Omniscient Investment Point - Chapter 267



Only Noblemtl

267 We are fighting an economic war – 4

(1)

It is no exaggeration to say that since the 20th century, the world has been at war over resources.

In particular, the United States dominates the five oceans for energy security, including oil and gas, while countries such as China and Russia are trying not to be locked up by the United States.

Often, in countries that do not produce a single drop of oil, this is just a fire across the river.

Rather, I feel anxious.

This is because oil prices have skyrocketed whenever there has been an international conflict, such as the Middle East and Israel wars, the Gulf War, the US-Iraq war, and the Russian-Ukrainian war.

At such times, people would even refrain from driving, and companies had to launch large-scale consumption reduction campaigns.

So, having to depend on imports for a stable supply of energy was the biggest challenge for countries like us and Japan.

In that sense, eco-friendliness was like rain in a drought.

Well, how high can the expectations be, considering that a country that doesn’t produce a single drop of oil can obtain energy from solar energy, wind energy, or hydrogen?

First, the process is tedious.

“Yes. I am annoyed by the international oil prices.”

“It’s a side effect of the transition to green energy, because major energy companies aren’t obsessed with developing oil fields.”

“But what if JDZ pours a huge amount of oil into the world?”

“Of course oil prices will stabilize.”

JDZ stands for Joint Development Zone.

We call it the 7th district, but we abbreviate it as JDZ for joint development zone.

“I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding. JDZ’s reserves may not be high.”

“Only by possibility can we manipulate oil prices.”

“ha ha ha.”

Yamaguchi laughed at my comment about oil price manipulation.

“That’s right. Oil price manipulation that no one needs to investigate.”

He understood what I was saying.

Well, it wasn’t difficult.

The recoverable reserves of the seven mines investigated so far are all different. Some say that they exceed the reserves of Saudi Arabia, while others say that there is nothing to eat at the famous feast.

But what if Korea and Japan jointly investigate and declare that they will extract a huge amount of oil using their offshore oil technology, no matter how much is buried?

According to the laws of supply and demand, oil prices are in chaos.

The gift value will probably start to plummet.

But here Yamaguchi is out of sync.

“We can do that with China.”

“Well, that’s true.”

It probably isn’t his true intention.

If that were the case, there would have been no reason to call me.

As expected, Yamaguchi smiled and spoke to me.

“If you believe in hydrogen, I would like to tell you that that too is a mistake.”

“The hydrogen storage area starts from Jeju Island and extends to Torishima Island?”

This time his expression hardened.

I guess it was unexpected that I knew that fact.

‘I just assumed it, and it turned out to be true.’

Another report came in recently from an exploration robot sent to the bottom of the ocean.

There is a possibility that the hydrogen storage area extending from Jeju Island, above the 7th mine, may be connected to Torishima Island.

So I tried it, and judging by the change in Yamaguchi’s expression, it seemed like Japan had already investigated to that extent.

So I stabbed him again.

“As you know, hydrogen is not a resource that is stored in equal amounts in all areas.”

“Does that mean there are more around Jeju Island?”

“No comment, we plan to announce it once it becomes more certain.”

“hmm······.”

It’s a bluff.

Neither I nor the robot know much yet.

But since Japan doesn’t know either, this can only be considered gambling.

‘You guys are not good at that, are you?’

From some point on, there was a tendency to only take safe paths, and that is why IT has not blossomed in Japan.

The same goes for secondary batteries, and of course Yamaguchi’s answer has to be decided even now.

“Okay. Well, it looks like they’ve done more research than we did. I guess we’ll have to sit down at the negotiating table with the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“······!”

This time I was surprised.

At the same time, he turned his gaze to Bang Jeong-hyeon, who had been silent until now.

He was smiling and nodding.

Don’t try to predict Japan’s new prime minister.

Because of this look in my eyes, I made a dumbfounded expression.

Actually, Yamaguchi was a bit different from the Japanese people I knew.

Did it feel like I was a person without a soul?

There was no need to tell me that I was negotiating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 7th Industrial Complex.

“You seem surprised. I feel suddenly better.”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Well, it’s not exactly like that, but I felt like none of the cards I brought worked? But I didn’t know any of Representative Jang’s cards, so I felt a bit frustrated.”

“okay.”

“Anyway, if your government asks for your cooperation, please speak up.”

“Of course. But I have one question.”

As I was about to point out another one, this time Yamaguchi’s eyes were filled with the question, ‘What is it now?’

I guess that means I was being picky.

But I couldn’t not say anything because there might be more difficult things to come.

“Will China really stay still?”

“hmm······.”

For a moment, his expression darkens.

In fact, China was just waiting for the day when the treaty on the joint development zone between Korea and Japan would end.

After that, he had been harboring a desire to develop the 7th mine by joining hands with Japan.

But what if, like a dog chasing a chicken, the agreement is extended?

“But that doesn’t mean······, it won’t lead to military action.”

