The construction company I acquired this time was <Liminal Construction>, which had experience building several mixed-use buildings in New York.
Their skills were at a level worth recognizing, but the problem was that they had been scammed in the process.
“America is a country where it’s so easy to get stabbed in the back.”
I thought Korea was the best country for scams, but America wasn’t far behind.
Well, thanks to that, I got a high-quality construction company for free, so it wasn’t bad.
“I am Kang Jisung of Ribbon Corporation.”
“Andrea Dragunov of <Liminal Construction>.”
“…You’re Russian?”
“My father was. It’s not particularly important, is it?”
“That’s true.”
Andrea, the former president of <Liminal Construction> and now the deputy head of the construction department, spoke indifferently.
“So now we’re employees of Ribbon whatever?”
“You can see it that way. For now, let’s call it Ribbon Construction.”
“That’s a strange name for a construction company.”
“If a good name led to good results, sure, but it doesn’t work that way.”
What’s important isn’t the name or anything like that.
The value attached to a name is built through results.
“Have you reviewed the buildings we’ll be working on?”
“I have. You’re saying we’re raising five buildings at once?”
“Yes.”
“That’ll cost a lot of money. Material prices are no joke these days.”
The war in Ukraine was gradually heading toward a stalemate.
That meant both sides were preparing for a prolonged conflict, and naturally, iron ore prices were also finding stabilization.
But this was only about raw materials.
The prices of primary processed products like steel and steel plates, which had once risen, didn’t drop that easily.
“I can supply materials sufficiently. There’s stock stored at the place we’re heading to now, so check it out.”
“How much volume have you secured to be so confident?”
“I’ve secured 100 units each of various types of rebar and steel frames, and about 5 tons of concrete as well.”
“With that amount, you couldn’t even build one building.”
I know that too.
“This is just the amount secured right now. Materials will continue to be supplied in the future, so you don’t need to worry about that part.”
“And the costs involved in that process—are they manageable?”
“Of course.”
It’s literally free, after all.
Andrea let out a hollow laugh at my words.
“You’ve got some skills.”
“Wouldn’t you go bankrupt if you did business without any backing?”
“Don’t get too arrogant. This damn America is crawling with scammers.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
As we talked, we arrived in front of the rented warehouse.
When I opened the large door installed for easy material transport, Andrea immediately whistled.
“That’s a lot. It’s enough to start foundation work right away.”
“Has the design drawing come out?”
“About 90% of the work is done. We just need to refine the parts that need modern touches from the existing architectural drawings.”
“It needs to give as sophisticated an impression as possible.”
“Of course. It’s the boss’s order, so we have to follow it.”
Andrea threw in a joke, then sat down in front of the rebar piled up.
He looked around, then lowered his voice and asked.
“But, boss. There’s one thing I want to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“I heard Rick is involved in these buildings.”
“Do you know Rick?”
“In this neighborhood, not knowing Rick Edman makes you an idiot, right?”
It was quite aggressive language, but I didn’t mind.
It’s common knowledge that anyone who rolls around on construction sites gets rough.
“Is that a problem?”
“A problem? Of course it’s a problem. If there’s even a small defect in these buildings, there’ll be a bloodbath.”
“That’s a scary thing to say.”
“And Rick will definitely create a defect.”
Andrea continued in a serious tone.
“In New York, getting tangled with Rick usually leads to two outcomes: licking the soles of his feet and barking like a dog for life, or disappearing without a trace.”
“I know he’s a dangerous person.”
“You know, and you’re still tangled with Rick?”
“I had no choice since it was already tangled.”
When I came to America, the board was already set, so there was nothing I could do.
I have the power to dominate dimensions, but not the power to turn back time.
Andrea wiped his face dry a few times before speaking.
“Boss, Rick will definitely find fault with the buildings. Then he won’t pay.”
“You’re saying we’ll only take losses.”
“If it’s just losses, we’d be lucky—he’ll demand penalty fees. Or tell us to keep working under him.”
Recalling Rick’s eyes, it was obvious.
From the moment I said I wouldn’t use the construction company under him, he showed signs of creating problems.
“As a businessman, boss, you must have calculated the risks sufficiently?”
“Of course.”
“How are you going to prepare for this risk? If you don’t explain it in a way that convinces me, we’d rather go bankrupt.”
They’d rather choose ruin than roll under Rick.
At Andrea’s firm words, I smiled bitterly.
This is why domination through force doesn’t work.
“Alright. I’ll tell you how I’ll lead the deal with Rick, and how I’ll ruin Rick.”
I talked about the various mechanisms I had prepared.
Individually, they weren’t that threatening.
They might even seem quite trivial.
But if they all happened simultaneously?
Rick would have no way to escape.
“What do you think?”
Andrea covered his mouth with his hand after hearing my plan.
He seemed to ponder deeply, then glanced at me.
“You’re crazy. Insane. Are all Koreans as abnormally smart as you, boss?”
“Is that a compliment?”
“It’s a compliment.”
He grinned, stood up, and approached.
Then he firmly grasped my hand.
