Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: The American Reality
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[We seem to be seeing a lot of each other lately.]
After my meeting with Chairman Liam, I immediately flew to Washington to meet with Michael.
I felt bad for him, as he always made time for me despite his busy schedule, but the matter was too important.
The details of my conversation with Chairman Liam, in particular, were something the head of U.S. military acquisitions absolutely needed to know.
Frankly, I was curious about his reaction.
[Hmm, so that's how things are turning out.]
As expected, Michael looked as if he already knew about the situation.
But why hadn't he given me even a hint until now?
I narrowed my eyes slightly, and he spoke as if making an excuse.
[Don't look at me like that. I only just heard about the meeting between Chairman Liam and you, Mr. Jin.]
[Well, be that as it may. Who exactly is Chairman Liam?]
That was what I was most curious about.
Not his vague identity as the CEO of a shell company called 'Sion Company,' or the spiritual leader of the Jewish people. I wanted to know about his influence in American politics.
But for some reason, Michael seemed to ponder for a long time before finally looking at me with a sigh.
[Then again, if you've met Chairman Liam, it's as good as seeing the true face of America. What could I possibly not tell you?]
[...]
My heart began to race at his words.
I couldn't help but wonder if I was trying to learn something I shouldn't.
But in business—no, to properly grasp international relations, one must face reality.
Calming my momentary excitement, I looked him straight in the eye.
[America has been moved by Jewish influence for a long time. This isn't some outlandish conspiracy theory like, ‘You need their permission to become president.’ It just means their influence throughout American society is that significant.]
He was right.
From the media to financial capital.
There wasn't a single area where the power of the Jewish people didn't hold sway.
In fact, the rumor that you need their permission to become president stemmed from this very power, and when you examine the facts, it’s not entirely wrong.
After all, how formidable is the power of the media?
For some simple-minded Americans, too busy chugging beer and cheering for the Super Bowl, whatever the media spouts is practically gospel, and its influence undeniably plays a role in deciding elections.
So, while it's not true that 'you need their permission to become president,' it is true that if they obstruct you, your chances of winning are slim.
[And?]
[Chairman Liam is the de facto leader of those Jewish powers within the U.S. On top of that, a single word from him can change the direction of half this country's economy.]
[...]
[In any case, Chairman Liam holds influence over both the Democratic and Republican parties. And that influence is beyond our imagination. That's why I described him as the true face of America.]
[But surely there are factions in politics that oppose them? The conservative bloc from the South, for example.]
[Of course, opposing forces exist. Their power is formidable as well. But the important point here is that this makes the Jewish powers even more frightening.]
[...]
[Unlike Zionists, in the decisive moment, they become Americans. To be precise, when America's interests are at stake, they unequivocally take the American position. For that reason, the conservative forces are wary, but they can't actively push them out. In fact, you could say they've started to assimilate into their ranks recently.]
I didn't need an explanation to understand what he meant.
Although the U.S. backs Israel, there are times when it turns a blind eye at critical moments. That must be what he was referring to.
But in that sense, it was true that they were a frightening group.
Ultimately, America's interests were their interests.
Outwardly, they prioritized their roots, but at the critical moment, they revealed themselves as a group that moves for profit, didn't they?
[But this is rather surprising.]
As I was lost in thought, Michael spoke nonchalantly.
Wondering what he meant, I looked at him as he continued with a faint smile.
[Chairman Liam is someone who rarely steps into the spotlight. To give you an idea, the Prime Minister of Japan went to great lengths just to see him once and was ultimately rejected. The fact that Chairman Liam wanted to meet you directly, Mr. Jin, must mean he considers you a very important person.]
On the surface, it sounded like he was praising me, but he was subtly revealing his reverence for Chairman Liam.
It was an attitude I wouldn't have expected from a man who had never hesitated to criticize the American political establishment.
Somehow, it felt a little strange.
"Hmm…"
Whatever the case, this situation was a boon for me.
Putting everything else aside, on the day the energy revolution truly begins, the Jewish powers are a hurdle I will absolutely have to overcome.
But now that I had a connection to Chairman Liam, who sat at the very top, things would be much easier, wouldn't they?
—Even if we are fine, how do you plan to handle the Jewish powers?
Then, the words of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Hassad suddenly came to mind.
The Jewish powers he was talking about must have been the ones belonging to the Sion Group.
If that was true, then the heavens were definitely on my side.
‘In the end, I’ve found a solution to that problem as well.’
******
"Welcome back. You’ve worked hard."
CEO Kim Young-gi and CEO Kang Ho-yeon of Jaewoo Defense were at Incheon Airport to greet me.
I had already told them over the phone about the unconditional technology transfer.
Perhaps because of that, their expressions were like those welcoming a triumphant general.
"Let's talk on the way."
I got into the car immediately, and during the ride, I told the two CEOs what had happened.
A stunned CEO Kim Young-gi wore a dazed expression for a while, and CEO Kang Ho-yeon repeatedly apologized, saying he had no idea about the full story.
"I'm sorry. I just thought it was a company founded by my old university mentor. I had no idea about the circumstances."
"Don't worry about it. It's not like you were in a position to know all that, CEO Kang."
"Thank you for understanding, but now that I've heard the truth, I'm starting to think something was strange."
"Strange? What do you mean?"
I glanced at CEO Kang Ho-yeon.
Scratching his head, he belatedly revealed something he hadn't told me.
"Actually, the reason I found out about the development of a transmission comparable to Rank's was because Professor Aaron called me first."
A dry laugh escaped my lips.
If that was true, it meant my meeting with Chairman Liam had been planned by them all along.
