The Highest Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 397



Only Krnovel

397. So I decided on you.

After offering the outside director position and shaking hands, the U.S. ambassador to Korea immediately changed his attitude.

The upright posture and polite speech were proof of that.

The US ambassador to Korea glanced at me.

“I understand that you have seen my business card, but could you reconsider the offer I made just now?”

The suggestion just now?

“I’m talking about the part where the president’s re-election result could depend on which state Gulf builds a chemical plant.”

Aha, that was the problem.

‘Will the Republican Party hold power for 12 years from the next administration until President Bush?’

I smiled broadly.

“By the way, the current US President is from the Democratic Party?”

“Yes, on the other hand, our Bush family supports the Republican Party.”

Thanks to this, the question that had briefly crossed my mind was automatically resolved.

I nodded.

“I wondered why someone who had only served as ambassador to oil-producing countries came to Korea.”

“That’s right. My family is Republican to the core. Hahaha.”

The US ambassador to Korea kindly added:

“He was demoted when the government changed.”

During this period, South Korea was economically developing from one of the poorest countries to a developing country, while militarily it was a Cold War-era armistice state in which war could break out at any time.

The North and the South point guns at each other, send spies, and sometimes even commit terrorist acts.

Anyone could see that sending him as a goodwill ambassador to a country at risk of war was an obvious demotion.

“Do you know anything about the Republican Party’s platform?”

“Economic liberalism. Right?”

“Yes. I am against socialism and nationalization, and I am friendly to big business and Wall Street.”

The era was moving from the Cold War to the neoliberal era.

The U.S. ambassador to Korea smiled broadly.

“Our Republican Party fundamentally opposes regulation of large corporations and pursues economic development based on close cooperation between economic officials and businesspeople.”

It means business friendly.

If that’s the case, then I should welcome you with open arms.

“We are pursuing a pragmatic approach to solving various social problems, and we actively encourage the participation of businesspeople in the planning and implementation of economic policies.”

For that reason, there were quite a few Republicans who came from a business background.

The U.S. ambassador to Korea moistened his dry mouth with coffee and then put down his coffee cup with a clatter.

“Let me be honest with you. We hope that the current administration fails in the next re-election.”

It was a tragic voice.

“In that sense, I hope that Gulf’s chemical plant will come into our Republican Party’s stronghold, not the Democratic Party’s.”

Because it creates jobs and stimulates the economy.

This means more jobs and more income, which in turn leads to more support for the party.

“From the Korean government’s perspective, it would be much more advantageous for our Republican Party to take over the next administration than the current administration. There would be less potential for conflict between the two countries over labor rights issues.”

The current U.S. government has taken issue with the suppression of labor rights in Korea and has implemented measures to withdraw U.S. troops from Korea and ban loans and aid.

I deliberately turned my head away.

“I don’t know anything about politics because I’m young. I don’t want to be involved.”

Besides, I’m a businessman, not a politician?

“Then let me talk about the economic aspect.”

The U.S. ambassador to South Korea quickly changed his tune.

“The current administration has imposed unofficial anti-dumping duties on Korean products and strengthened customs inspection regulations. This is a clear economic retaliatory measure.”

This was the reason why our Taesung Group has been struggling in the US market recently.

“Have you had any difficulties breaking into the distribution network of the US market? Have you encountered any difficulties due to the protectionist trade measures of the US government?”

Taesung is risking its life on exports in accordance with the Korean government’s corporate policy.

There were many difficulties in various ways because the barriers to entry into the U.S. market were not easy.

It got even worse after Woo-kwang and his wife broke up and their relationship deteriorated.

“That’s exactly the problem our Republican Party can solve.”

The US ambassador to Korea said cryptically.

“Then, please designate the location of Gulf’s petrochemical complex as our Republican Party’s stronghold… … .”

“Isn’t your proposal too backwards?”

I picked at my ear with my little finger.

“Anyone can see that this is a situation where only our side is losing, right?”

The US ambassador to Korea stammered with a puzzled look on his face.

