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Translator: penny
Chapter: 004
Chapter Title: Raymi Castle (2)
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'What the hell is this guy?'
That was the only thought running through Site Manager Kim Sung-tae's head.
Some monster lunatic had suddenly shown up, ranting about Koreagrass this and Taecheon grass that.
Honestly, Kim Sung-tae had completely forgotten that the grass had even been changed.
Whether it was Koreagrass or Taecheon grass—it was such a trivial issue that of course he wouldn't remember. Who keeps track of every little detail like that?
Thinking back now, he vaguely recalled calling the Koreagrass supplier, only to hear they'd raised their prices, so he'd switched to Taecheon grass.
But come on, it wasn't like an air conditioner or a washing machine. It was grass. Grass.
How different could it really be just because the supplier changed?
And wasn't a picnic table better than a three-person bench anyway? For kids to sit, snack, and play around.
He remembered using a leftover picnic table from another site. Who knew that could be an issue?
And it was even more expensive!
The paint color change was news to him entirely. It had probably been handled under his authority without ever reaching his desk. That's how minor it was. But the guy had even checked with the supplier, which was just absurd.
"Th-this... this isn't a defect, sir."
Kim Sung-tae said with an aggrieved expression.
"There's no functional problem at all! You can't nitpick like there's an issue with the construction when there isn't one!"
"Then what about security cameras that don't work at night? Is that a defect?"
One simple counter shut Kim Sung-tae right up.
"Manager, let's be honest here."
Yoon-hyuk suddenly patted the manager's shoulder, speaking to him like an elder brother.
"You must get so pissed coming out here every week repeating the same lines. They basically sent you from HQ to be the punching bag, right? Honestly."
"..."
"HQ has zero intention of replacing every camera, but they're using you to absorb the residents' anger, buy time, block protests or articles from blowing up. What a waste of time for both sides? Do you really need to go through all this hassle? And..."
He continued.
"Honestly, you know it's wrong too."
Kim Sung-tae's lips twitched.
Honestly?
Honestly, yeah.
500,000-pixel cameras? What kind of junk is that? The contractors who installed that crap and claimed it matched the plans were the real thugs.
"If you lived here, and it was your kids' playground or the school bus zone they use for after-school academies..."
Yoon-hyuk said.
"Wouldn't a 500,000-pixel camera make you uneasy? You know replacing them is the right call."
"...I don't... have the authority to decide."
"Can you connect me to someone who does?"
Kim Sung-tae hesitated, then called HQ's planning division. He passed the phone to a few staffers, each time escalating to higher-ups, until...
"Yes... Understood."
Kim Sung-tae didn't hang up. He handed the phone to Yoon-hyuk.
"They want to talk to you directly."
Yoon-hyuk wasn't the apartment rep, but he'd naturally taken the lead at the negotiation table.
"Hello, this is Lee Yoon-hyuk."
-This is Choi Jun-taek, Finance Division Head at Raymi Castle. You audited us using the construction plans yourself?
"Yes."
-Excuse me, but what do you do? Are you a resident?
"No. I..."
Yoon-hyuk answered calmly.
"I'm planning to run for mayor of Mir City next year. Right now, I'm unemployed."
-...
"I did the math. If we play chicken, residents foot about 790 million won for camera replacements out of pocket. Raymi Castle side? Grass, paint recoating—everything from scratch would run around 4.84 billion won."
Yoon-hyuk had the numbers ready.
The replacements would be premium Quad HD models.
"What'll it be?"
-I'll have Kim Sung-tae submit a proposal for review and approval. Today.
"Wise choice. Thank you. Now, I have one more proposal."
Yoon-hyuk gathered the residents' rep and Kim Sung-tae by the speakerphone.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇💬 Raymi Castle Residents Chat— 101 Bldg 201, Residents' Assoc Vice ChairEveryone!!!! Our mercenary did it!!!! Full camera replacement!! Quad HD too. No other apartments in Mir City have these lololol— 102 Bldg 1301, Residents' Assoc SecretaryFeels like I chugged a drum of soda today lolol just burst through— 101 Bldg 1803, Residents' Assoc Vice ChairThe guy who led this negotiation is running for mayor soon, so let's all vote for him lolol Name's Lee Yoon-hyuk.— 102 Bldg 705, The GeneralWho knew snapping grass pics would actually get the security cameras replaced...— 103 Bldg 2505, New Spring DadThought he was crazy, sorry ㅜㅜ— 104 Bldg 1804, Minheeㄷㄷ But seriously, how'd you pull it off?
Yoon-hyuk's sister excitedly spilled the details of his method.
He'd reviewed over 8,000 pages of documents alone, pinpointing more than 100 minor contractor slip-ups. Then used them to pressure the company into the deal. Things residents hadn't even noticed—like the landscaping grass supplier switch, subtle paint color shifts, "non-defects" that weren't defects. He'd thrown those back at them and secured the cameras in return.
