CH45 | MCT

Meeting the Bedouins (4)

The Bedouins exchanged puzzled glances.

Even the chieftains seemed taken aback.

Then, the Corino chieftain spoke up.

[We’ll pass. Go to the Harkonnen tribe instead. We concede.]

The Harkonnen chieftain followed suit.

[We also concede. It would be best if you became Corino’s guest instead.]

Tae-soo grinned and raised his voice.

[Wouldn’t it be disappointing for a guest to arrive empty-handed? I bring a gift—one that will secure the future of your tribes.]

[Water.]

The air shifted.

Suddenly, everyone was listening.

This war began because of a relentless drought.

Because of water.

Yet, the proud chieftains and elders scoffed.

[We have water of our own. Do you think us so desperate that we cannot even offer a guest a drink?]
[Indeed. You insult our people. Did you believe we would sell our pride for a gift?]
[We do not take guests because of what they bring. We host them because it is our way.]
[Yes! The Bedouins do not seek repayment for hospitality. Do not mistake us for beggars.]

The chieftains held their heads high, their voices firm.

But Tae-soo remained unfazed.

He knew those stiffened necks would soon bow.

[From a faraway land—Korea—I have brought a full oil tanker of water.]

[It has already arrived at a nearby port.]

A wave of shock rippled through the Bedouins.

An oil tanker full of water?

How much was that?

They couldn’t even begin to fathom the amount.

[Enough for both your tribes to drink and use freely for months.]
[Enough to last until the rainy season arrives.]

And it wasn’t just any water.

[Pure, clean water—free of limestone. I offer it as a guest’s token of gratitude.]

Clean water was a rarity in these lands.

Most sources were tainted with limestone, making them harsh and unfit for prolonged use.

That’s why the Bedouins’ reaction was even stronger.

[You would give us all that—for just one night?]
[And it is pure water, free of limestone?]

This was an offer too tempting to refuse.

Among them, the Corino tribe was the most desperate.

Their wells had dried up, and they were barely surviving on small spring-fed pools.

Now, their warriors and elders turned to their chieftain, their voices urgent.

[Let us welcome him as our guest.]
[Chieftain, this water is a gift like no other.]

The tribal leaders approached more strategically.

Unlike the warriors, they did not beg—they reasoned.

[Chieftain, this water could sustain us until the rains return.]
[With it, we would not need to risk war for control of the wells.]
[Our last spring is drying up. We cannot hold out much longer.]

The chieftain’s expression hardened.

Their desperation was real.

And Tae-soo knew it.

Tae-soo waited patiently, giving them all the time they needed to deliberate.

‘There’s no way they don’t want the water. Borrowing Geum-san’s tanker was a brilliant move.’

To be honest, he hadn’t expected Geum-san to lend him the ship so easily.

It was a spur-of-the-moment idea that came to him when he met the president, with Jang Jun-yong of Geum-san conveniently present.

‘I originally brought the water as a precaution—just in case sourcing drinking water for construction became an issue in the desert.’

At first, his plan was to dig wells.

But digging a well in the desert? Not exactly a simple task.

Besides, the Bedouins' love for water was legendary.

Expecting them to share their precious supply—even for a few months—was wishful thinking.

So Tae-soo had prepared multiple contingencies.

‘That’s why I arranged for a tanker bound for Bahrain to carry extra water. After all, the workers needed something to drink.’

Worst case, he had planned to build large storage tanks near the port and make do with that.

But after learning more about the local situation, a far better idea emerged.

‘Besides, I have plenty of heavy machinery at my disposal.’

When he negotiated with the president, he had planned ahead.

He had cited labor shortages and tight construction deadlines to extract a generous supply of equipment.

And he had deliberately requested more than just road-building machines.

He had asked for drills.

‘While we’re building the roads, we can lay down water pipelines as well. Dig deeper wells for the Bedouins and connect them to our own supply.’

No wasted time or effort searching for groundwater.

Everything was falling into place.

‘Once we provide them with water, the power dynamic will shift. We won’t be outsiders asking for their cooperation—we’ll be the ones solving their problems.’

And with that shift, his position would change.

Unlike Samwon Construction, which struggled for leverage, Tae-soo would become an indispensable ally.

Then, turning to Song Chang-jun, he asked casually,

“Is there a limestone quarry nearby? One that hasn’t been developed yet?”

“A limestone quarry?” Song Chang-jun echoed. “The Corino tribe controls one—it’s right over there.”

He pointed to the distant, pale mountain range.

“That’s the Mo’adib Quarry. It belongs to the Corino tribe.”

Tae-soo’s lips curled into a smile.

“Perfect. That’s exactly the kind of limestone quarry I was looking for.”

Song Chang-jun blinked.

“…What?”

A limestone quarry on one side, a large well nearby.

For a road construction project, it was the perfect environment.

It couldn’t get any better.

‘This is almost too convenient. It’s like the work is doing itself.’

Tae-soo had already been searching for a place to establish a limestone mine and a cement factory.

That was why he had brought in experts and miners—to source materials and labor locally as much as possible.

‘If I develop that quarry and set up a cement plant, we’ll have everything we need right here. And with no other cement factories nearby, it’s even better.’

There wasn’t a single cement factory near this desert town.

If Tae-soo wanted to pave roads, he would have to import cement from far away—a logistical nightmare.

‘And when the project is complete, and I wrap up business in the Middle East, I can hand over the quarry and cement plant to the locals. It’ll give them a foundation for economic independence.’

Just then, the Corino chieftain raised a hand high.

[Silence, all of you.]

His voice carried over the murmuring crowd.

