Bluff and Bluster (4)
["I saw the ideas you suggested during the Marketing & PR Team meeting. It was so riveting that I didn't even notice how time passed."]
The chairman's praise continued.
I felt genuinely pleased, but—
The moment I saw the chairman's face,
I realized: You can make the word "riveting" sound this terrifying.
At that moment, I resolved not to say anything unnecessary.
["It was partly my fault, so I didn't put on any extra pressure. But sometimes I really think, people treat other people's money way too carelessly. And they don't seem to know the essence of business. No, I suppose they do know but just ignore it."]
The tone and message instantly raised the tension.
["The reason I'm supporting you, Hyunmin, is simple. Your logic was better. And you acted like a manager."]
"Th... Thank you."
["I have no intention to always take your side. So keep showing what you can do, just like now. Prove to me that my eyes weren't mistaken."]
Because I was overly tense, I momentarily looked at Choi Hyena beside me.
She was clearly even more nervous than I was. Her face and body moved like a wax figure.
["Show me who that staff member next to you is. Let me speak with her."]
"Eek!"
Choi Hyena shrieked.
Her face said it all: Can't we skip this call?
But how could I refuse such an order?
"Ah... Hello, chairman. This is probably your first time seeing me. I'm Choi Hyena from the Reform Division."
Choi Hyena barely managed to open her mouth.
But unlike when speaking to me, the chairman showed a very kind smile to her.
["I guess my expression looks a bit scary, right? Hahaha..."]
Huh? What's with this difference in temperature?
["It seems like a quite smart person is working right beside Director Hyunmin. I was curious what kind of clever person you were, so I asked to see your face."]
"Yes, yes... chairman. Thank you for the compliment."
["Indeed. Please continue to assist Director Hyunmin well. I have great expectations for you, Hyena. Hang in there."]
"Yes. I'll do my best."
["See you again."]
Whoa, he sounds just like a grandfather doting on his granddaughter.
Wow... This is unreal.
When I got back on the phone,
["What's with that face full of complaints?"]
"Nothing. How could I have any complaints about you, chairman?"
["Even if you did, I wouldn't care. By the way, you can return the Marketing & PR Team to normal, right?"]
"Yes, I have to."
["And, you're thinking of moving the Marketing & PR Team under your division, aren't you?"]
He's like a mind reader.
["I'll approve it immediately so the vice CEO can't get involved—on one condition."]
"What's the condition?"
["Go see Director Oh Kang-il, explain how you'll handle the Marketing & PR Team, and get his agreement."]
I must have looked puzzled.
["You're making a photo zone, right? That means landscaping and a lot of other things; in the end, director Oh will need to help you for things to move smoothly. Of course, I don't think he'll oppose it for any political reason or personal feelings."]
Director Oh Kang-il. Honestly, I don't feel like meeting him right now, as he feels a bit intimidating.
Regarding the senior staff at the theme park—I still haven't found an answer on how to handle or resolve that issue.
Choi Hyena met my eyes and nodded.
Her advice was that, at the very least, director Oh and I needed to maintain a smooth relationship, if not fully align.
"Yes, I'll go see him right away."
["Good. Out of everyone at Next Planet, director Oh Kang-il is the only person I truly trust and rely on."]
What's this? Just a little, but—really, just a tiny bit—I feel a bit slighted.
"You don't trust or rely on me?"
["Hmph! You still have a lot to prove. You're still a work in progress."]
Huh? That actually sounds like a pretty good signal.
I looked across at Shin Seung-rak, the Legal & Audit Team Leader.
Despite his stern demeanor, he gave me a subtle nod.
Yeah, I'm being acknowledged.
"I'll prove myself."
Did I sound too excited?
["If Director Oh objects, then I absolutely won't approve the Marketing & PR Team move."]
"Come on! There's no way that'll happen. You don't need to worry at all."
I really am getting giddy now. Why am I overreacting like this?
The chairman just chuckled.
As our call ended,
"Phew..."
Choi Hyena let out a sigh of relief.
"Talking with the chairman is so suffocating."
"Same here."
"No matter how much he smiles, he's scary... I never want to talk to him again."
Just as I was about to nod—
― Dding!
Choi Hyena's cell phone rang.