In other words, they had intended to pursue the joint development of the hypersonic defense system with me from the start, and they had dangled Aaron Technology as bait to make it happen.
‘Quite the clever move.’
Then again, with such a dramatic bait, anyone would be tempted to bite.
But I wondered if such a performance was really necessary.
It wasn't as if I had any reason to refuse their offer anyway.
Ah! Could it be that?
That the time had come to reveal the true face of America to me.
"A warning not to get too close to Russia, given America's power... something like that?"
"Pardon?"
CEO Kang Ho-yeon reacted to my unintentional muttering.
"Oh, it's nothing. Anyway, someone from Aaron Technology will be coming soon for the technology transfer, so please be aware of that."
"Yes, I'll start preparing as soon as I get back."
CEO Kang Ho-yeon replied, his voice filled with excitement.
I smiled and was about to look out the window again when CEO Kim Young-gi, who had been silent in the front seat, suddenly spoke up.
"By the way, while you were in the U.S., the Ministry of National Defense released the evaluation results from the companies participating in the K11 fire-control system project."
"Oh? What happened?"
The topic was too important to ignore, so I replied immediately.
Handing me some documents as if he had them ready, CEO Kim continued with a smile.
"The fire-control system developed by Jaewoo received a score above the standard. In portability, durability, and the accuracy of the control system. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it looks like we'll be announced as the project's contractor around June."
That was to be expected.
Our control system packed in numerous functions while maintaining durability and weighing only one kilogram, making it the undisputed champion of portability.
Moreover, our design was different from LIC's, with each module being separate.
If the K2 rifle was later improved to incorporate a Picatinny rail, our modules could be applied to it as well, adding to its versatility.
So, in terms of tactical value, our product was bound to receive a higher score.
"You've worked hard."
I said briefly and looked out the window again.
We happened to be passing the very spot where I'd had my accident last year.
Just thinking about that time gave me a strange feeling.
‘Come to think of it, there’s one more thing I need to resolve.’
******
[You were looking for me?]
Upon returning to the office, I immediately summoned Natasha.
Her expression was as stoic as ever, and she showed no signs of nervousness despite my sudden call.
I offered her a seat and then asked her directly.
[Do you know why I went to the United States? No, to be more precise, do you know what I did there?]
[...]
She was silent for a long time.
Her choice of silence over denial likely meant she knew.
I looked her straight in the eye again and continued.
[If possible, I'd like to speak with President Putin on that phone you're carrying.]
[No, that won't be necessary. President Putin already knows what negotiations took place between you, Chairman Jin, and the United States.]
[He already knows?]
[Yes, since Russia and South Korea began discussing the development of hypersonic missiles. No, he predicted this would happen long before that.]
My guess was correct.
So, even though they acted otherwise, they had all been calculating their own interests in their heads.
Well, since I was no different, I didn't have much to say about it.
*Swish.*
As I was deep in thought, she suddenly reached into her clothes—to be exact, into her bra again—and pulled out a memory stick, handing it to me.
I mean, why does something always pop out of there?
Dumbfounded, I stared at her, and her face turned bright red.
[What is this?]
[This is a complete organizational chart of the influential Jewish powers in American politics, compiled by our intelligence agency. In Korean terms, you might call it a family tree, I believe?]
[Why are you giving this to me…?]
[Because you're the one who needs this most right now, Chairman. You should at least know exactly who you're dealing with before you do anything, shouldn't you?]
He had a point, but I hesitated to accept it so readily.
This was far too generous to be a simple favor.
But then, Natasha smiled faintly and forcibly placed it in my hand.
[This isn't a simple favor. It's a measure to prevent our friend, Russia's friend, from accidentally falling into a pit.]
[...]
[We hope that you, Chairman Jin, won't make the mistake of joining hands with the Jewish powers without accurate information.]
That part might be sincere.
The inscrutable nature of the Jewish powers was well known, after all.
For now, our interests aligned, so there was no harm in working together, but who could guarantee how things would turn out in the future?
[So, does this mean President Putin will tacitly approve of the joint project between Jaewoo and the United States?]
[Isn't that what he meant by telling me to give you this?]
I felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
Even though I was confident, it's true that it would be a burden for me if Russia decided to be difficult in the end.
[But if this project succeeds, won't it be a huge blow to Russia?]
Just in case, I asked again.
Honestly, no matter how slim the chances of success, this was me setting out to develop a means to defend against Russia's strategic weapons. The fact that they were allowing it so easily felt a bit off.
The idea that it was 'simply to avoid conflict with me' was absurd. I suspected they had another card up their sleeve.
[If you succeed in developing it, perhaps. No, even if you do succeed, it doesn't matter.]
She replied with a relaxed demeanor.
It definitely felt like they had something.
Her expression changed, and she smiled again to reassure me.
[In any case, Jaewoo's cooperation with the U.S. government will not damage our relationship with Russia. So, please rest assured on that point.]
[If that's Russia's position, then I'm relieved.]
I shook off my thoughts and extended my hand to her.
She, who had been smiling at me all this time, suddenly said something profound.
[President Putin would like you to visit Russia soon. It seems he has a great deal to discuss with you, Chairman Jin.]
[I was planning to visit soon anyway.]
I, too, was extremely curious about what hidden card they were holding.
[Then I'll be on my way.]
Only after hearing my reply did she shake my hand.
At that moment, seizing the opportunity, I asked a question.
[By the way, what happened to that North Korean agent?]
She stared at me intently again.
It wasn't likely she'd answer easily just because I asked.
I was about to wave my hand as if it were a pointless question when she spoke casually.
[Well, I'm not involved in handling the aftermath…]
[...]