The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 365



Only Krnovel

365. Advance or retreat (5)

Low Earth Orbit Communication Network.

In fact, it was a system that was not really needed in Korea.

It was difficult to find a place in Korea where cell phones did not work, and even if there were, the number of people living there was limited.

Plus, the price was expensive.

You had to pay at least 200,000 won per month, and the fee could go up to 600,000 won.

However, it wasn’t that fast.

Optical cables were laid throughout Korea, and it was possible to use the Internet at a speed that was at least twice as fast as using the low-Earth orbit communication network.

However, countries other than Korea were different.

In particular, in the United States, which has a large land area, there was bound to be a lot of demand.

And Musk already knew this well.

“Have you ever looked into my head? I’ve been thinking about a low-orbit communication network for a long time. I’ve never told anyone. How do you know, Mr. Kim?”

“As I was thinking about what could be done with artificial satellites, a low-orbit communication network came to mind. So I looked into the possibilities through Taewoo Communications and received a quite hopeful report.”

Of course, there was no such process.

It was just something I made up to make the plan in my head seem plausible.

“I really didn’t expect Mr. Kim to have the same thoughts as me. Electric cars, rockets, and even low-orbit communication networks! It almost feels like we share a brain!”

“I only bring out ideas that are likely to be successful. The low-orbit communication network will definitely be successful. So I am willing to bear about half the cost of a rocket launch.”

“Now, I ask you a favor. Please persuade the White House to allow us to start the low-orbit communication network project.”

Of course I thought so.

If the White House called me, it meant they wanted something from me, and I was going to ask for a low-orbit communication network.

* * *

next day.

I visited the CITI Group headquarters.

Dimon and David were waiting for me there.

“Boss, are you here? I have prepared everything for you to go to the White House. We will go to Washington and go to the White House on Saturday morning.”

“You’ve had a hard time. You still don’t know why the White House asked to see me, right?”

“I looked into it through several channels, but I don’t know the exact reason. I only expect it to be about Taewoo Group’s business and the resetting of Korea-US relations.”

It was David who was telling the obvious.

If the man with the widest feet in America could say something like this, it also meant that no one except President Obama knew.

“If you go to the White House, you will find out why. The shale gas business is going well, right?”

“It’s going very well. The development of large-scale shale gas fields in Texas is progressing well. And we have already started producing and selling shale gas, albeit in small quantities.”

“It’s happening faster than I thought.”

“This was possible because oil field facilities were already installed at the Wagner Ranch.”

The shale gas revolution was happening in real time.

Production was expected to increase significantly starting next year, and it was also the moment when a cataclysm in the oil industry began.

“Dimon was well too, right?”

“Thanks to you, Chairman, I am having a lot of fun here and there. I have made a large investment in the quantitative easing project conducted by Quantum Fund.”

“Don’t invest too much. There are still many fun projects left.”

“You are ignoring fintech banks too much. All of Silicon Valley’s funds are being deposited into our banks. And Bitcoin transactions have increased significantly, so money is overflowing.”

It was a fintech bank that grew significantly every year.

Even after paying off more than half of CITI Group’s debt, there was still money left over.

Of course, I helped with a large amount of interest, but Dimon was able to grow significantly every year because of his outstanding ability.

“How about the Together Walk? It looks like several fish have started biting.”

“Already, big fish are starting to bite. Japan’s Softbank, Miura Securities, and several investment companies on Wall Street are showing great interest.”

“How much interest are you showing?”

“There is such interest that we are working behind the scenes to secure a stake, starting with suggesting investment to the CEO of Together Work Beryl.”

It was a shame that there was only one bait.

It was a moment when I had to worry about which fish to catch using the bait called Together Walk.

“I’m thinking of negotiating with Shortbank, but is there a better fish?”

“For the telecommunications business, Softbank seems the best. However, if you think about growth in the financial sector, Wall Street is also not a bad choice.”

“The financial aspect is still sufficient. Then, let’s proceed with the first plan and make a transaction with Softbank.”

“We will come up with a plan so that we can receive as much of the valuable assets that Softbank has. And we will also arrange a meeting with the chairman of Softbank in the near future.”

For Together Walk, this was the most expensive moment.

If interest rates start to rise in the middle of this year, the value of Together Work will fall.

Therefore, the maximum profit could be realized only by selling while the interest rate was still zero.

“We must not first show that we want to sell Together Work. We must make the other party feel like we have no choice but to sell it because they are begging us.”

“We’ve already been contacted several times. I’m sure they’ll pounce if we even show the slightest interest.”

Together Work was a poisonous apple.

It would be a problem if we sold the poisoned apples first.

There was no problem if the other person begged to sell it.

“After you sell Together Walk, keep Beryl with you for a while. She seems like a useful person.”

“I will work hard to teach you so that you can use it well.”

It was a beryl that was a waste to throw away after being used only once.

He had excellent execution skills and was also a person with usable acting skills.

There were a few more projects similar to Together Work, so I decided to keep them with me just in case.

* * *

January 20th.

President Obama’s re-election inauguration ceremony was held.

