One day before leaving for Saudi Arabia,
I visited the old Taewoo Group building across from Seoul Station for the first time in a while.
"The construction is still in full swing."
"It's a building that hadn't had a proper remodel for over 35 years, so there's a lot to fix."
All subsidiaries of Taewoo Group had moved to the new headquarters, and the old building had entered a major renovation phase.
Since it had been used as office space, many areas required modification to transform it into a mixed cultural space.
"When is the expected completion date?"
"It's predicted to be finished by the second half of next year at the latest. Many companies have already expressed interest in moving in."
The old building was located in such a prime place that many companies wanted to lease space for the high promotional value it offered.
However, the space was too valuable to give away to just anyone, so tenants were selected through a strict screening process.
"The first and second floors will be used as Taewoo Group's new technology exhibition hall,
and if Apple, Google, and Facebook take up space, there won't be much left over."
"Since promotion centers and souvenir shops of IT companies related to Taewoo will also be here, there really won't be much remaining space."
It wasn't just IT companies.
Taewoo Entertainment and OTT companies were also scheduled to collaborate to run entertainment halls.
Once completed, the old building would surely become a new tourist attraction in Seoul.
"I wanted to see the old building before going to Saudi Arabia. It's a moment when I need to remind myself not to lose my original determination."
"You haven't changed at all, Chairman. The person you were when you first joined Taewoo Group is exactly the same as you are now."
"Compared to back then, the desperation has faded a lot, but seeing the old building again brings that lost urgency back."
That kind of urgency was needed during the IMF crisis.
The oil war was such a significant event that Taewoo Group could only move to the next stage by proceeding without mistakes.
After staring at the old building for quite some time, I headed to the airport and left for Saudi Arabia, the center of the impending oil war, to gather information.
As soon as I arrived in Saudi Arabia, Bin Salman was waiting for me.
He greeted me with a composed demeanor under many watchful eyes, but only relaxed his expression after getting into the car.
"You've had a hard time coming here. I was planning to go to Korea to see my brother, but recently the atmosphere within the royal family has been... complicated."
"Is something wrong?"
"…This is something only you should know. It absolutely must not be leaked outside."
"What good would come from spreading royal family matters around? If you're that worried, you don't have to go."
Bin Salman was deeply troubled.
If it had been an oil problem, he wouldn't be this worried.
There was only one remaining issue, and knowing the future, I could roughly guess what the problem was.
"Is the Crown Prince ill?"
"How did you know? Even within the royal family, only a few people know. Where did you hear about this?"
"Where else but just a guess? I once heard the Crown Prince wasn't doing well with his respiratory system."
"He's been struggling with pneumonia a lot. We've brought in world-class doctors, but there's no improvement."
The moment of change in Saudi Arabia's power was near, and Bin Salman standing before me would soon be at the center of it.
"Governor Salman will soon succeed to the Crown Prince's position."
"If his health worsens, that might happen, but I truly believe he will recover."
Bin Salman genuinely worried about the Crown Prince.
Or was he just trying to put on a good face in front of me?
Knowing that after ascending the Crown Prince's position, he had carried out blood purges, the conversation felt insincere.
While we were talking, we arrived at Salman's residence.
Since I was with Bin Salman, I was able to enter directly without extensive security checks.
"Is the Governor here?"
"They're waiting for you; my father was told you were coming."
Saudi Arabia was a country that entertained guests lavishly, especially when the guests were royalty—it was often excessive.
Today was no different, with hundreds of delicacies laid out on the table.
"Welcome. Thanks to you and Taewoo Group, Saudi Arabia has changed a lot. Now, electric vehicles can be seen easily wherever you go."
"That's thanks to the governor's investments. I only offered a little help."
"Heh, the chairman of Taewoo Group, the fastest-growing company in the world, is too humble."
Governor Salman embraced me warmly.
He had known me since I was a kid,
but now, with Taewoo Group's dazzling growth, he welcomed me even more enthusiastically.
"Today, I want to hear about the state of the world. I've heard rumors that you have more information than even the CIA."
"You flatter me."
"You're not someone who only has lunch with people after receiving tens of millions of dollars like Warren Buffett of Wall Street, are you?"
"Absolutely not. But this might be a bit of a difficult topic—are you all right with that?"
"We're more than friends; we're family. What could possibly be difficult?"
Family?
I had been close with Bin Salman since childhood, and my grandfather had a deep connection with Salman as well, but we certainly weren't blood relatives.
