“No. Relocating the company and sorting out staff through the consolation bonus are only the beginning.”

“Only the beginning? So you’re saying you’ve got more prepared?”

“Yes. Cutting away the rotten stalk alone won’t make it flower and bear fruit. We have to change the roots to make a fresh start.”

“Ohh~ Change the roots? How, exactly?”

Tak-hyeon Lee let out an intrigued exclamation and leaned back against his chair.

Then he gestured to Seong-ho Kim to keep talking.

Seong-ho Kim glanced at Chang-jong Lee for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.

“I believe we need to bring in new business partners rather than the existing ones, to lower parts prices. To do that, we’ll need to diversify the parts suppliers Ilhyeon Watch deals with.”

“Now see here. Kim.”

At Seong-ho Kim’s words, Chang-jong Lee, vice-president of Ilhyeon Distribution, immediately raised an objection.

“You haven’t forgotten how Ilhyeon Watch came to be, have you? The chairman here personally went to Japan and made a special request to a Japanese company to receive the technology transfer that built this company. For over twenty years since then, we’ve kept a solid relationship with our existing partners and been supplied parts through them, and that’s how we’ve gotten this far — and now you want to change partners? Have you lost your mind?”

Undeterred by Chang-jong Lee’s words, Seong-ho Kim said to Tak-hyeon Lee,

“Twenty years ago, it was unavoidable because our country’s technology was lacking. But that’s not the case now. I’ve confirmed that we can be supplied parts at a sufficiently low price domestically as well.”

“And the Japanese company that transferred us the technology? What do you intend to tell them?”

Chang-jong Lee kept pressing on the Japanese watch company, demanding to know what he’d do about it.

But Seong-ho Kim went on as if he hadn’t even heard Chang-jong Lee, keeping his gaze fixed on Tak-hyeon Lee, and said,

“I believe the time has come to cut ties with Japan’s Seimo.”

“Hey! Seong-ho Kim! What are you saying right now!”

Chang-jong Lee shot up from his seat and shouted.

At that, Tak-hyeon Lee, who’d been listening to Seong-ho Kim’s account, looked up at Chang-jong Lee and asked,

“Why are you getting so worked up?”

At Tak-hyeon Lee’s words, Chang-jong Lee only then realized everyone present was looking at him.

“No, I…”

“It was I who talked with Seimo, I who brought in the technology, and I who can decide whether or not to cut that relationship — so why are you the one getting worked up?”

“It’s just…”

His mind racing, Chang-jong Lee gave an awkward excuse to Tak-hyeon Lee.

“If we cut ties with Seimo, we’d end up cut off from all the parts suppliers that supply Ilhyeon Watch too, and that could turn into… an even bigger problem, I thought…”

In the end, unable to finish what he was saying, Chang-jong Lee dropped his head.

“I’m sorry. I overstepped and butted in.”

Tak-hyeon Lee gazed quietly at Chang-jong Lee, then turned his head to Seong-ho Kim and said,

“From now on, mind your place before you butt in.”

“…Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

At Tak-hyeon Lee’s warning, Chang-jong Lee sat back down, thoroughly deflated.

Watching him, Seong-ho Kim smiled secretly to himself.

‘His insides must be burning. I know exactly why you’re like this.’

Seong-ho Kim knew the reason Chang-jong Lee was rejecting, almost convulsively, the idea of severing ties with Seimo.

Because Do Eun-cheol and the others, having taken rebates from the parts suppliers, had been paying tribute straight up to Chang-jong Lee.

Knowing this, Seong-ho Kim had anticipated Chang-jong Lee’s reaction, and now that Chang-jong Lee had reacted exactly as expected, he was watching him with a smile.

But Mun-jong Lee and Sang-jong Lee couldn’t understand Chang-jong Lee’s reaction.

“What’s gotten into him?”

“You’re telling me.”

At Mun-jong Lee’s words, Sang-jong Lee only shook his head.

Tak-hyeon Lee looked wordlessly at the head-bowed Chang-jong Lee and the composed, seated Seong-ho Kim.

Having gazed at his son and his son-in-law for a while like that, Tak-hyeon Lee gestured to Seong-ho Kim.

