Chapter 118: A Sip of Water in the Desert

The documents with a blend of golden and red hues belonged to the Commander of Army Security.

The ones mixing gold and black bore the name of the Director of the National Intelligence Service.

I discreetly slid those documents toward Grandfather.

“This year’s Blue House New Year’s Briefing will be brutal.”

While the New Year’s luncheon was for political figures, the New Year’s briefing was for the key members of the military and intelligence.

“It’s right after the U-Gwang Construction bribery ledger was reported to the Blue House, isn’t it?”

The current government had raised the banner of eradicating corruption among high-ranking officials.

“They must’ve submitted the list of generals and senior bureaucrats who accepted under-the-table money. You think the master of the Blue House will just sit back and watch?”

“If it’s His Excellency, he’ll definitely want to restore discipline.”

“His chief of security—his right hand—will go wild. He’ll use it to eliminate his rivals and flaunt his influence.”

“Of course, His Excellency will turn a blind eye.”

“That’s what this meeting is for, after all.”

U-Gwang Construction spread bribes everywhere.

“There’s undeniable proof that they took the money. What do you think will happen to the people on that list?”

“If you’re caught by His Excellency, you’re as good as dead. I bet they’re so anxious they can’t sleep at night.”

That’s why it was a kill list.

We handed it to the Blue House Chief of Security and Chief Secretary.

That’s what the bribe was for.

“But what if they purge all those guys? What do you think will happen then?”

“It’s not like there’s only one or two top brass with strings attached. The administration and the military would be paralyzed.”

“That’s not what the Blue House wants.”

“But now that they know, they won’t just pretend they don’t.”

“Instead, they’ll keep pressing until those people declare themselves dead.”

I slid the gold-tinged documents even closer to Grandfather.

“What do you think would happen if you hand these over to the Director of the National Intelligence Service and the Commander of Army Security—of course, as a gift—before the bloodbath begins?”

A bribe is a show of intent for a favor, but a gift is goodwill from the heart.

“You’ve hidden an undeniable weakness for them? Not only will it keep them from falling out of favor with the country’s top power, but if you help them save face in front of their subordinates? Wouldn’t they be incredibly grateful?”

For them, just avoiding the suspicion of absolute power is as good as proving their loyalty.

That was the kind of goodwill Grandfather bestowed.

“Oh ho, a sip of water offered to a man lost in the desert is treated as a life-saving favor. By the same token, our Taesung can also to the Director and the Commander…”

“No.”

I wagged my finger left and right.

“If you’re thinking of asking for a favor, forget it.”

“Why? If all of His Excellency’s closest aides support our Taesung…”

“Then His Excellency’s suspicions will turn to Taesung.”

“…!”

The smile that reached Grandfather’s ears suddenly froze.

“We’ve already seen how U-Gwang spread bribes to win over this country’s top brass.”

Once suspicion sprouts, it rarely dies.

Either the suspected dies, or the suspecting does.

It only ends when one of them is dead.

“So if a company supported by all the closest aides suddenly appears? How do you think that’ll look?”

“Mm.”

“Is it worth falling out of favor with the supreme leader just to get a subsidiary for free?”

“…You’re right.”

Grandfather nodded heavily.

“You’ve already secured promises from the Chief of Security and Chief Secretary, haven’t you? Just the silent approval of the remaining two is enough.”

“Understood. I’ll do that.”

“Taesung isn’t about to get dragged into a mud-slinging brawl with Samhwang over U-Gwang Oil anyway.”

“I was going to ask about that.”

Grandfather took out a slip marked with ‘2’.

“To be honest, I don’t think it would be so bad for our Taesung to acquire U-Gwang Oil this time.”

At Grandfather’s nod, Secretary Kim took out the documents drafted by President Shim himself.



“We barely managed to win over the closest aides—so why should we back down? The one who seizes the opportunity first is the winner.”

“The risks outweigh the gains.”

I grinned.

“Why do you think the master of the Blue House would let U-Gwang be picked apart?”

