Chapter 217: < Protect – Episode 207 – Trip to Europe [3] >

It wasn’t just France that was monitoring Ahn Soo Ho in Paris. France wasn’t happy about this, but America, England, Russia, and even Iran planted spies to monitor Ahn Soo Ho. And as a result, the spies ended up running into each other.

“Damn it!”

Even while knowing they were a spy from another country, they couldn’t do anything. That was because using guns or fighting near Ahn Soo Ho was taboo.

The radio channel of each country got very noisy.

What is he doing? Is he touring?

Is he actually looking through museums?

Soo Ho’s not a tourist. He’s probably been to Paris a million times.

You can’t know anything from that. There are lots of French people who haven’t been to Paris either. Just like how a lot of Americans haven’t been to New York.

So are you saying he’s actually touring?

Well… no. Didn’t you meet the DGSE director earlier? Are we monitoring him?

Monitor Mr. Guardian? Are you crazy?

We got permission to wiretap, didn’t we?

That’s because signal security is possible with that. But no man has ever survived eavesdropping while monitoring.

Anyway, this is impressive. Spy agencies of every country are here. What if we all end up fighting?

We can’t fight with Soo Ho around. That’s a rule.

That’s true… but we can’t help an accident happening.

Haha! An accident? Both the attackers and victims will get sent back to their countries! And then we’ll have to stand in court for treason.

While the American channel got noisy, so did that of Russia.

We need detailed information regarding the Emerald Development Plan. Is there a connection between his visit to Paris and the 2nd New York terrorist attack?

I’m not sure. What we did confirm is that he left New York on a private jet. Oh, he was also spotted at the UN headquarters.

Do you know why Caroline Burn joined?

Hm. Apparently, there’s been some trouble between Star Fox and the vice president.

Evelyn Parmer?

Yes, Sir. It has to do with the secret company, Club Ernest. Moscow is considering convincing Caroline Burn.

That’s impossible.

Why’s that?

Just like Hector Garcia, tycoons like him have forces in every country. He has no reason to stick to one country.

Are there ones in our country as well?

Haha. Our country? We probably have the most.

Unlike other calmer countries, the Iran intelligence agency was serious, and that was because of Emerald City-Kirinda.

Emerald K

Emerald K, which was a Sri Lankan island revived by the Sri Lankan government, was half the size of Jejudo. Ahn Soo Ho sent over a representative to hire 5000 mercenaries, and while securing the safety, they were in the midst of negotiating with the natives already living there.

The Sri Lankan government recommended deporting them, but Ahn Soo Ho refused. If he proceeded in such a way after they were hurt by civil wars, there was bound to be a backlash. As soon as it was announced that compensation would be given to those who wanted to leave and a job and house would be provided to those who wanted to stay, they all swarmed in. However, entry was denied to refugees without authorization.

That was why Daniel was dissatisfied.

In other Emerald cities, complete control was possible, but not with Emerald K. The initial funding was already around 10 billion, and they were still in the process of spending money on those who demanded it.

Emerald G in North Korea

Emerald Q in the Sahara Desert

Emerald R in South China

They were locations that seemed complicated, but they were locations where clear conclusions could be drawn. But despite Emerald K being permitted by the Sri Lankan government, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Somalia all disapproved. They didn’t completely oppose, but they weren’t pleased either.

As Ahn Soo Ho left the Louvre and walked toward the Orsay Museum, someone got in his way.

Huh? Who’s that?

Who’s that? Which country is he from?

Haman? It’s Iran! What is he doing?

Are they breaking the agreement?

He looked like he was from the Middle East. But there was a need to differentiate Arabians from Persians. Following the development of nuclear weapons, Iran was getting glared at by America and Israel while not being treated well in the world’s spy games. As a result, they were everyone’s enemies. America wasn’t as superior as it used to be, but neither China nor Russia would be able to surpass them in 100 years. Or more like even in 1000 years.

“Haman?”

“Soo Ho. Can we talk?”

Ahn Soo Ho observed all the glares that Haman was receiving from his surroundings. It was homegrown that France was the first to approach Ahn Soo Ho. But not Iran. Since they broke the rules, there was going to be retaliation.

“You might get deported.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Okay.”

Ahn Soo Ho pointed at a café with his chin. They sat at an outside table and ordered.

“You seem to be in a rush… Say it.”

