How a Disaster-Class Necromancer Retires – Chapter 8
China, known as the world’s factory, had grown to dominate industries with its massive labor force and low labor costs, focusing on low-price competition.
In particular, light industries like textiles, which didn’t require advanced technology and could be done by low-skilled workers after just a few days of training, were all about competing on labor costs.
Naturally, the Korean light industry, unable to compete in this battle over labor costs, had been overwhelmed by China, with many of the related industries collapsing and nearly being decimated.
But skeletons are the ultimate weapon in this labor cost battle, aren’t they?
“Light industry… This is actually pretty good.”
I was reviving a market that had already collapsed with my own hands, so who could say anything about it?
If transport-type skeletons are taking away the jobs of porters in Korea, then I’d be bringing back jobs and industries that had been lost to overseas competition.
Of course, Chinese workers and companies might protest, but…
I smiled.
“Capitalism is all about taking and being taken.”
Having seen China’s blatant actions on the news every day before being summoned to Seron, I had no hesitation.
I wasn’t a saint who cared about public opinion.
I just wanted a peaceful environment for my retirement, so that’s why I was being cautious about the situation.
Well, as long as I’m getting good feedback in Korea, that’s all that matters.
“This seems perfect for skeletons.”
I could make products cheaply by working skeletons 24/7, with no need for food or rest.
And maybe people would cheer, saying I brought back the industries that China had taken.
I gleamed with excitement.
“Maybe I should give it a try.”
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“Hoo.”
Kim Deokbae, who had run a shoe factory passed down from his father, had once been successful, even winning the 300-million-dollar export prize.
But that was twenty years ago, when China’s low-cost onslaught caused the collapse of the entire related industry.
By that time, many shoe factories had already closed, and now, Kim Deokbae’s factory was the only one left in the industrial complex, clinging to a thread of hope.
But even that was nearing its end.
To compete with China’s goods, Kim Deokbae had lowered his margins to unsustainable levels, and his factory, struggling with employee wages, was now on the brink of bankruptcy.
“I should’ve closed down earlier.”
Back when he still had some savings from the past, before the factory went into debt.
If he had just let go back then, he would have made millions, at least.
But due to his stubbornness and self-deception, he had continued to hold on, and now he found himself buried in debt.
With a resolute look, Kim Deokbae finally made up his mind.
“I’ll file for bankruptcy.”
He had to admit that the shoe industry was dead, and it no longer had any competitive edge in Korea.
Kim Deokbae had decided to file for bankruptcy, but his thoughts soon turned to the aftermath.
“What about the employees? And my family?”
Though he didn’t pay much in wages due to the nature of the industry, his employees had worked for him for decades.
And at home, his family was waiting for him.
Bankruptcy wasn’t the end; it was just the beginning of a new struggle.
A struggle full of thorny roads.
“Sigh.”
Just then, a gray-haired old worker entered the office.
“Boss Kim!”
It was Department Head Cheon, who had been with the factory since Kim’s father’s generation.
Having known each other since childhood, Kim Deokbae and Department Head Cheon were as close as family, even calling each other uncle in private.
Kim Deokbae smiled awkwardly and said,
“What’s the matter? I told you to knock, I’m still the boss here.”
But Department Head Cheon spoke urgently.
“That’s not the problem. You know… those skeletons? There’s a company called Seron.”
“Seron? I know it.”
A company that caused a stir by releasing hundreds of transport-type skeletons all at once, leaving people stunned.
I heard that it had grown at an absurd rate, with an estimated monthly revenue reaching several billion right after its opening.
“Must be nice for them, huh? They were lucky enough to awaken their abilities and make such a fortune.”
The contrasting images of Seron, thriving with unprecedented growth, and his own shoe factory, which had lost all momentum, made Kim Deokbae bitterly aware of the difference.
“If only I had awakened too… Maybe things would have been different for me.”
But then, Department Head Cheon spoke, a little flustered.
“No, no, Boss Kim. Just wait a second…”
A young man’s voice came from behind Department Head Cheon.
“Lucky? Honestly, I don’t agree with that, but I won’t criticize you. That’s not why I’m here.”
“Hmm?”
A young man entered the office.
It was none other than Han Jihyuk, the CEO of Seron.
“Hello. Are you Kim Deokbae, the CEO? I’m Han Jihyuk. The reason I’m here is that I’m interested in the shoe industry, and I wanted to ask if you’d mind giving me a brief introduction. If I like what I see, I might even consider acquiring your business.”
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For Kim Deokbae, Han Jihyuk’s visit was like a lifeline.
Rather than sinking deeper into debt with bankruptcy, it was obviously a better choice for him to have the debt taken over, even without receiving a penny. This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about the company being closed, and the staff could keep their jobs.
‘There’s no choice but to sell.’
The shoe industry, categorized as a declining industry, was one that no one cared about. And now, the target for potential acquisition was the rising representative of Seron?
For Kim Deokbae, this was his last chance.
“Using this machine, the various shoe components are stamped out, and then these parts are sewn together…”
Kim Deokbae was desperately pitching the factory when Han Jihyuk interrupted.
“The machine looks old, doesn’t it?”
Startled, Kim Deokbae replied,
“W-Well, the staff is highly skilled, so it might actually be better than running an unfamiliar machine.”
“Is that so? Okay. Please continue.”
“Hm, anyway, these parts are sewn together by the department staff, then bonded and dried…”
As Kim Deokbae continued explaining, Han Jihyuk, with an intrigued expression, said,
“Most of this is manual labor. Do you not have any automated machines?”
