The Parachute Hire is Too Competent

Bluff and Bluster (2)

"Marketing & PR Team went crazy, didn't it?"

Even though it wasn't midsummer, the day at Next Planet started off hot.

It was thanks to a major issue that shook the entire company.

For some, it was a significant turning point in their lives, but for others, it was simply an event that relieved the monotony of everyday life.

"I heard everyone except one person submitted their resignation."

"That parachute division director—did he make a mess?"

"I don't know if it's positive or negative, but he definitely caused trouble."

"He won't last long, that one."

The Event & Performance Team wasn't free from this issue, either.

Everyone was talking about the conflict between the newly appointed division director and the Marketing & PR Team.

Kim Cheol-jin, the team leader of the Event & Performance Team, smirked on one side of his lips.

"That bastard is completely out of it."

"Seriously. He ruined a whole team. I don't know what he thinks he's doing with moves like this."

The person who responded to Kim Cheol-jin was Lee Siwon, the team leader of the Business Strategy Team.

He was a core member of the faction stretching from the vice CEO to the executive vice president, and a representative figure who disliked Lee Hyunmin.

The two chatted while holding cups of mixed coffee.

Lee Siwon revealed a meaningful smile and spoke.

"The executive vice president really knows how to scheme. Throwing in the mass resignation card from the Marketing & PR Team... Still, that guy can't do anything in front of his uncle."

"I respect the executive vice president. Experience doesn't lie, after all. I'm going to be loyal, loyal for life to the executive vice president and your uncle."

Park Seok-min from the Event & Performance Team walked past the two.

He was the longest-serving member in the team after Kim Cheol-jin, the team leader.

He started giving instructions to the staff practicing for the parade.

"The spacing isn't right. Miho and Dennis, move about 50cm closer together."

Currently, he was in charge of all practical aspects of parades and performances.

When it came to parade and performance team training and command, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the Event & Performance Team was led by him.

He glanced over at Kim Cheol-jin and Lee Siwon.

'People call him a parachute appointment, but isn't Team Leader Lee Siwon the vice CEO's nephew? And our team leader is friends with Team Leader Lee Siwon.'

After the morning rehearsal ended, he checked the practice video—to review routes, spacing, and the finer details of the acting.

At that moment, Team Leader Kim Cheol-jin walked into the rehearsal hall.

"Ugh, my head hurts. Drank too much last night. Seok-min, did you wrap up the rehearsal well?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Kim Cheol-jin put his arm over Park Seok-min's shoulder.

"You really work hard. Don't you ever get tired of watching footage non-stop, without even taking a break?"

"This is my job."

"True, true. By the way, you heard, right? That crazy guy made another mess."

"That's all anyone is talking about."

"It's ridiculous, acting out when he doesn't even know anything..."

Park Seok-min didn't bother answering.

He wasn't a particularly amiable person, and he generally didn't indulge the team leader's chatter, either.

'Lee Hyunmin...'

He didn't particularly like or dislike people like Lee Hyunmin.

[It's about giving as many visitors as possible a fantastic day.]

Not long ago, he had followed Kim Cheol-jin to a Business Strategy Division meeting.

He had seen Lee Hyunmin there, and the words Lee Hyunmin said remained in his memory.

[Ah! I'm about to set a principle. The reason I mentioned earlier about why Next Planet was created. Anything that goes against this will be wiped out.]

Today's parade came to an end.

"Good job, everyone."

Most of the team members left the locker room, some still in parade costumes, others not even fully changed.

They cracked jokes while smoking cigarettes or drinking soft drinks.

Anyone passing by couldn't help but notice the scene. Park Seok-min was annoyed by this.

He could run a tight practice because the team leader permitted it. But meddling in this sort of thing was forbidden.

'I don't want to shatter the children's illusions.'

He glared sharply at the employees.

'What a mess.'

He struggled not to let the bubbling anger boil over.

'I've built up enough experience. Got enough money. My English is fine now. Maybe it's time to change jobs?'

He had already received several offers from companies wanting him to join them.

