The Permian Basin, located in southern Texas.
It was home to the largest shale gas field in the United States, and at the heart of the region lay Austin's ranch.
The ranch was so vast that it took several hours by car just to reach his mansion.
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Kim Min-jae from Taewoo Group."
"You're the brat who bought GM, huh? Why do you keep pestering me? So, what's this about today?"
"May we step inside and talk for a bit?"
"Well, since you've come all this way, I suppose I can offer you a cup of coffee."
Austin opened the door wide and led us inside.
Seeing this, David gave a thumbs-up.
"When I came here before, they practically turned me away at the door. But now, since the boss is here, he's even offering coffee. Looks like the boss's reputation is growing."
"Enough chatter—let's get inside."
I followed David into Austin's mansion.
Though he was one of the most influential locals in Texas, his home was modest.
The building itself was wooden, and the furniture, including the dining table, seemed as if Austin had made it himself.
Thud!
As we entered, Austin placed a cup of coffee on the table.
He leaned against the table and put a cigarette in his mouth.
"Drink up quickly and leave. I have no intention of turning this ranch into an oil field."
"Shale development is necessary for the economic growth and security of the United States."
"You're Korean, aren't you? And here you are talking about the U.S. economy and national security? Tch!"
He snapped the cigarette tip with his teeth and spat it onto the floor.
Just as he reached for his lighter to ignite it…
Vroom! The sound of a car approaching filled the driveway in front of his mansion.
"Looks like a lot of guests are visiting today. Could this be the one you summoned?"
"I brought a guest without asking for your permission."
"Did you call a politician again? What do you take me for! Do you think I'll bat an eye just because a politician shows up?"
He flung the door open roughly, cigarette still in his mouth.
Whoever the visitor was, he seemed ready to curse them out immediately.
But the moment he saw the face of the person stepping out of the car, his words froze completely.
"Shrub? Is that really you?"
"Austin! Long time no see. We met back when I was governor of Texas, so it must've been over ten years ago."
The man who had stepped out of the car was former President Bush.
Bush's nickname was "Shrub," meaning "small bush." Austin had used it as a playful jab, contrasting himself with the former president, whose family legacy had made him the "big bush."
"What brings you all the way here? Could it really be that Mr. Kim summoned you? The former president of the United States being moved by a Korean businessman—are you serious?"
"It's not polite to keep an old friend waiting like this. Come inside and join us. I've been wanting to enjoy a cup of coffee brewed by you again."
President Bush patted Austin on the shoulder and stepped into the mansion.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he sat down next to me, waiting for Austin to pour the coffee.
Austin stared at President Bush for a moment, sighed, and then poured the coffee, setting it in front of him.
"There you are. You haven't contacted me until now—what's the sudden reason for showing up?"
"It seems you haven't heard Mr. Kim's story yet. Let's hear what he has to say first."
Austin looked at me.
It was a signal to continue speaking. Just a few minutes ago, he had acted as if he wouldn't listen to anything I said, yet now he was urging me to proceed—completely the opposite of his earlier attitude.
"To start from the beginning, shale gas development is an essential factor for both the economic growth and national security of the United States."
"Why is that? I can see economic growth, but what does national security have to do with it?"
"The U.S. has historically invested heavily to control oil. However, it has never been able to fully control oil-producing countries, including those in the Middle East."
"Are you saying that developing shale gas would allow us to control the oil-producing countries?"
Austin showed interest.
Being a conservative to his core, his eyes immediately sharpened at the mention of the Middle East.
"Oil-producing countries monopolize oil and earn massive profits. The U.S. produces a lot of oil too, but it can't compare to Russia or Middle Eastern nations."
"That's a huge leap. The U.S. is the world's third-largest oil producer after Russia and Saudi Arabia."
"Even as the third-largest producer, the U.S. still imports oil for various reasons, including consumption."
The U.S. was the largest oil consumer in the world.
As such, the nation would go to war over oil if necessary and was always highly sensitive about oil matters.
"So, developing shale gas means the U.S. wouldn't need to import oil from other oil-producing countries?"
"Exactly. We could even export it. That would give the U.S. leverage over other oil-producing nations and provide a significant boost to its economic growth."
It wasn't just empty talk.
In reality, the United States experienced tremendous growth after the shale revolution.
Before the shale revolution, the U.S. had been at a disadvantage in the power struggle with OPEC, the coalition of oil-producing nations. But after the shale revolution, the situation changed completely.
From an oil-importing country to an exporting nation.
It was, quite literally, a revolutionary shift that allowed the U.S. to completely change its policy stance.
"So you're saying the U.S. can firmly regain control."
