Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 22

22. Mine Acquisition (2)

Tae-soo explained.

“Gold and molybdenum have almost the same refining process. We can just take the facilities used for the gold mine and use them as they are.”

“Ah.”

First condition met: Molybdenum refining facilities must be present.

“Besides, you said the gold mine development failed, right? Gold mine development is all or nothing. If you find it, it’s a jackpot; if you don’t, it’s a bust!”

“Ah!”

People rush to gold mines hoping for a quick fortune.

If they just discover a gold vein, they hit the jackpot, so everyone rushes in like moths to a flame.

But the reality is, it’s a money-eating ghost.

‘That’s life. High risk, high return.’

“If gold mine development failed, it would be difficult to recover from the damage in a short period, right? The risk is so high.”

“Oh!”

“The funds invested in mine development, that debt, must have made it difficult to survive even with a well-running cement factory and limestone mine. They’re driven to the brink of bankruptcy in an instant.”

Second condition met: Must be on the verge of ruin.

Han-soo also nodded.

“The miners and employees who were working hard have also been left hanging. They haven’t left yet.”

“Perfect. Just right.”

He visually confirmed that the third condition was already met.

Tae-soo nodded.

“Let’s acquire this mine.”

“That’s why I urgently called you here, hyung [older brother or close male friend],”

“You’ve already made an offer to negotiate the mine acquisition, right?”

Han-soo’s face darkened rapidly.

“It didn’t go well? Are we short on money after all?”

Twenty million won is quite a large sum, but it’s also not enough to acquire such a solid mine and cement factory all at once.

Han-soo sighed.

“It’s not just a money problem; there’s another problem.”

“What problem?”

“The mine owner is currently held captive by loan sharks.”

“This is bad.”

Why do I keep running into loan sharks?

When bringing the mine rights certificate, when receiving the promissory note from Jang Mal-dong.

I even encounter loan sharks in the neighboring town’s mine.

Every time I try to do something, those damn loan sharks pop up.

‘It’s only natural since private loans were more actively used than banks back then.’

There are hardly any businesses that don’t borrow money while operating.

Especially when managing large-scale mines and factories.

The initial investment alone is no small amount.

Now was truly the golden age of private loans.

‘That’s why Park Jung-hwan must have implemented the private loan freeze.’

Han-soo and Hol쭉이 [likely a nickname, keeping as is] sighed at the mention of loan sharks.

Both had troubled expressions.

But Tae-soo was different.

His eyes lit up at the mention of loan sharks.

“Looks like we’ll benefit from loan sharks this time too?”

How can you think that way and come to that conclusion?

Because the loan sharks intervened and stirred things up, the mine acquisition itself is about to fall through.

“That’s right. Because the loan sharks are causing trouble, no one can approach such a solid mine and factory. So, the opportunity came to me, right?”

Does that make sense?

It seems like it when I hear it.

Han-soo and Hol쭉이 looked at each other.

Unlike their earlier disappointment, both had strange expressions.

“So, if we just resolve the private loans, that’s it?”

If we resolve that, we’ll be eating up the prime limestone mine and cement factory whole?

How could they not be motivated?

Tae-soo’s eyes gleamed as he looked around.

“Where is the mine owner being held?”

“They say he’s being held at the cement factory. It’s southeast from here.”

“Let’s go.”

Tae-soo strode ahead, and Han-soo said quietly.

“Hyung, you’re going the wrong way?”

“Huh? You said to go southeast, right?”

“That’s north. Follow me.”

Today, Han-soo takes the lead again.

Hol쭉이 quickly followed behind Tae-soo.

Han-soo looked at Hol쭉이 with worried eyes.

“Hyung-nim [respectful term for older brother/male friend], the cement factory is dangerous. Please stay down below.”

“If I’m not there, who will protect our Tae-soo’s back?”

“······.”

Hyung-nim, you can’t protect anyone with those bones.

Who blew wind into that weak lung of yours-.

Han-soo’s eyes narrowed once again as he looked at Tae-soo.

Tae-soo felt wronged.

“Why am I ‘hyung’ and Yong-shik is ‘hyung-nim’? Call me ‘hyung-nim’ too.”

“······.”

Han-soo shook his head.

“Yong-shik hyung, talk to the miners. The workers are very agitated. Someone needs to comfort them before they leave.”

The mine owner is currently held captive by loan sharks.

This means there’s no one to calm the workers’ unrest.

If this continues, even if we acquire the mine, we’ll have a headache because of the departing miners.

“Han-soo, weren’t you supposed to have already finished talking to the miners?”

“Strangely, whenever I bring it up, they all tremble and run away, saying they definitely didn’t, that it’s a misunderstanding.”

“······.”

The National Security Agency’s awl specializes in interrogation.

They would torture, but they’re not the type to comfort and embrace someone.

Everyone has their aptitude.

Kind and sociable Hol쭉이 is perfect for this kind of thing.

Tae-soo looked back at Hol쭉이.

“Han-soo is right. Go talk to the miners.”

“Who will protect your back without me?”

Tae-soo handed Hol쭉이 something.

When he opened his hand, there were a few bills.

