Chapter 361: To Preserve Their Pride

Following National Intelligence Service Director Om Giyeon into the dining room, I widened my eyes in astonishment. There were so many dishes on the dining table that there was literally no space left.

"Director Om, don't you think this is too much food for so few people?"

"The President personally instructed us to give you the finest hospitality."

"I see. Please convey my sincere gratitude to Mr. President."

"Haha. I'll be sure to do that. Well, shall we sit down for lunch?"

In the middle of lunch, which was taking place in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Jihun addressed Vice President Jeong Sunho with a question.

"Vice President Jeong, what exactly does KBH Investment do?"

"We form consortiums with various companies and compete for nuclear power plant construction contracts put out to international tender around the world."

"But isn't that what the Team Korea consortium does?"

"Team Korea can't possibly secure every nuclear power plant construction project."

"I agree with Vice President Jeong on that point."

"Our company intends to secure the nuclear power plant construction contracts that Team Korea is unable to win."

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun tilted his head in puzzlement.

Team Korea was an enormous consortium established under the auspices of the government of the Republic of Korea. KBH Investment, on the other hand, planned to bring together private companies. It was perfectly obvious that Team Korea's influence on the international stage was incomparably greater than that of KBH Investment. And if Team Korea couldn't secure a contract, KBH Investment would have even less chance of winning it.

Nevertheless, Vice President Jeong Sunho radiated absolute confidence. Unable to suppress his curiosity, Lee Jihun cautiously asked why he thought so.

"There's one inaccuracy in what you just said, Chief of Staff, that I'd like to correct."

"And what would that be?"

"I don't believe Team Korea's influence exceeds KBH Investment's capabilities."

"How dare you say such a thing?!"

As expected, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Hong Seonggeun immediately flared up.

Vice President Jeong Sunho, however, remained completely unperturbed, as though he had an unbeatable trump card up his sleeve. Chief of Staff Lee Jihun cast a displeased glance at the irritated Minister Hong Seonggeun and said,

"Minister Hong, I'm speaking with Vice President Jeong right now."

"I understand, but that wounds my pride!"

"Vice President Jeong wouldn't make such a statement without good reason. What exactly do you mean?"

"You're absolutely right, Chief of Staff."

Lee Jihun nodded knowingly and sternly warned the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.

"If you interrupt this conversation without my permission again, I won't let it slide."

"...Understood," Minister Hong Seonggeun replied, thoroughly deflated and intimidated.

After giving him a brief glance, Lee Jihun returned to his conversation with Jeong Sunho.

"I'm very curious to know why KBH Investment has more influence than Team Korea."

"Although our company has acquired Westinghouse, most countries around the world still regard it as an American corporation."

"Are you saying you intend to use the United States' influence to your advantage?"

"I won't deny it."

"I see. And what's the second reason?"

"The fact that our company's CEO is Department Head Cha Jiham."

"I'm not quite sure I follow."

"President Douglas, Chairman Bongard, and other equally powerful figures stand behind Department Head Cha. I don't believe President Cho Seokchin's influence exceeds the resources at their disposal."

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun nodded involuntarily.

If the United States' global influence could be compared to the sun, the Republic of Korea's influence would, at best, amount to the moon. If KBH Investment entered the competition for nuclear power plant construction contracts with the power of President Douglas and Chairman Bongard behind it, the outcome would be obvious from the very beginning. Vice President Jeong Sunho understood this perfectly well, which was why he had claimed that KBH Investment held an advantage over Team Korea.

"It's a somewhat unpleasant realization, but I can't argue with you, Vice President Jeong."

"It seems I've said more than I should have. Please accept my apologies."

"Not at all. If it weren't for you, Team Korea might never have realized the true state of affairs."

"As I mentioned earlier, our company has no intention of encroaching on Team Korea's interests."

At that moment, NIS Director Om Giyeon joined the conversation, as though he had been waiting for the right opportunity.

"Department Head Cha, given the circumstances, why doesn't KBH Investment simply absorb Team Korea?"

I was sincerely grateful to Director Om for voicing the very thought that had been on my mind. However, if I immediately agreed, it could lead to misunderstandings.

"What reasons would our company have to absorb Team Korea?"

"I don't see any reason for KBH Investment and Team Korea to compete against each other. Besides, KBH Investment has a much better chance of securing nuclear power plant construction contracts."

"I understand your reasoning, but wouldn't the companies belonging to Team Korea object?"

"Then we simply have to make sure they can't object."

"Is that even possible?"

"You needn't worry about that at all."

NIS Director Om Giyeon was known for never making empty promises. If he spoke with such confidence, he must have had solid grounds for doing so.

"I'll give Director Om's proposal favorable consideration."

"Haha, excellent. It looks like we've finished lunch, so why don't we move to the lounge and continue our conversation?"

Once we had moved to the reception room and settled onto the available sofas, an NIS agent served us coffee. Chief of Staff Lee Jihun took a sip, set his cup on the table, and spoke.

"Department Head Cha, please explain why you wanted to meet with Minister Hong."

"It's because of the nuclear power plant construction project announced by the Czech government."

"But hasn't KBH Investment already resolved the problem with Westinghouse, which had been causing us so much trouble?"

Instead of answering, I turned my gaze toward Vice President Jeong Sunho. Understanding my intention, he immediately took over.

"I traveled to the Czech Republic on a business trip with a senior official from Team Korea."