But he had turned them all down. That's because he dreamt of working at a theme park overseas.

He had no attachment to Next Planet itself, but he was sincere about parades and performances.

That's why he vehemently opposed the idea when the team leader suggested slackening rehearsals, and it was the one thing he managed to protect.

"Seok-min, that practice is too harsh. Do you know 'harsh'? It's cruel."

The foreign staff often complained to him, but he didn't pay them any mind.

When he was a child, he visited a theme park holding his parents' hands.

He wasn't interested in rides—actually, he was scared of them. Even so, he liked going to the theme park.

Because there, there was fantasy. It was a world different from everyday life.

Characters dressed in costumes wandered the park, starring in parades and performances...

That was what he liked. That's why he lived with the desire to plan and direct the best parades and performances.

"Seok-min, I'm leaving work. Wrap things up."

"Yes, goodnight."

Looking at the team leader leaving with two foreign female members, Park Seok-min clicked his tongue.

'He only hires a ton of foreign female members, totally throwing the balance off...'

There was a reason the team members could walk among visitors without fully changing out of costume.

The foreign female members had begged Kim Cheol-jin.

'Let's not get emotional. Right, time to quit. The way things are going here, the company's going to sink soon anyway. I've gotten all the experience I need. That's enough.'

At that moment, he made eye contact with a young man in a suit.

The man watched the parade closely, wandering the park every day, checking on something.

'Parachute Lee Hyunmin. Similar age to me, but in a totally different position.'

To his perspective, Lee Hyunmin, Kim Cheol-jin, and Lee Siwon were all the same.

It was only natural to feel annoyed by them.

'What is he trying to do?'

But if there was one thing that felt different, it was this—

Sincerity towards the theme park.

'If that person changes the theme park...'

He realized he wanted to see how that would look.

***

I headed straight for the Marketing & PR Team's office, accompanied as always by Choi Hyena.

"Division director..."

Kim Junho, with a face close to tears, greeted me.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

I gently patted Kim Junho on the shoulder and approached Shin Miyoung.

Other than Kim Junho and Shin Miyoung, nobody else was in the office. Everyone else had taken paid leave.

I greeted Shin Miyoung respectfully.

"Hello, division director."

She neither welcomed nor opposed me. She simply greeted me with a cold, neutral attitude.

"Miyoung-nim, I have a question."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Why didn't you submit your resignation?"

"There's an emotional reason and a logical reason—which would you like to hear first?"

"The logical reason."

"I have two kids to raise. If the team leader's rebellion fails, I'd have to look for another job. I didn't want to shoulder that risk."

I nodded.

She adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and continued speaking.

"If it's the emotional reason... Honestly, it just didn't seem right. Just because their ideas lost out, they start throwing a tantrum like this. The company's a place to work, after all. It was so childish, I couldn't possibly join in."

That Shin Miyoung was the ace of the Marketing & PR Team showed in her HR evaluations, and Kim Junho agreed on this point as well.

My impression of her: she wasn't someone who'd join my side immediately. But she was absolutely rational.

That means, if I made her a rational proposal, she'd also respond rationally.

I'm not sure when I started judging people like this, but...

"I'd like to make you an offer, Miyoung-nim."

"What is it?"

"Would you take on the role of team leader for the Marketing & PR Team?"

One corner of her mouth lifted ever so slightly.

"I'll have to hear what you're plotting, division director. I still don't know whether you're a sturdy ship that will reach the port safely, or a vessel that's about to sink."

"I plan to process all the resignations submitted by the Marketing & PR Team."

"And how are you going to deal with the fact that there won't be enough people for work?"

I gestured to Choi Hyena.

"For now, Hyena-nim will be seconded to help the Marketing & PR Team in full force."

"Huh? Me? But I don't know this field well."

"Hyena-nim is a highly competent person. More than anyone, she knows this company's inner workings. Even if it's not her original field, she can more than manage support work."

"Oh! Well, if you praise me like that... It is true I'm capable."

Choi Hyena covered her cheek with one hand.

I turned to Kim Junho and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Junho-nim, you'll be working until midnight, seven days a week for a while."

