The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 45
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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 45
Daesan Guild.
One of Korea’s truly finest guilds, proudly ranking 3rd in the industry.
Daesan Group.
One of Korea’s representative major corporations, ranking within the top 10 of the domestic business world.
Jang Hae-hyeon was the 4th generation of such Daesan Group.
Three brothers.
Jang Hae-hyeon was the youngest among them, and originally he was going to prepare for the succession competition like his older brothers, but when the era of great upheaval suddenly opened, he quickly started the guild business instead of the succession competition and brought it to its current position, earning everyone’s recognition.
“It’s been a long time, Chairman.”
Daesan Group Chairman’s Office.
Jang Dae-ho, Jang Hae-hyeon’s father and chairman of Daesan Group, sits in the head seat.
He had the appearance and build of a large tiger like his name, and his completely white hair strangely reminded one of a tiger.
Jang Dae-ho nodded at Jang Hae-hyeon’s greeting.
“Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen your face too. By the way, I heard you made quite a deal this time, that a friend named Choi Hyun has formed a good relationship with our Daesan Guild?”
“Yes, thanks to that friend we’ve solved several major problems, and through that connection he’s currently working as an advisor to our guild.”
“Advisor? You didn’t hire him as an executive or employee?”
“He said belonging to us would still be burdensome, so for now he’s only working as an advisor. But depending on the situation, it seems he’ll become completely affiliated with our guild.”
“I see. Whatever the case, you need to become complete family members to develop some sense of solidarity. An advisor has no authority but also doesn’t need to take responsibility, so strategically he could be cut loose. Well, what bold bastard could cut loose against our Daesan though.”
“He’s not that kind of person, Chairman. More importantly, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“First, let me show you these.”
At Jang Hae-hyeon’s signal, two sets of medium armor prepared in advance were placed on the table.
They were the existing Daesan Medium Armor 30 and the one improved by Choi Hyun, respectively.
“Aren’t these your company’s products?”
“Yes, the one on the left is our existing company product. And the one on the right was directly improved by Choi Advisor… Surprisingly, despite the improved version having half the production cost and weight, its performance is much higher.”
“Hmm?”
“That’s not all. Choi Advisor has received recognition from Park Jeon-mu, who currently handles all of our Daesan’s product research and development, and is scheduled to soon take the position of technical advisor for the Production Department. Park Jeon-mu, who was the existing technical director, decided to focus only on operations, which he was handling concurrently.”
“Park Jeon-mu… isn’t he among the top five domestic blacksmith Players?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
“I heard he’s a meticulous person?”
“He’s still meticulous. And based on that sensitivity, he’s been pushing our Daesan equipment business forward with determination. But that same Park Jeon-mu acknowledged him and quietly decided to step back from research and development.”
“Huh… But is that even possible? I heard that friend Choi Hyun just became a Hunter?”
“Yes, he just became a Hunter, but alone, and as a Blacksmith Class at that, he was the first in the world to conquer the Growth Tower. So at first I thought he simply had talent in field combat, but after seeing what he accomplished at Daesan Factory this time, I became convinced he’s someone we absolutely cannot let go.”
“I see. Nothing is more certain than someone who has proven themselves with results. But… seeing how long your explanation is about this remarkable friend without me even asking, I suppose there’s some problem with that friend?”
“Rather than a problem, there’s something that friend proposed.”
“A proposal?”
He took out the contract between Han Yeong-min and Choi Hyun and showed it to Jang Dae-ho.
Jang Dae-ho took it and read it carefully.
Soon after he put the document down on the table, Jang Hae-hyeon told him everything that had happened between the two.
From the Hunter exam to when the Black Sword assassin came.
After hearing the entire story, Jang Dae-ho chuckled.
“Ridiculous. Chairman Han kept bragging about his third son so much that I wondered what it was about, but this was that third son’s true face. So, you want to receive this money for that friend Choi Hyun?”
“It’s not simply for that reason alone.”
“Then?”
Choi Advisor didn’t make a request but a proposal. If I get this money for him, he said he would reinvest that exact amount back into Daesan. That’s why I brought this here.”
“Reinvestment?”
“Yes, that friend has a dream of ending the era of great upheaval, and he chose our Daesan as the path for that.”
