Ch.626Chapter 24. Real Estate Never Die (4)

Nationalization of all land through the denial of private property.

Attracting foreign currency through leasing of state-owned land.

Development of former North Korean territory using foreign capital.

Our Syndicate successfully purchased the Gwanbuk land by presenting all conditions that the Korean government would favor.

“So you’re saying you’ll pay rent for 50 years?”

“You’ll build the roads in Gwanbuk yourselves? Not just highways, but railways too?”

“You’ll even construct all residential buildings and public welfare facilities? What? Pre-sale…?”

“And you don’t expect government support for all this…? Stop lying!!”

Government officials were suspicious of The Syndicate despite the extremely favorable terms for the Korean government.

That was natural.

They were used to people trying to secure more budget.

Inflating budgets to embezzle taxes.

Mobilizing lawmakers to apply political pressure.

It was completely different from Haeguneul’s movements, which operated solely for their own profit.

Some might wonder:

“Is this perhaps America’s attempt to seize this land?”

Although there was talk about paying usage fees for 50 years, if something were to go wrong, history could repeat itself like the colonial territories during the imperial era.

The territory would clearly belong to the Republic of Korea, but the actual land would become America’s.

The Korean government had expressed various concerns, and Haeguneul had also interfered with The Syndicate’s movements by riding on those concerns, but…

‘Now that’s all gone.’

Haeguneul has collapsed.

And now The Syndicate has successfully acquired the entire Gwanbuk region, the Taebaek Mountains and everything east of that line.

Although it’s merely “usage” rights, the government’s reaction will be completely different depending on what they show from now on.

That’s why Hundun Seong Ji-eun has personally come to the Korean Peninsula now.

“So… you’re saying you’ll find and weed out only the ‘fake’ residents while leaving the ‘real’ ones?”

“That’s right.”

While I was reviewing the agreement between the government and The Syndicate, Baek Seol-hee was listening to Seong Ji-eun’s explanation about the future of the people in the Gwanbuk region.

“We’ll read the memories of the land and compensate those who have truly lived here for a long time, similar to redevelopment compensation.”

“Like selling them pre-sale rights with a premium?”

“Exactly. If the government were to provide compensation separately, people would complain about tax money being spent, but if we buy with extra money and pre-sale rights according to capitalist logic, no one will complain.”

“If they receive market value… well, I suppose most people wouldn’t have a major issue with that.”

Seong Ji-eun raised her mana, solidifying sand dust into a single form, creating a pillar.

“An apartment…”

“Isn’t it natural for apartments to appear on Korean soil?”

The pillar gradually extended, connecting into several apartment complexes.

The view from the side looked exactly like the apartment complex model displayed on the first floor of a model house, and Seong Ji-eun placed her hand on the miniature apartment complex she had created with a subtle smile.

“Let me introduce you. This is Geumgang Doji Estate Chaossia Complex 1.”

“…What kind of name is that?”

“Oh my. Having lived only in Busan, you must not know the recent trends? Who names apartments like ‘Baekseol Apartments’ these days?”

“Isn’t that ridiculous?”

“‘Ridiculous’ is the name of Thunder Empress’s technique. The names of apartments built in Gwanbuk will all have this kind of buttery feeling.”

“Hmm…”

Baek Seol-hee examined the complex name (stone plate) embedded in front of the miniature with eyes that genuinely couldn’t understand.

“Wouldn’t a name like ‘Geumgang Maru,’ one of our traditional names, be better…?”

And with that, she pierced through the core of this world.

“It seems like people living in apartments with pure Korean names do better than those with foreign language names.”

Apartment brand naming.

The more expensive the apartment, the more likely it is to have a name composed of Korean words like “Haneul Maru” or “Yeowubi Apartments.”

And at the pinnacle is “Gaonnuri” in Busan’s Haeundae.

All those who could be called chaebols in Korea live in Gaonnuri, the massive residential-commercial complex apartment with a panoramic view of Haeundae.

Why is that?

Because they’re well-built?

Because there’s no noise between floors?

Because they encompass an elementary school, are near subway stations, or have good community facilities?

“Usually apartments with Korean names have better energy.”

“…Since that’s actually true, I can’t argue with you.”

Pure Korean-named apartments are better to live in.

You sleep better, things seem to go more smoothly, and when you perform ancestral rites and make wishes, they seem to come true.

