Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 185

Reunion (1)

“With Park Jeong-hwan gone, you have no one to watch your back. Moreover, it’s a turbulent time due to the presidential assassination and the Korea-Japan Treaty.”

Tae-soo took out documents from his pocket and waved them.

“You’ve been working hard with Park Jeong-hwan’s money. What if the financial crisis documents surface now? What if the four major corruption scandals break out one after another?”

That’s not all.

“You spearheaded the Korea-Japan Treaty, didn’t you?”

It was none other than Kim Jong-pyo who led the negotiations with Japan over the 7th mining zone.

“Do you think I can’t reveal that you’re involved in the Korea-Japan Treaty, which has everyone’s attention?”

Kim Jong-pyo can’t take his eyes off the shaking documents.

They must be documents from the Central Intelligence Agency.

With Shin Ji-soo, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, involved, they’ll shake out even nonexistent dust.

Moreover, the political fund scandal is such a big deal that even covering it up is urgent; just shaking out those deeply involved would turn this country upside down.

“Kang Tae-soo, are you threatening me?”

“Why not? Aren’t you the one who came all the way here to browbeat me?”

Tae-soo looked at Kim Jong-pyo with cold eyes.

“Your smart brain probably knows. If this blows up, what do you think will happen to your position as acting president?”

He’ll be dragged to the Joint Investigation Headquarters.

Under martial law, Lee Se-hoo is wielding his sword as the martial law commander and head of the Joint Investigation Headquarters for the presidential assassination case.

Currently, Kim Jong-pyo doesn’t have the power to suppress Lee Se-hoo.

“You must be aiming for the next presidential seat. Do you think you can become a presidential candidate for the Republican Party?”

There’s no way he can.

No matter how much Kim Jong-pyo coaxes and appeases them, the Republican Party members only express their reluctance, wondering who bought them off.

‘So, Kang Tae-soo has been pulling strings behind the scenes.’

Kim Jong-pyo’s complexion turned dark.

“The assets to be confiscated from you for the four major illicit wealth accumulations related to Park Jeong-hwan amount to at least 21.6 billion won.”

In his past life, the Chun Doo-hwan government confiscated exactly 21.64648 billion won from Kim Jong-pyo.

Of course, Chun Doo-hwan later amassed over 1 trillion won in illicit wealth and was *털렸다* [a Korean slang term meaning ‘fleeced’ or ‘robbed’] by the Kim Young-sam government.

That was why Kim Jong-pyo pointed his finger at Chun Doo-hwan in his past life.

“Shall we shake out that dust?”

Tae-soo’s eyes were cold.

Looking into Tae-soo’s eyes, Kim Jong-pyo understood what they were saying.

‘Damn it, I messed with the wrong guy.’

On the surface, Tae-soo is just the head of a conglomerate ranked 163rd in the business world.

On the other hand, Kim Jong-pyo is the acting president who holds the executive branch in a state of emergency.

But when they actually clash, the situation is completely different from what he expected.

‘I was planning to coax, appease, elevate, and drop him, making him lose his mind so I could easily control him, but I’m the one who got hit hard.’

He thought a young conglomerate head of twenty-seven wouldn’t know much about politics.

‘I had to destroy the evidence of the Korea-Japan Treaty with my own hands.’

Park Jeong-hwan is branded as a traitor who sold the country’s land.

Kim Jong-pyo, who led the Korea-Japan Treaty, had to cover it up.

Otherwise, Kim Jong-pyo would be swept away as well, making it difficult to seize the next presidential election.

‘There’s no need to see more.’

A bitter smile appeared.

Kim Jong-pyo opened his mouth.

“What do you want me to do?”

Kim Jong-pyo immediately lowered his tail [a Korean idiom for backing down or becoming submissive].

It was different from Han Cheong-ho.

“There must be a reason why you didn’t mention me when announcing the Korea-Japan Treaty, even though you knew everything.”

Because he’s still useful.

Kim Jong-pyo hasn’t exhausted his usefulness yet.

“Clean up the mess you made.”

Isn’t the person responsible for Park Jeong-hwan’s money and the Korea-Japan agreement here?

Kim Jong-pyo understood immediately.

“You mean you want me to settle the Korea-Japan Treaty on my own.”

