After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 56

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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 056

 

Upon receiving the contact, Kang Hyeon immediately arranged a meeting with Arita Varma.

 

“What kind of company is Shakti Buildcon?”

 

“When it comes to mining in India, they’re a company that practically monopolizes it. They have extensive experience, even taking on mining industry contracts from foreign countries.”

 

“I looked into it and found they were established in 1987.”

 

“That’s correct. With their long history, they’ve maintained close relationships with Indian politicians. Most importantly, they have very good relationships with politicians from Chhattisgarh State, where this newly discovered mine is located.”

 

This was not good news.

 

If they had good relationships with those people, lobbying could be conducted more naturally.

 

But this wasn’t the time to just feel discouraged.

 

“Doesn’t the federal government have jurisdiction over the mine?”

 

“That’s correct. However, Chhattisgarh State has recommendation rights. So if the Chhattisgarh State Chief Minister or legislators from there recommend them, even the Prime Minister won’t be able to easily push against it.”

 

“In other words, we also need to have conditions that aren’t inferior to Shakti Buildcon.”

 

“Yes. I think we need a company with technical capabilities equivalent to what Shakti Buildcon has.”

 

The Barma Group’s main business was construction, after all.

 

Although they also held mining extraction licenses, that was merely an additional element.

 

Compared to Shakti Buildcon, which conducted mining as their main business, they inevitably lacked technical capabilities and talent.

 

‘In the end, to win in competition with them, we need to have competitiveness.’

 

It was a headache-inducing matter, but he couldn’t just complain.

 

‘I have to make it work somehow.’

 

He needed to prepare an alternative.

 

* * *

 

Kang Hyeon convened an emergency meeting.

 

Cha Vice President and Choi Byeon, who were in India, and Kim Ha-ryul attended the meeting.

 

Additionally, this time Kang Myeong-gu, who was in South Korea, also participated via video conference.

 

Kang Hyeon explained the situation to them.

 

-So, we need technical capabilities that can beat Shakti Buildcon.

 

“That’s correct. With the technology that the Barma Group possesses, there’s no way to push them out and secure the mining rights.”

 

“Being close with the Chhattisgarh State Government will also be an obstacle.”

 

It was a troublesome situation in many ways.

 

However, no particular solution emerged from the existing personnel.

 

Since they were jumping into the Indian market for the first time, it would naturally be difficult for them to find solutions.

 

The first to propose a solution was Kang Myeong-gu.

 

-Then couldn’t we just acquire that level of technical capability ourselves?

 

“How do you mean?”

 

-SS Group also has a mining company. I understand they’re doing quite well overseas. How about asking Lee Tae-sik and bringing them in?

 

“Ah…!”

 

SS Group, which SS Battery belonged to.

 

If they could bring in one of South Korea’s top four major corporations, it seemed quite possible.

 

Having found a method, Kang Hyeon moved immediately.

 

At a meeting arranged with Lee Tae-sik, he asked him directly.

 

“Could the mining company belonging to SS Group be included in our consortium?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

After hearing the situation explained, Lee Tae-sik fell into contemplation.

 

Even though he was part of the owner family, moving other affiliates within the group was an entirely different matter.

 

Since it could potentially provoke shareholder backlash if handled wrongly, his deliberation was lengthy.

 

But in reality, there was no choice.

 

“If you refuse, does that mean SS Battery might not be able to participate in the consortium?”

 

“…I’m thinking of making the same proposal to LC Energy Resources.”

 

“Whew…!”

 

Just as SS Group had a mining company, LC Group also had a mining company.

 

If necessary, he was planning to bring them in through the same proposal.

 

At Kang Hyeon’s words, Lee Tae-sik pondered a bit more before speaking.

 

“Understood. I’ll request help from SS Minerals. But before that, I need a definite answer that we can secure the mining rights.”

 

“The mining rights are ultimately decided by the federal government. There’s no way I can give you a definite answer.”

 

“I know that. So if winning this mining rights auction proves difficult, I’ll include a special clause allowing SS Battery and SS Minerals to withdraw from the consortium without penalty.”

