Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Celestial Kingdom (1)
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“Daddy!”
A boarding school somewhere on the US East Coast.
Known colloquially as a modern-day贵族 academy, this place gathered the children of prestigious families from around the world, creating a realm all their own.
From Arab oil tycoons to European politicians, and even dictators from small nations.
And among them was Im Sung-bin, the only son of SA Group Chairman Im Jae-ho, standing as one of their own.
“I really didn’t expect you to come. You’re so busy with work, how did you...”
“Fortunately, my schedule lined up. And I couldn’t leave you here alone for an event like this.”
A banner reading ‘Parents’ Invitation Event’ hung on a serene, medieval-style building.
The banner, made by the students themselves, was so simplistic it bordered on clumsy, but the parents gathered beneath it were anything but.
With the global upper crust assembled, the information exchanged there was on another level entirely.
Of course... the heavyweights of America’s IT industry were included as well.
“Go on and hang out with your friends for a bit, Sung-bin. Some guys over there are calling for Daddy.”
“Umm… okay. See you later.”
Vice Chairman Im Jae-ho watched his son walk away, adjusting his tie.
As his gaze shifted toward the parents in the reception hall, his eyes deepened.
“This deal has to succeed, no matter what. It must...!”
Muttering the resolve to himself, Vice Chairman Im Jae-ho took one step after another.
People here and there greeted him warmly. He offered them smiles that were mere facades and positioned himself in front of the outermost group.
A cluster that looked like typical developer-turned-executives, dressed casually with glasses.
“I’m Im Jae-ho, Vice Chairman of Korea’s SA Group.”
And they just stared at him blankly.
Only when extending his hand for a shake became awkward did the leader of the group grasp Vice Chairman Im Jae-ho’s hand.
“I’m Dick Johnson, CEO of J-Coco.”
* * * *
Resistive touchscreen tech, screen transitions, GPS, and optimization know-how. J-Coco held the core technologies essential for smartphones.
Smaller in scale than other IT giants, but it was the real deal—a gem among gems.
Of course... that meant its price was in a league of its own, far beyond the pretenders.
“We’re open to selling shares. I think SA could be a good partner. But.”
That was why Dick, the CEO, added his words with a firmness laced—perhaps—with a hint of disdain.
“Funding. I have my doubts whether SA can really pull together a minimum of $5 billion USD.”
“…….”
$5 billion USD. Just shy of 6 trillion won in Korean currency.
Vice Chairman Im Jae-ho’s pupils wavered at the amount, far exceeding his expectations.
In his blurring focus, he recalled the conversation he’d had with his father, Chairman Im Gye-hyeon, before leaving Korea.
‘We have to go for the acquisition, no matter what. We need solid control for SA Group’s firm dominance...’
‘3 trillion won. Even in the worst case, 5 trillion.’
‘Father?’
‘3 trillion from internal group reserves first. Even with a bank consortium, no more than 5 trillion. Anything beyond that shakes the group’s very foundations.’
The old man’s face, shadowed deeply in the fireplace glow.
It wasn’t something that could be quantified on a financial statement.
Experience, seasoned judgment. The wisdom of a man who’d built his empire over a lifetime, now kindling his final flame in the face of death.
That was why Vice Chairman Im Jae-ho couldn’t muster a single rebuttal to that figure.
Even now, with J-Coco’s CEO Dick Johnson right in front of him.
“Vice Chairman Im?”
“Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment... $5 billion USD, right? We’ll proceed with negotiations through our teams step by step.”
“Good. Hey, waiter!”
Dick Johnson CEO called over a waiter carrying a metal tray.
He picked up two champagne flutes from the tray and handed one to Vice Chairman Im Jae-ho.
“How about a toast for such a fine day?”
The glass held pale golden champagne.
Reflected in it, Vice Chairman Im Jae-ho’s face was shrouded in deep worry.
The pressure to turn the impossible into possible. The pressure that this might be his last chance.
That suffocating pressure felt ready to strangle him—only to scatter like ash in an instant, thanks to an unexpected external update.
“Oh, by the way, have you heard the news? About Saudi.”
“Saudi? What’s this all of a sudden?”
“You must’ve been in the air and missed it.”
Dick Johnson CEO moistened his throat lightly with champagne. The words from his lips, just parted from the glass... were the best possible boon for SA Group, and the worst nightmare for Ammunition Group.
“One of their oil facilities caught fire. A massive blaze—enough to blow up a large storage tank.”
“……!”
“With the huge new city development already underway, plus this fire? Saudi’s money flow is gonna be choked tight for a while. At least a year.”
* * * *
Flames shooting up in the middle of the desert. The chaotic disaster site filled the screen, thick black smoke billowing toward the sky.
