Chapter 132

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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There was a figure named Joseph.

The Egyptian prime minister appearing in the Bible, he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and prophesied 7 years of abundance and 7 years of famine.

“Since 7 years of abundance would come, he collected 20% of the harvest from the people as taxes. He gathered that for 7 full years, building storehouses across all the land until there was no more room.”

“Really? He took a lot.”

“Well, from Egypt’s perspective, it was a kind of price defense. If everywhere has abundance, grain inflation would occur and prices would hit rock bottom.”

“He gathered it for 7 years like that?”

“Yes. Then finally the 7 years of abundance ended and 7 years of famine came. That’s when Egypt released the grain they’d stockpiled, and of course, not for free but taking money.”

“From their own people too?”

“Yes. They took money from their own people and sold overseas too. As the famine continued, Pharaoh came to possess astronomical wealth from Egypt and surrounding nations.”

Kim Du-young and I were listening with great interest to the story hyung was telling.

“That’s no joke.”

“It is a story from the Bible, but this Joseph policy model is actually learned and used in modern times too. Strategic grain reserve systems, agricultural supply and demand adjustment policies, price regulation through government intervention, etc. The Bible taught food security strategy.”

“Oh. Thinking about it, that’s true. But Chairman, why are you suddenly telling this story…?”

“Why else? Watching what our Jin-ho is doing lately reminds me of Joseph.”

I was wondering why he brought up the Joseph story.

It seemed to be because of what I’ve been doing lately.

“I know too. Lately President Jeong has been buying up grain tremendously. Ah, precisely, he’s buying up wheat. So I even jokingly said to the staff, maybe a war is breaking out next year? Haha.”

As he said that, I could feel President Kim sneaking glances at me.

“Well, let’s hope such terrible things don’t happen. So be careful with your words. Words can become seeds.”

“Ah, yes, Chairman.”

I didn’t particularly answer either, but I’m praying that at least war doesn’t happen.

“Jin-ho. You must have your own reasons for the wheat, so let’s leave that alone. There’s nothing particularly problematic about it anyway.”

“Is there some other problem?”

“Actually… you donated heavily to Indonesia through the foundation this time, didn’t you?”

I thought he was worried we were buying too much wheat, but actually it was about the donation sent to Indonesia this time.

“It was 300 million dollars, right?”

“Yes. Is there some problem with the donation…?”

“Well, what could be a problem with donating? But the timing overlapped badly. Our government and Indonesia are currently at odds.”

That was the first I’d heard of it.

“What happened?”

“Our government and Indonesia were cooperating to develop a fighter jet. But these guys used economic problems as an excuse and didn’t pay their share of the contribution. We let it slide once, but then it turned out these guys were trying to steal only the technology without paying.”

“Ah…”

It was certainly a sensitive matter.

It’s related to national security, after all.

“They got caught trying to freeload?”

“I only found out yesterday. It wasn’t well known at first, but a festering problem exploded and reached our ears. The government filed a formal protest, and then these guys should have bowed their heads apologizing, but they came out brazenly instead.”

Indonesia responded tepidly to the government’s protest while secretly seeking other partners to develop new fighter jets.

They lay down saying they have no money to give us, but were actually doing other things behind our backs.

“The problem is we donated to Indonesia at that timing?”

“Exactly. This has become quite awkward. The government side didn’t deliberately bring it up, but they must be concerned.”

I too would have reconsidered donating to Indonesia if I’d known beforehand.

“But if we suddenly withdraw the donation and take back all the money, wouldn’t that make the atmosphere even stranger?”

“That’s true too.”

“Plus, even if there’s conflict between governments, it shouldn’t negatively affect people who need help.”

“That’s also right.”

The reason our foundation was established was to use money for places that need help by utilizing my intuition.

So I didn’t want to wield someone’s misfortune as a weapon.

“I told you, President Kim. Our Jin-ho is this kind-hearted.”

“Haha, I certainly knew that, Chairman.”

“Alright, Jin-ho. Proceed with this as you wish. If something comes up from the government side, I’ll handle it.”

“Yes. Thank you, hyung—I mean, Chairman.”

As hyung and I were happily exchanging drinks, President Kim beside us was looking on enviously.

