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Chapter 48: The Collapse of the EU's Web
Chapter 48: The Collapse of the EU's Web
The news of the breakdown of the negotiations between the two sides spread slowly.
The EU did not lift the sanctions, and the black metal batteries produced by Autobattery failed to enter the EU.
The German car companies that had to stop their production lines screamed in agony.
—We can’t afford any delays in the schedule. There are a hundred thousand customers waiting for their cars!
Lobbyists were dispatched one after another, but the EU Commission did not budge.
If they withdrew the sanctions here, they would undermine the credibility of all their administrative actions in the future.
They also believed in solidarity for peace.
They didn’t know it, but they could revise the space treaty as long as they pulled Russia in.
The non-permanent members could be boiled or fried, and Korea would eventually succumb to the EU’s trade sanctions.
The only thing they were worried about was Yu Ji-ha giving up on mining unoptenium.
However, they judged that the four countries would not make such a choice.
-Black metal is one thing, but superconductors are already out of his hands.
-He might be able to withstand the pressure from the US and Russia. But what about Korea?
-Even if he gives up everything, the US will take over Starfield. The talent and technology will remain even if the company is dismantled.
The plan was perfect.
All they had to do was coax Russia well.
For that purpose, the de facto leader of China, who had occupied Beijing, visited the Kremlin.
Britain and France used their power as permanent members to convene a Security Council meeting.
The agenda was solidarity for peace.
—Unoptenium, a superconductor that exists on the moon, is a common property of humanity. It is not helpful for the peace and future of humanity that a single company mines it unilaterally.
—Starfield pledged to distribute unoptenium fairly, but we don’t think their criteria are fair.
—Therefore, we need to jointly manage the resources of outer space, including unoptenium. We want to put a revised space treaty proposal to a vote.
—We agree.
China was the first to cast a vote in favor.
It was natural, since they were the ones who led this plan behind the scenes.
They were excluded not only from black metal but also from superconductors.
Of course, there was a possibility that things would go well if they formed a new government and entered into negotiations, since Yu Ji-ha left some room for maneuver.
They would have to pay a hefty price for their diplomats’ rudeness and kidnapping, but China was a country that could afford it.
But they had no intention of doing so.
—It is unthinkable for a great nation to kneel before the people of a small country.
—Let all the people unite and boycott the small company!
Unfortunately, Silla Group didn’t have much to sell to China.
It was originally close to a domestic company, and it didn’t have much relationship with China unlike Japan.
Silla Electronics exported monitors and computers, but now that the group had grown so big, it was hardly noticeable.
The boycott movement fizzled out in no time, and they resorted to moving the Security Council as a last resort.
China and Britain, France, and Germany coincidentally had common interests.
The US naturally exercised its veto power, and now only one country remained.
Russia.
-Russia promised to invest 500 billion rubles for 10 years.
-Not only that, but they also gave up some of their share of unoptenium distribution to China.
-They can’t refuse these terms.
Russia tended to be aligned with China in the international community.
It was because they had an image of being divided into blue team and red team, throwing veto powers at each other.
Not only in image, but also in reality, Russia was closer to China than to Western countries.
They might have some burden on China’s growing power, but they couldn’t help it with such a huge investment... That’s what everyone thought.
But something unexpected happened.
Yu Ji-ha hurriedly went to Moscow, and Russia welcomed him as a state guest.
A grand welcome ceremony was held, and Russia’s aerobatic team Russian Knights flew over the Kremlin.
What was more shocking was that President Putin himself waited for Yu Ji-ha in front of the Kremlin Palace.
There was no delay or rudeness at all.
He shook hands with him with a smile and entered the Kremlin Palace. The world was stunned by this sight.
Especially the countries that led this situation reacted incredulously.
—Russia chose Yu Ji-ha?
—This doesn’t make sense. There must be some mistake here.
—China said they were treated politely. What is this? Explain it quickly.
And Russia proudly exercised its veto power on the revised space treaty proposal.
With this, the solidarity for peace was rejected.
The EU’s last bastion collapsed.
—What will the EU do now? They’ve completely antagonized him. Can they handle this?
—What big deal can they do? They might lose a bit in the distribution of superconductors.
—They have to stop at a reasonable line if they don’t want to completely alienate the EU.
—That’s true, but Yu Ji-ha is really amazing. He blocked the EU’s shameless attack.
—He set up spider webs in two or three layers, but what he caught was not an insect but a bird.
—So now the bird will eat the spider?
—No way... The EU is too big.
