Everyone was busy in the presidential complex, except for Hamza, who only had to review some small statistics on an increase in flu cases in western Tashkent (the capital of Annaba). The enactment of the new laws was quite a drag to deal with — a massive amount of paperwork, memorizing lines, assessments, discussions; everything was spiraling not only for me but for others as well.
While Abdullah and I were extensively preparing for the press conference, which was crucial for maintaining a good image, Tamaroa was holding a briefing with the police and SWAT units to assess risks, opportunities, and ways to enhance intelligence gathering.
All of them, big muscular guys in protective vests, were talking non-stop.
At the center, Tam briefed them with a pointer, pointing at the board while they all listened, but argued a lot.
Meanwhile, Madina Begum, the treasury secretary, was reviewing my proposal to identify any possible issues to correct or adjust concerning timing and effectiveness.
She was calculating every possible scenario, reading an economics book for reference.e
No, I shouldn't give up,- she said and continued to work.
"Knock, Knock. echoed across the room Come in," I said while memorizing potential answers. It was Tamaroa, burdened with a large stack of papers in his hands and a serious expression on his face. He walked slowly while sighing loudly.
He dropped a large stack of papers on my table, which made a small BANG.
"Ismael, God has blessed you with a new headache," he said, revealing surprising news. "The Yedisen group seems to be financing the FLN through the Darknet using cryptocurrency, making it hard to track and nearly impossible to disrupt or even slow down." Tamaroa finished.
"Damn, that explains the recent rise in Ethereum's price," I remarked, remembering that I had profited nearly 2,000 rials (Tibilistan currency; 2,000 rials = 1,000 USD) from the sudden boom.
We had very few options available for curtailing this financing. The first option was to request the federal government to pressure them through sanctions or, at the very least, diplomatically, by expelling their ambassador. However, that seemed unlikely since they were preoccupied with clamping down on the Big Peasants' resistance.
The second option involved financing insurgents on their soil, which was feasible for us due to certain elements within the federal government having established ties for such situations. However, I noted that it could lead to a proxy conflict, which we would most likely lose.
"So, what can we do, Tamy?" Ismail inquired.
"Besides counter-financing or sanctions, we don't have many options," Tamaroa replied, precisely as I had predicted.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that they are teamed with a broader mafia network covering the whole of Tibilistan," he added, bringing up another depressing fact amidst an already gloomy situation.
"Okay, I understand. What can we do?" I asked in a commanding tone.
"We mobilize the police force and strike against them like a war on drugs. After that, we can capture Bugra Ulya in a style similar to Pablo Escobar," he suggested enthusiastically.
"No, a war on drugs was a total failure. The narcotics problem still persists in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador," I countered bluntly. "Only 40% of the drugs will be intercepted, but their profit margins increase by 300%," I continued.
"Hmm... this is harder than I thought," Tamaroa admitted.
"We just need to break the financing web; that's it," I asserted.
"No, it would be more efficient to establish a special force unit and focus solely on Bugra Ulya," Tamaroa said. "It would be quick and efficient, and then we could enact the laws while you travel to negotiate," he added.
"Hmm, okay, that makes sense. I'll take the gamble," I approved shortly.
Alright, Ismael, - responded Tamaroa, leaving the room.
But deep inside, I had a conflicting opinion; I didn't want to gamble on people's lives, but it was one of the few opportunities to win and consolidate peace.
Nah, you would end up just having more killed than saved,- said Hirohito.
I lost my breath, I was sweating, how did he come after all of the treatment?
Loser, you thought you could kill with cheap medical treatment,- he inquired in a funny voice.
I started meditating intensely like a Shaolin monk, which made him disappear again.