Chapter 564: The End of an Era

The situation has deteriorated to such a point that, logically, the South Korean president should have stepped forward, no matter what.
Even just issuing a statement, saying a few perfunctory words, to stabilize this crumbling nation.
He should have told everyone that the current chaos is only temporary, that everything is under control, and reassured the restless people and army with a firm and resolute voice.
But what about now? Not a peep.
Never seen a trace, neither alive nor dead.
This complete vanishing from the face of the earth clearly indicates a massive problem.
“Then… what about that batch of food we urgently sent…” Su Hao asked.
"I'm afraid...it's all already in the hands of the local coup forces, used to recruit soldiers and wage war against the government army.
Furthermore, our 'Fanghuan Shipping' fleet was quite alert; for those ports where conflicts broke out before the grain arrived, they voluntarily suspended transport, thus minimizing their losses."
"Well done," Su Hao praised, but his expression remained unchanged.
Even so, more than half of the grain had already entered the country.
Now, it was no longer a hope for saving the people, but rather the perfect fuel for igniting war, causing those warlords with guns to fight to the death for these precious rations.
"..."
An indescribable heaviness weighed on Su Hao's heart.
He looked out at the bustling city, but it was as if he could see the raging flames of war burning on that peninsula thousands of miles away.
Who could have imagined?
That regime, obsessed with the interests of conglomerates to the point of near-madness, that nation that bound fifty million people to a sophisticated machine, collapsed in such a way… nihilistic and ironic.
Perhaps, this was fate.
Global warming, triggering a century-long drought and devastating floods, was like two invisible hands choking humanity.
When extreme hunger descends, any system that prides itself on being perfect is as fragile as a sheet of paper.
“Chairman Su, you’ve done your best,” Li Huilin whispered beside Su Hao.
“When everyone else was indifferent, you were willing to give food to help those innocent and vulnerable people.
But those greedy warlords turned your kindness into capital for their power struggles.”
War, since ancient times, has always been this way.
It is a game of power for those in power, and the price is the loss of countless young lives, the endless blood and tears of millions of innocent people.
If those so-called powerful figures could set aside even a tiny bit of their personal desires and join forces to save their compatriots groaning in despair...
This land might be a different story.
Unfortunately, there are no "ifs."
"The real problem is the world economy," Liang Haiyuan said, his tone turning serious.
"The collapse of the Shou'er regime is a foregone conclusion. This land will be mired in at least several years of civil war.
Once all South Korean companies come to a standstill, every company in the global supply chain will be thrown into disarray by this sudden stop."
This was one of the reasons Su Hao had tried to minimize the intensity of this chaos.
In China alone, more than 10% of its precision components and high-end materials depend on that market.
And that's not all!
From American fruits to European cars, every company worldwide reliant on South Korean displays and chips is about to face a massive blow!
“Wall Street, with its keenest sense of smell, began frantically selling off all South Korean-related assets two days ago, regardless of cost, just to escape!
Now, capital is flooding into so-called safe havens like gold and US bonds, like a burst dam.
And those companies that staked their entire fortunes on buying up South Korean assets are now in dire straits, crying their eyes out.”
The whole world is trembling with fear.
This isn't just an ordinary bubble burst, nor is it a financial crisis; this is… the end of an era!
The… massive collapse of the South Korean chaebol regime!
The shockwave is spreading wildly in all directions at the speed of light!
***
Meanwhile, at the Jiangjin Group headquarters.
“Speak! What's the situation now?”
Qin Han, Chairman of the Jiangjin Group, had a face so dark it could wring water.
"Chairman... the South Korean government... is probably completely finished.
Shor's power is fragmented, and that president... whether he's alive or dead is a mystery."
"Damn it!"
Qin Han cursed, all his usual composure and shrewdness vanishing in that moment.
"What about our group's losses?"
"A stroke of luck amidst misfortune," the subordinate reported rapidly, wiping the cold sweat from his brow.
"As per your previous instructions, we had already begun developing some high-end production lines.
Although we still rely heavily on South Korea for parts, it hasn't shaken our foundation yet. However..."
"But what?"
"But... our reliance on high-end display supply... has been completely cut off!
The factories of Sansung and Hynix have all ceased production!"
That's an incredibly vital supply chain hub!
South Korea's supply of high-end displays alone is enough to make tech companies worldwide kneel and call them "daddy."
Jiangjin Group, naturally, is also deeply dependent on this lifeline.
And now, this lifeline, along with the entire country, has been severed.
This is an absolute blow to Jiangjin!
"The only saving grace is that we had planned for domestic alternatives in advance. Although the performance is slightly inferior, it's not a complete shutdown.
Unlike Apple, whose latest flagship phones are almost 100% reliant on Sansung screens."
"But no matter what, this blow was ruthless!"
"Yes, Chairman. But... it's not fatal.
Currently, in the semiconductor field, Jiangjin has already taken the initiative.
In the mobile phone market, it's also gradually eroding Apple's market share..."
The unspoken implication from the secretary was:
And all of this is thanks to Fanghuan Investment.
Jiangjin Group's current scale is inseparable from Fanghuan Investment's capital operations and strategic support behind the scenes.
He who eats another's bread sings another's song; this is the fundamental reason why Qin Han can't blame Fanghuan Investment.
"...Tell me honestly," Qin Han was silent for a moment, his gaze suddenly sharpening,
"This matter...is it really Fanghuan who's manipulating things behind the scenes? Is there any evidence?"
"Confirmed! Chairman, the trigger for this collapse was grain."
"And what detonated this bomb was precisely the 'aid grain' sent by Fang Huan's investment."
The subordinate took a deep breath and began to unravel the mystery.
"Although we can't find the core intelligence, we're certain that Fang Huan's mysterious organization, 'Wildfire,' has already established connections with anti-chaebol forces within the South Korean military.
And the final straw that broke the camel's back—the Busan port coup—wasn't it because of that ship of grain sent by Fang Huan?"
They presented themselves as saviors, supplying grain to major ports, yet they precisely turned every grain into a spark igniting an arsenal, triggering a massive coup that swept across South Korea!
"The series of global financial crises, natural and man-made disasters, and even the instigation of local wars by Fang Huan, ultimately leading to a global food shortage…
Everything makes sense now!
Including their reckless, almost frantic hoarding of grain!
That wasn't an investment; it was preparation for a 'full-scale offensive'!"
This is the 'ultimate plan' meticulously orchestrated over several years to achieve this situation today!