 

It essentially meant taking out insurance.

 

Since there was no way to prevent this, Kang Hyeon had no choice but to nod.

 

“Regarding the special clause, I’ll review it and give you a positive response.”

 

Thus, SS Minerals’ participation was decided.

 

* * *

 

Lee Tae-sin, the third-generation chairman of SS Group, was in a good mood receiving contact from his younger brother after a long time.

 

“Oh, Tae-sik. You’re in India?”

 

-Yeah. I’m here on business.

 

“How’s work going?”

 

-It was going well, but we’ve hit a bit of a snag.

 

“A snag?”

 

His younger brother brought up the story of what had happened, almost as if complaining.

 

After hearing the entire story, Lee Tae-sin asked with a laugh.

 

“So you’re saying SS Minerals is needed for the consortium to secure the mining rights.”

 

-That’s right. So I need your help, hyung.

 

“Hmm, I’ll look into it first. Even as group chairman, I can’t just move affiliates as I please.”

 

-Please help me out.

 

After hanging up, Lee Tae-sin immediately called his chief secretary.

 

“Did you call for me, Chairman?”

 

“Please send up a report on SS Minerals’ current business status. And schedule a meeting with Kim Young-cheol as well.”

 

“Understood. Should I schedule it for the earliest possible time?”

 

“Please do. Oh, and do you know about KH Capital?”

 

“Yes. I understand it’s a family office that’s been making waves in political and business circles recently.”

 

“You also know that KH Construction is under them?”

 

“Yes, I’m aware. After the Yeongjong Island rental fraud incident, they secured the Yeongjong Island theme park project.”

 

Truly an impressive person.

 

To think he knew even that much.

 

“Tae-sik is trying to work with that company this time. So please look into it more thoroughly.”

 

“Understood.”

 

It was a simple answer, but there was no response more reliable than those words.

 

After the chief secretary left and Lee Tae-sin was alone, he looked out the window and thought.

 

“Choi Kang-hyeon, that’s a name I’ve been hearing frequently lately.”

 

This was his younger brother who never contacted him.

 

For such a brother to contact him first and ask for a favor.

 

He became interested in the name Choi Kang-hyeon.

 

“If I get the chance, I’d like to meet him sometime.”

 

* * *

 

While Lee Tae-sik was making his moves.

 

Kang Hyeon was doing what he needed to do.

 

“I’ll escort you inside.”

 

Following the guidance of the chief secretary he was meeting after a long time, Kang Hyeon headed to the Prime Minister’s Office.

 

Lao Sing Prime Minister, who had been handling overseas schedules, had returned to India.

 

Despite his busy schedule, he had accepted Kang Hyeon’s meeting request, making today’s meeting possible.

 

Soon the door to the Prime Minister’s Office opened, and as he entered, Lao Sing, whom he was seeing in person after a long time, greeted him.

 

“Mr. Choi, welcome.”

 

“It’s been a while, Prime Minister.”

 

After exchanging brief greetings, they sat facing each other on the sofa.

 

Tea was placed in front of the two men, and the serious conversation began.

 

“A rival has appeared regarding the mining rights.”

 

“Yes. That’s why we’ve brought in a new team member to maintain our competitiveness.”

 

“A new team member?”

 

“SS Minerals, one of SS Group’s subsidiaries, plans to join the consortium.”

 

“Oh, so a global mining company will be mining our mine?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

SS Minerals wasn’t a particularly famous company in South Korea.

 

Rather, it was better known abroad, actually operating by winning government projects in other countries.

 

As a result, Lao Sing Prime Minister also knew the company’s name.

 

“If Minerals jumps in, the technical expertise will certainly be reinforced. But as you know, Shakti Buildcon is an indigenous company that started in Chhattisgarh State.”

 

Shakti Buildcon’s headquarters was located in Chhattisgarh.

 

In other words, the company’s chairman was from Chhattisgarh.

 

This carried significant meaning.

 

Since the state government would support him, it meant that even Lao Sing Prime Minister, the head of the federal government, couldn’t simply ignore him.

