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Chapter 1003: Chapter 881 Credit Guarantee (Subscribe please!)
Africa.
Mozambique.
It was already half past four in the morning here.
Half an hour ago.
President Ken Locke, who had slept for only three hours, was awakened by a phone call.
After learning that one of the mine-clearing vehicles had been attacked and dozens of people had died, he couldn’t sleep anymore. However, the casualties were unbelievably high; were these attackers all Special Forces?
But
Even for Special Forces, it wouldn’t be so formidable!
Taking on five wasn’t a big deal.
But in group combat, especially at night when bullets have no eyes, those bandits were unlucky enough to die without injuring their targets; It was sheer overconfidence, basically a suicide mission.
Dozens of people died.
It was neither a trivial nor a massive incident.
In this country plagued by firearms proliferation, tribal conflicts sometimes result in even more deaths.
On this occasion, it’s really their own fault for provoking death by taking on such lethal opponents. Who else can they blame? Besides, Ken Locke was furious; the Myanmar Military Services Company was there to help you and eliminate safety risks.
You couldn’t even be grateful.
Instead, you attacked them.
Such ungrateful people truly deserve their fate.
Fresh updates continued to come in; the investigation team would arrive soon, and once they recorded their statements and found the mastermind, determining who was responsible would be straightforward. Myanmar Military Services Company would definitely not be at fault.
"Mr. President, the Myanmar Military Services Company has sent a message saying that the core component of the mine-clearing vehicle was damaged during the battle and needs to be returned to the factory for repairs. They have also suggested moving the investigation to a nearby base," the Secretary reported after hanging up the phone.
"Was it really damaged?" Ken Locke furrowed his brows and murmured.
Such an important piece of equipment.
The core component must be in the most heavily armored area.
It’s not that easy to damage, but since the others say it’s broken and we don’t understand the technology, we have to accept their ’expert assessment.’ After all, Mozambique had initially ordered three mine-clearing vehicles.
There are still two more clearing mines elsewhere.
If it’s fast, by the end of this year, we could clear all the dangerous minefields in the country.
Based on their country’s number of mine-clearing operations.
The amount of the contract this time is nearly three hundred million dollars.
And Myanmar Military Services Company does not only take dollars. They also accept various mineral deposits and raw materials, which is a favor for the Mozambican government that has virtually no foreign exchange reserves and still owes a huge debt.
Thus, the cooperative relationship between both sides has always been good.
"Agree to their request and immediately move the investigation site," Ken Locke felt something was amiss but had no concrete intelligence. He could only proceed cautiously. After all, the attackers targeted the mine-clearing vehicle, so Myanmar Company should be the one worrying.
"Yes."
The Secretary immediately called the site.
Ken Locke began in his study.
Contemplating the deeper logic behind this incident.
And.
The Myanmar Bank Group had sent a proposal for an aid loan last week. Myanmar Bank Group plans to develop mineral resources within Mozambican territory, using an Asia Dollar loan for hedging.
The additional condition was providing a certain amount of credit guarantee.
In other words.
Myanmar Bank Group could use Asia Dollars to purchase mineral resources within its territory, and Mozambique could use the Asia Dollars obtained to buy products from the Myanmar Economic Zone, or even, with Myanmar Bank Group’s guarantee, purchase services from other countries.
For instance.
Mozambique wants to build railways, highways, airports, and the like.
With its finance and foreign exchange reserves, coming up with the money is impossible. Mozambique is one of the least developed countries in the world and is heavily indebted, with the nationwide GDP last year not even reaching seven billion dollars.
Its imports are twice the exports.
It can be said that it’s deeply in debt.
The credit guarantee proposed by the Myanmar Bank Group, in the form of a deferred payment to a third country, can be regarded as a covert loan; however, this loan does not need to be repaid—you only need to provide mineral resources in exchange.
At the same time, agree to the two core conditions proposed by the Myanmar Bank Group.
First, list the Asia Dollar as Mozambique’s national reserve currency.
Second, issue a banking license and allow the Myanmar Bank Group to conduct local banking operations in the capital of Mozambique.
This proposal, for the highly indebted Mozambican government with a very low credit rating and virtually no willing lenders, could be said to be extremely enticing—it has been discussed many times these days.
Everyone sees it as an opportunity, and there are few objections.
The only thing that made Ken Locke hesitate was.
The self-destructive agenda of the Myanmar Bank Group.
Could it be that they have more money than they know what to do with?
...
At the scene.
After giving orders to his subordinates.
Kid anxiously waited in his car.
Shortly after.
His confidant jogged up to his vehicle and whispered in his ear, "Chief Locke, I have informed several tribes, and they will be here soon; what should we do?"
Although the call was too noisy for him to hear clearly, he thought he had explained the situation well and they had agreed to come, so it should be happening soon.
"We stay put here," Kid said as his eyes landed on the mine-clearing vehicles in the distance; he had already arranged for his men to act.
"Yes, sir," his confidant replied.
Ten minutes later.
Kid saw the personnel from the Myanmar Military Services Company preparing to leave in their vehicles and panicked. If these people left, the show he planned could not go on. He pushed open the car door and rushed over.
Accompanied by his subordinates, he blocked the path of the advancing vehicles.
The leading vehicle belonged to the stationed troops.
Seeing Kid blocking the way, a man stepped out from the co-driver’s seat—it was the head of the stationed troops, Colonel Brennand, who had a very poor impression of Kid.
"Chief Locke, what are you doing?" Colonel Brennand asked formally.
Kid hurriedly said, "What are you doing? The investigation is not finished, how can you let them go?"
Colonel Brennand gave Kid a strange look, his lips curling up, "Chief Locke, you are mistaken. We are just taking them to our base for questioning. We nearly understand the situation here; it’s in the middle of nowhere, we can’t set up tents for an investigation, can we?"
"But they are suspects, can you take them to our station instead? It’s closer and we have the necessary facilities," Kid said urgently, making a proposal.
"The distance is about the same, and besides, it’s an order from their Headquarters, and even the President has approved it," Colonel Brennand shook his head, rejecting the idea. This isn’t any credit for you to claim.
"This..."
Kid’s face twitched, searching for reasons to stop them but finding none.
The thing that Ken Locke agreed to.
Could he call Ken Locke?
He wasn’t at that level yet, but letting them go felt intolerable. If these people entered the base, given the base’s vast size, framing them or any confrontation would be practically impossible.
If it were a little later, when the tribesmen arrived, it would be easier to handle.
Kid’s dilemma was visible on his face, and Colonel Brennand noticed, but he really didn’t see it as Kid being ’dutiful.’ This incident had little to do with the police; it was a collaboration between the Mozambican Government and its Military.
"Chief Locke, please step aside; we need to go," Colonel Brennand said, not wanting to waste time with Kid.
"This... uh... oh." Without any options, Kid slowly moved aside, hoping for the tribes to arrive first. Unfortunately, the area was quiet with no signs of a large troop approaching.
The nearest tribe was just over three kilometers away.
It had been so long, even those who walked should have arrived by now, let alone those with vehicles.
Where did his confidant send the message to?
Did it go to the dogs?
In the end.
Kid could only watch helplessly as Colonel Brennand took the people and vehicles away.