"It's not just about regaining control. Once shale development kicks in fully, the U.S. no longer needs to worry about high oil prices. Domestic production will be sufficient to meet demand."
Austin nodded.
He seemed somewhat convinced by what I was saying.
But he hadn't fully come around yet, and he posed a crucial question.
"But I don't understand why a Korean like you would care about this. These are matters between the U.S. and the Middle East; why would it concern you?"
"Mr. Kim is a U.S. citizen. And I personally granted him honorary citizenship."
"Honorary citizenship? What could he have possibly done to deserve that?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
President Bush clicked his tongue. Then, looking at Austin with a hint of pity, he continued.
"You seem fearless standing in front of the man who saved your son."
"What do you mean? Mr. Kim knows my son?"
"Think back to the 9/11 attacks. Your son worked in the Twin Towers, didn't he?"
"That's true. But luckily, the building owner was doing some interior work, so my son was able to work elsewhere."
"And that very building owner is standing right before you."
It was something I hadn't known either.
The fact that Austin's son had been working in the Twin Towers was the first time I'd heard it—from President Bush himself.
"Are you saying that man was the owner of the Twin Towers?"
"That's not all. When the attacks occurred, the very first rescue operations were led by Taewoo Group. That's why I granted Mr. Kim honorary citizenship."
Austin grasped my hand and looked at me intently.
Until now, his gaze had been that of a stranger's, but now he was looking at me as if I were a friend—or even family.
"I didn't recognize you. I've been so out of touch with the world that I didn't realize who you were. Truly, thank you."
"I merely did what needed to be done."
"And one more thing—my top supporter was none other than Mr. Kim. It wouldn't be wrong to say I won the election thanks to him."
"Mr. Kim… I apologize for misunderstanding you until now."
Is this why they talk about "preferential treatment for former officials"?
Could there be a form of preferential treatment even higher than that granted to a former U.S. president?
With just a few words, the seemingly impenetrable wall around Austin's heart melted in an instant.
We had spent the entire night drinking at Austin's mansion.
Dozens of Lone Star beer bottles—the pride of Texas—were scattered across the floor.
President Bush was nowhere to be seen; he had probably already left.
"Has President Bush already gone?"
"What use is there for someone so young who can't hold their liquor? He left after bidding you farewell early this morning."
"I mixed the drinks, that's why. Beer was fine, but adding tequila made my head pound as if I'd been in a boxing match."
"Come, have some soup to clear your head."
I sat at the table, imagining a hot broth, only to find an entirely different spread awaiting me.
Bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, hash browns, biscuits—an overwhelming pile of food that made my throat tighten just looking at it.
"Is there no soup?"
"Soup? How would that help? You need a hearty breakfast to sober up quickly. Come, eat it all."
Grudgingly, I began. As a guest, leaving food uneaten was unthinkable. Luckily, it wasn't bad, and I managed to clean my plate.
"I'm entrusting my ranch land to you. But I ask only one promise."
"Any promise you ask, I will keep. And I promise to pay at least fifty times the standard rent for the ranch land."
Ranch land in Texas was cheap. Renting an empty plot would hardly be worth it—typically less than fifty dollars per acre.
But if it were used for shale gas development, the rent could easily range from five thousand to ten thousand dollars per acre.
"Handle the money as you see fit. I have no desire to be greedy. If it's for America's development and security, why would I care about money? Just don't let the land get overly polluted."
"I take it you've heard concerns about environmental damage from shale gas development. If small developers or companies lacking proper technology undertake it, pollution can be severe. But when a company with sufficient technical capability handles it, such issues won't arise at all."
Taewoo Group didn't yet possess the technology for shale gas development.
From the start, the plan was to collaborate with major U.S. oil companies, and David had already been in contact with a few highly capable ones.
"That's a relief. But will it really be possible to develop shale gas on our ranch properly?"
"We've already signed contracts with several parties."
"Are you interested in purchasing the land instead of just leasing it?"
"If there's a suitable property, I'd welcome it anytime. But people in Texas are reluctant to sell their land, so we're proceeding via lease agreements."
Shale gas sites were like lands that laid golden eggs. Who would willingly sell them?
Moreover, the local elites of Texas had settled here for decades; they were not keen on selling.
"I happen to know of a good property that's about to come onto the market. It's the ranch with the largest acreage in Texas. If you want, I can arrange for you to be the first to make contact."
"How large is the largest acreage?"
"Bigger than LA—around 500,000 acres. The oil wells are scattered all over; just dig and oil comes out of the ground."
500,000 acres?
In Korean measurements, that's about 600 million pyeong.
Land larger than Jeju Island was about to be available, and how could one just sit still?
Especially when oil could be tapped just by digging—the land had to be acquired without hesitation.