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Chapter 13: Vacation
Chapter 13: Vacation
Chapter 13: Vacation
The results of the demonstration were broadcasted worldwide, but surprisingly, they did not elicit much of a response.
The majority of the opinions expressed disbelief.
However, the tide began to change as reputable media outlets like CNN published special feature articles.
On CNN’s YouTube channel, thousands of comments inquired whether it was real.
?Three times the energy density of solid-state batteries? And they say it was developed in Korea? Are you kidding me?
?These guys ran their cars for more than 24 hours straight. They proved a range of 2,000 kilometers.
?Have you seen the faces of those Japanese journalists? They were fuming, claiming it was impossible to mass-produce, but then evidence came out, and their souls fled their bodies.
?It’s obviously a lie. Silla Energy is a company with less than 100 employees. They lack the capacity and determination to develop such technology.
?To the Japanese friend above, don’t cry too much. They still revealed something like Gundam.
?Wait a minute, what about black metal?
?They’ll probably go crazy trying to secure it now, especially since it’s located in polluted waters.
?Have you noticed the shining spot in the South China Sea? It’s near the artificial islands constructed by China.
?A war might break out.
?With just one battery?
?It’s not just one battery; it’s a resource war. The fate of each country’s secondary battery industry depends on how much black metal they can secure.
?Even if we don’t know, by now, the leaders of each country are probably convening in meetings.
?Hey guys, Silla Energy’s website has a ton of information. Let’s check it out right away.
Meanwhile, President Lee Hyun-seong of South Korea was in an emergency meeting.
“Hmm… You’ve organized it quite faithfully.”
He commented as he browsed through the website. The information posted on the website was concise yet well-organized for easy access.
Even a layman would be able to summarize the essentials after a few minutes of perusal.
The officials attending the meeting nodded in agreement.
“You certainly put a lot of effort into it. However, there’s no real important content.”
“Are you referring to the functioning principles of the disassembler and the structure of the battery? We can’t publish that on the website. It’s classified information for now.”
“But you must have found out what black metal is, right? At the very least, you should share it with the government.”
The person raising their voice was none other than Prime Minister Park Hyun-gu.
President Lee Hyun-seong pushed his laptop aside.
“The scholars will clarify what black metal is. What we should focus on is the progress of Silla Energy. Minister of Maritime Affairs, is it true that Mr. Yu Ji-ha secured black metal resources domestically?”
“Yes… Regarding the mining rights near Ulleungdo, originally owned by a company called Samcheok Ocean Development, we confirmed that Mr. Yu Ji-ha acquired the company a few weeks ago.”
“I heard it grants exclusive mining rights for three years. Is that correct?”
“Yes, it is. It was an area with no significant ore deposits or special resources, so it was considered a less important region.”
“We need to reclaim it now.”
Everyone’s attention focused on Prime Minister Park Hyun-gu, and the president lowered his head.
“Did Mr. Yu Ji-ha commit any misconduct during the process of obtaining the mining rights?”
“Silla Energy is a small company with fewer than 100 employees. It’s hard to believe that such a company could temporarily monopolize black metal.”
“So you pressured them to take it away?”
“Mr. President.”
Prime Minister Park Hyun-gu took a deep breath and spoke earnestly.
“Black metal is crucial enough to dominate the entire secondary battery market. Are you willing to entrust that to an inexperienced third-generation chaebol? It’s like letting someone who used to roam freely in a correctional facility be in charge.”
Yu Ji-ha is indeed a bit sketchy.
Everyone present in this room had heard of his infamous reputation at least once.
But now, the situation was different.
“What does it matter if he used to be a troublemaker? How does it relate to this matter?”
“Where would his troublemaker behavior go? He bought shares from the holding company of Silla Energy before the stock price skyrocketed. It clearly falls under insider trading.”
“But the report from the Financial Services Commission suggested that it could be seen as acquiring shares for debt repayment, didn’t it?”
“In the end, the key is when he obtained the information.”
They seemed confident that they could apply charges once the investigation began.
President Lee Hyun-seong sighed heavily.
“Prime Minister, did you happen to get into a fight at the demonstration? Why are you so worked up about not being able to catch him?”
It wasn’t that there was no reason, but Prime Minister Park Hyun-gu’s statement seemed excessive.
If there were suspicions related to financial laws, shouldn’t the Financial Services Commission handle it instead of the prime minister stepping in?
“Do you want to pressure him to renounce his Korean citizenship?”
“Oh, no, Mr. President. What are you saying?”
Perhaps he realized he went too far.
As soon as he closed his mouth, President Lee Hyun-seong took charge of the situation.
“We need to proceed according to protocol. There are no issues with Mr. Yu Ji-ha’s acquisition of the mining rights, and there’s no need to rush regarding black metal and batteries. However, it would be fine to invite relevant individuals for a luncheon and hear their perspectives.”
