Chapter 747: The Truth Isn’t Always the Truth

“You’re not going to ask why I’m targeting the New York Times?”

“Isn’t it because they jumped into the bidding war for the Wall Street Journal that Murdoch is trying to acquire?”

That’s the surface reason.

But from his casual reply, I could tell that Bush knew more than what was on the surface.

“How much do you know?”

“I know this whole thing is related to China.”

“Do you know who’s behind it?”

“The old men on Wall Street? Or those shady characters in Europe?”

He seemed to know quite a bit. After finishing his sentence, Bush paused for a moment, then spoke again with a troubled expression.

“I can’t help you with this. And I think you already know that, which is why you’re not asking me for help.”

“You’re right. It might be easier with your and the U.S.’s help, Mr. President. But if I win that way, it wouldn’t be a victory I achieved on my own. It would just be a victory for the U.S.”

My words, showing that I had no intention of leveraging his influence, made President Bush look at me with interest.

I met his gaze directly and continued speaking.

“I don’t know what they want yet. Whether it’s my downfall, or just a simple surrender. But I have no intention of running from a fight that I’ve already started. If I back down now, they’ll try to shake me constantly.”

Bush nodded slightly and spoke in a low voice.

“Charlie, did you know that I never had any intention of becoming President?”

“Huh?”

President Bush’s sudden confession took me aback.

“I started in politics because of my father’s influence. When I came to my senses, I was already President.”

What kind of crazy bombshell is that?

That was not something a President who had successfully completed two terms would normally say.

“Dick Cheney and the Neocons know my nature all too well. So they used me to push most of their policies. It was quite annoying.”

Annoying, huh? Hearing that, I nodded without even realizing it.

There was an anecdote that showed his personality, which had been shared through the media.

During an important meeting to devise a plan for the invasion of Iraq, where high-ranking officials of the Bush Administration and the top military brass gathered,

Bush was yawning and half-heartedly listening to the plan, Rumsfeld was badgering the military leaders, and Dick Cheney was dozing off.

It was a complete mess and a prime example of how President Bush wasn’t one to be obsessed with running the country.

“But then a fresh face appeared before me. Someone who wasn’t intimidated by me and demanded what he wanted outright. Someone who tried to overturn the Neocons’ plans. And that was you.”

Bush’s face was quite serious as he said that.

What was he trying to say by praising me like this?

“It’s a transaction. I give what I can give, and I get what I want. And what I said back then was just common sense. If you had invaded North Korea at that time, things would have been quite difficult.”

“I knew that, and my staff knew it too. Only the Neocons didn’t. Anyway, I was quite shocked back then. It was so satisfying to see those shady Neocons getting beaten like that.”

Bush’s face showed a faint smile, as if the mere thought of it made him feel good.

“I was going to reduce the Neocons’ influence during my second term. And then you appeared. With the same thoughts as me.”

My goal was to stir up the Neocons to shake the New York Times from the outside, which was slightly different from Bush’s intention.

Perhaps sensing my subtle expression, Bush let out a laugh.

“Of course, I know that shaking the Neocons isn’t the main point. If the outcome is the same, even with a different goal, doesn’t that amount to the same thing?”

“You’re right. Even if the intent and process are different, the final result is the same.”

In the end, it was all a plan to degrade the credibility of the New York Times.

In my past life, the Neocons’ influence had decreased because of the Leak Gate scandal.

Looking back now, I wondered if all of that was part of President Bush’s plan.

The Leak Gate scandal was a significant scandal that greatly damaged the morality and credibility of the Bush Administration.

“Do you want to be my gun, Charlie? If so, I’ll resolve this conflict with China for you.”

Bush’s offer was tempting. If the Bush Administration intervened, China would have no way to respond.

But right now, I had to consider not only the immediate enemy but also the enemies of the distant future.

They might yield to American pressure now, but in just a few years, China would be the one to not fear conflict with the U.S.

To fight a stronger China, I had to win this on my own.

It was a shame, but I had to decline Bush’s offer.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of being someone’s tool.”

“Hmm…”

Upon my firm refusal, Bush leaned back on the sofa with a disgruntled expression.

He crossed his legs, tapped his foot, and muttered discontentedly.

“You’re trying to walk the difficult path when there’s an easy way out.”

“I’ve never walked an easy path. Once I start walking a comfortable path, I feel like I’ll always do it again.”

“Tsk.”

President Bush clicked his tongue and shook his head. But his expression showed that he was quite pleased with my answer.

“So, what’s the plan?”

I explained my plan to shake the New York Times.

The Black Bear’s U.S. intelligence teams were gathering evidence.

“It’s not enough. The hard evidence is too insufficient. Though there’s plenty of circumstantial evidence.”

President Bush said, stroking his chin after hearing my plan.

“Some of it has already been revealed. Vice President Dick Cheney will try to stop it by any means, but he won’t be able to. And I know you don’t intend to let him stop it, right?”

President Bush shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, isn’t this a scandal that could be a major blow to me too? It would be enough just to limit the Neocons’ influence.”

“I’m planning to blow it up. I’ve already made appointments with the Wilsons and Plame.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, President Bush opened his mouth.

“Fine. Do as you please. I won’t stop you, but I won’t help you either.”

“That’s enough.”

Having said that, I checked the time on my wristwatch.

I had gotten the answer I wanted, so there was no need for me to stay any longer.

“I’ve taken up too much of your precious time. You must have many other people to meet, so I’ll take my leave.”

President Bush nodded, and I got up from my seat and bowed slightly.

Han Gyeong-yeong also rose from her seat, following me.

“Congratulations on your re-election once again.”

“Thank you.”

Before leaving the room after our greetings, something suddenly came to mind.

