Closed Beta I Played Alone

Chapter 283

Apocrypha 12. Hong Jooyoung (11).

Myeongjin, one of the largest conglomerates in Korea.

As such, it had several affiliates under the name of Myungjin, among which there was an oil refinery called Myungjin Refinery.

And the thing that bothers Chairman Hong Sang-man the most these days is that Myung-jin Jeong-yu.

Myeongjin Group headquarters meeting room.

“So there is no promise when the nine detained tankers will be released?”

In response to Chairman Hong Sang-man’s question, Yang Jeong-cheol, who is in charge of Myungjin oil refining, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Yeah… Of course, at the head office level, we are raising objections to the Iranian government from various angles. In addition, Mirae, Daesung, Korea-Japan energy, and Maseok Caltex are also urging the government and the Blue House to find a solution with one voice.”

Refining crude oil can make LPG, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, lubricants, as well as hundreds of chemical products such as fertilizers, detergents, plastics, and asphalt. it’s bound to be mandatory

In other words, broadly speaking, it is a kind of backbone industry.

Moreover, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is neither a natural disaster nor a dispute over interests between companies, but rather the intervention of a giant state called Iran.

Therefore, President Yang Jeong-cheol mentioned that he was looking for a solution together with the government while holding hands with other oil companies, but as Chairman Hong Sang-man, he had no choice but to answer that he did not like it.

The answer is that anyone can do it.

But that didn’t mean he was bitter.

Since Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has happened many times before, there has been no solution in the end each time.

Not the world, to be exact, except for Iran to raise both hands at the pressure of the United States.

But this time, there was a reason that made it even more painful.

as soon as.

“What about Saudi Arabia?”

“Currently, the daily production of crude oil has fallen below 70% of the previous day. Moreover, due to fear of another terrorist attack, the Saudi Arabian government is sending military units to other oil fields and oil facilities and inspecting them… For the time being, we expect it to fall further than 70%.”

“Then what about recovery?”

“Because that is Saudi Arabia, a self-proclaimed loser in the Middle East, we prioritize revenge over facility restoration. So the timing of the recovery… is currently unknown.”

“Damn it!”

Chairman Hong Sang-man, who usually does not express his emotions well in front of his subordinates, but this time he spit out abusive language without knowing it.

That’s because the situation is so twisted that it’s twisted.

Then.

“How much crude oil is currently being stored at Myeongjin Refinery?”

“If we run crude oil like it is now… Full moon. It seems that all the stored crude oil will run out after a fortnight.”

“Saudi Arabia is also Saudi Arabia, but the nine tankers seized by Iran before that were painful. The ships that have to unload oil and go to load it back are tied up like that…”

“……”

Following President Yang Jeong-cheol, Vice President Lee Hong-san carefully opened their mouths, but in any case, from one to ten, the situation was the worst.

Chairman Hong Sang-man had no choice but to remain silent for a while.

Then he quietly opened his mouth.

“like. So, to summarize, the supply and demand of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz is currently blocked, and the only alternative, Saudi Arabia, cannot export crude oil to Korea for the time being, right? Right?”

“……”

To the question of Chairman Hong Sang-man, all the executives could not say a word other than to answer ‘yes’.

More than 80% of South Korea’s crude oil imports, including Myeongjin, came from the Middle East.

First of all, since the North was blocked, there was no other way to import crude oil than a ship that could move large volumes at once.

In the end, I had no choice but to find the Middle East that is the closest and where I could supply as much as I wanted, and gradually became dependent on Middle East oil as time went on.

Even if we tried to diversify our suppliers in case something happens, not only the transportation cost to be added, but also each crude oil supplier has already been decided, so it was necessary to bleed for a new bidding competition.

Moreover, the biggest problem was something else.as soon as.

[We have been trading stable and smooth crude oil for decades, but if the amount of crude oil required has increased, is it not polite to tell us first? Are you ignoring our abilities?]

A threat, not a threat to become even more subordinate to them.

In addition, both Chairman Hong Sang-man and Myung-jin Oil Refinery had no choice but to give up on the blatant threat that they could cut off crude oil supply the moment they found another source of crude oil.

Because if Saudi Arabia cut off oil supply right now, there was no place to get that much new supply.

Even if it had found a new source of oil, there was no way it could beat other refiners that received Saudi Arabia’s crude oil.

Because, basically, Middle Eastern oil was cheap.

It is because the quality is slightly inferior to the most representative crude oil, Texas crude oil or North Sea Brant oil.

But it wasn’t a big deal.

When it comes to crude oil refining capacity, Myeongjin and other Korean oil refining companies are among the best in the world.

The problem is that no matter how excellent refining ability is, if there is no crude oil to refine, it is a bummer.

In any case, the emergency meeting held at the Myeongjin group headquarters did not come up with such a special solution and proceeded sluggishly.

Of course, this didn’t just happen in Myungjin.

Myungjin was not the only oil refining company in Korea.

That is to say.

Mirae Group Headquarters.

“Is there no way?”

“Yes. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get through. Moreover, Iran seemed to view the turmoil in Saudi Arabia as an opportunity. That is why we are trying to blockade more completely than before by putting additional naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz.”

“I was only able to meet Crown Prince Mohamdad Van Salman through the string left by the royal family of Saudi Arabia. But… this time the seed didn’t work either.”

“As you know, Iran is supporting the Houthis rebels in Yemen, who have been blamed for this terrorist attack, and the Saudi Arabian government, which is the leader of the Sunni faction, is not going to let this action of Iran, the leader of the Shia, go unnoticed.”

Ultimately, there is no answer.

Of course, the future moved faster than anywhere else, as if showing why Myeongjin, Daesung, and Gusan are the dominant companies in Korea.

