Hanseong Logistics was dying.
Not metaphorically.Literally.
Ji-hoon could see it the moment he stepped out of the car.
The building stood in an older business district, its glass facade dulled by years of neglect. The company logo above the entrance was missing two letters, flickering weakly like a warning sign no one bothered to fix.
This place goes bankrupt in four months, he thought calmly. Unless I interfere.
Inside, the atmosphere was worse.
Employees sat at their desks, working mechanically, eyes dull. No urgency. No ambition. Just people waiting for the inevitable.
When Ji-hoon entered, conversations died instantly.
Whispers followed.
"That's him…"
"The chairman's second son?"
"Why would he come here?"
"To bury us faster?"
Ji-hoon ignored them.
He walked straight to the elevator and pressed the button for the executive floor.
The doors slid open to reveal a middle-aged man pacing nervously in the hallway. His suit was old but well-kept, his hair thinning, eyes sharp despite exhaustion.
"Second Young Master!" the man exclaimed, bowing deeply. "I'm Park Dong-sik, acting CEO of Hanseong Logistics."
Ji-hoon nodded. "Let's talk inside."
The office was modest. No luxury. No unnecessary decorations.
Good, Ji-hoon thought. At least they didn't waste money pretending.
Park didn't sit. He hovered.
"I'll be honest," Park said. "We're in serious trouble. Creditors are calling every hour. Our largest client is planning to terminate their contract next week."
Ji-hoon took a seat, crossing his legs slowly.
"I know."
Park froze. "You… know?"
"Yes," Ji-hoon replied. "And you won't lose them."
The certainty in his voice made Park blink.
Ji-hoon continued, "Their logistics manager will be arrested for embezzlement in two weeks. Until then, he needs us to stay silent."
Park's mouth opened, then closed.
"That's… confidential information."
Ji-hoon smiled faintly. "Not to me."
Park swallowed. "What should we do?"
Ji-hoon leaned forward. "First, stop all non-essential operations. Second, sell the Incheon warehouse."
Park stiffened. "That warehouse is our biggest asset!"
"And our biggest liability," Ji-hoon said calmly. "The land will be rezoned in six months. Property value will crash."
Park hesitated. "How can you be sure?"
Ji-hoon met his eyes. "Because I've already seen it happen."
The words were quiet,but heavy.
Park exhaled slowly. "If we sell… we might survive."
"Not might," Ji-hoon corrected. "We will."
A knock interrupted them.
A woman stepped in, holding a tablet.
"Sir," she said to Park, then paused when she saw Ji-hoon.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Ji-hoon's gaze lifted.
She was beautiful, not in a flashy way, but refined. Hair neatly tied back. Clean features. Intelligent eyes that missed nothing.
Seo Yoon-ah.
The name surfaced instantly.
In the original timeline, she was the employee who resigned three months before the company collapsed.
The woman who never looked back.
"Second Young Master," Park said hurriedly. "This is Seo Yoon-ah, our strategy team lead."
Ji-hoon stood.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
Something flickered in hers, surprise, curiosity, and something deeper.
"Seo Yoon-ah," Ji-hoon said. "You were planning to resign."
Her fingers tightened around the tablet.
"…Yes," she admitted after a pause. "At the end of the month."
Ji-hoon nodded. "Cancel it."
The room went silent.
Yoon-ah stared at him. "On what basis?"
Ji-hoon's voice softened slightly. "Because if you stay, this company won't fall."
She searched his face, trying to find arrogance.
She found none.
"Give me one month," he added. "If I fail, I'll sign your resignation myself."
Park looked between them, heart pounding.
Yoon-ah exhaled.
"…One month," she said finally.
Ji-hoon smiled just a little.
The first piece on the board had moved.
And the game had officially begun.