After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 175

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

I Got Divorced and Found a Thousand Bitcoins Episode 175

Washington D.C. had transformed into a massive festival ground.

Delegations from around the world flocked to celebrate Edwin, who had become the new master of the White House.

Ambassadors and special envoys from various countries competed to knock on the White House doors.

The president-elect’s schedule was divided down to the minute.

However, the first person Edwin granted a private audience to was not the leaders of G7 nations.

“Mr. Choi. I wanted to see you first above all others.”

Edwin postponed his lunch appointment with the British Prime Minister and welcomed Kang Hyeon.

A young Asian tycoon receiving thorough courtesy from America’s number one in the power hierarchy.

This unprecedented move immediately sent shockwaves through Washington’s political and diplomatic circles.

‘Just how much capital control does that man possess?’

The gazes of ambassadors from various countries turned toward Kang Hyeon in unison.

Supranational power that transcended being merely the owner of a global corporation.

Intelligence agencies from Europe and the Middle East competed to send urgent cables to their home countries.

Kang Hyeon’s name was immediately registered on the top VIP lists of intelligence agencies and foreign ministries of various nations.

A private reception room in the White House Guest House.

Premium champagne was placed on the table, but Kang Hyeon did not lift his glass.

He calmly gazed at Edwin with his clasped hands resting on his knees.

“Congratulations on your successful entry, President-elect.”

“It’s all thanks to the Chairman’s decisive action.”

Edwin smiled broadly as he took a sip of champagne.

“KH’s massive investment in Texas perfectly swept up the swing state votes. Even within the Republican Party, praise for the Chairman continues endlessly.”

“I don’t need the party’s praise.”

Kang Hyeon curtly cut off Edwin’s words.

It was a sharp strike that stripped away exaggerated rhetoric.

“The purpose of my visit here is to present the bill you promised during your congressional days.”

Deregulation of space launch vehicles, suppression of humanoid robot introduction legislation, and free provision of sites and power for ultra-large AI data centers.

Three conditions that would monopolize America’s entire future industrial structure.

Edwin’s smile faded slightly as a serious light appeared in his eyes.

“Of course I haven’t forgotten. Do I look like a politician with so little integrity?”

Edwin leaned forward over the table.

“I’ve classified it as the top priority national agenda to be handled first after inauguration. There will be resistance from existing bureaucrats and Congress, but I’ll clear the path even if I have to use presidential executive orders.”

“Delays would be troublesome.”

Kang Hyeon replied, leaning back against the sofa.

“Capital is about speed warfare. The moment the President’s signature falls, KH’s funds and personnel are ready to cover American soil with all preparations complete.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Choi.”

Edwin assured with a firm voice.

“Your capital will never be stopped by regulations. The master of the White House guarantees it.”

A few days later.

The official term of the 48th US President Edwin began.

He left his first signature on the approval documents in the Oval Office.

It was neither a welfare bill nor a tax reform plan.

[Special Executive Order for Comprehensive Relaxation of FAA Private Space Launch Regulations and AI Industry Infrastructure Support.]

Edwin fulfilled his promise exactly.

It was an unprecedented and swift deregulation in US political history.

Backlash erupted from the existing aerospace industry and labor unions, but it was merely meaningless echoes before the mighty presidential power right after election.

As soon as the executive order was activated, the tightly locked American market opened wide before KH Group.

“The executive order approval has come through.”

Top floor office of KH Group headquarters in Seoul.

Ha-ryul reported with an excited face, setting down his tablet.

“The FAA immediately approved Astra’s Texas space base launch permit. Altitude restrictions and launch frequency limits have all been lifted.”

“What about the robot factory?”

Kang Hyeon asked without taking his eyes off the monitor.

“It’s been confirmed that the federal government will provide full budget support for power grid construction to the site. The AI data center’s power grid has also been approved for a fast track directly connecting to nuclear power plants.”

“Good.”

Kang Hyeon lightly closed the stack of documents and put down his pen.

Only the satisfaction of one who had confirmed the spoils of war that should naturally be seized crossed his lips.

