My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 395

The infighting over power within the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs is nothing compared to what happens in Madagascar.

In Korea, losing a political battle simply means being ousted from the political scene. In Madagascar, it could mean being purged.

“So, Mr. Yoon Tae-min, you need to emphasize that you come from a different faction than the embassy currently in power here. At the same time, you have to claim that the guy who caused the accident is from their line.”

“Do you think it will work?”

“It will.”

The chances of them knowing about Korean political factions are extremely low. Even if they do know about the factions, the chances of them knowing which faction the guy who caused the accident belongs to are even lower.

“That’s why we crawled all the way here.”

The guy who came before us had lodging, information, and money provided by the South Korean Embassy in Madagascar, smuggled in through diplomatic pouches.

They even arranged the meetings.

“But we haven’t provided any of that.”

If a diplomat is staying in a dangerous hotel and trying to contact them through a line other than the embassy, what would Rodney Tsai think? He’d probably judge based on his own experiences.

“He’ll assume the conflict between the two groups is extreme.”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

“It is. And if we make them properly aware of that, their mistake becomes the fault of the other faction. And their hostility towards us will decrease.”

“Ah!”

That means we might at least get a chance to talk.

“Isn’t that guy already out of the diplomatic scene anyway? So, he can’t exactly complain that his faction has changed now, can he?”

“That’s true.”

The guy who caused the initial accident made too many mistakes in a row, to the point where even his own faction couldn’t shield him anymore, so his expulsion is confirmed.

“So, we should use him thoroughly while we’re discarding him.”

“But even if we do that, will they sell us nickel…?”

Drawing a line won’t make them feel any better about what Korea has done. It will only allow us to start a conversation.

“I know. Fortunately, they have positive feelings towards Korea because of rice aid and other things, so we just need to stimulate that.”

“Rice? Does Korea provide rice aid?”

Park Do-joon shook his head at that. To negotiate with the other party, you need to have as much information as possible, and he doesn’t even know that.

Of course, the aid isn’t at the national or foreign ministry level, but at the city level.

“Korea provided seeds for Tongil rice.”

“What? That? Don’t Koreans not eat that?”

“They don’t eat it, because it’s not tasty.”

“But they’re providing that as aid?”

“Because the two countries have different food preferences.”

In the past, Korea developed a rice called Tongil rice [a high-yield rice variety developed in South Korea] and fed it to the people, but it disappeared quickly because it wasn’t very tasty.

The reason is simple. Korean palates prefer glutinous Japonica rice, but Tongil rice is based on non-glutinous Indica rice from Southeast Asia.

“But Madagascar, unlike other African countries, has rice as its staple food.”

In particular, they eat Indica rice as their staple food. For them, Tongil rice, which has a higher yield than other rice, is a viable alternative.

Tongil rice was originally a variety that maximized yield based on Indica rice.

“Will simple goodwill be enough?”

“No, it won’t. So, we need to create conflict.”

“Conflict?”

“Conflict is not the right word, competition is more accurate. There are ships being decommissioned this time, right?”

“You mean the Pohang-class [a class of corvettes used by the South Korean Navy]?”

“Yes, Madagascar is basically an island nation. But its naval power is ridiculously weak.”

Of course, it’s right next to Africa, and there’s no real navy to speak of in Africa, but Madagascar is basically an island nation.

That means naval power is much more urgent than elsewhere. If you block the sea, you’ve succeeded in 90% of the defense.

“Providing ships isn’t easy. Even in diplomatic work. Realistically, we need to get the government’s approval…”

“I don’t think the Korean government would refuse to provide ships to resolve the current situation? Especially if it’s a ship that’s already been decided to be donated.”

“But if we don’t give it to them, the country will complain a lot.”

“Of course. But if they don’t accept it there, the story changes.”

“What?”

“Hmm, I guess you don’t know yet. Indonesia rejected the ship donation, didn’t they?”

Yoon Tae-min’s eyes widened at that. He knew that, but he hadn’t thought about it. The details inside haven’t been released yet.

“How did you know that?”

“Let’s just say I had some information.”

“Ugh!”

“Indonesia did reject the donation, right?”

“That’s right.”

What’s funny is that Indonesia asked for three Pohang-class ships that were scheduled to be decommissioned. In fact, Korea donated one ship to Indonesia and said it would positively consider the other two.

Because Korea thought it would maintain a friendly relationship with Indonesia in various aspects, including the KF-21 [a joint South Korean and Indonesian fighter jet development program].