Han Jihyuk was already looking for automated machines even before the acquisition.
Thinking that he was trying to save on labor costs, Kim Deokbae hurriedly responded,
“Making shoes in the traditional way isn’t possible with automated machines. We can use machines for cutting, but for everything else, it has to be done by hand.”
“In the end, it’s a battle over labor costs?”
Kim Deokbae swallowed nervously and said,
“All our workers are highly skilled, with decades of experience. You won’t regret it. And if we ramp up production, we may need even more staff. We used to have over a hundred, but now it’s just twenty.”
“Oh.”
Han Jihyuk nodded, his interest piqued.
“That’s good.”
Kim Deokbae, not fully understanding why this was good, breathed a sigh of relief as it seemed like things were going smoothly.
“Whew. Anyway, it gets more complicated if we get into the details, but basically, the manufacturing process goes like this.”
“This seems… pretty easy. It’s nothing compared to fighting, right?”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing, just talking to myself. So, how do you handle sales? What’s your distribution channel?”
Thinking this was the moment he’d been waiting for, Kim Deokbae, carefully watching Han Jihyuk, said,
“We mostly operate on a made-to-order basis.”
“Made-to-order?”
“Yes, we make the base shoes and then customize them based on the customers’ requests.”
“Is it not possible to just make and stock shoes and sell them?”
“It’s possible, but if we did that and accumulated unsold stock, it’d all turn into a loss. And honestly, for a small factory like ours, the demand is predictable…”
Han Jihyuk smiled slyly.
“You’re very honest.”
“There’s nothing to hide.”
“Anyway, sounds good. The production method is labor-intensive, and since you can’t just make a stock to sell, you’re only doing made-to-order. But do you do any exports?”
“We don’t do exports. Or rather, I should say we can’t. As you can see, there’s a lot of manual labor involved, and we can’t compete with the cheap prices of Chinese or Southeast Asian products.”
Kim Deokbae regretted how honestly he had answered, but he couldn’t help it. He knew the shortcomings of his business all too well.
“Is it just here, or is it the same for all Korean shoe manufacturers?”
“Everyone’s in a similar situation.”
“So, we can assume that the export routes for Korean shoes are completely shut off, right?”
Han Jihyuk continued to emphasize the painful reality.
Kim Deokbae winced but nodded in agreement.
“Yes. It’s pretty much like that.”
But then Han Jihyuk suddenly started nodding repeatedly with a highly satisfied look.
“Price competition is lost. It requires a lot of labor. And on top of that, the export of Korean shoes is blocked? This is perfect.”
“Pardon?”
“If we mass-produce really cheap shoes with very low labor costs and export them, do you think there’s a chance for success?”
Kim Deokbae quickly responded in a hurried voice,
“Th-That’s not as easy as you think! Shoes can’t be solved with automated machines! If it were that easy, those big brands wouldn’t go looking for cheap labor countries to manufacture shoes…”
“No, no. I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m not interested in automated machines. Honestly, it’s better if they don’t exist. Just answer my question, Do you think it’s possible?”
“…Of course, it’s possible. Cheap products always sell, no matter where you go.”
Han Jihyuk clapped his hands in excitement.
“Good, good! I really like this!”
Han Jihyuk smiled brightly.
“I’ll buy it.”
“W-What? Really?”
“Yes. But there’s a condition.”
Kim Deokbae, thinking that he might be asked to pay extra money or lay off all the employees, swallowed nervously.
But Han Jihyuk’s condition completely surprised him.
“Kim Deokbae, you’ll stay as the CEO, and all the employees will continue working here. You’ll still receive a salary.”
“Even me?”
“Yes. Then I’ll proceed with the acquisition.”
Kim Deokbae didn’t need to think twice.
He immediately bowed deeply and exclaimed,
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
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I looked at the acquisition confirmation document signed by Kim Deokbae and said,
“So, does this mean the factory is now mine?”
“Of course.”
Kim Deokbae bowed his head and said,
“Thank you. I’ll work hard.”
That makes sense.
This was a factory that would have gone under if it weren’t for me.
If it had gone bankrupt due to debt, there wouldn’t have been a penny left, but now I’ve given them 10 million won in addition to the acquisition price. How lucky is that?
Moreover, not only did I guarantee full employment for the staff, but I also put Kim Deokbae in a salaried CEO position, which is even better.
Kim Deokbae clenched his fist and said,
“I’ll run around and secure orders! I have to repay you for all this!”
With a passionate look on his face, Kim Deokbae spoke.
I shook my head and said,
“No, that’s not what’s needed right now.”
“Excuse me? But… we need to receive orders in order to make shoes…”
“We’re doing the opposite. We’re going to make the shoes first, and then sell them, including the completely shut-off export market.”
According to Kim Deokbae, the current state of Korean shoe factories is that they can barely survive on the domestic market.
With the vast overseas market available, there’s no need to cut off the last lifeline of Korean shoe factories that are barely hanging on.
So, Seron will definitely be focused on exports.
Kim Deokbae, with a worried look, said,
“But, that…”
“Don’t worry. You said it’s a labor cost battle, right? I’ll introduce you.”
As I raised my hand, the portal to my subspace opened, and skeletons began to emerge.
“Uh!”
I pointed at the skeletons and said to Kim Deokbae,
“These are our new interns. Please teach them well, Mr. CEO.”
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