Chapter 324

“Ahhh! They came in before I could even build gas!”

“Uwaaaah-. Another elimination in five minutes.”

The screams were brief, and whether the onlookers were giggling or not, Choi Mi-kyung panted like a yellow dog, building rooms over and over. She’s always so cheerful.

「Only for beginner hunters! 3:3」

「Son Jin-hyeok is in this room! 3:3」

「Hydra flesh is Hydra 3:3」

「Sin Hae-chul and Nexus 3:3」

「Please, only beginner oppas!」

Ugh, the naming sense is terrible.

Jin-hyuk bit his lip hard.

[Kyaaaah! Zzup zzup zzup-.]

The oppas’ Zerglings showed no mercy.

“Mi-kyung, Jin-hyuk. I’m dying. The puppies are attacking fragile me— Oh crap! Save me!”

“My base got wiped out too! Waaah! I thought it was only beginners, why are they so good?!”

“Mi-kyung, maybe we’re just bad······.”

“Jin-hyuk, not all honest words are good words.”

“Hey, Son Jin-hyuk! Are you building cannons just to save yourself?”

“Well······, since I’ve already built the Command Center, come in and survive together.”

“Jin-hyuk, you’re sneaky. Then I’m coming too. Feed me.”

“Ahhh! Don’t hit the workers carrying minerals!”

Jin-hyuk didn’t have any brilliant ideas either.

“Son Jin-hyeok! Do something!”

“Guys, let’s take a quick strategy break.”

Tap tap!

Ctrl + Alt + Del, double-tap.

“Oh-, Jin-hyuk. Disconnecting, nice timing.”

“Those jerks are asking about our moms?”

“Just ignore them······.”

After the strategy break, it was back to getting beaten up again.

Jin-hyuk’s Battle.net win rate during this time was a staggering 0 wins, 118 losses, and 22 disconnects.

‘How can I not win a single game······.’

It was natural since he only played for fun when his friends were around.

If he had played alone, he might have won at least one game.

‘Hehe. Still, it’s fun trying something new.’

Kim Eun-jung’s nonsense and Choi Mi-kyung’s shouting made his head throb, but hanging out with friends was always enjoyable.

“Ugh, StarCraft is hard. Let’s just play Dune 2000.”

“Mi-kyung, that’s old. Let’s play Rainbow Six instead.”

“Eun-jung, your pronunciation is dirty.”

“We’re at that age where we know everything, ahem-.”

“Are you trying to shoot me again?”

“It’s a game where we shoot each other.”

“But you only kill me.”

“Everyone dies.”

The friends laughed heartily, and Jin-hyuk couldn’t help but smile too.

He had been worried that living away from home for college might change him for the worse······.

“Hehehe-. Professors, seniors, I’ve been through it all, but coming to the PC bang is the best.”

“Mi-kyung, same. Playing is the best.”

“Blah blah blah-.”

Jin-hyuk often had a pitiful expression while listening to his friends’ chatter.

‘You guys should’ve changed by now, you Ppororo-like kids.’

They just never grow up.

Even after leaving the PC bang, the friends kept chattering.

“Ah-! Today was fun too. Eun-jung, Yeouido is so nice, right? Did you see what those office ladies were wearing? So pretty-.”

“Mi-kyung, even if the weekend-working ladies are pretty-. Oh, I see, sexy. But my ears are numb because of you.”

“Ahhh-. Mi-kyung, Eun-jung. The sky is yellow to me.”

“It’s not like we stayed up all night, we only played for three hours, what’s the big deal?”

“Mi-kyung, it seems like exercise stamina and play stamina are different.”

“At least Eun-jung understands me-.”

“Jin-hyuk, play stamina improves with practice. For you, I’ll come back again in two weeks.”

Damn.

Should I change jobs?

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

At least he fed them.

“Jin-hyuk, I’ll treat you today. I got my part-time paycheck.”

“Okay.”

It’s special because they don’t just rely on Jin-hyuk.

“Jin-hyuk, why don’t we see any cheap snack bars in Yeouido? I want stone pot bibimbap.”

“There’s a cheap snack bar around the corner from that café.”

“Jin-hyuk, can’t we just eat at a coffee shop? I want tangsuyuk rice bowl.”

Yeah, back in the day, university cafés sold all kinds of meals.

A world that has changed yet remains the same.

I thought it was just a hazy memory, but it’s amazing that it still exists in reality.

“They don’t sell meals at cafés here. If you look around, there might be some, but on weekends, they only sell drinks.”

“Oh-, Yeouido is an amazing place. Is it because there’s no university?”

“Mi-kyung, Jin-hyuk. My stomach is growling like an Overlord. Let’s go go go-.”

***

Gradually, they reorganized the company and changed the corporate culture.

The Future Strategy Headquarters and Research Institute were given a week-long vacation every quarter. It was a decision meant to encourage enjoying vacations seasonally. There was no need to use it within the quarter.

