CH443 | Heir

Professor Kim Jin-woo stared at the documents for quite some time.

His hands trembled as he looked over materials he had assumed no one could ever access.

Obtaining such information wasn’t difficult.

Between Captain Kang, Myeongdong, Taewoo Group’s intelligence network, and my own abilities, it was more than enough.

Taewoo Group possessed intelligence capabilities superior even to the National Intelligence Service, and digging up a single professor’s background took only half a day.

“Why are you showing me these documents?”

“I’m giving you advance notice. Korea University and the research institute are conducting an investigation on you. And soon, they plan to file a lawsuit.”

“That’s… unfair. I’ve never embezzled. I simply procured research services on credit to accelerate my studies, and the issues arose only in that process.”

The main point of concern was embezzlement.

Of course, Professor Kim never attempted embezzlement for personal gain.

Anyone who has worked in a graduate program or research institute knows that the process of securing research funding is extremely complicated, and using shortcuts to streamline it is very common.

Professor Kim was no different.

If you don’t get caught, it’s not a problem—but if it’s challenged, it becomes one.

And this provided a perfect justification to block him from launching a startup with gene-editing technology.

“Have you ever been involved in a lawsuit?”

“No. But I have seen other professors go through them.”

“Lawsuits are truly the kind of thing that can drain the life out of a person.”

“…I know that well. I’ve watched someone who loved research so much struggle to the point where they couldn’t even read papers properly, let alone conduct experiments.”

Professors were people who conducted narrow, deep research.

In some ways, many of them were more mentally fragile than the average person.

The moment they became entangled in a major lawsuit, they were forced to give up research, study, and even teaching.

“Korea University and the research institute are extremely wary of your research being leaked externally. They’re planning a lawsuit, adding allegations of stealing core patents on top of that.”

“I never stole anything. And the patents are the result of the combined efforts of myself and my researchers!”

“From the institute’s perspective, their concerns are understandable. So they’ll do whatever they can to prevent you from starting your own venture.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

Naturally, it was to recruit him.

The materials were prepared to intimidate him just enough to steer the conversation in the right direction.

“Taewoo Group can be a strong umbrella for you.”

“You mean you want me to bring my core gene-editing patents to Taewoo Group? Isn’t that corporate bullying?”

Indeed, he had strong principles.

How much effort must he have put in to become a university professor?

It was only natural he would have a strong sense of pride.

“You may see it as corporate bullying. Taewoo Group has acquired all gene-editing patents held by Berkeley University and the Broad Institute. Most of their researchers are now working with Taewoo Group and Centurion.”

“You’ve recruited all the researchers from Berkeley and the Broad Institute?”

“Aren’t you curious why they chose Taewoo Group?”

Professor Kim Jin-woo swallowed hard.

When the conversation turned to the researchers from Berkeley and the Broad Institute, he focused intently, not blinking once.

“Taewoo Group is the place that can best research and utilize gene-editing technology. No matter how much money you offer, you can’t move them—they won’t budge. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”

“So it’s not money, but Taewoo Group’s technological capability that matters?”

“Taewoo Group and Centurion have already been conducting continuous DNA-related research, achieving successes such as the development of MERS and SARS treatments.”

The anxious expression on Professor Kim’s face relaxed noticeably.

Perhaps he realized this was persuasion, not intimidation, because he began speaking more freely.

“You plan to create new drugs by adding gene-editing technology? Gene-editing is groundbreaking, but producing widely used medicine is extremely difficult.”

“I understand that. Taewoo Group supports gene-editing technology for social contribution purposes and has already prepared investment funds in the trillions of won.”

“But I am already working with many colleagues. I cannot move to Taewoo Group alone.”

Having wielded the whip, it was now time to offer the carrot.

It was time to explain what rewards awaited them if they joined Taewoo Group.

“Taewoo Group will recruit you and all of your researchers. We promise the best treatment in the industry and will support you to pursue any research you wish.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Korea University and the research institute will proceed with lawsuits, and Taewoo Group will have no choice but to pursue separate lawsuits regarding the core patents for gene-editing technology.”

Dr. Kim’s core patents would normally have been recognized in Korea.

But since Taewoo Group had purchased the core patents from Berkeley University and the Broad Institute, the situation had changed.

The university, government agencies, and Taewoo Group—all combined.

Dr. Kim could be mired in lawsuits for more than a decade.

Knowing well what it meant to fight a legal battle alone, he exhaled deeply.

“You’re a frightening person. You’ve blocked every escape route.”

“I would never steal or seize technology. You and your colleagues will receive proper compensation for the core patents you hold.”

“By proper compensation, do you mean you intend to buy them?”

“How about 50 billion won? That’s an amount that would be difficult to earn even through a startup. And Taewoo Group could become a lifelong workplace for you and your colleagues.”

There was only one choice.

