An Investor Who Sees The Future

Side Story 4. The Wheat Grain of Syria (4)

Taek-gyu crossed his arms and said.

”They get rescued easily in movies and games, but reality is indeed not easy.”

Conducting a military operation in a strange land without information is a way to drive the troops to their deaths.

Is there no other way?

Just as I was thinking that, PR Team Leader Jung Gi-hong knocked and entered.

”I think you need to take a call for a moment.”

”Who is it?”

”It’s Crown Prince Sulaiman bin Salman.”

We were surprised at those words. Crown Prince Sulaiman bin Salman is the son and successor of the King of Saudi Arabia, and since the King is currently in poor health and has stepped back from the front lines, he is virtually the king.

We met when he visited Korea before, and we have kept in touch occasionally since then to build a friendship.

I asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Seong-cheol.

”Can I go take a call for a moment?”

He nodded vigorously.

”O-of course! Don’t mind me and take it comfortably.”

I went up to the CEO’s office with Taek-gyu and answered the phone.

”Hello.”

Crown Prince Sulaiman spoke in fluent English.

[It’s been a while, CEO Kang Jin-hoo. How have you been?]

”Hello, Crown Prince. Thanks to you, I’ve been well.”

[I saw the article that Al-Syria kidnapped Koreans. It is a very regrettable incident. They are enemies of Islam, and all Muslims are outraged by this situation. I hope there will be no misunderstanding about Islam due to this incident.]

I nodded.

”Of course.”

IS, Al-Nusra Front, and Al-Syria are all Sunni militant groups. They already had bad relations with the Shiites, and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made enemies with the Sunnis as well by falsely claiming himself to be the Caliph.

From the perspective of Saudi Arabia, the hegemon of the Middle East, they are bound to be a thorn in the side.

And needless to say, most of the people they killed were Muslims, not Christians. Normal Muslims wouldn’t like these lunatics.

”I would also like to say that not all Protestants go around doing missionary work in Islamic regions, so please don’t misunderstand.”

At my words, he let out a small laugh.

[If there is anything I can do to help resolve this matter, I will help in any way.]

”Thank you for your words alone.”

[I would like to offer financial help, but since you would probably say it’s unnecessary, I would like to offer other help instead.]

Neither he nor I are short on money.

”What kind of help?”

[Several Mukhabarat agents have infiltrated Al-Syria.]

Mukhabarat is the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), which can be considered a counterintelligence organization like the National Intelligence Service in Korea. Agents from this organization are inside Al-Syria?

If you think about it a little, it’s natural.

Terrorist groups running rampant in the Middle East is a story of a distant country for us, but for Saudi Arabia, it is happening in their front yard.

Naturally, they would have been thoroughly monitoring and collecting information.

[I will hand over information such as Al-Syria’s organizational structure, armament status, guard forces, and the location of the hostages.]

I was surprised inwardly at those words.

There is a risk in handing over information.

Whether the rescue operation succeeds or fails, it will be known that information leaked from somewhere. If things go wrong, not only Al-Syria but also agents infiltrated in other terrorist groups could be exposed.

”There could be damage. Are you really okay with this?”

[Helping a friend is a natural thing. Also, as a Muslim, I cannot just watch the act of committing murder while shouting Allah. Please do not refuse.]

Since he says so much, it wouldn’t be polite to decline, right?

”Thank you, Crown Prince.”

I talked more specifically with Crown Prince Sulaiman and then hung up.

As soon as the call ended, Taek-gyu asked.

”What did the Oil Prince say?”

”He said he’ll hand over the information.”

Hearing my story, Taek-gyu was impressed.

”Oh! That’s great. Now let’s teach those Al-Syria kids that life is real.”

”Didn’t you hear earlier? The special forces can’t enter Syria.”

”What about handing over the information to the Syrian government and asking for rescue?”

”That’s one way, but their army is famous for being disorganized.”

”Well, if they fought well, they would have already pushed back the rebels and IS.”

Well, Arab armies are generally similar in having poor combat power. That’s why they got crushed by Israel in the Middle East wars.

Taek-gyu thought for a moment and said.

”Wouldn’t that problem be solved if you call that hyung?”

”I guess so?”

In fact, I had the same thought.

If I received help from the leader of a desert country, is it now time to receive help from the leader of a frozen land country?

The time difference is the same for the desert country and the frozen land country. Can I call now?

I made the call. I thought it would take some time, but after going through a procedure, the call was connected immediately.

The conversation was conducted in English through an interpreter.

”I apologize for calling suddenly.”

[Haha! Don’t mention it between us. You can call anytime. When are you coming to Moscow? Bring your wife and the vice president and come visit.]

”I’ll visit soon. More importantly, I have a favor to ask.”

[Is it because of Al-Syria? I saw that South Korean special forces moved to Lebanon three days ago.]

”As expected, you know.”

If it becomes known that a military operation is being prepared, it could put the hostages in danger. Therefore, the troop movement was carried out in strict secrecy.

Seeing that he knows a top secret that hasn’t even appeared in the media, it seems the SVR isn’t playing around. Well, Syria is practically Russia’s backyard.

[Tell me what the favor is.]

”It’s just that...”

When I finished the call, almost an hour had passed.

When I went down to the conference room again, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Seong-cheol was waiting patiently without going anywhere.

