Chapter 29: That Time I Met the Chairman in South America.

TL: Skye

Nothing happened on the day the Korean business delegation arrived. All we did was share a cup of coffee and have a brief chat, just to get familiar with each other's faces.

But I didn't let my guard down.

The investment was confirmed, but the scale wasn't. The amount of confidence I could instill here would clearly determine the size of the investment.

On top of that, even the chairman of Hyunhwa was present.

So I did my best to leave the best possible impression on them, and the next day, I even tagged along for the site inspections.

Words can carry completely different weight depending on how they're delivered, so I wanted to communicate directly in Korean without a middleman whenever possible.

'At this point, I'm basically a salesman.'

Anyway, the first place we arrived at was a vast stretch of flatland, about a twenty-minute drive from the port of Libertad.

"This is the site."

Originally, it had been little more than wasteland, but the brush had been cleared and the ground leveled to attract Korean companies, turning it into something resembling an industrial complex.

"As you can see, the accessibility to the port, the airport, and Libertad is excellent. You won't find a better location for a factory site."

CEO Choi of Taeyang Apparel, the company looking to relocate its factory, adjusted his glasses and looked around before speaking.

"The land is certainly spacious and nice. However, I think there may be some issues when it comes to actually operating a factory here."

A meticulous response.

"The road conditions aren't great... And when building a new factory... From what I saw on the way here, the power supply..."

In a subtly pointed tone, he picked apart the lacking infrastructure.

But this was something I had anticipated. I laid out what I had prepared.

"In return, we'll offer benefits substantial enough to offset the insufficient infrastructure."

"What kind of benefits are you referring to?"

"First, as long as the factory remains operational, we'll lease this site to you free of charge for thirty years. It's essentially the same as having zero land acquisition costs." CEO Choi's eyebrows twitched.

"There are expansion plans for the roads, and I believe your main concern is the power issue... We're currently expanding the capacity of the Libertad thermal power plant, and we'll construct a dedicated transmission line for the industrial complex to supply power on a priority basis. On top of that, we'll include a clause in the contract guaranteeing government compensation for any losses caused by power outages."

"......"

"And finally..."

I delivered the finishing blow to him as he blinked in surprise.

"The corporate tax rate in San Marcos is only ten percent. It's uncertain how that might change in the future, but if Taeyang Apparel commits to investing, I can provide a written guarantee locking in that tax rate for ten years."

"...The terms are very attractive. I'll return to headquarters and discuss this in a positive light."

He didn't bite right away and kept crunching the numbers to the very end.

A true professional, as expected.

"I look forward to hearing from you."

The second inspection site was a rugged mountainous area along the ridgeline of the Central Mountains.

It was only about two hours from the industrial complex, so not terribly far, but with no proper roads cut through, we barely made it there in a rattling SUV.

CEO Park of Korea Zinc stepped out of the vehicle and pressed the dirt ground with his foot.

"This general area is where the geological survey was conducted."

"There doesn't seem to be anything here?"

"It only looks that way on the surface. Based on our findings, a vein containing nickel and cobalt stretches along this mountain range for a considerable distance. The reserves are also quite substantial."

"Oh, is that so? Well, if Korea Zinc conducted the survey, it must be reliable."

"The problem, as always, is transportation."

CEO Park pointed at the harsh mountain terrain as he spoke.

"Trying to transport minerals from a remote valley like this to the port could mean the logistics costs end up costing more than the minerals themselves. The late Prime Minister had promised to come up with a solution for this..."

He looked at me with eyes that seemed to ask how I intended to solve it.

"You don't need to worry about that. A four-lane industrial road connecting this area to the southern port is set to break ground. We're projecting completion in one year."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, the design work is already finished, and we'll be turning the first shovel next month. Additionally, the high-voltage power grid needed for mining operations will be laid alongside the road."

CEO Park's expression noticeably softened.

"I'll send our legal and due diligence teams as soon as I return to headquarters."

It was a success. Both companies had shown positive responses, so tangible results would come soon enough.

But then...

'Why on earth did this man come here?' I stole sidelong glances at Jeong Suman, who had followed us around all day without uttering a single word during the inspections.

At the factory site and at the mine alike, he simply stood with his hands clasped behind his back, taking in the scenery or staring at me intently, without making a single business request.

A conglomerate chairman, at his age no less, flying halfway around the world just to silently observe?

It made no sense.

'He's definitely got something up his sleeve...'

And the reason Chairman Jeong had come to San Marcos became clear that evening at the dinner banquet.

"You've all had a long day today. I hope the food is to your liking."

"Ha ha, I never expected to see japchae and braised short ribs on the other side of the globe. The taste is excellent, too."

The meal continued in a warm, convivial atmosphere.

CEO Choi and CEO Park were deep in conversation with Isabella and the other Senior Secretaries, absorbed in detailed working-level discussions.

"Chairman, have you had enough to eat?" "I've eaten very well."

"For someone who's eaten well, your plate looks awfully clean... If the food wasn't to your taste, I can have another menu prepared."

"Ha ha, when you get old, your appetite shrinks. Just pour me another glass of wine and I'll be fine."

"Please, feel free to speak casually with me, Chairman. I'm close friends with your great-nephew."

"You carry millions of citizens on your shoulders. I shouldn't treat someone like that too casually."

Chairman Jeong replied with a gentle chuckle. I could tell that no amount of prodding would get through to him, so I decided to cut to the chase.