“Don’t they sell makgeolli [Korean rice wine] here? We had a hearty lunch, it’s the perfect day to wash it down with makgeolli with the miners.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll comfort them well. Makgeolli is perfect for today’s weather.”

Hol쭉이 swallowed hard at the thought of makgeolli.

Hol쭉이 ran off to the mining village before anyone could stop him.

Han-soo muttered, watching Hol쭉이 disappear into the distance.

“Hyung really knows how to handle Yong-shik hyung. It’s amazing to watch. It’s also amazing that they’re friends.”

Tae-soo still had a wronged look.

“I’m asking you to call me ‘hyung-nim,’ and now you’re even calling Hol쭉이 ‘hyung’? Isn’t that really unfair? Is it that hard to say ‘hyung-nim’?”

“······.”

“Let’s go. We need to hurry before the loan sharks take the mine.”

Tae-soo turned his body and ran towards the cement factory.

Han-soo shouted.

“It’s north from there! Hyung, this way!”

* * *

When they arrived at the cement factory, a familiar sight appeared.

The same scene I saw at Oh Chun-shik’s house, the so-called gang beating.

Even the characters and lines were similar.

Thump, thump, thump.

“Hey, even chickens lay eggs if you give them feed. If you borrow someone else’s money, you have to pay the interest on time. Don’t you think so?”

“Please, I beg you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have used private loans in the first place. Or pay on time.”

“Isn’t this too much! There are still a few days left until the originally promised deadline!”

“In this completely ruined situation, do you think we care about deadlines? Why are you being so clingy when you should know better? It’s already over!”

Thump, thump, thump.

“I’m begging because I can’t pay right now! Why would I be doing this if I could pay! You sons of bitches!”

The mine owner, unable to bear it any longer, shouted.

Unlike Oh Chun-shik, he had some guts.

“He hasn’t been beaten enough yet. Beat him until he gets the right attitude.”

“Yes!”

Thump, thump, thump.

So, he’s getting beaten much more than Oh Chun-shik.

Tae-soo clapped to draw attention.

Clap. Clap.

“Let’s stop for a moment.”

“Who are you again?”

The loan sharks stopped beating the mine owner and turned their heads.

It was Song Jin-gu’s gang.

‘It’s because I told Jang Mal-dong about the 8.3 private loan freeze. They’re desperately trying to recover the private loans right away.’

For that reason, the sparks must have flown to the limestone mine owner as well.

To be badgering him like this even though the deadline hasn’t passed.

“He’s a familiar face?”

Song Jin-gu recognized Tae-soo and smirked.

“Hey, crazy bastard. What brings you here?”

Tae-soo shrugged.

“I have business with the mine owner you’re holding.”

Song Jin-gu glanced at the mine owner lying on the floor.

“Why? Did this bastard borrow money from you this time too? Do you have a promissory note?”

There was a promissory note.

The promissory note that the elder Jang Mal-dong, whom you serve, wrote himself.

But that will only take effect in two days.

Tae-soo silently approached the mine owner.

“Sob. These bastards. Sob.”

The mine owner was crying.

Tae-soo checked to see if anything was broken.

Fortunately, he seemed okay.

Song Jin-gu put his hands in his pants pockets and stood crookedly.

“Crazy bastard, you’re late this time. Heh heh heh.”

Song Jin-gu smiled as he took out a document from his pocket.

“We took over this mine and cement factory. Just a little while ago. What a pity? Heh heh heh.”

Song Jin-gu left the cement factory leisurely with his gang.

Just like Tae-soo had obtained the promissory note and left Jang Mal-dong’s room.

“Then take care. Heh heh heh.”

He even returned Tae-soo’s line to Song Jin-gu when he left Jang Mal-dong’s house.

Song Jin-gu’s steps were full of triumphant momentum.

“This is bad.”

I was one step late.

Han-soo covered his eyes with one hand and expressed his regret.

But Tae-soo was the opposite.

“This is bad.”

Isn’t this a strangely smooth turn of events?

Is the sky pushing me to acquire the mine at a bargain price?

Tae-soo looked at the cement factory again.

Should I be sad that this is a pity, or should I be happy that it turned out well?

‘If I had waited just two days, no, one and a half days, the promissory note would have become a useless piece of paper due to the 8.3 private loan freeze. It’s unfortunate from the mine owner’s perspective since he lost the mine.’

It’s different from Tae-soo’s perspective.

What if the mine owner was released from private loans due to the 8.3 private loan freeze?

Would he be crazy enough to hand over this prime mine and factory complex to Tae-soo at a bargain price?

‘It turned out well for me. I can now buy a prime mine and factory that I wouldn’t have dared to dream of at a bargain price.’

Jang Mal-dong is a loan shark.

Even if he gets the mine and factory in his hands, he will sell them off to other places rather than operate them properly.

Moreover, from Jang Mal-dong’s perspective, who needs to clear his private loans right away?

‘It would be most profitable for him to sell it to me at a bargain price.’

In just two days, the private loans will be frozen.

The period to clear the private loans is only two days.

Even if he disposes of it right away, it’s difficult to get the proper price.

He has to dispose of it even at a bargain price.