“Isn’t this a win-win situation where we help each other? We help you… … .”

“No.

I waved my index finger from side to side.

“Is it impossible for Taesung to enter the U.S. market without the Republican Party?”

no.

“Or are there any problems with JH Investment or Gulf Investment, which have established themselves in the US?”

does not exist.

“Think about it the other way around. What if we made the same offer to the Democrats instead of the Republicans?”

“… … !”

“Would the Democratic Party be willing to make such a shameless proposal to bring Gulf’s petrochemical complex into its own turf?”

“… … .”

A sense of crisis began to creep into the expression on the face of the U.S. Ambassador to Korea.

I drove a wedge in.

“For your information, we are also planning to build a large-caliber dot sight factory for machine guns in the same location where Gulf’s petrochemical complex is located.”

“… … !”

“It means that we can boast that we have made a contribution to the national defense and security of the United States.”

“… … !”

“You don’t like it? Then you can just settle down in the Blue State.”

“That won’t do!”

The US ambassador to Korea opened his mouth wide and quickly came to his senses at the sound of the Democratic Party’s stronghold.

“I guess I was just being short-sighted.”

The US ambassador to Korea immediately started rubbing his palms.

“What if the state government promises to support and facilitate the construction of a petrochemical plant in Gulf?”

I deliberately kept my mouth shut and did not answer.

That meant it was impossible.

“What about the fixed-term tax benefits?”

I snorted out loud.

Then, the one who became anxious was the US Ambassador to Korea.

“Providing factory land and building office buildings for employees… … .”

I crossed my arms.

It meant to tell you to try more.

The US ambassador to Korea, who had been struggling for a long time, finally raised both hands.

“That’s all for now. To be honest, I’m proud to say that I’ve proposed conditions that are beyond my capabilities.”

“Get everything plus a 10-year tax freeze and no tax audits. How about that?”

“That’s too much!”

The U.S. ambassador to Korea shook his head violently.

“That is something that is beyond my ability to do, and at least requires the intervention of the governor or his superiors!”

“I guess that would be possible if you were Vice President?”

“yes?”

The U.S. ambassador to Korea tilted his head with a look of incomprehension.

“If you were the Vice President of the current administration… … did you have any separate discussions with Walter Monday?”

“I’m not talking about the current administration, I’m talking about the vice president of the next administration.”

“yes?”

“This is Joseph H.W. Bush, the ambassador’s cousin.”

“Eww!”

The US ambassador to Korea gaped.

“I, I think I misheard something just now?”

President Shim said the same thing, but I don’t know why even this gentleman is like this.

There’s nothing I can do.

Since it is a very important matter, you must convey your intentions clearly and definitively.

“I asked Mr. Joseph H.W. Bush, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and current Chairman of the First International Bank, if I could make him Vice President in the next administration.”

“… … !”

The U.S. ambassador to Korea was so shocked that his jaw dropped and his eyes grew wide.

The coffee cup I was holding rattled against the stand as the wind blew violently.

“Brother Joseph as the next vice president?”

“Is there anything that won’t work?”

That gentleman who was your cousin in your previous life was the vice president of the next administration?

Then he went on to become president.

So the guy who served as vice president and president for 12 years is your cousin. What’s the problem?

“Out of all the prominent and influential politicians in the Republican Party, Brother Joseph?”

It was as if he had never even imagined it.

I just shrugged.

The U.S. ambassador to South Korea covered his mouth with both hands.

“That, that means Gulf and JH Investment will actively support our Bush family?”

“If you don’t like it, then don’t say anything.”

“How could I dislike it! I absolutely would not dislike it! It’s so reliable!”

The U.S. ambassador to Korea jumped up and grabbed my hand.

“So, the Gulf Coast petrochemical complex is in our Republican Party’s stronghold?”

“More specifically, I’d like to reach out to the Bush family’s support base and give them strength. What do you think?”

“This is absolutely fantastic! This is a perfect plan!”

“Trust sprouts from the sincerity that flows back and forth!”

“Cross!”

