Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 61
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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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61. Cheers
The President asked.
“The reason you were invited as a state guest of the Saudi Royal Family.”
“I took charge of Saudi Arabia’s road construction and completed it. In the process, I accomplished one small feat.”
“A feat?”
The President showed interest.
One of the President’s favorite words was national prestige.
After the Korean War and the division, all the profitable industries like factories and mines remained in North Korea, while the Republic of Korea was left with only ruined land and half the population.
When the President came to power through a military coup, Korea was receiving this kind of ridicule.
-A country poorer than Africa!
-A country that would starve without aid from America and Western Nations!
-A country with a per capita income of only 150 US Dollars!
The President gritted his teeth and devoted himself to economic growth.
But because it was such a poor country, he had no choice but to desperately seek foreign aid and loans.
Where in this world would it be easy to take other people’s money?
This was true not just for individuals, but for institutions and countries as well.
To borrow money, one had to set aside pride and dignity.
-Even if I accept loans and aid, I don’t want to be seen as a humiliating and servile president!
This was why the President reacted so sensitively to matters of national prestige and dignity.
The reason the President would not tolerate openly visible bribery and corruption.
The reason he desperately clung to economic growth, shouting “Export is the only way to survive!”
The reason he proclaimed anti-communism and the rooting out of armed guerrillas while calling for strengthened self-defense.
It was because he didn’t want to be treated as the president of a weak nation, a least developed country, a country with no future, a hopeless country at world leader meetings.
“It must not have been an ordinary feat.”
It meant that a trivial accomplishment wouldn’t earn royal state guest treatment.
“I was fortunate enough to catch a traitor.”
“A traitor?”
“Yes, there was that Saudi king assassination incident a few years ago, wasn’t there?”
March 25, 1975.
Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the third son of Ibn Saud, Saudi Arabia’s founding king, and the third king himself.
He died from a sniper shot by his mentally unstable nephew Faisal bin Musaid.
“He was recognized for discovering the Armed Rebel Forces that were scheduled to revolt immediately after the king’s assassination and for uncovering the treason.”
“What?”
The President raised his eyebrows.
His expression showed he had heard something absurd.
I felt the same way.
‘What?’
I had heard from Mother that Father went to the Middle East to lay roads and do construction work, but I never knew he had achieved such merit!
‘Wait, there wasn’t even a single line about this in the Taeseong Group report?’
The Taeseong Group report only had a few lines written about Father.
It only said things like ‘He died young in an accident,’ and ‘After the Youngest Son’s death, Taeseong began its path to ruin.’
‘Father, what exactly were you doing in Saudi Arabia?’
I was becoming curious about his past activities.
It seemed everyone gathered in this private room felt the same way.
Even the President couldn’t hide his interest and leaned slightly forward, concentrating on Father’s words.
“In detail.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can tell you more than that.”
Father continued speaking calmly.
“If such shameful matters as royal treason were exposed to the outside, it would bring disgrace. We agreed to quietly cover it up and keep silent about it.”
The President clicked his tongue softly.
“Couldn’t you have at least brought back a Medal of Honor?”
“Instead, I left a debt with the Saudi Royal Family.”
Warmth began to replace the coldness on the President’s face.
“What are you trying to get from Saudi Arabia?”
“Wouldn’t it be better for Your Excellency to collect rather than Taeseong? If Your Excellency desires it, I will gladly offer it.”
“A patriotic young man indeed.”
The President’s smile grew deeper.
“What’s the use if the government steals the achievements made by an individual? I’ll just accept the sentiment.”
The President held out his drinking glass with a cigarette between his fingers.
Glug glug.
The Blue House Security Chief immediately rushed over to fill the President’s empty glass.
At the President’s gesture, he poured alcohol into Mayor Gu’s glass and Father’s glass as well.
The President raised his drinking glass.
“It’s too valuable an achievement to just let pass.”
“Yes, that’s right. Now I see that a young man has elevated the Republic of Korea’s prestige. What could be more joyful and proud than this?”
Mayor Gu also raised his drinking glass and burst into hearty laughter.
“Moreover, to offer that achievement to the government. He’ll be a model for patriotic youth. Heh heh heh.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Cheers.”
As soon as the President’s words fell, they all drank their alcohol simultaneously.
