Chapter 19: A Failed Contract and Twisted Truths


    Arma faithfully carried out the tasks entrusted to her by her master, who was busy with various contracts.


    One of them was the creation of a smart factory that would produce ck metal batteries.


    She had designed the process to be significantly more automated than before.


    However, she could not achieveplete automation due to her master’s instructions.


    “We can’t fully automate everything. That would cause a massive loss of jobs. South Korea is already in chaos due to high unemployment rates. We don’t want to make things worse.”


    One of Yu Ji-ha’s goals was to increase his influence.


    He had to maintain a certain number of employees to build a positive image for the Si Group and expand its influence ordingly.


    As a result, Arma had to deliberately introduce inefficiencies into the entire process, from electrode production and assembly to Martian refining.


    [It’s terrible that I have to design such inefficient processes with my own hands.]


    “Just hold on a little longer. The time wille when we don’t have to worry about appearances.”


    That would be after they established the United Nations of Humanity in the North Pacific.


    Arma carefully reviewed the proposals she had selected for consideration.


    She had to evaluate numerous matters, such as securing ck metal from various countries, acquiringnd, and constructing factories.


    However, she skimmed through them mechanically.


    “Leo Electric Cars? Why are they proposing a supply n when we haven’t even secured enough ck metal? Secure it first, then we’ll talk.”


    [I will prepare the relevant task instructions…]


    “And Apple… Isn’t this something that should be handled by Si Auto? Why did ite here?”


    Apple’s proposal revealed their desire to create their own car through Si Auto. However, their demands were excessive.


    [They want full control over the hardware. They want to turn Si Auto into their subcontractor. By the way, if I may inform you, Apple has already been rejected by several carpanies.]


    “So, basically, they want us to manufacture a car for them, and then they will just add some software and call it Apple Car?”


    [Your understanding is almost urate.]


    “This is ridiculous.”


    Yu Ji-ha tore apart the battery supply proposal from Apple.


    “Put any future proposals from Apple at the very bottom of the list.”


    If it were only about money, Yu Ji-ha would have epted Apple’s proposal regardless of their attitude.


    However, what Yu Ji-ha wanted was not money but positive influence.


    He needed people who would support him no matter what he did.


    “Volkswagen… They want us to supply batteries in bulk? Don’t they have any ck metal?”


    [Due to the narrow seas… thanks to that, Germany, which has many global automotive groups, is in a difficult situation. The UK refused to supply them with ck metal.]


    “German carpanies… Damn, there are too many of them.”


    Companies like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen were abundant, surpassing future car manufacturers.


    Although they had focused on traditional internalbustion engine cars, their production of electric vehicles exceeded six million units in a year.


    If they couldn’t secure a supply of ck metal batteries from somewhere, they would fall behind to the second tier.


    Yu Ji-ha nced at the map showing the ck metal storehouses and tilted his head when he looked at the Russian side.


    “There are two locations onnd in Russia. Wouldn’t it be convenient for Germany to contact them?”


    [Last year, when Russia assassinated a human rights activist, Germany strongly condemned them, and there was a case where natural gas supply was cut off.]


    “It’s a troublesome rtionship. For now… let them know that we are willing to supply the premium line.”


    [I will deliver the task instructions.]


    Arma would write and deliver the task instructions, but it was the employees who would actually carry out the tasks.


    Communication could be problematic, but fortunately, the new recruits in thepany were quite proficient in English.


    “As for Russia… They want to confirm the storehouse quantities together and even conduct mining?”


    [In Russia, the storehouse quantities of ck metal are quite substantial. In contrast, their domestic industry is in poor condition. It seems they want to leverage the abundant ck metal to initiate new business ventures.]


    “They want to coborate with us… Not a bad idea. Let’s at least hear what they have to say.”


    She had received proposals from various countries andpanies, and Arma dealt with them one by one.


    Unexpectedly, a proposal came from Toyota in Japan, but they also requested a visit.


    “When you mention ‘senior,’ are you referring to my father? Why are they mentioning my father?”


    [When Si Auto separated from the Future Car Group, they received assistance regarding the production line from him.]


    “Well, I can’t just ignore this.”