“I’ve always felt this, but from anyone’s perspective, you two look like real brothers.”

“Hehe. We’re almost uncle and nephew age. If I’d been a bit earlier, I’d have a son just like him.”

“But how did you two meet? I heard there’s a secret organization you two run.”

“Hm?”

At those words, we both tilted our heads.

“I’ve heard the rumors too. That there’s a secret meeting you two run, and you even built a building just for that meeting.”

Ah. Could he be talking about the guild?

But the rumor seems to have spread strangely.

“How important must that meeting be to build a separate building for it?”

Hyung and I exchanged glances.

Hyung had an expression like he was dying of amusement.

“Vice President Kang Ji-hwan also joined that meeting, I heard…”

“Ahem. Then why didn’t you ask Vice President Kang?”

“I asked him a few times. But he absolutely wouldn’t tell me. He even warned me not to try to find out more.”

“That guy really said that?”

The two of us barely held back the laughter that was about to burst out.

“Chairman. I know well that I was from another house’s child and came over to Gwangwoon. But I’m confident no one in this company can match my loyalty.”

“So… you want to be included in that meeting?”

“I know very important matters are handled at that meeting. Isn’t our shipping the most core subsidiary after Gwangwoon Securities? If I also participate in that meeting, wouldn’t I be able to help the company a bit more?”

Hyung folded his arms with a deliberately contemplating face.

“Jin-ho. What do you think?”

“I think…”

President Kim was looking at me pleadingly.

“It’s good. There happens to be one suitable position.”

“P-President Jeong! I knew the only one who understands me is President Jeong!”

We happened to need one more tank.

This works out well.

Vice President Kang and President Kim.

We’ll put these two reliable tanks at the front.

“Hmm. Alright. I see.”

Hyung seemed to have made up his mind too. His mouth corners were already ascending.

“Do you have a computer at home?”

“Ah, yes, I have one for work. But I don’t use it much. Why do you ask…?”

“Then first, change your computer.”

“…Pardon?”

President Kim just kept looking back and forth between me and hyung, not understanding what was going on.

————————————————————————————————————————

“Looking into the confirmed cases this time, WHO officially confirmed a variant virus.”

“Variant virus? In our Indonesia?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, that’s what they say.”

Indonesian President Joko Widodo let out a sigh.

He had often heard warnings that corona variant viruses could emerge, but he never thought it would come from Indonesia.

“Then what happens?”

“Fortunately, with current mRNA technology, rapid response to variant viruses is possible. Astrazenon already received variant virus information from WHO and has begun vaccine production. In a day or two, the vaccine will be complete and mass production can begin immediately.”

Indeed, amazing technology.

They say corona response was possible quickly thanks to mRNA technology.

“The next matter is…”

“Wait. Yaman, why are you giving me this kind of report? Usually, this kind of thing is done by staff in a meeting.”

“Yes. I cancelled today’s meeting. I brought the matters to report separately.”

“Why? Is there something you want to talk about just between us?”

“That’s right.”

Vice President Baruf Yaman was a partner who had jumped into politics and been together all this way.

So just by looking at his expression, he could tell what he was thinking.

“Something unusual must have happened.”

“Yes. I was planning to report anyway. This time Gwangwoon Foundation donated 300 million dollars to our Indonesia.”

“Gwangwoon? 300 million dollars isn’t a small amount for a donation.”

“Yes. They say they’ll use it for our Indonesian citizens affected by natural disasters.”

If it were anywhere else, he would have sent thanks for doing good work.

But Gwangwoon…

President Joko narrowed his brow.

“Something seems suspicious. Is it just me who thinks that?”

“The reason I cancelled today’s meeting is exactly that. It seems Gwangwoon is delivering donations with some purpose.”

“What purpose?”

“The Republic of Korea government sent an official protest this time. About not paying the share for the joint fighter development last time.”

That matter.

Actually, after receiving the protest, he’d just been ignoring it.

He wasn’t without money, but it felt wasteful to give it to the Korean government.

“Extracting that technology—how is it going?”

“We only extracted half. Anyway, the timing of the Korean government sending a protest and Gwangwoon suddenly sending donations suspiciously overlaps.”

“…Wait. What does that mean?”

