Chapter 156

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Originally, when it comes to PMCs, America and Britain are the strongest. In America’s case, the PMC industry exploded after going through the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. But since they’re private military companies, the government manages them very meticulously.”

So the first suggestion that came up was to establish the PMC with America as headquarters.

“But our purpose isn’t to send mercenaries to Russia or Ukraine to actually fight in war. We just want to do ship escorts. So America isn’t quite the right fit.”

“So when we looked into Turkey, which President Jeong pointed to—there, establishing PMCs was originally impossible.”

“Was impossible means it’s possible now?”

“Yes. Byker, which we’re investing in, is run by the Turkish President’s son-in-law, right? Beyond that, the current Turkish President has been building wealth by starting to operate various defense companies through relatives.”

Turkish President Erdo seemed like someone who prioritized his own and his family’s interests over the nation’s interests.

“Hasn’t he ruined the Turkish economy with strange economic ideas? But since he needs to pave his own way, he went all-in on defense using the Russia-Ukraine war.”

“So PMC regulations were loosened?”

“Yes. Turkey has various favorable geographical advantages. So perhaps smelling money, they reportedly completely overhauled PMC regulations. And we happen to be entering that market at this time.”

It seemed they anticipated PMC demand would increase after seeing pirates swarming.

Anyway, this was good news for us.

We could set up a PMC headquarters in Turkey without problems.

“The problem is this. No matter that it’s a PMC, the moment we create armed ships for escorts, we’ll get caught under international law, and other countries will label all our escort ships as pirate ships.”

This was exactly the problem that had troubled the companies escorting our ships.

PMCs go to war as mercenaries or do security for people. And that usually happens on land.

But when this moves to sea, the story changes slightly.

If ships are armed and crew members are holding heavy weapons, it violates international law.

“Is it not allowed even for regular ships carrying only weapons?”

“To some extent, but various problems arise. First, access to ports that prohibit weapons is forbidden. Also, as I reported before, pirates these days are organized crime groups, with many former soldiers heavily armed with weapons.”

First, entering ports itself isn’t authorized, and they’re outgunned against pirates whose firepower has grown incomparably fiercer than before.

“This is exactly why our trade ships’ escort vessels couldn’t fend off the pirates. The escorts’ armament level was low, and under international law ships can’t be equipped with weapons like warships—at best they have water cannons. That’s why they can’t compete with pirates.”

One side doesn’t follow the law, the other is bound by international law—it wasn’t a fair game.

They’re firing heavy weapons while we’re shooting water cannons—how can we fight back?

“Getting permits at best gets you tear gas, and while that used to work as a deterrent before, now it’s basically not even a fight.”

“So for proper escorts, our ships need to be armed to some degree, even if not like real warships?”

“Yes. But if we do that, we’ll likely get punished under international law.”

“Even though it’s unavoidable modifications to stop pirates?”

“Yes. Pirates won’t be punished, but we will.”

You might think the law is strange, but it was understandable.

If someone poured massive funds under the name of PMC and gained military power enough to threaten a nation, that could be a big problem.

“Still, isn’t it too unfair? We just want to escort ships on our routes.”

“What can we do. That’s the law.”

“Then instead of lecturing us about law, they should catch the people committing piracy and punish them legally. No one’s trying to do that.”

The employees had valid complaints.

Why were we trying to establish a PMC?

Because nations weren’t stepping up.

Not that we didn’t understand their situation.

They couldn’t mobilize navies from every country to guard routes 24 hours just to catch pirates.

They couldn’t individually protect every one of the hundreds of ships passing through daily.

“What’s the best method available to us?”

“Escort ships should operate as regular vessels while arming all mercenaries inside. But that could also get caught in regulations……… This is quite complicated.”

We weren’t asking for actual warships.

We just needed to be armed enough to patrol the routes so pirates couldn’t approach and engage them effectively.

“Countries like Somalia, Nigeria, Togo that are currently problematic simply don’t have the capacity to operate navies so they’ve given up. If those navies had even some capability, we wouldn’t need to worry this much………….”

Most pirates were coming from those regions, and criminal organizations were also flocking to places with much lower security than other countries—that was causing the problem.

“……?”

But strangely, the moment I heard the department head’s words, I felt my intuition trembling slightly.