"Screech!"
She screamed again.
"What is it now?"
"B-boss. The chairman... The chairman..."
Three million won had been deposited into her account.
A personal performance bonus, apparently.
"Choi Hyena has just ranked first on the list of people I most respect in the world."
***
I visited Director Oh Kang-il along with Choi Hyena.
Every time I saw him, I was struck by how imposing his build was.
"You accepted all the resignations from the Marketing & PR Team and promoted Shin Miyoung to team leader. That's fairly bold. So, are you confident you can handle this well?"
"Yes, I've already discussed it with Shin Miyoung, and there should be no issue there."
"What opinion could I give on this? I trust you'll handle it well."
"Thank you."
He turned his gaze to the window for a moment, looking outside as he continued.
"I'm old enough that change doesn't exactly thrill me. But our theme park needs change. Your sincerity about saving this theme park—I want to believe in that."
"I'll work hard."
"With this new trainee promotion, you'll need a lot of support from my division. I'll let my staff know. For this project at least, I'll tell them to cooperate without complaint. Let's get together soon to discuss the relevant details."
"Thank you."
"But let me ask once more. Please do your best to look out for the older staff working at the theme park."
It's a tough assignment.
But I must see it through somehow as well.
A theme park is a place meant to bring happiness and wonder to its visitors.
There's no denying that efficiency, performance, and profit—all the cold numbers—are essential to sustain that purpose.
But can a company survive on just that?
Values like fairness, consideration, and co-existence matter, too.
I need to maintain that balance.
A day passed.
A personnel announcement and notice appeared on the intranet.
[Marketing & PR Team Leader Appointment / Appointee: Shin Miyoung]
[For management reasons, Marketing & PR Team has been moved from the Business Strategy Division to the Reform Division.]
I met with Team Leader Shin Miyoung.
We shook hands.
"I look forward to working with you, Team Leader Shin Miyoung."
"I feel like I'm basically resetting an entire team, which is daunting, but I'll do my best. Please take care of me as well, director."
I got a call.
It was from Lee Jimyung, the former team leader of the Marketing & PR Team.
["Director, I should be telling you this in person, but due to circumstances, I'm asking by phone."]
"Go ahead."
["About me and my team turning in resignations—you must know the real story. It was just our way of expressing an opinion, not that anyone truly meant to leave the company."]
"So?"
["I've already talked to and convinced the rest of my team. Wouldn't it be better for everyone to just consider the resignations null and void?"]
"I wonder what the executive vice president thinks."
["Hahaha... Can't reach the EVP at all today. But honestly, does the EVP's opinion matter now? What's important is your generous understanding, director."]
As far as I know, the executive vice president didn't show up today. Probably avoiding the Marketing & PR Team staff.
Is this a case of cutting them loose?
"Yes, thank you for your message. I plan to handle this after discussing with Team Leader Shin Miyoung."
I promptly ended the call.
I had heard the Marketing & PR Team employees who submitted resignations were now in chaos—they hadn't expected the chairman to take my side so swiftly.
For years now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the theme park was managed more by the vice CEO than the chairman.
So naturally, they must have sided with the VP and EVP.
I relayed the recent call to Team Leader Shin Miyoung.
"First, I don't plan to reinstate Lee Jimyung. Since you're building a new team, I figured it would only burden you. There's a clear justification in the team's poor performance, so there's no problem."
"I appreciate it."
"I'll leave the treatment of the other resigning members to your judgment."
She nodded.
She must have already worked out her plan, as she expressed her opinion without hesitation.
"I'm only going to keep the youngest one among them. There are tasks that need urgent attention. If I'm being blunt, none of the others would be able to get comparable pay at a different company anyway."
Next Planet actually pays pretty well.
It may not be on par with a big Seoul-based conglomerate, but for a local company, it's top tier.
Team Leader Shin Miyoung bowed respectfully to me.
"As a member of the Reform Division now, I'll make sure the crucial trainee promotion under your direction goes off without a hitch."
She's reliable.
Isn't this the perfect word for the situation?
***
A man with long hair: Kang Dae-hyun, HR team deputy.
With him was Park Seok-min, deputy of the Event & Performance Team, built like a gymnast.