I turned my body slightly, still holding the doorknob, and looked at Bush.

“Mr. President. The person who leaked Valerie Plame’s identity was… Undersecretary of State Richard. Though you probably already know that.”

President Bush’s eyes widened. I smiled, raising one corner of my mouth.

“Well, what you know is not always the truth. I’ll see you again next time.”

I turned the doorknob and opened the door and walked out.

Outside, I saw the aides who had been with President Bush earlier, divided into several groups, chatting.

“Go on inside now.”

They glared at me, then began to walk in one by one.

Everyone went inside, but Karl Rove, the Deputy Chief of Staff, stopped in his tracks and glared at me before he went in.

“Charlie. I’ll make sure to repay this humiliation someday.”

“Do it if you can. I’ll be waiting.”

When I replied calmly, Karl Rove’s face turned bright red.

“You…!”.

“Shouldn’t you be going in quickly? Don’t you have a lot to talk about? If you get pushed out of the White House, it won’t be good for whatever comes next. You have to hold onto your position until the end.”

At my mockery, Karl Rove bit his lip and went inside.

I smiled, watching the firmly closed door.

‘With this, Valtiche won’t be able to use the U.S. government to shake me.’

I had warned Bush. And he would have understood my warning.

I knew all the truth and that if he interfered with me, I would reveal everything I knew.

That’s why I named Richard, the original leaker.

‘But I didn’t think he’d even consider getting rid of Karl Rove.’

Karl Rove, the Deputy Chief of Staff, had been President Bush’s closest confidant since his days as the Governor of Texas.

President Bush seemed to be willing to use even his right-hand man as a scapegoat.

He had publicly shown how much he trusted him, even stating that Karl Rove had practically achieved his victory in the re-election.

I was once again reminded that politics is a ruthless field where you must be heartless to survive.

“What are you doing, Mu-hyeok? Let’s go.”

At that moment, Han Gyeong-yeong hit my shoulder and smiled. Thanks to her, I was able to snap out of my thoughts.

“Sorry. It must have been boring just listening.”

“No? It was interesting. I had no idea that President Bush was thinking those things. You’re amazing, Kim Mu-hyeok!”

Thanks to Han Gyeong-yeong’s teasing, the atmosphere lightened up.

When we returned to the party hall, Han Gyeong-yeong led me somewhere.

“Chairman Buffett.”

Warren Buffett was waiting there.

“James!”

The two shook hands warmly and exchanged a few words.

Then, suddenly, Han Gyeong-yeong turned the spotlight on me.

“And this is Kim Mu-hyeok, the owner of our Dream High.”

Warren Buffett looked at me with a peculiar gaze, then held out his hand.

I took his hand and smiled.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Chairman Buffett.”

Warren Buffett was a legendary investor known as the Oracle of Omaha.

He started his first investment at the age of 11, and from his late teens, he became fully engaged in investing.

Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy was long-term and value investing.

He preferred to find undervalued companies, invest in them, and hold onto those stocks for a long time to make a profit.

Of course, that didn’t mean that he didn’t engage in aggressive investments.

For instance, he had tried to pull a fast one to acquire LTCM that I acquired at a bargain price, but I and Dream High had managed to snatch it away.

“Hahaha. It’s great to meet the owner of Dream High like this.”

He had every reason to feel resentful for losing a company he had targeted, but he actually welcomed me with a smile.

After the handshake, we began our conversation in earnest.

The topic of the Dow Jones acquisition came up.

“James. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“Are you talking about the Dow Jones acquisition?”

“Murdoch’s News Corporation is the acquiring entity, but everyone knows Dream High is behind it.”

James nodded in agreement.

“Well, from an investor’s point of view, it’s not exactly a good investment.”

“I know that well. No matter how prestigious the Wall Street Journal is, 45 times the operating profit is…”

I listened to their debate while sipping my wine.

Their discussion continued for quite a while.

“Charlie, what do you think?”

Warren Buffett asked me.

“My thoughts are the same as James’s.”

“Hmm… That’s unexpected. I thought you’d prioritize money.”

“Money is of course important, but money is just a means, it can’t be the end goal.”

Money is a means to protect me, a means to get what I want.

The more I have, the more it helps me with my plans, but I don’t need to be consumed by it, that was my belief.

“Mr. Murdoch’s dream has a value that cannot be converted into money. And isn’t it fun that I get to buy what he’s always wanted? I’m not interested in companies like Dow Jones or the Wall Street Journal. I’m just interested in Mr. Murdoch’s dream as the media emperor.”

“Interesting. Very interesting. It’s been a while since something interesting has happened on Wall Street. I’ve heard rumors that George Soros is after Dream High. So here’s my advice. The Sulzberger family and George Soros alliance will probably just raise the price and then bail out.”

Warren Buffett gave me his advice while laughing heartily.

That was also my prediction. I just didn’t know how long that alliance would last.

We were moving as a single unit, but the Sulzberger family and George Soros were tied together by a loose alliance. So they couldn’t possibly move in the same way.

They were probably trying to make us buy the Wall Street Journal at a higher price even if we succeeded in acquiring it.

“I’m roughly expecting it, but I have no intention of backing down.”

I had no intention of backing down.

Warren Buffett’s smile deepened as he read the determination in my eyes.

* * *

The Dow Jones acquisition battle was a close one until the very end.

The Sulzberger family and George Soros alliance raised the acquisition price to $65 per share.

In response, I and Murdoch went to an extreme by raising the acquisition price to $75 per share.

In the fierce competition, Dow Jones’ stock price surpassed $60.

Amid this acquisition battle, predictions spread through Wall Street that the winner would face the winner’s curse no matter who won.