“Go on.”

“Yes.”

At Tak-hyeon Lee’s instruction, Seong-ho Kim continued the account he’d been giving a moment ago.

“Domestic companies have come a long way these days. If we build the watches using parts made by domestic companies, we can cut the unit cost by at least 30%.”

“At least 30%?”

“Yes. 30% at the very least. A report laying out the relevant details has already been drawn up, so I’ll have it delivered to you through Secretary Hwang by tomorrow.”

“The report’s already finished? Hahaha.”

Tak-hyeon Lee gave a dumbfounded laugh.

And he turned to look at Mun-jong Lee and the others.

“This — this is exactly the kind of drive I’ve been hoping for.”

He looked at his children with a displeased face and said,

“Just how much have you all learned working under me?”

At Tak-hyeon Lee’s words, Mun-jong Lee and the others fell silent, struck dumb, and bowed their heads.

Tak-hyeon Lee kept speaking to his children in a voice full of contempt.

“Decades. Decades! Unlike you lot, Kim here hasn’t even been working in earnest for a full year, and yet what he brings me is better than what you’ve managed after a dozen-odd years on the job. Fine. Who should I blame? I should blame myself for being so pathetic.”

“Father…”

“Quiet.”

Tak-hyeon Lee glared at Sang-jong Lee, who’d called out to him.

Then, in contrast, he looked at Seong-ho Kim with a gentle gaze and said,

“If you’ve already finished the analysis, I imagine you’re prepared to push ahead with it right away too?”

“Of course. I’ve already received samples from one domestic company and begun testing. If the test results come back clean, we can start receiving parts from the domestic company and producing even before the company relocation.”

“You’re already running tests?”

Tak-hyeon Lee looked at Seong-ho Kim, astonished.

And, with a flicker of hope, he asked Seong-ho Kim,

“Let’s say we cut debt through the relocation and lower production costs by switching parts suppliers. Even so, we’d only turn a profit if sales go well… Do you happen to have a plan in mind for boosting sales too?”

This particular question, he’d thrown out without much real expectation.

Relocating the company, sorting out staff, and switching parts suppliers alone already amounted to a stunning reform, so even Tak-hyeon Lee didn’t expect Seong-ho Kim to have drawn up a sales plan on top of it.

But some inexplicable hope had risen in him, which was why he’d tossed out the question almost carelessly.

And to that inexplicable hope, Seong-ho Kim answered in kind.

Seong-ho Kim, as it turned out, was sitting across from Tak-hyeon Lee having already drawn up a plan to increase sales volume as well.

Once the meal had wrapped up and he’d gone back up to the study, Tak-hyeon Lee sat in his chair, unable to wipe the disbelieving expression from his face.

Do-beom Hwang spoke to him cautiously.

“Assistant Manager Kim… he really is remarkable. However did he think of so much in so short a time?”

Do-beom Hwang turned his head to look toward the living room, from which voices could still be heard, and continued,

“The way he had an answer ready for every single question the chairman asked, as if… he’d already prepared for it.”

“It’s beyond just ‘not ordinary.'”

Tak-hyeon Lee stroked his chin.

And, with the look of a man deep in thought, he said,

“Just as you say — it’s as if he knew the questions were coming, he answers without a moment’s hesitation. And even the answers themselves are all methods no one else has ever thought of. It’s hard to even put into words.”

Recalling Seong-ho Kim’s performance — beyond merely astonishing — Tak-hyeon Lee stroked his chin, rose from his seat, and walked to the window.

Even as he walked, Seong-ho Kim’s performance at the table a moment ago apparently kept circling in his mind, and he naturally brought up the subject again.

“Do you remember? When I first sent him to Ilhyeon Watch, I meant to praise him even if all he did was expose the executives’ corruption.”

“Yes. I remember too. You said that alone would be enough.”

“Right. That’s what I said.”

Standing at the window, Tak-hyeon Lee kept talking as he gazed at the scenery outside.

“I thought that alone would be enough, and he shows up with a method to completely transform the company. What am I even supposed to…”

Trailing off for a moment, Tak-hyeon Lee turned his head to look at Do-beom Hwang and asked,

“How am I supposed to take this?”

