"Doctor, thank you for your hard work."

"Oh, it wasn't hard work at all. In fact, it was like going on a cruise. The princess and the medical staff did a lot of hard work."

He was tanner but looked healthier than before he left the country.

His good complexion was proof that the trip had been rewarding even though long-term life on the s.h.i.+p and medical activities in a foreign country were never easy.

"I heard you've done a great job."

"The princess has done a great job. The government of Madagascar was very grateful. It's because we not only provided medical service to the residents who had no medical benefits but also our Navy had cleared all the pirates that operated in the surrounding waters."

"I've also been briefed about pirates in the waters of Madagascar."

"Madagascar is also not a safe zone as pirate mother s.h.i.+ps are becoming larger these days. Although our Navy has wiped out all of them this time, I think we should continue to pay attention to them. I don't think it's going to be completely eradicated until African countries get back to normal."

Due to the pirates who approached the hospital s.h.i.+p as a target of hijacking, the Kazakh Navy had eradicated Somali pirates as well as the pirates in eastern Africa.

In eastern African waters, the Kazakh Navy was so notorious as to be called the grim reaper.

"I'll have to talk to the admiral."

"He's done an amazing job this time."

Getting off the s.h.i.+p, Zeynep was as lively as a fish in the water.

She greeted her nephew and nieces with hugs and kisses as they had not met in a long time.

"Great job."

"Well, it was a good experience. I'm not even tired. Maybe it's because I did something worthwhile."

"Wasn't the hospital s.h.i.+p uncomfortable to stay in?"

"It's quite comfortable like a hotel. The medical staff is very satisfied."

"If there's anything to improve, tell me. We can improve it in our Royal s.h.i.+pyard."

"Instead, give the captain of the frigate and the soldiers a special break. They were supposed to rest at the Greek base, but they worked hard to escort us to the Caspian Sea."

***

"You mean no more guards are needed for the hospital s.h.i.+p?"

"Yes, Your Highness. As a matter of fact, there was a situation."

Lieutenant Colonel Ivanov, the commander of the frigate, the Ural, elaborated on what happened when the vessel was getting an oil supply at the Gulf of Aden.

Youngho had already been reported by Admiral Jun.

"That means the troops on the hospital s.h.i.+p are enough."

"With the royal guards on the hospital s.h.i.+p, even pirates can't be a threat. If you arm the patient transport helicopter on it, you will be able to handle even small combat s.h.i.+ps."

The hospital s.h.i.+p was equipped with a helicopter for transporting emergency patients.

Ivanov wanted to utilize the helicopter for defense.

"It's for transport. You want to arm it"

"If the s.h.i.+p does volunteer work in a dangerous area, the helicopter can be used for reconnaissance purposes. Most of the areas where the hospital s.h.i.+ps operate are unsafe. We need a multi-purpose helicopter to prepare for that. I'm telling you this because we've put our anti-submarine helicopters in the volunteer medical community, and they've worked better than we thought."

The deployment of the newest frigate to escort the hospital s.h.i.+p was rather too much, as it was like a small Aegis destroyer.

"Is there any other reason?"

"No, Your Highness. I've discussed it with the commander of the fleet. It's inefficient to have a wars.h.i.+p following a hospital s.h.i.+p when it's supposed to be a part of the fleet operation. And there's also the ha.s.sle of having to move along with the supply s.h.i.+p because the frigate has a short range. It's especially dangerous because it's defenseless when it's being supplied with gas."

"Hmm! I see, there was such a problem. But I can't help feeling uneasy."

"We've seen the activities of the Royal bodyguards, so I think they are enough to protect the hospital s.h.i.+p."

"Thank you for your opinion. Let's try to use the new frigate more efficiently then. But I heard there's a portable missile on pirate s.h.i.+ps. Can you combat that with a 20-millimeter machine gun?"

"It's quite possible. It would almost perfect the defense if the goalkeeper mechanic was installed."

"The moment you arm the s.h.i.+p, it'll be cla.s.sified as a wars.h.i.+p."

"It's such a big s.h.i.+p that there are plenty of places to hide. You don't have to expose them."

The goalkeeper was a defensive weapon that could neutralize even s.h.i.+p-to-s.h.i.+p missiles. There was no reason to decline it if the s.h.i.+p could be armed secretively.

"Oh! That'll do."

"And we'd like you to deploy additional troops to escort the traveling medics to remote areas. Although Madagascar is a safe zone, there have been cases where indigenous people who live far from civilization are hostile to health care workers."

"You mean one platoon is not enough."

"No, it's not. There's plenty of room on the hospital s.h.i.+p, so it'll be safe to carry two platoon soldiers and three or four light armored vehicles."

The hospital s.h.i.+p had a separate entrance to and from the side of the s.h.i.+p for ambulances. Lieutenant Colonel Ivanov was trying to use it.

"But is Madagascar dangerous enough to mobilize light armored vehicles?"

Youngho was surprised to hear him.

If it was dangerous enough to mobilize light armored vehicles, medical service should not be given in the area. He did not want to expose Zeynep and the medical staff to danger.

"It is because there are many unpaved roads and a lot of times, you have to cross a river. The light-armored vehicle is the only thing that will protect the medics and soldiers, and the radius of activity will be extended much more."

"Oh! That's what it was for. But how do you know all that in detail?"

"I heard that Princess Zeynep was partic.i.p.ating in a long-distance volunteer work, so I went to the expedition with the crew of the Ural. That's why I'm reporting to you based on my short experience. If we minimize the armament of the light armored vehicles produced in the royal territory and convert them into a s.p.a.ce for medical personnel, we can ensure the princess and their safety wherever they go."

Ivanov was saying what Youngho liked to hear.

He was speaking the truth.

Light armored vehicles were not too expensive and did not take up a lot of s.p.a.ce, either.

While Zeynep would not accompany remote trips every time, there was nothing more than a light armored vehicle for the safety of the physically weak medical staff.

"As I talked to you today, I guess I can stop worrying about the hospital s.h.i.+p. You've been having a hard time escorting it, so I'll give the crew of the Ural a special week off. When the vacation is over, return to Arirang Island. I'll look forward to the future of the Mediterranean mobile fleet."

"Thank you. Your Highness, I will show the world the power of the Kazakh Royal Navy. You can look forward to it."

Ivanov walked out of the office with a splendid salute.