The Secret Investment Formula of a Chemical Genius - Chapter 163



Only Krnovel

Episode 163 Carbon Economy

President Larry Selden stroked his chin.

Han Yu-jin’s special lecture at Stanford University.

This has resulted in many losses for the United States.

49% stake in CZTERA’s US subsidiary.

The enormous amount of solid carbon that is produced every year.

Apart from being a raw material for plastic decomposers for artificial rain, there has been virtually no apparent use for it so far.

So, we judged that the cost of storing and maintaining the solid carbon would be considerable.

If the United States owned a stake in a corporation, it would also have to shoulder some of the associated costs.

So, when I heard Han Yu-jin say that she would give up her 10% stake in the exchange in exchange for a stake in the American corporation, I actually laughed inside.

But Han Yu-jin showed her potential at Stanford.

The endless possibilities of carbon extracted from the atmosphere.

This has led to a need to reassess the value of solid carbon, which was previously considered a difficult-to-process waste.

There was one more problem.

Shale revolution.

Shale gas and shale oil, which were previously unusable due to technological deficiencies, can now be utilized thanks to advances in drilling technology.

The United States has surpassed established oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world’s largest oil producer.

However, due to Han Yoo-jin’s announcement, the petrochemical industry is inevitably going through a reorganization.

The U.S. petrochemical industry also took a significant hit.

That doesn’t mean there were only bad points.

Larry Selden stared at the graph on his phone screen.

Even at this very moment, the price of oil is falling terribly, with no end in sight.

High inflation and Russia, which have been a major concern for the White House for the past several months.

There are signs that both problems will be solved simultaneously.

Did Han Yu-jin really not know the ripple effect his lecture had?

No.

He definitely knows.

A sudden live streaming by Lee Tae-kang, the vice president of CZTERA, who is Han Yu-jin’s long-time best friend and also known as the shadow.

It has been reported that he often acts in an odd manner.

That doesn’t mean he acts on his own.

Clearly, there was prior communication between the two for this broadcast.

The fact that Han Yu-jin, who usually doesn’t appear in front of people, stood in front of the camera lens was very suggestive.

Gain or loss?

President Larry Selden fiddled with the water bottle Han Yu-jin handed him.

A half-full water bottle.

The unchanging essence.

In the end, it’s up to you how you interpret the situation.

President Larry Selden, who had been mulling over the story that Han Yu-jin had told him for a while, raised his head.

White House officials also appear to be at a loss as to how to interpret this situation.

He pounded the desk with his fist!

Gathering gazes.

President Larry Selden slowly opened his mouth to face them, all of whom had confused expressions.

“This time… … .”

* * *

“……All right.”

As soon as I finished the call, Taekang, who had been lying on the sofa with his ears pricked up, ran over to me.

“What did they say?”

Despite the guy’s nagging, I just stared blankly at my phone for a while.

“What did President Larry Selden say? Was he upset? Or did he suggest changing the terms of the contract?”

I pushed away the clingy Taekang with my palm and sat down on the sofa.

“It gives off a slightly sad nuance.”

President Larry Selden made a subtle comment, though.

I could hear the sadness in his voice during the call.

The guy who was listening to me tilted his head.

“Isn’t that a bad thing?”

“No, it’s the opposite. If President Larry Selden pretends nothing happened, that would be worse.”

Sometimes, I have conversations with Minister of Justice Shin Soo-chan and we talk about the way politicians think and speak.

A knife hidden behind a smile.

A sword hidden in a smile.

If President Larry Selden had a grudge against me for this incident, he would not have shown any sign of resentment.

Rather, he would have said only good things in front of me.

“He said that if I ever come to America again, I’ll go fishing with him at David’s camp.”

“If it’s David Camp… … the presidential villa?”

I nodded.

Camp David in Maryland, USA, was the presidential retreat where the U.S. president usually went on summer vacation.

“Huh, what kind of David Camp is this guy who might end up in the upcoming presidential election?”

I turned my gaze and stared at the guy.

“why?”

“The reason President Larry Selden brought up David Camp is because he wanted to thank me for helping him in the upcoming presidential election.”

“Is that what you meant?”

“maybe.”

With the US presidential election just eight months away.

If you were to ask who benefited the most from this deal with the US and the special lecture at Stanford, who would you name?

No matter what anyone says, you can say that it is President Larry Selden.

“Do you know what issue American citizens are most sensitive about in the election?”

“Uh… … economy?”

“That’s right. As you said, the area that American citizens are most sensitive about is the economy.”

– It’s the economy, stupid.

A catchphrase used by then Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992.

Even after nearly 30 years, there is a reason why it is mentioned every election.

“In a good U.S. economy, there are very few incumbent presidents who have lost reelection.”

I guess I should say it’s fortunate.

I see you talking about drinking a lot of water.

President Larry Selden didn’t seem to listen to my previous advice.

“Aww, if you’re grateful, just say thank you. Why do politicians keep beating around the bush like that?”

Taekang clicked his tongue for a long time.

“By the way, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“what?”

“No, I’m asking, was it really necessary to disclose those chemical formulas to the public? That’s also a matter of intellectual property rights.”

“The reason I revealed the new plastic and its chemical formula to people this time is because I wanted to show its potential.”

“possibility?”

“Yeah, that’s a possibility. Do you think the plastic I made could make money?”

The guy who had been thinking for a moment shook his head.

“Honestly, it’s hard to make a lot of money.”

No matter how special the plastic is, it is still plastic.

Plastic is a disposable product that is firmly ingrained in people’s minds as something to be used once and then thrown away.

