After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 51

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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 051

 

The National Intelligence Service was on high alert.

 

“A new nickel mine has been discovered in India.”

 

“What does that have to do with us?”

 

“Representative Choi Kang-hyeon is involved.”

 

“What? Tell me the details.”

 

“Didn’t KH Construction, where Representative Choi Kang-hyeon is the major shareholder, receive a highway construction contract from the Indian government?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“While inspecting the section to be built at the start of that construction, they accidentally discovered a mineral vein. They analyzed the composition of that location. It was found to contain nickel.”

 

Park Myeong-ho, who heard the report, pressed his temples with his hands.

 

“Oh my goodness…”

 

He felt a headache coming on.

 

“No, what is it with that guy? It’s not like he’s finding gold veins while walking down the street, but discovering nickel veins? What’s the reaction from India?”

 

“They’ve sealed off the surrounding area and are essentially detaining the personnel involved.”

 

“Tsk! They’re trying to prevent information from leaking to the outside. Are there Koreans there?”

 

“We understand there are about 5 people, including the KH Construction vice president.”

 

“Contact the embassy there to assess the situation, and find out exactly whether they’re really detained or what the situation is.”

 

“Understood.”

 

If they were really detained, we might have to step in.

 

It probably wouldn’t come to that, but we still needed to assess the situation.

 

“By the way, why do incidents keep breaking out wherever this person is connected?”

 

Park Myeong-ho’s gaze turned to Kang Hyeon’s photo hanging on one wall.

 

‘White oil has been discovered, so things will be noisy again for a while.’

 

Park Myeong-ho gathered his materials and stood up from his seat.

 

This wasn’t information he could keep to himself alone.

 

It was a matter that needed to be reported to higher-ups.

 

* * *

 

On the plane to India.

 

Kang Hyeon first checked the legal issues with Choi Byeon.

 

“If the mineral vein discovered this time is really nickel, the ownership belongs to the Indian government. We can’t claim it.”

 

Under Indian law, it was the same situation even if you owned the land.

 

Kang Hyeon asked Choi Byeon.

 

“What about mining rights?”

 

“We need to request exploration rights before mining rights. Even if a mineral vein is discovered, its value varies depending on the grade of nickel. If the discovered vein contains nickel sulfate and is classified as CLASS1 grade, its value would be astronomical.”

 

CLASS1 grade nickel is used in EV batteries and has scarcity even in the saturated nickel market.

 

“Since Indian law is an area I’m not familiar with, I’ve contacted a friend I studied with in America during college.”

 

He nodded at Choi Byeon’s words.

 

After that, they continued discussing strategy as they headed to India.

 

Just as Kang Hyeon arrived in India and was about to head straight to the hotel.

 

“Representative Choi Kang-hyeon?”

 

When he turned his head at the Korean he heard, Asian men in short-sleeved dress shirts were standing there.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“I’m Manager Han Ho-jun from the Overseas Resource Development Division of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.”

 

He shook hands with the man who identified himself as Han Ho-jun.

 

“I’d like to have a conversation regarding this nickel vein. Do you have a moment?”

 

“Yes, would it be okay to talk while we travel?”

 

“Of course. We’ve prepared a car.”

 

“Let’s take the car we prepared.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

When Kang Hyeon’s group and the Ministry group came out of the airport together, a van was waiting.

 

The interior was modified for VIP protocol, so they could travel comfortably.

 

Once the car started, Manager Han Ho-jun brought up the topic.

 

“I heard the discovered vein contains nickel. Is that true?”

 

“That’s what I was reported as well. But since I haven’t confirmed the site yet, it’s difficult to give a definitive answer.”

 

“I see. How do you plan to negotiate with the Indian government?”

 

“I plan to respond together with local lawyers. Since the Ministry came out, I suppose our government is also very interested?”

 

“Of course. Nickel is called white oil and is used in batteries as well as various industries. Since a Korean company discovered a vein containing this nickel, we can’t help but be interested.”

 

“But doesn’t the mine belong to the Indian government?”

