Money Keeps Piling Up No Matter How Much I Spend

Chapter 149

Translator: Dreamscribe"Jin-ho. Today, I met with the Chairman of Daekwang Group."

"Didn’t you meet with other group chairmen yesterday?"

"Yeah. Right now, there’s practically a truckload of people trying to meet with me."

It wasn’t just to boast about his network that hyungnim had come all the way here.

"You know... the natural gas. It’s because of that."

"Is it because of the price?"

"That’s right. The price is the issue. We agreed to sell it to the European countries at a price 11 times higher, right? But this is hitting our country hard too. Not just foreign companies, but even domestic ones are in a state of chaos."

It was understandable.

Selling natural gas at a price 11 times higher was no small matter.

That would severely shake the European economy, and since Korea receives components from Europe, it would inflict a critical blow here as well.

"So now, company chairmen are going to our Chairman to plead with him, and it’s complete chaos. If we go ahead and set the price like this, the damage to Korean companies will obviously be immense. All foreign companies that are indirectly connected to Europe will suffer too."

In fact, when I decided on the 11-times price, this was the part that both I and my team were most concerned about.

But I had simply followed my instincts when setting the price.

Causing this damage wasn't my intention.

"They said they’d do anything, just please do something. Earlier, Chairman Kang Sung-ho came and asked me if I could try to persuade you."

"What? Why didn’t he come to me and instead bother you, hyungnim…"

"Hehe. Hey. Those guys are all wary of you. How could they come directly and ask you to lower the price? As if they want to get scolded."

"Do I really give off that kind of image?"

"Those people have never met you face to face. But even Chairman Kang, who’s close with you, is acting like this. Imagine how the others feel."

I’m not even that cold of a person.

But it seems that’s the image I’ve ended up with on the outside.

"Think it over a bit with the Vice President. If even Korean companies take damage across the board, I think there’s going to be a lot of backlash. Ah, but I’m not forcing you, okay? Jin-ho, I’ll fully respect your decision. Well then, I’m off to another meeting."

Hyungnim said he didn’t have time to rest and hurried off to his next meeting.

Only the Vice President and I were left in the CEO’s office.

"What do you think?"

"The Chairman is right. The price of natural gas has gone up so much that the collapse of European manufacturing would happen in an instant, and it wouldn’t be just Korea, but the entire world would feel the impact. It might be good to renegotiate in a different direction to adjust the price. And in return, it would be wise to get something from domestic companies too."

Just like hyungnim had said earlier, apparently they had said they’d do anything if we could just lower the price.

"......."

I fell into thought for a moment.

This price was definitely something I had decided based on intuition.

"...?"

At that moment, I felt something graze the back of my head, like a sensation passing through.

"Vice President. Can we talk again a little later? I need to think this over."

"Ah, yes. Call me anytime."

After sending the Vice President off, I returned to my seat and opened a drawer.

The book sitting there seemed to be calling out to me.

"What should I do about this? You’re the one who decided the price. Should I push ahead like this? Or do I really need to adjust it?"

Following my instincts, I opened the book.

[Everything is going according to plan.]

Does that mean everything is going as planned?

But if we go on like this, even Korean companies will take massive damage.

Are you really telling me to just leave it alone like this?

[Sometimes, it’s more important to ask the other party’s opinion than your own.]

Ask the other party’s opinion?

Who?

Our employees? Or the Vice President? Or maybe hyungnim?

"......."

However, my intuition didn't come this time.

Just who am I supposed to ask?

As I murmured through a list of possible names that came to mind.

"It can’t be that I’m supposed to ask Germany… hmm?"

Just then, a powerful signal spread through my whole body.

"You really want me to ask Germany?"

My instincts struck me hard once again.

"...They probably don’t even want to talk to us right now."

The faces of the furious Germans already seemed to be forming in my mind.

***

“What… what is this?”

“These are indicators showing the future Germany is about to face.”

Looking at the indicators before his eyes, Chancellor Olaf broke into a cold sweat.

Predictions had already been made that if natural gas prices surged, Germany would suffer a loss of 300 billion dollars.

And what kind of country is Germany?

A nation centered on manufacturing.

That’s why it is inevitably highly sensitive to nickel prices and natural gas.

To avoid the 300 billion dollar loss, Germany had made a deal with Russia.

“But with the destruction of Nord Stream, that deal collapsed, and now with Kwangwoon demanding a murderous price 11 times higher, the projected indicators have become even more severe.”

