America: My Time

Chapter 1587 Slap in the face
Chapter 1577 Slap in the Face

The allure of Sakhalin Island has captivated many, but whether they can actually acquire it is uncertain. After all, too many interests are involved. As long as John hasn't negotiated with Russia, and Asian Energy hasn't received Russia's permission, it remains impossible. However, to even compete for it, one must first obtain an entry ticket, and that ticket is in John's hands!

It's clear that China's offshore oil companies have secured a ticket to the game, but it's much harder for South Korea and Japan; they'll have to pay a considerable price. These companies have used every means at their disposal to get this ticket, and the conglomerates themselves are not of one mind; they all want to monopolize the profits!
"Everyone has seen the report on offshore oil. Let's talk about the chances of this cooperation succeeding. Why did our friends choose to make this decision at this time? Russia hasn't taken any action against these foreign investors, and Russia doesn't dare to act rashly, as the impact would be too great. Losing credibility would not be good for Russia!"

"From the information we've received, this is a strategic relocation, related to the actions of South Korea and Japan, and also influenced by changes in Russia. However, everything happened rather suddenly, and things may not be as simple as they seem on the surface, and may even be related to the United States. After all, the Western Energy plan was adjusted before, and now it's Asian Energy, which makes people wonder if there's a connection behind it!"

"Actually, this change is very beneficial to us. If we can obtain the development rights for Sakhalin Island, it will be of vital importance to our energy security! However, we won't be the only partner. South Korea and Japan will probably follow suit, and Russia will likely also try to take back a portion of the share!"

"The reaction from Russia is quite normal; they're turning a blind eye to all of this. But that's understandable. After all, if Asian Energy wants to cooperate with others, it can't avoid them. They don't need to do anything to get a share of the benefits! I don't understand why Asian Energy would choose to make changes at this time when it could enjoy the benefits all to itself. Could it be that something has changed on Russia's side that will harm Asian Energy's interests on Sakhalin Island?"

Many people felt that Russia wouldn't dare to act rashly at this time, given the immense external pressure it faced and John's significant influence. If Russia were to target Asian energy resources, the price it would pay would far outweigh the benefits, making it a losing proposition. Yet, John has done just that, leaving everyone puzzled.
Oil prices haven't skyrocketed yet, so no one thinks Russia would take the risk of targeting Asian Energy's interests in Sakhalin Island. But once oil prices surge, everything will be different. Faced with enormous profits, how could Russia possibly give up or allow Asian Energy to take them away?

It's not an overnight phenomenon that Russia has been dishonest. For his own benefit, John naturally needs to make preparations in advance. Moreover, there are other oil fields in Asia. In comparison, John would prefer that Asia shift its focus, not only to Asia, but also to Africa and Australia, where there are many opportunities.

"It's unlikely that Russia will take action, at least not in the short term. After all, Russia's own situation is far from ideal. If it were to revoke Asia Energy's development rights on Sakhalin Island at this time, the impact would be enormous, a fatal crisis for them. They have a significant need for food, and their cooperation with Mr. John is substantial. If even such a friend can betray them, who would dare to invest in Russia in the future? Look at India; because of their actions against Asia Energy, how badly have they fared, and how much international capital has left them!"

In international cooperation, integrity is of utmost importance. India is the kind of country that lacks integrity; it will do anything for profit. Previously, people were not well-informed and had limited knowledge of the situation. However, as John completely refused to cooperate with India, India's bad reputation spread throughout the world, and almost no one was willing to invest in India.

It's not that there are none at all; there are always some fearless individuals willing to take risks for profit. However, it's hard to say whether they can reap the benefits and leave unscathed, since Indians are notoriously untrustworthy!

Under everyone's watchful eyes, both Japan and South Korea took action and proactively consulted with John. With their appearance, many eyes were drawn to China. Everyone wanted to know if Japan and South Korea could succeed, and whether the information released by Asian Energy was true. This potential profit was tempting to many!

In order to maximize his profits, John didn't negotiate with the Japanese guys first just because they arrived early. Instead, he waited for the Koreans to arrive before negotiating with them. Only by making them compete with each other could he maximize his own profits! John wouldn't show any mercy to these guys and wouldn't let them gain any advantage!
Upon seeing the Koreans appear, the Japanese guys all wore grim faces. They naturally understood the significant impact this would have on their plans, but they were powerless to do anything about it. After all, they had no right to change John's mind. If they were in John's position, they would have made the same arrangements. No, it should be said that if they were in John's position, they wouldn't have given anyone a chance; they would have taken all the spoils for themselves!
"I am aware of your purpose in coming here. While Asia Energy does indeed have this idea—to find like-minded individuals to cooperate in developing the resources of Sakhalin Island in order to alleviate the pressure on its own cash flow and increase the development efforts of other oil fields—this is only Asia Energy's own idea. We haven't communicated with Russia yet, so whether it will work out is still unknown. You should think it through carefully and not rush to make a decision!"

Although that's what John said, neither the Japanese nor the Koreans would be foolish enough to believe it; only a fool would. If John wasn't confident, why would he make such an arrangement, especially to maximize profits by bringing the two countries together to discuss matters? Wouldn't that be tantamount to them both paying a hefty price?
“Mr. John, we in Japan would like to cooperate with Asian Energy. After all, our previous cooperation was very pleasant, and we believe that deepening our cooperation would benefit both of us. As long as it is within our capabilities, it is not a problem!”

