Chapter 27. Purge (1)

Translator: Lili

Not long ago, Sera had asked Chief Baek to find some people for her.

‘Are you asking me to look for employees?’

‘As you know, I don’t have anyone trustworthy around me right now. I need people I can call my own.’

Chief Baek was curious about why Sera would make such a personal request, but at the same time, he seemed to sympathize with her situation, having no one to rely on. He readily accepted her request.

That was all there was to the thin thread of connection between them.

“You must be busy, but I really appreciate how you always take care of things so actively.”

– …I’m glad to hear that I was of such help to you.

Even so, Sera acted as if she had a significant relationship with Chief Baek. By bypassing the HR team and making a request to the most powerful figure in the chairman’s direct secretarial office, she was making a blatant political move.

And sometimes, a childish display of power was more effective than a hundred words.

“I’m even considering a drastic measure—completely replacing the team. Oh, really? I’m glad to hear the chairman has approved it as well.”

Sera leisurely scanned the pale faces of her team members and smiled in satisfaction. 

‘You should have done better from the start.’

Thinking so, she delivered the final counterpunch.

“Since the chairman has given his approval, we might as well do a proper purge.”

***

Some of the team members dismissed Sera’s declaration as mere bluffing, while others worried about her unpredictable mindset.

As opinions clashed sharply, Sera proved her determination through actions rather than words. Unlike the usual approach of issuing warnings first, she drew the sword without hesitation—an unusually bold move.

“I don’t understand why this sudden reassignment happened!”

“Like I said, I thought it was a position that suited your abilities better, Manager.”

The first target of Sera’s blade was a senior manager notorious for factionalism and office politics. He was reassigned from the prestigious planning team to the general affairs team, and though he protested fiercely, Sera remained unfazed.

“Surely, you’re not defying the chairman’s orders, are you?”

For those who follow power, crushing them with power was the most effective strategy. With just that one sentence, the situation was neatly settled. After that, three more deputy managers were replaced. Naturally, Sera’s already infamous reputation soared even higher.

‘Thanks to Sera Shin’s long history of being an absolute menace, this was easy.’

Since Sera had always been known for her eccentric and outrageous behavior, people simply resigned themselves to this drastic restructuring, assuming it was just another one of her fits of madness.

Of course, she didn’t pick targets at random. She deliberately weeded out those who had misused company funds, engaged in sexual harassment, or caused trouble with verbal abuse. If she was going to start fresh, she wanted to root out the filth completely.

“Vice President, I sincerely apologize for my past rudeness.”

She had spared the manager who had openly disregarded her, not because he was worthy of mercy, but because he wasn’t corrupt enough to be thrown out.

“A sudden apology?”

Sera feigned surprise. No matter how desperate someone was to hold onto their job, she wanted him to realize just how pathetic his behavior was.

“Well, that is, um…”

The manager stammered, his face turning red. It was an amusing sight to watch.

Recalling the petty ostracism she had endured, she was tempted to crush his insignificant pride completely. But wielding the sword too recklessly could invite backlash.

She knew that his change in attitude wasn’t born out of genuine respect. The power she wielded under Chairman Shin’s name was best used sparingly and returned at the right moment. So for now, even if it irritated her, she had to hold back.

That didn’t mean she would let go of the opportunity entirely.

“Well, if you say you’re sorry, there must be something to be sorry for. Since you’ve come all the way to my office, why don’t we take this chance to set some rules?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean…?”

“From now on, all work must go through me. No matter how small, even if you’re spending pocket change, you need my approval.”