow.
That’s when it happened.
“Hyung-nim!! We’re here!”
“I’m here too!”
“Me too!”
Familiar voices.
I turned my head to see Lee Hyeon-seung and two YouTubers entering.
These were the same guys I’d had defend against attacks with before.
Now they’ve taken to calling themselves my younger brothers. They’ve got some nerve, I’ll give them that.
“You’re back again?”
“Ahem. You should be happy to see us at times like this!”
“That’s right. Hehe.”
These guys talk too much.
“No, at times like this, only one person should speak. Yeah, just Hyeon-seung. This is chaos.”
“Wuu. Discrimination!”
“Puhaha. This is the power of being a regular!”
Lee Hyeon-seung asked with the attitude of a victor, delighted.
“By the way, hyung-nim, that was seriously amazing, right? How did you come up with such a brilliant idea?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The broadcast you put out. That’s your work, isn’t it?”
“Your instincts are pretty good.”
“It’s obvious to anyone.”
Lee Hyeon-seung, who had been full of admiration, asked in a casual tone.
“But how did that person find out?”
“Who?”
When I asked back, Hyeon-seung widened his eyes and answered.
“Desert Raccoon! That channel that uploaded the ruffians’ physical comedy video this time!”
“Ah, ah…!”
I immediately understood what he meant.
‘Ah, Ra-hee’s YouTube channel name was Desert Raccoon.’
I casually shrugged my shoulders.
“That was just a coincidence.”
“A coincidence? No way. There’s no such thing as that kind of coincidence.”
“Why, what is it?”
“Everyone’s been dying to know who Desert Raccoon really is. She’s hidden her identity so carefully that nobody knows who she is.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes! To that extent. But how did you find out by coincidence? Do you have some secret?”
“Hahaha.”
I brushed off the situation with an awkward laugh.
I couldn’t very well say we’d met by chance, in both my past and present lives.
‘It might truly be fate.’
A connection that runs far too deep.
But precisely because of that, I couldn’t say anything more.
“Come on, stop wasting time and just order something. I’m busy.”
“Phew, you really do look busy. I wish our subscriber count would grow like this too.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Hehe. Got it. We’re food broadcast YouTubers after all, right? Just like always, give us everything on the menu from here to here!”
“Yeah. Okay. Just a moment. Huh?”
My words caught in my throat just as I was about to answer enthusiastically.
It was the moment I checked the refrigerator and ingredient containers.
‘The ingredients are already… gone?’
Even though I’d prepared more generously than usual, there was almost nothing left.
The explosive rush of customers had drained everything to the bottom.
‘Even though I filled the refrigerator completely, it’s come to this.’
This was beyond my predictions.
“I’m sorry, but there aren’t many ingredients left, so I can only give you a few dishes.”
“Already?”
“Ugh…! I was relieved thinking there was still plenty of time before the break!”
“Oh, what a shame. Then just give us whatever you can!”
“Understood. I’m really sorry.”
This time, I had to apologize.
I might not be able to fully satisfy Hyeon-seung, who came as a customer.
‘I need to put extra care into the cooking. Well, there’s no helping it now.’
I called out to Jin-woo, who was rushing around the dining hall.
“Jin-woo!”
“Yes!”
“Tell the customers waiting outside that I apologize. Today’s lunch service ends with these folks’ order. We’ve run out of ingredients.”
“Already? Understood!”
When Jin-woo went outside and informed them of the situation, I heard disappointed voices from all around. Normally, I’d redirect customers to the Hong Kong Restaurant or the cafe.
-We’re out too!
-Out. Out.
The older guys I glanced at were also mouthing words repeatedly.
Saying they were struggling too.
Seeing them make an X sign with both hands, it really seemed like they’d completely run out of ingredients.
‘There’s no helping it.’
For now, I had to take care of the customers who were already here.
“Here we go. This is everything left, so clean your plates!”
“Of course!”
“We can’t eat what’s not there. Haha.”
…Can’t eat what’s not there.
Since my previous life, hearing such words always stung.
“Thank you for the meal!”
These guys have no idea how fast I’m moving.
Hyeon-seung and the other YouTubers began frantically shoving food into their mouths.
“Wow, this is the taste I was craving!”
“If I hadn’t eaten this, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight.”
Slurp! Smack smack. Their faces were ecstatic as they chewed with such force their cheeks nearly burst.
Watching them quietly, I felt satisfaction, but at the same time.
I sensed a different emotion.
‘This can’t continue like this.’
Should I call it anxiety?
Or perhaps, my nerves were on edge.
‘Wait. Didn’t I turn away customers waiting outside just a few days ago because we ran out of ingredients?’
I belatedly glanced around in realization.
Jin-woo, drenched in sweat, his movements tangled in the cramped kitchen with its nearly empty refrigerator.
I noticed Haran, working tirelessly as a kitchen assistant until the very end.
‘…Ah.’
In that moment, I grasped the true nature of my anxiety.
I had only been focused on external threats.
But that wasn’t enough.
Cracks were appearing in places I hadn’t considered.
‘This problem… it exists within us too.’

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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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