Chapter 194

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Really… headquarters approved this?”

“Yes. Following the scenario created by the strategy team, they want us to act immediately the moment the KW Exchange establishes itself in China.”

Anthony Watson let out a hollow laugh as he examined the directives that came from headquarters.

If he were still a CIA man from the past instead of Gwangwoon Sentinel, he would have said this after seeing this scenario:

Impossible mission.

But now his opinion was different.

While still a difficult mission, there was possibility.

“Isn’t China’s surveillance system among the best in the world? Especially since they’re putting all their effort into military system surveillance.”

America had tried operations on China many times to induce internal strife.

But not once had it worked until now.

The reason was that China’s current surveillance system was so tightly woven that finding gaps was difficult.

The problem was that system was developing by the day.

Recently, they even introduced AI systems, reaching a level of controlling the entire Chinese populace and military.

“Plus, the generals didn’t really have justification to stage a coup.”

Isn’t there a saying that war is justification?

Without justification, even the most powerful army is bound to waver.

The reason Russia couldn’t fully push out Ukraine was partly Ukraine’s tenacious resistance, but also because the morale of the Russian army itself was hitting rock bottom.

Because they had no justification.

“Yes. Moreover, the generals enjoy enormous wealth and power, so they’re very satisfied with the Chinese system.”

That was the problem.

No complaints, and no justification.

At least until a few years ago.

“But it’s true that due to Gwangwoon, the real estate bubble burst and several large corporations collapsed one after another, significantly damaging the generals’ assets. And recently, the Chinese government sent several generals to the execution stand, declaring they’d purge the Reform Faction that appeared a few years ago.”

“So the commanders under those generals are also becoming dissatisfied?”

“Yes. They can actually move the military more easily. The problem is they don’t have assets stockpiled like the generals, so they lack military funds.”

That’s exactly what Gwangwoon is trying to solve.

“But China has an enormous surveillance system on the military side, controlling even the flow of funds.”

“That’s why the KW Exchange is entering.”

Bitcoin, which is gaining popularity worldwide.

However, the Chinese government had blocked Bitcoin in advance, preventing transactions entirely.

“Because this can be used as military funds.”

While they can monitor all fund flows within China, Bitcoin was a new currency system that escaped their surveillance.

They had completely blocked transactions out of anxiety that this could be used as military funds.

“Their anxiety was correct. The reason Gwangwoon is pushing the KW Exchange in as top priority is exactly to supply military funds.”

The situation in China isn’t ordinary right now.

With consecutive economic crises and crop failure hitting them, prices had long ago pierced the ceiling, common people were looting because they had nothing to eat, and the military was furious because even when paid, it was ridiculously insufficient.

“The problem is these complaints have persisted for years, and this time with another financial crisis and crop failure, they’ve reached the limit.”

In this situation, Gwangwoon was simultaneously providing a Bitcoin exchange and food that could somewhat quell the people’s complaints.

“So Gwangwoon is entering at a very exquisite timing.”

“No, they’re following the roadmap they’ve planned since the Tianjin port explosion incident. Gwangwoon clearly knew it would come to this.”

It was an amazing company no matter when you looked at it.

How on earth did they meticulously plan all these strategies from years ago?

“But there will be quite a few generals who won’t be swayed.”

“True. Even if subordinates die, as long as they and their family are fine. But what if their beloved child is in danger of dying?”

“Pardon?”

“Bring me the list of generals and cadres we need to sway, as well as where their children are staying overseas.”

Many elite Chinese are staying overseas.

Usually, when you meet a Chinese person overseas, there’s a high probability they’re family of a Communist Party cadre.

And the children of numerous generals are also staying overseas.

If money won’t sway them, then they’ll have no choice but to use other rough methods.

During CIA days, there were human rights, laws, regulations, and so on.

They were bound by various shackles, but Sentinel must not be picky about means and methods for Gwangwoon’s purposes.

“Don’t you want to check whether these generals prioritize loyalty to the Party or protecting their children?”

“But… if we take their children hostage and threaten them, they may cooperate for now, but it won’t last long.”

“It’s fine. Looking at Gwangwoon’s stance, they’re not doing this to push one side. If they really wanted to make the Reform Faction the next regime, they would have concentrated support there. But they’re planning indiscriminate distribution? They want China itself to split apart.”

“Is there anything Gwangwoon gains from that? Rather, if Chinese factories are blocked and production stops, the whole world…”

At the subordinate’s words, Anthony smiled slyly.

“They want the world to fall into chaos.”

“Right. What do you think will happen if China, of all places handling worldwide production, falls into internal strife and factories stop operating?”

Hadn’t they already experienced that fear once during COVID?

But this is a halt due to war.

It would be far more severe than COVID.

“At moments of crisis when others fall, Gwangwoon soared higher. It’ll be the same this time.”

But even so, the fact that they did groundwork for years to break down the global production system was incomprehensible.

That means Gwangwoon is looking at something else now.

But even Anthony couldn’t know what that ultimate goal was.

***

“…”

I let out a short sigh looking at the bodyguards suffocatingly positioned throughout the company.

It’s not just the company.

Bodyguards are spread throughout my house too, and before I enter home, it’s basic to search in advance, and when visiting other places, safety inspections have become mandatory.

On top of that, security vehicles are stuck to me everywhere I move, making it look almost like presidential security.