But surprisingly, the Indonesian government suddenly refused to receive the ships. It’s funny that they asked for it and then said, ‘We don’t need it.’ But they are constantly demanding related technology from Korea without paying the KF-21 related costs.

“They rejected something that had already been decided to be donated. Then the next step is obvious.”

It’s either scrapped or donated to another country. But there are many poor countries that want the Pohang-class, but Korea only gets scrap metal value if it scraps it.

Of course, it’s more advantageous for the Korean government to provide ships and improve relations, so it’s obvious that they will try to donate them.

“At the same time, we use Indonesia. To be exact, we say that the opposing faction is advocating for the Indonesian donation.”

Of course, they refused. But that hasn’t been publicly announced. If we donate the Pohang-class corvette to Madagascar in that situation, what position will they take?

“There’s a saying that even rotten fish is still fish.”

Madagascar only has patrol boats. Patrol boats are just for coastal patrol, with no long-range weapons.

On the other hand, the Pohang-class corvette is called a corvette, but it has proper long-range guns and anti-ship and anti-air missiles.

“If Korea can get through this situation with one Pohang-class ship, they’ll think it’s cheaper, right?”

“That… that’s possible.”

Yoon Tae-min nodded. The Pohang-class is already being decommissioned. Of course, it has to go through a modification process to be handed over, but if the country’s economy is collapsing because it can’t get nickel, it’s a complete jackpot if it can get nickel with one Pohang-class that’s scheduled to be decommissioned.

“And Madagascar won’t protest to Indonesia if we mention Indonesia, right?”

Strictly speaking, the priority is Indonesia. We’re just subtly handing it over to Madagascar.

Of course, Indonesia has no reason to say anything about it, as they rejected it due to their own political problems.

“Won’t Rodney Tsai refuse?”

“It’s unlikely. He’s someone who had a rough childhood.”

So, he knows how important force is and how essential power is to protect himself.

Isn’t the reason why the Korean Ministry of National Defense is so obsessed with firepower, to the point of being called ‘Pohang Ministry,’ because of the trauma they suffered from North Korea during the Korean War?

If a country is obsessed with firepower because of that level of trauma, can an individual really forget that trauma?

“Moreover, a country needs a center of gravity.”

“Center of gravity?”

“Yes, something to be proud of. And sometimes, powerful weapons can be such a center of gravity.”

Something that can fill the so-called national pride.

Something that can show that we are moving forward.

Economic or political development is difficult to show. It takes decades for the benefits of economic development to reach the lower classes.

Political development takes a long time for the public to rise to the level of understanding it.

The easiest and fastest way to show the growth of a country is through military power.

“It’s not a loss for the Madagascar government.”

“Hmm.”

Yoon Tae-min fell into thought at that. But the thought was short.

“It might be possible.”

It would be different if there were no plans to hand it over, but the Pohang-class corvette, which was almost finished with modifications to be handed over, was suddenly rejected and became floating. It’s a perfect bait.

“I’ll talk to the higher-ups about it.”

“Of course, the process must be discussed separately from this embassy. If these guys find out, they’ll try to steal the credit.”

Yoon Tae-min nodded at that.

“I’ll call right away.”

Yoon Tae-min was impatient as the plan was made.

The higher-ups’ concerns were short. It’s possible. Of course, it’s only possible in the main lines of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so we’ll have to negotiate with the government now, but the higher-ups decided that it’s not impossible.

“Now it’s good to meet Rodney Tsai and convey the story.”

“But I don’t know if we can meet…”

At that moment, Park Do-joon’s cell phone rang. When Park Do-joon checked the number, Joo Yong-ho’s number was on it.

-Mr. Park Do-joon, an appointment has been made.

“Oh, really?”

-Yes, he said he would come to the Korean Cultural Exchange Exhibition at the Sejong Institute [a South Korean public diplomacy organization] in three days.

Park Do-joon nodded at that, and Yoon Tae-min gritted his teeth. It was time for him to move.

Korean Cultural Exchange Exhibition. Externally, Rodney Tsai came to participate in the event, but Rodney Tsai was not particularly interested in the event. Of course, he is not uninterested in Korean culture. But with his diplomatic knowledge, he did not know why an official diplomat of a country would ask to meet through the Sejong Institute, not the local embassy.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Yoon Tae-min.”

“Rodney Tsai.”

Yoon Tae-min swallowed hard and looked at him. Rodney Tsai is an older and more experienced politician than himself.

‘I have to persuade him no matter what.’

It’s not a joke, the higher-ups are in a frenzy to solve it somehow. China is determined to kill the Korean battery market at this opportunity, and the whole world is desperately trying to get a nickel contract.