The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 378



Only Krnovel

378. Reach out your hand (3)

A day before leaving for Saudi Arabia.

It’s been a while since I visited the old office building located across from Seoul Station.

“Construction is still in full swing.”

“It is a building that has been used for over 35 years without proper remodeling, so there are a lot of areas that need repair.”

All affiliates of Taewoo Group moved to new headquarters.

The old office building has begun extensive remodeling work.

Since the building was used as an office, many areas had to be modified in order to transform it into a cultural complex.

“When will it be completed?”

“It is predicted that completion will be possible in the second half of next year at the latest. And many companies are already hoping to move in.”

Because it was the old office building in a very good location.

There were many companies that wanted to open a store aiming for high promotional effects.

However, we could not give up our precious space to just any company, and only selected companies through strict screening.

“The first and second floors will be used as Taewoo Group’s new technology promotion center, and if Apple, Google, Facebook, etc. occupy the space, there won’t be much space left.”

“We really don’t have much space left because we need to open promotional centers and souvenir shops for IT companies related to Taewoo Group.”

It wasn’t just IT companies.

Taewo Entertainment and the OTT company were also scheduled to run an entertainment pavilion.

It was an old headquarters building that was sure to become a new tourist facility in Seoul once completed.

“Before I went to Saudi Arabia, I wanted to see the old headquarters because it was a moment when I needed to have the mindset of not losing my original intention.”

“The Chairman has not changed. He has not changed at all from when he first joined Taewo Group to what he looks like now.”

“Compared to that time, a lot of the desperation has disappeared. But looking at the old office building, the desperation that was gone seems to be coming back.”

The urgency of the IMF era was needed.

The oil war was such a large-scale event, that Taewoo Group could move to the next step only if the plan was carried out without mistakes.

After staring at the old office building for a while, I headed to the airport.

In order to obtain information about the oil war, he went to Saudi Arabia, which would be the center of the war.

* * *

When I arrived in Saudi Arabia, Bin Salman was waiting for me.

There were many eyes on him, so he greeted me with a dignified appearance, and it was only after getting into the car that he relaxed his expression.

“You had a hard time coming. I was planning to go to Korea to see my brother, but the atmosphere in the royal family is a bit like that these days.”

“What’s going on?”

“······Only my brother should know. This is a story that should never be made known to the outside world.”

“What good is there in talking about the royal family? If you’re that worried, it doesn’t matter.”

Bin Salman is in deep trouble.

There was no need to think this deeply about the oil issue.

Then, there was only one problem left, and since we knew the future, we could guess what problem would arise.

“Is the Crown Prince unwell?”

“Well, how do you know that? It’s something that only a few people within the royal family know about. Where did you hear about it?”

“I heard it somewhere, but I just passed it on. I once heard that the crown prince was not in good shape with his respiratory system.”

“You are suffering a lot from pneumonia. I have called in all the best doctors in the world, but there is no improvement.”

The moment when power in Saudi Arabia changes hands is just around the corner.

And Bin Salman, in front of me, would be the center of it all.

“Governor Salman will soon take over as crown prince.”

“It will happen if my health gets worse than it is now, but I believe I will make a complete recovery.”

It was Bin Salman who truly cared about the Crown Prince.

Are you trying to appear nice because it’s in front of me?

Knowing that he had carried out a bloody purge after taking the position of Crown Prince, the current conversation sounded pretentious.

While we were having that conversation, we arrived at Salman’s mansion.

Because I was with Bin Salman, I was able to go straight into the mansion without any security checks.

“Is the governor there?”

“My father is waiting for me because my brother is coming today.”

Saudi Arabia was a country that treated its guests lavishly.

Especially in the case of the royal family, there were many cases where things went too far.

It was the same today, and there were over hundreds of delicacies of seafood and delicacies set out on the table.

“Welcome. Thanks to you and Taewoo Group, Saudi Arabia has changed a lot. Now you can easily see electric cars wherever you go.”

“Thanks to the governor for his investment. I just gave a little bit of help.”

“Hehe, the chairman of Taewo Group, which is growing most rapidly in the world, is so humble.”

Governor Salman gave me a hug and welcomed me warmly.

Although I had known him since I was a child, Salman welcomed me even more thanks to the remarkable growth of the Taewo Group.

“Today, I want to hear from you about what’s going on in the world. According to the rumor, you have more information than the American CIA.”

“That’s too much praise.”

“You don’t have to pay tens of millions of dollars to have lunch like Warren Buffett on Wall Street, right?”

“Absolutely not. But this may be a bit embarrassing, do you mind?”

“Aren’t we more than just friends, we’re family? What’s there to be in trouble about?”

family?

I have been close with Bin Salman since childhood.

Although the relationship between my grandfather and Salman is deep, they are obviously not blood-related family.

However, considering the Saudi royal family’s secret struggle, it occurred to me that people who are not related by blood may feel more like family than family members who are related by blood.

