Free Web NovelAs the second-in-command directly under the branch chief, Viktor Volk Choi was both the executive in charge of black-market trade and money laundering and the strongest enforcer in the Busan branch.
“He probably hasn’t even imagined yet that the traitor is right there beside him.”
Just telling him that much would be enough to earn Viktor Volk Choi’s trust.
Of course, that didn’t mean he could blurt it out the moment they met.
For maximum effect, he had to tell him at the right moment, in the right atmosphere.
“...I’ll think it through slowly. No matter what, I probably won’t be able to meet him until after this summer anyway.”
At the latest, shelter construction would be underway by June.
Which also meant most of the legal issues, permits included, would already be resolved.
Whether he met him through Lee Dongcheol or went straight to Choryang-dong in Busan, where the Volcano Group branch was located, it would be fine even if Lee Dongcheol got spooked and disappeared by then.
Of course, Junho didn’t think the Lee Dongcheol he knew would ever do that.
If anything, the man would decide they were in the same boat and try to latch on even harder.
“Then again, he might think he’s got leverage on me....”
With fate twisted just a little, Lee Dongcheol currently saw Junho as an acquaintance and proxy for Kang Baekho, a third-generation chaebol heir.
That alone would keep him from doing anything reckless.
“There’s a method, and there’s plenty of time. No need to rush over Viktor or Lee Dongcheol right now.”
Muttering that, Junho closed the notebook and tucked it deep inside a drawer.
Just meeting Baek Hail and Yoon Youngsu and pulling them into the shelter plan already made this half a success.
All that remained now was full-scale shelter construction.
***
After spending several busy days one way or another, Friday rolled around before he knew it, and Lee Dongcheol—who had only been communicating through texts and phone calls until now—finally came to Seoul.
The reason they met in Seoul was simple: once again, the meeting place was the KH Hotel.
Lee Dongcheol was definitely competent.
Using connections from his days as a prosecutor, he had directly spoken with the heads of the property management and urban regeneration departments at Namyangju City Hall and already gotten things mostly sorted out.
“For starters, since the site was transferred from the Namyangju Office of Education to the city in 2018, the process has become much simpler.”
“You can basically assume there’ll be no real bidding competition. It’s in a planned management zone, and the road access is so bad ordinary investors have no interest in it. A few speculators have been hovering around, but... City Hall will cut them off on its own.”
“Both the property management team lead and the urban regeneration team lead are positive. It’s idle public property that needed to be dealt with anyway, so whether it becomes a luxury pension or a private villa, they’re welcoming the idea. Whatever it turns into, they get rid of a headache and increase tax revenue. So they won’t be filing any conditional first-refusal purchase request either.”
“Still, you should comply with the building coverage ratio and floor area ratio limits as much as possible. I already discussed that with President Baek Hail, and he says there won’t be any problem with the design or construction.”
“The appraised value is 1.27 billion won. Like I told you before, aside from a few hustlers trying to hammer it down to a laughable price, there are no competing bidders. Times being what they are, nobody’s trying to open a pension or campground out there. If you just push to around 1.3 billion won, there’s a 99 percent chance you’ll win the bid.”
“To summarize: legally, it’s 100 percent city-owned, and its past use is clear, so there’s no issue at all with repurposing it. The administrative side is about 90 percent settled, and I can clean up the rest the moment we win the bid. The officials involved will be cooperative too.”
As expected of a former prosecutor from that region.
Thinking again that hiring Lee Dongcheol had been absolutely the right call, Junho asked him:
“The bidding is on Monday, right? Then is there anything I need to prepare that day?”
“I’ll be handling the bid as your proxy, so there’s no need for you to show up in person. But you do need to register a business, so you’ll have to decide what name to use.”
“Ah, the business name. Our Pension.”
“Yes, you’ll need to decide on the name for your pension business.”
“No, I’m saying the business name is going to be Our. Pen. Sion. We’re the ones who’ll be using it, after all.”
“Ah... Our Pension... Understood.”
At Junho’s words, Lee Dongcheol nodded with a meaningful smile, like he understood everything.
He was probably interpreting Junho’s “our” as referring to upper-crust VIPs led by him and Kang Baekho.
That’s why I picked that name in the first place.
Junho smirked inwardly.
The name itself didn’t really matter, but the deeper Lee Dongcheol’s misunderstanding grew, the better it was for him.
“Then I’ll register it as Our Pension through a tax accountant I know, under the lodging business code. That can be done right away.”
“Sounds good.”
“You also don’t need to worry about revenue or taxes. The guy I know is very good at that sort of thing, so he can make it look normal—nothing flashy, just enough to avoid taking losses. Though it feels a little awkward to say this as a favor in return....” freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
“I’ll make sure he gets a reasonable amount of work every year. Tell him not to worry.”
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to pass that along.”
Lee Dongcheol bowed his head with an expression of sincere gratitude.
That was both his strength and what made him dangerous.
If he decided the other person outranked him, he knew how to act thoroughly obedient and grateful.
And if that situation continued long enough, the “superior” would eventually relax.
Because they would start looking down on Lee Dongcheol, the subordinate, as easy and harmless.
If Junho hadn’t known him well, he too might have thought the man was quite useful, maybe even clean and efficient enough to keep at closer range than now.
But Junho knew Lee Dongcheol well.
There was no reason for him to be the first one to act warm.
If he wanted Lee Dongcheol to regard him as more important, it was better to imprint himself as an upper-class client who paid well and kept things clean, but with clear boundaries.
