The Genius Construction Worker Who Moved to America - Chapter 32

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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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Episode 32

Golden Gate Corporation

“W-what are you saying! That we deployed a Paper Company! This is clearly a fabrication!”

A shriek erupted from Reynolds’s lips.

The documents Sophia had presented laid bare Blackwood Construction’s money laundering for hoarding purposes, along with recorded conversations from business partners who had mentioned Blackwood by name.

Reynolds scrambled for any excuse, but the words wouldn’t come.

Julian’s face beside him had gone deathly pale. A crack spider-webbed across his carefully crafted mask.

‘A formidable woman. To trace the flow of illicit funds and assemble a file in such a short span of time.’

Julian began analyzing the situation with cold precision.

Any bumbling excuse here would ensure that tomorrow’s financial papers blazed with Blackwood’s scandal across their front pages.

The stock price would plummet, and in the worst case, he might have to step down from operations entirely.

Then, with remarkable composure, he regained his equilibrium. His rigid expression softened, and he began executing a move no one could have anticipated.

He bowed ninety degrees toward Choi Gang-jun.

……

Everyone on the scene fell silent. The journalists in particular saw the moment as the scoop of a lifetime.

“Truly magnificent. I find myself at a loss for words.”

As Julian straightened, an affable smile had settled across his features.
He half-turned toward the cameras, his words pouring forth like a practiced stream.

“I have witnessed genuine craftsmanship today at this Old District reconstruction site. Moved by the passion of this great Oriental master builder, Choi Gang-jun, who creates something from nothing despite the most adverse conditions, I stand in deep admiration.”

Julian’s honeyed praise flowed with the smoothness of well-rehearsed eloquence.

“It appears that Blackwood’s advance investment to stimulate the local economy has given rise to hoarding allegations. However! Since Golden Gate is managing the recovery so impeccably, we at Blackwood are delighted to step back and offer our full support.”

Having finished, Julian offered Choi Gang-jun a courteous smile.

A deft severing of the tail. Quick improvisation designed to redirect the media’s focus from “Blackwood’s malfeasance” to “the great Oriental craftsman.”

But Choi Gang-jun didn’t blink.
He glanced down at Julian once, then addressed Sophia without inflection.

“Sophia, all this talk is growing tedious. Submit those documents to the court immediately.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll handle it at once.”

Without so much as a backward glance, Choi Gang-jun turned and walked toward the site.

“W-wait… Mr. Choi!”

Julian’s hand grasped at empty air, but Choi Gang-jun only receded further into the distance.

Within moments, the flood of camera flashes shifted entirely from Choi Gang-jun to Julian.

“Vice Chairman Julian! Is it true that you engaged in hoarding?”

“There’s evidence you deployed Paper Companies! Please respond to the allegations!”

“And what about your collusion with the city council? Care to comment?”

Sharp questions pelted down upon him.

“Ha, it’s all a misunderstanding. We’ll be issuing a full statement through our legal team. I’m afraid I must excuse myself for now.”

Julian’s blood was boiling beneath his skin, yet he maintained a courteous smile until the very end. He held off the barrage of flashes as best he could, then hurried toward the sedan.

Bang!

The car door shut, and the noise from outside was cut off.

Reynolds, seated in the front passenger seat, turned around and began making excuses.

“Vice Chairman… I’m utterly ashamed. How that girl managed to backtrack our funding channels, I have no idea. Let me dispatch people at once to contain this situation—”

Crack!!

Before Reynolds could finish his words, a sharp sound split the air. The startled driver’s shoulders tensed as he glanced back at the front passenger seat.

Julian’s palm had just struck Reynolds across the face.

Stunned, Reynolds froze in place, unable to utter a word. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth where the skin had split.

Julian’s expression, by contrast, remained calm and composed.

Crack!!!

Julian’s palm descended again, this time against Reynolds’s bloody cheek.

“Ugh…!”

Reynolds groaned and slumped against the seat.
Julian’s face remained expressionless as he withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his hands clean.

Gazing out the window at the receding vista of the Old District, he spoke in a flat, measured tone.

“From tomorrow on, this car will be driven by Reynolds, the director… no, wait.”

Julian looked down at Reynolds with a sneer.

“Reynolds the ’employee’ will be behind the wheel. You’ve worked hard enough on construction sites all this time—now you can enjoy something easier. Driving suits you.”

“Vice—Vice Chairman! What do you mean! Please, give me just one more chance—”

Reynolds tried to protest, his face ashen, but the moment he met Julian’s glacial gaze, the words died in his throat.

As Julian’s eyes turned back to the window, murder flickered behind them.

‘Choi Gang-jun… you dare inflict such humiliation upon me. I’ll repay you in kind.’

The handkerchief in his hand twisted violently.

* * *

The Old District construction site had taken on the atmosphere of a festival.

“Crane, hold that angle! Lowering the top plate now!”

“Copy that! Pins going in! Stand by for welding!”

Exaggeration aside, it seemed that with each blink of the eye, support pillars rose skyward. Like a magician conjuring buildings across barren ground.

Gang-jun’s flawless direction, Max’s operational prowess translating those orders into field reality, and Dominic’s extraordinary agility assembling materials on the barge—a perfect trinity.

The local community’s response was fervent.

Citizens who had voiced complaints mere days earlier watched the bridge spreading out in real time and changed their tune entirely.

The regional press, too, ran glowing articles praising the construction prowess of Golden Gate—or more precisely, “Master Choi.”

A week later.

