The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 41

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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 41

 

Jang Hae-hyeon answered Choi Hyun’s question.

 

“First, we call the place that controls the equipment business in our guild the Production Department. We call it the Production Department because it handles research, manufacturing, and maintenance of products all together.”

 

“What about gathering?”

 

“There’s no separate gathering department. We purchase and use all the materials we need.”

 

Hmm.

 

Well, trying to do gathering too would be no ordinary effort.

 

‘I’ll have to discuss this later when the scale grows bigger.’

 

The department structure itself was clean.

 

Unlike existing manufacturing companies, crafting guilds based on blacksmith Players only needed research, manufacturing, and maintenance.

 

“As for the person in charge you asked about, there’s Executive Director Lee Yeong-han, the head of the Production Department. His position is Production Department Head and his rank is Executive Director. You can think of him as our Technical Director. Naturally, he’s a Blacksmith Class and as far as I know, he’s currently one of the top blacksmith Players in the country.”

 

“Lee Yeong-han?”

 

Lee Yeong-han, Lee Yeong-han, Lee Yeong-han…

 

Choi Hyun touched his temple and searched his memory.

 

But the name Lee Yeong-han didn’t come to mind.

 

If it didn’t come to mind despite having the curse of memory, there was only one reason.

 

It was a name he had never heard before.

 

‘Since I started a bit late, if I still don’t know the name, it means he either died early for some reason or disappeared without a trace because he was insignificant.’

 

Choi Hyun asked.

 

“It’s the first time I’m hearing that name. What kind of person is he?”

 

“His abilities are good. However, he has some sensitive aspects.”

 

“Sensitive?”

 

“Various factors are intertwined, so he’s generally quite sensitive.”

 

“Is he sensitive toward the President too?”

 

“Haha…”

 

Jang Hae-hyeon laughed awkwardly.

 

This was ridiculous.

 

What kind of president has to watch an employee’s mood?

 

And in a major corporation-level guild at that?

 

Of course, if the talent was exceptionally outstanding, that could happen, but by Choi Hyun’s standards, Lee Yeong-han was a name he had never heard of.

 

He didn’t think he was at the level to act so arrogantly.

 

“But if he’s the Technical Director, he’d be the CTO (Chief Technology Officer), right?”

 

“He also serves as COO (Chief Operating Officer). Research is research, but since he directly controls employees in the field, he has no choice but to hold both positions.”

 

“Then if I were to take charge of research and development in the future, how would the structure work?”

 

“Only research?”

 

“Yes, for now.”

 

“If you participate in research…”

 

Jang Hae-hyeon thought for a moment and then said.

 

“If you can prove better abilities than the current Technical Director, then we’d have to split the positions. I’d like to move Executive Director Lee to Chief Operating Officer and offer you the Technical Director position along with the Production Department Head position. After all, research and development is still the most important thing in the Production Department.”

 

It’s not that he was ignoring the operations part that handles mass production, but the reason research and development had to have more power was ultimately because power in this field was determined by the performance of new products.

 

‘To put it bluntly, if you have the recipe, you can bring any blacksmith to do the mass production work.’

 

Skill training could be done by creating manuals and teaching them.

 

He nodded and said.

 

“Technical Director and Production Department Head… But since I’m an advisor, can I hold such positions and ranks? I’ve heard of advisory directors, but it seems more like a technical advisor position.”

 

“Then let’s do that. But is there a particular reason you insist on staying as an advisor?”

 

“If I become a company employee, it seems like various activities would be restricted. I need to personally tackle Gates and Dungeons, and do various other activities when necessary, but if I become an executive, I’d be bound to the company and face constraints.”

 

“I’ll make sure you can operate freely without restrictions.”

 

“Then let’s discuss the details later. Wouldn’t there be internal talk if I suddenly get an executive position when I haven’t produced any results yet?”

 

“You were the first to conquer the Growth Tower, so who would dare…”

 

“That was proven as a Hunter, and this is a crafting guild. When in Rome, do as the Romans do – if you come to a crafting guild, you should demonstrate abilities befitting the company. In that sense, could I see Executive Director Lee’s portfolio? And the list of Production Department personnel too.”

 

Han Yu-won immediately got up from her seat to request the materials.

 

Jang Hae-hyeon said.

 

“Even though the advisor position is part-time, you’ll still need a separate room for when you occasionally come to the company for work. Would it be alright if we prepare one for you?”

