The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 224



Only Krnovel

224. Good Monopoly (3)

One day before the launch of Cocoa Taxi.

The planning director delivered very good news.

“The Seoul Taxi Union is said to be going on a large-scale strike starting tomorrow. Taxi drivers from most corporations, excluding private taxis, are said to be joining the strike.”

“What is the ratio between private taxis and corporate taxis?”

“According to data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the total number of taxis is over 70,000. Among them, 23,000 are corporate taxis and 48,000 are private taxis.”

Private taxis accounted for more than 67%.

Moreover, since not all corporate taxi drivers participated in the strike, it had to be assumed that only approximately less than 30% of taxi drivers went on strike.

“Citizens won’t be that uncomfortable.”

“I don’t know if the private taxi union also joined the strike, but since this strike lacks a common goal such as raising fares, only corporate taxis are participating in the strike.”

“Please launch the CocoaTalk taxi calling service in time for tomorrow’s strike.”

“We are already promoting it in various ways. In particular, at the Cocoa Talk level, we are promoting it to users using push notifications and banners.”

“That’s not enough. Provide a rate discount to first-time customers. A discount equivalent to the basic rate would do.”

As expected, the best way to increase users was to give something free.

If you were told that you would get a discount on the basic fee just by installing and using the app, there were many people who would take the trouble of downloading the app.

It was an especially attractive promotional method for students with tight wallets or office workers who received pocket money.

“We will take steps to provide discounts on the basic rate.”

“During the strike period, the wallets of private taxi drivers will become very fat.”

“I sincerely hope so.”

He was the head of the planning department who always lived with unnecessary worries.

But after tomorrow, you will realize that your worries were for no reason.

* * *

next day.

A large-scale strike by the Seoul taxi union has begun.

They had been wearing red bands on their heads since early morning, and were holding each other’s shoulders.

At the forefront was Seoul branch manager Cha Bong-hoon, leading the strike with a look of determination.

“Stop the government’s oppression of taxis!”

[Stop! Stop!]

Branch Manager Cha Bong-hoon raised his voice for a long time and made a clanging sound.

An astute union official placed a bottle of cool water in front of him.

“Have a drink.”

“Did I overdo it from the beginning? It’s not like I’m going on strike for a day or two, so I need to take care of my condition.”

That moment.

Ssang! A private taxi passed them by.

Tsk! Branch manager Cha Bong-hoon made a disapproving expression as he spat the water he was drinking on the floor.

“Some people are working hard to develop the taxi industry, but private taxi drivers are working hard to make money.”

“Even then, we won’t be able to earn much. The call company also said it would suspend operations during the strike.”

“Of course it has to be that way. Who owns the call company?”

Branch manager Cha Bong-hoon had a tight grip on the call company.

With just one word from him, most call companies in Seoul had to stop operations.

“Still, it’s very reprehensible. Don’t you think you’re playing too personally just because you’re a private taxi?”

“Just leave it alone. Once the strike is over, we won’t be calling private taxis in the future. We should only call back those who say they did something wrong.”

“That’s a very good idea.”

I was already thinking of revenge.

It was branch manager Cha Bong-hoon who was thinking of making it clear what would happen if he was picked on to make a few pennies.

But something he couldn’t even imagine was happening now.

* * *

Article restaurant.

Private taxi drivers visited the restaurant for lunch.

Because there were no corporate taxi drivers, there were plenty of seats in the restaurant, but private taxi drivers were eating in a hurry.

“Who is chasing you? Eat slowly.”

“I knew something like today would come again! We broke our highest sales record today.”

“Is that the same for you? The CocoaTalk taxi service is truly magical. This is the first time I’ve had more than 10 calls in 5 minutes.”

“Plus, they distributed the work very fairly. I still don’t know why I used a call company.”

These were private taxi drivers with very high levels of satisfaction.

They had suffered from the tyranny of call companies until now.

However, since a new service has been launched that does not require communication fees and fees, how could the satisfaction not be high?

“But the fee is really free. You’re not going to change your mind after a few months, right?”

“You have to live off of cocoa talk. If you settle down, you might get a small commission. But when I heard about it, I heard that no matter how much you increase the commission, they don’t charge more than 20%.”

“Call companies take 50%, so 20% isn’t bad.”

“And there is no need to contact the call company.”

“They say that anything goes well when a large company jumps in. It’s great that Taewoo Group has just entered the taxi industry. They came here a long time ago.”

It was an open secret that Taewo Group supported the CocoaTalk taxi service.

That is why taxi services continued to operate even when the taxi union went on strike.

They believe that Taewo Group will provide them with work on behalf of call companies in the future.

“Let’s just eat and head out now. There are already more than 20 calls piled up. I have to hurry and catch them before someone else takes them.”

“Are you receiving calls on your cell phone?”

“It’s not a cell phone, it’s a smartphone. If you carry this with you, you can take calls while eating or smoking. You should also take this opportunity to get one.”

“My son has been begging me to buy one for him every day, so I guess I should take this opportunity to stop by the cell phone store together.”

Private taxi drivers chatting while drinking a cup of mixed coffee.

