Chapter 1240 of 1419
Chapter 1240. Establishing Plans (5)
Chapter 1240. Establishing Plans (5)
Kang Jin-Ho asked first. “Want some coffee?”
Lee Hyeon-Su shook his head. “I’m fine today, sir. I’m swarmed with work, so I must...”
“Coffee?”
“No, I’m...”
“Coffee?”
“...Then, something warm, please.”
Kang Jin-Ho grinned, then got up from the lobby’s chair.
Lee Hyeon-Su stepped forward. “Sir, let me...”
“No, it’s fine. Stay.”
Kang Jin-Ho calmly extended one finger to push Lee Hyeon-Su back. It might be only one finger, but it was a finger Lee Hyeon-Su would never dare resist!
Kang Jin-Ho headed to the lobby’s cafe while humming cheerfully, then ordered their drinks. He returned in no time at all with two cups of Americano and put one down before Lee Hyeon-Su.
“Cafe’s owner has become an expert at brewing excellent coffee, you see?”
Lee Hyeon-Su falteringly nodded. “
Oh
, I... see?”
Despite not being picky about what entered his mouth as long as it was edible, Kang Jin-Ho cared deeply about his coffee. Very much so. Since he said this coffee was good, it must be good.
It was just that Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t care much about stuff like this!
Lee Hyeon-Su picked his cup up, took it to the counter, then began squeezing in sugary syrup into it.
Squeeze, plop! Squeeze, plop! Squeeze, plop! Plop!
Kang Jin-Ho’s eyes faintly quaked every time dollops of syrup squeezed out of the tube landed on Lee Hyeon-Su’s coffee.
After dumping syrup five more times into his drink, Lee Hyeon-Su returned to his seat with a refreshed look on his face.
Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. “That’s... just sugar water now.”
“My apologies, b
u
t this is how I like my coffee, so...”
“But what about the taste of the coffee, then?”
“Don’t worry, sir. I can still taste it just fine. One thing I’ve noticed about the coffee lovers is that they seem rather keen on criticizing other people’s tastes. What does it matter to them even if someone else dumps too much sugar, or even chili powder, into their coffee? As long as they enjoy it, shouldn’t that be fine?”
“
Mm
... Well, sure.”
Kang Jin-Ho unwillingly replied with a brief nod. What could he say when it was not really his business how others drank their coffee? Still...
“...Does it taste good, though?”
Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled wryly.
“Well, taste is one thing, but I’m drinking this more for the energy boost, sir. Without the boost of sugar early in the morning, it feels like my brain’s processing speed will slow down by at least twenty percent. I usually munch on glucose candies or drink one of those rapid-release glucose-recharge drink packets. But since I’m being treated to a cup of coffee this morning, I might as well recharge myself in a more luxurious way.”
Kang Jin-Ho slowly shook his head after giving up.
Here was Lee Hyeon-Su, a man who wanted to maximize his work efficiency by tying up his private life with work life. In a certain sense, one could say that this lifestyle choice was even more severe than Kang Jin-Ho’s obsession with martial arts.
Lee Hyeon-Su leaned in closer. “Sir, Elder Chang Min contacted me last night. His report is...”
“Let’s talk about work later.”
“...Of course.”
Lee Hyeon-Su sheepishly picked up his coffee cup. He couldn’t think of anything interesting to talk about. Most of his conversation with Kang Jin-Ho involved work, after all!
Kang Jin-Ho scanned the Assembly members entering the building to start their workday. They noticed Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t talking to Lee Hyeon-Su and hurriedly bowed to greet him.
“Good morning, Assembly Master! Chief Lee!”
“Good morning, sirs!”
“I didn’t expect to see you here so early in the morning, sir! Have a great day!”
“Assembly Master! Our department’s supplies ran out a long time ago and still haven’t been restocked yet. Please help!”
That last greeting sounded a bit weird, but everyone remembered to greet Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Su.
“They could’ve just walked past us, though,” said Kang Jin-Ho.
Lee Hyeon-Su grinned deeply. “Sir, a greeting isn’t simply an act of asking how you are doing. You also confirm how close you are to the other person. Your greeting will sound insincere when dealing with someone you don’t like, after all. Your feelings are bound to show up one way or the other. In that sense, I can tell you with some confidence that the Assembly members genuinely like you, sir.”
Kang Jin-Ho grew a little awkward just then. “I haven’t done much, though.”
“Life might be give-and-take, sir, but not always. Humans can instinctively figure out if someone is trying to use them or just want to help them out.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes, sir. It means everything you’ve done so far wasn’t in vain or wrong, wouldn’t you say?”
Kang Jin-Ho stared weirdly at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Isn’t that the same story for you, though?”
“Sorry?”
Before Lee Hyeon-Su could ask for a clarification...
“Good morning to you, Chief Lee!
Oh
, that’s right. I’ll bring you that report right away, sir!”