 

“That’s correct. However, the story changes when governments enter negotiations. Exploration rights, mining rights, and even premiums on by-products. There are various benefits.”

 

These were sweet-sounding stories.

 

But Kang Hyeon knew.

 

There was always a price behind such sweet stories.

 

“What does the government want?”

 

“…I’ll speak directly. We need Representative Choi Kang-hyeon’s cooperation. Please prepare a consortium with domestic companies.”

 

Consortium.

 

It meant an alliance formed by two or more companies to participate in joint activities.

 

Asking to prepare a consortium here meant responding to this mine with other companies.

 

‘A consortium…’

 

A proposal he hadn’t considered.

 

He postponed his answer for now.

 

There was risk in accepting the government’s demands when nothing was confirmed yet.

 

‘I need to assess the situation accurately.’

 

First priority was talking with the Indian government.

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

Kang Hyeon visited the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

 

There he met Menon, who had been newly appointed as Minister, after a long time.

 

“Minister, it’s been a while. Congratulations on your appointment as Minister.”

 

“Haha, thank you. Just think of me as someone whose workload has increased compared to before.”

 

Though Menon had become Minister, he didn’t treat Kang Hyeon carelessly.

 

He knew he was a figure close enough to the Indian government to move the Minister.

 

“How are our employees?”

 

“They’ve currently set up camp in a village near the mine. There are some restrictions on movement, but there shouldn’t be any inconvenience.”

 

“Are the movement restrictions due to security issues?”

 

“That’s right. The discovery of this vein is a sensitive matter, so preliminary measures were necessary.”

 

It was understandable since nickel could be a strategic resource.

 

“How will things proceed from now on?”

 

“First, exploration will proceed. We need to know if nickel is really contained and how much reserves there are.”

 

“Is there no problem with the highway construction?”

 

“Haha, even in this situation, you’re thinking of highway construction first?”

 

“That’s my assigned mission.”

 

Menon smiled at Kang Hyeon’s attitude of prioritizing the highway over nickel.

 

“There shouldn’t be major problems with highway construction. After you meet with the Ministry of Mines Minister today, the movement restrictions on your staff will likely be lifted. After that, you can resume inspections.”

 

Fortunately, highway construction wasn’t suspended.

 

Since it was originally off the line, there was no reason for suspension.

 

As the conversation was progressing, a man entered with a knock.

 

“I’m Vikram Singh Rathore from the Ministry of Mines. Nice to meet you.”

 

“I’m Choi Kang Hyeon. I’m the representative of KH Recovery.”

 

“Should I understand that you’re the person in charge of this matter?”

 

“Yes, that’s correct.”

 

President Kang Myeong-gu should have been at this meeting, but he was busy with work in South Korea.

 

So Kang Hyeon met with them as the final decision-maker.

 

“As you know, this mineral vein belongs to the Indian Government. It would be difficult for KH Construction to claim ownership.”

 

A matter of principle.

 

He had also thought of ways to respond to this.

 

“We understand that. We have no intention of making such claims. However, if you grant us exploration rights, we’ll be prepared.”

 

What he would demand were exploration rights.

 

The strategy was to gradually expand their authority from there.

 

“KH Construction has no experience in mining exploration, as I understand?”

 

That was correct.

 

While road construction could somehow be managed by supplementing personnel, mining exploration was a different story.

 

So he had prepared an alternative for this part as well.

 

“We’ll form a consortium. We’ll select Korean companies with extensive mining exploration experience and capable Indian companies to assemble the best team.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Undersecretary Vikram fell into thought for a moment.

 

‘It seems they know about the preemption rights.’

 

His guess was accurate.

 

The day before, Kang Hyeon had met with a local Indian lawyer who was Choi Byeon’s acquaintance to receive legal advice.

 

As a result, he had reached one conclusion.

 

‘We need to use the clause that gives preemption rights to the discoverer.’

 

Under Indian law, it’s illegal for individuals to mine minerals.

 

However, there was a clause called preemption rights that gave priority to the discoverer who first found the mine.

 

The local lawyer had advised that this was the angle they should pursue.