There was no solution other than joining Taewoo Group, and Dr. Kim Jin-woo chose that solution.

“Very well. I’m satisfied as long as I can continue researching gene-editing.”

“Taewoo Group will ensure you can focus solely on your research. We’ll take responsibility for everything—from lawsuits to financial matters.”

“Hahaha, humans are truly fickle creatures. Just moments ago, I was terrified of Taewoo Group. But now, knowing that you are on my side, I feel incredibly reassured.”

I extended my hand to Professor Kim Jin-woo.

He clasped my hand tightly with both of his.

With that, the gene-editing technology issue was completely resolved, and Centurion had finished preparing to take its next leap forward.

Professor Kim Jin-woo had gained a solid shield in the form of Taewoo Group.

***

Taewoo Group, in turn, had a formidable defense of its own: the United States, or more precisely, the support of candidate Trump.

“Candidate Trump has pledged to boost the U.S. shipping industry! Given how close the election is, the impact is expected to be quite significant.”

“Trump certainly knows how to make a bold move when he wants to.”

For the shipping cartel to be broken, the U.S. had to act.

And the moment a presidential candidate pledged to grow the U.S. shipping industry, half the battle was already won.

“It seems the Republican Party calculated that this pledge would meaningfully influence voter support.”

“At this stage, a pledge that wouldn’t help raise approval ratings simply wouldn’t be made. It aligns perfectly with Trump’s slogan, ‘Make America Great Again,’ so it was accepted.”

The U.S. shipping industry was currently weak.

But it hadn’t always been that way.

The United States once owned Sea-Land, the world’s second-largest shipping company, but it was acquired and merged by Maersk in 1999.

In effect, Maersk had swallowed up the U.S. shipping company.

If the U.S. shipping industry were to revive, it would deal a severe blow to Maersk.

“It could also be bad news for Chinese shipping companies. If trade conflicts with China intensify, Chinese shipping firms might be unable to access U.S. ports and infrastructure they currently control.”

“And if we take over the spaces left by Maersk and Chinese shipping companies in the U.S., wouldn’t other shipping firms naturally flock to us?”

Of course, this was not an easy task.

But with an investment as massive as five billion dollars into the U.S. shipping industry, it was entirely feasible.

“But everything can only be realized if candidate Trump wins. Even with the election so close, his approval ratings remain neck-and-neck.”

“Most polling agencies are showing results within the margin of error.”

“That’s why it’s worrying. Some polling organizations are cautiously predicting a Democratic candidate victory.”

There was absolutely no reason to worry.

Neck-and-neck polling results?

Before the regression, Trump was trailing by five percent in the polls right before the election.

But now, with such tight results, it suggested the possibility of winning the election by an even larger margin than before.

“This U.S. election is certainly intense, isn’t it?”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen anything like it. Insults and slander are standard, and it seems both camps are even conducting research just to mock the other side.”

“The more they do that, the more it favors candidate Trump.”

“Why is that?”

“What impact does throwing dirt have on someone who’s already covered in filth? On the contrary, the damage is greater if dirt stains someone wearing clean clothes.”

Apologies to Trump, but he had nothing left to lose.

Even if the opponent tried slander or ridicule, his supporters already knew what kind of person he was and supported him anyway.

“Indeed, the two candidates’ images seem roughly equal.”

“The party that suffers from an image drop is the Democrats.”

“We’ll proceed with the U.S. shipping investment more aggressively than before!”

“Even if the Democratic candidate wins, it doesn’t matter. Whoever becomes president won’t pass up an investment as large as five billion dollars.”

Of course, Trump still needed to win.

Only then could the regulatory issues for our planned ventures be resolved.

“Still, support Trump discreetly.”

“We’re providing backing through social media, but both candidates are already actively using SNS, so the effect is limited. We could take a more aggressive approach, but that carries risk.”

“There’s no need to go that far. After donating so much to the election fund, he should win on his own.”

“That approach avoids potential problems.”

Deep involvement in the U.S. election could lead to complications.

Support had to be provided while evading the attention of American intelligence agencies, so it wasn’t possible to intervene as openly as in the South Korean election.

“The Brexit project is running smoothly, right?”

“The returns are slightly lower than the previous project, but still higher than most other investments. The financial firms in the Financial Tower are following along without complaints.”

“A major opportunity will come soon, so stay patient and be ready.”

“The moment the U.S. election results are announced, we’ll be prepared to make our move.”

The trade dispute between the U.S. and China was approaching quickly.

Meanwhile, the trade conflict between South Korea and China was already about to begin.

Following the THAAD deployment, China had launched a boycott of Korean products, and Taewoo Group was taking considerable damage as a result.

The international situation was beginning to destabilize.

The more chaotic it became, the more nations would act solely in their own interests.

To negotiate on equal footing with them, more leverage was needed—and the greatest leverage of all remained immense capital.