Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 205

205. Dreaming of Becoming Korea’s Rockefeller (2)

Taesu shook his head.

[No. Candidate Ahn Jung-woo will declare today’s promise as his presidential pledge. Regarding oil.]

Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan muttered to himself.

“You should just run for president yourself. That would be the easiest and fastest way.”

Although unsaid, everyone else was thinking the same thing.

There are many reasons why the public would be captivated by Taesu.

He’s a handsome and young self-made *chaebol* [a large South Korean business conglomerate] chairman, he holds Park Jung-hwan’s weaknesses, and he has a very solid network of connections he can mobilize.

If this young man before them were to become the next president…

Gulp.

They involuntarily swallowed their saliva.

So, they had to ask.

“So, why aren’t you running for president? It would be more certain for you to do it yourself than to push someone else.”

“Who would elect a greenhorn like me as president?”

That was true.

A young man in his late twenties is too young to become president.

No matter how great his reputation, there’s a certain gravitas and weight that comes with age.

However, Taesu’s true feelings were different.

‘A president’s political life is short. I have no intention of stepping down from the throne at a young age and waiting for the political purge of the next president. I’d rather become a true, unseen power broker.’

It was a dream he had after seeing Rockefeller, who controlled the American president and major politicians in his hands.

Jang Jun-yong cleared his throat and subtly said,

“Ahem, well, if you’re not going to run, then I’ll run for president…”

In his past life, this man quit being a company chairman and jumped into the presidential primary.

He couldn’t abandon that desire in this life either.

Taesu sharply cut off Jang Jun-yong’s words.

“Ahn Jung-woo has promised to abolish the Korea-Japan Continental Shelf Agreement and wholeheartedly support South Korea’s oil development project.”

The *chaebol* chairmen understood why Taesu was pushing Ahn Jung-woo.

‘If we want to get a piece of the pie from this oil development, we have to support Ahn Jung-woo too.’

‘The offer is too sweet to refuse. We can get crude oil at a 15% discount compared to international prices.’

‘We’ll be able to drastically reduce costs related to oil tankers, customs, and lobbying.’

No matter how they crunched the numbers, the conclusion was the same.

-An opportunity we must seize!

Moreover, the promise is guaranteed by the presidential pledge announcement.

What could be a more certain guarantee than this?

[The entire nation will be a witness to the promise. Do you still not believe it?]

If such an important issue was put forward as a presidential pledge, then things would definitely proceed that way.

It’s not something that can be glossed over.

The parties to receive the promise were not ordinary citizens, but *chaebol* chairmen.

[Okay. I believe it.]

[If you break your promise in the future, we will definitely hold you to it.]

[We have that kind of power too.]

They are the ones who can even bring down Kim Jong-pyo, who wields immense power as the acting president.

Everyone nodded.

Each of their faces bloomed with smiles.

A smile also appeared on Taesu’s face.

‘I’ve settled the next presidential election issue all at once.’

If they move behind the scenes, the next president will be decided that way.

Because it was an indirect election decided by only about 2,500 delegates.

‘I will keep the promise I made. With this decision, the influence of the Taeyang Group will grow to an immeasurable extent in the future.’

Controlling the supply of oil is power.

Even if they don’t engage in price competition, even if they supply oil at a low price, there’s something that doesn’t change.

That is the fact that Taeyang Group monopolizes oil.

‘I can’t rely on someone else’s power forever.’

Taesu has become a fox riding on the coattails of a tiger, but he never intended to remain a fox forever.

If the backing disappears, the retaliation will be several times greater than the voice raised by borrowing power.

‘I just need to become a tiger before that happens. With oil as a stepping stone. Now it’s just a matter of time.’

For a fox to become a tiger, it needs time to build strength.

Taesu plans to buy that time under the shadow of Rockefeller.

‘To hold onto Rockefeller, who will be my backing, I had no choice but to propose joint oil development.’

At first, he was going to avoid Rockefeller’s greed by only giving her the technology development costs and ending it there.

