From now on, it was a battle of time.

This was because Aliyev might play with fire.

He seemed to comply in front of Youngho, but it would not be easy to put down his authority.

If his aides, whose situation was at stake, encouraged him, he might withdraw his asylum.

Azerbaijan still had many of Aliyev's followers and many of them were in the military, which could be a potential problem.

If he could not get help from the royal family, he would have no choice but to help himself.

He was not impeached by the National a.s.sembly, nor there had been ma.s.sive protests calling for his resignation.

Legally, he was still the president of Azerbaijan, so what could he not do?

There was another card for Aliyev to use.

It was to divert his aides out of the country.

This was because he could buy any number of islands in Greece or the South Pacific with his wealth.

Sevan's expression as he listened to Youngho's story became more and more stiff.

As far as he knew, Aliyev was not someone who would put down power so easily.

"Your Royal Highness, the first priority is to ban those involved in corruption from leaving the country, and the police should prevent the movement of military bases by an emergency order."

"But can the police force stop the army?"

"If they don't bring tanks, we can probably stop them."

Azerbaijan had so many police officers that it was no exaggeration to call it a police state.

This was because it was an organization that was formed by armed police in preparation for the war against Armenia. It also had armored vehicles.

"If we contact the generals who are in favor of the royal family, we can prevent their troops from moving in advance, right?"

"Yes, military generals who are well aware of the current situation won't move recklessly. They know the power of the Federal Kingdom of Kazakhstan and the force of the Royal Bodyguards better than anyone else."

"It's not that simple to think about. I'm sure there are soldiers who don't think they'll be able to keep their positions if Aliyev left."

"The problem is that if the president declares martial law, the military has no choice but to follow orders. Then the police can't stop it."

Aliyev had another card called martial law proclamation.

"I'll call the generals I know. Most of them are friendly to the royal family."

Since Sevan also had a military background, he was closely a.s.sociated with the generals in their current post.

Youngho was lost in thought for a while, and Sevan kept on.

"Your Royal Highness, I would like you and your family to stay in Georgia for the time being just in case. There's no reason for you to come into the country right now, and I'm afraid President Aliyev might harm you."

"Okay, I'll do that."

"And please call any general who is on your side. We need to mobilize everyone we know to stop him."

All the cards must be used to cut off Aliyev's hands and feet.

It was because this could stimulate Armenia.

If Aliyev declared martial law, Armenia would also be on high alert because Aliyev could provoke Armenia as a way to turn the people's attention and get through the situation.

Although the two countries signed a peace treaty, the two countries still remained bitter toward each other.

The ma.s.sacre of Azerbaijani residents in Nagorno-Karabakh before the war still remained unsolved, which could be a seed of conflict at any time.

It was such a huge incident in which hundreds of Azerbaijani people were ma.s.sacred that it was not something that could be easily sealed.

That was why the Kazakh royal guards and Russian troops were stationed as peacekeepers despite the signing of the peace treaty.

However, if Aliyev provoked Armenia, the public's attention would have to be drawn to it.

"I don't know a lot of generals, but I'll try to get in touch with them. But can you issue an emergency order to the police independently?"

"Under the current law, there is no legal obstacle for me to invoke the emergency decree."

It was fortunate that Sevan could issue an emergency order.

"Then consult with the top police officers of the National Police Agency and make a preemptive move."

There was nothing to hesitate about.

It was because something could be going on at the presidential palace by now.

"Okay, I'll explain the situation to my military friends and ask for their cooperation."

Sevan was also in a hurry.

A little twist here would not only bring a ma.s.sive bloodshed but also ruin the peace treaty with Armenia.

He picked up his phone first as he was leaving the royal villa.

"Director! I'm on my way to the National Police Agency, so see you there. Please keep my visit a secret."

At that time, Youngho was also calling Cho Chul-hwan.

"You need to send two battalion troops of the Royal Bodyguards to Baku."

-What's going on? Did something go wrong with Armenia?

"I gave Aliyev an ultimatum, but I feel uncomfortable because it seems like it's going too easy."

-Don't you think too much force would provoke Aliyev?