    In this era, it was rtivelymon for sons to repay their fathers’ debts. It wasn’t asking for something extraordinary, and meeting to hear the contract conditions seemed reasonable enough.


    [But, Master, the public opinion in Japan is not favorable. I advise against going this time.]


    “But Japan is a developed country and a democracy, right? They can’t detain me.”


    [It’s not about being detained. It means they will treat you with contempt. The public opinion in Japan regarding ck metal and batteries is highly divided, but the prevailing sentiment is that it’s presumptuous and unforgivable.]


    “…Unforgivable for what?”


    [They see ck metal as a divine metal, and using it recklessly…]


    Yu Ji-ha let out a hollowugh.


    “ck metal is not a divine metal. It’s the shell of an extraterrestrial creature. So you’re saying they’ll proceed with the contract and then make an announcement?”


    [I can’t say for sure. But considering the magnitude of their shock, their attitude towards you won’t be normal.]


    “Was it that shocking?”


    “At the demonstration, a Gundam happened to appear… The robot that Fukuda-san modified is one of Japan’s symbols.”


    “It must have caused amotion.”


    “If you check the international news section of Japanese portal sites, around 40% of the articles are about you, Master, Shira Energy, ck metal, and batteries. There’s a high level of interest.”


    “Why are they so curious about other people’s affairs… Anyway, I should hear my father’s intentions.”


    They had received help from someone, and they had to repay it. He called his father and apologized.


    —Actually, Toyota helped us a lot when we established the Si Auto line. Of course, they didn’t do it for our sake, but because they wanted a piece of the future car market.


    —It’s okay, Father. I’ll meet them ande back soon.


    —I’m sorry to trouble you. By the way, we have finished the design for the new mining ship.


    Really? That was quick.


    —We only need to make some minor changes to the deck and the starboard side. It won’t take long. And the people at the Design Department are very impressed with your design. They say there’s nothing to fix.


    ‘Well, it’s Arma who designed it, so that’s expected.’


    He hung up after a brief conversation.


    Now he had to go to Japan and clear the debt in his heart.


    …


    “…”


    He sat alone in the office that looked like a warehouse.


    He knew they would be hostile, but he didn’t think they would be this petty.


    This ce was neither Toyota nor Panasonic headquarters, nor was it the modest office of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).


    Office supplies were lying around messily, and the only desk was covered with dust.


    On the whiteboard, two sheets of A4 paper were attached, with the words “Toyota-Panasonic Exnation Session on ck Metal” written on them.


    “They never nned to sign a contract from the start.”


    They had summoned him to this shabby ce, told him their stance one-sidedly, and then tried to send him away.


    That was the scenario the twopanies had in mind.


    Soon, the reporters would flock in, writing articles to spread around. In the shabby office, with Yu Ji-ha sitting alone, the image wouldn’t be very ttering, would it?


    He didn’t know how it would benefit them, but it would quench the thirst of some Japanese who craved a sense of victory.


    “Pathetic bunch.”


    Yu Ji-ha had no personal feelings towards the twopanies.


    But if they kept acting like this, they would lose out, and that would be their own fault.


    Whether they knew it or not.


    “I’ve been waiting for 30 minutes, and they still haven’t shown up…”


    In a situation like this, timeliness was more important than anything else. This was more than just hostility.


    With a cold face, Yu Ji-ha left the office and met two executives from Toyota and Panasonic at the end of the hallway, with an interpreter by their side.


    “We would like to talk about the ck metal contract from now on.”


    But Yu Ji-ha’s reply was frosty.


    “What kind of contract can you make in a ce like this? And you made me wait for 30 minutes.”


    “We’re sorry. But we also had our own issues to deal with…”


    They said they were sorry and bowed their heads, but there was no sincerity in their words.


    They seemed to think that they had an overwhelming advantage.


    “I’m grateful for the help Toyota gave to Si Auto. As a sign of thanks, I came here to talk things over. But is this how you treat a guest? Do you always treat foreignpanies like this?”


    “It’s not always like this.”


    “Oh, so I’m someone you can look down on. I see.”


    As Yu Ji-ha turned around, the reporters rushed in, seizing the chance to start their reporting.


    The old executive’s neck tensed up, maybe feeling empowered by the situation.


    “ck metal is abundant in Japan. And there have been many cases where people with ck metal factors have appeared. In other words, we don’t need your help.”


