Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 203

203. Playing the King (5)

Lee Byung-chun, chairman of the Samcheong Group, understood the situation with chilling clarity.

‘Kim Jong-pyo or Rockefeller?’

Kang Tae-soo was forcing his hand, urging him to choose while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Rockefeller.

In Lee Byung-chun’s estimation, Kim Jong-pyo was destined to lose this fight.

‘Kim Jong-pyo is merely playing the role of cleaning up the mess of paralyzed state affairs and paving the way for the next presidential election. Moreover, the next presidential election is already scheduled for the end of December this year.’

He had only assumed authority due to the sudden death of the former president.

Wasn’t Lee Byung-chul someone even President Park Jung-hwan had been wary of?

Would he be intimidated by a mere six-month-long puppet power?

‘But Rockefeller is a different beast altogether. There’s nothing I can do. Samcheong needs oil.’

Starting with the antitrust laws enacted in the 1890s, Rockefeller was compelled to break up his oil company into 34 separate entities.

The oil companies that stemmed from Rockefeller’s empire appeared to scatter across the globe.

But that was just a smokescreen.

Who would willingly relinquish such a lucrative enterprise?

Upon closer inspection, every single oil refinery remained under Rockefeller’s influence.

Thanks to the company’s fragmentation, Rockefeller’s stock prices skyrocketed.

Rockefeller’s influence in the global oil market only intensified.

‘Even if only the companies directly owned by Rockefeller refuse to supply oil to Samcheong Oil, the impact would be devastating. Furthermore, if multinational oil companies influenced by Rockefeller also join the boycott… Samcheong is finished.’

At that point, it wouldn’t just be Samcheong that would crumble.

Even South Korea, burdened by foreign debt exceeding its GDP, would collapse.

The per capita national income is barely $1,000, yet the deficit is a staggering $6.8 billion.

The entire country, including Samcheong, is barely managing to repay its foreign debt by exporting goods manufactured in factories.

If the oil supply were to be cut off, it would trigger an unprecedented catastrophe.

Oil has become an indispensable resource in Korea.

‘When seven Middle Eastern countries, led by Saudi Arabia, refused to supply oil, Cheongil Oil couldn’t survive even three months. Not only our Samcheong, but also Geumsan and Daehan Oil cannot last half a year without oil.’

That’s why they couldn’t afford to defy Rockefeller, who controlled the oil spigot.

That’s also why prominent figures flocked to the scene upon hearing that a member of the Rockefeller family had arrived.

‘If we can navigate this oil supply disruption crisis by sacrificing Kim Jong-pyo, it’s a small price to pay.’

The decision-making process was swift.

As soon as Lee Byung-chun completed his calculations, he turned his attention to Kim Jong-pyo.

“Kim Jong-pyo.”

The title of Acting President, which he had been using regularly, was abruptly dropped.

Before he realized it, honorifics had vanished, replaced by casual speech.

No, he was already speaking in English, for Rockefeller’s benefit.

[Because of you, Rockefeller won’t sell oil. How are you going to take responsibility for this?]

Lee Byung-chun’s words were laced with palpable anger.

Wasn’t this a major crisis that could bankrupt the leading company in Korea’s business world in an instant?

If it’s an oil shock orchestrated by Rockefeller, its repercussions would be far greater than an oil shock originating from the Middle East.

[You seem arrogant because you’ve risen to the insignificant position of Acting President, but you’ll only realize it was a mistake when I show you with force, right?]

What would happen if Lee Byung-chun openly turned against him?

‘Because Park Jung-hwan kept me in check, Samcheong has a more solid political foundation than I do.’

There’s the prestige associated with being Korea’s top conglomerate.

How many employees do they have, including those at headquarters and affiliated companies?

Moreover, there are talented individuals they have nurtured through scholarship foundations.

And the politicians who are receiving political funds from Samcheong.

What if they mobilized all of them this time to launch a full-scale political offensive?

He wouldn’t even be able to hold onto his position as Acting President.

Kim Jong-pyo’s face paled.

“Chairman Lee, do you believe that nonsense? Do you believe the threats of a young punk who’s just spouting whatever comes to mind and…”

[Threats? My words? Or Rockefeller’s words?]

Lee Byung-chun made up his mind.

[I’m going to unleash all the Samcheong people, Samcheong employees, and Samcheong politicians. Kim Jong-pyo, can you stop Samcheong’s political all-out offensive?]

Cold sweat trickled down Kim Jong-pyo’s back.

Then Jang Jun-yong joined Lee Byung-chun’s side.

[Geumsan will also lend a hand. Geumsan people, Geumsan employees, and Geumsan politicians will join us.]