It could be used separately or accumulated, a paid vacation separate from monthly leave.

As expected, the salaried workers cheered, but some older employees and executives weren’t pleased.

“There’s no system that satisfies everyone. But if those in relatively weaker positions agree, it’s a good system. It’s just not introduced in our country yet, but it’s already being implemented in Europe.”

A group-affiliated yet independent organization. With a differentiated corporate culture and personnel discretion secured, there was no need to worry about other affiliates’ opinions. That’s why they could boldly introduce it.

“It’s a rightful vacation for employees who dedicate their youth to the company. But from a management perspective, it’s not a given. We’ll quantitatively review the productivity resulting from the vacation reform and leave room for future improvements.”

No one would misunderstand that explanation as anything other than a call to work hard and focus.

After meticulous analysis, they subdivided the organization.

“From now on, all department names will be unified as teams. Since it’s already being implemented in other affiliates and companies, it won’t feel awkward. The Strategic Planning Department will be divided into the Strategic Support Team and the Strategic Planning Team.”

Roles and responsibilities were clarified but kept simple.

“The Planning Team will continuously discover future opportunities, and the Support Team will form project teams to allocate personnel and budgets. The Planning Team’s job doesn’t end with assigning tasks. Monitor the progress until the end to ensure it doesn’t get loose.”

Min Yong-rak was promoted to assistant manager and became the head of the Support Team. It was a rapid promotion backed by the favor of the chairman and president, but no one could object. He was that competent.

Kim Yi-do became an executive and officially became the deputy head, lightening Jin-hyuk’s burden.

The Planning Team head was recruited from the education team under the group’s talent development office.

“Hobby clubs, social gatherings, all are good. We’ll actively support them with separate budgets for the headquarters and research institute. But for those who damage organizational culture with office politics, there won’t be a second chance to work with me.”

*

As the ethics committee chairman, he also attended disciplinary meetings.

It was the most difficult task, even though he had prepared for it.

“Manager Kim 〇〇 has had multiple ethics reports filed against him for sexual harassment and misconduct towards female employees, yet each time it was only a verbal warning or ignored entirely?”

“Why didn’t the ethics management office dig into that issue? The reports that were buried.”

“Can we assume the talent development office buried the reports? Were they covering for Manager Kim 〇〇?”

“Doesn’t it look like someone higher up protected him?”

“Why should the victimized employee suffer personnel disadvantages too?”

“Is this really the ethics committee? Are you all sure you’re ethics committee members?”

“All ethics committee members present must submit a written explanation and will be stripped of their ethics committee qualifications. Executives, senior managers, vice presidents. Gender and age. No exceptions. If not submitted within the deadline, it will be considered insubordination and strongly recommended to the subsidiary office for reflection in the next executive contract.”

“Next Thursday, we’ll form a new ethics committee and hold another disciplinary meeting. At that time, besides Manager Kim 〇〇, the talent development office head and ethics management office head will also be seated here. That’s all.”

Some vented their frustration, calling it the tyranny of a mad rookie.

Resignations followed.

But the executives’ resignations directed at the subsidiary office were rejected.

It was due to instructions from the chairman’s office.

Chairman Hong Ki-jun was firm in dealing with the groveling employees.

“Disciplinary dismissal targets resigning? Hundreds of thousands of employees, partners, and consumers are watching. The whole nation, the whole world is watching our company, Sein. Other companies are closely observing us to follow Sein’s path. Shortcuts are not right.”

“At least within Sein, let’s walk the right path. The ethics committee chairman’s job is to uphold the right path.”

“The ethics committee chairman’s orders are the law of the Sein Empire.”

It was like giving a sharp sword to a madman.

“Are you telling us all to die?!”

One executive shouted with a flushed face at a drinking party, but only those present agreed.

And no one died.

The final orders given by ethics committee chairman Son Jin-hyuk were abstract.

“Executive Lee 〇〇, Senior Manager Bae 〇〇. You are dismissed for intentional destruction of work materials and failure to protect employees. You may appeal according to relevant laws.”

“Vice President Jeon 〇〇 failed to gain forgiveness from the victim of verbal abuse. You may choose between voluntary resignation and a lawsuit. I’ll explain the lawsuit. If you don’t resign, we plan to hold you civilly liable for separate reasons. Damage to corporate image, hindrance to organizational culture, harm to shared values, etc. Let me be clear, if you step down voluntarily, there will be no lawsuit. The company will take the blame in recognition of your past contributions. Be grateful.”

“Manager Lee 〇〇, does it make sense to use department operating funds for weekend family dinners? Not just once or twice, but for over three years······. Lift your head and answer. The reason department heads are given authority over operating funds is to take care of their team members······. It’s not money for department heads to use as they please.”

He tried to end it with disciplinary dismissals, but there were cases where the perpetrator’s elderly mother and dependents, suffering from chronic illness, held Jin-hyuk back.

