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 black tal batteries.
She had designed the process to be significantly more automated than before.
However, she could not achieve complete 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 unemploynt 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 Silla Group and expand its influence accordingly.
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 ti will co 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 nurous matters, such as securing black tal from various countries, acquiring land, and constructing factories.
However, she skimd through them chanically.
“Leo Electric Cars? Why are they proposing a supply plan when we haven’t even secured enough black tal? Secure it first, then we’ll talk.”
[I will prepare the relevant task instructions…]
“And Apple… Isn’t this sothing that should be handled by Silla Auto? Why did it co here?”
Apple’s proposal revealed their desire to create their own car through Silla Auto. However, their demands were excessive.
[They want full control over the hardware. They want to turn Silla Auto into their subcontractor. By the way, if I may inform you, Apple has already been rejected by several car companies.]
“So, basically, they want us to manufacture a car for them, and then they will just add so software and call it Apple Car?”
[Your understanding is almost accurate.]
“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 accepted 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 black tal?”
[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 black tal.]
“German car companies… Damn, there are too many of them.”
Companies like rcedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen were abundant, surpassing future car manufacturers.
Although they had focused on traditional internal combustion engine cars, their production of electric vehicles exceeded six million units in a year.
If they couldn’t secure a supply of black tal batteries from sowhere, they would fall behind to the second tier.
Yu Ji-ha glanced at the map showing the black tal storehouses and tilted his head when he looked at the Russian side.
“There are two locations on land 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 troubleso relationship. 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 the company 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 black tal are quite substantial. In contrast, their dostic industry is in poor condition. It seems they want to leverage the abundant black tal to initiate new business ventures.]
“They want to collaborate with us… Not a bad idea. Let’s at least hear what they have to say.”
She had received proposals from various countries and companies, and Arma dealt with them one by one.
Unexpectedly, a proposal ca from Toyota in Japan, but they also requested a visit.
“When you ntion ‘senior,’ are you referring to my father? Why are they ntioning my father?”
[When Silla 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 relatively common for sons to repay their fathers’ debts. It wasn’t asking for sothing extraordinary, and eting to hear the contract conditions seed reasonable enough.
[But, Master, the public opinion in Japan is not favorable. I advise against going this ti.]
“But Japan is a developed country and a democracy, right? They can’t detain .”
[It’s not about being detained. It ans they will treat you with contempt. The public opinion in Japan regarding black tal and batteries is highly divided, but the prevailing sentint is that it’s presumptuous and unforgivable.]
“…Unforgivable for what?”
[They see black tal as a divine tal, and using it recklessly…]
Yu Ji-ha let out a hollow laugh.
“Black tal is not a divine tal. It’s the shell of an extraterrestrial creature. So you’re saying they’ll proceed with the contract and then make an announcent?”
[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 a commotion.”
“If you check the international news section of Japanese portal sites, around 40% of the articles are about you, Master, Shira Energy, black tal, 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 soone, and they had to repay it. He called his father and apologized.
—Actually, Toyota helped us a lot when we established the Silla 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 et them and co 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 so minor changes to the deck and the starboard side. It won’t take long. And the people at the Design Departnt 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 place was neither Toyota nor Panasonic headquarters, nor was it the modest office of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).
Office supplies were lying around ssily, and the only desk was covered with dust.
On the whiteboard, two sheets of A4 paper were attached, with the words “Toyota-Panasonic Explanation Session on Black tal” written on them.
“They never planned to sign a contract from the start.”
They had summoned him to this shabby place, told him their stance one-sidedly, and then tried to send him away.
That was the scenario the two companies 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 flattering, would it?
He didn’t know how it would benefit them, but it would quench the thirst of so Japanese who craved a sense of victory.
“Pathetic bunch.”
Yu Ji-ha had no personal feelings towards the two companies.
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, tiliness was more important than anything else. This was more than just hostility.
With a cold face, Yu Ji-ha left the office and t 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 black tal contract from now on.”
But Yu Ji-ha’s reply was frosty.
“What kind of contract can you make in a place like this? And you made 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 seed to think that they had an overwhelming advantage.
“I’m grateful for the help Toyota gave to Silla Auto. As a sign of thanks, I ca here to talk things over. But is this how you treat a guest? Do you always treat foreign companies like this?”
“It’s not always like this.”
“Oh, so I’m soone 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.
