Chapter 137

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Happy New Year, Chairman.”

“Wishing you lots of blessings and good health this year.”

“Yes. Thank you all. Happy New Year to everyone, and let’s run things well this year too.”

The new year dawned.

Last year was a meaningful year for Gwangwoon.

They used the epidemic called corona as an opportunity to expand the company’s influence worldwide, and with K-culture development and endless stock market rises, it was a year where everyone couldn’t help but smile.

“But why is the neighbor up north so noisy on this good day?”

The neighbor up north meant Russia.

“I heard Russia sent troops? Is it a serious matter?”

“It’s nothing to worry about. The Kazakhstan government requested help from Russia.”

“And Russia accepted?”

“Yes. A large anti-government protest broke out in Kazakhstan over LPG gas price increases. The anti-government forces that had grown significantly found their moment to try overthrowing the government, so Russia stepped in. They say it’ll be resolved within days.”

Russia’s troop deployment to Kazakhstan was an event showing the influence of the former Soviet Union once again.

“I didn’t expect Patin would immediately send troops.”

“Isn’t it President Patin’s ambition to restore the glory of the former Soviet Union? The Kazakhstan deployment has that display purpose. He’s been at odds with Ukraine these days.”

Since last year, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine had been intensifying.

The reason was Ukraine’s NATO membership.

President Patin was very concerned about NATO using Ukraine to expand influence into Eastern Europe.

So he threatened that if Ukraine joined NATO, he would not shy away from nuclear war.

Thanks to that, Ukraine’s NATO membership was currently on hold.

“Surely. Russia won’t actually invade Ukraine, right?”

“Even though they’ve threatened a few times, they won’t actually invade. If they did, the war could spread to Europe. Moreover, America won’t stay quiet.”

“What if they finish it in a flash?”

“That’s true too. With Russia’s military might, Ukraine would be occupied in days. But the possibility of Russia actually starting a full-scale war is very slim.”

There had been concerns very briefly that Russia might be invading Ukraine.

However, the dominant analysis was that President Patin wouldn’t invade unless he was crazy.

That’s how war is.

If you start a war without justification now, the whole world turns their back on you.

Plus, Russia, supposedly second only to America in military power, starts a war?

“Unless they want World War 3, they’ll never start a war.”

This was most people’s thinking.

“Well, the Kazakhstan deployment won’t shake stock prices, right?”

“No. KOSPI that exceeded 3,300 briefly hesitated, but they’re seeing it as catching breath for a higher leap. Won’t it try to break 4,000 this year? There’s nothing that could be seen as bad news, and above all, people keep flocking to the stock market.”

The KOSPI index pumped up by corona special was currently staying in the 3,000s.

Everyone saw it as a brief adjustment.

With expectations of another rocket launch afterward, people’s money kept flowing into the stock market.

“Right. It’s a real party, party. But… I received one strange report. While everyone is dying to put money in, our securities firm is moving in the opposite direction.”

At those words, the executives’ eyes turned to Vice President Kang Ji-hwan.

They were eyes interrogating whether that was true.

“It’s not just Gwangwoon Securities. Gwangwoon Asset Management is also currently liquidating all positions.”

“Even all the National Pension money?”

“Yes. If we liquidated all at once, it would shock the market, so we’ve been liquidating positions since the end of last year. It should all be done by this month.”

“The market is enjoying a great boom like this, and such behavior… that must all be our Jin-ho’s instruction, right?”

“That’s correct, Chairman.”

It’s Jeong Jin-ho’s order, not just anyone’s.

The executives who were about to scold Vice President Kang asking what that behavior was about immediately shut their mouths at hearing it was Jeong Jin-ho’s instruction.

“Jin-ho only said to liquidate positions? He didn’t explain any reason or give other instructions?”

“He didn’t tell us the exact reason. However, he did instruct to massively purchase some stocks while liquidating positions.”

“What kind?”

“Defense stocks, energy, grain, and raw materials.”

Hwang Dae-woon let out a soft laugh.

“Why are those the stocks? Is there going to be a war or something?”

“…”

It was a joke, but Vice President Kang’s expression wasn’t smiling.

It was deeply serious.