”May I ask what conversation you had with the Crown Prince?”

I said to him.

”Since it’s related to the kidnapping incident, I think it would be better to meet the President in person and tell him. Can we meet right now?”

***

We all headed to the Blue House.

The Blue House was holding NSC meetings every day to discuss solutions to the Syria kidnapping situation. After waiting for a moment, President Heo Chang-min entered with two men. We greeted each other.

”I am National Security Advisor Jung Seong-chul.”

”I am Defense Minister Lee Seok-woo.”

The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. And the National Security Advisor and the Defense Minister are the power holders of the military.

After the greetings, we sat down. President Heo Chang-min looked haggard, perhaps because he hadn’t slept properly for a few days.

Originally, he was scheduled to go on a tour of Southeast Asia, but he canceled all schedules and is focusing only on this. Do the mission team members know that diplomatic power is being wasted because of them?

I had already conveyed that I had spoken with Crown Prince Sulaiman. Perhaps thinking that the Saudi Crown Prince wouldn’t call out of boredom at a time like this, everyone looked curious about the content.

Instead of talking about that, I asked first.

”How do you think this matter should be resolved, Mr. President? Do you really intend to pay the ransom?”

President Heo Chang-min nodded with a heavy expression.

”If there is no other way, we must save the people even if we have to pay the ransom.”

In fact, there is no right answer to this problem. It would be hard to say anything just because his thoughts are different from mine.

”The same thing happened last time during the Pond Church incident because the ransom was paid. If we do that again this time, Koreans all over the world will become targets.”

”The government is also aware of that problem. But if three days pass, one of the hostages will die immediately. Do you have a good idea, CEO Kang Jin-hoo?”

I said as if it were obvious.

”I heard from the Foreign Minister that the military has been dispatched. My opinion is that we should rescue the hostages through a military operation.”

National Security Advisor Jung Seong-chul shook his head.

”We are also reviewing a rescue operation and have asked the Syrian government for help, but currently, we don’t even know where the hostages have been moved.”

Defense Minister Lee Seok-woo also said.

”We are also contacting local informants, but there is a limit to obtaining information. Above all, there is not much time.”

I nodded.

Indeed, if Al-Syria were such an easy opponent, the government forces would have annihilated them long ago.

I relayed the story I just heard from Crown Prince Sulaiman.

”I heard that Mukhabarat agents have infiltrated Al-Syria. They said they would not only hand over information about Al-Syria but also help rescue the hostages from the inside once the operation begins.”

At my words, everyone in the room was surprised.

”Is... is that true?”

The importance of information in special operations like hostage rescue cannot be overstated. Even more so if the opponent is a terrorist group strong in guerrilla warfare, not a regular army.

Defense Minister Lee Seok-woo said.

”But the Syrian government is not permitting our troops to enter their territory.”

Then, Foreign Minister Kim Seong-cheol said.

”Even if we mobilize all diplomatic channels to get permission, it will take time.”

The other side has already announced that they will execute a hostage in three days. There is no time to be leisurely.

”I just spoke with President Vysotsky about that problem. He said he would persuade the Syrian government to allow Korean troops to enter Syrian territory.”

In the Syrian civil war, Russia supported the government forces, and the US supported the rebels. After Ronald became president, the US withdrew, but Russia still remains and supports the government forces. Russia was the country most actively intervening in the Syrian civil war. Dispatching military advisors, providing weapons support, deploying troops, and even having an air base in Khmeimim.

As Russia exercises strong power, if President Vysotsky requests it, the Syrian government will immediately permit the entry of Korean troops.

Perhaps it was unexpected, Defense Minister Lee Seok-woo said flusteredly.

”Hmm, still, we need to review a bit more whether our team alone can perfectly execute the operation...” ”Also, the GRU Spetsnaz in Syria said they would support the Korean military’s operation.”

At my words, the National Security Advisor and the Defense Minister looked dumbfounded.

The GRU Spetsnaz is the elite special forces unit of the Russian Federation. They have been carrying out various military operations in Syria for over 5 years.

If the elite special forces who are familiar with the local situation support us, the possibility of the operation’s success increases even more. After a moment, National Security Advisor Jung Seong-chul, who came to his senses, cleared his throat and said.

”Ahem, but as you know, since the ROK-US military alliance comes first, we need to seek understanding from the US side first to cooperate with the Russian military.”

That’s right. Isn’t the ROK-US alliance the priority?

”I will speak to President Ronald about that part so there is no misunderstanding.

Since it is an operation to rescue his ally’s citizens, he will fully understand. Is there anything else you need?”

”N-no.”

Perhaps because the problems they thought were problems were solved too easily, everyone looked bewildered.

President Heo Chang-min gave a bitter smile.

”We owe a great debt to Saudi Arabia and Russia for this.”

There is no help without a price between nations.

It doesn’t cost money right away, but if they ask for help or make demands later, it becomes difficult to refuse.

The damage caused by this waste of diplomatic power is practically shared by the whole nation.

”I never thought all the obstacles would be resolved so quickly. I sincerely thank both of you for your help.”

Taek-gyu, who had been listening quietly until now, slipped in a word.

”Even if we rescue them this time, we can’t do it again next time. Shouldn’t we take thorough punishment and measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again?”

President Heo Chang-min nodded.

”Of course. We will definitely hold the parties involved responsible for violations of the law.”