If he was willing to break the intelligence world’s rules, he was either in a serious or a desperate situation.

“Does the Emerald Development Plan have something to do with the new Silk Road?”

“The new Silk Road? Oh, are you talking about K-Bank’s Arasia railroad plans?”

Arasia stood for the Africa-Asia Express.

K-Bank was secretly working on the new Silk Road plans excluding Europe and Russia. Though Heyward managed to trick the powerful nations, they weren’t powerful nations for no reason.

Ahn Soo Ho tilted his head.

“Why do you disapprove, Haman? If the new Silk Road succeeds, Iran will benefit the most.”

“That’s true. But…”

“But you think that will affect the religious sector.”

As soon as Haman trailed off, Ahn Soo Ho finished his sentence.

“Are you guys still in the 8th century? How pathetic.”

“We have no choice. Because that will bring down our country.”

Before the revolution in 79, Iran was the most progressive capitalist society in the Middle East. But currently, they were the most religious country known to land.

Ahn Soo Ho smirked.

In the 70s, Iran was so open that the women walked around in miniskirts. Due to their fundamental beliefs, public displays of affection were still non-existent, but women were allowed to drive unlike in Saudi Arabia. But after even Saudi Arabia passed the law to allow women to drive, the Islamic society was bound to change.

“Are you scared of another revolution?”

“The council won’t support women’s rights.”

If the railroads, roads, and borders were to open again, culture was going to flourish. No matter how oppressive the Islamic laws were, the young were designed to deviate.

“If the council is being stubborn… you can just refuse to let them in on the railroads.”

Haman looked at Ahn Soo Ho as if he was asking if he really had no idea.

“If we do that, we’ll be isolated. On top of that, the inside is dreaming of globalization.”

Iran had been isolated for a long time, and the cause of that was believed to be their lack of influence on the international stage. If that was the case, what could they do to increase their influence?

Oil? There were limits to that.

Nuclear weapons? That only caused hostility.

All that was left was geographical advantage.

Luckily, Iran had the advantage of being in a location that could connect the north with the south and the east with the west. It was believed that if they stood against China one-on-one and produced synergy, there was going to be an overwhelming response. But they couldn’t help but also be concerned about cultural clash and chaos.

“So?”

“We need a neutral zone.”

“By that, you mean…”

“We want to participate in the Emerald Plan. But it has to be somewhere where both Pakistan and Afghanistan overlap.”

“Don’t you think you’re being too shameless?”

Ahn Soo Ho had no intention of just giving what the Iran government wanted. But since they were offering for free, he didn’t feel like turning it down either.

“We’ll give way in whatever you need, Soo Ho.”

“Hm.”

Ahn Soo Ho went deep into thought and then opened his eyes wide.

“Then how about this? Transfer 3 northeast provinces to the Kurds.”

“Are you telling us to acknowledge the Kurdistans?”

Haman gasped in surprise.

“It’s a bit of a headache, don’t you think?”

“Still… what about Turkey or Iraq? Even if we acknowledge them, if they resist, we could go into another civil war.”

“As you probably know, K-Bank’s plan is a little different from China’s one-on-one.”

“I know. They excluded Turkey.”

In the 21st century, most Silk Roads went through central Asia and Turkey and entered Europe, or it made people think of express trains that passed through Russia and Siberia. But the new Silk Road that Heyward created focused on North Africa, the Atlantic, and the coastline.

They completely excluded Europe.

‘Once they finish the North African railroad, they’ll expand it along the coastline toward the south.’

A huge railroad system that would take over the African continent.

It hadn’t succeeded just yet, but Heyward’s dreams were big. He was an amusing fellow.

But such a plan that required astronomical funding didn’t have a beautiful start or an ending. Actually, it was likely that Pilgrim Heyward would die before getting to see the start of the plan.

“If you were me, would you be okay with your country being excluded?”

“No.”

“Right? No one would be.”

It was the intelligence agency’s instinct to think of anything that brought down national profits as an act of antagonism. Patriotism always clashed with rationality.

“Who would like it if the Middle East got noisy again because of railroad reasons?”

Haman thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Israel?”

“Yeah. They would like it the most. On top of that, in order to make a railroad through North Africa, they can’t do it without going through Israel. They probably won’t cooperate.”

“Then what?”

“Don’t you think Heyward would have thought of that already? He’ll probably make an announcement soon.”