“Black tal is abundant in Japan. And there have been many cases where people with black tal factors have appeared. In other words, we don’t need your help.”
“Then why did you call here?”
“To tell you these things.”
“You must be crazy.”
“Please mind your language, 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 both companies. We won’t have any more business with you.”
“That’s fine by us.”
Click, click.
The reporters eagerly snapped the clash on their caras.
This was the scene the two companies wanted to create.
After the announcent of the black tal battery, the stock prices of both companies kept falling, and they needed so drastic asures to recover.
Inviting Yu Ji-ha from Shilla Energy for a spectacle was the solution they ca up with.
It would be shaful if the whole truth ca out, but they didn’t have to worry since it happened in Japan.
The Japanese dia would selectively release the footage and quotes provided by the two companies, making Yu Ji-ha look like an idiot.
When combined with Yu Ji-ha’s past history, it would make a wonderful show.
So Japanese people would sarcastically say that a drug addict made the battery.
But they were wrong.
The Plague Core, near the Japanese waters, had already been taken by Arma.
That ant the supply of black tal was limited.
Japan would soon face a black tal shortage since there would be no more supply.
“You brought this on yourselves.”
With a sour tongue, Yu Ji-ha got on the plane back ho.
He had decided to completely cut off Toyota and Panasonic from the roadmap for the rebuilding of the United Human Alliance.
There would be no future business with the two companies.
Just as they wanted.
A few weeks after Yu Ji-ha ca 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 energy company, 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 Silla 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 Shilla Energy’s downfall?
It was a blatant twist of the truth.
Toyota was the one who called Yu Ji-ha in the first place, and he had just gone to Japan to talk about the contract but was treated with contempt and ca back ho.
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 ti, thousands of comnts poured in.
—A company with about 100 employees deserves that kind of treatnt.
-–So cruel and cold. I can’t stop laughing.
—Did they co to beg for a contract from Toyota? Sorry, but we’re not interested in anything from Korea.
—Sothing doesn’t add up. They’re coming to ask for a contract when there’s a severe lack of black tal batteries?
—The Korean dia is saying that Shilla 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’s common 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 place.
Although there were so comnts that were closer to the truth, they were outnumbered by thousands of opposing comnts 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 black tal in our country too. Now Panasonic just needs to make batteries out of it.
—Japan has a much larger population 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 ti went by, weird rumors started spreading online.
—Why isn’t the black tal storage amount being updated on the Economy and Industry Agency’s website?
—Are they stupid? How can they asure the storage amount in real-ti?
—It’s suspicious that the Economy and Industry Agency doesn’t even provide the minimum numbers.
Even though it might be hard to calculate the exact storage amount of black tal, the range can be estimated.
Silla 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 place like Korea.
As usual, the opinions on the internet flowed in a way that avoided any link to Korea.
But there was a growing number of people who found the actions of the governnt, including the Economy and Industry Agency, fishy.
Based on local newspaper articles, they claid that the governnt was hiding sothing.
—The US, UK, Russia, and Korea are all giving subsidies due to a sharp drop in black tal 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 asuring 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 governnt trying to cover it up.
As the situation got suspicious, each TV station planned a segnt where they looked for people with black tal abilities in busy areas.
—If you can transform this black tal, 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 black tal abilities.
But he could only transform it, nothing else.
It was nothing compared to the sophisticated Gundam shown in Korea.
The Japanese audience who had gathered in front of their TVs complained.
—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 car company, KODINE, in Tokyo, asked for samples from Shilla 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 cara 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 et Yu Ji-ha in person.
Surprisingly, the Japanese who ca in person were their first visitors.
“Nice to et 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 translated the Japanese article and showed it to him, his expression changed oddly.
“I was sitting there, but the explanation 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 an I will act like they don’t exist.”
Why would he be so harsh because of the treatnt he got?
Anyway, since it was not related to KODINE, they changed the topic.
“Oh, the Gundam at the demonstration was amazing. Can we make similar 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 specins volunteered one after another.
“Rock-paper-scissors! I won!”
A muscular 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’ve co 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 and laughed, the TV Tokyo caraman 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 mbers of society seed to have closed their mouths as if they had made a promise.
As a result, articles and videos related to Yu Ji-ha and Shilla Energy started to disappear from the internet.
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.
detashi, detashi.
…
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