Chapter 13: We Have Conquered a Dimension!

President Lee Jeyun blinked and waved his hand dismissively.  

“Haha… buying my expertise? If you look around, there are plenty of people more skilled than me. You’d be better off hiring someone more capable.”  

“Yes, you’re right. That’s why we want to acquire your exceptional milling expertise, President.”  

“Well, young man…”  

President Lee Jeyun gently rubbed his wrinkled hands before speaking.  

“I’m too old. I’ve been leaving the machines to my employees for a while now.”  

“Yes, we know. That’s why we plan to bring all the employees who worked under you as well.”  

This is a massive expense.  

The moment the payment comes in, I’ll have to use the profits to cover their salaries.  

But it has to be done.  

“In effect, I plan to acquire Jeyun Milling in its entirety.”  

Acquiring a company requires an enormous amount of money.  

But picking up the remnants of a bankrupt company?  

That doesn’t cost nearly as much.  

Because the value of a failed company is close to zero.  

‘But I can bring this company back to life.’  

Not only that, I can devour other companies and make it grow even bigger.  

“President, I know this is a difficult decision. But I want to revive this company.”  

“…You’re Kang Jisung, right?”  

“Yes.”  

“Why are you going to such lengths?”  

President Lee Jeyun asked in a calm voice.  

“I can tell just from this short conversation that you’re a capable person, Mr. Kang. Someone like you wouldn’t need to hire all my employees.”  

He’s not wrong.  

If I just learned how to operate the milling machines and replaced the labor with cheaper foreign workers, I could make more profit with less cost.  

I wouldn’t have to worry about paying salaries next month.  

‘But.’  

“Why make such a foolish choice?”  

“Because it’s our management philosophy.”  

The philosophy I explained to Yuha.  

Our people come first.  

And if I absorb everything from Jeyun Milling, President Lee Jeyun becomes one of my people too.  

“I’ve heard about the employees who worked here. They were all people you reached out to during tough times.”  

Small talk like this is useful for learning about people themselves.  

“If I abandoned those people, I wouldn’t feel right taking Jeyun Milling.”  

“So you want to take them along too?”  

“Yes. They come with us.”  

“Haha.”  

A soft smile curved President Lee Jeyun’s lips.

But it seemed he still found it a bit hard to accept my proposal.  

“Then just take my employees. I’m just baggage.”  

“Hmm…”  

Yuha, sitting beside me, rolled her eyes.  

‘Guess she didn’t expect him to be this stubborn.’  

But I knew.  

People in business tend to have a certain stubbornness.  

And I know how to break through that stubbornness.  

BAM!  

“President!”  

“There you are! Man, we’ve been looking everywhere for you!”  

“President, how could you close the factory without telling us?!”  

The office door burst open as several people stormed in.  

I didn’t need to see their faces to know who they were.  

President Lee Jeyun burst into hearty laughter at the sight of the intruders.  

“What are you all doing here?”  

“What do you mean, what? Word’s out that you’re closing the factory!”  

“…What’s the big deal about that?”  

“It is a big deal! All you know is how to make flour, President!”  

…Is that a compliment or an insult?  

“President, we can hold out as long as it takes.”  

“Don’t close the doors yet. Wait it out. Don’t worry about us.”  

“You can get back on your feet, President.”  

As each warm word from the employees piled up, President Lee Jeyun was left speechless.  

Overcome with emotion, he wiped his eyes and nodded.  

“Alright, alright. I understand how you all feel.”  

“President.”  

“Could you step out for a bit? I need to discuss something important with these folks.”  

At his words, the employees finally noticed me and Yuha.  

Their gazes weren’t exactly friendly.  

“Don’t look at them like that. They might be the ones to save our company.”  

“Oh, then…”  

“Young man, please take care of our president. He’s a really good person.”  

I smiled and nodded as an older woman grabbed my hand tightly.  

“I know. That’s why I came here and nowhere else.”  

“Oh, yes, yes. Talk it over well, okay?”  

“Don’t worry, just give us a moment.”  

“Alright, let’s go, everyone. Out we go.”  

The employees left as noisily as they’d come, each making sure to leave me with a word to take care of their president.  

Perhaps because they worked under such a warm-hearted person, the employees seemed to reflect that warmth.  

‘I still had doubts about whether “heart” was necessary for business.’  

Though I’d set our management philosophy to prioritize people, it hadn’t fully sunk in.  

My success had always been rooted in efficiency and optimization.  

But seeing this, I started to think it might not be such a bad thing.  

And I had a feeling my philosophy wasn’t entirely wrong.  

“Sorry about that. I didn’t expect my employees to show up.”  

“It’s fine. They seemed pretty shaken up.”  

“Haha, I suppose so… I guess I haven’t lived too badly.”  

“Not badly? You’ve lived well.”  

“Yes, yes.”  

Enough with the warm talk.  

Time to get back to reality.  

“Do you agree to join us as an employee and let us acquire Jeyun Milling in its entirety?”  

“Yes, let’s do that.”  

“Thank you. We’ll pay slightly above the market rate for the factory site and equipment.”  

“Sounds good.”  

As for the acquisition payment…  

“A lump sum is difficult, but I promise to pay it off within two years. Of course, we’ll include reasonable interest on the principal. Please review the details in this contract.”  

Yuha promptly handed over the prepared contract.  

Honestly, the terms were borderline predatory. 

It was practically like taking the factory site and equipment for next to nothing.  

But President Lee Jeyun signed without hesitation.  