Lee Hyeon-Su blinked his eyes and replied to his subordinate, “
Oh
... Yeah, sure.”
“Also, we haven’t received yesterday’s budget estimate approval from you.”
“Really? That’s weird. I finished them all last night, though? I’ll check when I get back to my office.”
“Thank you, sir! Have a great morning!”
Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression grew more puzzled at the outpouring of greetings specifically meant for him.
That was when he suddenly realized that he had never sat down in the lobby’s cafe during the morning commute hour like this. He had always been too busy rushing back to his office all this time.
Lee Hyeon-Su felt so awkward just then. Being on the receiving end of so much goodwill from others was so strange and unfamiliar.
Only after greeting so many people did the crowd become less hectic, allowing Lee Hyeon-Su some breathing room.
Kang Jin-Ho smirked in amusement while staring at Lee Hyeon-Su. “So, what do you think?”
“...Well, sir. I’ve realized that I shouldn’t run my mouth off carelessly. I’m genuinely feeling embarrassed right now.”
“Could this mean that people appreciate everything you’ve done? Chief Lee?”
“Please stop! Look at the goosebumps on my hands!” Lee Hyeon-Su cried out in horror, prompting Kang Jin-Ho to chuckle jovially.
The morning air felt cool to the skin, while the coffee’s aroma remained inviting as Kang Jin-Ho chuckled. After taking all this in, a new realization suddenly dawned on Lee Hyeon-Su.
‘Huh. So this is... tranquility.’
It wasn’t as if Lee Hyeon-Su wasn’t swarmed with work right now. However, being tranquil—being relaxed—didn’t only mean he had a lot of leeway physically. A man with a haggard heart and soul would never be at peace, no matter how much free time he had on his hands.
...Which used to be the ‘old’ Lee Hyeon-Su’s story, didn’t it?
He sensed himself relaxing a little too much and took a large gulp of the coffee.
‘No, not yet.’
Being at peace was great, but it was still too early for Lee Hyeon-Su to relax. Far too much work still demanded his attention, after all!
He chuckled wryly. “Isn’t it strange, though?”
Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “
Mm
?”
“It’s not as if things have improved appreciably, sir. We still have a ton of work, and dangerous enemies are still out there, busy sharpening their claws to strike us at any time. Also, even though the Assembly is progressing rapidly, we still have so many issues to resolve.”
“
Mm
...”
“Even then, it feels like we’ve achieved something incredible here, sir. Does that mean I’ve become softer than before? Or...”
“Or it could mean it’s time for a vacation.”
“Sir? No, but I’m still...”
Kang Jin-Ho’s intent stare stopped Lee Hyeon-Su from finishing his sentence.
“Chief Lee, do you know what is the best way to travel a long distance on a horse?”
“Sorry?”
Kang Jin-Ho didn’t wait for Lee Hyeon-Su to think about an answer and explained first.
“You let the horse rest during the night. And feed it top-quality grass.”
“...?”
“I’m sure it’s the same story for cars, too. Actually, make that for everything under the sun. You could whip the horse and force it to go faster. And sure, you might travel quickly for the time being. However, that’s all going to come crashing down sooner or later if you don’t do that in moderation.”
“Yes, I agree.”
“Don’t you think it’s about time you take a break?”
Lee Hyeon-Su couldn’t immediately respond.
Was now really the right time? When he thought about it, what Kang Jin-Ho said was true. Lee Hyeon-Su had been charging forward without a moment’s breather until now.
He never got time off during his Yeongnam Group days. And that story remained true even after joining the Martial Assembly.
At this rate, it’d not be strange for him to experience a severe burn-out soon.
Kang Jin-Ho grinned. “So, go for it.”
“Sorry? Go for what, sir?”
“Go on a vacation.”
Lee Hyeon-Su’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. “What are you talking about, sir? A vacation?! But the Assembly won’t function without me.”
Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “You know, my father told me this once. The biggest misconception every salaryman holds is that... Without them around, their company will collapse.”
“...”
“But that’s not true at all. The company will keep chugging along.”
“E-even so, a vacation...?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll sub for you.”
Lee Hyeon-Su stared in genuine puzzlement at Kang Jin-Ho.
Was this Kang Jin-Ho promising an official vacation time for Lee Hyeon-Su? Even though things were so hectic?
“If you tell me to go on a vacation, I will, but not now, sir. Things are too hectic for us, and...”
Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow again. “And when do you think things will stop being hectic for us?”
“
Umm,
well...”
When had they ever not been busy?
Lee Hyeon-Su stared at Kang Jin-Ho in utter shock. He realized that, once this relatively calm period passed, finding enough time to relax like this would become a pipe dream!
Nobody knew what the Crimson King’s faction would do next. And the situation in Japan could rapidly change, too. With outside factors like that, how could Lee Hyeon-Su get some time off to go on a vacation in the future?
