Mistaken for Genius Appraiser – Chapter 1

Papers scattered through the air before Siwoo’s eyes.
　
　The scene felt like slow motion from a movie.
　
　Siwoo Kim watched with a calm expression, but inside, he seethed with an indescribable rage.
　
　Damn it.
　
　Seeing Manager Kang, whose thinning hair revealed patches of scalp, letting out a rough bellow, Siwoo’s anger flared, and he could no longer hold back.
　Siwoo cut off Manager Kang and stepped forward, his expression firm.
　
　”Manager Kang. How many times have we submitted this proposal now? Please provide a justifiable reason for rejecting it each time. I will revise it.”
　
　His voice was calm yet resolute.
　The atmosphere in the Planning Team 2 office instantly froze.
　Everyone pretended to be focused on their monitors, but all their ears were tuned to this conversation.
　
　In the ensuing silence, Manager Kang let out a deep sigh, ran a hand through his sparse hair, and glared at Siwoo, his face flushed.
　
　”Hey! It’s because you keep making such a pathetic proposal that I tell you to do it again and again. Who do you think you are, talking back to me?”
　”This is the third time. I made this proposal without sleep.”
　”Third time or not, you should have made it well. How am I supposed to report this to my superiors?”
　”Didn’t you reject it without even properly reading it? If you had read it properly, you would have provided feedback on the added content regarding future new businesses and the selected companies and the reasons behind them.”
　
　Siwoo had decided to take a firm stance.
　His motto of just doing enough to get by was long gone.
　He felt like he would be literally worked to death if he only did the bare minimum.
　
　”When I submitted the first proposal, you said the market analysis was insufficient, so I went out and gathered data myself and added it. For the second, you deemed the budget plan excessively large, so I visited client companies and haggled to cut prices for each item, revising it thoroughly. But what is the reason for rejecting the third proposal? ‘Generally unsatisfactory?’ Is that a reason? Is that even a proper statement?”
　”That’s because your proposal…”
　”I know the real reason. You’re rejecting it because the companies you want aren’t included, aren’t you?”
　
　The office fell silent as if a mouse had died.
　In essence, Siwoo was accusing Manager Kang of taking bribes or some form of kickback.
　Even the sound of colleagues typing ceased.
　
　”Hey, Assistant Manager Kim! Are you making a mistake?! Do you have any proof? What are you talking about?”
　”I’m not talking back; I’m stating the facts!”
　”Facts? What do you know about facts!”
　
　Siwoo had only learned this recently.
　
　At first, he didn’t know, but he accidentally overheard Manager Kang on the phone.
　
　It was just a week and a few days ago. When he was almost late for work, the elevator stopped on a high floor, so he took the emergency stairs and happened to overhear a phone conversation.
　
　- “Ah, I told you. I’ll push for your company for this project. Don’t worry. Isn’t this something I do all the time?”
　
　- “I’ve pressured the assistant manager in charge by rejecting the proposal multiple times, so he’ll eventually realize and include your company. Of course, you haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you? Hahaha. How much did we agree on for this deal? Ah, right. Twenty million.”
　
　That’s when he understood.
　Why the proposal was repeatedly rejected without any reasonable explanation, and why Manager Kang kept subtly mentioning specific companies.
　He wasn’t oblivious.
　He’d hoped it wasn’t true, but his suspicion being confirmed made his teeth ache.
　
　”Hey! Assistant Manager Kim, no, Siwoo Kim! Come up to the rooftop garden! Let’s talk there for a moment.”
　
　Manager Kang seemed to want to conclude the matter here.
　He was conscious of the prying eyes if they continued their conversation here.
　However, Siwoo had already made up his mind.
　
　”Fuck. I can’t stand this filth anymore.”
　”Wh-what… fuck? What did you just say!”
　
　Siwoo met Manager Kang’s gaze directly.
　
　”I can no longer work under you, Manager Kang. I know about what happened before as well. I will report everything to the audit team and resign.”
　
　Siwoo’s voice resonated throughout the entire office.
　It became so quiet that the sound of someone swallowing could be heard.
　Manager Kang was flustered, contemplating how to handle the situation.