“…It’s not, right?”

“Honestly speaking, there’s a high possibility. Looking at the stocks the securities firm is purchasing, they’re all war-related stocks.”

“Wh-what!?”

Then even the executives who had kept their mouths shut couldn’t hold back and raised their voices.

“W-war!?”

“No. What does that mean!”

“So North Korea is going to invade!?”

Hwang Dae-woon calmed the murmuring executives.

“Everyone calm down. If it were really going to be a North-South war, do you think we’d be leisurely staying here? We would have looked into immigration immediately.”

Come to think of it, that was true.

If he really predicted a North-South war, now wasn’t the time to liquidate positions but to leave Korea immediately.

“Yes. In my view as well, he’s not buying those stocks to prepare for a North-South war.”

“Then what? Where is a war happening? Middle East? Israel?”

“The possibility there is also slim. Actually, they’re shooting missiles at each other whenever they get a chance there anyway.”

If not North-South Korea and not the Middle East, then where on earth?

“Taiwan and China? Or Russia and Ukraine?”

“I think President Jeong has Russia in mind.”

“But what we just discussed was that. That the possibility of Russia attacking Ukraine is almost nonexistent.”

That was what every expert in the world thought.

Even the White House had announced that the possibility of Russia attacking Ukraine was very low.

“But Jin-ho is convinced that Russia will definitely attack Ukraine?”

Looking at the instructions Jeong Jin-ho gave the securities firm and asset management, it was certain.

Otherwise, would withdrawing money during this great boom be sensible behavior?

“I think President Jeong probably predicted this since the GameStop incident.”

“Since GameStop? What connection does that have with this?”

“Yes. GameStop appeared on the surface to be used to bring down a competitor, but what President Jeong focused on wasn’t the competitor Robinhood but Canada. GameStop created an opportunity to enter Canada, and as a result, we’re currently gathering all resources in Canada.”

Currently, Gwangwoon’s companies were spread throughout Canada.

From the grain warehouses there to nickel warehouses. Gwangwoon was dominating most of them.

Exquisitely, the trigger was GameStop.

If not for the GameStop incident, Gwangwoon’s entry into Canada wouldn’t have been easy.

“Then… Jin-ho has been preparing for the Russia-Ukraine war since GameStop?”

“Circumstantially, that’s what it means. Plus, the Russia-Ukraine war hasn’t broken out yet. The possibility of it breaking out is very low too.”

That was true.

The probability of the Russia-Ukraine war breaking out was currently very low.

“But if the Russia-Ukraine war really does break out…”

It would mean Jeong Jin-ho was alone preparing for the harsh winter about to blow into this world.

Just like that Joseph who alone predicted 7 years of abundance and 7 years of famine.

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

“President. They say Russia deployed the troops withdrawn from Kazakhstan directly to the front. Also, they conscripted additional troops numbering 100,000. Especially the military confrontation in the Donbas region is becoming more serious.”

Russia and Ukraine had actually been fighting continuously since 2014 in a way.

The area called ‘Donbas’ had pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian government constantly clashing, with 15,000 deaths over years of fighting.

The Russian government never directly intervened, but they were indirectly fighting Ukraine by continuously supporting and providing weapons to the pro-Russian rebels.

“But it has never escalated to full-scale war.”

“Right. Because if they start full-scale war, Russia loses too much. If they massively invade Ukraine, America and Europe warned they’ll expel Russia from SWIFT and freeze foreign exchange reserves with strong economic sanctions.”

Russian President Patin emphasizes one Russia.

It’s the same as China always shouting one China toward Taiwan.

But the reason both China and Russia couldn’t start full-scale war was simple.

It was because of American and European economic sanctions.

If they’re forcibly removed from SWIFT, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, all foreign exchange accounts are blocked, and suffocating economic sanctions are applied, they have no room to endure.

“Above all, if full-scale war starts, Russia’s economy isn’t good already, and it’s highly likely to take an even bigger hit.”

In the past, you could seize resources by starting war, but now starting war means the initiator definitely takes a loss.

Resources consumed are too great, and even if they occupy Ukraine, they have to pour astronomical costs into it.