“To fill the pockets of his inner circle, of course…”

“Can Taesung really be considered one of His Excellency’s closest aides?”

“…!”

Grandfather hesitated, mouth open.

“People become ugly in the face of profit. You have to know who’s watching that fight from behind.”

“You mean…”

“It’s the perfect place to observe the dangers brewing among the inner circle, isn’t it?”

As Grandfather’s eyes wavered, I spoke with a gentle tone.

“Better to turn it into a bargaining game.”

“A bargain?”

“If we’re going to let someone else have U-Gwang Oil anyway, we should make sure they pay the highest possible price.”

“Until their coffers are empty?”

“Exactly!”

The moment the conversation turned to money, Grandfather’s eyes lit up—even with all his experience in political wrangling.

“Junghyuk, do you really think the oil shock will happen?”

“Of course. Why do you think Dad got an invitation to the Blue House luncheon?”

Because he suggested the possibility of a second oil shock to the master of the Blue House.

“If there’s an oil shock, it’ll be the oil companies that bleed. Is that why you’re holding back?”

That’s part of it.

But you don’t stop making kimchi just because you’re afraid of maggots, right?

I was aiming for something bigger.

“Junghyuk. I’ve been gathering data specifically to report on this at the Blue House luncheon.”

This was a matter the entire Taesung Group executive team had been wrestling with.

“I’ve listened to experts, monitored the foreign markets, kept an ear to the ground in the Middle East. But honestly, as of now, the odds…”

“Probably look low.”

“Yes.”

But when have world-shaking events like natural disasters ever had obvious warning signs?

“Report it that way at the Blue House luncheon.”

“Hmm? Will that be enough?”

“Dad’s role is to simply present the possibility of an oil shock to the political heavyweights. That’s all that’s expected of him.”

Grandfather’s eyes widened.

“But shouldn’t he be more forceful if he wants to make an impression on His Excellency?”

“If the oil shock happens, you get a bit of credit for foresight, but if it doesn’t, you take the blame for fearmongering. Isn’t that a huge risk?”

“That’s…”

“If you could predict the future perfectly, you’d be a fortune teller, not a businessman, right?”

“…You’re right. Fine, I get it.”

Grandfather nodded readily.

“Taesung will stay out of the U-Gwang Oil acquisition race.”

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

“If the oil shock happens, we’ll look for a chance to buy out a deficit-ridden oil company cheap!”

Grandfather placed a slip marked ‘3’ on the desk.

“Which subsidiaries are you after, anyway?”

“U-Gwang Pharmaceuticals and U-Gwang Hospital.”

Grandfather chuckled.

“Those were the subsidiaries Seongjun chose, weren’t they?”

“Yes.”

U-Gwang Hospital and U-Gwang Pharmaceuticals gleamed with dazzling gold.

U-Gwang Hospital was in a prime location and, working with Waseda Hospital in Japan, was set to become the nation’s top cancer hospital.

Meanwhile, U-Gwang Pharmaceuticals paid royalties for a technology partnership with Japan’s Yougi Pharmaceuticals and had several hit products in the pharmaceutical sector.

“All right. While we’re at it, let’s be frank. Which subsidiaries are you thinking of claiming shares in with the 15 billion won donation?”

“U-Gwang Scholarship Foundation and U-Gwang Research Institute.”

In contrast, U-Gwang Research Institute and U-Gwang Scholarship Foundation were a dirty brown.

“Those were the subsidiaries Seongjun also pushed to acquire, weren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Filial piety only goes so far, you know.”

Grandfather gave a wry smile.

“U-Gwang Hospital and Pharmaceuticals, fine—but the Scholarship Foundation and Research Institute don’t seem appealing at all. I remember you felt the same way, too.”

He reached out to Secretary Kim, who handed him the executive meeting materials I’d prioritized.

“Look here. You gave those two subsidiaries very poor marks.”

“I know.”

“And yet you want the U-Gwang Scholarship Foundation and Research Institute?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Grandfather asked bluntly, looking completely baffled.