‘Unlimited expansion rights obtained by betting trillions of won.’

The vast territory called America had transformed into KH Group’s forward base.

Now the leash of regulations had disappeared. What remained was only overwhelming capital’s speed warfare.

“Issue instructions to all affiliates immediately.”

Kang Hyeon slowly rose from his seat.

“Load all remaining Astra launch vehicle components onto large transport aircraft and send them to Texas. Also prepare Orbis’s robot production lines for immediate local operation in America.”

“Yes, Chairman. I’ll immediately mobilize capital and personnel.”

Ha-ryul hurriedly left the office.

A flag planted in the heart of the world beyond Korea.

Now there was no longer any justification on Earth that could stop Kang Hyeon’s expansion.

As soon as Edwin’s presidential signature fell, KH Group’s capital crossed the Pacific Ocean.

A carpet bombing of tens of billions of dollars in cash.

The barren deserts of Texas and the factory districts of Ohio began to be excavated simultaneously.

A market where the breakwater of regulations had disappeared was the best prey for capital to devour.

Kang Hyeon selected Team Manager Lee Gi-cheol as the overall director of this massive US expansion project.

“I delegate all authority of the US local corporation to you.”

Kang Hyeon instructed Lee Gi-cheol before his departure.

“The space launch base in Texas and the robot production line in Ohio. Bring up the infrastructure construction of both locations in the shortest time possible. I’ll approve funding as you desire.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Chairman.”

Lee Gi-cheol bowed briefly without adding lengthy words.

He was from the Future Strategy Office, the heart of Saseng Group, which had once been South Korea’s number one conglomerate.

A perfect ace who had led Saseng’s global projects from the front lines.

A rational mind who knew the workings of massive organizations better than anyone and specialized in distributing capital in the trillions of won without error.

Now it was time for that sharp blade to shed Saseng’s shell and gleam under KH’s flag.

Near Boca Chica Beach, Texas, USA.

Under the scorching sun approaching 40 degrees Celsius, an endless massive construction site stretched out.

Astra’s ultra-large space launch vehicle base. And the framework of the AI data center that would control it was rapidly rising.

A temporary container office at the site.

Lee Gi-cheol, wearing a hard hat, roughly threw a stack of documents onto the dust-covered table.

“The construction progress is delayed by 4 percent from expectations.”

Lee Gi-cheol’s gaze turned toward the American local construction company executive sitting across from him.

“Why has the reinforced concrete pouring work been delayed by three whole days?”

“Mr. Lee. There’s been a slight bottleneck in the local Texas material supply chain. The subcontractor’s transportation union announced a strike…”

The American executive made excuses while breaking out in cold sweat.

Federal government regulations had been lifted, but petty power struggles and union obstinacy at the site remained.

However, Lee Gi-cheol had no intention of listening to such obvious excuses.

“Contract Article 4, Clause 2. Subcontractor strikes or supply chain issues are entirely your company’s responsibility.”

Lee Gi-cheol brought up the tablet screen and pushed it toward the executive’s eyes.

“If you can’t restore the delayed construction progress by 9 AM tomorrow, the contract with your company will be immediately terminated.”

“What, what did you say? Do you think there are other alternatives that can handle this massive workload!”

“Why wouldn’t there be alternatives?”

Lee Gi-cheol replied in an indifferent voice.

“Just prepare to pay the penalty and leave. I’ve already completed preliminary contracts with three large Mexican construction companies that can be deployed tomorrow. Their labor costs are half of yours, and they’ve unconditionally accepted even overnight continuous work.”

The executive’s face turned ashen gray.

Lee Gi-cheol’s way of handling business had become far more ruthless and sophisticated than during his days at Saseng’s Future Strategy Office.

He calculated all risks at the site in advance and wielded replaceable Plan Bs that could be deployed at any time.

It was merciless power abuse and perfect control made possible by KH’s massive cash liquidity.

“I, I understand. I’ll somehow fill the quota by tonight.”

The American executive hurriedly gathered his documents with a pale face and rushed out of the office.