-Overseas news: A massive fire has broken out in Saudi Arabia’s largest oil field district.
-Dozens of technicians managing the facility are confirmed dead—over 50—and more than 500 injured. We go live to the scene with reporter Kim Min-ji.
I switched off the TV.
My secret Joker card—one I’d been counting on—had been sealed away by some absurd natural disaster.
“Why...? It was something that definitely shouldn’t have happened.”
The Saudi oil facility fire.
No matter how thoroughly I scoured my memory’s timeline, it was an event that never existed.
This... was definitely not in the original history.
Bin Salman, who’d seized power a full decade early because of my intervention. I never imagined the flap of that tiny butterfly wing would summon a typhoon like this.
“First, I need to sort out the situation. What cards I have left. And how to play this weak hand going forward—all of it.”
Just moments ago, Crown Prince Bin Salman had called me.
His voice muffled tight, he sounded like he had a splitting headache as he sought my ‘understanding’ without really asking.
‘You’ve heard the news, but things have turned out this way. Worst possible timing, all around.’
‘...My condolences, Your Highness. Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘Condolences? A few underlings dying is no big deal. The real problem is...’
Bin Salman Crown Prince let out a shallow sigh, then continued in a somber tone.
‘Cash flow’s gonna be an issue. A real headache. I’ve kicked off so many ventures everywhere.’
Cash flow.
Since Bin Salman’s coup and takeover, projects were piling up everywhere.
From the 90 trillion won Saudi military modernization project led by Ammunition Group nearby, to the massive new city plans costing hundreds of trillions.
Of course, it wasn’t enough to bankrupt Saudi. Just a temporary squeeze on the purse strings.
The problem... was that I was the one who’d be parched by that tightened flow.
‘In that case... if I may be so bold, what about the US IT investment we discussed before?’
A question I barely managed to voice, clinging to a sliver of hope.
I’d thrown it out hoping for some hopeful escape route... but the path was blocked by the wings of despair, showing no sign of opening.
And as if to confirm it, Crown Prince Bin Salman’s definitive reply.
‘It’ll be tough. Even optimistically, not until year-end at the earliest.’
* * * *
“Who’d have thought I’d live to see the day Bin Salman’s wallet runs dry like this.”
“Tell me about it. And right at this critical moment, of all times.”
An officetel near Ammunition Group’s headquarters building.
I’d moved to a new place, so I didn’t come as often anymore, but when it came to drinking with Uncle Kim Won-cheol, nowhere beat it.
I downed a full shot of soju in frustration, wiped my mouth with my sleeve, and spoke up.
“It’s more than frustrating. I was counting on that for the live ammo—aiming for around 6 trillion won.”
Ammunition Group’s finances were always tied up in internal reinvestments.
So, with 1 trillion in cash on hand, I’d planned to get about 5 trillion from Crown Prince Bin Salman... but now the whole thing was up in the air.
“We could still go for a bank consortium loan. Hmm... scraping everything together, including loans, maybe we could hit 2 trillion.”
“2 trillion, 2 trillion won.”
SA Group’s internal estimate for fund mobilization: minimum 3 trillion, maximum 5 trillion.
They’d probably pull every loan they could too.
That made it 2 trillion versus 5 trillion. In sheer firepower, we were outgunned.
“Hmm.”
I leaned back haphazardly on the sofa and closed my eyes.
Maybe it was for the best. In the coming era of IT industry hegemony battles, openly acquiring shares in a key US firm could be risky.
The conclusion I could draw—the one I had to.
“US IT company. We’re shelving the share acquisition for now.”
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? Hold on, Chairman. Hear me out first?”
Uncle Kim Won-cheol, who had no hair to sweep back, ran his hand upward anyway, his flushed drunk face launching into a tirade.
I listened to my shrewd right-hand man’s words while munching on well-boiled braised octopus.
“You might be tight with the president, but bailing right out means getting whacked with a bat, you know that?”
“Fair point.”
“And this IT frontrunner designation? Pure profit. Tax breaks, cheap industrial land, full deregulation—the works.”
“That too.”
“Then why pass on getting picked as an IT industry leader?”
Oops. Uncle’s a bit tipsy.
His point was slightly off. I picked up another piece of octopus with my chopsticks, rinsed my mouth with soju, and replied right away.
“Ah, misunderstanding. I never said we’re skipping that. I said no share acquisition.”
“Huh? Sounds the same to me.”
“No. Totally different play. The path Ammunition Group takes from here is...”
With funds short, a full acquisition was off the table anyway.
So... it’d take more effort, but the one move I could make right now. That was.
“Patents. We become a patent monster.”