After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 198

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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 198

Not all media were favorable toward Project Amun.

“Project Amun is a human extermination plan disguised as science!”

The main anchor of a global news channel raised his voice with a serious expression.

The screen switched, and a distinguished professor from Harvard’s Department of Astrophysics appeared for an interview.

“Bringing an asteroid with a diameter of 800 meters and a mass of 1 billion tons to low Earth orbit? If the orbital entry angle is off by just 0.1 degrees, the asteroid will be pulled by Earth’s gravity and collide directly with the surface!”

“Are you saying a catastrophe comparable to the extinction of dinosaurs could occur?”

“Of course! It’s absurd to think that KH’s claimed plasma engine thrust alone can perfectly control such enormous mass. This is insane gambling where a single private company is betting with the lives of 8 billion humans!”

Global public opinion, which had been boiling with rosy expectations, was turning into cold suspicion and fear within just a few days.

Beijing, China, Zhongnanhai Presidential Office.

Watching the heated reports from Western media flowing from the wall screen, a deep smile spread across Chairman Zhao Qian’s lips.

“Quite entertaining to watch.”

The Propaganda Department Head standing beside him bowed his head and reported triumphantly.

“As instructed, we’ve extensively distributed Chinese money to mainstream Western media and academia. The public opinion war defining KH’s project as an anti-humanitarian terrorist act is working perfectly.”

“What’s the reaction from America?”

“Civic groups and environmental organizations are holding daily protests in Washington. They’re pressuring the Edwin administration, asking if they’ll destroy humanity. We’ve also reached out to the UN Space Committee. Soon, an international recommendation to completely halt Project Amun will be adopted.”

Zhao Qian nodded with satisfaction.

“Choi Kang-hyeon. He’s dug his own grave quite thoroughly. Trying to play the savior of Earth, he’s about to become the enemy of all humanity.”

“Yes, Comrade Chairman. No matter how overwhelming the capital, money cannot cover global fear and hatred. Before even launching tugboats into orbit, KH’s stock price will plummet, and shareholders will tear Choi Kang-hyeon apart first.”

Zhao Qian leisurely picked up the teacup from the table and commanded.

“Keep stoking the fire. Make that arrogant Asian giant eventually kneel before us Chinese, who hold the earth, and beg for mercy.”

Seoul, South Korea, KH Headquarters VVIP Office.

Ha-ryul displayed the continuously pouring global negative public opinion data on the hologram screen.

“Chairman. Media and organizations funded by Chinese capital are systematically leading opposition protests. The extreme fear marketing of asteroid collision is causing unrest among ordinary people worldwide.”

“…”

“International pressure is mounting to temporarily postpone tomorrow’s scheduled tugboat launch. If we proceed as planned, there’s a risk that shareholders of tenant companies like Apple and Pfizer will also become unsettled.”

Despite Ha-ryul’s urgent report, Kang Hyeon only leaned back deeply into the sofa, gazing out the window.

“Let them bark.”

“Pardon? But if public opinion deteriorates like this…”

“In the face of money, there’s no petty morality or public fear. The moment the results appear overhead, those experts and media outlets crying about human extinction will be the first to open their wallets and pour out praise articles.”

Kang Hyeon turned off the screen without hesitation and picked up the direct phone on his desk.

-Ulsan R&D headquarters, this is Nathan!

Nathan’s voice coming through the receiver was filled with cheerful excitement, completely untainted by the fear sweeping the world.

“Are the tugboat launch preparations complete?”

-Haha! The whole world is calling my babies terrorist weapons, but don’t worry about it! There’s no such thing as error in Nereid’s quantum calculations! I’ll place it right next to Orbital One without even a centimeter deviation!

“No need to waste time. Launch it.”

-Okay! Starting countdown!

Kang Hyeon switched the phone to speakerphone.

Nathan’s cheerful countdown echoed throughout the office.

-3, 2, 1! Plasma engines, simultaneous ignition!

At that moment, the large monitor in the office switched to real-time footage from the space control center.

There were no murky red flames of conventional chemical rockets.