If Germany ends up purchasing natural gas from Kwangwoon at 11 times the price.

And if it also buys nickel from Kwangwoon at a high price.

These were the indicators showing how the German economy would unfold as a result.

“Natural gas is used for heating and electricity production, so it is expected that prices will rise to more than seven times the current level. Also, wheat prices will go up, so everything from flour used for baking bread to animal feed will see a price surge several times over.”

“The most serious issue is the manufacturing sector. Especially the automobile market, which heavily relies on nickel and natural gas, will be completely pushed out of the global price competition and is highly likely to collapse. No, it’s inevitable.”

Consumer Price Index skyrocketing.

GDP plummeting.

PMI index, which needs to stay above 50, crashing below 20.

Unemployment rate soaring.

German stock market crashing.

This was the horrific future Germany had to face.

“.......”

The indicators pointed to just one thing.

Germany’s collapse.

Some might call it an overreaction, but with energy prices that were 11 times higher, it was more than possible.

“So... what do you expect me to do? Reject the natural gas? We’ve already finalized the deal through the EU. It’s just one turn. We only need to endure one turn, right?”

The reason why the EU and Germany accepted Kwangwoon’s 11-times price was because there was no alternative.

With no way to receive natural gas from Russia anymore, they had to endure that period through Kwangwoon while other countries scrambled to produce natural gas.

If Kwangwoon refused to supply the gas, not only Germany but the entire European system would shut down.

The economic loss that would follow would be far more devastating than what the current indicators suggested.

“The problem is that enduring that one turn leads to these catastrophic consequences.”

"So, you want to renegotiate? Do you think those devil-like bastards at Kwangwoon will make a deal with us?"

Kwangwoon were devils.

That’s what Olaf believed.

It was highly likely they were behind the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia war, and he was convinced they were also responsible for the destruction of Nord Stream.

That’s why they could so brazenly demand a crazy price 11 times higher.

From the beginning, and even now.

Europe had been dancing in the palm of Kwangwoon’s hand.

“Or are you suggesting war? With who? Should we declare war on Korea? How would we even know who the real force controlling Kwangwoon is? What if those bastards isolate Germany again like in World War II?”

If Germany started a war now, it would mean erasing the nation of Germany from this world.

To try and show military might like in the days of Hitler, Germany’s military power today was far too weak.

“I’m not suggesting war. I’m saying we renegotiate. With a new bargaining chip.”

“A new bargaining chip?”

“Yes. Something Germany might be able to offer, something Kwangwoon desperately needs right now.”

“There’s something like that... with us?”

Chancellor Olaf couldn’t help but perk up his ears.

“In fact, it was Kwangwoon who came to us first with a proposal. They said the natural gas price was set too high and could cause serious damage to the national economy, and told us to come up with a new plan.”

A hollow laugh escaped him.

How could they say something like that, acting as if they were doing us a favor, when it was all because of them that things ended up like this?

“I understand that you’re angry. But this is the current reality. Kwangwoon holds the upper hand. We need to think rationally rather than emotionally. Otherwise, Germany will collapse.”

Chancellor Olaf barely managed to suppress his boiling rage.

“So? What does Kwangwoon want? You said they didn’t clearly mention anything? Are they telling us to figure it out ourselves?”

“Recently, Kwangwoon has been trying to acquire FaceWeb.”

“And?”

“To acquire FaceWeb, its CEO, Marcus Burg, must willingly give up his shares. But he’s holding out, saying he absolutely won’t give them up. That means FaceWeb has to be completely destroyed, and we’re in a position to help with that.”

Chancellor Olaf quickly ran through the possibilities in his head.

What was the best way to destroy a company?

Through regulation, by using the law.

Specifically, targeted legal regulations that strike at FaceWeb!

“This is really what Kwangwoon wants?”

“Kwangwoon can’t openly ask us to create laws that would bring down FaceWeb. That’s why they approached us in a way that made it seem like they were subtly asking for a negotiation card.”

“Wait a minute. So from the start, they never intended to actually receive 11 times the price for natural gas?”

“If we move the EU to create regulations targeting FaceWeb, and in return, we accept a proposal to lower the natural gas price, then yes, just as you said, it means Kwangwoon never intended to sell gas at that exorbitant price from the beginning.”

So the 11-times price for natural gas was actually a setup to move Germany and the EU?

But would FaceWeb be worth giving up such a high price?

“It is. Kwangwoon is currently issuing KW Coin and wants as many people as possible to use it. They also need a platform with a massive number of users.”

