America: My Time

Chapter 1588 Calculation
Chapter 1578 Schemes

Look at the attitude of these Japanese guys, what kind of 'sincerity' they're showing! Then look at the Koreans. With such a difference, what right do they have to talk to John about tickets? They're so arrogant that they can't even recognize their own worth. The reason for all this is partly their own arrogance and partly John's forbearance. After all, John doesn't hold grudges against those around him. He's benefited from Lee Boo-jin time and time again, which made these Koreans think that as long as Lee Boo-jin intervenes, everything will be fine. But this time, things have changed. John is no longer giving them face and has made them lose face!

Japan has clearly gotten everything they wanted. As long as Asia Energy's plan proceeds, they will definitely obtain the development rights for Sakhalin Island. Some people may believe that Asia Energy needs to communicate more with Russia, but these guys in Japan don't think that way. Their last failure showed them how powerful John's connections and influence are in Russia.

Although John has begun to retreat behind the scenes, no one dares to underestimate his influence. This has been proven. Even though Russia has been dissolved for many years, John's influence in those separatist countries is still considerable. Whether they have sided with the Europeans or with Russia, John has an amazing network of connections.

Just look at Er Mao to see how influential John is. So many assets were resold with John's help, giving Er Mao's family a considerable sum of money, all of which ended up in their own pockets. Without strong connections, how could John's mining giants, shipyards, steel companies, and other assets have been controlled by Er Mao's family?

John's shipbuilding industry developed so quickly because of the Russian foundation, and the Russian shipbuilding foundation was almost entirely in Russia. Without this support, John's shipyards would not have the capabilities they have today.

The attitude of these Japanese guys made the Koreans incredibly resentful. It was precisely because of Japan's 'sincerity' that they were humiliated, so they hated Japan immensely, and they also hated John for his lack of humanity. These guys, when their needs weren't met, didn't immediately reflect on their own problems, but instead blamed others.

"Is this a good idea? Such a slap in the face will likely breed resentment and hinder our development in Korea!" After the exchange, Lee Boo-jin sighed, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. After all, Korea had completely lost face this time, and she herself had also been humiliated by these guys. Neither Samsung's Lee family nor the Korean officials had told the truth; their promises were meaningless. She had been deceived once again!
"In this situation, what do you think we should care about? They're shameless, so I don't need to give them any face either. They always want to take advantage of others without giving anything in return. There's no such thing as a free lunch. The things that happened in the past are enough to erase all goodwill. If they dare to hinder our development in Korea, then don't blame me for retaliating. The consequences will be more than they can afford. Nobody owes them anything. You have to pay the price to gain something!"

John's words were somewhat cold, but they were true. Although Lee Boo-jin had followed him for many years, it didn't mean he would always give her face. No matter how much affection there was, it would eventually dissipate. And now John had no intention of giving those Koreans any more face. Everything that had happened before had already exhausted all their affection!
Hearing John's words, Lee Boo-jin sighed. She understood this perfectly well, but she still felt a pang of reluctance. Even if her family had many schemes against her, she was still unwilling to give up. After all, she was not a cold-blooded person, but she also knew that she couldn't ask for too much.

In truth, Lee Boo-jin herself knew that John had paid the greatest price for her. Although she had the ability, that wasn't an excuse, so she didn't say anything more. As for Kikuchi Momoko and the others, they didn't speak either, since this matter had nothing to do with them, and it would be impolite for them to speak.

"Alright, there's no need to feel pressured. They're the ones who insisted on using those underhanded tactics. They all think they're the smartest people in the world. Since they're unwilling to pay the price, they're not qualified to participate. If they're abandoned in the future, that's their own fault. Asia Energy won't change because of them. You are you, and they are them. Don't let their affairs upset you; there's no need for it!"

That's true, but truly putting it into practice takes time. Just like Akina Nakamori, how could one truly let go of everything unless there was no way out and no other choice? Akina Nakamori couldn't avoid it, but Lee Boo-jin didn't even have the chance to avoid it, after all, she needed to oversee the development and arrangements of South Korea!
“I understand, but I just can’t accept it. Why would they lie to me about something like this and put me in this awkward situation? Do they really think they can get your approval with just a lie? They’re so arrogant!” Lee Boo-jin couldn’t understand why her family would make such a decision, or why those guys in the South Korean government would be so stupid!

"This isn't your problem. Their repeated successes have made them feel that you have absolute influence over me, so they want to take risks and try things out. In their view, there's no harm in doing so. At worst, they'll just apologize. After all, your status is what gives them confidence. Do you understand?"

Lee Boo-jin actually understood the Koreans' schemes, but she refused to accept it. When John exposed everything, she could only lower her head, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. John didn't say anything more then. After all, Lee Boo-jin had to overcome her difficulties herself. Family ties were not something he could interfere with. If she wasn't willing to accept it, no amount of persuasion would change anything; reality was cruel and heartless.
What constitutes reciprocal interaction? It requires give and take. But these Koreans don't think that way; they only want to take advantage. Although John's exchanges with the CNOOC didn't seem to involve any exchange of benefits, both sides understood that the real exchange of benefits would occur later. China isn't as stingy as the Koreans, and after so many years of cooperation, John and China have maintained a tacit understanding.