“I wasn’t showing people plastic, I was showing them what they could make with carbon extracted from the atmosphere.”

Whether it will be depleted or its use will be banned.

I can’t say exactly when that will be, though.

By the end of this century, it will be difficult to find oil.

That’s the problem.

In other words, this means that tens of thousands of petrochemical products will disappear within a few decades.

“If all petrochemical products were to disappear in an instant, would people be able to handle the social chaos?”

After hearing me, the guy who had been looking through the chemicals in the hotel room shook his head.

“It must be hard.”

“So, we need to prepare in advance before that happens.”

What I really wanted to show in this lecture is.

Not CZTERA’s technological prowess.

The potential of ‘carbon’ extracted from the atmosphere as a substitute for oil.

“Can’t you make it for me?”

“what?”

“I’m talking about petrochemicals. Can’t you use the carbon you extracted to make a substitute like this plastic?”

“How can I get that much?”

No matter how great Bly’s performance is, in the end, my body is only one.

It is impossible to create substitutes for so many petrochemical products.

No, even if it were possible, I don’t intend to do so.

After hearing what I said, the guy who had been deep in thought raised his head.

“But, there’s one thing that’s strange about you.”

“what?”

“That new plastic you showed off to people this time, I think I saw it in the lab before… … .”

“That’s right. I finished it a long time ago.”

In fact, it was only about six months ago that we perfected the new plastic and its chemical formula.

“But why did you reveal it now?”

“Because it wasn’t a situation like that.”

Until now, the amount of carbon that could be extracted from the atmosphere was not very large.

But this deal with the United States will allow us to extract huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere every year.

For the carbon extracted from the atmosphere by CZTERA to replace oil, it would require a huge amount that people could use on a daily basis.

This prerequisite was partially resolved through this deal with the United States.

“In fact, even if we had revealed it back then, it would have been of no use. Think about it. If we had revealed it back then, would we have gotten such an explosive response as we have now?”

The guy shook his head.

“So, in short, you want to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, solve the problem of global warming, and at the same time replace oil with the extracted carbon?”

“That’s it.”

That’s exactly what Taekang said.

The ‘sustainable future carbon economy circular system’ that I ultimately designed.

“Anyway. I told you the size really matters.”

The guy who had been sticking his tongue out a little while later laughed sinisterly, saying, ‘Hehehe.’

I frowned when I saw that sight.

“Why again?”

“No, you said last time that you had no intention of getting involved in Russian affairs?”

“… … .”

“Oh, you’re really capable. You’re able to slow down the Russian army’s offensive so easily without shedding a single drop of blood. How much is it? You must have calculated it.”

“About 0.86% per dollar of oil.”

Early in the war.

Russia’s war spending, including military supplies, food, ammunition, and missiles, amounted to up to $20 billion.

During the one-day war, the amount of money spent by Russia was close to half of South Korea’s total defense budget.

After all, war is a money-eating demon.

Therefore, it is impossible to continue to wage war without economic support.

I calculated it through Bli.

The results showed that for every dollar drop in oil prices, Russia’s advance slowed by 0.86%.

“Now, you have to be careful what you eat. Especially when you drink black tea.”

“… … .”

The guy stretched out.

“We’ve had a fair amount of fun with the US, and we’ve also given Russia a slap in the face. So, is this the end of the story?”

“okay.”

Now it’s time to go back to Korea.

* * *

“How about staying in the US a little longer and then going?”

Professor Jennon Smith’s wrinkled hand, which he holds, is tense.

“I would like to do that too, but I have people waiting for me at home.”

“Yes, Professor Han will have a family waiting for him… … .”

Sighs kept bursting out of his mouth.

“You don’t think of me as someone you’ll never see again, do you?”

In a joking tone.

“As any professor can tell, I’m not at an age where I can guarantee what tomorrow holds. As I get older, all I’ll get are wrinkles and worries on my face.”

I chuckled as I watched Professor Jennon Smith clicking his tongue.

“I think you’re still in good spirits.”

“I am grateful that Professor Han saw it that way.”

With a short sigh, he blew away the regret on his face.

Professor Jennon Smith nods to the secretary next to him.

He handed me what he was holding in his hand.

“What is this?”

“My heart is for one professor.”

The gift from Jennon Smith was quite bulky.

“Can I open it here?”

“Of course,”

I carefully removed the wrapping paper attached to the outside.

And the identity of the gift that is revealed is… … .

It was hanging in a San Joaquin Valley villa the other day.

A painting by Fede Galizia, a female painter from Milan, Italy in the 16th century.

“… … Is this by any chance a fake?”

“No way, how could you give a fake gift to a professor?”

Professor Jennon Smith smiled warmly.

A painting with a minimum estimated value of several billion won.

It is too expensive to be given as a gift of friendship.

“Professor, I think this is… … .”

“It’s not the price that matters when it comes to gifts, Professor Han.”

“… … .”

It means that you should not judge the gift you gave by its value in terms of money.

I’m wondering what to do.

“Oh! Why are you worrying so much? Just give the professor a nice gift later as a thank you. Isn’t that right, Professor?”

Professor Jennon Smith chuckled at Taekang’s words.

“Thank you, Professor.”

“No. I am more grateful. I hope you have a safe return to Korea.”

We boarded the plane, escorted by Professor Jennon Smith.

* * *

A long flight of 13 hours and 30 minutes.

What awaits us upon our arrival at Incheon Airport.

“CEO Han Yu-jin! Please look here!”

“About this negotiation… … .”

“The United States has decided to introduce a carbon border tax, but Representative Han Yu-jin… … .”

It was a crowd with no end in sight.