Instead, blindingly transparent and fierce blue particles tore through the vacuum of pitch-black space.

Three plasma tugboats for humanity’s largest physical hunt traced perfect trajectories toward deep space and soon reached their destination.

-Three tugboats, perfect landing in test orbit! Firing harpoons toward the first target dummy celestial body!

After a moment, breaking the silence, Nathan’s excited voice struck the office.

-Hit! Plasma engines simultaneous ignition! Orbital change values, zero error rate with Nereid’s calculations! Demonstration test perfectly successful! Now we can definitely handle a 1-billion-ton real asteroid!

Amid Nathan’s cheers echoing, Kang Hyeon silently turned around.

The blue light from the large screen rippled over his cold eyes. It was the moment when the perfect feasibility of the project was clearly proven to the world before actual deployment.

“President Lim Kwang-ho.”

At Kang Hyeon’s call, KH Capital President Lim Kwang-ho, who had been waiting in one corner of the office, stepped forward.

Though he was a longtime friend more casual than anyone in private settings, his attitude was thoroughly that of a professional manager in this official setting involving massive capital movements.

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Now that the test has ended successfully, it’s time to kill the market.”

Kang Hyeon’s dry voice echoed through the office.

“Mobilize all surplus cash that KH holds.”

“Which sector should we deploy to?”

“London Metal Exchange copper, titanium, nickel. Short sell to the maximum in all commodity futures markets where China has cornered and artificially inflated prices.”

At Kang Hyeon’s instruction to short sell, the corner of Kwangho’s mouth curved up.

“You’re really going to overturn the board.”

Kwangho quickly calculated market flows in his head, showing the sharp gleam characteristic of traders.

“Futures markets move entirely on psychological expectations about future supply. Since it’s just been proven that near-infinite supply bombs can pour from space, traders in London and New York will frantically throw sell orders as soon as markets open tomorrow.”

“The physical inventory China has accumulated will become poison instead.”

“Exactly. They’re probably holding excessive long positions to defend prices, but if we preemptively hit them with shorts and collapse prices, they absolutely won’t be able to withstand margin calls.”

Kwangho took out his tablet and rapidly tapped the screen.

“Once they can’t fill margin requirements and forced liquidations start, perfect chain collapse will occur. You’ll see China’s dirt piles accumulated in warehouses over 8 months become perfect toxic inventory rotting away. I’ll immediately set maximum leverage on 3-month futures contracts.”

“Proceed.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Kwangho’s steps leaving the office were lighter than ever.

“Chairman. London, New York, and Chicago commodity exchanges. We’ve completed building short positions on copper, titanium, and nickel futures through all possible routes.”

KH Capital President Lim Kwang-ho reported, placing his tablet on the table.

His usual good-natured smile was nowhere to be found.

“We’ve applied maximum leverage to all surplus funds KH Capital can mobilize. The short position volume we hold alone is sufficient to crush the market. Now you just need to throw the spark into the market.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Kang Hyeon nodded and turned his gaze toward Ha-ryul standing beside him.

“Ha-ryul Manager. Immediately distribute press releases to global press.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Declare that Project Amun’s first demonstration test was perfectly successful. Release all orbital change data Dr. Nathan sent and tugboat telemetry footage to the world without leaving anything out.”

As soon as the order was given, KH’s official announcement was transmitted to global media desks.

And just 5 minutes later, global financial markets began convulsing.

“LME copper 3-month futures, 10 percent crash! Hitting lower limit!”

“Titanium futures prices in vertical freefall! Buy orders completely empty! Everyone’s throwing volume like crazy!”

While Wall Street traders screamed, commodity price graphs that had been soaring toward the ceiling plummeted instantly like being pushed off a cliff. The fear that 1 billion tons of supply would pour from space completely shattered the futures market’s psychological expectations.

Beijing, China, Zhongnanhai Presidential Office.

“Ch-Chairman Comrade! The commodity futures market is collapsing! KH Capital is leading massive short selling while global panic selling pours in!”

The National Development and Reform Commission Director burst in with a pale face.

Chairman Zhao Qian’s brow furrowed menacingly. The fountain pen he was holding broke with a snap.