“So, get some time off now,” said Kang Jin-Ho.
“Why are you doing this, sir?”
Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “I don’t have a particular reason. I just thought that, since we’ve overcome one big hurdle, I should let people recharge their batteries.”
“But, uh, I can’t be the only one to go on a...”
“Yeah. So we should give everyone some time off.”
“I’m sorry?”
“A week-long vacation for everyone sounds good.”
“W-wait, sir! Wait!”
“Taking a week off won’t worsen the situation. Most likely. Everyone’s been working hard, so they should rest up, too.”
This wasn’t like Kang Jin-Ho. At all. Especially considering he was the man telling everyone to train as if their life depended on it!
“However, once everyone returns, I’m going to make them work even harder. They better prepare themselves.”
Nope, Lee Hyeon-Su was wrong. This was like Kang Jin-Ho, after all!
“When did you start thinking about this, sir?”
“After the war with the Japanese. The carrot-and-stick method isn’t enough to motivate humans. They also need time to reflect and look after themselves. People must’ve felt a lot of things during the war. That’s why I think now is the ideal time.”
Lee Hyeon-Su weightily nodded.
‘The Assembly Master has a lot on his mind, too.’
Before the war began, a large number of people quit the Assembly. They wanted to find a new life after leaving the world of martial arts. Even after the war ended in a massive victory, some people still chose to quit.
They couldn’t win against the weight of risking their lives to fight a war. And the fear of the possibility of dying at any time... Not everyone could overcome such fear. Knowing this, Kang Jin-Ho and Bang Jin-Hun didn’t try to stop those people and let them go.
This vacation idea must be based on such reasons, too.
“Sir, can I really go on a vacation?”
Kang Jin-Ho coolly nodded. “Yeah. Take care of the details yourself, though. And do it as soon as possible, too.”
“Then,
uh
...”
“Yeah?”
“Do you mind if I time my vacation with Miss Lee’s?”
“...”
Kang Jin-Ho stared weirdly, but Lee Hyeon-Su remained unfazed.
“With Lee Hyeon-Ju? Why? Are you two eloping?”
Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression quickly crumpled. For some reason, his heart would tumble to the pits of his stomach whenever someone brought up the idea of marriage.
“No, sir. I don’t have any plans to do that right now. But I’m not confident enough to handle the aftermath of going on a vacation alone.”
“
Mm
...”
“I’m sure you wanted to say that I’m not being manly here, but! You no longer have the qualification to say that, sir.”
Kang Jin-Ho flinched nastily and cowered with a pained grimace on his face.
“Sir, are you sure about this? You’re not going to regret it later?”
Kang Jin-Ho stared at Lee Hyeon-Su, although with a grin this time. “Now I can’t help but think that there might really be a problem with my idea. To think you’d be this worried about a week-long vacation.”
“But let’s be honest here, sir. You really pushed us to our limits, you know? You kept nagging us about how not getting stronger quickly enough would kill us. But now, you’re worried about our work-life balance? Of course I’d get confused.”
Kang Jin-Ho bitterly grinned. “That’s because nothing would’ve improved for us without doing that back then.”
“That’s true.”
An unmoving wagon would stay still until it was pushed forward. Once it was set in motion, though, stopping it wouldn’t be easy, even with considerable force.
The Assembly’s martial artists were now riding on the waves of momentum to move forward on their own. Kang Jin-Ho didn’t need to urge them on anymore, in other words. That meant they needed careful management, not constant pushing. So that they could remain at maximum effectiveness!
“Very well. Then, I’ll wrap up the most urgent matters as quickly as possible and let the staff go on a vacation. Promise me you won’t regret this, sir.”
“Yes, I won’t. You guys went through hell, so enjoy the much-deserved break. Everyone knows you’ve been killing yourself on the job for their sakes, okay? And that’s why they’ve been so nice to you, too.”
“...”
“Rest up and recharge your batteries. Traveling overseas might not be a bad idea. Or just lounge around at home. That’s fine, too. Depends on how you feel, I guess.”
“...I have to say, that sounds so strange coming from you, sir,” Lee Hyeon-Su muttered, then got up. “Then, I’ll go ahead first.”
“
Mm
, sure.”
𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
“See you later, sir.”
Lee Hyeon-Su bowed, then headed to the stairwell, only to stop not too far away.
“...”
He faltered slightly, as if he had belatedly realized something. Then, he looked back at Kang Jin-Ho, his expression rather weird.
“Excuse me, sir...?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m asking this just in case, but...”
“
Mm
?”
“It’s about this vacation thing, sir. Please tell me you didn’t come up with this idea because you wanted this place emptied out as much as possible before Miss Choi Yeon-Ha comes for a visit.”
“...”
“Assembly Master? Sir?”
Kang Jin-Ho chose to remain silent this time.