    “Then why did you call me here?”


    “To tell you these things.”


    “You must be crazy.”


    “Please mind yournguage, Mr. Yu Ji-ha.”


    Yu Ji-ha’s face turned cold.


    “You can’t even show the basic manners and show your true colors. Well, I get the intentions of bothpanies. We won’t have any more business with you.”


    “That’s fine by us.”


    Click, click.


    The reporters eagerly snapped the sh on their cameras.


    This was the scene the twopanies wanted to create.


    After the announcement of the ck metal battery, the stock prices of bothpanies kept falling, and they needed some drastic measures to recover.


    Inviting Yu Ji-ha from Shi Energy for a spectacle was the solution they came up with.


    It would be shameful if the whole truth came out, but they didn’t have to worry since it happened in Japan.


    The Japanese media would selectively release the footage and quotes provided by the twopanies, making Yu Ji-ha look like an idiot.


    Whenbined with Yu Ji-ha’s past history, it would make a wonderful show.


    Some Japanese people would sarcastically say that a drug addict made the battery.


    But they were wrong.


    The gue Core, near the Japanese waters, had already been taken by Arma.


    That meant the supply of ck metal was limited.


    Japan would soon face a ck metal shortage since there would be no more supply.


    “You brought this on yourselves.”


    With a sour tongue, Yu Ji-ha got on the ne back home.


    He had decided topletely cut off Toyota and Panasonic from the roadmap for the rebuilding of the United Human Alliance.


    There would be no future business with the twopanies.


    Just as they wanted.


    A few weeks after Yu Ji-ha came back.


    Famous Japanese economic magazines posted articles on their portal sites.


    The picture in the article showed a man sitting gloomily in what looked like a warehouse.


    The economic magazine called him the CEO of a Korean energypany, stressing his recent failure in negotiations with Toyota.


    But those who read the article knew exactly who he was – Yu Ji-ha, the CEO of Si Energy.


    —Yu Ji-ha, dejected after failed negotiations with Toyota.


    –Failed contract with the world’s biggest car maker, Toyota… Is this the beginning of Shi Energy’s downfall?


    It was a tant twist of the truth.


    Toyota was the one who called Yu Ji-ha in the first ce, and he had just gone to Japan to talk about the contract but was treated with contempt and came back home.


    But journalists close to Toyota and Panasonic twisted the truth.


    They wrote the article as if Yu Ji-ha had pleaded for the supply to be given.


    Even though the article was published for a short time, thousands ofments poured in.


    —Apany with about 100 employees deserves that kind of treatment.


    -–So cruel and cold. I can’t stopughing.


    —Did theye to beg for a contract from Toyota? Sorry, but we’re not interested in anything from Korea.


    —Something doesn’t add up. They’reing to ask for a contract when there’s a severeck of ck metal batteries?


    —The Korean media is saying that Shi Energy got offers from manufacturers all over the world, not just Toyota’s direct approach.


    —This article doesn’t make sense from the beginning. In B2B, it’smon sense to discuss opinions before a contract. It’s impossible to sit alone in an office like a warehouse like that.


    —It was very rude to assign such an office like a warehouse in the first ce.


    Although there were somements that were closer to the truth, they were outnumbered by thousands of opposingments that pushed them down.


    To the Japanese people who read such articles, the truth didn’t matter much.


    They just wanted to see Korea being humiliated and Japan prospering.


    —Well, we have ck metal in our country too. Now Panasonic just needs to make batteries out of it.


    —Japan has a muchrger poption than Korea. Logically speaking, there should be many talented people with that skill.


    —The survey team went to Fukuoka, so we’ll soon hear about the storage amount.


    But as time went by, weird rumors started spreading online.


    —Why isn’t the ck metal storage amount being updated on the Economy and Industry Agency’s website?


    —Are they stupid? How can they measure the storage amount in real-time?


    —It’s suspicious that the Economy and Industry Agency doesn’t even provide the minimum numbers.


    Even though it might be hard to calcte the exact storage amount of ck metal, the range can be estimated.


    Si Energy’s website has information on the status of various countries, except Japan.


    The Economy and Industry Agency is not giving any data.