[Our Lucky Seven has the same idea.]

Even Lucky Seven’s Gu Ja-gyeom stepped forward and added his voice.

[Kim Jong-pyo, we’re going to flood the media with reports that the oil supply was cut off because of you. You’re going to be completely humiliated.]

[Too weak? Our Geumsan is planning to expose the Acting President’s scandals by mobilizing all the power we have.]

Then Shin Ji-soo of the Central Intelligence Agency [South Korean intelligence agency], who had been silent, nodded.

[We happen to have investigation data related to President Park Jung-hwan’s four major corruption cases in our Central Intelligence Agency. Would you like a copy each if you want?]

[That’s good. But the scandal that our Geumsan has is a sex scandal, and we’re going to release it as something very dirty and ugly.]

[What our Lucky Seven has is pro-Japanese behavior. Everyone knows that Kim Jong-pyo is periodically bribing Japan, so I won’t say much.]

Lee Se-hoo, the Army Chief of Staff, subtly moved closer.

“It’s a national crisis. The military will also be watching this matter closely. The tanks of the Army cannot be stopped by the reckless words of a mere Acting President. How can we defend the country without oil?”

Lee Se-hoo glared at Kim Jong-pyo with fierce eyes.

Everyone’s piercing gaze was fixed on Kim Jong-pyo.

People began to criticize Kim Jong-pyo in unison.

‘This can’t be happening! If these guys push forward with all their might, I’m really done for! My political career is over!’

Kim Jong-pyo’s body trembled.

It’s a different dimension from the criticism of the common citizens.

The people criticizing Kim Jong-pyo here are all influential figures who wield power in society.

‘How can I give up the opportunity I seized! How can I give up the chair in the Blue House [South Korean presidential residence] office that I sat in instead of Park Jung-hwan! The next president is me!’

But Samcheong, Lucky Seven, Geumsan, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the military are all turning their backs on him.

Kim Jong-pyo felt dizzy.

‘Kang Tae-soo!’

Tae-soo was observing everything as if he were watching a fire from a safe distance.

Kim Jong-pyo gritted his teeth at that hateful face.

‘The person who should be in trouble, being torn apart by people in this place, was Kang Tae-soo, not Kim Jong-pyo!’

Kim Jong-pyo had publicly declared that he would destroy Tae-soo’s Tae Yang Group.

But at this rate, it seemed that his political life would end before Tae Yang Group was destroyed.

Desperate to find a way out, Kim Jong-pyo quickly appealed to the U.S. Ambassador to Korea.

“U.S. Ambassador to Korea, please say something. Didn’t Rockefeller unilaterally notify us that they would cut off oil to Korea? This will cause a major problem in diplomacy between the two countries…!”

“It’s not the will of the United States, but the will of Rockefeller. Why would a company’s sales decision cause a problem in diplomacy between the two countries?”

The U.S. Ambassador to Korea quickly distanced himself.

“To be clear, this has nothing to do with me. Also, it was your own decision to offend Rockefeller, so take care of it yourself. Why are you dragging me into this for no reason?”

“Are you making fun of Korea? The attitude of not supplying oil simply because you’re in a bad mood is beyond corporate ethics…”

“Whether they sell goods or not is up to the seller. Should I interfere with everything just because Rockefeller is an American company?”

Kim Jong-pyo quickly glanced at Rockefeller, seeing a clear line being drawn.

An arrogant and upright posture, wearing sunglasses and looking down without expression.

The young woman was silently exerting pressure on the audience.

Lee Byung-chun took another step closer to Kim Jong-pyo.

[Kim Jong-pyo, what are you doing? It seems like you have no intention of properly handling this?]

Not only Jang Jun-yong and Gu Ja-gyeom.

[Do you really have to see the oil cut off to come to your senses?]

People were all taking a step closer, putting pressure on Kim Jong-pyo.

[The country is about to collapse because of you, and you’re still scheming?]

Inevitably, Kim Jong-pyo turned around.

His eyes met Tae-soo’s in the air.

Tae-soo was smiling.

‘Damn it!’

Kim Jong-pyo swallowed the curse that had risen to his throat.

But there’s no way out.

Kim Jong-pyo had to open his mouth in a trembling voice.

[H, how… should I apologize…]

He had no choice but to submit.

There was no other way.

* * *

Ellis blinked her eyes behind her sunglasses.

She had to consciously suppress her expressions, as if it were a habit.

But surprise and admiration kept threatening to break through her cold facade.

Ellis whispered softly in Tae-soo’s ear.

[Is this what you call gapjil [abuse of power]? You brought down a person called the Acting President with just one word.]