However.

“As a result of inquiring with Hazcal and Trans Ocean to rent a new tanker, they are asking for more than three times the price of the previous one.”

“We moved to the United States, Russia, and Europe to obtain crude oil, but we were not able to purchase even a drop of crude oil because the oil contract was already full three months ago.”

“The price of crude oil in the black market has soared more than five times compared to just before, so even if you purchase it, it is impossible to achieve profitability. Besides, there wasn’t much of it.”

First of all, Myeongjin, the future. Daesung, Korea-Japan Energy, Maseok Caltex, and the Korean government were busy moving, but no solution was found.

I just hope that Iran, which has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, can lift the blockade as soon as possible.

Of course, Japan was in a similar situation to Korea.

***

In the early morning, it was dark in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

US Embassy in Korea.

bum bum.

It must have been noisy during the day for visa issuance, but it was early in the morning, so I slowly walked towards the very quiet US Embassy in Korea.

And stand in front of the fully locked iron gate.

profit.

The iron door opened immediately, and I naturally stepped into the open iron door.

Because it was America that invited me here.

First of all, as we entered the US embassy in Korea, a guide appeared and followed him down to the first, second, and third floors of the basement.

Then I came face to face with a group of people, and the one in the middle walked out a few steps and reached out to me and opened my mouth.

“nice to meet you. This is Anderson, Director of the National Intelligence Service.”

“ Hong Jooyoung. This is Hong Jooyoung.”

If I had had a proper first meeting, I would have been polite.

However, their first meeting took place in the middle of the night.

It was also reconnaissance of me and my surroundings without permission.

So I deliberately didn’t follow the rules.

Even the director of the US National Intelligence Agency, Anderson, did not show any particular displeasure at me.

“Then come this way.”

They may have something to do with me, but I also have something to say, so I moved after Director Anderson again.

And at first glance, I entered a space that looked like an underground bunker, and only then was I able to sit with Director Anderson across the table.

First of all, I opened my mouth to the situation.

“Is it a satellite?”

I didn’t mean to hide it, but I didn’t mean to reveal it.

Still, if you checked me, I thought it was.

just satellite.

And to my question like that.

“Yes. Of course, it was quite accidental to catch the movement.”

“Right.”

Director Anderson replied with a small nod of his head.

It wasn’t that surprising as it was a roughly expected answer.

Afterwards, he spoke with a man named Director Anderson, and he was puzzled along the way.

Because the most curious thing from the American standpoint had to be about my existence and my abilities.

That’s why you watched me.

But he never asked a question about it.

The story progressed with such trivial things.

Of course, the other person doesn’t ask questions about him, so I didn’t mention it because I didn’t have to talk first.

But it wasn’t long before the American intentions became clear.

“The Fortress Myungjin Group and Korea seem to be in a lot of trouble.”

“is it?”

First of all, he answered bluntly.

OK.

“Isn’t the Middle East oil accounting for most of Korea’s crude oil? But Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi Arabia suffered such terrorism…”

First of all, it was something I knew.

Because that’s what Dad and hyung are always worried about when they come home.

I have been in contact with outsiders from time to time.

Of course, the US will be able to solve it.

as it has been so far.

But if it was a different exception than before, it was said that I could solve it too.

So I decided to go to the Middle East myself.

The quickest and surest solution is for Iran to lift the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

If that happens, we can supply crude oil through at least Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatl, and the United Arab Emirates rather than Saudi Arabia.

But the United States appeared out of nowhere.

Of course, that didn’t matter.

But the problem was that the US was making a mistake now.

bang. bang.

First, I lifted my foot and slammed the floor I was treading on.

long ringing sound.

Confirming it, he opened his mouth straight to Director Anderson.

“Maybe not? There is no way that a person in a high position, the director, would come in such a completely enclosed space. How are you sure? Everyone I’ve ever seen has done that.”

“……”

A person who introduced himself as Director Anderson, who was silent.

“bomb? Oh, in the US, a nuclear bomb would be possible. Well… it’s not that I don’t understand. Because I wouldn’t be very pleased with my sudden appearance.”

First, he uttered those words and stood up.

Then he approached the completely blocked wall and put his hand towards it.

In order to tear it apart.

However.

sway.

I couldn’t get my hands into the wall.

It just pushes the whole wall a little bit starting from the point where my hand touched it.

“Huh? What’s this? Isn’t it just a wall?”

“…it will never break. Even if a nuke explodes inside.”

bang! bang!

With those words, this time he clenched his fist and slammed the wall.

However, there were no scratches on it, except that the waves were bigger than before.

“Wow… admit it. Honestly America. I don’t really like what the US does, but if it’s enough to make something like this, I have no choice but to admit it.”

I never smashed the wall as a joke.

I was heartbroken with sincerity.

I even tried to hit it with a fist and spread it out with my fingers to spread the destructive power in one place.

And then.

“Cooperate with America. If you cooperate with the United States, not only will you leave this place, but Hong Jooyoung will give you anything you want. America has the power to do that!”

“right. If the United States is the most powerful country in the world, it will be possible. By the way… did you really think you could just lock me up with something like this?”

whoops.

At the same time, he pulled something out of his arms.

A 15-enhanced Ice Emperor’s Guardian Sword that emits a red haze.

“……”

The opponent seemed to be embarrassed when I suddenly pulled out my sword.

However, he ignored it and turned to the wall again and unleashed the 15-enhanced Ice Emperor’s Guardian Sword.

OK.

Souk.

A 15-enhanced Ice Emperor’s Guardian Sword that has been dug as it is.

at the same time.

Pasha Sasak.

Part of the wall was frozen.