The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 304



Only Noblemtl

304. Struggling (3)

There was a separate parking lot in the basement of the Korean restaurant run by Captain Kang.

It was a parking lot that only a very small number of VIPs could use, and in a way, it was a space that could be called my private parking lot.

“Chairman, are you here? The guests have already arrived and are waiting.”

“You didn’t search your body or anything, right?”

“I was contacted by the planning director. He asked me to prepare for any unexpected situation and activated the security system. If a wiretapping or filming device is turned on, I will notify you within 10 seconds.”

Captain Kang’s security company spent billions of won every year just on purchasing the latest equipment.

In the case of the annex, a wiretapping device detection system was fully installed.

“No one in their right mind would do such a thing. Still, please monitor in real time just in case. Instead, you can reduce the number of security guards.”

“I will. I will show you to the annex.”

We moved to the annex under the guidance of Captain Kang.

As the door to the annex opened, familiar faces stood up and greeted me.

“Chairman Kim! It’s been a while. I heard you were in the U.S. for a long time. I just returned from a long business trip and I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

“No, I’m just grateful for the opportunity to resolve the misunderstandings. However, next time, I would like to ask you questions in writing.”

“Of course. Please take a seat first.”

The President’s Chief of Staff suggested a seat across from him.

It was a hand gesture that conveyed the meaning of a person with equal power as himself, the second-highest ranking person in the Blue House.

The first impression was really bad.

After experiencing it, I realized I wasn’t such a bad person.

They just spoke briefly and lacked manners.

“I would like to apologize on behalf of the party. This is something our lawmakers were very motivated to do. We ask for your generous understanding.”

“It’s not an issue that the party leader would apologize for. And I’ve already forgotten everything.”

The ruling party leader apologized with a sly smile.

At the same time, three National Assembly members lowered their heads as if they were just practicing.

“I was truly sorry in the hearing room.”

“It was never a remark made to antagonize Taewo Group or to insult the chairman.”

“I really had no idea that the demand forecast made by the last government would be this wrong. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t say anything and just quietly listened to them.

However, the President’s Chief of Staff came before me and said something to them.

“Uh huh, what is the attitude of apologizing? Apologize properly.”

National Assembly members rising from their seats.

And they bowed their heads 90 degrees and apologized to me.

Here too, it was the President’s Chief of Staff who seemed ready to bring them to their knees if they didn’t say anything.

I just hated skits like that.

Therefore, I broke the silence and accepted their apology for now.

“How could it be the lawmakers’ fault? It’s just an incident that occurred because the demand forecasting agency made an incorrect forecast. Please take a seat.”

“Are you accepting my apology?”

“It’s not something that deserves an apology, but I’ll accept your apology if you say it’s convenient.”

“Hehehe, our Chairman Kim is a very hot person. What is the point of calling a person like this to the hearing hall? Now, let’s have a drink in peace.”

The President’s Chief of Staff personally poured drinks.

The reason they show me this much favor is not simply because of the hearing problem.

It was clear that it made even the stiff-headed members of the National Assembly bow their heads because they clearly wanted something more.

There was no need to use the ability to see detailed information.

The Chief of Staff to the President, who had been drinking alcohol, was showing off his face by forcing a dark expression and sighing.

“The Chief of Staff to the President looks uneasy. Is there any problem?”

“The whole world is in turmoil because of the new flu epidemic. It is not easy to obtain Tamiflu, the only treatment. We need to increase the stockpile of only 1 million doses to 10 million doses in order to be at ease. Produce Tamiflu and I heard that Centrion is actually owned by the Taewoo Group. How could it not be possible?”

As expected, I thought there was something I wanted.

It was also within the expected range that the target would be Tamiflu.

At a time when Tamiflu was becoming increasingly scarce around the world, there was even talk that the World Health Organization would soon designate the new flu as a pandemic.

“Unfortunately, the contract for all of the Tamiflu we have already produced has ended. We can give you higher priority only for the amount we will produce in the future.”

“Is that really all it takes? The regime’s approval rating has fallen a lot. Shouldn’t we help each other?”

Tamiflu was a card that could rebound the approval rating.

Since the government could not bring its approval ratings back on its own, it was also a situation where it had to rely on us.

“Taewoo Group says they will somehow handle the penalty issue, but in the end, isn’t it a matter of trust? If you supply to the government first, the trust relationship with other countries or companies will be broken.”

“As the relationship of trust with other countries and companies is broken, the relationship with the Korean government becomes even stronger. If you help us with this matter, we will actively support Taewo Group.”

I continued to maintain a troubled expression.

But it was a situation that was not difficult at all.

Taewo Group owned most of the Tamiflu produced so far.

Other countries and companies continued to want Tamiflu contracts, but only 50% of the contract was released to foreign countries and the rest was held tightly by Taewo Group.

Because I knew something like this would happen today.

Making financial transactions with politicians is a crime, but providing a cure does not result in going to jail.

Rather, it was Tamiflu, which was worth more than money.