The Completion Ceremony took place atop the newly constructed prefabricated steel bridge. Mayor David Scott dropped everything to attend and deliver the inaugural address.

“Esteemed citizens of Pasadena! Standing upon the scars left by the raging river, we gather today on a bridge that connects us to new hope! We have decided to name this bridge after the hero who saved our city. I present to you: Master Choi Bridge!”

Roaaaar!!

Thunder-like cheers and applause rolled across the riverbed.

Gang-jun waved his hand to the cheering crowd.

‘A bridge bearing my name. On American soil, no less. Not bad for someone who used to break his back doing day labor.’

He turned his head and met the eyes of those who had stood by him.
Leo and Sophia, Max, and Dominic gazed at their leader with eyes alight with emotion.

Meanwhile, Blackwood Construction had seen all charges confirmed as fact, owing to the evidence documents Sophia had submitted and the police search warrant.

Violations of antitrust law, tax evasion through shell companies, and obstruction of fair trade—all substantiated.

Blackwood endured astronomical fines from both the city and federal government, and its stock price halved overnight.

All the arrows of blame converged on Vice President Julian, who had orchestrated the scheme.
A triumphant victory for Golden Gate, and the glittering finale of the Pasadena Reconstruction Project.

* * *

As the scheduled timeframe drew to its close.
Gang-jun, standing atop the neatly repaired roofline of Elm Street, drew a deep breath.

The wind that swept in tousled his hair. Gang-jun closed his eyes, then opened them again to survey the site one final time.

[Skill Activated: Master’s Blueprint (Lv.1)]

Whoooosh—!

As Gang-jun focused his mind, his vision flooded with golden light, and the entire Old District spread before him in 3D hologram—roughly 150 residences, the river retaining wall, the newly laid bridge, the paved roads, all rendered in perfect detail.

Construction progress percentages for each zone, structural reinforcement points, and the completeness of finishing work all materialized as numbers before his eyes.

Just two months ago, this very site had flashed in red, warning of imminent collapse.

But now, wherever Gang-jun’s gaze fell, the hologram’s color shifted, soon bathing everything in the safe, steady green of completion.

Crack! Ding!

The asphalt paving condition of the last remaining C-Zone entrance turned green in that instant.

“Phew… it’s done.”

Gang-jun exhaled slowly, spreading his arms wide as if to embrace the city unfolding before his eyes.

Two months of grueling manual construction work had finally come to an end.

Descending the ladder from the rooftop, Gang-jun turned to Sophia, who waited below.

“Sophia, prepare the completion certificate now and submit it to City Hall. We need to collect the final payment.”

“Yes, Director! The paperwork is already prepared.”

Sophia answered with a bright smile, and in that moment—

Ding! Ding-ding-ding!!!!

An alarm chimed in Gang-jun’s mind as a hologram window materialized. Messages cascaded across his vision.

[You have perfectly completed the Pasadena Old District Reconstruction Project!]
[Result Rating: SSS++ (Legendary Construction Beyond Miracles)]
[The Great God of Architecture marvels at your agent’s extraordinary skill and bestows a special reward!]

Gang-jun’s eyes locked onto the words “special reward.” The details of the reward materialized next.

[Your agent’s level rises significantly! (Lv.6 → Lv.8)]
[Stat Bonus: Strength +5, Stamina +10, Spatial Perception +10.]
[The Great God of Architecture honors your achievement and grants you a special power.]

Flash!

In an instant, Gang-jun’s irises flooded with a dark crimson light. The name of a skill burned into his retinas.

[Skill Acquired: Aesthetics of Destruction (Lv.1)]

“Aesthetics of Destruction…?”

Gang-jun’s hands clenched into fists without his meaning to. This time, it was not the power to build and construct, but to tear down. He found himself genuinely curious about what kind of skill this would be.

Ding!

Just when he thought the system had quieted, it chimed again.

[A new linked quest activates!]
[Quest: Lay the Foundation of an Empire]
▶ Objective: Register Golden Gate as a corporation, elevating it beyond its current status as a sole proprietorship, and take your first step toward a construction empire.
▶ Time Limit: 30 days
▶ Penalty for Failure: Government Contract Acquisition Restricted

Corporate registration, then.

If he wanted to play properly on this American soil, he needed the legitimacy of a corporation.

“Mr. Choi! Has something fortunate happened?”

Leo and Max finished clearing the site and approached Gang-jun.

Gang-jun closed the system window before him, then glanced in turn at Leo, Sophia, Max, and Dominic approaching in the distance.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”

Gang-jun stripped off his gloves and made a hearty proposal.

“You’ve all worked incredibly hard. A day like this—we can’t just let it pass. How about a second celebration dinner?”

“Yes! I’m in favor, boss!”

“Haha! Let’s really tie one on tonight!”

As the mood grew festive, Max playfully jabbed Dominic’s shoulder.

“Ahem, but you’re such a lightweight that tonight you’re sticking to beer.”

“What, what did you say? When did I—! I was just exhausted that day, that’s all!”

When Dominic bristled, Gang-jun quietly flexed his forearm.
The memory of their last arm-wrestling disaster flashed through Dominic’s mind, and he cleared his throat hastily, backing down.

“…Beer sounds perfect. Just a palate cleanser, really.”

Dominic’s sudden reversal drew roaring laughter.

Gang-jun led them toward the site where Golden Gate’s headquarters building would stand.

It was none other than 1248 Pasadena.
The front yard of the estate that Gang-jun owned and where Sophia carried childhood memories.

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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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