“Gwangwoon is sending us a message through donations. No, to be precise, it’s likely a warning.”

“!?”

He had thought there must be a purpose behind this donation.

But it was actually a warning?

“The Korean government and Gwangwoon move as one body. You can see it from Japan’s case. When Japan started pressuring Korea, didn’t Gwangwoon step up and fight on Korea’s behalf? As a result, Japan’s economy was destroyed and ultimately Japan’s leadership bowed their heads to the Korean government.”

Joko had heard about that incident.

“What pops up every time Gwangwoon causes incidents recently is Gwangwoon Foundation. Approaching with the purpose of donation…”

“And stabbing in the back?”

“Correct. Nominally it’s donations, but they use it to take control of the areas they want. Covertly.”

“What could Gwangwoon do by scattering donations in Indonesia?”

“Quite a lot. Raising Gwangwoon’s image is one thing, but… those funds could flow to the organizations currently causing terrorism inside Indonesia.”

“Wh-what!?”

It was absurd.

He hadn’t thought of the fact that they could provide such support under the pretext of donations.

“Perhaps they’re already in communication with them. Since the conflict with the Korean government began in earnest, haven’t the terrorist forces been running rampant?”

“Then those Gwangwoon bastards are supporting terrorist organizations in our Indonesia?”

“There’s no physical evidence. Only circumstantial. But seeing them scatter donations at this timing, they’re clearly delivering a message to us.”

“If you don’t do as the Korean government wishes, you don’t know what we’ll do with that money?”

“Yes. We absolutely cannot predict how Gwangwoon will attack us.”

Joko clasped his hands and fell into thought.

“Gwangwoon… why do other countries just leave those dangerous people alone? Especially America. If it’s America, they should know Gwangwoon’s true nature well. If they cleaned out all of them, Gwangwoon couldn’t run wild like this.”

That had always been the question.

Why on earth do the great powers leave Gwangwoon alone?

“From our view, it looks like Gwangwoon’s chairman and executives under him are scheming sinister plans, but reality is probably different. They merely move according to orders from above—there’s high possibility they’re not the main body.”

“The real mastermind isn’t Gwangwoon but behind them?”

“Yes. If the US government had a company threatening national interests, they would have dealt with them immediately. But even that eccentric Trent didn’t touch Gwangwoon, and the current Aiden administration is the same. Rather, they’re cooperating. You can see it just from this green energy matter, can’t you?”

Either the White House has already fallen to the forces controlling Gwangwoon, or even if they want to touch Gwangwoon, they can’t figure out who’s behind them, leaving them unable to act either way.

“According to the information we’ve confirmed, that’s the case. Neither the White House nor any government in the entire world has figured out who the real master controlling Gwangwoon from behind is.”

That’s why no one can directly strike Gwangwoon.

“Even if they eliminate those puppets, if they can’t find the real master behind them, it would just provoke anger for no reason.”

If the chess pieces disappear, they can just place new chess pieces.

In the end, unless they find and cut out the root, it’s all useless.

“So. What is it you want to say?”

“How about paying the contribution?”

“You want to pay that?”

“It was money we had to pay anyway. Cancel all the projects currently in progress, pay the contribution properly to Korea, and at least get one of their fighter jets.”

They had been planning to extract only the technology and drag out negotiations to delay payment as much as possible.

But they never expected them to come out like this.

“What if we don’t pay?”

“Then… shouldn’t we be prepared? For what might happen.”

The country was in turmoil.

Typhoons, earthquakes, epidemics, etc.

The entire nation was groaning.

Meanwhile, terrorists are running wild, and the country is gradually being sucked into chaos.

If Gwangwoon decides to shake up the country in this chaos…

“Hoo—!”

The President let out a deep sigh.

“How much do we have to pay?”

“2 billion dollars.”

“Transfer it immediately.”

“Yes. You made the right decision, President.”

With so many places needing money, it was regrettable for sure.

But isn’t it better than the country becoming even more of a mess?

“…”

But even after paying the money, something felt uneasy.

2 billion dollars.

From Gwangwoon’s perspective, it’s not even pocket change.

But they caused all this for just that 2 billion dollars?

“Surely… those Gwangwoon bastards don’t have some other purpose using the fighter jet as an excuse?”