    There’s no need to share such secrets with a ce like Korea.


    As usual, the opinions on the inte flowed in a way that avoided any link to Korea.


    But there was a growing number of people who found the actions of the government, including the Economy and Industry Agency, fishy.


    Based on local newspaper articles, they imed that the government was hiding something.


    —The US, UK, Russia, and Korea are all giving subsidies due to a sharp drop in ck metal catch near the production sites. But in Fukuoka, the catch is increasing. What’s going on?


    —There are weird rumors going around in the 6th Defense Force. It seems they are not doing any surveys with the measuring lines. They are just floating the ships.


    —A tweet from a self-defense officer? Can you give a link?


    —Oh, it seems to have been deleted.


    —This is definitely the government trying to cover it up.


    As the situation got suspicious, each TV station nned a segment where they looked for people with ck metal abilities in busy areas.


    —If you can transform this ck metal, you could win 100 million yen! Who will be the lucky one?


    But sadly, no lucky one appeared.


    The desperate TV station visited a Panasonic researcher who was reported to have ck metal abilities.


    But he could only transform it, nothing else.


    It was nothingpared to the sophisticated Gundam shown in Korea.


    The Japanese audience who had gathered in front of their TVsined.


    —What? Why are they censoring it?


    —Logically speaking, it must not be ready for release.


    —The panel’s reactions are not fake, though.


    —He doesn’t even have a smile on his face…


    –Dad, where’s the Gundam?


    But not all Japanese people were deceived by this show.


    The workers of a small electric carpany, KODINE, in Tokyo, asked for samples from Shi Energy and got a polite reply.


    They agreed to lend three samples with a condition to return them within six months.


    With cheers of joy, they joined the camera crew and reporters from the quirky TV station known as TV Tokyo and headed straight to Korea.


    And after waiting for a few days, they finally got to meet Yu Ji-ha in person.


    Surprisingly, the Japanese who came in person were their first visitors.


    “Nice to meet you. I’m Yu Ji-ha.”


    “Boss, I have one question to ask. There are rumors going around on our side, and I wanted to check…”


    When KODINE’s workers tranted the Japanese article and showed it to him, his expression changed oddly.


    “I was sitting there, but the exnation is wrong. I went there because I got an invitation from Toyota.”


    “They didn’t really treat you badly after calling you here, did they?”


    “I don’t want to talk about their attitude. But…”


    “But?”


    “From now on, I won’t work with Toyota or Panasonic in any way.”


    “Are you serious?”


    “Very serious. I mean I will act like they don’t exist.”


    Why would he be so harsh because of the treatment he got?


    Anyway, since it was not rted to KODINE, they changed the topic.


    “Oh, the Gundam at the demonstration was amazing. Can we make simr changes here too?”


    “Sure. We have the cube here…”


    As Yu Ji-ha took out the dismantler and the cube, workers who could be called otaku specimens volunteered one after another.


    “Rock-paper-scissors! I won!”


    A muscr worker won and put on the dismantler, holding the cube.


    And then, oh no.


    The cube changed into a slim figure of a girl smiling.


    The KODINE workers were disgusted.


    “This guy ruined it…”


    “Hey, Itano. Stop showing your tastes when you’vee this far.”


    Yu Ji-ha calmly smiled and encouraged other workers to make changes too.


    Soon, various mascots like Mario, Pikachu, and Kumamon appeared.


    While the workers chuckled andughed, the TV Tokyo cameraman captured the whole process through the lens.


    And after a while, Yu Ji-ha’s interview was broadcasted through TV Tokyo.


    The Japanese were very shocked.


    —What… so he went there because of Toyota’s invitation?


    —Why? Wasn’t it a matter of pride for Japan?


    —Then, why was he sitting alone in an office like a warehouse…


    But it ended there.


    The Japanese were good at hiding problems.


    They tended to think that if it wasn’t visible, there was no problem, and many people thought there was no need to make a fuss.


    All members of society seemed to have closed their mouths as if they had made a promise.


    As a result, articles and videos rted to Yu Ji-ha and Shi Energy started to disappear from the inte.


    People didn’t ask about it or dig it up.


    The voices of the few who were revealing the small truth were buried by the majority.


    Japan went silent.


    Medetashi, medetashi.


    …