After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 167

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Got Divorced and Found a Thousand Bitcoins Episode 167

A few days later.

Underground Security Meeting Room at the Government Seoul Office.

Heavy iron doors closed, completely cutting off all connection to the outside.

Kang Hyeon and Choi Minister sat facing each other across the table.

“You were right, Chairman.”

Deep fatigue was evident on Choi Minister’s face.

His under-eyes were darkly sunken as if he hadn’t slept for several nights.

“I moved immediately after receiving your contact. I assembled world-class geologists and completed cross-verification.”

“How did the results turn out?”

Kang Hyeon calmly asked, placing his clasped hands on the table.

“Desperate. The magma chamber beneath Mount Baekdu is expanding toward a critical point.”

Choi Minister swallowed dryly and pushed a thick report across the table.

The data gathered at the government level was far more threatening than general academic expectations.

“The time bomb’s timer has been moved up earlier than expected.”

“The experts’ unanimous opinion was that it wouldn’t be strange if it erupted tomorrow.”

Kang Hyeon’s gaze calmly settled as he turned the first page of the report.

Choi Minister lifted his teacup with trembling hands.

“If it explodes, not only the Korean Peninsula but all of Northeast Asia will be paralyzed. The economic damage would be impossible to calculate.”

“I’m aware. So has the government’s position been decided?”

Kang Hyeon answered briefly and closed the report.

There was no panic or exaggerated reaction.

It was merely the dry confirmation of a manager facing a reality he had already foreseen.

“This is a catastrophe that cannot be prevented by the power of a single company or government alone.”

Choi Minister spoke firmly as he set down his teacup.

His voice carried the desperation of a bureaucrat responsible for national security.

“Astronomical capital and technology. And we simultaneously need diplomatic justification to proceed with work inside North Korean territory.”

“I share the same thoughts.”

Kang Hyeon nodded.

He had already received the first simulation results through Nathan and David.

“To prevent the explosion, we need to drain the water from Cheonji and drill holes in the crust to lower gas pressure.”

“It would be an enormous scale of civil engineering work.”

“Yes. The terrain is treacherous and it’s a high-temperature volcanic zone. There are clear limits to deploying conventional manpower.”

Choi Minister nodded in agreement with Kang Hyeon’s assessment.

“That’s why we need a massive organization that transcends nations and ideologies.”

“You mean a supranational organization?”

“A dedicated agency to proceed with this physical construction work at speed. An independent team combining capital and technology must move.”

Choi Minister gravely agreed with Kang Hyeon’s accurate grasp of reality.

In a time-pressed situation, they couldn’t afford to be held back by power struggles or administrative procedures.

“So the government has made a decision.”

Choi Minister stood up and bowed his head toward Kang Hyeon.

“We will delegate full authority for this Mount Baekdu project to Chairman Choi Kang-hyeon.”

It was an unprecedented proposal.

It meant handing over complete command of disaster response involving the nation’s fate to a private businessman.

But Kang Hyeon wasn’t greatly surprised and gazed at him calmly.

“You mean to simplify the approval process by combining responsibility and authority into one.”

“Correct. The government will spare no administrative support to enable KH Group’s operations.”

Kang Hyeon lightly tapped the table.

Realistic barriers still remained.

“Including diplomatic issues?”

Kang Hyeon hit the nail on the head.

Mount Baekdu is located on the border between North Korea and China.

For KH Group’s drilling equipment and numerous personnel to enter, permission from both countries was absolutely necessary.

“That’s right. The South Korean government will take full charge of the most difficult diplomatic persuasion of China and North Korea.”

Choi Minister answered with firm resolve.

“The President will move personally. We will mobilize all back channels to secure cooperation from both countries without fail.”

“The justification is sufficient. They wouldn’t want their own territory turned to ash either.”

Choi Minister nodded at Kang Hyeon’s straightforward analysis.

In the face of survival, even systemic competition loses its meaning.

“If you open the justification and path, I will also make a firm promise.”

Kang Hyeon stood up and met Choi Minister’s gaze.

“KH Group will pour all its capital and technology into this project. Orbis’s robot technology for working in extreme environments and Nereid’s cooling technology to control geothermal heat will all be deployed.”

Massive cooperation transcending ideology and systems.

The division of roles to prevent catastrophe was very clearly established.

The government would open the firmly closed border gates, and Kang Hyeon would cross those gates to implement methods to cool the magma.

“I’ll form an integrated response team starting tomorrow. We’ll begin recruiting global experts and procuring equipment.”

“Please, Chairman.”

Choi Minister exhaled a sigh of relief and firmly grasped Kang Hyeon’s hand.

“South Korea’s fate rests in your two hands, Chairman.”

“The things I must protect are on this land.”

Kang Hyeon answered briefly and plainly.

Heavy responsibility crossed between the two men shaking hands.

Kang Hyeon quietly took out his smartphone as he left the meeting room.

Since the government had entered diplomatic warfare, the company had to begin practical work without delay.

‘First, I need to gather geologists and drilling specialists.’

There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in Kang Hyeon’s steps.

Even facing the approaching massive natural disaster, his reason remained calmly maintained.

A supranational team combining capital and knowledge.

The practical work to assemble that ark had just begun.

As soon as orders were given, KH Group’s massive infrastructure meshed together like gears.

Equipment and personnel lists collected from around the world were updated in real-time in Kang Hyeon’s office.

“We’ve completed contracts with twelve authorities in geology and volcanology, including Dr. David.”