　
　”Hey. Wait a minute. No. Hey, Assistant Manager Kim. Calm down first… We shouldn’t talk here. Let’s go upstairs and talk. Huh? Let’s sit down calmly and have a cigarette…”
　”I’m tired of seeing your face and coming to work. Since I’ve decided to quit anyway, let’s end this here.”
　
　Had he toiled under him, doing menial tasks and working overtime?
　While some argued about a four-day workweek, he was working through the night, and his body could no longer endure it.
　Some preached work-life balance, but what balance was there?
　Siwoo had been nothing but working.
　
　’I can’t stand this filth anymore.’
　
　Siwoo returned to his desk and began packing his belongings.
　He opened his drawer and put his personal items into his bag.
　
　Manager Kang, now panicking, followed closely behind Siwoo.
　
　”Hey, Assistant Manager Kim. No, Siwoo.”
　
　Manager Kang suddenly called out his name.
　
　”We don’t have to do this, right? Huh? Was I too harsh? Yes, I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’ll approve this proposal. So please calm down, and I’ll do better from now on…”
　”I don’t need it.”
　”No, hey! Do you think you’ll be okay leaving like this!?”
　
　When persuasion failed, Manager Kang’s attitude changed.
　He was indeed that kind of person.
　If he backed down now, there would be retaliation later.
　
　”You’re going to report your superior and leave? You’re a whistleblower! Do you know if a whistleblower can find employment elsewhere in Korean society?”
　”That’s my concern. You should focus on handling the company’s internal audit.”
　
　Manager Kang’s face turned red as he fumed.
　
　”Do you know how many connections I have in this industry? With one word, you won’t be able to go anywhere! Do you understand?”
　
　Manager Kang puffed out his chest and glared at Siwoo.
　
　”No company will hire a whistleblower. Your life is over! Most importantly, do you have any evidence that I accepted rebates from other companies?”
　”Don’t worry. I’ve already recorded your conversations with the companies. Besides, will the audit team only find that one thing?”
　”Wh-what?”
　
　Manager Kang’s face turned as white as a sheet.
　He sputtered incoherently, but Siwoo ignored him, proceeding to pack his belongings.
　
　Manager Kang’s face contorted as he glared at Siwoo before quickly leaving the scene.
　He was probably going to meet the deputy general manager or the general manager.
　
　This couldn’t have been Manager Kang’s solo act.
　It was highly likely connected to his superiors.
　
　Based on what he had seen so far, Manager Kang didn’t have the capacity to receive rebates on his own.
　Perhaps the connection extended to the deputy general manager or even the general manager.
　
　Whatever the case, he was leaving, so it no longer mattered to him.
　Just then, Yeonseok Yoo, a colleague from Planning Team 3, rushed over, grabbed Siwoo by the shoulder, and pulled him into an empty supply closet.
　
　Teams 2 and 3 were located adjacent to each other, so Yeonseok had witnessed the entire scene.
　
　”Hey, you idiot! Are you crazy? Manager Kang might lack capability, but his connections are legendary. Plus, he’s got ties through his alma mater. Before things get bigger, just go and swallow your pride just once. Manager Kang probably doesn’t want to make a big deal out of this either.”
　”Yeonseok, why would I apologize now? The train has already left the station. It’s too late; I’ve already exposed everything.”
　”Sigh. Really. Hey, idiot, do you have anywhere to go if you leave like this?”
　”No.”
　”Ha. This is driving me crazy. Why did you do it if you have nowhere to go?”
　
　Siwoo looked at Yeonseok with disbelief.
　
　”When did you ever worry about me? Why are you making such a fuss… you’re more worked up than I am?”
　”Ah, forget it. Worry, my foot. You’re the only close colleague I have, so who am I going to gossip with now? Work won’t be fun anymore, that’s why I’m like this.”
　
　Yeonseok sighed briefly and then asked Siwoo,
　
　”Hey, but if there’s no evidence of Manager Kang taking rebates, you’ll just look like a fool. Do you really have the recording? It’s not a bluff, is it?”
　
　Siwoo chuckled at his words.
　
　”Do you think I would have just confronted Manager Kang blindly? I secretly recorded his calls with the companies a while ago. Last Thursday, the day before yesterday, Tuesday, and yesterday. Three times in total. And they were stupid enough to call from the same location and at the same time?”