It was a very good opportunity to take a big chunk out of the government.

And for this situation, the rights to jointly produce Tamiflu were secured by investing a large amount of money.

“Then can I ask you a favor? These days, I am very interested in the issue of global warming. Since I own a manufacturing affiliate, I am even more interested in it.”

“Hehe, you are very different from the heads of other large corporations. Everyone is clamoring for environmental regulation issues to be resolved, but Chairman Kim is saying the opposite of them. So what can the government do to help you? Please speak honestly.”

I couldn’t openly ask to see Taewoo Group’s favoritism.

After the regime changed, we could have been in trouble because of that problem.

However, no one could say anything if they indirectly helped Taewo Group by enacting environmental laws.

“I heard that the United States and Europe are preparing legislation to benefit electric vehicles. Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles do not emit carbon dioxide, so how much of a help will this be to global warming?”

“Hmm, the opposition party did bring up that issue.”

“Could the ruling party and the Blue House also agree to this? I think it is a good bill that will bring about harmony between the ruling party and the opposition party.”

The National Economy Party was already taking action.

Of course, the progressive opposition party also agreed with the bill.

It was the opposition party that pushed the bill even harder because they thought the Blue House and the ruling party would never accept it.

“It is not easy. It is impossible for the Korean government to make the first move when electric vehicles have not yet been properly commercialized and electric vehicle subsidy bills have not been passed in the United States and Europe.”

“I have no intention of putting a strain on the government. This is assuming that electric vehicle subsidy laws are passed in the U.S. and Europe.”

“If developed countries do that, we can provide not only subsidies for electric vehicles but also some of the costs of charging stations. Of course, it is not easy for the government, but it is possible if there is an assumption of mutual cooperation.”

It wasn’t a bad deal.

You may be able to get more money if you sell Tamiflu overseas.

If you received subsidies for electric vehicles and charging station costs, you could make more than an amount of profit.

“Then, we will supply 5 million doses to the government within this month, and the remaining 4 million doses within next month at the latest.”

“But is it possible to get Tamiflu at cost price?”

Have you ever seen someone like this thief?

They can’t give you more money, but they ask for the medicine at the cost price.

“That is difficult. The joint production rights contract contains a provision that the price cannot be arbitrarily lowered. The moment Tamiflu is handed over to the government at cost, Centrion’s production rights will be taken away.”

“Then there is nothing we can do. Then, I will report to the Blue House that we have received 9 million doses by next month.”

“We promise that there will be no disruption to the schedule. And it is expected that it will become really difficult to obtain Tamiflu starting next month. However, we promise that we will unconditionally release at least 20% of our production to the Republic of Korea.”

The President’s Chief of Staff smiled happily.

Then, he looked at the National Assembly member and said something.

“Why did you treat someone who cares so much about the country so harshly at the hearing? Please apologize again quickly.”

[sorry!]

They were members of the National Assembly who had been sitting still until sparks flew.

They boom! I hit my head on the table hard enough to make a sound.

From subway line 9 to Tamiflu. I think they finally realized who they were attacking.

“It’s all over, why are you doing this again? Now, why don’t you just relax and have a drink?”

“Is that so? Since I saw Chairman Kim’s face, I’ll just let this matter pass. I want to tell him to resign from his position as a member of the National Assembly, but I can’t do that in front of Chairman Kim. Ouch!”

The National Assembly members bowed their heads even more deeply.

From now on, just hearing the name of Taewoo Group will make your heart pound.

If you are harmed to a certain degree, you think of revenge, but if you are trampled on so cruelly, you will only feel fear.

* * *

next day.

A boss came to see me early in the morning.

“I waited for a long time at Captain Kang’s office yesterday.”

“I drank so much that I didn’t have time to stop by Captain Kang’s office.”

“How did you handle yesterday?”

After negotiations with the government, I usually stopped by Captain Kang’s office.

But I didn’t do that yesterday, so I belatedly told a president in the chairman’s office what happened yesterday.

“Did you get subsidies for electric vehicles and support for charging stations?”

“There was an assumption that the United States and Europe would implement such policies first.”

“That problem will be solved as long as David works hard and the Apple Car is released! At first, I wondered why the Chairman was interested in Tamiflu, but I never imagined there was a reason for this!”

A CEO opened his mouth and said:

The reaction was even more dramatic because it was a CEO who was skeptical about spending a lot of money to acquire the rights to produce Tamiflu.

“If you combine all the subsidies and subsidies, it will be roughly similar to the amount of the Tamiflu production rights.”

“Plus, since I can make a profit with Tamiflu, I can even get Plus Alpha before I make up for it. I promised myself once again, I will never oppose anything the Chairman does!”

When I was in the middle of listening to a president’s sincere flattery.

I got a call from David.

[boss! WHO has designated the new flu as a pandemic, the highest level of an infectious disease. And the U.S. government is said to be sending someone to Korea to secure Tamiflu!]

The pandemic has finally begun.

It was a time when the price of Tamiflu rose several times.