— 103 Bldg 702, JjulongInsane.. 8,000 pages solo;;;— 107 Bldg 401, MukkikiSo grateful for real— 107 Bldg 504, Choco LatteThis is who should be in politics fr gonna remember the name, thank you so much— 108 Bldg 205, Mir Eats ChampBut how'd you review 8k pages in a week lolol mind blown
Of course, he hadn't read every single one of the 8,000 pages. Yoon-hyuk had skimmed the construction plans, audit logs, and material lists, pulling out just the product specs. It made the work manageable. Still, it was grueling labor. Plus on-site inspections. A tight week.
'But that's how politicians work.'
One of Yoon-hyuk's political philosophies.
Politicians aren't desk jockeys. They're field operatives.
And another key point in politics.
'Don't make enemies if you can avoid it.'
That's why Park Dae-man hadn't even bothered with a farewell drink when Yoon-hyuk left.
His final proposal to Raymi Castle was exactly for that.
— 101 Bldg 201, Residents' Assoc Vice ChairOne more thing, residents. Raymi Castle pisses me off sometimes, but it's our home, right? Most of us have loans—this is basically all our assets. Yoon-hyuk said residents need to defend property values too, and the builders deserve some PR for cooperating on cameras. Suggested putting out a news article.
Yoon-hyuk got approval from Kim Sung-tae, the residents' rep, and Raymi Castle execs for an article.
Through a reporter he knew from the election camp:
📰 Raymi Castle's Beautiful InvestmentRaymi Castle identified that the security cameras in their new 3,054-unit Mir City complex—installed by their own contractors—were low-res cheapos. After talks with residents, they're replacing every one. No legal obligation, but the company set aside profits for this heartwarming act. Worth noting. Choi Jun-taek, Executive Director, said: "In an era where kids are precious, daycare areas, playgrounds, care centers, school bus zones need top security." Company spent nearly 800 million won to upgrade all to Quad HD. ...(cont.)
Yoon-hyuk didn't hog the win.
He needed votes, and he'd get them from the residents. They got their cameras. Choi Jun-taek turned an 800-million-won loss into marketing gold. Gave him something to tell the boss, right? And.
— 105 Bldg 704, Shrimp ChipsNews promoting us as Quad HD camera apartments lololol— 102 Bldg 303, HappyInsane.. Zhuge Liang reincarnate?;;— 106 Bldg 2501, BulletproofGave the builders their cut too and tossed a property value boost our way damn impressed— 108 Bldg 205, Mir Eats ChampWhy run for Mir City mayor... go straight to the Blue House..— 101 Bldg 1803, Residents' Assoc Vice Chairㄷㄷ Yoon-hyuk, we won't forget— 105 Bldg 704, Shrimp ChipsRemembering... Yoon-ge Liang...
The residents' reactions exploded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Oh! Yoon-ge Liang!"
A few days later, Yoon-hyuk's sister, visiting the family home, teased him from the doorway.
"You're blowing up in our apartment chat. Su-bin, say 'Thanks, Uncle~'."
"Tanko Unca thwanks~"
Yoon-hyuk's nephew Su-bin was a five-year-old still lisping a bit.
"..."
The kid was adorable, but the moment Yoon-hyuk saw him, his heart sank.
His own kids from past lives flashed in his mind.
In his second and third regressions, he'd raised two and then three children.
One funny thing: the two from the second life were reborn as the first and second in the third—identical.
'Weird, huh.'
Conception timing and even location differed. Second life, they'd lived in the US.
Yet the babies emerged with the exact same gender, faces, personalities.
Firstborn son, Lee Hae-won.
A soccer-loving rascal who grew into a responsible teen, taller than Mom, looking after siblings.
Second, daughter Lee Se-ha.
At Su-bin's age, nonstop chatterbox. Grew into a beauty famous in her university engineering dept. Self-proclaimed.
Then the youngest from the third life.
Lee Ha-eun.
Quiet, smart kid. Born frail, always sickly. When Yoon-hyuk's third life ended, she was a high school freshman.
"..."
His kids were much older now than Su-bin, but in Yoon-hyuk's eyes, those five-year-olds overlaid the boy.
He missed them.
And worried.
Especially the youngest, still so young.
'This time, I won't lose them. Ever.'
Lee Yoon-hyuk hugged his nephew tight, vowing instead to his own.
'This time, Dad will protect you.'
To do that, he needed to meet his wife first.
At this point, they'd never even seen each other.
She was still in university. Quite a bit younger.
Robbing the cradle?
Guilty.
'Work first, then go see her.'
Time was short for Yoon-hyuk.
Mir City was casually called 500,000 pop, but actually 491,000.
Raymi Castle folks were on his side now, but local elections? Not 100% turnout for him.
Figure 7,000 adult residents. Minus vacationers, party-line voters—conservatively, 4,000 votes secured.
Long way to go.
Needed more name recognition, influence in the city.
"Time to meet Doma Township's local bigwigs."
Yoon-hyuk picked his next target.