Koizumi’s voice over the receiver was heavy with exhaustion.

— President Kim. It’s been a while.

“Yes, it has. But you sound terribly tired. Your voice sounds awful.”

Instead of denying it, Koizumi let out a deep sigh.

— Ha....... The cabinet was gathered discussing things until just now. After all the tug-of-war...... I’m rather exhausted.

“It sounds like different opinions are coming out within the cabinet.”

— The right-wing groups we suppressed back then are starting to stir again now that they’ve found an opportunity. There are people using this chance to attack me.

Several years had passed since Koizumi firmly seized power.

In a parliamentary system, no matter how tightly a prime minister held power, its grip naturally weakened over time.

— Well, even so, they won’t overturn what was already agreed upon with Korea. Too many people are involved for that now.

Koizumi was right.

Seven-Gwanggu involved not only Korea and Japan, but also Chevron, the massive American oil company.

No matter how recklessly Japan acted, they couldn’t simply break an agreement with Chevron.

“I’m not worried about that. I just asked them to contact you because I was concerned you might take political damage.”

— Thank you for your concern. But I won’t collapse over something like this.

You’re taking it too lightly.

Back when it was only in the survey phase, all people had were expectations that there might be massive oil reserves underground. That was why the right-wing groups had stayed quiet back then.

But now that the oil had been confirmed, they finally had ammunition to strike back at Koizumi.

“If you need my help, let me know. I’ll help however I can.”

— Your words alone are appreciated. By the way, what do you intend to do now?

“We proceed according to the agreement.”

— You mean the agreement to leave everything to Chevron?

“Yes. We absolutely need Chevron’s technological capability to install oil platforms in the middle of the ocean.”

— That is true, but......

I could understand why Koizumi hesitated.

If Korea and Japan combined their efforts, it was technically possible.

Their technology still lagged behind the giant oil majors, but it wasn’t entirely impossible.

“Don’t be stingy about sharing profits. We’re bringing America onto our side. If China starts causing trouble, this whole thing could collapse at any moment. That’s why Chevron was included.”

Of course, even if Chevron hadn’t been involved, I could still have mediated things.

But in that case, we would eventually have had to concede something to China as well.

This time, I intended to stay as far behind the scenes as possible.

—I see.

Koizumi accepted my reasoning surprisingly quickly.

— Ah, President Kim. Have you contacted Chevron?

“Yes. Director Michael is flying into Korea personally tomorrow.”

— Ah....... I see. Then we’ll send someone as well.

Michael wasn’t visiting on any official schedule.

“Hm, that’ll be difficult. Director Michael is visiting me unofficially this time. Coordinate separately with Chevron and the Korean government to arrange another date.”

— Is there really a need to complicate things that much? Why not settle everything at once this time? If we drag this out, the right-wing groups will only grow louder.

A trace of anxiety seeped into Koizumi’s voice.

After a brief moment of thought, I answered:

“Even so, this is still an agreement between nations. Speak with the Korean government first. Michael will be staying in Korea for several days.”

— Would it be possible to proceed in Japan instead?

“If things are decided after discussions with the Korean government, we can arrange for Michael to head over afterward.”

— Understood. I’ll discuss it with the Korean government and make a decision.

After ending the call with Koizumi, I turned my attention back to the news playing on the television.

Protests breaking out in Japan were being broadcast.

So even if Korea-Japan relations improve, what’s bound to happen still happens in the end.

The right-wing organizations that had been lying low were all rising at once and raising their voices.

I sighed and turned off the television.

The next day.

Michael came to Pyeongchang-dong.

It had been a while since I last saw him, and his face was full of smiles.

“You seem to be in excellent spirits.”

“Haha. Of course I am. We discovered oil in Seven-Gwanggu, didn’t we? Until now, there had only been endless speculation that oil reserves existed there, but now that an oil field has actually been found, it’s certain there are even more underground resources in the area.”

Well, the first step was always the hardest.

Once someone glimpsed real possibility, it was only natural they’d get this excited.