"Is that so? And what happened in the Czech Republic?"

"I informed representatives of the Czech government that KBH Investment had acquired Westinghouse."

"I imagine they were absolutely delighted?"

"Of course. However, just as we were having a rather pleasant conversation, President Jan Koller arrived with his entourage without any warning."

Vice President Jeong Sunho recounted the substance of his conversation with President Jan Koller without concealing anything.

"...President Jan Koller requested that our country provide the financial assistance necessary to construct two nuclear power plant units."

"And how did the senior official from Team Korea respond?"

"He said the proposal would be carefully reviewed."

"I see."

Lee Jihun nodded and turned to Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Hong Seonggeun.

"Minister Hong, did you receive a report about this from your subordinates?"

"Yes, we did. And we decided not to provide loans for the construction of the two units."

"May I ask why you made that decision?"

"When the Czech government announced the tender for the nuclear power plant construction project, it officially stated that the project would be financed from its own budget. Every media outlet in our country is well aware of that. If the Republic of Korea provides the Czech Republic with a loan to build the nuclear power plant, the press will descend on us like a swarm of angry wasps."

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun immediately spotted the weakness in Minister Hong Seonggeun's argument. The Czech government had announced that it would finance only the first two units with its own funds. He pointed this out and demanded an explanation.

"The press will undoubtedly distort the facts and unleash a torrent of harsh criticism against the government."

"So you're prepared to abandon the project because you're afraid of journalists?"

"I believe that would be preferable to enduring attacks from the press from morning until night."

"Good grief!"

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun let out an exasperated sigh and turned toward me.

"Department Head Cha, is there really no clear way to resolve this problem?"

Of course, I already had solutions prepared for precisely this situation.

"What if I personally donated the funds necessary to construct the nuclear power plant to our country?"

"You'd donate fifteen billion dollars?!"

Lee Jihun put on a display of utter astonishment, as though he hadn't expected such a proposal at all.

"During my business trip to Switzerland, I earned an astronomical sum of money thanks to the invaluable assistance of NIS agents. I could certainly donate a portion of that money."

"An astronomical sum... Just how much money are we talking about?"

"One hundred and two billion dollars in cash, sixteen billion dollars in bonds, and approximately seven billion dollars' worth of diamonds."

"Whoa! That's incredible."

"I won't deny it. At the time, I intended to give the NIS roughly half of it, but Director Om agreed to accept only ten billion dollars."

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun and Minister Hong Seonggeun immediately turned their gazes toward NIS Director Om Giyeon. Feeling their eyes on him, he promptly responded.

"Our agents were merely pawns on the chessboard, carrying out Department Head Cha's instructions. Knowing that, I flatly refused his original proposal. However, Department Head Cha was so extraordinarily persistent that I eventually had to give in and agree to accept just ten billion dollars."

"Hmm... So that's how it happened."

"But if we lend the Czech Republic money that was donated by Department Head Cha, serious problems could arise."

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun understood perfectly well what problems he was referring to. To provide financing to the Czech Republic, they would have to disclose the fact that they had received a donation from Cha Jiham. Once that happened, the press would place him under round-the-clock surveillance. Journalists would inevitably start digging into what exactly had happened in Switzerland, and if the buried secrets came to light, the damage would far outweigh any benefits. That was precisely what NIS Director Om Giyeon was worried about.

"Director Om, what if we told the press that the donation was anonymous?"

"The press isn't that easily fooled. They'll use every means and method available to uncover the donor's identity."

"That's true... Now that I think about it, you're right. Department Head Cha, is there no other way?"

'Of course there is!'

"What if I lent the Czech government the funds needed to construct the two nuclear power plant units directly?"

"That's it! Of course, there's that option!" Lee Jihun exclaimed loudly, finding the idea brilliant.

"However, there are several prerequisites for putting my plan into action."

"Please explain those prerequisites."

"First, we need to clearly agree with the Czech side on the terms under which the funds will be provided."

"That goes without saying."

"In that case, I'd like you to invite high-ranking representatives of the Czech government to our country."

"Invite them here instead of going to the Czech Republic ourselves?"

"Lenders don't go running to borrowers to force loans on them."

"Ah, I hadn't thought of that."

"And it would be excellent if the Czech delegation included their Minister of Defense."

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun tilted his head in confusion. KBH Investment intended to lend the Czech government money for nuclear power plant construction, so inviting officials responsible for energy matters should have been sufficient. Yet, for some reason, Cha Jiham was insisting that the Czech Minister of Defense be present as well. He cautiously asked why.

"I want to take this opportunity to export our country's excellent weapons to the Czech Republic."

"I understand what you're thinking, but would the Czech government really import our weapons?"

"I think it's much better than simply sitting back and watching other countries supply them with weapons."

"I can't argue with that."

"In that case, I'll take it that we're inviting the Minister of Defense as well."

"Agreed. Are there any other conditions?"

"I'd like the visit of the high-ranking Czech officials to our country to take place under the strictest secrecy."

"Is that really necessary?"

There was skepticism in the Chief of Staff's question. However, I wasn't worried in the slightest, because I was completely confident I could convince him.

"It's necessary to preserve their pride."

"Their pride... What exactly do you mean?"

"If the press finds out that the Czech government is borrowing money from our private company, what do you think will happen?"

"Ah..."

As though he had read my mind, Chief of Staff Lee Jihun nodded in understanding without finishing his sentence.