Then, two sharp sounds echoed.
President Lee Hyun-seong received a report from someone over the intercom held by his secretary.
“…A few warships have set sail from the Guangzhou Naval Base in China. It’s not a routine exercise.”
If it was the Guangzhou Naval Base, then it belonged to the South Sea Fleet.
A bright spot shone vividly next to the Spratly Islands on the map of the South China Sea.
“China must be desperate. They don’t have a single black metal mining site in their own territorial waters.”
“Even so, I didn’t expect them to act so quickly…”
“The United States and neighboring countries won’t stay idle either… It’s going to be noisy for a while.”
The seas of the world might become tumultuous.
The president declared the end of the meeting.
“Relevant departments, pay attention to the surrounding developments and gather information to submit to me.”
As the cabinet members left the room, he contacted the director of the National Intelligence Service through the phone.
“Director, it’s me. There’s something we need to do regarding Mr. Yu Ji-ha. Yes, exactly. Isn’t protecting the people the mission of the country? We just need to quietly keep an eye on him.”
If anyone heard him, they might think that having just one battery technology made him extraordinary.
But the performance was overwhelmingly impressive.
Even someone relatively unfamiliar with the industry could easily predict that it would bring innovation to the field.
Now, the world would be divided into countries that possess black metal and those that don’t.
There was no doubt that Yu Ji-ha, who stood at the center, would face various tangible and intangible pressures.
“At least we need to alleviate foreign pressure.”
He wondered if Korea had the power to do so at the moment.
…
[There’s surveillance. It’s a National Intelligence Service agent disguised as a Sejong Cultural Society employee.]
“On which side?”
[According to the analysis of the conversation, it was confirmed to be under President Lee Hyun-seong’s orders.]
“What’s the person’s temperament like?”
[It feels like a captain struggling on a sinking ship. If only they had met the right era, they would have been highly capable.]
“Then leave them be. They probably attached themselves to protect me in their own way.”
For the first time in a while, Yu Ji-ha took his parents and headed towards the East Sea.
Under the pretext of wanting to taste delicious winter crabs, they decided to visit Manager Kim Do-hyung, who was going through a hard time.
They also gave a week of paid leave to the employees of Silla Energy, but Yu Ji-ha’s father, sitting in the back seat, didn’t seem pleased about it.
“No matter how I think about it… Going to eat crabs comfortably during this time when the industry is in turmoil because of the exhibition…”
“It’s alright, Father. There’s nothing we can do anyway.”
“Nothing we can do?”
“With a team of less than 100 people, what kind of sales can we do on a global scale? Once the year-end and New Year’s atmosphere settles down, we’ll start our actual work.”
“Was the job posting announced?”
“We applied an algorithm to automatically filter resumes. When the vacation is over and we come to work, we’ll be able to hire talents. We’ve tidied up the smaller businesses and have some money, so we should go all-in on batteries.”
So, they streamlined the company and cleared away the distractions for the sake of a single battery.
Yu Kyung-seok only found solace in his son’s resilience against the mockery and criticism that people poured upon him for ruining the company.
Seated in the backseat, Jeong Hye-won, Yu Kyung-seok’s wife, gently patted her son’s shoulder as he drove.
“Our son will handle it on his own, right?”
“Of course.”
“Still, there will be many people he needs to meet… proposals and such.”
“As it happens, he received an invitation from the Blue House. It’s not a serious matter, just a suggestion to have a meal together.”
Yu Kyung-seok’s body jolted up from the seat.
“They invited us to the Blue House? Is that true?”
“Not alone, but relevant officials will also be present. They probably want to coordinate on battery-related matters. They might also discuss black metal.”
“Hehe, that’s great news.”
Although he spoke calmly, Yu Kyung-seok was secretly delighted.
Being invited to a luncheon at the Blue House indicated his son’s significant position.
Even the person in charge of the entire Silla Group had only been invited once, and they didn’t have a proper conversation with the president.
But this time, the protagonist of the Blue House luncheon would be his son.
Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, he was about to say something when his wife held his hand and gave him a meaningful look.
?Our son is doing really well. Just watch over him.
Yu Kyung-seok, with the same thought in mind, settled back into his seat, thinking that it would be good to meet the reporters.
While the vehicle was driving along the Yeongdong Expressway, Yu Ji-ha suddenly brought up an unrelated topic.
“Oh, mother, did you happen to look for the jewel I mentioned before?”
He was referring to the Aether Crystal.
Based on Arma’s investigation of media data, a jewel with the exact same appearance as the Aether Crystal had been circulated in Korea.
It was auctioned off with a story claiming it was a demon’s jewel that had been sleeping in the sea for centuries.
The identity of the winning bidder remained unknown.