While it can’t always be said to be true, if most people say it is, then even superstition becomes a meaningful result as inductive statistics.

‘We decided to call that the will of the environment.’

The will of the environment even influences apartment names.

Just as when voting for the names of redeveloped apartments in Seoul took place, none of the candidates had any English words except for the word “apartment.”

“There must be a reason, right? No matter how much you’re The Company, you’re not the type to just give things away without reason. You may not be as vicious as Haeguneul, but you operate according to capitalist logic just like them, don’t you?”

“That’s right. Even for us, we don’t just give things away for nothing.”

Seong Ji-eun ran her hand over the apartment complex nameplate with a firm voice.

“This is a shield to prevent speculation.”

“…Speculation?”

“When apartments are built, people with money in Busan will come to invest right away.”

“Oh!”

Baek Seol-hee covered her mouth in surprise.

“Already…?”

“What do you mean ‘already’? Who do you think is laughing the most after Haeguneul collapsed?”

“When number one dies, number two laughs.”

“…I didn’t.”

“……That makes me even more annoyed. Ugh, how irritating.”

Seong Ji-eun made a face showing her obvious dislike toward Baek Seol-hee and shuddered.

“Don’t you have any jealousy? If Lord of Radiant Wings disappears, you’ll be Korea’s number one ability user.”

“Well… being number one just means the government will bother you more, and I’ve never really had ambitions in that direction…”

“It’s more annoying because you’re sincere.”

“Are you subtly… no, not subtly. Why do you keep picking fights with me? Is it because of this?”

Baek Seol-hee lightly placed her hand on her abdomen.

“If it’s about that, don’t blame me, blame him. Babies don’t just appear on their own, you know. It takes two to tango.”

“……”

“…Is that really why you’re so irritated with me?”

“……”

Seong Ji-eun’s pupils narrowed like a snake’s.

At that sharp gaze, Baek Seol-hee stepped back slightly, grabbing my sleeve and starting to watch Seong Ji-eun’s reaction.

“What should I do? I think I unintentionally made her angry.”

“It’s fine. Eventually when he fully revives, it’ll happen for her too.”

“Really?”

“If that’s what she sincerely wants.”

“Ahem. Anyway.”

Seong Ji-eun cleared her throat with a slightly flushed face.

“Don’t think about speculating here in Gwanbuk later. This will be a residential complex with welfare purposes rather than speculation.”

“Huh…?”

“It’s a plan The Syndicate has had for a long time. A plan to create an amazing environment where people can live without burden by utilizing abilities.”

Whoosh.

Each time Seong Ji-eun snapped her fingers, Geumgang Doji Estate Chaossia transformed into various forms.

“It has a very foreign feel to it…”

“The American and European sensibilities are unavoidable. At the planning stage, all famous Korean architects were employed by Haeguneul Construction.”

“Ah.”

“The only people with Korean sensibilities we could hire were those who had been rejected by Haeguneul or had their patents stolen and were driven out.”

Haeguneul drove out everyone who wasn’t on their side.

Whether by raising legal issues or targeting their children, they somehow made people submit to them.

Those who couldn’t endure left for overseas, and The Syndicate hired them, giving them the title of “Carpenters.”

“It’s not that these people lack technical skills, but… the industry’s best are still working at places like Haeguneul Construction.”

“It’s not Haeguneul Construction anymore… but let’s skip the minor details. So what are you planning to do with these apartments? Even if you sell them to the original residents with a premium, they’re still apartments on the Korean Peninsula.”

Baek Seol-hee tapped her Taegeuk Watch to open a real estate app, displaying apartment complexes near Gangwon Province.

“A 32-pyeong apartment in Sokcho costs 1 billion won. And this is… from 2010. For new construction, it jumps to 2 billion.”

One might think, “Gangwon Province, really?”

But we must consider that ability users seeking mana buffs have created a bubble in real estate prices.

“What exactly is the plan here?”

“It’s simple. So simple that it might seem ridiculous when you hear it.”

Seong Ji-eun approached me, stood beside me, and extended her hand downward.

“With abilities and overwhelming mana power, anything is possible.”

“Is that… mana gold?”

“Yes.”

In Seong Ji-eun’s hand, mana gold was shimmering brilliantly.

“Using this and my ability, we’ll develop the Gwanbuk region.”

Question 1:

“If you use abilities and magical power to build apartments, how much do you think the construction costs will be?”