“This is what enhancing national prestige looks like.”
The President lightly clapped his palms together.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The Ministers also joined in and applauded.
Clap clap clap clap!
Father looked troubled and bowed to the President.
“This is too much.”
“Put away the excessive modesty. This raised the Republic of Korea’s national dignity and earned recognition from Foreign Countries’ royal families. You deserve praise.”
“Thank you.”
The President leaned back against the sofa with a pleased expression.
“Taeseong’s future looks promising.”
The President gestured.
The president gestured.
“Everyone sit down and let’s have a drink.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
The Ministers who had been standing against the wall immediately bowed and responded.
“You should know it’s all thanks to this fellow.”
He was saying he was in a good mood and would offer drinks because Father had elevated the Republic of Korea’s prestige.
The Ministers each found their seats, passed around empty drinking glasses, and filled each other’s cups.
“To receive three cups of alcohol from His Excellency.”
The Blue House Security Chief muttered quietly while looking down at Father.
He slightly raised only one corner of his mouth, seeming either to mock Father or find him interesting.
“How is the situation in the Middle East?”
Ah, the President’s business wasn’t finished yet!
This time, the final question I had anticipated truly began.
What the President was really curious about wouldn’t be how Father became a state guest of the Saudi Royal Family.
-How will the Middle East situation affect the Republic of Korea!
This would be the real reason the President called Father to this private drinking gathering.
‘Traveling between various Middle Eastern countries to win and construct major projects inevitably creates close relationships with the locals.’
You have to procure construction workers and materials locally, and meet with low-level Government Officials to handle business.
‘Where money changes hands, real information flows as well.’
What the President wanted was grassroots information from the region.
‘We can’t neglect monitoring the Middle East situation. Since oil comes from the Middle East.’
This was why I caught on when the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Embassy Personnel from the Middle East were called to this drinking gathering.
“Currently, the entire Middle East is very chaotic, both domestically and internationally.”
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The Foreign Minister who was called upon stopped receiving his drink and straightened his posture.
“Currently in the Middle East, they’re using the oil money they’ve earned to foster key national industries and build social infrastructure to develop cities······.”
“Stop.”
The Foreign Minister immediately closed his mouth and bowed his head.
“What do you think?”
“I believe it wouldn’t be strange if a second oil crisis occurred in the near future.”
The President’s expression changed.
Urban development with oil money in the Middle East wasn’t the President’s concern, but an oil crisis originating from the Middle East was a matter of utmost interest.
“A second oil crisis?”
Just a few years ago, the first oil shock that began in the Middle East had shaken the global economy.
Korea was no exception.
‘During the first oil shock, Korea, which was dominated by labor-intensive light industry, suffered less damage than developed countries, but the heavy and chemical industry development plan itself almost collapsed.’
Heavy and chemical industry development was a national policy the President had been ambitiously pushing forward.
However, due to the adverse factor of the oil crisis, the inflation rate, which was only 3.2% in 1973, jumped to around 25% annually in 1974 and 1975.
Naturally, there were cries of distress from all over the country.
This was why the President had no choice but to react sensitively to the term “second oil crisis.”
“If a second oil crisis occurs, the Republic of Korea will suffer incomparably severe damage compared to the last oil crisis. This is because the proportion of heavy and chemical industry has greatly increased in just a few years, deepening our dependence on oil.”
Oil prices continued to rise due to production reduction policies.
The Republic of Korea was currently experiencing the direct impact and suffering from the trap of high inflation.
“In the Middle East, Iran’s movements are particularly concerning.”
The second oil shock began with the Iranian Revolution and swept across the world.
This was why I confidently pinpointed Iran to create the third Expected Answer Sheet.
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“Iran is currently in a state where dissatisfaction with the Pahlavi Dynasty has reached its peak. The wealth gap problem is so extreme that it’s like a powder keg about to explode.”
Due to the first oil crisis, Iran’s per capita national income rapidly rose from $570 to $2,300.
However, the national wealth was concentrated only among the royal family and high-ranking forces.
This was the reason the Iranian Revolution occurred.
The fear of how the Islamic revolution that began in Iran would spread throughout the Middle East froze the global economy.
That was precisely the second oil shock.