“As agreed, Chevron will take twenty percent of the crude oil produced from Seven-Gwanggu. I’ve also been informed that neither the Korean nor Japanese governments intend to break that agreement.”

“Oh, I see.”

“However, the offshore plant technology must be transferred to Joongwoo Shipbuilding.”

Michael froze slightly.

Well, well.

“What’s wrong? Is that difficult?”

“That may be somewhat difficult. The technology used in offshore plants is core technology.”

“Director Michael, if you truly wanted to, wouldn’t it be possible? If this succeeds, won’t you become Chevron’s president?”

At my question, Michael’s eyes shifted nervously.

“This would benefit both sides. You know Korea’s shipbuilding technology ranks among the best in the world, don’t you?”

“I acknowledge that.”

“China says it can build ships cheaply through dumping tactics, but that only works for commercial vessels. Specialized ships are another matter entirely. Director Michael, are you planning to place orders in China?”

Michael hurriedly shook his head.

“No. I have no intention of doing that.”

“Then ultimately you’ll have to sign contracts with Korean shipyards. Just include the technology transfer in that contract. And I want that shipyard to be Joongwoo Shipbuilding.”

There was only one reason I had pushed so hard for the development of Seven-Gwanggu.

Even if oil was discovered there, the direct profits coming to me were minimal.

At best, I’d be able to secure a significant portion of the crude oil extracted from Seven-Gwanggu for Joongwoo Chemical.

But the offshore oil development project was an entirely different matter.

It was a gigantic project worth several trillion won.

Seven-Gwanggu had already moved beyond the exploratory drilling phase — where Chevron’s drilling ships merely confirmed whether oil existed at the predicted locations — and entered the appraisal drilling phase, where profitability was evaluated.

Now came the final stage: production drilling.

To begin extracting oil in earnest, offshore plants were absolutely essential.

Oil could technically be extracted using drilling ships alone, but compared to offshore plants, the production volume was incomparable.

“Joongwoo Shipbuilding will handle the offshore oil development project. This is non-negotiable.”

“We also believe it’s only natural for a Korean shipbuilder to take on the project. However, I cannot decide that unilaterally without a bidding process.”

Looks like I let him get too comfortable.

I leaned toward Michael.

“Michael. Do I look like a philanthropist to you? Do you think I handed Chevron this golden opportunity in Seven-Gwanggu because I couldn’t negotiate with other major oil companies? Without me, would Chevron have been able to negotiate simultaneously with both the Japanese and Korean governments?”

“That’s.......”

If I hadn’t stepped in to mediate, the Korean and Japanese governments would probably still be pulling at each other over their respective positions.

“I didn’t come looking for you. You came looking for me. Didn’t you?”

The one who openly revealed his ambition to become Chevron’s president was Michael.

He had honestly exposed his greed and practically begged me to let Chevron handle the development of Seven-Gwanggu.

I granted his request.

And after this oil discovery, his position became even more secure.

“I hear rumors are already circulating on Wall Street that you’ll soon become president.”

“......That’s correct. It’s practically decided.”

“You’ve already taken everything you wanted from me, and now you’re saying you can’t give me what I’m asking for? That’s the mindset of a thief. You may not know this, but I despise ungrateful people.”

As I spoke coldly, Michael’s eyes wavered.

“Don’t mistake this for a fish you’ve already caught. An agreement with Chevron can be broken at any time.”

I leaned back against the sofa again.

I could see Michael tense up immediately.

“Choose. Either overturn this deal, or transfer Chevron’s offshore plant technology and proceed with this project together with Joongwoo Shipbuilding.”

Even if Chevron refused, Joongwoo Shipbuilding would still win this project no matter what.

But Joongwoo Shipbuilding couldn’t independently build offshore plants yet.

Offshore plants were a high value-added industry.

It was also a field Korean shipbuilders — despite possessing the world’s best shipbuilding technology — had failed to properly enter.

Daehyun Heavy Industries had once won an offshore plant contract, but the company lost a massive amount of money because of it.