“Would pirate rates decrease if those countries had proper navies?”

“Areas using that region as a base for criminal organizations are increasing enormously. This is all a problem arising from the nation’s military being a mess. Criminal organizations are targeting that weakness and comfortably expanding their power there.”

My intuition was giving signals even more strongly.

Was there a breakthrough here?

“So if those countries’ naval capabilities grow, we wouldn’t need to struggle like this?”

“Yes. Probably…… Ah! Could it be that you’re considering partnerships with those countries, President?”

As if finding the right answer.

A ding-dong sound seemed to ring through my mind.

***

“Gwangwoon is going after Bluezone?”

Though Mylon Tusk was pouring all his efforts into Tisla’s autonomous driving and Space T, he never rested for even a second.

Whenever he felt even slightly bored, he’d immediately open SNS and spout all kinds of nonsense, attracting every bit of attention possible.

That was his vitality and dopamine.

News came that stimulated such a Mylon Tusk.

“Yes. At first it was just floating around as rumor, but now it really seems like Gwangwoon is targeting Bluezone. They completely cut off semiconductor supply this time, and goods that should have gone to Bluezone are stuck in the middle of the ocean—they’re expecting a goods shortage.”

At that news, Mylon Tusk grinned.

Bluezone’s founder Lainjov.

Mylon Tusk hates that bastard.

The antagonistic relationship between Lainjov and Mylon Tusk is already well known.

Lainjov even visited Mylon Tusk’s Space T, then immediately took that idea and founded Blue Space.

Tusk protested, but Lainjov didn’t even pretend to listen—he even mocked Mylon Tusk.

Since that day, at every opportunity Mylon Tusk was busy spreading slander about Lainjov on SNS.

“Maybe…… Gwangwoon—no, is Jeong Jin-ho doing this to console my grievances?”

“I’m not sure. But Gwangwoon would know well that the Chairman is enemies with Lainjov. Everyone knows that.”

And Tisla was in a cooperative relationship with Gwangwoon.

Currently both Space T and through World Link, Gwangwoon held quite a large stake.

Of course, this cooperative relationship wasn’t entirely welcome.

Actually, Mylon Tusk had practically been half-forced into joining hands with Gwangwoon.

“But getting my revenge done for me like this.”

It might not have been Jeong Jin-ho’s actual intention.

He might really be doing groundwork to eat Bluezone.

But whatever.

If they could land a blow on that bastard Lainjov, what would be too precious to give?

“Is there any way we can help?”

“Unless you’re going to buy Bluezone shares directly and participate in the management dispute………… Using SNS could be a method?”

At the secretary’s words, Tusk was intrigued.

SNS was Mylon Tusk’s weapon.

He hadn’t spent big money buying Twitter for nothing.

The person who draws the most attention handles big money and gains power.

That was the current era’s meta.

“People attack the content of the Chairman’s tweets every time, but what’s important is almost everyone sees the Chairman’s tweets.”

That was exactly what mattered.

It’s fine if people criticize Mylon Tusk’s SNS content.

What matters is how many people see it.

“Time to thoroughly trash that octopus bastard after a while.”

His hands were already getting itchy.

“By the way, Chairman. Gwangwoon has requested to use World Link in conjunction with their PMC.”

“Ah. That.”

World Link existed for use in places with difficult communication.

Hadn’t multiple tests already proven World Link’s impact?

“We should support them. After all, they’re our majority shareholder.”

Plus Gwangwoon was personally stepping up to crush Lainjov—he didn’t want to create unnecessary friction.

“But that PMC. Isn’t it too dangerous? It’s Gwangwoon of all things.”

“Even Gwangwoon must have limits, right? Especially at sea, international law is stricter—if they carelessly create armed ships, it could really become a big problem.”

“Well……… that’s true.”

But he wasn’t entirely at ease.

Because the ones stirring things up were Gwangwoon.

***

When Gwangwoon announced they were establishing a PMC.

Each country’s government was watching them.

Especially the one watching most intently would have been the White House.

What kind of people are Gwangwoon?

Manipulating the world economy as they please, causing all sorts of incidents while leaving no traces of themselves—extremely meticulous and cunning people.

“Those guys gaining a private military company too? Absolutely cannot happen!”