However, acquiring such a jewel through a successful bid indicated that the person must be wealthy, so Yu Ji-ha had inquired through his mother.
Yu Jung-hye-won, despite her preference for a simple life, had a slight interest in jewels and accessories.
“Yeah, that thing. Mom looked into it, and it turns out it was won by the wife of Hansung Group’s CEO.”
“If it’s the wife of the Hansung Group CEO…”
“Oh, you mean Ha Yoon is her daughter.”
“Ah, I see.”
Now that they knew the details, it was practically resolved.
If they created a replica and swapped it, no one would notice.
However, Yu Jung-hye-won seemed to find her son’s sudden interest in the jewel peculiar.
“But why the sudden interest in jewels, son?”
“It’s not a big deal, just caught my attention while reading an article about the sinking of the Donghae ship.”
“Really? It’s not because you have someone on your mind, is it?”
How did the conversation take such a turn?
Yu Ji-ha paused for a moment and spoke in a serious tone.
“I feel like I’ve wasted too much time, so for now, I want to focus on my work.”
He expressed his desire to work, so there was no need for further discussion.
Yu Kyung-seok and his wife looked at their son with pride and contentment.
He seemed more reliable and handsome today.
When the vehicle carrying the three of them arrived in Samcheok, Manager Kim Do-hyung came to greet them.
“It’s completely full now, fully loaded with people.”
“It seems like our son has been giving you too much work, Kim Manager. I’m sorry about that.”
“Oh, no, Madam. It’s quite rewarding, actually.”
They exchanged friendly greetings and headed towards the restaurant when a sudden news flash came in.
—Breaking news. Japanese coast guard vessels have appeared near the vicinity of Dokdo. The Korean Coast Guard has taken action.
Manager Kim Do-hyung clicked his tongue.
“They’re at it again.”
“Did this happen often?”
Yu Jung-hye-won asked, and Kim Do-hyung waved his hand dismissively.
“The frequency has been increasing lately. When the Coast Guard intervenes, they eventually retreat… but I’m scared because I don’t know what they might do. They just float around.”
…
There was only one reason why these patrol vessels gathered near Dokdo.
Black metal.
The sweet bait that attracted a school of sharks.
The gift from the sea.
“Do those Japanese bastards think we’re an easy target?”
“We should just flip those boats over.”
The crab restaurant was filled with customers who were watching TV and cursing at Japan.
Recently, Japan had been appearing near Dokdo more frequently, causing a burden on the Korean Coast Guard.
Although they didn’t directly provoke any conflict, the emergency response itself cost a significant amount of money.
Due to the large size of the patrol vessels, the Korean Coast Guard had to dispatch its own vessels, incurring expenses for manpower and fuel.
“Why do they carry cannons if they don’t use them? Just shoot them all.”
“Old man, if you say that, it might lead to a war…”
“So what? What will they do if we go to war, those bastards?”
“We’ll be the only ones at a loss. Are we going to confront Japanese warships?”
“In the West Sea, we have those damn Chinese fishing boats causing trouble, and in the East Sea, it’s those Japanese patrol vessels causing trouble. Are there any goddamn idiots like this?”
In people’s conversations, there was a mix of anger towards Japan and a sense of helplessness regarding Korea’s inability to respond effectively.
“What can we do… We’re weak… If they provoke us, we should become stronger.”
“Those bastards.”
As always, the conversation ended with fierce curses against foreign countries.
It was an inevitable situation.
The defense budget, which had reached its peak in 2021, had been shrinking as time went on.
Projects like KF-X and CVX were launched, but the results were not satisfactory.
However, these issues were merely peripheral. The real problem Korea faced was the loss of growth momentum.
Just a few years ago, the semiconductor industry was thriving, but it began to lag behind the United States.
The automobile industry found itself sandwiched between Japan and China.
Economic growth slowed, unemployment skyrocketed, and the country’s credit rating hit BBB- for the first time since the IMF crisis.
In particular, the real estate crisis in 2022 was significant.
The skyrocketing apartment prices, which had been continuously rising, began to decline due to rising interest rates and a chain of bankruptcies triggered by self-employed individuals.
“Many people were unable to repay their loans and went bankrupt, which had a significant impact on the economy.”
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Korea’s current situation, being overshadowed by Japan, was an extension of its weakening national power.
After finishing the order with Yu Kyung-seok, Yu Ji-ha went to the restroom and called Arma.
“We need to drive out those patrol ships. It would be good to create an image of voluntary withdrawal.”
[Since Japan likes whales, how about using exploration vessels and walkers to create the illusion of a whale pod appearing?]
“Let’s try making a video out of it.”
Using a biochip, an image was projected onto Yu Ji-ha’s retina.
It was a video showing a pod of whales appearing in the distance, colliding with Japanese patrol ships and creating agonizing sounds as they perished.