He let out a deep sigh as he scanned his people, disappointment in his eyes.

[Our tribe has always stood united against outsiders. And yet, here we are, divided over a few words from a foreigner. It is shameful.]

A hush fell over the Corino tribe.

Then, the chieftain spoke again.

[We have not even seen this so-called ‘tanker full of water’ with our own eyes. Are we truly so easily swayed?]

He pointed at Tae-soo.

[Tell me, is it truly possible to offer such an enormous gift in exchange for just one night’s hospitality?]

His voice was sharp, scrutinizing.

[Would any of you—without ever meeting a man—go to a faraway land, rent a massive tanker, and fill it with water just because they were suffering from a drought?]

The crowd fell silent.

[There are only two possibilities.]

The chieftain’s gaze bore into Tae-soo.

[Either this man is greater than we can comprehend… or he is a fraud, seeking to use us for his own gain.]

The offer was too good to believe.

No one had ever done them such a favor before.

That was why they had endured this harsh and lonely struggle for so long.

[We must verify the truth first. We will see with our own eyes whether this tanker truly holds water.]

The Harkonnen chieftain nodded in agreement.

[Do not act recklessly.]

But even as they spoke, their hearts raced with anticipation.

They could only hope Tae-soo’s words were true.

If they were…

They would listen to anything he asked.

They would offer him anything.

As long as they could survive this drought.

[I have two questions.]

Tae-soo nodded.

[Please, ask.]

[First, where exactly is this tanker? We need to see it with our own eyes.]

Tae-soo turned to Song Chang-jun.

“Can we arrange for transportation and a guide for them? A quick trip would help ease their doubts.”

“Of course,” Song Chang-jun replied. “That’s why we’re here.”

Tae-soo hesitated.

“If the interpreter leaves, communication might become an issue…”

“No need to worry,” Song Chang-jun reassured him.

He called over a Foreign Ministry official—one of the men sent earlier to retrieve heavy equipment from the airport.

“I’ll head to the port myself,” the official said.

“How far is it?”

“Not far. With a car, we’ll be there in no time.”

“Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”

Everything was set.

Tae-soo turned back to the chieftains.

[Choose your representatives to inspect the water. Our people will guide you to the port.]

Several Bedouin leaders immediately raised their hands.

[I will go myself to confirm.]
[I will accompany you as well.]

Reliable men.

[Good.]

A delegation set out toward the port.

Then the chieftain spoke again.

[Fine, let’s assume the water is real. But why offer to build wells and canals for us?]

Tae-soo smiled knowingly.

[No matter how much I insist my intentions are good, I doubt you’d believe me. After all, we’ve only just met, and construction like this costs a fortune.]

A reasonable concern.

Digging wells and canals was no small endeavor—it required money, manpower, and heavy machinery.

Naturally, they wondered why an outsider would do this for them.

Tae-soo spread his arms.

[The water is a gift. The wells are goodwill. And I have the machinery. What more do I need to say?]

They still looked skeptical.

But this was Tae-soo’s honest intention.

‘I give them water, and in return, I gain workers. I help them build their village, and in exchange, I secure a limestone quarry and cement factory. I intend to work with the Bedouin—mutual prosperity.’

At first, Tae-soo had only come to finish Samwon Construction’s abandoned project.

His plan was to capitalize on the oil crisis to finance apartment developments.

But after meeting the Bedouin…

His perspective shifted.

‘Why not find a way for all of us to prosper together?’

‘This water was brought by Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan.

It was originally meant to sustain the workers.

Then why not give it to the Bedouin—and in return, hire them as laborers?’

Why had they been forced into a semi-nomadic life?

Why did they have to wage life-or-death battles over a single well?

[If drought strikes, why not buy water from another country?]

Because they cannot afford it.

[If drought strikes, why not build canals and wells?]

Because large-scale waterworks cost a fortune.

[The best time to dig wells is when they run dry. Isn’t that right?]

The Bedouin knew this better than anyone.

During the rainy season, even if they wanted to build, they couldn’t.

But now, with the worst drought in years—construction would be easier than ever.

Tae-soo spread his arms.

[The timing is perfect. This is the work you need most right now. And more importantly—]

He gestured toward the rows of heavy machinery.

[I have these.]

[With this equipment, one machine can do the work of a hundred—no, a thousand men. Before the rains return, we can repair the wells and lay the canals. Once that’s done, you’ll never have to worry about water again.]

A deep well could withstand even the worst droughts.

[So tell me—do you have any reason not to do this?]

The Bedouin knew the truth.

This was an opportunity.

With equipment like that, the well construction would be quick and effortless.

For the first time, they dared to hope—that their children might grow up without fearing for water.

And yet…

Like stray cats who had never known kindness, they eyed this outstretched hand with suspicion.

[Then tell us—what do you gain from all this?]

Tae-soo met the chieftain’s gaze.

[I came to build a road.]

[A road?]

[Yes. The previous Koreans started the project, but they left it unfinished. I intend to complete it.]

This was why Tae-soo had come to the Middle East.

A mission he had to see through.

The chieftain frowned.

[I don’t understand. What do those men have to do with you? Why go so far, offering such generosity, just to finish their work?]

Tae-soo’s answer was simple.

[If the water is a gift, and the wells are goodwill—then the road is for honor.]

[Honor?]

[I refuse to let Saudi citizens say that Koreans abandon their work and run. I am doing this for my country’s honor. Do you need any further explanation?]

The word honor rippled through the Bedouin ranks.

They were warriors of the desert.

Honor meant everything to them.

Tae-soo reached into his coat and pulled out a document.

[Look at this.]