“Then let me tell you comfortably. I am analyzing that oil will be the hot topic of the world economy in the future.”

“That’s surprising. I thought you would talk about the IT field or a completely new field.”

“The landscape of the oil market has changed a lot due to shale gas in the United States. And I believe OPEC, including Saudi Arabia, will establish a policy to increase oil production by a huge amount and start a game of chicken.”

“Hmm.”

Salman remained silent.

Salman is currently third in Saudi Arabia, so he must know everything about the Saudi government.

And Salman would already know information related to increased oil production.

“This is why I said it was a difficult story.”

“I’d like to hear more of your thoughts. So what do you think will happen?”

“An oil war beyond a game of chicken will break out. And the price of oil will fall by more than half of what it is now, and it is predicted that many countries will fall into abyss due to the oil war.”

Information was not being released for free.

Every time I spoke, new information was added to Salman’s details.

I was able to turn information that was just guesswork into confidence.

“Which country will suffer the most?”

“Russia, which is under economic sanctions due to the Crimea incident, is expected to suffer great damage. And Venezuela, which has a bad relationship with the United States, is also expected to suffer.”

“Do you think Saudi Arabia should not start an oil war?”

I was able to find out a lot of information just by listening to Salman’s tone of voice.

Saudi Arabia has already chosen to increase oil production, and Salman has found out that he is not sure.

“It is by no means a good choice for Saudi Arabia, but it is also an inevitable choice.”

“It sounds like you have no choice but to choose to increase oil production in order not to lose the oil leadership.”

“I predict that the Saudi royal family will make that decision.”

“If you weren’t the chairman of Taewoo Group, you would be mistaken for a shaman or a prophet.”

It was an acknowledgment that everything I said was true.

I felt Salman’s trust in me increase further in his eyes, and I decided to take it one step further.

“Then, from now on, please take what I say as the words of a wandering prophet, not the chairman of the Taewo Group.”

“How dare you say something like that to make things even more uncomfortable? I will accept everything you hear, so speak comfortably.”

“I believe that the governor will become crown prince within next year at the latest.”

“Uh-huh! What are you talking about? Muhammad, are you talking about it!”

Suddenly, a spark flew towards bin Salman.

Bin Salman quickly waved his hands and declared his innocence.

“I didn’t say anything. My brother already knew.”

“Muhammad is right. I have been worried about the Crown Prince’s health for a long time.”

“Hmm, but you shouldn’t say things like that carelessly.”

It was Salman who couldn’t hide his discomfort.

For his sake, I asked bin Salman to send all his employees out.

Once everyone was outside, I brought up a more serious topic.

“Isn’t Saudi Arabia a hereditary system of brothers? So the governor should also be prepared.”

“What do you mean prepare? Do you mean to pray that His Majesty the Crown Prince’s health deteriorates?”

“That’s not what I meant. Governor, we need to prepare now for what happens after he becomes crown prince, but Muhammad will have a chance.”

We both looked at Bin Salman at the same time.

Bin Salman was blinking his eyes wide as he did not know why his name suddenly appeared.

“What does it mean that we must prepare now for Muhammad?”

“The governor will go beyond the crown prince and one day become the king of Saudi Arabia. Then the next crown prince should go to his nephew, not Muhammad.”

“It must be so because it is the royal law.”

“Shouldn’t the hereditary succession of brothers end now? For the sake of Saudi Arabia, the most outstanding person should become the successor, and I think Muhammad is the perfect candidate.”

What parent doesn’t like praising their child?

And in the past, the Crown Prince or the King may have seemed distant.

Now that the crown prince’s health was deteriorating, power was at hand.

As power approaches, thoughts also increase.

Starting with the imagination of Salman ascending to the throne of Crown Prince.

And it was clear that he even imagined bin Salman becoming crown prince after him.

“Do you mean that we have to start preparing now, even for Muhammad?”

“I was the only successor to Taewo Group. I had no uncles or cousins. Nevertheless, I went through a bloody purge to become chairman.”

“It’s a purge. You were a more dangerous and bold person than I thought.”

“I can tell you this because you consider me family. I am ready to do anything for Muhammad, who is like a brother to you.”

I looked at Muhammad with warm eyes.

Salman watched me for a while and spoke with difficulty.

“Muhammad has found a good brother.”

“Why should I regret doing this? I have already gained abundant wealth and fame. Nevertheless, I am doing this only for the sake of Muhammad, whom I have inherited since childhood.”

“I understand what you mean. And I also understand why you say that.”

Absolute trust relationship between the next Saudi king and crown prince.

The relationship wasn’t bad now, but a deeper relationship needed to be formed than now.

Saudi Arabia’s role in the US-China trade conflict was important.

If it received Saudi Arabia’s absolute support, Taewo Group could completely take the lead in the conflict between the United States and China.