“Manager Na 〇〇, considering the circumstances of embezzling useful public funds, you are suspended with pay for three months. Work with a repentant heart. We’ll monitor follow-up measures for the victims. That’s all.”

That’s why it was a difficult task.

Because it’s people judging people.

It wasn’t comfortable, but it had to be done.

As someone with power, Hong Ki-jun’s order was to learn how to use that power appropriately.

“Senior Manager Kang 〇〇 complicated things. When you make a mistake, it’s cleanest to come forward voluntarily and follow the company’s procedures. Hiding, lying, shifting blame to others! Later, you even incited. Incitement. Easy, right? Bury one fool and I can survive. But mistakes pile up and later become too complicated to handle. Such people have to be cut out. Dismissal is decided.”

“You did it because she was young and pretty? So spreading rumors that a subordinate is a loose woman makes sense? Why use company-granted power for personal jealousy and envy? Especially among women who should protect each other!”

“You all have careers and money saved as executives, so you can live anywhere, right? The victimized employee has already been personally assassinated.”

“Do you know the financial tracking-related bill recently passed in the National Assembly? Corporate officials can actively track executives’ funds with prosecution approval for disciplinary committee cases. We’ll form a separate audit team for this task. Since the bill is in place, there will be no illegal investigations. Those who took bribes should voluntarily report. The voluntary reporting period will be announced on the portal.”

In the peaceful winter of 1999, a storm hit the Sein Group.

A storm led by Son Jin-hyuk, with Hong Ki-jun watching.

But no one froze to death.

***

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Korea won a whopping five gold medals in track and field alone.

Jin-hyuk’s juniors competed in middle and long distances, winning three gold medals.

The men’s 4x100m relay, where Jin-hyuk anchored and Korea overtook Brazil to finish second behind the USA, was even more highlighted.

Jin-hyuk, who caught up an impossible 20-meter gap only to lose by 1/1000th of a second, pounding the track with his fist, became an Olympic highlight.

His words also ignited the athletes’ hearts.

“If only I had been a little faster······.”

There were voices lamenting the void left by Jin Seon-kyu, who retired early to nurture juniors, but no one was sad or pessimistic.

Newspaper articles, mostly hopeful and witty, were proof.

「Since when were we a track and field powerhouse?」

「Lift your head, without you, we wouldn’t have dreamed of a silver medal.」

「Coach Jin Seon-kyu, “If other athletes think like Son Jin-hyuk and train like Son Jin-hyuk, they can do it. They don’t because they don’t try.”」

「Christie Sein Sports Foundation coach, “Kyu, talk is easy. Training like a bullet means early burnout. Korean athletes, just do as much as me.”」

「Jin Seon-kyu, “The national team coach is me, not Christie.”」

「Christie, “Kyu, you almost met Jesus training like a bullet too.”」

「Jin Seon-kyu, “Christie, don’t speak so carelessly.”」

「Christie, “Kyu, how old are you?”」

「Jin Seon-kyu, “Reporters, please don’t translate. If not translated, we’d just move on without knowing.”」

After the Olympics, he took a short vacation at home.

Jin-hyuk made watermelon punch with Yoo Jin, who was already in her last year of elementary school, and Son Kwang-yeon watched Olympic highlights with Jeong-won, who was now eight.

Even after watching it multiple times, Son Kwang-yeon couldn’t sit still and fidgeted.

[-set.]

[Men’s 100m Olympic final. The heart-pounding start moment. All spectators hold their breath-.]

[Gooo-!]

[They’re off!]

[Son Jin-hyuk! Son Jin-hyuk! Uwaaa-! He’s fast! Fast-, wow! He finished it! Korea! Son Jin-hyuk! 9.48! Breaking the world record beyond 9.50! Olympic two-peat!]

[Uwaaaaah! Hooray! Hooray-!]

Just like Jin-hyuk did on the day Yoo Jin was born, Son Kwang-yeon also struck a hooray pose. It was something he did every time he watched the video.

“Wahaha-! Hooray-! My son, hooray-!”

For Son Kwang-yeon, it’s a sacred ritual.

For Jeong-won, who’s gradually resembling his dad, shouting hooray is also a fun game.

“My bro, hooray-.”

“Oof-!”

With a single scream, Son Kwang-yeon collapsed sideways, clutching his groin and trembling.

He’s shouted hooray with his youngest son many times, but getting hit in the balls by Jeong-won’s nuclear punch while shouting hooray is a first······.

“Kahahahaha-!”

Yoo Jin laughed so hard she fell backward.

As she fell, she kicked the bowl, spilling the watermelon punch.

Sigh-. As Jin-hyuk wiped the fruit juice soaking into the living room carpet, all he could do was sigh.

‘Our family hasn’t changed either.’

Thankful for the troublemakers who remain unchanged.

Family.

“Ahahahaha-! Kahahahaha-! Oppa, look at dad-. I think he’s broken, ohohohok-!”

Ah, Yoo Jin.

Your hometown planet got nuked, and you’re laughing like that?