"I'm ready. Just give the word."

At this, Shin Miyoung looked at me, dumbfounded.

"Is this even allowed? You're a total tyrant, you know."

"When a ship is sinking, you use every resource you have. What Miyoung-nim needs to judge here is whether I have the power to keep the promises I made."

"Alright. What's next?"

"First, let's suspend all Marketing & PR Team duties except those that are absolutely essential. You don't have to implement the recruitment trainee promotion we suggested, either."

"That's a relief. Honestly, if you'd just forced us to run only your pet ideas, I'd have been disappointed."

I was greedy, but... The recruitment trainee promotion could be done slowly.

It wasn't season-sensitive like the cherry blossom event.

"There's something special I need you to do, Miyoung-nim."

"Special? Usually, that kind of thing comes with a heavy price."

"I was going to improve the senior citizen discount promotion, but now that the entire Marketing & PR Team resigned, I have no choice but to abolish it. I need you to make a public announcement representing the Marketing & PR Team."

"That's not just a heavy price, that's enormous."

She stared at me, startled.

Choi Hyena and Kim Junho also looked bewildered.

Shin Miyoung frowned and said,

"You want me to wage a PR battle?"

Quick on the uptake. Good.

"That's right."

"Surprising. I figured you had ideals, but I thought you were just upright to a fault. You're trying to shift the blame for abolishing the senior discount onto the executive vice president and our team leader. If it's done right, it could be very effective."

"Is it a burden?"

"Of course."

"But it's interesting, isn't it?"

"You're sharp. If the terms are right, I'll collaborate. But there's something I'm curious about. Where'd you learn a scheme like this at your age?"

I was caught off guard. How was I supposed to answer that?

Super Theme Park Tycoon, of course.

In the game, sometimes rival theme parks spread rumors to damage your park's reputation.

The most effective way wasn't to issue a rebuttal, but to bury it with another rumor of your own.

Of course, that rumor had to sound plausible and be at least partially true.

If I said I learned this from a game, it would ruin everything, wouldn't it?

What should I say? Unsure, I just went with something plausible.

"I learned from the person backing me."

"The... the chairman?"

Her eyes grew wide as saucers.

Wait. Did I go too far?

It sounded like the chairman was grooming me as the successor to the theme park. Oh well, let's just let it pass.

I didn't explicitly mention the chairman. Miyoung-nim just misunderstood.

"If you do as I ask, I'll declare that the Marketing & PR Team is not functioning in an emergency, so the Reform Division needs to take charge."

"Wow..."

That was Choi Hyena.

I could already see what she wanted to say next—something about Romance of the Three Kingdoms and conquering the Central Plains.

Before she could open her mouth, I cut in first.

"What's in it for you, Miyoung-nim? A pay raise ahead of your time and the chance to set up your own team. You do have career ambitions, don't you?"

Her eyes gleamed.

Someone raising two kids while playing the ace role on a team is bound to have ambition.

The problem was merely lack of opportunity.

"There's one issue. The Marketing & PR Team is still part of the Business Strategy Division, not the Reform Division. My appointment power is in the hands of executive vice president Kim. Resolve that first, and then I'll decide whether to join you."

"I'll take that to mean you like my proposal."

I gave her a deep bow.

After leaving the Marketing & PR Team office, Choi Hyena spoke up urgently.

"Division Director, where are you going now?"

"The HR team."

I need to process all the resignations and ask for Shin Miyoung to be made interim team leader.

"You do know, right? The HR team is part of executive vice president Kim's faction."

"Of course—I know, because you told me."

"What are you going to do?"

"Break things up, first."

"Whoa... So forceful! You're like a conqueror. Ah! Division director, have you heard of the classic strategy 'bluff and bluster'?"

Listening to her, I walked forward.

Her tactic was excellent.

"Let's try every card we can play."

Wait—why am I so daring?

I never used to be this kind of person.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Hyunmin is burning at full combustion!!!

This novel is kinda romantic...

Not in romance kind of way, but on ideals and stuff...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】