We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 217

217

Coronation (1)

The engineers couldn’t close their mouths, awestruck.

What construction project would mobilize over 10,000 people? It was unheard of.

In fact, it reached a point where heavy equipment wasn’t even necessary.

Director Kim Taek-soo clicked his tongue in amazement and said,

“I heard from the Chairman that you were using androids for construction. I heard they have ten times the strength of an average person.”

“Ten times, you say? It seems the rumors are understated.”

“Understated, you say?”

“It’s probably dozens of times, or even more, the strength of an adult male. In terms of raw power, it’s like operating heavy equipment directly.”

“Heo! So that rumor is…?”

“It’s a kind of ‘downgrade’ concept.”

“Downgrade?”

“Yes. If we start exporting androids with all their capabilities, wouldn’t that create a very unfavorable situation for us? We need to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.”

“Ah!”

Only then did people understand my intention.

Androids exported for military or other purposes are subject to downgrades. If we exported androids without limiting their capabilities, we would naturally face a counterattack, or at least, significant complications.

I shrugged.

“So, the capabilities of androids for general use have been adjusted to 10% of the original, and those for military use to about 15%.”

“You are indeed the Chairman. You’re telling us this because we’ve signed confidentiality agreements, right?”

“Even with confidentiality agreements, I don’t reveal everything about myself. However, this much is known to the intelligence agencies of various countries, so it can’t be considered completely confidential, which is why I’m telling you.”

“It’s truly an amazing invention!”

“It’s not *that* amazing. Android technology is still developing.”

“Hehehe.”

People were speechless and couldn’t respond.

Now, I needed to instill some patriotism in them.

During the Yi Sun-sin Project [a national project likely named after a famous Korean admiral known for his patriotism], I and everyone involved were imbued with patriotism.

This is the modern era. Few people live with as much fervent patriotism as in the past, but instilling it to some extent will increase work efficiency.

Wasn’t I the same?

Ordinary people usually have some patriotism. My job was to amplify that little bit of patriotism.

While 10,000 androids were transporting numerous materials, I asked them,

“Everyone, how do you see the current Republic of Korea?”

“Yes?”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I mean, do you not question whether it is a truly independent country?”

“It is an independent country. Its sovereignty is guaranteed.”

“You are wrong. The Republic of Korea is not an independent country.”

“Yes!?”

People expressed surprise at my statement.

If I wasn’t careful, my ideology might be questioned.

But I calmly continued.

“It is caught between powerful nations and cannot develop proper weapons, and it suffers from various sanctions. If China and the United States fight, the Republic of Korea will be crushed like a shrimp in a whale fight [a Korean idiom for being caught between two powerful forces].”

“…….”

They couldn’t say anything.

It was a fact that most people knew, but they just lived on, thinking it was the sorrow of a powerless country.

In fact, if you didn’t know the behind-the-scenes stories of how the country was run, there was no place as good to live as Korea.

It had a fairly high level of welfare and a stable social system, and the tax rate was lower than in many developed countries. Because it was an economy largely driven by large corporations (chaebols), ordinary people did not perceive the tax rate as particularly high.

It was certainly a great achievement to have grown this much while being mindful of its citizens, but the overbearing influence of powerful countries occasionally aroused public anger.

Because of this, there were once fierce demonstrations against the US, China, and Japan.

All of this is because the country lacks true power.

“What will happen if the country gains power?”

“If we gain power, we will be able to repel such overbearing actions.”

“That’s right. Look at England. A small island nation grew into the British Empire and is still doing well based on that historical power. Our Korea can do it too. Isn’t the current standard for powerful countries economic power? If a country has economic power, power will naturally follow. That is the foundation for becoming a hegemonic country.”

People nodded.

Money was a powerful weapon in the capitalist era.

The reason why the United States is so prosperous is, when you get down to it, because of its economic power.

Through the World Wars, the United States flaunted its wealth to the world.

With the wealth created in that way, it dominated the world and became the superpower it is today. There is no guarantee that Korea cannot become like that.

“I can lift military sanctions.”

“Heo. So the rumors were true?”

“Yes. I have exerted influence over the United States and Russia. Because of that, they are not exerting as much influence on Korea as before. It’s very different from the past.”

“Certainly… it feels looser.”

People in the business world had no choice but to be sensitive to international affairs.

Companies were hit and went bankrupt depending on international affairs, while others succeeded by using those same events as a stepping stone.

They knew this principle well.

“The Republic of Korea *will* have economic power. There is a higher quality oil field than Saudi Arabia here, and if we develop it, we will not only gain huge economic benefits, but also be able to dominate the world with energy. Why do you think Saudi Arabia became the leader of Middle Eastern countries?”