But he changed his mind and proposed to her to develop oil together, that was the real reason.

So, Taesu defended the stake that could become a problem to the end.

‘I must become Korea’s Rockefeller.’

If he can get oil entirely into his hands!

He will refuse to be pressured by the highest authorities in this country.

When he had no power, he had no choice but to be mindful of them and try to please them.

But now, it’s faster for Taesu to create the highest authority in this country with his own hands.

By choosing someone who suits his taste.

That was the reason he chose Ahn Jung-woo as the next presidential candidate.

* * *

The Blue House, the President’s office.

Thump.

Kim Jong-pyo couldn’t contain his anger and slammed his fist on the desk.

Even his panting was unusual.

“Kang Taesu! Are you finally going to stand against me!”

Kim Jong-pyo was seething with the humiliation he experienced in the Geumsan Hotel lobby.

He mobilized the *chaebol* chairmen to pressure him.

That arrogant bastard who looked down on everything from above!

“Riding on Rockefeller’s back to trample on me? That son of a bitch almost ended my political life!”

He had no choice but to obediently hand over the oil development rights.

Not only that, but he also had to approve the Taeyang development project.

He even promised to support the construction of oil pipelines and excavation equipment.

“Telling me to abolish the Korea-Japan Continental Shelf Agreement! What else could it mean but that he’s trying to kill me!”

He couldn’t take on the task of breaking Park Jung-hwan’s secret agreement.

That was a secret deal between the Japanese Prime Minister and Park Jung-hwan.

If he breaks that promise?

Japan’s arrows will be aimed at Kim Jong-pyo.

“No! I can’t do that! How much effort have I put in so far!”

Japan was Kim Jong-pyo’s de facto support base.

That’s why he was able to endure even after Park Jung-hwan took away all his power and completely crushed his political standing.

“Just you wait, Kang Taesu! Do you think I’m going to let you have your way?”

He had no choice but to give up the oil development rights.

If he hadn’t given it up, he might have had to give up his position immediately, as the *chaebol* chairmen said.

“I’m not going to just sit back and take it! I’ll pay you back for this many times over!”

Thump.

Kim Jong-pyo stopped in that position with his fist slammed down.

The anger boiling inside him seemed to be erupting as hot air from his nostrils.

How long had he been panting like that?

Kim Jong-pyo raised his head.

The blazing eyes were contained.

“Good. I will hold the second talks on the Korea-Japan Continental Shelf as you wish. I’ll make it very unfavorable for you.”

Instead, a vile smile spread across his face.

“You want oil development so badly, let’s see if you can do it under Japan’s pressure.”

Do you think that just because I couldn’t stop it, Japan couldn’t stop it either?

If so, you’re mistaken, Kang Taesu.

Japan is a globally influential superpower.

So, they can trip you up as much as they want.

“I will definitely make this second meeting a success and bring forward the effective date of the Korea-Japan treaty. No one will be able to touch the 7th mining zone without joint Korea-Japan investigation and joint research.”

If things turn out that way, no one can stop it.

Even if Rockefeller tries to exert influence, how can she interfere with an agreement between countries?

“If you can use your cunning, I can also plot. And unlike you, I have power.”

Kim Jong-pyo’s eyes gleamed maliciously.

* * *

Geumsan Hotel Royal Suite Room.

A VIP accommodation that has been transformed more luxuriously since Rahman stayed.

Ellis took off her sunglasses and sat on the sofa in the drawing room.

For some reason, Taesu doesn’t follow her into the hotel room.

[You come and sit down too. Shall we continue the conversation we stopped earlier?]

[I think it would be better to talk at the bar.]

Ellis poured the water on the drawing-room table and drank it.

She must have been nervous as the conversation with the *chaebol* chairmen continued.

The cold water quenched her thirst.

Now she feels refreshed.

[Come in and talk. I’m done with alcohol.]