Aiden intended to stop Gwangwoon from gaining military power no matter what.

Because who knew what atrocities those dangerous people would commit with military power.

“But the justification is good. It’s for stopping rampant pirates.”

“Didn’t those pirates increase because of Gwangwoon too? No, who knows. They might have contributed to growing pirate forces!”

The Gwangwoon Foundation was spreading money in various directions.

Outwardly it looked like good charity, but who knows what forces they might have secretly grown with that money.

In other words, there was high possibility that everything happening at sea now was Gwangwoon’s own doing to gain justification.

“As I said before, if Gwangwoon arms crew members with heavy weapons for escort purposes and modifies ships to create warships, then we’ll step in directly and punish them under international law.”

There was a reason the White House was carefully watching Gwangwoon’s PMC.

They too, like Gwangwoon, wanted to gain justification.

If Gwangwoon crossed the line and violated international law to arm themselves, then America could step in directly.

Raid Gwangwoon’s PMC, thoroughly investigate everyone related to it, and release all the pent-up frustration.

So Aiden secretly hoped Gwangwoon would fully arm themselves and roam the seas.

Then he could properly crush those bastards.

“But……… Mr. President. That will probably be difficult.”

“What? Why? Don’t tell me they canceled the PMC?”

“No. They’ve already established the PMC in Turkey and are actively recruiting employees. From former special forces and various others.”

“And?”

“The problem is Gwangwoon has joined hands with Nigeria.”

Aiden tilted his head.

He didn’t understand what the chief of staff was talking about.

“Not just Nigeria. They’re reportedly in contact with Togo and Somalia governments too.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Of course it is. Because Gwangwoon can invest in each navy by joining hands with countries that have the most pirates.”

“……!?”

Only then did Aiden’s drowsy eyes snap wide open.

“Wait. So could these guys possibly…………”

“Yes. They’re going to bypass international law by directly investing in those countries’ navies to purchase warships, then run a rental system. This way there’s no reason to get caught under international law. And even if they buy warships and weapons in bulk, if they say it’s to eliminate pirates, no one can object.”

“!?”

The countries Gwangwoon was currently joining hands with hadn’t developed proper military power.

Wasn’t that why those countries were in chaos?

But if Gwangwoon suddenly appears with massive capital, taking over each military under the guise of investment and spreading money to expand military power—what would happen?

“Outwardly it would be Nigeria’s military, but in reality it’s Gwangwoon’s military. There aren’t properly trained people there either, so Gwangwoon’s hired employees would all be deployed. And if Gwangwoon spreads money to the military under the purpose of wages, everyone will only follow Gwangwoon’s orders.”

The temptation of getting a strong military.

Especially for places where national situations aren’t good, there couldn’t be a more attractive temptation.

Of course they’d have to accept.

“And if that military power drives out the pirates that have been headaches and receives investment based on Gwangwoon’s capital to develop the nation, they’d think nothing could be better.”

“Then Gwangwoon gains even more momentum and gets good military power?”

“Yes. The problem is this: there’s high possibility that not just Nigeria but the other two countries will also fall into Gwangwoon’s clutches.”

Anyone could clearly see what Gwangwoon was scheming with this investment.

They were going to bypass international law and use their overflowing money to gain military power.

“The biggest problem is we have no way to stop Gwangwoon’s actions. They announced they’ll provide escorts not just for Gwangwoon Shipping but for everyone, and will even eliminate pirates to prevent disasters. Recently Mylon Tusk also expressed strong support for pirate elimination through SNS.”

On top of that, these meticulous bastards were winning public sentiment by saying they’d dispatch navies throughout pirate-infested areas to escort all ships, not just Gwangwoon’s.

The timing was good too.

Just recently, crew members of ships attacked by pirates were killed, and public opinion on that was raging.

This too might have been something Gwangwoon was aiming for.

No. They definitely aimed for it.

“Those guys already basically monopolize shipping and they’re shamelessly…………!”

Already basically monopolizing shipping, most shipping vessels were Gwangwoon’s.

Who’s escorting whom!

Aiden was seething at Gwangwoon’s hypocritical shamelessness.

But what made him angrier was that there was no way to stop Gwangwoon, whose justification of stopping pirates was solid.

<End of Chapter 156>