“And that platform is FaceWeb?”

“Yes. There aren’t many platforms with 4 billion users like FaceWeb. But if KW Coin usage becomes allowed on that platform? Then the coin will experience explosive growth. Enough to justify giving up the 11-times gas price.”

After hearing that, Olaf’s mind became completely clear.

He wasn’t angry anymore.

Instead, another emotion welled up.

It was fear.

Just where had those bastards started designing this from?

Natural gas, nickel, the Russia-Ukraine war, Nord Stream pipeline.

All of these events were part of a plan to distribute KW Coin across the world.

“So this is why the White House can’t do anything about Kwangwoon… I think I understand now. They’re truly terrifying beyond imagination.”

“Yes. They create plans that a human mind couldn’t even begin to conceive of, and then they carry them out. They’re completely unpredictable. And the most vicious part is, they never give their opponents a choice.”

Just like Germany right now.

Chancellor Olaf had no choice either.

“They’re threatening us with the fate of Germany, so of course we have to accept. But do we have a justification to create a regulation harsh enough to strangle FaceWeb?”

They couldn’t suddenly roll out a regulation targeting FaceWeb for no reason.

“There is one. Remember the Cambridge data breach scandal? Marcus had to appear before a hearing. It’s an old case, but it still comes up now and then. If we use that, we can apply data privacy regulations. We’ll completely cut off their advertising revenue in Europe.”

Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t a bad idea.

“It’ll indirectly affect PicPic too, though.”

“Kwangwoon is probably aware of that. But more than advertising revenue, what they want is to distribute KW Coin as widely as possible.”

“And persuading the EU?”

“The EU knows that if Germany falls, they’ll all fall like dominoes. It won’t be hard to convince them.”

In the end, the EU was one.

They were already bound together by a single currency.

“Then proceed immediately.”

“Yes.”

After sending his staff away, Olaf remained seated, unable to move from his place, overwhelmed by emptiness.

“All of this… just for a single coin?”

***

Marcus Burg, the CEO of FaceWeb, held firm until the end, refusing to open the gates.

Wall Street, seeking to maximize profits through KW Coin, had become Kwangwoon’s henchman and was relentlessly attacking FaceWeb.

Doubts about his leadership.

Questions about FaceWeb’s future.

A plummeting stock price and financial issues, among others.

Even so, Marcus was enduring.

Though he had recklessly lost a fortune by getting swept up in the strange concept of the metaverse.

It was still fine.

FaceWeb remained intact.

Because wasn’t it FaceWeb that created Outstagram and turned it into a massive hit?

Even if that too had been pushed aside by PicPic, as long as the lord of the castle, Marcus himself, didn’t open the gates, the castle could still be defended to the end.

“If I can just hold out a little longer. FaceWeb’s potential is limitless.”

Even if it was down now, it would rise to the top again in a few years.

Marcus believed in that potential.

And Kwangwoon was desperately trying to take over FaceWeb precisely because of that.

He was reaffirming his determination with those thoughts.

“C-CEO.”

The executives entered his office all at once, with despair written all over their faces.

“What’s going on? Is the media attacking us again? I told you, don’t get swayed by public opinion and just hold your ground…”

But instead of answering, they turned on the TV in the office.

And the first thing that caught his eye was the headline.

[EU. Massive SNS Regulations.]

“......?”

Why was the EU suddenly regulating social media?

“This is legislation the EU created targeting our FaceWeb. To prevent personal data breaches, if users don’t explicitly give permission, ads can’t be shown at all.”

“What? No, why are they targeting us…?”

“Word is that Kwangwoon struck a deal with the EU involving natural gas. After that legislation passed, they renegotiated to supply natural gas, nickel, and wheat to Europe at dramatically lower prices.”

“!?”

But it was too soon to be shocked.

“That law affects all social media platforms operated by FaceWeb. Outstagram isn’t exempt. Effectively, we’ve lost all revenue coming from Europe. Companies that had placed ads with us are already pulling out in droves after hearing the news.”

“T-Those crazy bastards! Wasn’t Kwangwoon trying to acquire us? But if they pressure us like this, FaceWeb might shut down completely!”

“That’s exactly the point.”

“What…?”

One of the executives spoke in a voice full of resignation.

“Kwangwoon is trying to bankrupt FaceWeb.”

Only then did Marcus finally understand Kwangwoon’s true intention.

If it’s a castle that won’t open, if it’s a company they can’t have.

Then they’ve decided to destroy it entirely.