Chapter 13: Manager Kim Jang-bung, did you see the company next door to go bust?

Manager Kim leaned forward, his voice sharp.

“Yes, Manager, it’s been a hot topic online lately. I’m enjoying it too.”

Manager Choi raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, Chief Kim Jangbung, don’t you think anything of it when your industry explodes like that? Is that something you should just enjoy?”

Jangbung blinked, caught off guard.

“Huh?? Oh?! Then we should reduce censorship too!”

Manager Kim sighed heavily.

“Haa~”

Jangbung pressed on.

“Huh? Isn’t that right, Manager?”

Manager Park jumped in.

“Mr. Jangbung! When did we say we censored anything?! People would misunderstand if they heard it. Misunderstanding.”

Manager Choi nodded.

“Manager Park is right. Chief Kim Jangbung, you shouldn’t be talking about censorship so carelessly.”

Jangbung hesitated.

“But isn’t that what we’ve been doing?”

Manager Kim’s voice grew firm.

“Guidelines! We only distinguish between obscenity and adult fiction. When have we censored novels?”

Jangbung lowered his head.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I think I misspoke.”

Manager Choi waved a hand.

“Ah, it’s different, and uh, it’s different. Chief Kim Jangbung, this is a web novel platform, so please be careful with your language choice.”

Jangbung nodded.

“Yes, I understand.”

Manager Kim leaned back.

“By the way, if there’s a problem like that at a neighboring company, don’t you naturally think of something?”

Jangbung paused.

“Sure… well, other than easing the guidelines, I can’t really think of anything.”

Manager Choi tilted her head.

“Huh~, which company is having trouble right now?”

Manager Kim explained.

“It’s a company in the same industry as us. It’s a company that focuses on per-episode payments.”

Jangbung frowned.

“I know that well, but I still don’t understand?”

Manager Park chimed in.

“Is it related to the subscription-based system? No way?”

Manager Kim nodded.

“Yes. If a neighboring company has a problem like that and customers leave, shouldn’t we come up with a way to bring those customers over?”

Jangbung blinked.

“Huh?”

Manager Park clapped.

“Wow, Manager, that’s awesome! Someone else’s problem is our opportunity~!”

Manager Kim grinned.

“That’s right, Assistant Manager Park. It’s our turn to seize the opportunity! But Manager Kim Jangbung, do you have time to just laze around and surf the internet right now?”

Jangbung shook his head.

“No.”

Manager Kim’s tone sharpened.

“Now that you know, come up with a way to bring back the customers who left over to us and a way to strengthen the subscription-based system. Hurry.”

Jangbung’s eyes widened.

“So you want me to come up with a way to attract both writers and readers to strengthen the subscription-based system, which has been lacking for 10 years?”

Manager Kim smirked.

“It’s good that you understand quickly. Isn’t this a golden opportunity once in 10 years?”

Jangbung hesitated.

“But we also have guidelines, so it seems difficult unless we relax them.”

Manager Park sighed dramatically.

“Manager Kim Jangbung~, you always say things like that and it won’t work. That won’t work. We need to change too! Why do you always say things like, ‘Wait a minute?’ As long as it doesn’t go against the existing company culture, shouldn’t you come up with some new ideas? Isn’t that what you get paid to do?”

Jangbung nodded slowly.

“Okay, let’s get going.”

Manager Choi grinned.

“I’ll make you a coffee.”

Manager Park piped up.

“You’re free these days, so why not make some coffee~? Okay, then make me one too.”

She turned to Jangbung.

“Oh~! Mr. Jangbung, make me one too.”

Jangbung shook his head.

“No, Manager Park, just make your own.”

Manager Park gasped.

“Oh my~? Mr. Jangbung, are you ordering a woman to make you coffee? And are you subtly picking on the manager while doing that?”

Manager Kim frowned.

“Manager Kim Jangbung?”

Jangbung waved his hands.

“No! No! That’s not it.”

Manager Park smirked.

“Then make me one too~!”

Jangbung sighed.

“Yes…”

Manager Choi muttered.

“Manager Kim Jangbung, these days, all the men’s clothing is gone, so you talk a lot even though you have no work to do.”

Manager Park nodded.

“That’s right. Even if you give them work to do, they seem to hate it.”

Manager Kim added.

“Even if they watch the news, they should be thinking about how to further develop the company, but they just laugh.”

Manager Choi smirked.

“That’s because they don’t have any sense.”

Manager Park laughed.

“That’s what I’m saying~”