Confused by a result he’d never anticipated at all, Tak-hyeon Lee had his brow knitted.

“All he had to do was the one thing I wanted, and instead he comes back having found every method except that one…”

Looking at the results alone, delight should have been the natural response.

Because he’d found a way to completely transform a company that had seemed impossible even to sell off.

But unable to simply be delighted, given that the reform plan was missing the one thing he’d originally wanted, Tak-hyeon Lee was feeling an inexplicable unease.

“That fellow can’t not know… can he?”

Gazing out the window, Tak-hyeon Lee asked Do-beom Hwang.

Do-beom Hwang stepped closer to Tak-hyeon Lee and said,

“Could that be exactly why he brought up changing the parts suppliers?”

At Do-beom Hwang’s words, Tak-hyeon Lee’s brow furrowed.

“So you’re saying we should just turn a blind eye to those fellows?”

The Ilhyeon Watch executives were no different from parasites sucking the company’s blood.

Having no intention of letting them off, Tak-hyeon Lee couldn’t help but wear a displeased expression.

Do-beom Hwang cautiously took Seong-ho Kim’s side against him.

“I don’t think that’s it. Wouldn’t Assistant Manager Kim know as well as anyone that a tree with rotten roots won’t come back to life just by being replanted?”

“Then what is it?”

“Couldn’t it be that he’s thought of a different method and is simply holding off on it for now?”

“Holding off on it for now?”

“Yes. Because it’s not something to touch just yet, perhaps.”

“Hmm…”

Tak-hyeon Lee let out a short grunt at Do-beom Hwang’s words.

The thought that Do-beom Hwang might be right had flickered through his mind for a moment.

And within that thought, another thought came chasing after it into Tak-hyeon Lee’s mind.

“But was Kim really that outstanding a man?”

Do-beom Hwang answered Tak-hyeon Lee’s near-muttered question carefully.

“One thing is certain — everyone had the man Seong-ho Kim completely wrong.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Tak-hyeon Lee clasped his hands behind his back and gazed absently out the window.

“Completely wrong.”

Tak-hyeon Lee echoed Do-beom Hwang’s words and looked out past the window.

There, Seong-ho Kim stood in the yard, talking with Chang-jong Lee.

Seong-ho Kim looked at Chang-jong Lee, puzzled.

“Do you truly believe we shouldn’t change the parts suppliers?”

“They’ve worked with us for nearly twenty years. How could we change a relationship like that overnight?”

“They’ve been taking a margin of over 30% for more than twenty years. I’d think that’s more than enough, wouldn’t you? We can’t keep giving ground forever to a parts supplier reaping excessive profits, can we?”

“I’m not saying we should give ground…”

Chang-jong Lee stopped mid-sentence and tried to search his mind for a reason.

Watching him, Seong-ho Kim thought to himself,

‘No matter how hard you rack your brain, a reason that doesn’t exist won’t appear.’

Seong-ho Kim shook his head and spoke first.

“As you know, Brother, the chairman has already approved this, so I don’t think the decision can be reversed. I’m sorry.”

At the words that Tak-hyeon Lee had approved it, Chang-jong Lee only chewed his lip, unable to argue any further that the parts suppliers shouldn’t be changed.

His lips moved a few times before he finally said he understood and left.

Having come out to the yard to see her brothers off, Gyeong-eun Lee came over to Seong-ho Kim’s side and watched the car carrying Chang-jong Lee drive away.

Once the car had vanished from sight, she asked Seong-ho Kim,

“Why did my younger brother look like that?”

“His income’s probably about to drop, I’d imagine.”

“His income’s dropping? Did Father say he’d cut salaries because Ilhyeon Distribution isn’t doing well?”

“No. It’s that a side business of your brother’s doesn’t seem likely to go well.”

“Oppa has a side business?”

Gyeong-eun Lee’s eyes went round at the news, hearing it for the first time.

“Hahaha, it’s nothing. Let’s go in together.”

Amused by her expression, Seong-ho Kim laughed and turned to head inside.

(End of Chapter 26)