Kim Ha-ryul reported while flipping through tablet screens.

“We’ve also finished recruiting top-tier drilling technicians who worked in Texas oil fields and the North Sea in the United States. We accepted all their demands for blank check-level salaries and hazard pay.”

“How is equipment procurement going?”

Kang Hyeon asked while quickly signing documents spread on the table.

“We’ve currently purchased eight special heat-resistant drilling rigs.”

Team Manager Lim Gi-cheol immediately continued the answer.

“We’re also sweeping up all market inventory of tungsten carbide drill bits and special alloy casings that can withstand ultra-high temperatures. Since they’re so massive, we’re renting several large Antonov transport aircraft from Russia to carry them.”

“Designate the assembly point as the military control zone near Gangwon-do Cheorwon. This matter has been coordinated with the Department of Defense and Blue House. Security must be maintained thoroughly.”

“Understood. I’ll modify the transport routes immediately.”

Astronomical capital was evaporating into thin air in just a few days.

But Kang Hyeon didn’t bat an eye even seeing the trillion-won amounts stamped on approval documents.

To him, money was merely a means to achieve an end.

If they could prevent the catastrophe of Mount Baekdu’s eruption, this level of expenditure was naturally an investment cost that had to be paid.

‘But at this rate, cash liquidity will dry up quickly.’

Kang Hyeon quietly finished his calculations as he put down his pen.

Massive funds were already being invested in Smart City in India, Saemangeum Space Launch Pad, and Metropolitan Robot Factory construction.

To endlessly purchase special equipment for working in extreme environments and even hire mercenary-level security personnel to control the site, more immediate ammunition was needed.

Kang Hyeon stood up without hesitation.

KH Capital Headquarters Top Floor Trading Room.

Kang Hyeon entered the massive space where dozens of monitors filled the walls completely.

Dozens of traders who had been absorbed in their work held their breath and watched only his lips.

Kang Hyeon’s gaze quickly swept across the global stock market display board.

Soon, the names of countless stocks floated up in his retina with distinct colors.

Red light signaling rises.

Blue light hinting at declines.

An intuitive ability to see through the short-term direction of stock prices.

“NASDAQ futures will enter a bull market for the time being.”

Kang Hyeon pointed to a sector that had turned red on one side of the monitor and spoke dryly.

“Buy all energy-related stocks including crude oil and natural gas. Oil price volatility will increase.”

“Yes, Chairman! I’ll sweep up the entire energy sector at market price.”

Tens of billions of dollars in massive capital poured into the market at once.

Kang Hyeon’s eyes now turned to stocks tinged with deep blue.

“Semiconductors and healthcare are facing strong downward pressure.”

Kang Hyeon continued his instructions while taking off his jacket and hanging it on a chair.

“Dump all the holdings we have and immediately switch to short positions. Pull leverage to the maximum we can handle.”

Tap, tap.

The sound of keyboards being struck filled the trading room tensely like rain.

Kang Hyeon’s instructions matched the market flow perfectly without a single error.

Red-tinged stocks surged, and blue stocks plummeted without exception.

In just a few hours, massive profits accumulated in accounts like waterfalls.

It was a precise and overwhelming blitz that sucked the essence from short-term volatility.

“Current short-term profits have surpassed 400 million dollars.”

Kwangho, who had been commanding the trading room, approached with an excited face to report.

“The market volatility is so high that the profit rate is no joke. At this rate, we could buy several more drilling rigs.”

“Cash it all out and immediately transfer it to the Mount Baekdu project dedicated account.”

Kang Hyeon nodded calmly while loosening his tie slightly.

Capital, equipment, and manpower.

The physical preparations he was in charge of were running perfectly with mechanical precision.

Now all that remained was the government’s diplomatic achievement of opening North Korea’s borders.

Buzz- Buzz-

Just as he returned to his office and was about to catch his breath, the secure smartphone on his desk vibrated.

The caller was Minister Choi.

Kang Hyeon confirmed the name on the screen and immediately pressed the call button.

“Equipment assembly and technical team formation are over 80 percent complete. How is the situation on your end?”

-Chairman. We’re in big trouble.

Minister Choi’s voice through the receiver had completely lost its usual composure and was cracking.

“What’s the matter?”

-There seems to be room to somehow persuade China. They’re also concerned about direct damage to the Manchuria region from Mount Baekdu’s eruption. But… North Korea is the problem.

“Is North Korea’s reaction not good?”

Kang Hyeon asked, furrowing his brow.

-It’s not just a matter of poor reaction. Just now, North Korea unilaterally shut down all external diplomatic channels completely.

Minister Choi added desperately while breathing heavily.

-The New York channel, Beijing’s back-channel networks, even Panmunjom’s direct hotline have all been cut off. They’re ignoring all our diplomatic notes and urgent dialogue requests.

“Is there any understanding of why they cut off communications?”

-None at all. It’s not simply faulty communication equipment, but complete silence as if they pulled out all the cables. North Korea has completely locked its doors now.

Complete isolation.

North Korea, the center of the disaster, had closed its own eyes and ears.

If the doors won’t open, no matter how much capital and drilling equipment is gathered, it’s all useless.

The legal pathway to push equipment and personnel into North Korean territory has disappeared entirely.

-The President was also greatly flustered. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Intelligence Service are fully mobilized attempting contact, but at this rate, we can’t even promise when communication will be established.

“Understood. Please continue trying while monitoring the situation.”

It was time to find a new breakthrough.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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