This inauguration ceremony was held privately, and there were no more than 10 attendees.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court conducting the inauguration ceremony, the former President watching… And as an entrepreneur, I was the only one to attend.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to attend the inauguration ceremony from the beginning.

President Obama’s inauguration ceremony was over while he was taking a break in the waiting room.

He called me into his office only after he had finished greeting the former president.

“I sincerely congratulate you on your inauguration.”

“Thanks to Chairman Kim’s support, I was able to be re-elected. I am always grateful.”

President Obama smiled his signature smile.

He extended his hand with a sad look, and we shook hands and congratulated him on winning the presidential election.

“You’ve been carrying out a lot of very interesting projects these days. And I heard from President Bush that you’re working on a shale gas project for the security and future of the United States.”

“It is a project that is carried out with a long-term view. It is difficult to see any benefit right now, and it is a project that could result in big losses. However, I believe that if the shale gas revolution is successful, it will no longer be difficult for oil-producing countries to keep the United States in check.”

Former President Bush also attended this inauguration ceremony.

But I told my story in a private meeting with President Obama.

Well, it’s not a bad story, so there was no harm done.

“President Bush is a person who truly loves America. It is very difficult to receive recognition from President Bush. Chairman Kim has accomplished such a difficult task.”

“The truth will always prevail.”

“I agree that shale gas can strengthen America’s security, but it is not enough.”

President Obama was slowly showing signs of getting to the point.

I also don’t like to stall, so I asked a question right away.

“What further steps do you think should be taken?”

“Movements must be added not only for the United States but also for its allies. In particular, the movements of North Korea and China are unusual these days. Isn’t North Korea a place that can target South Korea with missiles at any time?”

The topic of missiles came out of President Obama’s mouth.

It wasn’t an unexpected story at all.

North Korea carried out missile provocations several times a year, and it must have been a major headache for the U.S. president, who has U.S. troops stationed in Korea.

“Are you planning on building a missile defense base in Korea?”

“······As expected, Chairman Kim has a clear ear for words. That’s why I’m thinking of deploying THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) in Korea.”

Why are you asking me this?

Of course, Taewoo Group was the number one business group in Korea and had a huge influence on Korea.

However, because the THAAD issue was a political issue, it was a conversation that had to be had with politicians, not businessmen.

“I am not in a position to support or oppose the deployment of THAAD. Shouldn’t you consult with the new Korean government that was formed this time?”

“After consulting with the Ministry of National Defense, the place that can have the best effect is Korea, and the next best option is Okinawa, Japan. I want to choose the best option if possible.”

“I am also of the position that THAAD is necessary for the security of Korea and the United States, but China is likely to strongly oppose it. It is a sensitive issue that could lead China to invoke the Korea-Korea Order.”

Hanhanryeong or Geumhanryeong.

It was literally an administrative measure that excluded Korea.

Of course, it was an unofficial administrative measure, but it could have resulted in a boycott of Korean products and disadvantaged Korean companies.

Even before the return, Korean companies were hit hard by the Korean War.

Even back then, the starting point of the Korean War was the deployment of THAAD, and as a result, the relationship between Korea and China became increasingly distant for more than five years.

“If China puts Korea at a disadvantage, the United States is also ready to take retaliatory measures.”

“Is there anything else you would like to ask of Taewoo Group?”

“We would like you to provide us with land to place THAAD. Of course, we are not just asking for it, we will purchase it at a higher price.”

Buying and selling real estate was not difficult.

However, the moment the news that Taewo Group had sold the land to be used for THAAD deployment reached China, Taewo Group could have become the main enemy of the Chinese government and people.

Although THAAD deployment is unavoidable.

It should never have been said that Taewoo Group was involved in the deployment of THAAD.

“It is difficult to provide the land owned by Taewoo Group, but we can connect you with a company that can provide a good land.”

“Then, I would like to ask Chairman Kim about the site issue. Negotiations related to the deployment of THAAD have been ongoing since the last government in Korea, and the conservative camp won this government as well, so I don’t think there will be any major problems.”

Should we say that it is fortunate that candidate Choi Jae-seok did not get elected?

This is because I no longer have responsibility for matters related to the national interest, such as the deployment of THAAD.

Of course, I had already predicted the deployment of THAAD.

Therefore, we were steadily developing a market to replace the Chinese market.

And the reason we did not focus our business on China was because we were worried about Hanhanryeong.

“We will help conclude a site contract as soon as the THAAD deployment negotiations with the Korean government are concluded. However, the company that will provide the THAAD site may be at a great disadvantage to China.”

“If that’s your problem, don’t worry. We’ll make sure you get the benefits in the U.S. as much as you get the disadvantages in China.”

“But I didn’t expect you to discuss this matter with me.”

“Isn’t Chairman Kim the only Korean businessman who can discuss security issues between the United States and Korea? He is recognized by President Bush.”

You believe in me, right?

Then you will accept my offer.

We prepared to bring up the topic of satellite sharing and low-Earth orbit communication networks, which are closely related to security.