“Ending the era of great upheaval?”
He explained about that.
Of course, he didn’t mention the story about Choi Hyun seeing something at the top of the tower, but simply talked about Choi Hyun’s dream of ending the era of great upheaval and the strategies that followed.
That was enough.
Jang Dae-ho nodded.
“A realistic and wonderful strategy. Certainly, if the Hunters’ level increases, naturally the mortality rate will decrease and the conquest rate will increase. If humanity can control Gates and Dungeons that way, that would be overcoming them.”
“Yes, so I want to show my ability at this opportunity and bring this money to Choi Advisor. Of course, we didn’t write a reinvestment contract, but I think by bringing him this money, we can definitely win his heart and make him take root in our Daesan.”
“That’s also correct. Of course, they say you can know ten fathoms of water but not one person’s heart, but still we must constantly try. That’s what business is. Even if we fail ten times, if one succeeds greatly, it can offset those ten failures.”
Jang Dae-ho leans back from his chair.
Then he leaned toward Jang Hae-hyeon and said.
“So, are you asking me to take this paper and get the money from Chairman Han instead?”
“No.”
“Hmm?”
Jang Dae-ho’s eyes widened slightly at the word “no.”
You didn’t come to ask for that?
Then?
Jang Hae-hyeon said.
“I will personally meet Chairman Han and get it myself.”
“You personally? That won’t be easy.”
“What easy task is there anywhere? But even so, I think I must get it myself.”
“The reason?”
“I thought that perhaps this might be Choi Advisor testing my ability.”
A test.
At those words, Jang Dae-ho chuckled.
“That’s the most interesting thing I’ve heard lately. Who dares to test whom?”
“It’s not about daring. He is a giant. I’m fortunate to have been born as the Chairman’s son and live like this, but Choi Advisor is different. He truly achieved such accomplishments with nothing at all, at just twenty years old. This would be the same no matter what twenty-year-old you brought. Even if you or I, Chairman, were given the opportunity.”
“…”
“But Choi Advisor extended his hand to our Daesan, and I took that hand. We’ve already received help several times too. So to keep pace with a giant, I think I too must become such a giant.”
At Jang Hae-hyeon’s words, Jang Dae-ho’s eyes narrow.
His thoughts deepen.
Then soon the corners of his mouth turned up.
“Then instead of going through me, you should have gone straight to Chairman Han. Why did you come to me?”
“Because this might not be something that ends at my level. I thought this deal might not end just with what I have. In the worst case, it might even harm the Group, so I came to inform you in advance.”
“Thanks to that friend Choi Hyun, our Daesan Group stock price went up a bit. Of course, stocks go up and down, but we did receive help, so can’t I turn a blind eye to this one thing?”
“He didn’t deliberately help in advance to cause harm later. Since he didn’t do such things to offset them, I thought it was right to inform you in advance when something like this comes up, so I came to seek permission.”
At those words, Jang Dae-ho’s smile deepened even more.
“Hae-hyeon.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“When you first said you were starting the guild business, I honestly didn’t trust you. You were too young then, and being the youngest, I worried even more. And that was the same even now when you brought Daesan Guild to its current position. But seeing you today, that’s not the case.”
Jang Dae-ho’s gaze deepened even more.
“You’ve grown better than I thought. Don’t be arrogant in the future and just continue as you are now. And remember this. Life can never be lived alone. Success also cannot be achieved alone, and only when everyone’s efforts come together can it finally bear fruit. You haven’t forgotten what kind of family ours is, have you?”
“Yes, how could I forget? I will never forget the spirit of our great-grandfather who was an independence activist.”
“Good, that’s enough. Then go and do as you wish. Don’t worry about the aftermath. Isn’t that what a father is there for, to protect you at times like this?”
“Thank you, Father.”
Jang Hae-hyeon bows his head in greeting.
Soon after he left, Jang Dae-ho smiled pleasantly and said to his secretary.
“What do you think, Han Secretary Manager?”
“The youngest master has grown up very well.”
“Hehehe, right? They say empty carts make the most noise, and Chairman Han was that noisy cart. Totoland? I can tell how he usually educated his children. That’s why his child-rearing turned out that way.”
“You speak truly.”
Gentle laughter spreads through the Chairman’s Office.
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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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