Still, considering the power struggles in the Saudi royal family, sometimes a non-blood relative can feel more like family than those who are related by blood.
"Then I'll speak freely. I analyze that oil will be the key issue in the global economy going forward."
"That's surprising. I thought you'd talk about IT or some completely new field."
"Thanks to America's shale gas, the oil market landscape has changed drastically. And I believe Saudi Arabia and OPEC will launch a massive oil production increase policy and start a game of chicken."
"Hmm."
Salman was reserved.
As the third-highest-ranking member of Saudi Arabia, he surely knew all major government matters, including information on oil production increases.
"This is why I said it might be a difficult topic."
"I want to hear more of your thoughts. What do you think will happen?"
"A full-blown oil war will break out, beyond just a game of chicken. Oil prices will fall by more than half, and many countries will fall into ruin because of this oil war."
I wasn't just giving out information for free.
Every time I spoke, new details were added to Salman's knowledge, turning mere guesses into certainty.
"Which country will take the hardest hit?"
"Russia, currently under economic sanctions due to the Crimean situation, is expected to suffer greatly. Venezuela, which has poor relations with the US, will also struggle."
"Do you think Saudi Arabia should not start this oil war?"
Even from Salman's tone, I could glean a lot of information.
Saudi Arabia had already chosen to increase oil production, and Salman lacked confidence in that choice.
"It's definitely not a good choice for Saudi Arabia, but it's inevitable."
"Sounds like you think they have no choice but to increase production to maintain their dominance."
"That's exactly my prediction for the Saudi royal family."
"If you weren't chairman of Taewoo Group, I'd mistake you for a shaman or prophet."
It was an acknowledgement that everything I said was true.
I felt Salman's trust in me deepen, and I decided to take it a step further.
"Please take what I'm about to say not as the chairman of Taewoo Group, but as a wandering prophet."
"Why do you say that? No matter what you say, I'll accept it. Speak freely."
"I believe by next year at the latest, you will become Crown Prince."
"Hey! What are you saying? Muhammad, have you been blabbing?"
Suddenly, the blame turned to Bin Salman.
He hurriedly denied it with his hands.
"I said nothing. You already knew."
"Muhammad is right. I've been worried about the health of the Crown Prince for a long time."
"Hmph, but you shouldn't say that so recklessly."
Salman couldn't hide his discomfort, so I asked Bin Salman to have all the servants sent outside.
Once everyone was gone, I brought up an even more serious topic.
"Saudi Arabia is a hereditary monarchy, isn't it?
So you must prepare yourself as well, Governor."
"What do you want me to prepare for? Are you telling me to wish the Crown Prince's health declines?"
"That's not what I mean. You must prepare now for what comes after you become Crown Prince, so Muhammad's opportunity will come."
We both looked at Bin Salman at the same time.
Bin Salman, unaware why his name had been mentioned, just blinked his eyes wide.
"What do you mean by saying we need to start preparing for Muhammad now?"
"Governor, you will become Saudi Arabia's king someday, surpassing the Crown Prince.
Then the next Crown Prince must be passed to your nephew, not Muhammad."
"That's the royal protocol."
"Isn't it time to end brotherly succession? For Saudi Arabia's sake, the best person should be the heir, and I believe Muhammad is the right choice."
Which parent dislikes praising their child?
And perhaps the Crown Prince or king were once distant figures, but now, with the Crown Prince's health worsening, power was within reach.
Power brings complex thoughts.
Salman must have imagined himself becoming king after the Crown Prince, and then Muhammad succeeding him as Crown Prince.
"So you're saying I need to prepare for Muhammad's sake even now?"
"I was the sole heir of Taewoo Group. I had no uncles or cousins. And yet, I carried out bloody purges to reach the chairman's seat."
"Purges... You're more dangerous and bold than I thought."
"I say this because you consider me family. For Muhammad, who is like a brother to me, I'm prepared to do anything."
I looked at Muhammad warmly, and Salman watched me for some time before carefully speaking.
"Muhammad has a good brother."
"Why would I do this for any reason other than my sincere feelings? I have already gained immeasurable wealth and honor. Still, I do this only for Muhammad, whom I have known since childhood."
"I understand your sincerity, and why you say such things."
The absolute trust between the future Saudi king and crown prince—
while already not bad, needed to deepen further.
Saudi Arabia's role in the US-China trade conflict was crucial.
If Taewoo Group gained Saudi Arabia's absolute support, it could fully seize the initiative in the US-China conflict.