"Momoko, have someone notify Suo Ikuo to come to China. Since his firm has been used as leverage, we need to resolve this hidden danger as soon as possible to avoid future problems. Although this guy's status isn't anything special, we can't just accept something without any reciprocation. That's not a good thing. Even if Japan has already taken care of things, we can't pretend we don't know anything." John quickly turned his gaze to Kikuchi Momoko. Regarding the firm matter, this was a good opportunity to resolve the trouble behind it. Although he wasn't afraid, successfully eliminating the hidden problems was the best option.

Of course, John also had other ideas. Everything should be reciprocal. Those guys in Japan must have used some means to get Suoh Ikuo to give up his firm. Even if he agreed, there would be hidden dangers as long as he didn't let his resentment get out. John didn't want to be ambushed by these guys at a crucial moment!
“Okay, I’ll make the arrangements right away. But will he really come to China?” Kikuchi Momoko hesitated. She knew a lot about Suo Ikuo’s agency. After all, everyone in the Japanese entertainment industry knew about the power behind this guy. Moreover, the dark forces in Japan had long since extended their reach into the entertainment industry. It wouldn’t be an easy thing to deal with such trouble!

"Don't worry, as long as he's smart, he'll know what to do. And if he doesn't come, what do you think those guys in Japan will do when they find out? He has no choice, and even the guys behind him have no choice. They have to accept it whether they want to or not. They're nothing compared to the power of the Japanese government!"

Of course, this is not just the oppression from the Japanese government, but also the oppression from the conglomerates. No matter how arrogant those dark forces are, they don't dare to confront the Japanese government and the conglomerates. If they really dare to do so, they will be wiped out in no time!

Right now, those guys in the Japanese government are trying to shift the blame. If the guys behind Suoh Ikuo don't know when to back down, they will naturally become the scapegoats, and all the responsibility will fall on them.

John's calculations went beyond simply eliminating potential threats; he was also continuing to cultivate his public image, convincing the Japanese that he wasn't a greedy person, and mitigating the impact of his humiliation at the hands of the Koreans. While his response to the Koreans was perfectly normal, it still made people uneasy, especially the Japanese. They probably worried, "This time it's the Koreans, but what if it's them next?"
If John were to offer Suo Ikuo any compensation, even just a small one, everything would be different. It would put those guys in Japan at ease, make them forget John's slap in the face to the Koreans, and even stop them from thinking that this was John's scheme!
Everyone knows that John's arrangement of communicating with Japan and South Korea was part of his scheme. It would be a lie to say that they weren't wary. Now that South Korea has returned empty-handed, even if Japan has gained approval, they can't help but feel some anxiety. This little arrangement can truly put their minds at ease!

Gaining everyone's approval at a small cost is certainly a worthwhile exchange. This is about achieving great things with little money. Even if you want to scheme against Japan or South Korea, you can't be too obvious. You have to give them a reason that they can accept!
"Are the Koreans really giving up like this, not giving them any chance at all? If so, I need to prepare in advance. I can't stay here any longer; I need to get back to Korea quickly to deal with whatever might happen there!" Lee Boo-jin quickly recovered from her grief and was eager to return to handle the crisis! Knowing the Koreans as she did, she knew that after being humiliated, they would definitely retaliate, which was something she didn't want to see. She understood that if that happened, John's counterattack would erupt in full force, and at that time, the Korean government and even the Samsung Lee family would pay a heavy price!
"Give up? No, it's not about completely giving up on them, but just teaching them a lesson. As long as they can wake up in time and recognize their own limitations, giving them a chance isn't impossible. The premise is that they have to wake up to themselves instead of still being immersed in their own beautiful dreams. Dreams are just dreams, and they will be destroyed one day. Only the power they control is trustworthy. Relying on others is not as good as relying on yourself! As long as they can show 'sincerity,' cooperation is not impossible. I've told you before that we must look forward!"

The more nonchalant John seemed, the more uneasy Lee Boo-jin felt. If he truly pretended not to see anything, that would be a problem. She wanted to fight for South Korea for every sliver of opportunity. She worried that Asia Energy might completely abandon everything on Sakhalin Island. If that happened, the impact on everyone would be enormous.

"I will discuss it with them again. I believe that after this lesson, they will wake up from their greedy madness. If that still doesn't wake them up, then I will stop doing anything. It's all fate!" Lee Boo-jin said, then shook her head, a hint of hesitation and resentment in her eyes.

"Don't worry, even if they really insist on being stingy, there's nothing I can do. Even if it's just for your sake, I'll give them a little something, but it won't be much, just enough to make you feel better!"

When John said this, everyone present was stunned. They were all shocked by John's words. John had been very firm before, saying that he did not want the Koreans to gain any advantage for nothing. But why did he change his mind so quickly? Did John's thoughts change again and he no longer wanted to deal a heavy blow to the Koreans?
Although John used to be a very face-conscious person who wouldn't embarrass or humiliate women like them, now the Korean authorities and the Samsung Lee family have gone too far. It's perfectly normal and reasonable for them to be embarrassed. After all, they brought this on themselves. How could they deceive people like this, treating Lee Boo-jin like a puppet? Most importantly, their actions have made Lee Boo-jin lose face in front of John and in front of Kikuchi Momoko and the others!
(End of this chapter)