“Your Excellency, if there’s a second oil crisis, it’s not a matter we can carelessly overlook.”
The Blue House Chief of Staff cautiously opened his mouth.
“What’s the possibility of an oil crisis occurring?”
“Very high.”
“What does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs think?”
“We agree. We see it as very high.”
The President stroked his chin.
“Ministry of Finance.”
“Considering the burden the national economy would have to bear, it would be right to prepare for adverse conditions. We will carefully review this when organizing this year’s budget.”
“Ministry of Commerce and Industry.”
“If an oil crisis hits, raw material prices will skyrocket. Korea’s industry is already growing rapidly. The more raw materials we can secure, the better.”
The President turned to look at the Foreign Minister.
“Is this something that can be resolved at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs level?”
“Impossible. Even if America or England took the lead, it wouldn’t be easy. It could be seen as interference in Middle Eastern domestic affairs.”
“Hmm.”
The President nodded.
“Assuming a second oil crisis occurs, what if we said we’d accept the Saudi Royal Family’s debt in oil?”
The Blue House Chief of Staff answered instead.
“It would be possible, but there would be limits. Oil is the foundation of Saudi national wealth, isn’t it? No matter how much diplomatic relations exist between the Republic of Korea and Saudi Arabia…”
“Not at the diplomatic level, but at the private level. What if Taeseong created an oil refining company?”
Huh?
At the President’s statement, my eyes widened involuntarily.
‘That’s what I was aiming for?’
The massive opportunity that appeared during the second oil shock!
That was Korea Oil Corporation, which had been a state-owned enterprise.
When Gulf Oil, the American company that held 50% of Yukong’s shares, couldn’t hold on and expressed their intention to withdraw, the government decided to privatize Korea Oil Corporation.
They proposed to hand over Korea Oil Corporation if someone could solve the problem of Gulf Oil’s 50% stake with money.
The problem was that the acquisition fund amounted to a whopping 100 million US Dollars.
This was the reason I wanted to establish an investment company, and why I had obtained a written agreement from Grandfather for company acquisition.
* * *
The President wanted to continue an in-depth conversation with the Ministers about the Second Oil Crisis, and Father received an order to leave.
The Blue House Security Chief said as he closed the door.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Cha Seong-jun of Taeseong Construction.”
“Taeseong Construction’s Cha Seong-jun. I’ll remember that.”
The Blue House Security Chief held out a card that sparkled with golden light.
“Take it. His Excellency has given permission.”
“What is this?”
“An invitation to the Blue House New Year luncheon.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s a gathering to discuss New Year plans with corporate leaders. Consider it an honor.”
It was a place where Father, who merely ran a construction company, could never belong.
Thud.
And so the door closed.
Father turned around without regret and left the Hyeonmu Hotel Bar.
“Seong-jun!”
Grandfather, who had been waiting at the emergency stairs, brightened up when he saw Father and came running.
“Why did you come out so late! You weren’t severely reprimanded, were you… Hmm?”
Grandfather’s eyes widened.
“Don’t tell me you had drinks?”
“Yes.”
“One glass?”
“Three glasses.”
“What? As many as three glasses?”
Grandfather was shocked.
“H-how could such a thing…!”
Suddenly, Grandfather noticed the card Father was holding.
“That invitation is…, don’t tell me…!”
“Yes, it’s a Blue House New Year Luncheon Invitation.”
“This is absolutely ridiculous…! Even among the heads of conglomerates, there are plenty who haven’t received one!”
Grandfather cried out like a scream.
“No, what on earth did you do in there to come out with something like that?”
“I don’t know. I just answered appropriately based on what was written on the Expected Answer Sheet.”
“Expected Answer Sheet?”
“That Anonymous Benefactor who sponsors Taeseong. They sent perfectly fitting expected questions and answers as if they had gone inside His Excellency’s head and come back out.”
“What?”
Grandfather’s mouth fell wide open.
“Is such a thing even possible?”
“That’s what I’m saying. It feels like being possessed by a ghost…”
“As expected. They’re no ordinary person.”
“Who could it be? Why are they helping us like this? No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure out the reason.”
Father clenched his fist tightly.
“I should probably ask Secretary Kim about this.”
“Secretary Kim, you mean here… Huh?”
Secretary Kim had already disappeared.
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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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