“Maybe joining hands with you could be the best thing I’ve done in my life.”
“I’ll make those words a reality.”
***
Before Ribbon Construction started work, I went to meet Rick.
“I’m a busy man too—why not make an appointment?”
“Sorry, but I have places to go. I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
“Hmm? Heading back to Korea?”
“Yes.”
If possible, I’d like to go after seeing this matter wrapped up.
But construction takes a long time.
If I stayed here watching until that finished, other schedules would get tangled.
“I came to tell you not to harass my employees just because I’m not here…”
“Why would I do that?”
“You’re being childish.”
I looked at the figure standing in the corner.
It was the foreigner who had sat among our developers before—what was his name again?
Right.
“Howard, was it? That guy.”
“You remember.”
“You’re trying to attach that guy to me?”
Overlapping what he did when he came to our company before with why he’s here now, the answer came immediately.
Rick was planning to put a leash around my neck.
“I need at least minimal insurance, don’t I?”
“Anyway, the only one who put money in is me—what insurance is there?”
There isn’t.
If people had moved in and lived in those buildings by now, how much profit there would be—you can calculate that better than I can.
Absolutely no one will move in and live in those buildings.
Even if someone does, it’ll just be homeless people without money illegally occupying it.
So the only loss Rick has suffered so far is the initial payment.
“I hate people who take my money and run the most. So I need to check if you’re one of them.”
“That’s why you’re attaching that person?”
“If I could, I’d confiscate your passport too.”
He was the kind of person who would do it if he set his mind to it.
Though we’re in equal positions, he was the one dominating these back alleys.
Guaranteeing freedom was only up to where his eyes reached.
Rick took a sip of whiskey and said.
“How about staying a bit longer? Anyway, there’s nothing for you to do even if you go back.”
“There’s plenty. There’s a pile of documents waiting for my approval.”
Yuha is handling many things in my stead.
That means the burden on Yuha is considerable right now.
I need to go back soon to reduce Yuha’s burden and resolve future plans one by one.
“Then just move the whole company to New York.”
“You want everything on your palm.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Yes, it’s absurd.”
Even if now is the time to humor Rick’s mood.
I can’t play on his palm.
“Rick, I understand you want to control me as you wish. But if you do that, you’ll never achieve what you want.”
“…That honor, you mean.”
“As I said before, don’t think I just wandered around the entire United States.”
Rick looked out the window, snorted, and stood up.
“This is the second time.”
“What is?”
“That your heart almost got a hole in it.”
Rick quietly approached and poked my chest.
“You owe me your life twice.”
“That’s not something I want to hear from the guy who almost killed me. If it wasn’t you, it would’ve been zero times.”
“There won’t be a third.”
Rick said firmly.
“Go with Howard. And you have to come when the buildings are completed. Otherwise, you’ll see our Howard’s loyalty.”
He casually threatens to kill.
Once I return to Korea, this guy is definitely getting dealt with.
I glanced at Howard and said to Rick.
“I’ll concede that much. Instead, don’t send any of your men to where our employees are working. It interferes with the work.”
“I’ll say it. Howard.”
“Yes, Big Boss.”
“Take good care of him. He’s an important guest.”
Rick went into the inner room as if he didn’t want to talk anymore.
Then Howard, who had been standing in the corner, strode over and stood beside me.
“Pleasure working with you from now on.”
“You were casual before—was it because he said to take good care of me?”
“The Big Boss said you’re an important guest. Of course.”
“Then rest here as I wish.”
“He said to take care of you.”
Like boss, like subordinate.
It was slightly different from expectations, but this level of variable is fine.
Given Rick’s personality, I didn’t think he’d just let me return to Korea.
One person is nothing.
Controlling one person is no big deal.
Especially if he’s someone working in this world.
“You have your passport, right?”
“I do.”
“Bring it and come to the airport. You won’t be back for a few months, so if you have family, say goodbye at least.”
“I don’t have family to say goodbye to. I’m from an orphanage.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
After some idle chat with Howard, I left the building.
I got into the pre-called taxi and called Yuha.
-[Yes, President. Did the talk go well?]
[“It got a bit annoying, but it’s resolved. I’m heading back to Korea now.”]
-[Why not stay a bit longer? You haven’t had any vacation at all, have you?]
[“Did I come here to rest? It was a business trip.”]
-[Sigh. Others are dying to play hooky, but you’re restless if you can’t work.]
[“I’m the president, after all.”]
If I slack off, does money come in?
I checked the flight time and said to Yuha.
[“It’ll be daytime when I arrive. We’ll go straight into a meeting, so prepare.”]
-[Okay, okay, I’ll pass it on. Anything else you want me to do?]
[“Yeah. One thing.”]
I glanced at Howard sitting next to me and said.
[“Prepare one foreigner access pass. I have one escort.”]
-[…It’s not an escort, it’s a watcher. I’ll prepare to welcome him annoyingly.]
As expected, quick on the uptake—nice.
[“Prepare without issues.”]
Sorry to Howard, this guy.
But I’m too busy to work with a surveillance tag attached.