[Maryland (2)]
“The time has finally come.”
Colson, Yoon-gi’s grandfather, had arrived at the location before him. “Yes. Now, even if we make this public, we have the power to protect it.”
“True. It’s common for an African cheetah to successfully hunt, only to have the prize snatched away by hyenas.”
Yoon-gi and Colson switched to a vehicle used for navigating the cornfields, with Bill taking the wheel. “Chairman, I’m starting to catch on to what’s happening here!”
There was a clear sense of pride in Bill’s cheerful voice. He must have realized that Yoon-gi’s success was his own. For an employee to feel ‘true pride’ in their company, they have to experience firsthand that the company’s gains translate into their own. In that regard, Bill had just received a definitive lesson.
‘Wow... once this is all over, I won’t be driving this, but rather gripping the steering wheel of a high-end, full-option luxury car of my own, right?’
Humming a tune, Bill drove in the direction Colson pointed, and they soon arrived at their destination.
“Shall we begin?”
“Let’s.”
At Yoon-gi’s words, Colson broke the seal on the entrance that had been blocked off until now. Suddenly, a black dragon surged high into the sky, revealing its magnificent form. Its name was: Oil!
“Honestly, I couldn’t believe it when we discovered the 1 trillion won oil field before. But to think there was another one like this in your cornfield... No, I’ve known for a little while, but the shock still hasn’t worn off.”
There was a reason Colson was this surprised by the discovery of a second oil field. Usually, when a person experiences the same thing twice, the second time doesn’t carry the same impact because they’ve already felt the peak of the emotion. But Colson couldn’t help but be even more astonished than before. Because...
This oil field contained a truly staggering amount of petroleum. 1.4 billion barrels. How much would that be in value? The crude oil price in 1988, the year Yoon-gi lived in, was about $15 per barrel. Therefore, based on 1988, the value of this oil field was a whopping $21 billion. With the 1988 exchange rate of 684.1 won per dollar, that translated to over 14 trillion won. 14 trillion won. And if calculated based on 2008, when oil prices went absolutely insane? The market price back then was about $91.5 per barrel. With the 2008 exchange rate of 1,295.5 won per dollar, Yoon-gi’s assets would be worth approximately 166 trillion won.
It was 14 trillion won now, but as time passed, Yoon-gi’s oil field would reach a maximum value of 166 trillion won. Choi Deok-bae’s words were by no means an exaggeration. After all, it was Choi Deok-bae who had been the most instrumental in finding this oil field. Every time Yoon-gi visited the United States, he would visit the cornfields he had established whenever conditions allowed. At the same time, he would ask Choi Deok-bae to check the underground, and the spirit had to roam through the pitch-black earth. Even though Choi Deok-bae was fast, discovering underground resources was an incredibly difficult task. Yet, he had managed to find the treasure trove beneath the soil.
So, why hadn’t he made it public at the time of discovery? There was a reason for keeping an oil field with 1.4 billion barrels of reserves under wraps until now.
“Have you talked things over with President Reagan?”
“I haven’t spoken about the oil field yet. But now, there shouldn’t be any reason for anyone to interfere with it.”
What if Yoon-gi had announced the discovery before becoming close with Reagan? The previous oil field was at a level where he could somehow secure the rights through Guster’s influence alone, as its value was only about $1.2 billion. But this oil field was a completely different story. An oil field worth at least $21 billion. Even if Guster tried to protect it, there was no way to stop other American conglomerates from swarming like jackals if they caught wind of a $21 billion prize. But now, Reagan would step in to protect it. Because Yoon-gi had provided Reagan with massive benefits regarding pharmaceutical companies.
“Can we really protect this oil field with just the pharmaceutical interests?”
“That’s why I requested a meeting to talk it over again. Everything will be decided then.”
“I truly... I hope the conversation goes well.”
“It will. I’m going to make an offer the Republican Party can’t refuse.”
Yoon-gi flashed a confident smile and returned with Colson to the car where Bill was waiting in the distance. The second guardian dragon of the YK Group—the second oil field in Texas—began to prepare to roar its existence to the world.
“What? You’re saying a massive oil field was discovered in the cornfields you own?” Reagan jumped up from his seat in surprise.
“That is correct, Mr. President.”
“My god... didn’t you already discover one oil field?”
“Yes. But we discovered a new one a little while ago.”
“No, what does that even... what was the scale of the last one?”
“About $1.2 billion.”
“Then, this time?”
“...About $21 billion.”
Reagan stood up abruptly without even realizing it. “$21 billion!”
Reagan was the president of the superpower known as the United States, but he wasn’t exactly one of the top-tier tycoons. As such, the figure ‘$21 billion’ was enough to send him into shock.
“W-wait. How many barrels is that, exactly?”
“1.4 billion barrels.”
“1... 1.4 billion barrels...! And since oil prices are low these days, $21 billion is an undervalued amount, isn’t it...?”
“I believe the value will increase further if market prices rise.”
“My god... This is truly something to celebrate. Did you come here to report this to me?”
As a human, it’s natural to feel jealousy, envy, and greed when someone else gains a massive profit. That was why Reagan was looking at Yoon-gi with a complicated expression. Of course, Yoon-gi had already seen through Reagan’s psychology and immediately opened his mouth to ease the President’s mind.
“There are two things.”
“Two things?”
