After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 55

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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 055

 

Intercontinental India.

 

It was one of the 5-star hotels in New Delhi.

 

Asian people were gathered and sitting in the lounge there.

 

It was Lee Tae-sik’s group from SS Battery, including Kang Hyeon.

 

At first, only they were sitting there, but soon additional personnel arrived.

 

“President!”

 

A man approached with an urgent voice.

 

It was Manager Jeon Jun-ho.

 

As if he had been running, his breathing was rough.

 

However, Kang Hyeon could see it.

 

‘Acting like this without shedding a single drop of sweat…’

 

His breathing was rough, but he wasn’t sweating.

 

He probably came comfortably by car to the front of the hotel, leisurely took the elevator up to the lounge floor, and started running from there.

 

The picture was clear, but he let it be.

 

‘You came at just the right timing.’

 

He shifted his gaze to look at Lee Tae-sik sitting across from him.

 

Displeasure crossed his previously relaxed expression.

 

The sudden appearance of a competitor must have been unpleasant.

 

He didn’t hide it.

 

“How rude.”

 

At the single phrase uttered in a deep voice, Manager Jeon Jun-ho’s expression hardened.

 

“President Lee, it’s been a while. I’m Jeon Jun-ho, Global Manager of LC Energy Resources.”

 

“So you’re from LC Energy Resources? You were so rude I thought some thug had come.”

 

“…I apologize for suddenly barging in, but your words are excessive.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Lee Tae-sik’s expression hardened.

 

Even if they weren’t from the same company, for a mere manager to speak that way to another company’s president.

 

It was behavior that went against courtesy.

 

However, Jeon Jun-ho bypassed Lee Tae-sik and spoke to Kang Hyeon to carry out his mission.

 

“President, I came because there are modifications to the conditions I mentioned before. Let’s talk with us again…!”

 

“I’m in the middle of a conversation with President Lee Tae-sik of SS Battery, so Manager Jeon, please have a discussion with our Vice President.”

 

“Hmm…!”

 

Just as he was about to say something, Vice President Cha Tae-hun approached.

 

“Manager, please come this way.”

 

“But…”

 

“Come, come this way.”

 

Manager Jeon Jun-ho being led away by Vice President Cha Tae-hun’s hand looked like a pet dog whose owner had been stolen by another dog.

 

Kang Hyeon ignored Manager Jeon Jun-ho and continued his conversation with President Lee Tae-sik.

 

“There was a brief commotion.”

 

“Indeed. Shall we continue our discussion?”

 

“Yes. You said SS Battery also wants to participate in the consortium?”

 

“That’s right. We’re willing to meet all the conditions you want. Please just let us participate in the consortium.”

 

It was unexpected.

 

Usually, when thinking of chaebol family members, one would imagine them being full of pride.

 

They often appeared that way in the media.

 

However, Lee Tae-sik maintained a humble attitude.

 

‘Considering he showed a high-handed attitude toward Manager Jeon just now, it means he’s that desperate.’

 

Originally, in deals, you shouldn’t reveal all your cards.

 

The moment all your cards are exposed, there’s no room for negotiation.

 

But Lee Tae-sik was revealing all his cards.

 

This meant one thing.

 

‘It means he’s that desperate.’

 

Currently, the domestic battery market is divided between SS Battery and LC Energy Resources.

 

However, in terms of market share alone, Energy Resources was winning overwhelmingly.

 

The reason this was possible was that Energy Resources could purchase high-purity nickel to manufacture ESS and supply it exclusively to Tesla.

 

‘There doesn’t seem to be any other intention. I can purely view it as being cornered in the current situation.’

 

After understanding the other party’s position.

 

He engaged in the deal again.

 

“You said you could meet all conditions?”

 

“Yes. Our conditions are participation in the consortium. And negotiations with the Indian Government.”

 

“Negotiations with the Indian Government would be about pre-purchasing Class 1 grade nickel.”

 

“That’s right. As you know, our SS Battery manufactures various batteries. ESS is also included among them. To manufacture that, we need a stable supply of high-purity nickel.”

 

“You’ll be able to receive that supply from the mine discovered this time.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Nothing was more important from a manufacturer’s perspective than a stable supply of raw materials.

 

That’s why they wanted to join this consortium.

 

“Even if you join the consortium, we can’t set your stake very high. Conversely, once mining begins, the costs will be set somewhat high.”

 

What mattered in a consortium was the stake.

 

Revenue sharing would be based on how much stake one held.

 

However, what SS Battery wanted wasn’t revenue sharing.

 

“We’re taking that part into consideration. What we want is ultimately pre-purchasing Class 1 grade nickel. If you accept that condition, it’s fine even if the participation conditions are somewhat unreasonable.”

 

Lee Tae-sik was clearly showing a stance of making concessions.

 

However, there was one logic missing from those words.

 

‘If the pre-purchase negotiations fail, they might withdraw from the consortium.’

 

Lee Tae-sik didn’t mention that part, but he would certainly do so.

 

Since pre-purchasing was the goal, if that failed, there would practically be no reason to join the consortium.

 

Even considering that, SS Battery’s conditions were attractive.

 

“Understood, I’ll discuss it positively and contact you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

The atmosphere between the two men shaking hands was better than ever.

 

On the other hand, Manager Jeon Jun-ho’s face, who had been listening to the conversation from behind, couldn’t help but contort.

 

‘He’s talking as if he wants me to hear everything!’

 

Even knowing he was there, they didn’t lower the volume of their conversation.