The main reasons were lack of design technology, low-price bidding, lack of experience, and technological shortcomings.

And as time passed, Chinese shipbuilders would eventually sweep away global ship demand through low-price offensives.

From the start, competing against Chinese shipbuilders on price alone was impossible.

That meant Korea had to secure technology in high value-added industries China couldn’t easily replicate — industries like offshore plants.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll negotiate with other majors instead. ExxonMobil, for example.”

At the mention of ExxonMobil, Michael’s expression stiffened.

Chevron and ExxonMobil were like brothers born from the same father — both descendants of the dismantled Standard Oil empire.

In other words, they viewed each other as rivals.

“Or there’s Gazprom, where I also hold shares. If I had prioritized my own profits above all else, I would’ve chosen Gazprom from the beginning.”

My choices were limitless.

Now that oil had already been discovered, every major refinery company in the world would want a piece of this.

Representatives from giant oil companies were probably lobbying both the Korean and «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Japanese governments nonstop even now.

Of course, Michael knew I was mediating the entire situation, which was why he came directly to me.

I crossed my arms and silently stared at him.

Avoiding my gaze, Michael finally answered.

“I can’t give you an immediate answer.”

“Really? Then I suppose I’ll start meeting with other companies as well.”

“Charlie. Technology transfer isn’t something simple. Other companies won’t agree to it either. And Gazprom practically has no offshore plant technology.”

“Isn’t that all a matter of negotiation?”

When I answered firmly, Michael simply opened and closed his mouth without responding.

“Think it over and give me your answer. In the meantime, I’ll support whichever side accepts my proposal first.”

“The contract termination......”

Looks like that’s the only weapon he has left.

I shrugged casually.

“Paying penalties is hardly a problem. Why are you acting like an amateur? Do you think the oil discovered in Seven-Gwanggu is the end of it?”

“That’s.......”

“Stop assuming I’d be too afraid of the penalty fees to cancel the contract. The Japanese government is already floating proposals for Korean and Japanese refinery companies to jointly develop the field themselves, even if it takes time.”

“.......”

“You already knew that, which is why you rushed over to see me, didn’t you?”

“That’s correct.”

There was no way Michael didn’t know.

A significant number of Japanese lawmakers had already been lobbied by him.

“Let’s not drag this out. I want a long-term relationship with Chevron. Otherwise, there would’ve been no reason for me to partner with you in the first place. Joining hands with me will benefit both you and Chevron. So what will it be? Shall I meet with other companies?”

I smiled playfully.

Whether he realized that smile was his final opportunity or not, Michael couldn’t answer.

I checked the time and spoke again.

“I don’t have much time because of other schedules. I can’t give you forever, Director Michael.”

“......The transfer cannot happen immediately. But once I become president, I’ll make it happen.”

In the end, Michael accepted my proposal.

“Good. Then we’ll proceed with the technology transfer after you become president.”

“Even so, there still has to be a public bidding process. Both the Korean and Japanese governments will understand that.”

“Of course. This time, we intend to leave only minimal profit margins, so no company will submit a lower bid than Joongwoo Shipbuilding.”

Even if another shipbuilder somehow submitted a lower price, Joongwoo Shipbuilding would still ultimately win the project.

I stood and extended my hand to Michael.

“The Japanese government will probably contact you soon. They’ll propose holding talks in Japan to establish the development schedule for Seven-Gwanggu.”

He grasped my hand.

His palm was damp with cold sweat.

“I suppose I’ll have to stay in Korea a few more days.”

“Won’t you be meeting with the President?”

“As a matter of fact, I already contacted them earlier. They invited me to lunch tomorrow.”

“I see. Then leave the materials you brought and take care of your business. Ah, and the next time we meet, I hope it’ll be as president rather than director.”

Michael placed the briefcase he brought onto the table.

“These are the materials related to Seven-Gwanggu. They’re highly confidential. I recommend you review them alone.”

“Of course.”

I smiled as I looked at the briefcase sitting on the table.