For a mont, the campaign venue fell silent. Ronald’s words were so shocking.
Detroit, once a symbol of the glory of the manufacturing industry, has now beco an abandoned city. Over 20% of the population has left, and the skyscrapers that cost millions of dollars to build now stand empty and neglected.
Street lights were off, roads were crumbling, and even basic services like water and security were hard to co by.
The newly elected governor, who had promised to revitalize the struggling city, simply repeated that the state governnt had no money.
But now, to invest $20 billion here?
At that mont, a cry rang out.
“Liar!”
The voice ca from a middle-aged woman supporting Diane; she still held the microphone.
“After you’re elected, you’ll change your tune, won’t you? How can we believe your words? You received a commitnt for investnt? Where’s the guarantee that promise will be kept?”
Expecting a denial, Ronald simply nodded.
“You’re right. Politicians always make all sorts of promises during elections. But after they’re elected, they don’t keep a single one. I, too, have been taken in countless tis by politicians’ words. She also speaks lies every ti she campaigns. However, I’m different. Whether I beco president or not, investnts will be carried out as promised!”
Diane’s supporters jeered as if they had been waiting.
“Boo!”
“Lies! Lies!”
As the jeers intensified, Ronald inwardly chuckled.
“You think I’m lying? You can’t believe ? Well then, here is soone who will co forward to prove my words!”
A man stepped onto the stage. The crowd was shocked.
His na was Hubel Butler – not just a gubernatorial candidate in Michigan, which Detroit belongs to, but a mber of the Democratic Party, helping Diane in her campaign.
But why was he appearing at the Republican candidate’s rally?
He had his reasons. A few days ago, in a private eting with only the two of them present, Ronald had insulted him.
“If you won’t help yourself, Michigan will negotiate with Wisconsin or Ohio.
It wasn’t uncommon for Rust Belt states wanting to attract investnt.
If it becos known that a $20 billion investnt proposal was rejected, strong criticism is inevitable. That would be the end of his reelection chances.
In hindsight, it wasn’t such a bad proposal. If it’s revealed that he actively sought to attract investnts, his reelection will be fine.
Therefore, he willingly attended Ronald’s campaign and accepted the mic.
Governor Hubble confidently stated as he looked around at the campaign rally, “All of Ronald’s words are true! The state governnt is currently in negotiations with OTK Company, and the investnt will be implented imdiately. I will help Ronald revive Detroit!”
He might face party discipline for this, but it doesn’t matter. If problems arise, he can just change parties. What matters is not the Democratic Party but the citizens of Michigan who gathered here, making him governor.
Even the opposition’s governor stepped up to acknowledge it, no one dared to refute his words anymore.
Ronald raised his hands high as if declaring, “From this mont onwards, there is only one principle in Arica!”
And slowly and emphatically, he said, “Arica First!”
What principle could be more important to Arican workers than this?
Cabin felt his heart swell with pride.
The factory gates opened, work resud. They could pay off debts, take care of their children.
From being a useless laid-off worker to becoming a great parent again.
Supporting Ronald was indeed the right choice!
He looked at his friends, the sa friends who just supported Diane monts ago now joining in the cheers.
“Arica First!”
“Wow!”
The cheers echoed as if the campaign was about to depart.
Ronald continued shouting with exaggerated gestures and expressions.”
“Enough is enough with the liar and the nonsense-spewing dia. While she is ruining Arica in the White House and Congress, I have been here changing the reality of Arica! Now, tell . Who is the liar? Who is speaking the truth? Is it her, or is it ? Is it CNN, or is it ?”
The answer was clear.
“Ronald! Ronald!”
The hands of those who had supported Diane fell down. The pickets and banners symbolizing Diane and the Democratic Party disappeared one by one.
“Wow!”
Ronald watched the scene from the center of the stage.
His na echoed throughout.
“Ronald Stamper!”
“Ronald Stamper!”
Ronald raised his right hand and shouted vigorously.
“Make Arica Great Again!”
It was his campaign slogan and a pledge to restore the glory of Arica.
Until then, one might have thought it was a lie. However, he showed it to be a reality from this very spot.
The voters gathered in the rally shouted with one heart and one voice.
“Make Arica great again!”
The rally was truly a frenzy. It felt like watching a rockstar performance.
The scene was captured entirely by the caras and spread worldwide.
***
[Republican candidate Ronald convinces OTK Company to invest directly!]
[OTK Company invests $20 billion in the US automobile industry!]
[Ronald’s prioritization of Arica!]
[Ronald Stamper, saving the Rust Belt!]
[Ronald’s impact! How will Diane respond?]
The dia was flooded with articles. Ronald’s Detroit campaign video garnered over 1 million views on YouTube in just one day.
Watching the video, Taekgyu shook his head.
“This is no joke. Feels like watching an idol concert.”
“He didn’t beco a Republican candidate for nothing.”