Thanks to the clause ensuring all existing employees would be hired as full-time staff.  

“Here’s to working together, President Lee Jeyun.”  

“Hahaha, you’re the president now, Mr. Kang. I’ll be content as the factory manager.”  

“Alright, please take good care of the Jeyun factory.”  

We shook hands.  

From a wheat distribution company to a flour distribution company.  

Ribbon Corporation took another step forward.  

Now it’s time to prepare for the next phase.  

On the way back to our factory, Yuha, looking over the contract, spoke up.  

“This is really something.”  

“What is?”  

 ***

“How those employees showed up at just the right moment. If they hadn’t, we might not have closed the deal.”  

“Yeah.”  

Thanks to the employees arriving at the perfect time, the contract went through smoothly.  

What a relief, truly.  

“Boss.”  

“What now?”  

“How’d you get those people to show up?”  

Her intuition is uncanny.  

I didn’t say or even hint that I’d arranged for those people to come.  

Yet she picked up on it immediately.  

“Jeyun Milling has survived this long because of the bonds between people.”  

“The president’s care for his employees?”  

“That care touches people’s hearts.”  

Unlike Gangi Milling or Yuseong Milling, Jeyun Milling never raised prices, no matter how tough things got.  

As a result, they couldn’t produce much flour, and President Lee Jeyun bore all that burden.  

“Did you think people wouldn’t notice that? They all knew.”  

Good people attract good people.  

Knowing President Lee Jeyun was struggling, they wanted to help somehow, and this was the result.  

I just provided a small spark.  

‘Appealing to “heart” like this still feels awkward.’  

“So you used those people’s emotions, huh?”  

“Used? That’s a bit harsh.”  

“But it’s true.”  

“…Let’s say I got a little help.”  

Yeah, I just got a small bit of help.  

Help that aligns with our company’s philosophy.  

That’s what I decided to think for now.  

“Alright, I’ll let it slide as that.”  

“Let it slide? Anyway, when we get back, start selecting the next companies. This is just the beginning.”  

“We’re not stopping at just one?”  

“What are you talking about?”  

I’m going to swallow every single milling company out there.  

“It’s just a matter of time. Keep that in mind.”  

“Boss, aren’t you dreaming too big? You’re gonna tear something.”  

“It won’t tear with this.”  

If I’m going to take down Spectrum, I need to dream even bigger.  

So today, too, I’ll be busy…  

[An anomaly has occurred in the One Direction dimension.]  

[The Apostle seeks the Dimension’s Master.]  

[The dimension’s time scale is being adjusted.]  

…I’ve seen this before.  

It’s the same message from when the invaders attacked, turning the Second City into a wasteland.  

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.  

“…Yuha, we’re done for today, right?”  

“Yeah, we finished the big stuff.”  

“Then get out. Walk home from here.”  

“What? We’re on the Han River bridge…”  

“Get out quick. I’m in a hurry.”  

Something’s wrong with our precious business partners again!  

***  

After dropping Yuha off on the street, I rushed home.  

Without even taking off my shoes properly, I immediately called the system.  

“System! Report!”  

[The One Direction dimension is currently synchronizing with another dimension.]  

[Summoning the Apostle.]  

After a brief wait, the Apostle’s voice echoed in my mind.  

O Dimension’s Master, the First Apostle greets you. 

“Get to the point. Why did you call me?”  

There is something I wish to show you. 

“Show me? System, dimensional observation.”  

The map of the dimension unfolded widely, and at its center, the capital Core came into view.  

In the heart of Core stood a grand, magnificent temple.  

“…My goodness.”  

‘Last I checked, it was at 65% completion, wasn’t it?’  

But the remaining 35% was extraordinary.  

“You finished it?”  

We wished to complete it sooner, but we were delayed. We apologize.

“No, there’s nothing to apologize for. This is impressive.”  

As I looked inside the temple, I couldn’t help but gasp in awe.  

Marble pillars were adorned with intricately carved reliefs, and in the center stood a massive statue modeled after me.  

“…How did you know what my face looks like?”  

We crafted it based on the image of the Dimension’s Master held in our hearts.

“I see.”  

It must’ve been glimpsed through our consciousness connection as the Apostle. 

All I could say was that it was impressive.  

“You didn’t call me just to show me this, right?”  

Of course not. This is merely the first gift we offer to the Dimension’s Master.

What’s this feeling?  

‘Like when kids you’ve raised with care give you a carnation on Parents’ Day?’  

It feels good, but…  

‘Instead of spending time on this, they could’ve farmed more.’  

The Tinyfolk population is nearing 1,500, but their farmland has only expanded by about 23%. 

This is due to their racial limitation of high stamina consumption.  

Instead of pouring passion into this, I wish they’d put more effort into farming.  

‘Still.’  

I glanced at the system message that popped up in the corner of my vision.  

[Eureka!]  

[By meeting specific conditions, Ancient Architectural Technology is imparted for free.]  

[All Tinyfolk can now construct sturdier and more resilient buildings.]  

I decided not to object to the “Eureka!” that saved investment funds.  

With a faint smile, thinking of the reduced costs, I spoke to the First Apostle in a gentle tone.  

“You said this is just one thing, so there’s more?”  

Yes, O Dimension’s Master. Do you remember the invaders who attacked the Second City, now Central City, decades ago? 

“Those invaders?”  

Correct.

“I remember.”  

Just thinking about how they killed nearly 200 Tinyfolk still makes my blood boil.  

“Why bring them up?”  

We have conquered their dimension.

“…What?”  

What did they just say?