Kim Jong-pyo’s eyes shook violently.

The task he has to handle is getting bigger and bigger.

Tae-soo looked down at Kim Jong-pyo without a word.

“Let me ask you one thing. Why are you so concerned about the Korea-Japan Treaty?”

“Tae Yang Group will be extracting oil from the 7th mining zone.”

It means it’s a business with intertwined interests.

It’s also a statement of his determination not to back down.

Kim Jong-pyo clenched his fist tightly.

“There’s no oil in the 7th mining zone. Did you think we would negotiate without confirming that?”

“That’s my business. You have other things to take care of.”

Kim Jong-pyo bit his lip.

He sensed that the moment of choice had come.

‘Do I overturn it while arguing with the Japanese Prime Minister, or will I be executed as a traitor, bundled with Park Jeong-hwan?’

Lee Se-hoo has drawn his sword, so how can he not be cut?

‘It’s a checkmate. There’s only one option from the start.’

There’s no future in becoming a traitor bundled with Park Jeong-hwan.

He will not only lose the presidential seat he has dreamed of for so long but also find it difficult to gain a foothold in politics.

That’s not all.

Tae-soo declared that he would confiscate his assets accumulated through illicit wealth and send him to prison.

‘It’s better to be *욕을 먹어도* [a Korean idiom meaning ‘cursed at’ or ‘criticized’] by a neighboring country.’

So this is the checkmate that Han Cheong-ho always suffered.

Kim Jong-pyo raised both hands.

“I understand. I will spare no support so that Tae Yang Group can extract oil.”

It was unconditional surrender.

* * *

Inside the plane heading to Saudi Arabia.

Kim Kwang-rok and Tae Yang Group’s bodyguards were seated in the other section.

Tae-soo was receiving a report from Song So-ri.

After finishing the report on the group, Song So-ri cautiously asked Tae-soo.

“Chairman, are you really going to extract oil from the 7th mining zone?”

“I have to.”

“Even resource exploration won’t be easy. Frankly, a huge amount of money goes into each oil exploration drilling. The possibility of extraction is also very low.”

That was why Park Jeong-hwan and Kim Jong-pyo sold off the 7th mining zone.

The cost of drilling for oil exploration with vague expectations in the open sea was too high.

“How about pursuing other businesses rather than pushing forward with a project based on vague expectations?”

“There’s oil buried in the 7th mining zone.”

But Tae-soo was confident.

‘Because China was selling resources right next to us, with dozens of oil drilling facilities.’

It was different from Korea and Japan, which were tied to the Korea-Japan Treaty and couldn’t even touch the 7th mining zone.

“I don’t know what makes you so confident, Chairman. But the group wants to dissuade you.”

He knows why Song So-ri is worried.

“Is it because of the mountain of debt we’ll have to bear if we fail?”

“Yes, Tae Yang Group currently lacks the technology and funds to explore oil resources, drill, and set up oil facilities.”

It’s not a facility that costs just a few bucks.

Even if it’s clearly identified, the scale of the funds is so large that they can’t even touch it.

Also, marine oil resource exploration drilling requires a lot of technology.

That was why Park Jeong-hwan gave up on the 7th mining zone.

‘That’s why Park Jeong-hwan first declared the 7th mining zone as the territory of the Republic of Korea but signed the Korea-Japan Continental Shelf Agreement. Under the pretext of bringing in Japanese technology and capital.’

The technological level of Korea at that time was that backward.

Also, marine oil exploration costs a lot of money.

It costs more than four times as much as land drilling, and oil exploration costs account for 50-60% of oil development costs.

“Chairman, it’s a challenge with little chance of success, even if we mobilize not only Tae Yang Group’s capabilities but also the nation’s capabilities.”

“I’ll solve that problem.”

It’s not just the chairman’s job to present the direction of the company’s development.

Encouraging subordinates and securing projects can also be done by executives.

The reason why a group chairman is needed is to break through the problem-solving method from a new direction when a problem arises that the group cannot solve.

“That’s why we’re going to Saudi Arabia to solve that problem.”

Song So-ri looked at Tae-soo with worried eyes.

“Do you think Saudi Arabia will cooperate with us in technology?”

