Chapter 142

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 142: The Big Picture

Liang Xiaojun stared blankly at Kim Minwoo.

What on earth did he just hear?

“President? What do you mean…?”

“Don’t you want to be?”

“I do want to, but… That’s not the point.”

Was the presidency something you could just claim whenever you wanted?

It was the highest position in a country with a population well over a billion.

And the current president, Li Zemin, had been in power for over 20 years. This meant his roots and foundation were far deeper and more extensive than anyone could imagine.

But what about Kim Minwoo’s attitude?

He spoke as if that position could be swapped out like a simple part. It was utterly absurd.

At that moment, Kim Minwoo asked seriously.

“Is there any reason you can’t take that position? From what I see, you have a solid foundation.”

“……”

“China’s first SS-rank achievement Awakener. You broke France’s record too. I heard the Nine Dragons Guild thinks highly of you? And from what I gather, you’ve proven your loyalty.”

“Th-that’s true, but…”

“I’m not saying you should become president right now. I told you, think big.”

President Li Zemin.

They were cooperating now, but there was no guarantee this would continue indefinitely. To put it bluntly, he was only funding them because he was being blackmailed, not out of love.

If a plausible opportunity arose, they would betray him without hesitation. This was evident from the internal atmosphere of the Nine Dragons Guild, as Liang Xiaojun had told him.

Bide their time.

That was their motto, to wait until the opportunity came, but what more was there to see?

It was much better to have his loyal follower sitting in the president’s seat than Li Zemin, who had an unreliable relationship with them.

‘A loyal subordinate who can never betray me is actually the President of China?’

A smile already bloomed on his face.

“Of course, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you. Even if it’s a lucrative position, it’s meaningless if you don’t desire it.”

Liang Xiaojun remained silent.

But one thing was certain.

His eyes were filled with desire.

The presidency of China. Who wouldn’t be tempted by that?

In fact, greed was slowly burning in Liang Xiaojun’s heart.

The president?

The president!

Of course, it would be absolutely impossible for him alone. But with a powerful supporter like Kim Minwoo backing him up?

‘…It’s possible.’

Hadn’t every man once dreamt big?

In the end, as he got older, he became worn out and conformed to reality.

To make him president?

It was definitely a thrillingly attractive offer.

After a long silence, he spoke.

“Do you have a plan?”

“Of course. But first, you need to become a hero.”

The picture of an average Joe becoming the president didn’t seem to fit well, no matter how he looked at it.

Liang Xiaojun also needed to quickly elevate his status. Only then would he be a suitable replacement for Li Zemin.

“If you help me, Kim Minwoo…”

“Of course, I’ll do my best to help you. When the time comes, I’ll shake the upper echelons of China for you.”

Gulp.

It seemed the reality was starting to sink in as Liang Xiaojun licked his lips.

“…Then, what do I need to give you…?”

“Before that. What do you think of China?”

“I just think of it as my homeland…”

“From now on, think of Korea as your spiritual home. When you become president, you can repay the favor. Simple, right?”

Honestly, what did Liang Xiaojun have to offer at this point? Rather, he was in a position where he needed to be nurtured.

Fatten him up.

And enjoy the feast once he’s plump.

“Alright, I’ll do it!”

“Good. Now, list all your competitors within the party. If there’s anyone among the top ranks you dislike, list them too.”

For Liang Xiaojun to become president?

First, he needed to rise within the Communist Party, win internal power struggles, and secure a spot in the Standing Committee, the highest-ranking body.

Money, items, skills, etc., were already being generously provided by China.

Rather than direct support, indirect support would be more beneficial. For example, pulling down competitors or potential obstacles within the party.

Gulp.

He swallowed hard and wrote down the names of all the people he thought might become obstacles in the future. Most of the names were unfamiliar, but a few stood out.

These were names of influential figures in China.

Among them were even names of Politburo Standing Committee members. Kim Minwoo nodded after seeing the list.

“They’re all from Hu Guochang’s faction, aren’t they?”

Hu Guochang.

Ranked 5th in the Chinese Standing Committee.

“That’s right. They don’t view me favorably…”

“Oh dear. You must have had a hard time. Don’t worry about it anymore.”

Ranked 5th?

It wasn’t that difficult to take someone down from that level. Especially now, with their cozying up to the United States, it was even more plausible.

‘There’s not a single clean one among them.’

Dig deep enough and something always comes up.

The bigger the problem, the more Li Zemin would choose disposal over protection.