I smiled brightly.

“Take your pick. Would you rather be in Texas or in Connecticut?”

Texas was where Joseph H.W. Bush served as a congressman, and Connecticut was the home turf of his father, Press Bush.

The Bush family could be called a political dynasty comparable to the Kennedy family in that it has produced political celebrities for generations.

“Then in Texas… … .”

“Texas is nice.”

Texas is called the world’s energy capital.

The state with the largest reserves of crude oil in the United States and the most comprehensively developed state in all industries, including semiconductors and high-tech industries!

‘The Texas state government’s finances are so wealthy that they exempt income taxes and even have a 0% corporate tax rate?’

I already wanted to go to Texas!

‘Moreover, it is a city with developed financial sectors including retail, wholesale, banking, and securities!’

So I chose you, Texas!

“If the Bush family accepts my terms, I will immediately put the Gulf Coast petrochemical complex in Texas.”

“This easily?”

“Do we really need to waste time? The presidential election is just around the corner, and there is only about a year left until the presidential candidate competition.”

Surprise and ambition flowed through the trembling hands of the US Ambassador to Korea.

“If Gulf builds a huge petrochemical plant in Texas and supports our Bush family… … .”

“I don’t know about anything else, but I think the number of problems caused by political funding will decrease significantly, right?”

“… … !”

As soon as he guessed the true meaning, the American ambassador to Korea’s mouth opened wide.

“Of course, it depends on what the Ambassador’s cousin does.”

“Hahaha, a politician sponsored by Gulf, the world’s 9th largest company by market capitalization. Just imagining it makes me dizzy.”

I put out a lot of bait.

It was a tempting bait that any politician could not help but bite upon.

“You know that a bribe comes with a request, right?”

I am a person who never does business at a loss.

And you’re willing to risk your life to recover the principal?

“I hope the Bush family will give me a positive answer.”

“I’m just curious, but do you think the Republican Party in the Gulf can oust the current president?”

“Of course.”

It was like that in my past life too, you know.

But the US ambassador to Korea looked half in doubt.

“Are you aware of how popular the current US President is?”

Why don’t I know that?

“He is the man who blocked President Ford’s reelection and brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.”

I know, I said.

“In recognition of such achievements, the current president enjoys sky-high popularity in the United States.”

“How vain is popularity.”

I winked one eye.

“If you can become president thanks to popularity that is not visible, isn’t the opposite also possible?”

“… … !”

The current President of the United States?

After the oil crisis, there are still bad habits that lead to a downward spiral.

‘All you have to do is pour a ton of shit water on it and it’ll be over. That’s so easy!’

The US Ambassador to Korea wanted to ask, “How?” but I was one step ahead.

“I won’t waste your precious time with excuses and persuasion.”

“Please stop with those lame excuses and persuasions… … .”

“Why don’t you prove it with results instead?”

Have you ever heard of the ant hell of Sillim-dong?

My specialty is setting traps.

I tapped on the document that still had not been properly signed and stamped.

“Let’s solve our own problem first. It’s time to prove our sincerity with documents rather than words.”

“ah!”

The US ambassador to Korea smiled brightly as he signed and stamped his name.

“There is one thing I can promise you for sure.”

“What is it?”

“If JH Investment and Gulf Insurance really support the Bush family.”

The US ambassador to Korea pounded his chest with his fist.

“I will personally prove the duty of the alliance, regardless of the means and methods.”

It’s an alliance.

That’s good.

I smiled brightly.

“Did you promise?”

“A man’s word is as good as a bond. (A man’s word is as good as a bond.)”

We went beyond shaking hands and made a promise by linking pinkies.

I’m one of those people who trusts the thumb more than the little finger.

Since it was our first meeting, I gave it a break just this once.

“Huh? Kid, what are you doing here?”

Warren Buffer, who had just entered the Taesung Hotel coffee shop, walked toward us and waved.

“No, who is this? James!”

“Warren!”

The U.S. Ambassador to Korea and Warren Buffer shook hands in delight.