That was why Junho deliberately kept his expression even calmer as he dealt with him.
“Then what else?”
“Yes. Since the bid deposit is 10 percent of the appraised value, you’ll need about 130 million won. In cash.”
“Ah, the deposit.”
He already knew that much, so the moment Lee Dongcheol finished speaking, Junho handed over the hard-case briefcase he had prepared.
“There’s 150 million in there. Use the extra 20 million however you see fit—grease the right officials, cover your gas and meals, whatever. You must’ve had a rough trip coming all the way up here. Ah, and when you’re greasing people, I recommend coin. Cleaner that way, isn’t it?”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure it gets used cleanly and usefully enough that not a trace points back to you.”
The way he bowed his head and accepted it immediately, without even pretending to refuse, was exactly like Lee Dongcheol.
Junho expected half of it would end up in the man’s own pocket, with the other half used here and there to grease palms.
Just like the capable hunting dog he had been in the apocalypse, he never kept everything for himself when there was something to be gained.
“But, President.”
“Yes?”
Lee Dongcheol hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully.
“It’s just... about Dawoo Computing. I can’t help thinking the estimate is a bit excessive. I mean, even if ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) it’s automation, does it really make sense for it to cost over 2 billion won...?” freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
“It does.”
“...Excuse me?”
“Just approve all of it. And whatever else gets added later, don’t object to any of it either. Ah, but if they recommend adding something else, ask them one thing.”
“All right....”
“Whether it was directly confirmed by Research and Development Team Lead Yoon Youngsu. If the answer is no, report it to me and reject it. But if the research and development team lead made the call personally, then whatever it is, it’s approved.”
Junho deliberately took on a somewhat firm tone, as if warning him to stay in his lane.
“Understood.”
He still didn’t really get it, but this was a full-retainer client who casually threw around another 20 million won in extra effort fees on top of his normal compensation, so Lee Dongcheol quickly read the room, answered at once, and bowed his head.
Once things were roughly wrapped up, Junho rose from his chair in the hotel lounge’s private room.
“Then, Counselor, I’m counting on you for the auction next week. And if anything comes up with officials, local complaints, or politicians, let me know anytime. While the pension is being built, and after it’s finished too... I absolutely hate dealing with annoying problems. I’m asking for your help.”
This time, he spoke politely.
Lee Dongcheol’s expression brightened at once.
“Asking for my help? That’s my job. Please don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility and handle it properly.”
Young as he was, Junho was clearly a polished, well-mannered client with all the signs of the upper class.
Clients like that were hard to come by.
And since it was obvious that more extra fees would keep falling from this top-tier client, the smile on Lee Dongcheol’s lips stretched wider than ever.
***
Monday finally came.
Just as Lee Dongcheol had promised, Junho successfully won the Haneul Forest Campground property with a final bid of 1.3 billion won.
No—starting now, he should call it “Our Pension.”
Anyway, the trade name Our Pension was officially registered with Namyangju City and the tax office as a tourism pension business under industry code 551004.
And whether because Lee Dongcheol had done the greasing properly, or because it had worked just that well, there was more good news too.
- Forget the ultra-low-temperature freezer warehouse and all that. They’re saying just build whatever the hell you want. As long as the sewage treatment system is properly set up, they don’t care what you build on the land. Ha! In all my life, I’ve never seen some civil servant’s son be that damn friendly.
At Baek Hail’s voice, full of admiration, Junho smiled and said,
“That’s great. Sounds like Counselor Lee really pulled his weight.”
- That’s exactly what I’m saying. That man’s good. Anyway, this week I’m going up there with the Woorim office to look at the site. They’re excited too.
“You explained the intended use properly over there, right? No issues getting the construction prep started?”
- Don’t worry. From materials to equipment, I picked the toughest, longest-lasting stuff without caring about the price. I also told Woorim it’s basically a secret villa for rich people. And I warned them hard: no questions unless you speak first. So you don’t need to worry about a thing. Hell, in times like these, they’re grateful enough just to have landed the job.
“Okay. Then I’m leaving that side of things entirely in your hands, big brother.”
- Right. Oh, yeah, by the way, when am I supposed to sell that coin? Every time I look at it, my damn heart starts pounding....
“It’ll probably spike to 100,000 won at least once next month. Sell it then, so don’t worry. I’ll tell you when. Just make sure you don’t forget to sell right away.”
- All right. Then I’ll see you when you get up here.
“Yes, big brother. Take care.”
After hanging up, Junho let out a quiet laugh.
Even a hardware store owner turned construction man with no fear in the world, and a long-term apocalypse survivor at that, seemed to get nervous when thousands, hundreds of millions, even billions were swinging up and down by the day.
“Big brother’s gonna lose his mind in 2024 when he makes tens of billions off NVIDIA.”
Of course, Baek Hail had already decided what that money would be used for.
He had brushed it off vaguely when talking to Junho, but given the kind of man he was, there was no way he would use it on something pointless.
“Either expensive machinery and materials, or....”
Because he had a decent idea what it might be, Junho smiled without realizing it.
If his guess was right, Junho fully intended to agree and cooperate.
Because his shelter, just like Han Youngjung had dreamed, was a place where you could do everything.
Time passed quickly.
And at last, Junho was able to visit the land that now belonged completely to him—not Haneul Forest Campground anymore, but Our Pension.
About five months had passed since his regression, and almost a full year if he counted the time before that—the first time he had seen this place again.
And here, at long last, he would build the shelter where anything and everything could be done, even in a ruined world.