“Test success? The market is shaking over that pathetic video of launching a few unmanned ships and slightly changing some rock’s orbit?”

“One billion tons! It’s because of market psychological fear that near-infinite supply will be released from space! If we don’t defend prices immediately, the physical inventory we expensively accumulated will become perfect waste paper!”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Zhao Qian roared, striking the desk hard with his fist.

“Mobilize all international organizations! Use all the funds we’ve spread to the UN Space Committee and environmental groups! Use the risk of asteroid collision as justification to get a complete sanctions resolution against Project Amun by tomorrow!”

The next day, global news channels frantically poured out conflicting breaking news influenced by Zhao Qian.

[UN Space Committee preparing sanctions against KH Group’s Project Amun! “Unauthorized space experiment threatening humanity!”]

[International Environmental and Astronomical Societies: “Earth catastrophe will strike if orbit deviates.” Urging halt to additional tugboat launches!]

Markets fell into extreme chaos. When news spread that sanctions would pass and asteroid capture would fail, plummeting commodity prices fluctuated again, attempting abnormal rebounds.

“Chairman, China is forcibly defending prices by taking long positions with massive sovereign wealth fund money.”

Kwangho reported while monitoring the fluctuating monitors with sharp eyes.

“If international sanctions are formalized, market sentiment could reverse. Everything in this chicken game depends on whether Project Amun will be executed. The market needs certainty now. Overwhelming assurance that the asteroid can really, safely come to Earth.”

“Assurance.”

Kang Hyeon silently approached the desk and picked up the White House direct hotline receiver.

After several rings, the voice of America’s highest authority connected from across the Pacific Ocean.

-Mister Choi. Washington is quite noisy right now too. Opposition lawmakers are causing an uproar saying your massive space mine might fall right into the middle of New York.

President Edwin’s tired voice came through the receiver.

“Surely you don’t believe China’s third-rate novel-like propaganda, Mr. President.”

-Of course not. But I need what’s called political justification to make me move.

“You mean the only justification to stop Zhao Qian’s rampage that’s strangling American companies.”

Edwin fell silent for a moment at Kang Hyeon’s dry and direct manner of speaking.

“Core American companies including Pfizer and Apple are desperately waiting only for the raw materials that will pour from my space mine. Prices for ordinary Americans have doubled because of China’s dirt games. If you want to end their games, you’ll need to put aside half-hearted observation and provide direct covering fire.”

-Covering fire, you say.

“I need the authority of the United States of America, and NASA’s name.”

For the past 8 months. Due to China’s blatant weaponization and control of resources, America’s economic indicators had plummeted, and Edwin’s approval ratings were also experiencing their worst crisis.

He had nothing left to lose.

-…Fine. Let’s properly overturn the board for once.

The next morning, White House Main Briefing Room, Washington D.C., USA.

Hundreds of foreign correspondents packed the narrow room at news of President Edwin’s unannounced direct briefing.

As soon as Edwin took the podium with a stern expression, dense formulas and orbital simulation data appeared on the massive screen behind him.

“Recently, unscientific and malicious fear-mongering has continued regarding KH Group’s Project Amuun.”

Edwin’s heavy voice echoed through the briefing room, cutting through the flash sounds.

“This orbital analysis data behind me is the result of direct cross-verification of KH’s data by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA’s top astrophysicists.”

The room buzzed as reporters’ typing speeds increased frantically.

“As a result of NASA’s rigorous simulations, we have reached the clear conclusion that Project Amuun’s orbital control system is mathematically perfect, with no possibility of collision with Earth’s atmosphere.”

Edwin gripped the podium firmly and declared into the microphone as if driving in a wedge.

“Therefore, the U.S. Government officially gives full support to KH Group’s great challenge that will permanently solve humanity’s raw material crisis. Furthermore, we clearly state that the United States of America will exercise veto power against any unjust international sanctions movements without scientific basis.”

Amid a downpour of camera flashes, Edwin turned and left the briefing room.

‘The die is cast.’

All betting was over.

Now all that remained was to watch what results would come.

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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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