"I think I've already provoked him."

He had already pressured Aliyev by deploying a battalion of royal guards who partic.i.p.ated in Azerbaijan's Armed Forces Day events.

That was enough troops to surround the presidential palace.

It was a great force only when there was no opponent, but if Aliyev mobilized the army, it would be different.

-Whoa, okay. I'll get them ready right away and set off. Do you want us to carry heavy weapons?

If heavy weapons were used, it would really provoke the other side.

"The increase in the number of guards is just for pressure. I'm just trying to keep the military from moving."

***

Youngho told Aliyev that the royal family could not intervene recklessly, but if there were signs of rebellion, he would have no choice but to intervene under the pretext of protecting the royal territories in Baku.

After finis.h.i.+ng the phone call with Cho Chul-hwan, Youngho also contacted Park Jong-il at his safe house in downtown Baku.

"What is the presidential palace's movement?"

-There's not much movement yet.

Intelligence agents were looking around the presidential palace with their eyes wide open.

"No one goes in and out of the presidential palace?"

-If there's a secret pa.s.sage, we wouldn't know. It's still quiet.

There was no presidential palace without a secret pa.s.sage, but Aliyev, who had strong self-esteem, would not escape like a rat.

But it was strange that it was too quiet.

If he decided to leave the country and asked for asylum, his aides should come and go even for the worry of their future.

Could Aliyev have moved independently without consulting anyone? It also did not make sense.

It would be natural for him to consult with his aides in advance and even plan to pursue future affairs.

If not, his aides could have already noticed and left Baku.

"Are there any president's close a.s.sociates who have already gone abroad?

-Nothing's going on yet, but do you think they'll give up their position so soon? No, I think Aliyev is moving alone.

"If that's the case, that's better…"

Nevertheless, the unpleasant feelings still lingered.

He could not shake off the feeling that something was definitely going to happen.

"Jong-il! Would Aliyev make an extreme choice by any chance other than physical methods like martial law?"

-He can never be such a man. There are more slush funds that we haven't figured out yet. He won't leave all that behind.

"Just investigate more thoroughly just in case. If there are any strange signs, contact me right away."

-If you're so anxious, visit the presidential palace and cheer him up.

a.s.suming that he was willing to run Azerbaijan with his own hands, an extreme choice was possible at all costs.

But what if he still held the slush funds without putting it in the state coffers?

It also bothered Youngho that he did not respond much when he recommended Russia as an asylum.

If he did not commit suicide, there was only a night escape.

"Was there a private jet owned by Aliyev?"

-Of course, he does. Why? Are you thinking he would run away at night?

"Where are his wife and two daughters now?"

-They stayed in London and went to Estonia.

Something was very suspicious.

Aliyev might have come to Youngho to make him believe that he would lose everything, but he could flee the country without even telling his close aides to keep his slush funds.

"How much money did the Aliyev family spend in England?"

He asked because he had a rough idea.

The link between England and Estonia was strange.

This was because he remembered an article on British tabloid that claimed Aliyev family's slush funds had been laundered through Estonia.

-It's known to be about 2.5 billion euros, but no one knows the exact amount. It's untrackable because he's laundered money from all over the place.

"Mobilize all agents and try to track it down. Ask the cooperation of the British intelligence service if you can. I have a hunch that we're being played."

-So you're saying Aliyev's putting on a show?

"I'm just saying he could be."

Such an a.s.sumption was possible if the presidential family were not currently in Baku.

-I'll have to ban their travel right now.

"Sevan is already taking care of that."

-Baku is still full of Aliyev followers. That's not enough.

"First of all, check where the president's family is now. That's the priority."

-What if the president leaves in secret?

Youngho was worried about that.

It was possible that the president might leave the country for a while due to personal reasons.

Who would find fault with it and stop him when he was still a powerful president?

If the royal guards or the police stepped up, the president's security guards at the presidential palace would not wait and see.

If it was defined as terrorism against the president, this would be another huge trouble.

Aliyev's followers would rise up like bees.

No matter how hard he thought, there was no answer.

If Aliyev said he would leave the country immediately, there was no way to control it.