 

Undersecretary Vikram also knew this clause well, so he nodded.

 

“We’ll discuss it positively.”

 

The situation had become one where they could breathe a sigh of relief.

 

* * *

 

In conclusion, that day, the movement restrictions on KH Construction employees were lifted.

 

Thanks to this, he was able to meet Vice President Cha in New Delhi.

 

“You’ve had a hard time, Deputy Representative.”

 

“Not at all. The Indian Government side made sure we could stay comfortably without any inconvenience. The Korean Embassy also helped a lot.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes. They gave legal advice and faithfully served as an intermediary bridge with the Indian Government.”

 

It was unexpected.

 

Complaints about embassies could be easily found on the internet.

 

To think they had provided such active support.

 

“It seems the government also has high expectations for this mine.”

 

He nodded at Choi Byeon’s tip-off.

 

He could understand how the Korean Government viewed this mine.

 

“So, what should we do going forward?”

 

“What does the Indian Government say?”

 

“We claimed exploration priority rights for the original discoverer, and they said they would discuss it positively.”

 

“But don’t we lack exploration experience?”

 

Vice President Cha’s words were the correct answer.

 

So they couldn’t do it alone.

 

“For now, I’m thinking of a consortium. If the Korean Government bridges the gap, we can join hands with domestic companies and begin exploration.”

 

It wasn’t a bad method.

 

The problem was whether they could take the lead.

 

“Negotiations with domestic companies will be important.”

 

“Yes. Since they need us too, they won’t make unreasonable demands.”

 

Exploration of the mine.

 

There was no room for foreign companies to interfere.

 

However, if they, as the original discoverers, were involved, the story would be different.

 

Room for interference would be created, and this could be used as an opportunity to demand mining rights or priority preemption rights.

 

While these were authorities that didn’t immediately matter to KH Construction or Recovery, they weren’t irrelevant to domestic conglomerates that produced batteries.

 

A situation where they were needed to get that far.

 

So he thought they wouldn’t make unreasonable demands.

 

At least until then.

 

* * *

 

A few days later.

 

Kang Hyeon met with LC Energy Resources representatives at a hotel in New Delhi.

 

“I’m Jeon Jun-ho, Global Headquarters Manager of LC Energy Resources.”

 

“I’m Choi Kang-hyeon.”

 

“I’ll speak directly to the point. Regarding this matter, we veterans will handle the negotiations. In return, we demand 60 percent of the consortium’s shares.”

 

Kang Hyeon’s eyes narrowed at their proposal.

 

However, Manager Jeon Jun-ho continued speaking without paying attention.

 

“As you know, our company has extensive experience collaborating with the Indian Government and can provide all the funding. So it seems right that we should take the lead.”

 

Indeed, LC Energy Resources had previously collaborated with the Indian Government on the Odisha Nickel Hub Project.

 

It was such a large project that LC had invested 500 billion won at the time.

 

So they were confident.

 

‘Even without these guys, we can negotiate with the Indian side to get exploration and mining rights.’

 

They had confidence that they could penetrate the Indian Government sufficiently through lobbying.

 

This was the reason for maintaining such a high-handed attitude.

 

The problem was that their counterpart was Kang Hyeon.

 

‘I don’t like this.’

 

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, he didn’t like it.

 

While having confidence was good, their behavior of openly showing that they looked down on them made him think that future collaboration wouldn’t work properly.

 

“We’ll review the proposal.”

 

So he concluded the first negotiation without giving a definitive answer.

 

When Kang Hyeon returned to his room, Choi Byeon approached and asked.

 

“How did it go?”

 

“I said we’d review it and sent them back.”

 

“What about the proposal?”

 

“They demanded 60 percent of the consortium’s shares.”

 

“Huh…”

 

“In other words, aren’t they saying they’ll take everything?”

 

Vice President Cha, who had been listening nearby, spoke up.

 

It was such an accurate assessment that there was nothing to say.

 

Then, Vice President Cha spoke up.

 

“How about utilizing the Barma Group, whose shares you purchased last time?”

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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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