　”Wow. You’re quite something. You should become a detective. I’ll introduce you.”
　
　Yeonseok said with a playful smile.
　
　”I thought you just acted impulsively, but you were really sharpening your knives, weren’t you? When did you plan this?”
　”It wasn’t so much a plan… it was just in case. I kept agonizing over it, and then I decided I couldn’t go on like this.”
　”So, this is going to be a real blow, then? Manager Kang is going to be in trouble, isn’t he? Everyone already dislikes dealing with him.”
　”I don’t know what will happen, but we’ll have to see.”
　
　Yeonseok clicked his tongue and frowned.
　
　”Sigh. Unlucky bastard. You had to suffer so much because you met someone like Manager Kang. I would have quit long ago.”
　
　Yeonseok patted Siwoo on the back.
　
　”Alright. You must be busy, so I shouldn’t have kept you here. Once things are settled, let’s have some pork belly and soju sometime later.”
　”Sure. Got it.”
　
　Now that he had done it, he felt a sense of relief, but he was worried about tomorrow.
　Siwoo, with heavy steps, headed to the 10th floor where the audit team was located.
　
　Inside the elevator, he took out his smartphone and checked the recorded files.
　As the elevator ascended towards the audit team’s floor, his tension grew.
　A hint of regret began to creep in.
　
　’No. I made the right choice.’
　
　It was a hundred times better to leave than to endure under Manager Kang for years to come.
　
　If he only tried to appease that man, his health would suffer.
　
　He might even be framed for the rebate incident and used as a scapegoat.
　Manager Kang was the type of person who would do such a thing.
　
　Ding dong-
　
　The elevator soon chimed, signaling its arrival on the 10th floor.
　
　***
　
　
　”This project needs to be wrapped up quickly, but that assistant manager isn’t listening? Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon. And next quarter, we have a big project…”
　
　The head of the audit team’s expression hardened as he listened to the recorded audio.
　
　”This will definitely serve as sufficient evidence for an investigation. Don’t worry about gathering further details; leave that to us.”
　
　Siwoo bowed his head, relieved by his confident demeanor.
　
　”Please take care of it.”
　”For now, we will process this as a paid leave of absence for three months, during which we will handle the case. Take some time to rest.”
　”Thank you.”
　
　He had been planning to quit anyway, but there was no reason to refuse the paid leave.
　As Manager Kang had said, it would be difficult to continue working at the company as a whistleblower.
　He spent some time talking with the audit team, and by then, the sun had already set.
　
　When he returned to his office, most people had already left.
　A few team members were still at their desks, but Manager Kang was nowhere to be seen.
　
　Everyone seemed eager to talk to him, but they were hesitant, just glancing over.
　No one wanted to associate with someone who was about to confess and leave.
　
　Even when reporting an injustice, the reality was that the person who exposed internal affairs rarely emerged unscathed.
　Especially if it involved Manager Kang’s superiors.
　
　He felt a pang of bitterness as he gathered his belongings, having spent years with these colleagues, and walked out.
　
　”Goodbye, everyone.”
　
　He bowed one last time, and his teammates awkwardly rose from their seats to return the greeting.
　
　***
　
　
　Outside the company building, people were leaving after work.
　It was a fiery Friday night.
　
　Their bright expressions as they headed home were not an illusion.
　The air was cool and refreshing, and the sunset reflected off the skyscrapers, dazzling his eyes.
　
　Now, he had a three-month grace period.
　
　Should he look into starting a small business with his severance pay and savings?
　
　He was confident he could at least fry a good pork cutlet.
　Of course, that was a joke. What small business?
　
　Over a million small business owners filed for bankruptcy each year.
　Could he survive in that environment?
　Of course not.
　Unless he awakened some culinary talent like in a web novel, it was out of the question.
　
　Just as he started to feel at ease, worries about the future began to surface.
　For today, he decided not to go straight home.
　He opted to take a different route, a slow walk to clear his head.
　
　’I should probably buy a can of beer and some snacks on the way home.’
　
　He felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight without getting a little drunk.
　
　After walking for a while, Siwoo noticed a discarded box in front of a large mansion.
　
　’What is that?’
　
　A bright light was emanating from it.