Wow, Japan is really decisive. The officials just stated these conditions directly. I have to admit their determination is really terrifying. They didn't even ask John what conditions he needed before making a decision!
When the Koreans heard what the Japanese said, they were immediately dumbfounded. This was completely different from what they had expected. Originally, they wanted to play the family card and get Samsung to take charge, and they had even brought Lee Boo-jin into it. But now, the Japanese had spoken, immediately thwarting all their plans. Everything has its comparisons. The Koreans weren't willing to pay any price, relying solely on family ties, which was bound to fail against the Japanese terms. They were all at a loss for what to do. If both sides were to play the family card, the Japanese were no weaker than the Koreans; their cards were even stronger. So, for a moment, the Koreans didn't know what to say!
"You're exaggerating. I understand your sincerity. Although the cooperation seems to be between the two of us, it also needs the approval of Russia. As long as Russia has no problems, Asia Energy will also have no problems. The details will be discussed between Japan and Asia Energy. As for the outcome, that's not something I can interfere with!"

Upon hearing John's words, the Japanese immediately beamed with joy. Their decision had proven correct; only by acting swiftly and decisively, presenting their strongest terms, could they succeed. Although John claimed everything still needed to be negotiated between Japan and Asian Energy, they all knew that the matter was no longer in doubt. The so-called negotiations were merely a formality; they only needed to accept John's conditions or demonstrate sufficient 'sincerity' to satisfy Asian Energy.

Why did everything go so smoothly? Simply put, Kikuchi Momoko conveyed their 'sincerity' to John, and John accepted it, giving them the ticket to the game. The next step in the negotiations would depend on what price they were willing to offer Asian Energy. This price, of course, wouldn't be money, but rather an exchange. Although John didn't say anything, Japan, having cooperated with him for so many years, naturally understood this.

The Japanese were fully aware of the situation, but the Koreans were far less so. They hadn't yet recovered from the shock. Previously, they had all doubted Lee Boo-jin's claims, knowing John's past reputation for being shrewd and considerate. But after witnessing the Japanese performance, they realized how terribly wrong they had been. John had already changed his ways; they knew it was impossible for them to get something for nothing. However, faced with the prospect of profit, they were momentarily at a loss as to what to do.

Don't be fooled by these guys' previous assurances to Lee Boo-jin that they would show sincerity; they didn't take it seriously at all. They all thought that as long as John nodded, they would naturally have a place in the cooperation with Asian Energy. But now it seems that they were clearly overthinking it. Entry tickets require the exchange of benefits; otherwise, why would John let them in?

Sakhalin Island does indeed have considerable energy reserves, but with the competition between China and Japan, their presence or absence is insignificant. If they were to lose the opportunity to cooperate, they would face a major headache. Who knows when the cooperation with Asian Energy might end? After all, although they had previously signed an agreement with Asian Energy, it was only a short-term cooperation agreement. How could they not be worried?
"Mr. John, we Koreans are also willing to pay a sufficient price!" Under such pressure, the Korean officials had no choice but to make a statement. Don't be fooled by their words; they didn't really mean it. They just wanted to get through this first, get the ticket first, and discuss whether it was feasible later when the cooperation actually took place!
John sighed and said, "There are opportunities for cooperation, but as I've said before, the decision-making power doesn't lie with me, or even with Asian Energy. It's up to Russia to decide everything. After all, without Russia's approval, Asian Energy can't accept any cooperation. Sakhalin Island is Russian territory, and Asian Energy needs to respect Russia's decision!"

When they heard John's words, the Japanese guys almost burst out laughing. They could see what the Koreans were thinking, so how could John not see it? They had no sincerity at all, yet they wanted a ticket to the event. Wasn't that a huge joke? These guys couldn't even see this much. What were they thinking? Did they really think that family ties could make John back down? With John's status and position, what woman couldn't he find?

Although John didn't directly refuse, his words were quite clear, and anyone with a modicum of sense could understand his meaning. At this point, the Japanese guys realized that their previous 'sincerity' hadn't been in vain, and the Koreans' stinginess had directly cost them the opportunity to cooperate.

At this moment, the expressions of the Koreans all turned gloomy. The eldest son of Samsung was even more so. In his view, John's actions were a slap in the face to him and Samsung, which he found unacceptable. Despite his selfishness and lack of human touch, he didn't expect others to show him any favors. He was overthinking it. The repeated incidents had already exhausted any remaining goodwill they had with John!
Everything should be reciprocal. The Samsung Lee family has not helped John at all, only taking advantage of him. John could tolerate it once or twice, and wouldn't hold a grudge against them for Lee Boo-jin's sake. But this is no small matter when it comes to major issues in Asian energy and cooperation on Sakhalin Island. John doesn't want any trouble in the future. If they are not even willing to show this little bit of 'sincerity', who knows what might happen if they are given the opportunity to cooperate.

John ignored the Koreans' thoughts and said to the Japanese guys, "The Russians will need some time. Even if things go smoothly, it will take at least a year, or even longer. After all, this is no small matter. You all need to be prepared. Also, if Asian Energy is launched, you all should do something to show the Russians your sincerity. After all, if they don't agree, Asian Energy will be powerless to help!"

“Understood, we all understand that. We will follow Asia Energy’s arrangements in everything. We will fully cooperate whenever needed and will never put Asia Energy in a difficult position. We also deeply understand our previous mistakes, and we will never make the same mistake twice. You can rest assured about that!”

(End of this chapter)