The two strolled through the theme park, each holding a coffee.
They were college friends who had joined Next Planet together.
Though they graduated from university in Seoul and had no ties to Nonsan, curiosity about working in a theme park had drawn them in.
The difference between the two: Park Seok-min was completely dedicated to parades and performances, giving his all to company life.
Meanwhile, Kang Dae-hyun was known for his abilities but only did the bare minimum.
Kang Dae-hyun spoke.
"Seok-min, are you really going to quit?"
"Looks like it. I got a positive offer from the States, and I just have to clear the final interview."
According to Park Seok-min, the final interview was just a formality—unless something seriously disqualified you, you'd pass for sure.
"You're something else. Chasing your dream. I don't even know what mine is."
"I just don't know how to play it smart like you."
"Can't you stay at the company? I'll be bored if you're gone."
Park Seok-min chuckled.
He thought Kang Dae-hyun was joking. But, unexpectedly, Kang Dae-hyun seemed serious, both in tone and expression.
"Staying here might get you to your goal even faster."
Kang Dae-hyun knew Park Seok-min well.
Park Seok-min wanted to manage everything about parades and performances, from planning to execution.
Next Planet's parades and performances were high-quality, but often criticized for being stale and small in scale.
"Here? You can't be serious. You've seen how our team leader acts. Plus, in this dying theme park, where's the money to support me?"
"The new director. Don't you think he's different?"
Today, the company was abuzz with news that the EVP and the Marketing & PR Team had lost to Lee Hyunmin.
That's why the Event & Performance Team leader—known to be part of the EVP's inner circle—was nowhere to be seen, probably locked in emergency meetings.
Park Seok-min recalled his brief encounter with Director Lee Hyunmin.
'He praised the quality of our parades and performances. That's proof he's paying attention, but...'
He shook his head.
"How could one person stop this place from going under?"
"That's why they need serious workers like you."
"Come on! In the States, I'll get broader experience and better pay. Why would I stay here?"
"But you'll never become the lead planner there. Here, you could handle everything, top to bottom."
"As long as our team leader's around, that's impossible. All she does is promote the foreign female dancers. Ugh. I'm getting old just watching her."
"Don't you think your team leader will be out soon?"
At Kang Dae-hyun's firm declaration, Park Seok-min looked at him in surprise.
"I think almost all the old team leaders will be replaced soon."
"Because of the new director?"
"Yeah."
"That doesn't sound real. The chairman supported the Reform Division's idea this time because it will help reduce losses. But no way will that person overcome the vice CEO and EVP in the end. His support base is weak, and how could he beat all the entrenched old-timers here?"
"You know I've always had good instincts about these things."
Park Seok-min nodded almost unconsciously.
He knew Kang Dae-hyun had a knack for sensing internal politics and relationships.
During the college student council election,
everyone expected 'Purum' to win.
"I'm joining 'Haenal' for the student council. I think they'll win—it's best to line up early."
"Everyone says Purum will win. Why Haenal?"
"Because there are a lot of 'Shy Haenal' voters, and you get more out of siding with the underdog."
Sure enough, the election ended in a surprise win for Haenal.
Kang Dae-hyun did just enough on the council—never aiming for a higher position like president.
He could also predict who would start dating, or win promotions, within the company.
Maybe that talent made HR a good fit for him. Though he didn't seem to put much effort in, considering his abilities.
Park Seok-min had a question for Kang Dae-hyun.
"Are you saying the new director will take over, and give me a real shot?"
"Because of him, the whole company will change. I don't know why yet. But I feel it."
"You're siding with the new director? You never cared about office politics. Your motto was always 'work just enough and get your paycheck'."
"That's still true. But I like this place. I want to work here for a long time. For that, we need someone who can actually get results."
"And that's the new director."
Kang Dae-hyun nodded.
"We need you, too."
"I'm not so sure."
"Like I said before—you get the most by lining up early, while things are still tough."
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Damn, two more prospects are about to join Team Hyunmin...
I usually do reviews at chapter 10...
But I liked reading/translating this so much that I forgot...
I initially planned to translate 5 chapters to get the feel for it, but I am now at ch 18...
A lot has already happened, I didn't even expect to like it this much...
I really dig this novel...
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