Of course, it wasn’t real, and if investigated, they would be exposed. But they didn’t have the luxury of time for that.
“The image looks good. Make it appear as if someone recorded it with their phone and upload it on ‘YouTube’.”
[Let’s start right away.]
Arma replied.
Yu Ji-ha had no emotions towards the Japanese.
Why would a person from the 22nd century harbor any resentment towards someone from the 21st century?
However, he had a desire for the reconstruction of the United Human Federation and the eradication of the Plague, and he planned to retaliate against any forces that obstructed those aspirations, regardless of the means.
Even if it was the current South Korea he was involved with, there could be no exceptions.
Returning to his seat, Yu Ji-ha noticed that Manager Kim Do-hyung was slightly intoxicated from the drink given by Chairman Yu Kyung-seok.
“…It was really tough… I did what I was told, but I didn’t know anything… I learned how to operate the equipment while being cursed at by the sailors.”
“I understand. It’s not easy for someone who was only in the office to get on a ship.”
“Hey, take a look at yourself. Completely covered in black.”
Kim Do-hyung had followed Chairman Yu Kyung-seok 15 years ago when his son caused a rebellion.
With a relationship spanning over 20 years, he was a special presence to Chairman Yu Kyung-seok and his wife, but he himself was satisfied with his position as a servant.
In the midst of it all, unexpectedly, Yu Ji-ha received instructions to go to Sokcho and board a ship.
How easy is it for someone who worked in Seoul to suddenly start working on a ship?
Naturally, there should have been resentment in his tone, but surprisingly, it wasn’t quite the case.
“However, it’s surprisingly exciting. The rare metal we’re mining, Black Metal… It’s the Black Metal that will change the landscape of the secondary battery market in the future.”
“At first, you grumbled about digging up rocks, but it turned out to be gold, huh?”
Yu Kyung-seok handed him a glass and chuckled.
“Well, isn’t gold not just ordinary gold? It’s the kind of gold that the whole world desires and can’t get enough of. Those patrol ships came here because of that.”
Is that so?
Well, they have been appearing frequently lately, so it couldn’t be completely dismissed as a baseless assumption.
“Come on, that’s a problem for the government and the military to solve. We’ll just enjoy some delicious crab.”
At that moment, Ji-ha’s subordinate, Kim, came and sat beside them.
“Manager Kim, you said you have a lot of work, right?”
“Haha, I was just trying to sound tough.”
“Tell me honestly. It’s tough, isn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
“But at least the stocks have gone up, haven’t they?”
At those words, Kim became crestfallen.
“I regret that my vision was narrow… I should have bought it back then. It’s really disappointing.”
Well, that’s a personal choice, so there’s nothing you can do about it.
“Anyway, we won’t be able to call you for a while since we don’t have suitable candidates.”
It meant he was stuck in Sokcho for the time being.
Kim Do-hyung’s expression darkened as he sensed his future.
However, in Korean language, you have to listen to the end to know.
“Instead, starting next year, your salary will be 100 million won ($84k), and I’ll give you a corporate credit card with a limit of 50 million won ($42k) that you can freely use.”
His eyes widened.
The offer to handle expenses up to 50 million won could be seen as a substantial increase in salary.
100 million won salary plus 50 million won in expenses.
It was a tremendous amount and Kim Do-hyung’s shoulders trembled.
“I-I’m not sure if I can accept that kind of money…”
“And I’ll also hire a few employees to send with you. It seems like your father needs a little help…”
Yu Kyung-seok smiled wryly and raised his glass.
“Are you telling me to provide employees after telling me all this?”
“Ocean development work is so challenging that it would be better to hire locally if possible.”
“He’s trying to interfere with the HR department now.”
Yu Kyung-seok’s expression was bright as he spoke.
“When the employees gather, I will provide detailed instructions for their tasks. Please bear with it a little longer, Director Kim.”
Not just a manager, but a director.
Although it was just a title, it was enough to wash away the hardships Kim Do-hyung had endured.
Eventually, the crab was served, and everyone enjoyed their meal.
In the midst of that, Arma reported.
[We have secured the Aether Crystal. Once the emergency repairs are completed, we can start the Aether Fusion Reactor.]
It meant that only the reactor could be started.
To fully repair and supply power to the entire ship, it would take years.
And on that day, when the Settler emerged from the depths, many things would change.
After finishing their meal and leaving the restaurant, the group was greeted by a coast guard helicopter flying towards the sea.
The murmurs of the people could be heard.
“A whale pod has appeared near Dokdo! They collided with the Japanese patrol ships!”
“Are there no whales in Japanese waters? Why are they harassing our whales?”
“It would have been satisfying if they had just sunk.”
It seemed like everything went well.
Yu Kyung-seok started the engine of the vehicle.
…