The world watched Yu Ji-ha’s mouth.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m
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Yu Ji-ha returned to Korea and received a report from Arma on the status of the group’s management.
Now the journalists started talking without even asking for permission.
“How is that possible?”
“Doesn’t that mean tokamak fusion is completely obsolete?”
“ITER said it would take 10 or 15 years, but you’re saying two years?”
Yu Ji-ha took out his phone from his pocket.
“I’ll only tell one country about the details of this incident on a first-come-first-served basis. That country will not be subject to my previous conditions and will also be allowed to participate in fusion research. Only one country.”
His eyes turned to the French journalist who had spoken earlier.
“Do you think they’ll call or not?”
“...”
Was it a bluff or a fact?
Black metal and unobtanium were very important, but this could destroy the EU as it was.
If the truth came out, the other EU countries would rise up.
So this phone call could put the EU on the brink of collapse.
The journalists were tense as if they had entered a battlefield.
They wondered who would make the call.
―Would it be the UK, who intervened in this incident even though they weren’t in the EU?
―Would it be Germany, who had to produce electric cars and was pragmatic?
―Would it be France, who was close to China but had a strong pride?
Finally, the speakerphone turned on and a stiff-accented English voice came out.
It was English, but the speaker’s origin could not be hidden.
―Germany betrayed them!
The eyes of the British and French journalists turned fierce, while the German journalists looked straight ahead with sullen faces.
They knew who the speaker was.
Perhaps in their hearts, the next chancellor had been decided.
Meanwhile, the speakerphone began to reveal the details of the incident.
―It started with China. China could not give up black metal and unobtanium, so they lobbied through various embassies.
“Can you tell us which countries they lobbied?”
There was silence, but it wasn’t long.
If they decided to be traitors, they had to be thorough.
―The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. The first three countries played a leading role, and the last three countries tacitly supported them by standing by.
“Who came up with the idea of offering me the Nobel Prize in Physics?”
They offered him the Nobel Prize in Physics?
The journalists were bewildered.
Even if the situation was resolved peacefully, the EU would have to accept the damage to its image.
―The Netherlands proposed it.
“I see. You’ve been very busy behind the scenes. What did China promise you?”
―I can’t tell you the exact details, but it’s at least 3 billion euros for each country. And they also promised unconditional support for whatever the EU proposes.
The reporters were no longer excited, but rather deflated.
They had been played by China.
“Let me ask you one last thing before I end the call. Unity for peace... what exactly does that mean?”
―Unity for peace is a way to force a resolution on the Security Council agenda. It can be passed if four of the permanent members and five of the non-permanent members, as well as two-thirds of the member states, agree on it.
“Ah... so that’s why Russia was important. The US would oppose it anyway.”
―We thought we could persuade the rest. They would all prefer the permanent members to manage it rather than a private company.
“Should I praise you for this... I thought unity for peace was a means to deploy UN peacekeeping forces to war-torn countries.”
―It’s all about how you justify it. Nuclear fusion can easily be linked to peace.
Only then did people realize what was going on.
The spider that was the EU had spun a web of double and triple layers to trap insects.
But what got caught in the web was not an ordinary insect, but a bird.
Now the web was completely broken, and the spider was in danger of being eaten.
Yu Jiha’s calmly comforted him.
“You made a great choice. As promised, Germany will be treated as before the sanctions and will also participate in the ion beam fusion research.”
―Thank you.
“Let’s discuss the details when you visit Korea. Thank you.”
The next chancellor of Germany was confirmed.
As soon as the call ended, Yu Jiha smashed his phone.
He would not take any more calls.
The reporters were terrified by his sudden hardening face.
The statements that would pour out from now on would be a flood that would sweep away the EU.
Yu Jiha closed his laptop and said.
“I hope you heard everything well. I welcome objections, but if you can’t provide valid evidence, the conditions will get harsher. And if you don’t meet the conditions, there will be no negotiations. I’ll wait for good news.”
Would negotiations even begin?
The bureaucrats who led each country might agree, but the executive committee was the core of the EU.
Unless the EU collapsed, they would never accept such conditions.
When his secretary escorted him out, curses began to spill out in the press room.
“This is why we shouldn’t trust those Nazis!”
“What do those snail-eaters know?”
“Bravo! You’ve perfectly divided us! Who’s going to take responsibility now?”
“Will you shut up? Why did you interfere when you’re not even part of the EU?”
Britain and France, and Germany had gotten along well recently, but they had a long history of stabbing each other in the back.
That old conflict was reignited.
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