Lee Gi-cheol immediately straightened his tie and called the Site Manager at the Ohio robot factory.

-This is the Site Manager, Executive Director.

“How far has the parts assembly line setup progressed?”

-Main conveyor belt installation is complete. We’ll begin test operations of Orbis’s production robot arms tomorrow morning.

The report coming through the receiver was smooth.

Lee Gi-cheol quietly looked down at the infrastructure map of the entire United States spread across his desk.

On the highways that Edwin had opened up, the massive truck called KH Group was speeding without any speed limits.

“Distribute the hiring announcements through the Federal Government employment centers today. Set the hourly wage at industry-leading levels, and extensively leak to local media about the job creation effects that KH’s investment will bring.”

Crushing with capital while simultaneously soothing local public sentiment with money.

It was the perfect diversionary tactic that he, a former strategic mastermind of Saseng, excelled at most.

Under Lee Gi-cheol’s command, the American expansion project was taking root fiercely without a single error.

At the same time. Top floor office of KH Group headquarters in Seoul.

While Lee Gi-cheol was breathing harsh dust and laying the groundwork across the Pacific, Kang Hyeon was fitting together pieces of another map’s puzzle.

On his desk, a hologram display showing a map of Taiwan was rotating.

Kim Ha-ryul began his report while organizing data that had come from Taiwan.

“Taiwan logistics expansion project, Phase 1 infrastructure construction completed.”

As Kim Ha-ryul flipped through the tablet screen, massive red dotted lines connecting Taiwan’s major cities appeared.

“Construction permits for four main hub terminals connecting Taipei and Kaohsiung have been approved. KH Logistics’s automated sorting systems and Orbis’s logistics robots have been fully deployed.”

“Was there no backlash from local companies?”

Kang Hyeon asked while resting his chin on his hand.

During the past Taiwan crisis when the economy was severely shaken, Kang Hyeon had swept up Taiwan’s collapsed logistics network at bargain prices with massive capital.

“Since we’ve already acquired and merged all the local small and medium courier companies that were on the verge of bankruptcy right after the crisis, there are no forces left to resist.”

Kim Ha-ryul continued his answer calmly.

“Rather, the introduction of KH’s advanced logistics system has reduced delivery costs by more than 30 percent. The Taiwan Government is also providing full tax benefits, viewing it as a driving force to revive the collapsed domestic economy.”

The completion of perfect monopoly.

They had penetrated the capital vacuum to seize infrastructure and completely closed entry barriers with technological prowess.

As Kang Hyeon had calculated, the logistics network that was no different from Taiwan’s bloodstream had come entirely under KH’s control.

“What are the initial service simulation results?”

“Half-day delivery beyond same-day delivery showed a 98 percent success rate across all of Taiwan. Last-mile delivery tests linking drones and robots also stayed within the margin of error.”

Kim Ha-ryul’s report was flawless.

From infrastructure construction to local legal system reviews and technical stability, everything was meshing together perfectly.

Kang Hyeon quietly gazed at the KH logistics network that had painted all of Taiwan red on the display.

They had seized control of Taiwan, the logistics hub of Northeast Asia.

This didn’t simply mean they were going into the courier business.

It meant that KH Group had established a tollbooth at the massive gateway where Taiwan’s semiconductors and electronic components extend out to the entire world.

“As of this moment, we officially launch logistics services across all of Taiwan.”

Kang Hyeon picked up his pen and signed the final approval documents.

The scratching sound of the fountain pen lightly echoed through the quiet office.

“Instruct the Taiwan Corporation. For the first month of launch, conduct aggressive promotions at half the level of local logistics rates. Completely crush and kill off the buds of remaining competing companies.”

“Yes, Chairman. I’ll execute it immediately.”

Kang Hyeon pushed the signed documents toward Kim Ha-ryul.

They had erected the framework of space and AI in the heart of the American continent and seized control of the bloodstream of Taiwan, Asia’s heart.

‘Now the real beginning starts.’

KH Group’s global expansion had only just begun.

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