We handed him the cards, and Ronald made good use of them.
Until recently, people thought Ronald only talked about reviving the manufacturing sector to gain votes. But he not only delivered on that promise before becoming president, but even before the elections.
While the benefits mainly focused on Michigan, the entire Rust Belt was ecstatic. What was more remarkable was that voters began taking Ronald’s words seriously.
Thanks to this, the plumting approval rating suddenly rebounded by 3%. The actual support might be even higher.
Although Diane still maintained a 10% lead, the seeds of a coback were sown.
“Actually, setting up factories in the US isn’t a great choice,” Taekgyu remarked.
“Why is that?”
“Labor costs are high, and so are corporate taxes.”
Hence, even Arican companies had closed their factories in the US and moved them to erging countries. As a result, industrial areas rapidly deteriorated.
Nevertheless, we decided to invest $20 billion, equivalent to a whopping 22 trillion Korean Won.
Ronald promised tax cuts and various supports. To ensure these promises were kept, he had to beco president.
Although I had a feeling we were in for a lot of backlash, we had boarded this ship and had to see it through to the end.
“I wonder how Diane will react,” Taekgyu asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“She’s probably cursing you out by now.”
“······.”
***
A urgent eting was held at the Democratic Party’s election camp. Key election officials, including candidate Diane, gathered in one place. They recalled the na “OTK Company” in their minds.
“These bastards…”
The election was practically over. But suddenly, these guys joined hands with Ronald and changed the tide of public opinion.
Diane maintained a calm expression.
“We should have at least verified what cards they were holding.”
They never imagined a small investnt company could beco a ga-changer. They were so confident in their victory that they even refused to et.
“Did they go to find Ronald because I didn’t et him?”
If she had allied with OTK Company, she could have solidified her position by embracing the working class. Regretting now was already too late.
Fortunately, the public opinion hadn’t completely flipped yet. Even if a few Rust Belt states shifted, it wouldn’t severely affect the overall trend. She still had more than 300 electoral votes secured.
Just by securing her region well, she could easily beco the president. Diane bit her lip slightly.
“Schedule a campaign in Florida, please.”
That was her mistake.
Even if all schedules were canceled, she should have imdiately run to the Rust Belt. She needed to appease the white working-class voters.
Had she done that, even if the Rust Belt was inevitable, she could have embraced other working-class voters in different regions. Instead of relying on uncertain victories, she wanted to appease the certain local sentints.
Even strategists, including Joel, agreed with her thoughts.
As Diane moved to Florida, Ronald criticized her on social dia, saying, “She has completely abandoned the Rust Belt.”
In the anti, public opinion was shifting in another direction.
***
CarOS headquarters located in Silicon Valley.
We t with Daryl and the team in the conference room.
I addressed them, “You must have heard that OTK Company is investing 20 billion dollars in the U.S. automotive industry. We are currently negotiating with the Michigan state governnt.”
Negotiations naturally fall under Hyunjoo’s responsibility. She’s so busy because of the South Korea branch that she can’t even sleep because of us.
“We plan to leave the research center here and move CarOS headquarters to Detroit.”
Daryl was taken aback by my words.
“W-what does that an?”
“CarOS will beco a key player in the automotive industry going forward. It’s better to move the headquarters to a place where there are factories.”
Ryan raised an objection.
“If there are collaboration issues with the automotive company being acquired by OTK Company…”
I shook my head.
“It’s not collaboration. There won’t be a need for collaboration going forward because CarOS will be acquiring the automotive company, not OTK Company.”
“Really?”
Managing software and hardware companies separately can lead to difficulties in resolving conflicts. So, it was decided to keep CarOS as the holding company and make the automotive company a subsidiary.
I looked at Daryl.
“Can you do it?”
His eyes flickered. He must understand the implication of my words.
If things go as I just said, he will beco the CEO of a company worth more than 20 billion dollars. Of course, we will hold the majority of the shares.
It was a decision made after discussions with Taekgyu and Hyunjoo.
Daryl has led CarOS with a strong passion for creating perfect autonomous driving technology. Even when CarOS was acquired by Eun Sung Motors, he did not succumb to external pressure and stayed true to his path.
Surely, he will continue to do well in the future.
Sergei asked, “Are you in a position to make such an important decision yourself? What does OTK Company think?”
“My word represents OTK Company’s stance.”
“Why…?”
I spoke confidently, no longer hiding.
“Because I am the CEO of OTK Company.”
“. . .”
Everyone fell silent. It’s natural to be montarily speechless when surprised.
After a mont, Sergei was astounded.
“T-That’s impossible!”
“I’m sorry for revealing it just now. I didn’t intend to deceive anyone.”
I looked around at CarOS’s executives and continued.
“We will continue to support as before, but without interference. Create the car you desire. Don’t you want to see a CarOS-made car driving on the roads?” After a mont, Daryl spoke with a stern expression.
“We will do it.”
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