[Young Miss, you don’t have to drink alcohol. I can’t go in.]

[Why are you insisting on the bar when I said I wouldn’t drink alcohol?]

[For the honor of Rockefeller’s Young Miss.]

All his nerves are focused on Rockefeller right now.

After finishing the conversation with the *chaebol* chairmen, Rockefeller refused all of today’s meetings, citing fatigue.

For that reason, most of them left, but there are people who stubbornly remained at the Geumsan Hotel.

It was the reporters.

[…For the sake of ambition, you should be cheering right now.]

How could Taesu not know that?

[I’m blocking the reporters thoroughly. The article won’t go out.]

[What I can’t understand isn’t that.]

Ellis looked at Taesu with strange eyes.

[You said you were going to ride on Rockefeller’s back and act like a big shot. Then, the closer you seem to be to me, the more advantageous it is for you.]

[I know.]

The more they misunderstand that Rockefeller and Taesu have a deep relationship, the better.

The more power Taesu can borrow.

[The word that Rockefeller’s woman is having a private meeting with you in a hotel room. That won’t be a flaw for you, but a strength. It’s all a show to show anyway.]

[I don’t need that kind of show to wield power. Didn’t you see it earlier?]

Taesu made things happen by borrowing power from others, even if he didn’t have enough power.

He did it very skillfully and boldly.

Ellis could finally smile.

‘He’s definitely different. Other men try to get involved with me by spreading scandals.’

I really like this man.

[Okay. I’ll follow your lead.]

Taesu and Ellis went up to the Geumsan Hotel bar.

* * *

As soon as Ellis sat on the sofa, she said.

[I want to hear the second proposal you were going to say earlier.]

[The offshore oil field is located in the 7th mining zone, south of Jeju Island. After developing the oil field, we will transport it to the industrial port through pipelines.]

Taesu took out a document from his pocket.

[It is a city development plan that will be the gateway to the offshore oil field and the land, the oil forward base that will become the second Jubail Industrial Port, and a city that will become a mecca for resorts, tourism, and shopping.]

[In other words, you mean to develop a city nearby while building an oil pipeline connecting to the offshore oil field.]

[That’s right. I will propose a joint Jeju Island development project to you.]

Joint development of Jeju Island.

It is in line with the construction project that Ellis has turned her attention to.

Moreover, it is the development of an industrial port that will become an oil forward base, no less.

It will also be a mecca for tourism and shopping, and an island that represents recreation and tourism.

[I think it’s a proposal that allows you to do the construction business and oil development you want at the same time.]

[Reduce time, increase efficiency, and highlight performance. I like it very much.]

Taesu’s proposal shook Ellis’s heart again this time.

Ellis crossed her legs and said.

[Let’s decide on this matter when oil extraction becomes certain. For that reason, I’ll ask. I know there’s something you deliberately didn’t say to the *chaebol* chairmen.]

How many things did he deliberately not say?

[Even if you get the oil development rights, the Korea-Japan Continental Shelf Agreement is involved. It’s a treaty that focuses on joint research and joint development. Will Japan stand still?]

She’s sharp as expected.

It was an issue that the *chaebol* chairmen didn’t mention, but Ellis accurately pointed out the loophole.

[But the treaty hasn’t even been ratified yet. Currently, the 7th mining zone is an area where South Korea has declared its sovereignty.]

It was ratified in 1978 in his previous life.

The Korea-Japan treaty, which is being made behind the scenes, is not yet in effect as of 1975.

So, we have to hurry.

[That acting president is very good at negotiating with Japan. What are you going to do to stop him if he tries to interfere with your work with the backing of the Japanese government?]

[Let’s borrow Rockefeller’s power again this time.]

There’s no way Taesu wouldn’t be able to guess Kim Jong-pyo’s moves.

It was expected that Kim Jong-pyo would move Japan.

So, he has thoroughly prepared for it in advance.

[I’m going to detonate a super-sized gate that will turn the whole of Japan upside down.]