They threw the empty paper cups into the trash can and then moved to pick up the customer.

Even as they went, the calls continued to come in, and they were screaming happily inside.

* * *

next day.

With a trembling heart, I called the planning director.

“What was the reaction of Coco Taxi?”

“It’s an explosive response. Although there aren’t that many users, all of the customers who have used it are very satisfied. There are positive responses from various communities, and word of mouth is spreading quickly, so the number of users is expected to increase today.”

It was a fortunate response.

In fact, it is a much more innovative system than previous taxi calling systems, so the response is bound to be positive.

The only way to make money was to attract more customers before the corporate taxi union strike ended.

Once you get your foot in the door, you will never be pushed out no matter how hard the taxi union or call company tries to push you out.

Rather, it was only a matter of time before the rolled stone was removed.

“Extend the basic rate discount event. We can maintain it until the strike ends.”

“Yesterday, there were not many users, so the cost was not that much, but if we hold a basic rate discount event in the long term, it will cost too much.”

“If you can collect taxi drivers’ data every day for that much money, you have a profitable business. Think of it as buying data with money.”

“Then, we will hold promotional events on a larger scale along with discount events.”

“Try to promote this product mainly in areas where there are many office workers or college students who frequently use smartphones. Also, we recommend employees of the Taewo Group to use Cocoa Taxi at least once.”

It was a race against time.

In order to attract as many customers as possible, we decided to mobilize Taewoo Group employees.

“During the strike period, we will encourage Taewoo Group employees to use taxis.”

“Please proceed like that. I will go out for a moment and come back.”

I entrusted publicity-related work to the head of the planning department.

I went to Captain Kang’s office to take care of the rest.

“Are you here, CEO? I’m really out of my mind. Since this morning, taxi drivers have been flocking in to apply for Cocoa Taxi membership, so we even mobilized security staff.”

“It seems that the drivers who used Cocoa Taxi yesterday were highly satisfied.”

“Don’t even talk about it! There’s no article that doesn’t feature the highest sales.”

A system that satisfies both customers and taxi drivers.

Now I could see that I was halfway there, and one thing had to be done to get to the other half.

“Branch Manager Cha Bong-hoon is a little late with work.”

“It is said that the prosecution will begin a formal investigation soon. The National Tax Service has already completed collecting evidence of embezzlement, breach of trust, and tax evasion.”

“Would it be just one branch manager Cha Bong-hoon? Throw in a few taxi company or call company CEOs as well.”

“It’s not that difficult. Bribery and collusion are all you need to make a fool of yourself. But if you make a fool of everyone on those charges, every taxi company owner in Seoul might have to go to jail.”

This was the part that showed how vicious Cha Bong-hoon was.

These were taxi company owners who had no choice but to commit illegal acts in order to meet the payment he wanted.

In particular, small and medium-sized taxi companies had to wring out even dry rags.

If all such people are booked, a huge vacuum will be created.

“Appease the decent people. Instead of handing over all the charges to Cha Bong-hoon, tell them that they will accept Cocoa Taxi as a member company.”

“There were quite a few small and medium-sized taxi company owners who inquired about joining Cocoa Taxi.”

“It’s natural because you don’t have to get your money ripped off by the call company.”

“If we make all small and medium-sized taxi companies our affiliated companies, Cha Bong-hoon’s power will be completely destroyed.”

“Also, I will completely clean up the Yeongshin taxi company that Branch Manager Cha Bong-hoon’s father runs. If his father’s shadow disappears, Cha Bong-hoon will become a nobody.”

The kingdom is nothing but a sand castle.

Cha Bong-Hoon would soon discover how weak the kingdom he had created was and how little power he had.

* * *

The Seoul Corporation Taxi Union strike continued for five days.

The longer the strike went on, the more exhausted the union members who participated in the strike became.

However, although only five days had passed, the union members were as weak as if they had been on hunger strike for several days.

Branch Manager Cha Bong-hoon watched this with a sigh.

“The number of people has decreased significantly.”

“Small and medium-sized taxi companies are not participating in the strike.”

“What kind of confidence do you have? People who know who owns the call company!”

“They say Cocoa Taxi is providing a taxi calling service like a call company.”

“So, from now on, you’re going to live without seeing me. Tsk tsk, you guys don’t know anything about how the world works. Cocoa Taxi? Do you think that will work? People ultimately prefer what they’re familiar with!”

Branch manager Cha Bong-hoon had absolute faith in the call company.

However, I couldn’t help but be upset by the number of strike participants, which had been reduced by nearly half.

“I’m not in a very good mood today. Let’s finish early and go get a drink. I’ll guide you to a good place.”

“Wherever the branch leader goes, of course I have to go.”

“I’ll also call a few taxi company owners. There needs to be someone to pay for the drinks.”

“I will select and bring in CEOs who are willing to open their wallets.”

It was Branch Manager Cha Bong-hoon who was hungry for alcohol.

He went into the tavern first and poured some liquor down his throat.

That moment! Suddenly, the bar door opened and the police came in, holding an arrest warrant for Cha Bong-hoon.