“The President’s safety is more important than anything. We fully understand.”

Surveillance on employees has also been strengthened, so complaints would be expected, but nobody complained.

Rather, everyone was actively participating, saying it’s necessary.

“How about the KW Exchange in China? Did it enter successfully?”

“Yes. The Chinese government is providing support very quickly, so the KW Exchange is now usable in China too. You just need to download it on your phone.”

Opening the KW Exchange in the Chinese market wasn’t that difficult.

If the Chinese government approves, all you need to do is buy up servers there in bulk, or install additional servers and open the exchange.

“Then we just need to deliver the food?”

“Yes. After the Chinese government accepted the negotiations, shipping is already transporting food. The question is whether that will be enough to solve China’s food shortage.”

China is a place with really many rice paddies and fields.

But some regions were devastated by historic crop failure, others by historic floods, so not harvesting almost any crops was fatal.

Moreover, even if some harvesting was done, China had too many mouths to feed.

Even importing from other countries, the cost was so high that common people couldn’t possibly afford it.

We’re trying to at least somewhat solve that problem for them.

“President. But the strategy team’s opinion is to provide food support at intervals.”

“Why?”

“Because of concerns that China might suddenly change after receiving our food. Honestly, if they wanted to, they could just take down the servers and make our exchange unusable anytime. So they suggest sending food as late as possible with intervals until we have solid safety measures in place.”

Hearing that, I furrowed my brow.

“Then all that damage falls on innocent residents. They’re starving right now because they don’t have food, and if we engage in a power struggle with the Chinese government, who will save those people?”

“That’s…”

“Please tell Gwangwoon Shipping clearly. Don’t delay and deliver all the food immediately.”

I don’t want to blame the strategy team’s cold-blooded side.

The strategy team exists for our company’s benefit.

And from their perspective, delivering food all at once probably looked like a risk.

But I think even if the Chinese government stabs us in the back and closes the servers, we shouldn’t use matters of people’s lives just for our benefit.

Still, just in case, I closed my eyes and waited for my intuition to react.

How long did I wait like that?

“!”

My intuition, perhaps also thinking the strategy team went too far, reacted strongly with a big surge.

“Please deliver immediately. And report in real-time whether our supplies properly entered China.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Even if the Chinese government really betrays our expectations this time, it’s okay.

Because I believe that even if it takes a detour, my sincerity will reach them someday.

***

“What? What happened to the supplies we sent?”

“The army suddenly swarmed in and completely conquered that entire area.”

“What kind of bastards? No, before that, what about our ships and crew? Are they all okay?”

“Yes. Fortunately, this happened after we unloaded all the supplies and retreated.”

Director Yang Jeong-gu, who was in charge of Gwangwoon’s strategy team, let out a sigh of relief.

“But who did this? Fearlessly touching the Chinese government’s food? Is it the Reform Faction?”

“No. General Tian Jiang, leading the 74th Group Army of the Southern Theater Command, apparently attacked Guangzhou Port.”

The 74th Group Army is under the control of the central government.

“Not the Reform Faction, but someone from the central government betrayed the Communist Party?”

“Yes, circumstantially it appears so. If the 74th Army moved, this Tian Jiang person didn’t act alone.”

In a way, what China feared most had occurred.

In fact, for several weeks, China had been weeding out the Reform Faction trying to cause internal strife, capturing cadres associated with them and ruthlessly purging them.

But it wasn’t the Reform Faction—a military unit from the central government side monopolized the food that was flowing in large quantities to Guangzhou Port through independent military action.

“What should… we do? President Jeong Jin-ho wanted to send food all at once so the Chinese people wouldn’t suffer from hunger.”

“Do you believe that?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you really think President Jeong Jin-ho sent food in large quantities because he pitied the Chinese people?”

“…”

Initially, Director Yang had wanted shipping to deliver food at intervals so the KW Exchange would remain in China as long as possible.

Forcibly pushing in the KW Exchange was for the purpose of transferring funds using Bitcoin, wasn’t it?

But strangely, President Jeong Jin-ho ordered to deliver all food without intervals.

So that common people suffering from food shortages wouldn’t suffer anymore.

But think about it.

Did Jeong Jin-ho really act that way because he cared about them?

The Tianjin port explosion, the financial crisis, and the real estate bubble too.

These were all events that happened according to Jeong Jin-ho’s plans.

If he really cared about them, he wouldn’t have done such things.

That means there was a different intention.

“But this was it.”

“Pardon?”

“Sending all the food at once this time. He was aiming for this.”

He deliberately sent all the food to Guangzhou at once to focus attention there.

And quite naturally, military movement occurred to monopolize that food.

If they had sent food at intervals following the strategy team’s advice, they wouldn’t have shown such bold movement.

“Then sending all the food was to provide justification for causing internal strife…”

“Right. It’s not just the common people who are hungry. Soldiers’ eyes are also rolling from low pay and high prices. What better justification could there be for them than food?”

When President Jeong Jin-ho said to quickly deliver food for the common people, he had almost been fooled for just a moment.

He had thought that at least this wasn’t a person who plays games with people’s lives.

But as expected.

“How can someone be this ruthless?”

They say a true strategist has neither blood nor tears.

Director Yang received another great lesson from Jeong Jin-ho today.

End