‘Of course. Judging by each subsidiary alone, they’re brown—I used to think it was a losing proposition too.’

But I’d seen brown turn to gold.

U-Gwang Oil, which was brown, appeared gold in President Shim’s report.

What was different?

‘There’s synergy between related subsidiaries.’

I glanced at the  on the desk.

Among those documents, one in particular gleamed gold.

‘So I prepared this: a group of linked U-Gwang subsidiaries that could generate synergy.’

I began pulling out the executive meeting materials I’d prioritized.

“It’s not business if you mix in filial piety. You think business is child’s play?”

“Who does business for filial piety?”

I was serious.

“Did you make merger decisions just out of love for your eldest son?”

“What?”

“You’re planning to acquire U-Gwang Motors and U-Gwang Heavy Industries for him.”

“…That’s right.”

It was simple.

He wanted to support his eldest son, my uncle.

But in their current state, U-Gwang Motors and Heavy Industries were just brown.

“For Taesung Group as a whole, the one you’d want to acquire is U-Gwang Shipbuilding.”

“That’s right.”

U-Gwang Shipbuilding was gold, too.

“Is this the best combination you calculated, assuming the oil shock is likely?”

“Yes.”

We stared at each other.

“Junghyuk, if the oil shock hits, car and heavy machinery companies—so dependent on oil—will get frozen and shrink.”

That was why Taesung Motors had staggered so badly in the past.

“But if you have to face the cold winter, the chaff all dies off, and only the biggest can survive.”

That was why Grandfather would take a loss to acquire U-Gwang Motors and Heavy Industries.

“To protect your eldest and postpone the management war.”

“T-That’s…”

The second son was lying in wait for a chance.

If the eldest’s subsidiaries faltered due to the oil shock, the second son’s, focused more on domestic markets, would hold on.

“But by acquiring U-Gwang Shipbuilding, even the second son in charge of distribution and trading would get breathing room.”

“Hmm!”

“If there’s an oil shock, only car manufacturers that minimize fuel consumption will survive. Same for heavy machinery.”

I grinned.

“With oil prices sky-high, do you really think selling cars and heavy machinery for civilian use will keep you out of the red?”

“Then what?”

“You think ships are any different? You think acquiring a shipyard and pouring money into import-export logistics will improve the trade balance?”

“Hmm!”

I stacked the U-Gwang Motors, Heavy Industries, Shipbuilding, Hospital, Pharmaceuticals, and now even U-Gwang Chemicals files on top of each other.

“What do you think would happen if you added U-Gwang Research Institute to the acquisitions?”

The documents were a mix of brown and gold for sure.

But now, a brilliant golden light poured forth—brighter than anything before.

‘A pity. Grandfather won’t be able to see this dazzling sight.’

That’s why he was clicking his tongue in such displeasure.

“What do you mean, what happens? U-Gwang Research Institute, which only eats up money, will be ruined—beyond saving.”

Grandfather snorted.

“You think fuel efficiency is some pet dog’s name? You expect instant results from the research institute, like getting a drink from a vending machine?”

“No. Try a change of perspective.”

I wagged my finger left and right.

“If you combine the industries I’ve picked out, what kind of synergy do you think could be created?”

On a slip, I wrote ‘Taesung Food’ and ‘Taesung Fashion’ and placed it on the pile.

Whaaaam!

An unprecedented burst of golden light exploded.

Grandfather mouthed the words over and over before his eyes shot wide open.

I smiled, satisfied.

“I hear the Blue House plans to announce they’ll begin manufacturing helicopters, cannons, munitions, armored vehicles, warships, radar, missiles, and all sorts of weaponry, as well as launching an aircraft industry and special tank development?”

“Defense industry!”

Bingo.

With wars breaking out all over the Middle East, military coups rampant,

the US–Soviet Cold War at its peak, and oil-producing Middle Eastern nations loudly calling for self-defense as they wielded resources as weapons—this was the situation.