“Yes. One is the discovery of the oil field, and the other is that I wanted to get your permission on where to use the profits generated from it.”
“My permission...? It’s your profit...”
He might say that here, but once the discovery was made public, other tycoons would surely line up to visit Reagan. That was the penalty for a newly discovered oil field. Whether it was demanding heavy taxes or dragging out the recognition of ownership, countless American tycoons would contact Reagan. That was why Yoon-gi had visited Reagan first before making it public, even knowing the risks.
“I don’t believe the profits I earn in the United States are entirely my own. As much as you protect me, Mr. President, I always want to repay you.”
At the mention of repaying him, the jealousy and envy in Reagan’s eyes faded, if only slightly. “I-is that so?”
If it were a small amount, Reagan might have reacted with indifference. But $21 billion was a sum that transcended Reagan’s common sense, so his heart was pounding, and he couldn’t help but stutter.
“Yes. So, I personally thought of a way that would be helpful to your Republican Party.”
“A way to help our Republican Party?”
“Yes. After asking my grandfather-in-law, I heard that most of the states that support the Republican Party have developed agriculture.”
‘Grandfather-in-law’ referred to his wife’s grandfather. Of course, since they were conversing in English, Yoon-gi used the word ‘grandfather,’ but because he looked at Guster, who was standing next to Reagan, as he spoke, Reagan understood that he meant Guster. ‘I guess they call their wife’s grandfather “grandfather” in Korea.’ It was a misunderstanding on Reagan’s part, but it didn’t matter, so the conversation didn’t veer off-topic.
“Yes, most of the states that support our Republican Party are agricultural regions.” To be precise, it meant the ‘House of Representatives’ in the US Congress, but the meaning got across regardless.
“And I need to import agricultural products to use in the Soviet Union and South Korea.”
“Ah!” Reagan accurately grasped Yoon-gi’s intent.
“If you would only grant me permission, we would like to sign priority supply contracts with farms in Republican-supporting regions.”
“Hmm...” Reagan clenched his fist on the desk, looking pleased.
“Is... is that not to your liking?” Yoon-gi acted as if he were oblivious, even though he knew Reagan was currently overjoyed.
“N-no! How could that be? Prioritizing the purchase of crops from regions that support our Republican Party? There’s absolutely no reason to dislike that!” Reagan jumped up from his seat, then realized he had been unpresidential and sat back down with a sheepish laugh.
“Right, you probably won’t use all the money generated from oil production to buy crops. But if you trade with our Republican regions as a top priority when buying crops, there is no reason to deny your request.”
Finally, Reagan’s clear permission was granted.
“Right, Yoon-gi. Or should I call you Chairman Choi now? Chairman Choi, how many barrels do you want to produce per day?”
“As much as you permit, Mr. President.”
Yoon-gi’s answer pleased Reagan more and more. Other tycoons were a headache to control, but since Yoon-gi sought his permission for everything, there was no reason not to favor him.
“Good. I will do my best to ensure you can produce over 1 million barrels per day.”
1 million barrels meant about $15 million. Yoon-gi had effectively established a position where he could spend 10 billion won a day.
“Thank you. I will not forget this grace.”
“Grace! This is a transaction. By the way, when do you intend to make it public?”
“Yes, the date for the announcement is...”
Yoon-gi safely climbed onto the back of the black dragon.
The reason Yoon-gi had unsealed the second oil field. It was to ease the anxieties of his close aides, including Ryu Geun-tae and Choi Chul-kyu, but it was also for this very moment. None other than the agreement with ‘The Disney.’ Yoon-gi didn’t intend to plaster his upcoming amusement park with only original characters. Since there were already proven characters, why bother with original ones? Yoon-gi held the secondary rights to Hollywood movies and Sega games, so the characters in his amusement park were bound to be abundant. However, Yoon-gi judged that it wasn’t enough. None other than The Disney. It was true that movie and game characters lacked a bit of the spark to captivate young children. That was why he had set up a meeting with ‘The Disney,’ which children were absolutely crazy about. Although, it seemed The Disney didn’t exactly welcome the idea.
“Welcome. Nice to meet you, Chairman Choi.”
Joseph, the person in charge for The Disney, only lightly nodded his head while seated as Yoon-gi entered the conference room. Usually, it was customary to stand up and shake hands in such situations. However, Joseph, a white man in his early 50s, only offered the greeting with a bored expression.
“Yes, nice to meet you.”
Yoon-gi bowed lightly toward Joseph and pulled out a chair to sit down himself.
‘Damn it, to think he’d dare approach us to build an amusement park in some tiny, insignificant country.’
From The Disney’s perspective, South Korea was a market where they wouldn’t gain much. Even though they operated a film company called MEV and had influence in Hollywood, they had no interest in the ‘negotiation to use The Disney characters in a Korean amusement park.’ Furthermore, it was the 80s. How would a white American in the 80s look at an Asian? It was only 1958 when white people in Belgium put black people in zoo cages to watch them. If they were yellow-skinned people, who had even lower status than black people? Of course, not every white person was a racist, but Joseph was clearly a man with those nuances.
However.
Before the conversation could even begin, the conference room door suddenly opened, and one of The Disney’s employees walked quickly toward Joseph and whispered something in his ear. And a moment later.
Joseph sat up in a very polite posture and opened his mouth in an extremely respectful tone.
“Um... what would you like to have for a drink?”