 

“Chhattisgarh is providing full support without reservation. One reason is that Shakti Buildcon has been pouring massive funds into Chhattisgarh State’s development.”

 

The amount Shakti Buildcon poured in under the name of donations was substantial.

 

With that money, Chhattisgarh had developed, and local residents’ support was also strong.

 

In this situation, the federal government couldn’t simply side with Kang Hyeon’s consortium.

 

Of course, Kang Hyeon knew this as well, so he had prepared alternative measures.

 

“That’s why our consortium plans to invest in creating various infrastructure near the mine.”

 

“Investment?”

 

“Yes. We plan to build roads connecting to the highway currently under construction by KH Construction to help improve transportation convenience in Chhattisgarh.”

 

“Oh.”

 

The highway currently under construction was designed to cross through Chhattisgarh.

 

There were some missing sections in between, but Chhattisgarh State had to bear those costs.

 

Kang Hyeon was saying they would shoulder these costs.

 

“And SS Battery plans to build a battery factory in Chhattisgarh State so that the nickel mined from this mine can be utilized immediately.”

 

This was something he had discussed with Representative Lee Tae-sik.

 

Currently, SS Battery’s factories were operating in the United States and Australia.

 

SS Battery had decided to build such a factory in Chhattisgarh, India as well.

 

Of course, Kang Hyeon’s investment funds would go into that process, but he didn’t bother mentioning this.

 

“Lastly, Nereid, an American company, will build a data center near the mine.”

 

“An American company?”

 

“It’s a place where I’m the major shareholder.”

 

“Haha, you’re a more remarkable person than I thought.”

 

The cards Kang Hyeon presented were tremendous.

 

Not only highway connections, but also battery factories and data centers being built meant enormous amounts would be invested.

 

Moreover, if mines, factories, and data centers were created, countless jobs would be generated.

 

Since KH Construction would also build roads, transportation convenience would certainly be resolved.

 

“Isn’t this giving too tremendous benefits to India? Even at first glance, it doesn’t seem like just a small amount will go into this.”

 

“Of course, there must also be support from the Indian government. You’ll need to provide administrative convenience so we can proceed quickly.”

 

“Of course. If the consortium promises that level of investment, we’ll provide not only administrative processing but various conveniences.”

 

Lao Sing Prime Minister was a smart person.

 

He had already calculated how much benefit it would bring to India if all the cards Kang Hyeon presented were realized.

 

“By the way, the fact that you’ve played cards of this magnitude suggests you don’t simply want just mining rights?”

 

Of course.

 

To invest in everything mentioned so far, several hundred million dollars of Kang Hyeon’s funds would certainly be consumed.

 

Yet the reason Kang Hyeon made this choice was singular.

 

“Yes. I’d like to secure mining rights for the nickel mine and priority purchasing rights for the nickel mined there. And also…”

 

Up to this point were the parts he had discussed with Representative Lee Tae-sin.

 

But Kang Hyeon had no intention of stopping here.

 

“I’d like to lower the royalty to be paid for minerals to 8 percent.”

 

Royalty was essentially a direct revenue source the Indian government could obtain from mined minerals.

 

Generally, they received royalties of about 13-15 percent, but Kang Hyeon was demanding 8 percent.

 

“That’s an excessive demand.”

 

Naturally, Lao Sing Prime Minister didn’t immediately accept that condition.

 

Kang Hyeon had expected this as well.

 

“If you have a desired royalty rate, please tell me.”

 

“Royalty isn’t a condition for negotiation. What I can concede is up to 13 percent.”

 

Lao Sing Prime Minister was demanding the minimum of the royalty typically received.

 

When the condition didn’t work, Kang Hyeon’s expression hardened, but Lao Sing Prime Minister also had no intention of backing down here.

 

However.

 

‘This is going as expected.’

 

Kang Hyeon’s true purpose wasn’t the royalty.

 

What he was aiming for was.

 

“Then I request that you freeze the royalty base price at the current LME price.”

 

This was it.

 

There was only one reason he requested this.

 

‘When I checked nickel’s chart, intense red light was emanating from it. That means only one thing.’

 

It meant nickel’s super cycle was approaching.

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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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