He just needed to create that scenario naturally.

“But do you have any strong connections?”

“…Not yet. I’m not sure who to choose, so I’m trying to be as cautious as possible. My guild leader, Hong Tao, is the closest to neutral…”

The power structure within the Nine Dragons Guild was complicated. Though it was managed by Hong Tao, a high-ranking party official who had the president’s absolute trust, that didn’t mean other factions weren’t trying to influence it.

Especially the Standing Committee members.

It was natural for them to want to extend their reach into such a powerful national guild.

Some guild members had connections to the Standing Committee members, while others, like Hong Tao, maintained a neutral stance.

But that didn’t mean other factions didn’t try to get involved.

Especially the members of the Politburo Standing Committee.

The powerful national guild, Nine Dragon.

It was only natural that they would want to spread their feelers there.

Some guild members had connections with the Politburo Standing Committee, while others remained neutral like Hong Tao.

Liang Xiaojun had naturally received numerous political overtures as well. However, power struggles could easily cost you your head if mishandled, so he maintained a relatively neutral stance.

“Still, it would be wise to grasp onto one faction. That way you won’t get swept away by the storm.”

“…Do you have any connections you can recommend?”

“The third-ranked Zhao Zhuang. This fellow seems promising.”

From what he remembered, Zhao Zhuang had been a close ally of Li Zemin for a long time.

“And the second-ranked…?”

“Don’t even look in that direction. He’s a traitor.”

“…Do you know something?”

“I’ve heard some things.”

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

It was information he had gleaned from in-game, but he couldn’t reveal that, so he gave a vague response.

“Then I’ll align myself with Zhao Zhuang. But I’m worried about how the guild master will react…”

“You’ve gotten quite friendly with Hong Tao lately, haven’t you?”

“He seems to have misunderstood my intentions. Lately, he’s been very friendly.”

“Then play both sides.”

“…Both sides?”

“The Standing Committee members and Hong Tao aren’t openly hostile, are they? So leverage connections to both. Easy, right?”

After all, both the third-ranked official and the Nine Dragons Guild Master would want Liang Xiaojun on their side. For now, he could maneuver between them while steadily building up his weight class.

Kim Minwoo drew his sword and spoke.

“Then, shall we start some special training?”

Unlike the others, Liang Xiaojun was a special case.

He planned to elevate his skills significantly through generous advice and training.

Thus, Liang Xiaojun’s mournful cries echoed through the training room.

* * *

[(Breaking News) The long-awaited rematch between the Nine Dragons and Ilsung Guilds! This time, the match will be held at the Sangam Stadium…]

[(Breaking News) Result of the Match: 6:4, Korea Wins Again!]

[(Breaking News) Guild Master Nam Cheolmin comments that this match was significantly tougher than the last…]

[(Breaking News) Hong Tao, who has returned to China, expresses his disappointment over the narrow loss but also states that unlike last time, he has no regrets…]

[(Breaking News) President Li Congratulates Nine Dragons Guild: “A Huge Leap in a Short Time… Will Continue Supplying Highest-rank Potions More Actively…”]

The night after the rematch between the Nine Dragons Guild and the Ilsung Guild ended, every news outlet was buzzing with one story.

―Breaking News: Ilsung Energy announces the development of a new type of Magic Stone battery. According to the announcement, its performance surpasses that of American-made batteries… An interview with Dr. Kim Seokjin, who led the research and development…

Dr. Kim Seokjin appeared on screen, his face flushed with excitement.

―First, I want to thank Guild Master Kim Minwoo. Without his invaluable advice, the development of the new Magic Stone Battery might have been impossible.

Dr. Kim Seokjin then went on to explain the new Magic Stone Battery.

To summarize the key points:

―All tests have been passed. This has been verified in collaboration with the government. We are confident that no battery in the world can outperform this one.

―With the full support of the Ilsung Group, we have already completed preparations for mass production. As for the name, Guild Master Kim Minwoo graciously granted me the opportunity to… We have decided to call it the ‘Slime Battery’.

The Slime Battery.

As the name suggests, it is a battery that utilizes slime in its manufacturing process.

Of course, there’s more to it than that.

It also incorporates existing materials like lithium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel, along with special materials developed by Dr. Kim Seokjin using his unparalleled technological expertise.

The battery is the result of blending these materials in the optimal ratio.

Naturally, this ratio is a closely guarded trade secret.

The performance of the battery was beyond imagination.