“So most analysis is that Russia is using war threats as a diplomatic negotiation card. To prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and increase influence over the Donbas region.”

Russia won’t start a war.

That would be the rational judgment.

Even if they use force, it would likely just be light skirmishes.

“Of course, there’s currently high political risk in Ukraine. When current President Zelenkis was elected, his approval rating was nearly 80%, but now it’s dropped to 20%.”

So there was also talk that if Russia really wants to fight a war, now might be the perfect time.

Zelenkis wasn’t a politician but a comedian.

He was even someone who acted as a president in the past and then actually got elected as president.

So he shouted structural reform, saying he’d change the rotten nation, and citizens believed he’d do his job well—.

But even if you’re elected with overwhelming support, there were many realistic problems with someone without political foundation being president.

“So he couldn’t do any of the anti-corruption or reform he promised. His approval rating dropped along with it.”

“With a weak political foundation, invasion is possible too?”

“Yes. Isn’t he evaluated as having the weakest political foundation and lowest leadership among all Ukrainian presidents? If they’re going to fight a war, now is indeed the best opportunity. But even so, since they lose more than they gain, Russia would avoid full-scale war.”

Still, starting war remained a bad thing for Russia.

“But if war really breaks out, Ukraine would be quickly occupied, right?”

“They don’t stand a chance. Do you know how powerful Russia’s military is?”

“But President, you continuing to liquidate positions… You really think war will break out?”

The employees all looked at me at once.

I quietly brought my hand to the Russia and Ukraine report.

“!?”

Then, as if waiting, explosion sounds came from all directions and the scene of countless tanks and infantry advancing vividly unfolded before me.

I quickly took my hand away to escape that terrible scene.

“I hope my prediction is wrong too.”

“…”

War is a terrible thing.

War is where young people are sacrificed for the ambitions of old men.

That’s why I hope war doesn’t happen.

But hasn’t my intuition already shown me several times?

That day is approaching.

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

“So we have nothing to worry about?”

[Yes, Chairman, you don’t need to worry about the Russia side. I’ve confirmed several times, and the Russian government has no intention of actually starting a war.]

Due to the unusually developing relationship between Russia and Ukraine recently, Chairman Kang Seong-ho was continuously having meetings with Kangsung Electronics employees stationed in Russia.

“But I heard Russia increased their military again?”

[Ukraine keeps trying to join NATO and Europe is trying to expand influence, so they’re checking them. It’s always happened. Like North Korea constantly provokes us every day. Russia also knows well that the moment they start full-scale war, the country will be severely shaken.]

“Alright. Then I’ll trust just the branch manager. There must be no disruption to the factory. Our Kangsung needs to establish a firm position. Is Russia’s population just one or two people?”

[Yes, Chairman, don’t worry.]

With that, Kang Seong-ho hung up with a sigh of relief.

Russia was an important market for Kangsung Electronics.

Wasn’t it a place where they were actively expanding the market to sell TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and other electronics in bulk?

“It is a bit unsettling though.”

Seeing the branch manager so confident, Russia probably plans to just scare them a few times and end it like always.

True. Full-scale war.

And clearly knowing it could lead to World War 3, would Russia go full-scale?

No way.

“Maybe I should have asked President Jeong just once.”

Kangsung also has information sources, so going to ask him about every little thing was a bit funny.

Moreover, the White House was also confident there would be no war, so it was already a done matter.

“Should I go eat lunch?”

It was exactly 12 PM.

As he was getting up to eat lunch, the secretary general urgently came in.

“Ch-Chairman!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Br-breaking news just came out.”

“What?”

The secretary general turned on the TV in the president’s office instead of explaining in words.

And there, an announcer was urgently delivering breaking news.

[Breaking News. President Patin declares war on Ukraine.]

“!?”

President Patin’s speech was being broadcast in real-time.

A speech declaring full-scale war against Ukraine.

“Th-that’s just a threat, right?”

“No. He declared the start of a special military operation, and Russian forces have launched from three directions. They’re already securing the Black Sea to connect land routes, and troops are advancing to capture the capital.”

“Th-then that means—”

“Yes. This time it’s not a threat…”

The secretary general delivering the report swallowed dryly.

“A real war seems to have broken out.”