 

“I’d be grateful for that. Oh, and Secretary Jin alone is sufficient for assistance – no need to increase staff.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Soon Han Yu-won appeared.

 

He thought she’d bring documents, but she came with a tablet.

 

“Hmm.”

 

He examined it carefully.

 

Currently, humanity hadn’t even reached level 100.

 

The official highest level was 94.

 

And that was an American.

 

Yang Hui, China’s martial god, was second and would be in the early 90s by now.

 

In Korea, level 88 was the highest.

 

‘The unfortunate thing is that both the American and Korean top rankers died before the second great upheaval.’

 

The reason was common.

 

While conquering Gates.

 

So if possible, he planned to help them not die this time.

 

Whether in the past or now, every veteran Hunter was desperately needed.

 

In that sense, the level of current commercial products on the market was dismal.

 

Even the so-called luxury items, the latest commercial products, had usage restrictions of barely around level 60.

 

The reason was that with current technology, commercial products above level 60 rapidly lost efficiency in the field.

 

‘If they can’t block attacks that need to be blocked and can’t penetrate defenses that need to be penetrated, what’s the point of using commercial products?’

 

So from around level 60, most Hunters used unique items acquired in the field or personal custom products rather than commercial products.

 

Therefore, Choi Hyun planned to raise the level of the commercial product market as quickly as possible.

 

That way, they could easily and quickly conquer areas using commonly available commercial products rather than unique items obtained from Gates and Dungeons.

 

Eventually, Choi Hyun finished reviewing the portfolio and put down the tablet.

 

Jang Hae-hyeon asked.

 

“How is it?”

 

“It’s quite disappointing.”

 

“In what aspects?”

 

“Unable to find proper combination methods, they threw in tons of materials to boost performance, which made the product prices very expensive.”

 

“Still, these are combination methods that Executive Director Lee found after much deliberation. After all, they have the best performance domestically.”

 

“I won’t deny that. Creating item recipes is extremely difficult work to begin with. But looking through the portfolio, most of the products made at Daesan were created by this person?”

 

“Yes, that’s correct.”

 

“Are there no other researchers or people with similar portfolios?”

 

“Well, we’re always trying to hire skilled blacksmith Players, but as you may know, all blacksmiths who have gained even a little fame want to run their own workshops rather than join companies.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

That was true.

 

And this wasn’t just a problem for the Blacksmith Class, but applied to the entire crafting industry.

 

‘I’d also get patents separately and make money.’

 

If capable, anyone would want to be a boss rather than a manager.

 

Of course, if they offered more salary than expected, they might bend their stubbornness and join the company, but then the cost-benefit wouldn’t work out.

 

They weren’t people worth hiring at that kind of money yet.

 

Choi Hyun nodded and said.

 

“That’s a natural phenomenon, so there’s no way to prevent it. But that’s fine. They can do their thing, we’ll do ours – we can have healthy competition. And frankly, if we dominate the market by producing products that individuals couldn’t even dream of making based on overwhelming technology, then they’ll want to join companies even if it’s to avoid starving.”

 

If Daesan dominated the market, small-scale blacksmiths with mediocre abilities would instantly lose their livelihood.

 

Then they could recruit them at that time.

 

Naturally, he would pay them generously.

 

This world needed as many blacksmiths as possible to be saved.

 

“Just hearing about it, it really does sound like a dream story… but for that to be possible, the product would have to be good as you said.”

 

“I’m confident about that part, so you don’t need to worry. Then since we’re on the topic, I’d like to meet this Executive Director right away – would it be possible to see him now?”

 

“Where is Executive Director Lee right now?”

 

At Jang Hae-hyeon’s question, Han Yu-won immediately checks his location.

 

“He’s currently at the Paju Factory.”

 

“Hmm, then I’ll go there alone, so could you contact him first, President?”

 

“Pardon? You’re going alone, Advisor?”

 

“I’m saying this because you mentioned Executive Director Lee is a sensitive person. Just let him know I’m coming, and I’ll handle the rest myself.”

 

Though he was curious about what exactly that ‘rest’ entailed, Jang Hae-hyeon deliberately didn’t ask.

 

“Understood. Then I’ll prepare a car for you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

A short while later, Jin Hyeon-geun appeared after being called and departed for Paju with Choi Hyun.

 

Watching the two leave, Han Yu-won spoke.

 

“That felt like a meeting where we got possessed by a ghost or something.”

 

Jang Hae-hyeon silently nodded his head.

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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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