/

Chapter 20




< Will you keep talking to me informally? >
#20
Will you keep talking to me informally?
“Everyone, have you all checked the ledgers? Take out the bundles of bankbooks and documents and get ready quickly.”
“Yes, Mr. President!”
In response to Sangkal’s urging, the office staff answered energetically.
Sangkal, exhaling a puff of cigarette smoke, muttered to himself.
“Damn... Why me of all people? Shit.”
* * *
As I entered the office with Manager Ha, the secretary who was sitting stood up.
“Hello, Manager Ha.”
“Ms. Sung, it’s been a while.”
“You can go inside.”
“Alright, see you later.”
Inside the president’s office, about five or six men were standing, and Sangkal was seated in the middle chair.
Seeing me and Manager Ha, he sprang up from his seat and approached us.
“Oh! Manager Ha, it’s been a while.”
Manager Ha simply nodded without saying much.
Sangkal Kim Hosik then looked at me.
“This is the chairman’s grandson? Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Hosik. I hear you just entered university this year? And even Seoul National University Law School! I graduated from Yeongseong University, so if you have any questions about university life, feel free to ask. I’ll tell you as a senior.”
He spoke to me informally from the start, perhaps trying to intimidate me.
Manager Ha’s smile faded.
But Manager Ha didn’t say or do anything special.
It was because of the request I had made before we came in.
“Manager Ha, no matter what happens, don’t interfere. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Are you sure? He’s not an easy person. He rose to this position in just a few years after graduating from a prestigious university and entering this field.”
“He’s just a lackey of the chairman. If I can’t handle someone like him, how can I deal with the CEOs of large corporations?”
Manager Ha let out a low sigh.
“I’m asking for your help.”
“...Alright. But if there’s any safety issue, I’ll definitely intervene.”
“Yes, I won’t stop you from that.”
It was a predictable move.
I didn’t flinch, but instead smiled and faced him.
“Haha, you’re a senior. Nice to meet you. Let’s sit down, Senior Kim Hosik?”
“Sure, sure. Come on, junior. Sit down.”
Sangkal plopped down in the seat of honor.
And the bulky men standing behind him.
‘So, this guy has been like this all along, huh?’
I smiled and took my seat.
Manager Ha stood behind me.
“Manager Ha, will you keep standing?”
Sangkal asked, but Manager Ha ignored him and continued to stand.
Feeling awkward, Kim Hosik picked up the phone.
“Ms. Sung, bring some coffee. Oh, just two cups.”
As soon as Sangkal put down the phone, I spoke up.
“Could you give me the ledgers first?”
“Junior, are you starting already? Take it slow.”
“I’m still not familiar with it, so it might take a while. Let’s start quickly. Could you give me the ledgers first?”
Kim Hosik nodded to one of the bulky men standing behind him.
The man brought the ledgers and handed them to me.
“Thanks.”
I opened the ledgers leisurely.
The door opened, and the secretary came in with coffee.
She placed a cup in front of me and another in front of President Kim, then left.
“Junior, drink your coffee while you work. What do you need to see?”
“Yes.”
I answered, but continued to review the ledgers.
‘The ledgers seem fine, but... this guy isn’t the type to be so clean, right? Hmm...’
I scrutinized them carefully, but found no issues.
I smiled as I put down the ledgers.
“Of course, they’re well-organized, as expected of a senior. Could you give me the chairman’s bankbooks now?”
Sangkal nodded again to the bulky men, and one of them approached me with a bundle of bankbooks.
A total of 12 bankbooks.
Looking at Manager Ha, he nodded.
“Twelve, that’s right. I’ll take these now. It’s the chairman’s instruction.”
“What?”
Sangkal’s eyes widened.
“The chairman instructed me to retrieve all the nominee bankbooks you manage. Is there a problem with that?”
“The chairman said that?”
“Yes.”
Sangkal’s expression changed at the mention of retrieving the bankbooks.
He was trying to maintain his composure, but his eyes were darting around.
‘This guy must have tampered with the nominee bankbooks, right?’
Sangkal, unable to sit still, confronted me.
“Hey, junior. Even if that’s the case, can’t you suddenly retrieve them? Is that really the chairman’s instruction?”
“Why would I lie to a senior? If I did, it would be caught eventually.”
“Hmm...”
“Is there a problem with retrieving the bankbooks? If there is, please tell me now.”
Sangkal jumped up and said.
“What? No, no such thing! How can you think of me like that? It’s just sudden.”
He laughed while waving his hands. I smiled along with