“Oil.”

“That’s right. We will depend on the oil industry for at least 50 years. In that time, Korea will have more than enough time to become a hegemonic country.”

People’s eyes sparkled.

They were engineers and economists at the same time.

So they understood what I was talking about.

Some people blushed and got excited.

If they could change the future of their country with their own hands, patriotism would naturally be instilled. And work efficiency increases.

“The future of the Republic of Korea is in your hands.”

“Leave it to us!”

“Don’t worry!”

“I feel reassured.”

I smiled slightly.

In fact, the future of Korea had little to do with me personally. But if I was going to get involved, it was better to make Korea a powerful country. That way, the company’s power would also become stronger.

“Well! Then please work hard! I have something to do.”

“Goodbye!”

People immediately started moving.

I delegated all rights related to oil field development.

The oil field will be developed smoothly even without me.

Brontia, the capital of the Crystal Empire.

The Brontia Imperial Palace Square was open, and a huge crowd was gathering.

It was unprecedented to hold a coronation publicly, and there was no precedent for opening the Imperial Palace to citizens.

Coronations will be held in this way in the future.

I don’t know how many years I will be on the throne, but the next emperor must also hold a public coronation to prove that public sentiment is not shaken.

“Waaaaa!”

The ceremony was scheduled for noon, but the coronation preparations were underway, and people were already gathering. Many had reportedly set up camp since dawn.

Calvin told me about it.

“Public sentiment is with the Master.”

“Are there any other signs?”

“Public sentiment is not wavering, but there is a problem.”

“Problem? What problem?”

“The Magic Kingdom has sent an envoy. They said they have a message from the Emperor.”

“Ha! An envoy from the Magic Kingdom.”

What a joke.

Who do they think they are to send an envoy here?

I was swallowing half of the continent, and in fact, I didn’t need recognition from other countries. The Calin Empire is the same.

Did the Calin Empire send an envoy too?

“What about the Empire?”

“Ah, the Empire has also come.”

“Why the hell did those guys come?”

“I can’t figure out their intentions, but I can guess to some extent.”

“I’m looking forward to what happens after the coronation.”

“I will prepare a banquet immediately after the ceremony.”

“Do so.”

I passed by the people waving their hands.

Now there was a little over an hour left until the ceremony.

Waiting room before the ceremony.

The coronation wasn’t just me going in and declaring it.

The Emperor and Empress must attend as a matter of course.

Today, Soo-jung and Soo-ah were also with me.

My wife and daughters looked dazzling in the costumes used for the continental ceremony.

“Wow, pretty?”

“Daddy, what about Soo-ah!?”

“Soo-ah is pretty too.”

“Hehe.”

Still, Soo-jung is the oldest, so she doesn’t engage in this kind of competition.

My wife and Soo-ah were in gorgeous golden dresses, and Soo-jung was wearing a silver dress.

In particular, Soo-jung’s silver hair went well with the dress.

I had never seen anyone with silver hair on Earth or the Karen Continent. Her eyes were also silver, so Soo-jung was exuding an aura of mystery today.

I checked Soo-jung’s hair just in case, making sure it was properly styled.

“Soo-jung is pretty too.”

I didn’t say it explicitly, but Soo-jung also smiled, revealing her emotions.

I haven’t allowed the envoys to meet me yet.

When it was time for the coronation, Calvin came in.

“Master. The coronation preparations are complete.”

“What’s the atmosphere like?”

“The public is excited because they don’t know what’s going to happen, but the envoys from the Calin Empire and the Magic Kingdom are glaring at each other as if they’re going to kill each other.”

“Isn’t there going to be a fight?”

“They wouldn’t dare do that in the coronation hall.”

Calvin showed confidence.

The army surrounding the coronation hall for protection alone numbered 10,000. Snipers were stationed in strategic locations, and knight orders were lined up for close protection.

With various high-tech equipment mobilized, it can be said that this is a tremendous force.

The preparation was perfect.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Squeak!

When the door opened, I could see a well-maintained garden.

It is a garden of enormous size that surpasses the garden of the Palace of Versailles.

The Crystal Empire was expanding, and there was plenty of land. Rather, there was a shortage of population, so the capital was designed as large as possible.

Since it was being divided so that at least 1 million people could live there, the capital seemed rather empty.

Even so, it is the capital where hundreds of thousands of people live.

The Imperial Palace Garden, where the coronation was held, was crowded with a huge number of people.

“Waaaaa!”

Cheers erupted as we appeared.

Flowers poured from all directions.

Soo-ah looked around and jumped around, and Lisa had a calm expression.

And Soo-jung was thinking about political matters in the meantime.

“Dad. Since all the envoys are here, shouldn’t we give them a shock?”