"Yes, we should brag about it. We must also let the public know about their morale."

"Well, just take a lot of plausible footage."

***

"Your Highness, the Chinese navy sneaked out as the Indian Navy displayed its will to fight."

"It's so bland. Well, I guess it's better to be patient with each other."

"The situation is not over yet. Seventy percent of the Maldives' foreign debt is owed to China. If you pay off the Maldives' debts, it would change. At this rate, the Maldives will be gulped down by China."

Suh Min-seok displayed the data he retrieved about the Maldives.

"Is this from our intelligence service?"

"Yes, it is. It also details the activities of the opposition party of the Maldives. The politicians of the opposition party are strongly opposing the current administration for selling the Maldives to the Chinese government."

With China accounting for more than 70 percent of the Maldives' external debt, China was rus.h.i.+ng to hand over management control of its ports and other infrastructure facilities, just like Sri Lanka, instead of debt repayment.

China's colonial looting was already well-received.

This was a typical way to take over land or infrastructure and operate if the debt could not be paid back.

"The U.S. intelligence is working on it, so it'll be taken care of. If it released part of the intelligence service budget, the amount of Maldives' debt is not a matter."

"But it's true that the Maldives is under Chinese influence. The fact that China's leaders.h.i.+p visits the Maldives in person and the President of the Maldives recently visited China does not seem to be normal."

Although it was a small island country, it was a strategic point that China or India was so hung up on it.

"It's known as a country with a lot of islands. How many are there?"

"The data shows that there are 1,190 islands and only 200 of them are inhabited."

"Since the island of Somalia is not an answer, should I buy an uninhabited island in the Maldives?"

"Wouldn't China be in a rage?"

"Maldives is still an independent country. India is trying so hard, so let's give it a hand."

Youngho had been thinking about this since he was told that the Kazak naval vessels needed oil supply. This was because if a base was in the Indian Ocean, it could operate more efficiently.

"Your Highness, Our task force can stay in the Indian Ocean without provoking China. There is an Indian military base in Seych.e.l.les, north of Madagascar. The data shows that port construction and runway construction are currently underway."

"Really? There is a military base in India in Seych.e.l.les?"

Seych.e.l.les was an island country about 1,650 kilometers east of the African continent.

India's ambitious military base on a.s.sumption Island in Seych.e.l.les, a small island country in the Indian Ocean, was built to counter China's One Belt One Road.

India was keen on China's advance into the Indian Ocean because there was an important route that accounted for 50 percent of the world's oil supply.

About 40 million barrels of oil a day were pa.s.sing through the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, and the strait south of the Red Sea between the Arabian Peninsula and the African continent.

Also, more than 70 percent of India's trade volume was carried out via the Indian Ocean. Thus, the construction of a Chinese military base in Maldives was a threatening move for India.

"We'll have to leave it up to Mittal. Secretary Suh, call Mittal's secretary's office and check if he's available now."

"Yes, sir. I'll check it out immediately."

The reason why Youngho suddenly wanted to visit the steel king of India was that he was close to Indian politicians.

Mittal, who tied India and Kazakhstan to military cooperation, also helped Youngho to take a step in the development of the Iranian port of Chabahar.

Youngho remembered Mittal when he heard that there was an Indian military base in Seych.e.l.les.

"King of Steel" would remind people of Carnegie in the United States, but the steel king of the 21st century was Lakshmi Mittal, the chairman of the world's largest steelmaker.

The company's annual production capacity currently stood at 113 million tons, more than double that of Nippon Steel Corp which was the second-largest steelmaker.

He was ranked third to fourth in the world in terms of wealth, which was equivalent to that of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.

A friends.h.i.+p with a man of enormous financial strength was necessary for Kazakhstan as well. This was because Mittal would invest more in Kazakhstan.

Another reason why Youngho wanted to include Mittal was that he was patriotic to his nation, India. He would thank Youngho for including him for a political matter.

After busily making a phone call and talking, Min-seok handed over a phone to Youngho.

"Mr. Mittal. It's been a long time since I talked to you."

-Your Highness. How have you been? The Kazakh navy is very active these days. Thank you on behalf of India.

"I'm embarra.s.sed to be thanked for nothing. Of course, we should help each other."

-India also has a lot of praise for Kazakhstan's Royal Navy. The Kazakh and U.S. navies backed us up and drove out the Chinese Navy from the Maldives.

"The captain of our fleet said that our fleet didn't do anything except for sailing around the waters of the Maldives."

-It's because such great s.h.i.+ps were around that the Chinese Navy didn't attempt to do anything reckless.

"It's good that no armed conflict has occurred, but I'm worried about the future."

-Well, we can't help it. The Indian government will never sit back and watch China make inroads into the Indian Ocean. I heard that the reason why the Indian Navy refrained from attacking the Chinese fleet was because it did not want to be disgraceful to our allies.

India must have been very determined as Mittal said it and even expected an armed conflict.

"Kazakhstan is very supportive of the Indian government's free navigation policy. In the future, we will often see our navy's activities in the Arabian and Indian seas."

-Thank you. Your Highness, I must convey your message to the Indian government. Do you have any other needs?

Mittal was indeed a merchant.

He knew that Youngho did not just call to have a small talk.

"There's a military base in Seych.e.l.les. I'd like to use it for our navy, but I need your help."

-If that's the case, you could've talked to the Indian Prime Minister directly.

"Yes, but wouldn't it be smoother if you stepped in?"

-Thank you for involving me in this important work. If the Kazakh Navy were to use it as a military base, the Indian government would welcome it. We welcome a strong ally, and there is no reason to oppose it. I'll have the amba.s.sador based in Kazakhstan visit you tomorrow.

"You don't have to do that. If the chairman opens the door, we'll formally request it from the Indian government."

-All right. The use of the Seych.e.l.le Base is a done deal, so don't worry.

The fact that he showed confidence for a job that had yet to be accepted by the Indian government was that he had the ability to control the Indian government with his influence.

What would Kazakhstan mean by requesting to share a naval base? It would mean to see China as a common enemy. This arbitration meant much more than that, so the position of Mittal in India would be strengthened.

-Your Highness. You gave me this big gift. What should I do in return?

"I didn't expect anything, but would you like to come to Kazakhstan if time permits?"

-If you request it, then I shall visit you before any work.