“I’m going to get cooperation.”

“If oil is discovered in Korea, it will become a competitor. Will Saudi Arabia still cooperate willingly?”

Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil producer.

It is also the country with the loudest voice in OPEC [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries], the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

“They’ll never give up their technology. They don’t want to fight over their rice bowl [a metaphor for their livelihood].”

“I’ll have to persuade them.”

Tae-soo smiled brightly.

It was a confident smile.

“Leave that to me. So, Secretary Song, please prepare for when I win the project. So that we can jump into the oil extraction business right away.”

An irresistible will flows from Tae-soo.

Song So-ri hesitated, moving her lips several times.

She handed Tae-soo a document.

“It’s a proposal with many shortcomings. Please review it.”

Tae-soo took the document Song So-ri handed over.

Tae-soo quickly flipped through it and checked it.

It was a proposal based on the premise that oil was buried in the 7th mining zone.

Opinions on business expansion and development were also carefully noted.

“When did you prepare all this? It must have taken a lot of effort and time.”

“That’s my job.”

Song So-ri answered calmly.

She speaks as if it’s nothing, but how could Tae-soo not know her efforts?

“It would have been difficult even if you had been working on it for fifteen days.”

The thick document contained high-level data research, a concisely organized list of project costs, and even suggestions for linking Tae Yang Group’s business.

He was very satisfied.

He thought he had done well to recruit her.

“You’ve collected overseas papers and cases, and even created a related budget plan. You must have worked hard.”

“It was something I had to do.”

She omitted the other words she almost blurted out.

‘It’s what you want. So I have to help you by any means.’

Tae-soo stared at Song So-ri.

A haggard complexion that even makeup couldn’t hide, deep dark circles, and even bloodshot eyes.

“Are you okay? You seem overworked.”

“I’m just a little tired.”

She quickly raised the document to cover her face.

Tae-soo sighed softly.

“I’m not trying to scold or reprimand you. I was just worried about Secretary Song because the proposal was so excellent.”

“You’re worried… about me?”

Song So-ri lowered the document and showed her face.

Her eyes sparkled slightly with joy.

“Secretary Song is already handling a tremendous amount of work. To make such a proposal by squeezing out non-existent time, you obviously couldn’t have rested or slept properly.”

“It was necessary.”

“It’s enough. You’ve defended your position with your ability, and everyone recognizes you. So you don’t have to overdo it like you’re doing now.”

Song So-ri’s eyes, which had been sparkling with joy, quietly subsided.

“I’m not doing it to be recognized by others.”

“Then why are you overdoing it like this?”

Song So-ri just lowered her head and stared at the report.

Tae-soo also did not urge her to answer.

‘If I don’t overdo it, you’ll have to overdo it.’

Song So-ri couldn’t answer in the end.

Secretary Song Chang-joon sighed softly as he looked at Song So-ri and Tae-soo.

Song Chang-joon carefully changed the subject.

“Chairman, where are you planning to go as soon as you get to Saudi Arabia? The capital, Riyadh? Or Jubail?”

“Let’s go to Jubail.”

“Where in Jubail should we head?”

“Let’s start by looking around the industrial port.”

Tae-soo turned his attention to Jubail Industrial Port.

The construction of the industrial port in the west of Saudi Arabia, which Tae Yang Construction won a sole bid for and Kim Woo-jin is leading.

‘Jubail Industrial Port. A petroleum export base that Saudi Arabia is ambitiously preparing.’

What is the reason why Tae-soo is heading to Saudi Arabia?

‘Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest state-owned oil company, ARAMCO [Saudi Arabian Oil Company].’

The companies that were split from Rockefeller’s Standard Oil into 34 companies secure shares in Aramco.

The origin of today’s ultra-giant multinational oil companies such as ExxonMobil and Chevron is Standard Oil.

The company was deliberately split to resolve the monopoly.

‘In Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest offshore oil field, Safaniya Oil Field, was discovered in 1951. Also, in 1957, the world’s largest onshore oil field, Ghawar Oil Field, was also discovered.’

Tae-soo leaned back in his airplane seat.

‘It’s been a while, Rahman.’

He’s going to meet Rahman, who is staying in Jubail and is in charge of the western city development.