“There are many ways to wage war. For example, there is economic war. We have already experienced the THAAD sanctions.”

“That’s the same for Japan. They’ve been through a lot of similar things. But it seems like they have to take all that on. That is, as long as Japan’s allies are the Americans.”

I nodded.

‘Well, it is impossible to predict how China will react.’

One thing is certain: military action is unlikely to happen because of the United States.

However, we could not just rely on the United States and face China’s economic retaliation with our eyes wide open.

‘Well, the government will take care of that.’

My role today is one.

Japan’s young governor has come to value hydrogen more, and is keen to extend the seven-block agreement.

For that alone, I had a body that deserved praise.

“phew······.”

Was I nervous without realizing it?

As soon as I step outside, I feel exhausted and let out a sigh.

Looking at me like that, Bang Jeong-hyeon raises his thumb.

“Good job, CEO Jang.”

“I think you need some time to figure out what the hell is going on?”

“Well, I don’t know if there’s anything more to explain. But if you have any questions, I’ll answer them all.”

“While eating lunch.”

“Yeah, while eating lunch.”

“Oh, what about my secretary and Seunghoon Oh?”

“Do you think there will still be a need for a mouth guard?”

“Then, I will tell you to stay at this hotel.”

“Okay, I’ll send you the meal to that room. You go to the room I’m staying in.”

He is already fully prepared.

I just stopped laughing.

(2)

Bang Jeong-hyeon had more connections to Japanese politics than I expected.

And just as if he were diversifying his investments into various stocks, he spared no effort in building connections with factions within the Liberal Democratic Party and with various opposition parties.

Here, connections ultimately meant financial support.

Politics also requires money.

In particular, in Japan, unless it was the Liberal Democratic Party, opposition politicians had no money.

“Like all countries, politics is very dynamic. The public constantly demands fresh figures. But they do not turn away from the existing political power. Sometimes they are disappointed, but they hesitate to choose another power. Why? Because they are anxious.”

I nodded because every word was correct.

“Japan is even worse. Since the beginning of the modern political system in 1946, it is hard to find a cabinet that is not from the Liberal Democratic Party. Personally, I think it is because there is always a sense of insecurity in the Japanese genes.”

“I agree.”

“But why did you change it this time? There is a critical point of anxiety. The Japanese felt it. If they fall behind now, Japan’s leap forward will be impossible. That is why anti-Korean sentiment has increased recently.”

“Well, I don’t think things are that good for us either.”

“That’s right. Our country is just like Japan in useless aspects. There’s no need to fall into the low-growth swamp······.”

Here he let out a regretful voice and continued his story.

“Anyway, as if I had won the lottery, the opposition candidate I had supported with the most political donations was none other than Haruma Yamaguchi. Of course, since it was legal money, there was no need to worry.”

“Of course you would.”

What kind of person is Bang Jeong-hyeon?

I’ve had a hell of a time going through trials in Korea.

Even though he was found not guilty, I heard that the slander from those who hated him was no joke.

Since then, Bang Jeong-hyeon has been living in hiding.

Therefore, if they had provided financial support to Japanese politics, it was likely that they had strictly adhered to the legal limit.

“Yamaguchi hasn’t forgotten that. Of course, now that he’s become prime minister, I don’t believe he’s chosen his current position out of personal feelings of wanting to repay me. It’s just that, unlike the Japanese far-right forces up until now, he’s set Korea as a future partner. He’s secretly asking me to play that role as a bridge.”

“Wow, that’s really amazing.”

“Well, not really.”

A person who doesn’t show off how great a job he does.

That’s why it looked even more amazing.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that. Honestly, I was a very lucky person. I thought a lot about how to spend that money. And then, every time I touched something, it failed.”

I know this stuff well.

Because I’ve heard it several times.

Perhaps the following would be similar.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to have met you. You changed my bad luck in an instant.”

“Well, I don’t necessarily think so······.”

“I think so. Anyway, that’s why I invested in you, and I’m about to have another great success.”

In fact, most of this gentleman’s enormous funds were being used for the development of the 7th mine.

Then, we went as far as developing hydrogen, and as time goes by, we will be able to get a huge return on the invested money.

“I’m seventy years old. I’m not the head of a conglomerate, and I don’t have any children to leave my fortune to. I don’t want to. It’s just that when I close my eyes, I dream of spending all my money on things I want. But now that my assets have increased, I have more money to spend on meaningful things.”

“haha······.”

This is it, won.

I think I can understand why this gentleman travels all over the world.

In order to achieve his ambition of securing the various resources he likes so much, he plants money here and there.

Just like it did to Haruma Yamaguchi of Japan.

‘No matter what you imagine, it will be more than that.’

To me, who was sticking out my tongue, Bang Jeong-hyeon gave me the following advice.

“Anyway, I’ll do my best as far as I can, and then I’ll leave the rest up to you. How about going all the way with me?”

What should I answer?

At this point, I could only nod my head with overwhelming gratitude.