Israel would likely oppose, but it would soon be announced that large-scale construction connecting the rivers of the Gulf of Aqaba would take place. The current technology was enough to connect rivers together if it was also capable of making artificial islands.

The problem was always money.

“If you acknowledge the Kurdistans… I’ll guarantee Iran.”

Haman looked at him with a confused look on his face.

“For the Kurds that have nothing to do with you?”

“What do you mean?”

What many people didn’t realize was that the Krudistans’ land was not only thriving with oil, but with water resources as well. That was also why Turkey couldn’t allow them to become independent, and other surrounding countries were after their natural resources as well.

Ahn Soo Ho smirked.

Who cares if they were Islam or Christian? In any case, they were his future clients. On the contrary, a smaller group like the Kurds were even easier to manipulate. If someone had known that he thought that way, they would have been shocked.

“They’re all my future clients.”

‘Gather around! Let’s pray! Let’s build a house!’

“I respect believers of the faith.”

Belief was one of the biggest unearned income.

******

Once Ahn Soo Ho returned to his hotel after his museum tour, Director Lemaire sighed of relief after receiving DGSE’s briefing. But on the other hand, he had his doubts.

‘It felt like he was going to set something off…’

Ahn Soo Ho never said what he didn’t mean.

‘What’s going on here?’

Did it have anything to do with the Iranian government? Once Haman finished his meeting with Ahn Soo Ho, he was deported out of France. He willingly accepted DGSE’s request, and the Iranian government also quietly pulled him out.

“Check Soo Ho’s movements again.”

“Director. It’s already been three times…”

“Just do it.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The secretary took out his phone in response to his superior’s hysteric response.

‘Why did Sylvestre have to get involved…’

This was all because of Sylvestre’s lips. After gathering all the funding from a French businessman, he put it into New York real estate. At the time, he didn’t think much of it. And they even supported him since he was a troubleshooter who did dirty things for the government.

The problem was that after the New York terrorist attack, the situation started to become strange. They truthfully accused the terrorist attack in America. In the end, the fundamental reason why Europe was in chaos was because America flipped the Middle East upside down and didn’t resolve it properly. They didn’t show it, but they were happy. That was until the half African half French, Ransell Straussmow terrorized London.

‘No matter how unfairly he was treated, how could he screw over his home country…?’

This was Lemaire’s first time being insulted by a Yankee and a Limey. The fact that a former French high official became a terrorist was a sin that could not be washed off. Of course, they were no comparison to the White House and the Davis Scandal, but the Elysee Palace went through hardships as well.

France’s vanguard, DGSE went ahead to try to resolve the matter. That was when they realized that this wasn’t a simple matter involving one high official. Countless rich people, royalty, and nobles of prestigious social gatherings were wrapped up in it as well.

If the truth behind the case was to be revealed, a tsunami was going to sweep up the globe. As a result, the American president was going to fall from his high horse, and France could go through another revolution.

‘Damn it!’

The French government and DGSE started a gun battle in order to bury this case, but Ahn Soo Ho somehow managed to sniff it out. If it was anyone else, they would have been ordered to be assassinated already.

‘If we act dumb, we might be able to buy some…’

Lemaire was thinking of countermeasures when his subordinate called.

“Director!”

The secretary that just walked away came running back with a face as if he was a divorced man forced to pay a lot of alimony.

“What is it?”

“It’s gone!”

“What’s gone?”

He got a bad feeling while asking the question.

“The works!”

The secretary’s face turned into something that made him look like he lost his country to the Nazis.

“Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou! They’ve all been robbed! All of their works have disappeared!”

“What on earth are you…”

Lemaire stopped and said his last word.

‘Ahn Soo Ho!’

He was the only one capable of escaping all of the security measures of such famous museums. Only Ahn Soo Ho was able to break through Washington D.C. and the White House’s security system as well. There was a reason why he went on a museum tour for all to see.

“Damn it!”

Lemaire cursed while picking up his phone. He was right. He had no other choice but to go back to him. He pressed speed dial while calling his secretary.

“Enforce information control!”

If this truth got out, it was going to be more humiliating than the London terrorist attack. It was a relief though that it happened after the museums’ opening hours.

“Catch anyone that finds out the truth even if they’re security guards or curators!”

National disgrace.

That was what this was.

< Protect – Episode 207 – Trip To Europe [3] > The end.

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