"Excuse me... Chairman? May I ask what brought you all the way here?"

He surely hadn't come for sightseeing.

"CEO Choi and CEO Park both have clear objectives. But you, Chairman, haven't said a single word all day. It felt like you didn't need anything at all. Above all..."

Chairman Jeong slowly swirled his wine glass. The red liquid spiraled inside it.

"If you were planning to invest, wouldn't it have made more sense to send a subsidiary CEO rather than come yourself?"

Exactly. If the goal was to invest in San Marcos, it would have been more appropriate for a subsidiary CEO to lead a team of working-level staff rather than a chairman in his eighties making the trip himself.

Of course, Chairman Jeong hadn't come alone either, but his entourage was closer to a personal staff than a working-level team.

"......"

After a brief exchange of glances, Chairman Jeong opened his mouth.

"Have you ever heard the saying that a merchant looks at the goods, a businessman looks at the market, and a great merchant looks at the person?"

"...I believe I have."

"I spent the entire day today watching Your Excellency."

"You were watching me?"

He leaned his body toward me.

"I didn't come to invest in a country called San Marcos. I came to see whether it was worth investing in Your Excellency. No matter how many talented people Hyunhwa has, none of them can read people better than I can, so I had to come myself."

What was this all of a sudden?

"You're saying you want to invest... in me?"

"That's correct."

For a moment, I was dumbfounded.

Saying you wanted to invest in a public official was essentially offering a bribe.

And to say it to me of all people, the one in charge of cracking down on exactly that.

"...Chairman, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm not someone who should be receiving investments. Nor should I accept them."

"It seems you're the one misunderstanding. I didn't mean offering a bribe. I meant fulfilling what Your Excellency needs."

"And how would you know what I need?"

"The development of San Marcos, is it not?"

"Well, that's only natural for a politician..."

"It's anything but natural. If every politician thought that way, why would corruption exist? Why would embezzlement happen?"

"......"

"Your Excellency surely and sincerely desires the development of San Marcos. Am I wrong?"

"...You're not wrong."

Because that was the only way I could retire and enjoy the carefree life of a FIRE movement follower.

His question seemed to peer straight into my soul, and I had no choice but to nod.

After hearing my answer, Chairman Jeong took a sip of wine and then said something completely out of blue.

"What does Your Excellency believe made the Miracle on the Han River possible?"

"Well, I'd say it was the blood, sweat, and effort of the people, wouldn't you?"

A textbook answer.

"That's right. They overcame truly abject, grinding poverty through sheer effort."

He said, taking another drink of wine.

"Then how do you think that effort succeeded? Effort alone doesn't guarantee results, after all."

"That's... a good question."

"It's because the captain at the helm made the right choices."

"The captain?"

"Yes, the captain who gripped the wheel of the great ship called a nation and pushed forward without flinching, even when storms raged. When I was young, Korea had such a captain."

A strange fervor crept into Chairman Jeong's voice.

"When that man spread out a map and said to punch a highway through here, mountains were tunneled and roads were built. When he ordered shipyards to be constructed, factories rose from the mudflats. Environmental impact assessments? Public hearings? Opposition from rival parties? None of that existed back then. Everyone simply moved in lockstep, united in purpose, all for the sake of national development."

"No."

That's a military dictatorship.

"In the process, many companies were born and many perished. Some said it was too harsh, but I saw it differently. When the nation develops, businesses grow and the people prosper."

"Well, that's..."

I wanted to say, "Of course you'd think that, Hyunhwa was one of the prime beneficiaries," but I didn't have the nerve.

When I kept my mouth shut, Chairman Jeong looked me straight in the eye and said,

"I saw his shadow in Your Excellency."

"......"

"The decisiveness to purge your opposition, to put criminals to forced labor. The drive to push forward without caring about the opinions of the legislature or public sentiment. Isn't that exactly like him?"

It was a misunderstanding.

And a dangerously wrong one at that.

"Chairman, I think you're mistaken. I'm not a dictator. Things are a bit heavy-handed right now because it's a state of emergency, but once the country stabilizes, I intend to follow democratic procedures."

"Ha ha, democratic procedures."

"And I don't plan on doing this for long. Exactly ten years. I'll spend ten years laying the groundwork, then retire and spend my days fishing."

I was being sincere, but after hearing me out, Chairman Jeong simply chuckled and didn't take my words seriously at all.

"This too is exactly the same. That man also promised a transition to civilian rule when he first took power."

"No, I really mean it..."

"But he never relinquished power until the very day he died. No, he couldn't relinquish it. For the sake of the nation."

"...And then he got shot and went to the great beyond, didn't he?"

"That's not particularly important."

"No."

Then what was important?

'They say old age makes you stubborn...'

Arguing further would be like talking to a brick wall, so I quietly backed off.

Looking at Chairman Jeong, who seemed like the type to enjoy rallies, I thought to myself:

'I need to steer clear of him.'

No matter how urgently we needed investment, I wanted to avoid shaking hands with someone who held such extreme views.

There was no telling what might come of it later, and experience had taught me that people who only see things from one angle tend to cause problems.

"I'm sorry, but regarding the investment..."

Just as I was about to decline Chairman Jeong's investment.

"If Your Excellency would permit it, I intend to build a second Hyunhwa right here in San Marcos. And the first step... would be constructing the oil refinery that a nation with oil fields needs most."

"...!"

He had just made an offer that was impossible to refuse.

*****

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