 

In other words, it meant he would use the discussion with Lee Tae-sik as a negotiation card.

 

Since SS Battery presented such conditions, it meant LC Energy Resources should also bring equivalent conditions.

 

However.

 

‘I can’t decide on conditions of that level on my own authority.’

 

Although he came as the person in charge of this matter, he couldn’t unilaterally decide on conditions equivalent to SS Battery’s.

 

Lee Tae-sik was the company’s president, but he was just an employee.

 

“Manager, shouldn’t you tell us your conditions so we can discuss something?”

 

By the way, this bastard.

 

Why is a vice president of a mid-sized construction company acting so high and mighty?

 

Normally, he wouldn’t even be able to make eye contact..

 

However.

 

“Haha… Yes. We should.”

 

Manager Jeon clearly knew.

 

Who was the superior and who was the subordinate now.

 

Normally, this would be impossible.

 

But now, those positions were reversed.

 

* * *

 

Vice President Cha felt a thrill.

 

‘Keuuu…! A division manager from a major corporation like LC is groveling to me!’

 

It was an impossible situation.

 

A division manager from one of the nation’s leading conglomerates was someone he should always bow his head to.

 

Conglomerates were always the ones giving them work, and he was in a position where he had to please them to make a living.

 

But not now.

 

“Our conditions are…”

 

“No, I’m not trying to probe. What we can propose is…”

 

Division Manager Jeon was sweating profusely while trying to please him.

 

It might be childish, but Vice President Cha, who had been pushed around a lot in the past, was satisfied with the current situation.

 

‘Following Choi CEO leads to situations like this.’

 

Everything had been going well since meeting Choi CEO.

 

‘I will faithfully follow you in the future too!’

 

Vice President Cha’s loyalty to Kang Hyeon was growing stronger in his heart.

 

* * *

 

Two domestic companies wanting to join the consortium.

 

Their enthusiasm was similar, but the biggest difference was decision-making authority on site.

 

“SS Battery’s conditions are overwhelming.”

 

“LC Energy Resources also said they would positively discuss the conditions, but it was only at a discussion level.”

 

“Division Manager Jeon’s authority probably can’t make all decisions here.”

 

The conditions presented by both companies were mentioned in the internal meeting of KH Recovery and KH Construction.

 

Kang Hyeon, who had been listening, put down the documents containing both companies’ conditions on the table and continued speaking.

 

“Looking at enthusiasm and conditions alone, SS Battery is ahead, but if they don’t get mining rights, they’ll eventually leave the consortium.”

 

“They’ll pay penalty fees, but that’s what will happen.”

 

It was as Choi Byeon said.

 

Joining the consortium meant taking on corresponding legal responsibilities.

 

SS Battery was planning to fulfill that responsibility in the form of penalty fees.

 

“The important thing is whether the Indian Government will grant mining rights.”

 

Although more exploration would proceed, it was confirmed that there was Class 1 grade nickel.

 

This was a very important fact, and the Indian Government would also upgrade the importance of the discovered mine.

 

In this situation, the possibility of handing over mining authority of the mine to foreign companies decreased.

 

“Having the Barma Group in the consortium was a masterstroke. If we put them at the forefront, the Indian Government will surely give bonus points to their domestic company.”

 

It was time for the Barma Group to move.

 

* * *

 

Arita Varma faced Kang Hyeon.

 

“To secure mining rights, the Barma Group must move from now on.”

 

“Understood. Then we’ll step forward and proceed with negotiations with the Indian Government. But talking to the Prime Minister should be you, Mr. Choi.”

 

In India, the Prime Minister’s authority is immense.

 

So the Barma Group also tried to connect with the Prime Minister’s line, but couldn’t.

 

On the other hand, Kang Hyeon, a foreigner, was in a situation where he could contact the Prime Minister directly.

 

Naturally, Kang Hyeon’s power was desperately needed.

 

“I’ll talk to the Prime Minister separately, but getting a promise for mining rights won’t be easy.”

 

“Lao Sing Prime Minister is someone whose entire attention is focused on the development of our India. So if you promise to develop surrounding infrastructure while proceeding with mining, he’ll view it favorably.”

 

This was information he didn’t know.

 

The area around where the mine was discovered was forest with no notable infrastructure.

 

But historically, when mines are created, villages form around them and infrastructure naturally develops.

 

Considering that, promising infrastructure investment didn’t seem bad.

 

“I’ll take note of that.”

 

“Then I’ll meet with lawmakers from that region and appeal for mining rights.”

 

“Please take care of it.”

 

Arita Varma.

 

At first, his somewhat timid appearance didn’t inspire confidence, but not now.

 

He felt like he had gained the most reliable ally.

 

* * *

 

All plans proceeded smoothly.

 

The Barma Group targeted the State Government side.

 

India adopted a federal system like the United States, divided into federal government and state governments.

 

Since state governments had chief executives called Chief Ministers, targeting them could play a decisive role in obtaining mining rights.

 

‘With the Barma Group’s capabilities, they should be able to persuade the Chief Minister.’

 

Although public opinion was currently poor and they were much weakened, the Barma Group still owned a construction company in India’s top 10.

 

He judged that with them taking the lead, persuading the state government wouldn’t be too difficult.

 

However, that was a complete misjudgment.

 

-I’m sorry.

 

A week later.

 

The contact from Arita Varma was unexpected.

 

“What happened?”

 

-An unexpected competitor has appeared. Shakti Buildcon is lobbying the State Government.

 

Shakti Buildcon.

 

India’s number one mining industry company had jumped into this mining rights competition.

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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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