"Chief, in order for our troops overseas, I have to persuade our National a.s.sembly. Please give me a good excuse."

-Of course, our government should address such concern of yours. Don't worry about the cost of stationing additional troops. And I'll arrange in advance so that Kazakhstan can also partic.i.p.ate in resource development in Afghanistan.

"Did you forget that Kazakhstan is a resource-rich country?"

-Your t.i.tanium resource is the world's number one, but I don't think there's much cobalt or rare earth in Kazakhstan, aren't I right?

"We have more than enough to meet our needs."

It was not like Michael to use resource development as a bait to Kazakhstan which had all kinds of world-cla.s.s metal and nonmetallic resources.

-Does that mean the U.S. can develop all resources in Afghanistan alone?

"You're well aware that what Kazakhstan needs is not resources. I've heard that you're going to deploy laser guns in action this time, but don't you plan to deploy them on a trial basis to your ally?"

-For what purpose do you need laser guns that only fit on naval vessels?

To emit over 300 kilowatts of power output, a fairly large power generation capacity, and auxiliary facilities were necessary, and at the moment, such devices could only be applied to large vessels.

"Wouldn't a multi-purpose landing s.h.i.+p and an Aegis destroyer, which Kazakhstan will be operating in the future, do it?"

-Personally, I'd like to hand it over to Kazakhstan, but I can't persuade the political community because it's a nuclear bomb-grade strategic weapon.

Youngho knew better than anyone else that it wasn't a weapon to hand over just because he asked. Nevertheless, making excessive demands were intended to get something else from Michael.

"Then there's no choice for us but to develop it ourselves. I'm confident that I can make something better than the U.S."

-I wish you could achieve that. It is always welcome for the U.S. to have our allies to acquire its own defense industry technology.

"Don't ask me to lend it to you later."

-Oh, I thought I was a friend of you, but I'm sorry to hear that. Doesn't our relations.h.i.+p deserve more than this?

"Hahaha... I haven't even made it yet, but you're trying to secure it in advance. Okay. We'll share the technology when we make it. Instead, the U.S. will also have to come up with some stealth technology."

-Of course, we have to work together. Then I'll let the government know that you're also going to deploy more troops in Afghanistan.

***

After finis.h.i.+ng the phone call with Michael in a good mood, Youngho told Eriksson about the conversation.

"Your Highness, the United States will never give up on Kazakhstan not only for its resources but also for its location which is strategically important. So there's no reason to benefit the U.S. alone. We have to jump into resource development in Afghanistan."

"Why do you want more when we're already having trouble dealing with what we have now?"

"For future generations, we should save resources within the country. Keep in mind that no matter how much resources we have, they will run out someday."

Eriksson suggested partic.i.p.ating in the resource development in Afghanistan. The U.S. already investigated the resources buried in Afghanistan, so it was a good opportunity to get a free ride.

"You know, we're not getting them for free. It would be a rightful thing since we are sending troops to dangerous areas."

"So you have to jump in. Because you can influence Afghanistan without having to suffer too much. Northern Afghanistan is traditionally a place fond of Kazakhstan."

Resource development would be unthinkable if Kazakhstan were to be stationed in Afghanistan alone, but with the U.S., it would be a stable business.

Eriksson also mentioned that Kazakhstan's involvement in Afghanistan's resource development would open a way to exert influence on neighboring countries, such as Iran because there were eight million Kurds living in Iran. If Kazakhstan could buy their favor, the Iranian government would have to comply with Kazakhstan.

"The world already knows that the Syrian Kurds have successfully settled in the royal territory of Kazakhstan. And I'm sure everyone knows that the Kurds in northern Afghanistan have accepted it."

"I know that the Kurds will favor us, but I'm still not sure about how the Afghans see us. We are full of resources but we're being greedy for Afghan resources, how can we say that we are the head country in Central Asia?"

"How many current Afghan companies have enough capital to develop resources? It's rather for Afghanistan that we jump in. We're not just trying to drain resources like they do in the developed world."

The U.S. was, after all, greedy for Afghan resources and would continue to stay there.

It was not for Afghanistan either. The U.S. did not promise to protect it from China, so everything was for its national good.

That was what the world was all about, though.

When a country spent a great amount of money on other countries, it had already calculated that there would be profits in the future. Although the U.S. may have come to Afghanistan in retaliation for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, but it was true that it was all about resources now.

If there were no resources in Kazakhstan, would the U.S. ever consider being an ally of Youngho? No matter how important in geopolitical position Kazakhstan was, it would be different from now.