Tae-soo nodded.

But he conveyed something completely different from Ellis’s words.

[Do I have to teach you how to apologize? …he’s saying.]

Tae-soo looked around the audience and said.

[The Rockefeller heiress says she doesn’t want to waste any more time. She says she’s going to hurry up with her preparations to return home, so let’s go. Shall we go?]

As soon as the two turned their backs sharply, people were stomping their feet.

If they only notify them that they won’t sell oil and return home, it will be impossible to reverse it.

Even if they go directly to the head of the Rockefeller family, would they even get a meeting?

Even if there is only a 1% chance that they will not sell oil to Korea because they insulted their precious daughter…….

People were all shouting at Kim Jong-pyo.

“What are you doing now?”

“Rockefeller is leaving! What about the oil?”

“Do I have to make you kneel down?”

It was so fierce that they seemed ready to rush up and grab Kim Jong-pyo’s collar.

Inevitably, Kim Jong-pyo took a long sigh and bent his back 90 degrees.

[I’m sorry. I will properly apologize for the rudeness of treating Rockefeller carelessly.]

Only then did Ellis stop climbing the stairs.

But she didn’t look back.

[I don’t believe in mere words of apology.]

It was a cold and chilly voice.

Even a subtle anger was reflected.

[If you want to apologize for the rudeness of your actions, prove it with action this time too.]

Ellis, who had been relaying what Tae-soo had been whispering in her ear since earlier.

[Hand over the exclusive oil development rights for Block 7. Then we will withdraw Rockefeller’s refusal to sell oil to Korea.]

People whispered.

“Block 7 is the South Sea Basin south of Jeju Island, where President Park Jung-hwan declared sovereignty?”

“Is Rockefeller aiming for exclusive oil development rights?”

“I thought it was concluded that there was no oil there?”

Kim Jong-pyo said firmly.

[There are no oil resources in Block 7.]

[I will explore and confirm that.]

[The Japanese side has also concluded that there are no oil resources in Block 7.]

At Kim Jong-pyo’s gesture, the Japanese Ambassador to Korea nodded.

[Japanese marine scientists have said in unison. There are no oil resources in Block 7. Rockefeller also knows this fact, right?]

Kim Jong-pyo, emboldened by the support from the Japanese Ambassador to Korea.

He shouted even louder.

[The cost of offshore oil exploration is an astronomical amount. We cannot waste the national treasury and the people’s taxes on something that is not certain. Therefore…….]

[Who said they wanted support from the Korean national treasury?]

Ellis cut off Kim Jong-pyo’s words.

[We don’t need anyone’s financial support. We will take full responsibility for failure and success. What you have to take responsibility for…….]

Ellis said coldly.

[Whether you will apologize to me with action or not. In other words, whether you will give me the oil development rights for Block 7 or not. Decide for yourself how you will take responsibility.]

Kim Jong-pyo slowly straightened his back, which had been bent at 90 degrees, and smiled bitterly.

[Wow, you’re no different from a thief.]

Finally, he had found his justification!

If he stood against Rockefeller to protect national resources, everyone would understand.

[How can I, as the leader of this country, allow Rockefeller to plunder the resources of another country? I have to make a decision for the sake of the country and the people. To prevent the outflow of national wealth from this country…….]

But there’s no way Tae-soo would let that stand.

Ellis’s cold voice cut off Kim Jong-pyo’s words in one stroke.

[I think you’re mistaken, but the Rockefeller family doesn’t have even a 1% stake in Korea’s oil development.]

[Th, that can’t be!]

[Tae Yang Group has agreed to develop Block 7 exclusively. Rockefeller will provide technology there.]

[No way!]

This time, Tae-soo asserted firmly.

[So there’s no need to worry about the outflow of national wealth. Didn’t we say from the beginning that Tae Yang Group would take responsibility? Capital, technology, equipment, manpower, sales, and even pipelines. Tae Yang Group will take care of everything.]

Only then did people recall the first words Tae-soo had said when he appeared on the stairs.

-Tae Yang Group will take responsibility for everything.

Those words were not only meant to take responsibility for what Tae Yang Group’s chief of security, Kim Kwang-rok, had done.

Now it seemed that Tae Yang Group had been aiming for this moment from the beginning.

‘Kang Tae-soo had already seized the oil supply rights.’

‘The schemer Kim Jong-pyo is caught in Kang Tae-soo’s trap.’

People’s mouths dropped open.

Kim Jong-pyo, who tried to escape under the pretext of national wealth outflow and patriotism.

His face is horribly distorted.

‘It’s a checkmate! There’s no way out. I have no choice but to allow oil development.’