A single charge of the American-made Magic Stone Battery allowed a driving range of about 1,000 km.

But the Slime Battery?

According to the announced data, it could reach an astounding 3,000 km per charge.

Even more surprising was the fact that, despite its performance, the battery’s weight had significantly decreased.

Additionally, the battery could be miniaturized for use in various products beyond vehicle batteries.

Unsurprisingly, reporters bombarded them with questions about how this was possible.

―You must have many doubts. We will prove everything through a demonstration at the Yeongam International Circuit tomorrow morning. Ilsung’s new vehicle models will also be unveiled, so please look forward to it. You will witness pure, unaltered performance. Guild Master Kim Minwoo will personally handle the presentation…

―?

―What did I just see?

―Does this make sense? With this kind of performance gap, American battery companies would go bankrupt!

―They’ve only released the data so far. Could be fake.

―Yeah Right. Would they drop Kim Minwoo’s name if it was a bluff?

―Good morning, lol. Ilsung’s stock is sure to skyrocket tomorrow.

―Ah, crap. I’m an American shareholder. What’s with the circuit breaker?

―Hold tight, lol.

―Battery stocks are in a free fall.

―Apple’s going down too, LMAO.

―Of course, lol. If Ilsung phones use its miniaturized versions, it’s game over.

―Are you kidding? A circuit breaker over a rumor?

―Do you think Kim Minwoo’s name is tabloid-level?

―(Info) Kim Minwoo is an international figure with connections to the Chinese president, US president, and Saudi king.

―Looks like he’s going all in lol.

―Yep, panic sell is over? Suckers who sold in a hurry got cut, lol.

―Still not learned? America is invincible, lol.

(Picture of President Robert smiling brightly)

―Believe it, you bastard haha

―For real, lol. Even if it’s true, the US will just use it too.

Just 1 minute after the announcement, the S&P fell 7%, triggering a circuit breaker.

15 minutes later, when the circuit was released, it rebounded to -2%, and the stock price started to ride a roller coaster.

Did they torture aliens?

Did they really develop something like that?

No way.

There must be some performance exaggeration.

And the US won’t just collapse like this, right?

The night that made countless stock investors cry and laugh was over, and the next morning came.

A huge crowd had already gathered at the Yeongam International Circuit.

CNN, FOX, ABC, etc.

Numerous American broadcasters, as well as leading foreign media outlets.

They all came to visit.

It was no surprise.

For days, they had been tipped off about an exclusive, so they were well-prepared.

Standing before the crowd, Kim Minwoo spoke.

“Hello. I’m Kim Minwoo. You’ve all heard about the performance. Today’s demonstration is simple. The car next to me is a new car developed by Ilsung. It’s called Voltron. Cool, right? It’s packed with slime batteries, and we’re going to run it until it stops completely.”

Voltron.

A sleek-looking SUV.

After briefly explaining the specifications of the Slime Battery and the vehicle, he glanced somewhere.

“The Korean government officials will assist in verifying various aspects, including weight. There will be no tampering, so you don’t need to worry. I’m not the type to play petty tricks.”

As government officials proceeded with their verification process, he looked around and spoke again.

“There are a total of ten Voltron vehicles prepared. All of them will be filmed both inside and outside during the drive. Since we need to drive a lot, the drivers are important too. It’d be great if they had plenty of stamina and excellent concentration. So, we’ve invited some notable people.”

With those words, someone appeared from behind the stage, and the crowd widened their eyes.

The other nine people were not surprising. They were members of the Ilsung Guild.

They were all familiar faces.

But only one was different.

“…Isabella?”

Isabella.

After visiting the Sword Sect in Korea, she had practically disappeared from the public eye.

Not only did she suddenly appear here now, but she also said,

“Nice to meet you. I’m Isabella. I’ve been appointed as the ambassador for the Slime Battery developed by Ilsung. Please note that I am not endorsing the vehicle Voltron itself, so there should be no misunderstanding.”

She casually announced her role as the ambassador.

It was shocking.

Isabella, known for only endorsing the best products. Her reputation for being extremely selective about advertisements was notorious.

But here she was, for the first time ever, endorsing an East Asian company’s product—the Slime Battery.

Not endorsing Voltron, however?

That could only mean…

‘Wait a minute.’

‘Doesn’t this mean that the slime battery is the best?’

The verification stamp was stamped before the demonstration even started.

The reporters, sensing a scoop, quickly typed on their laptops.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]