Empire of the Ring

“Lee. We’d welcome any household items company unconditionally but I was told that a distribution company is not going to pass.”

It was Sergey’s call from Volgograd.

“Brother. I heard that Colgate-Palmolive is a worldwide household items company. It makes toothpaste, body products, pet products, foods, and health supplements, and sporting goods too.”

“Okay. Then that’s perfect for Volgograd. Tell them that we’ll be in charge of distribution. We’ll be in charge of the hundred percent of the products not leaving any stock behind.”

If a huge mafia organization was in charge of distributing the goods, it would sell them all using any means. Further negotiation would be needed since the Russian government and the American company would have to decide how many products would be manufactured in Russia but it was a company that made products used by 800 million people all over the world. There was no reason that Russia would reject a global company.

“Brother. Could you please find a good site for the factory in Volgograd to lease?”

“Don’t worry about that. There are so many empty sites near the Volga River.”

It seemed that Youngho was receiving the sole credit of attracting an American corporation’s investment to Russia. Yaniv had been calling him frequently and it was broadcasted on Russia’s TV news as a big issue.

“I was complimented by the president all because of you. I’m going to bear hunting with Putin soon. I’ll give you a brown bear’s skin if I’m successful.”

“Mr. Yaniv, you don’t have to do this. I only did this for my sake. I needed to survive in Kazakhstan.”

“When I told him about you, he smiled. He said you could develop an area in Siberia. Then, you’ll attract more foreign investments to Russia too.”

Yaniv’s chuckle was relieving to Youngho.

“Phew, Mr. Yaniv. I’m struggling with what I have in Kazakhstan. How can I take care of Siberia?”

“I’ll just put your name in the business and I’ll be in charge of logging business. It’s not difficult to cut trees.”

“I don’t even have the funds for that. I’m not sure if I can start a logging business. I’ll take that into consideration for now.”

Youngho stepped back with an excuse of funds.

“What are you hesitating for? When Putin wants to give that to us, he means it. Also, logging business doesn’t cost you a lot. I’ll take care of the rest. Just think about what we’re going to do after the trees are gone. If you’re lucky, you might as well own the land in the future. Hahaha…”

Youngho was reluctant for starting a logging business but it seemed that it could be another opportunity for him.

“Well, if you would willingly do the complicated work, that’ll be an easy gain for me.”

“Awesome. I’ll tell that when I meet Putin. Just think about where you’ll display the bearskin.”

“I bet Kamchatka got too cold that all the bears would be hibernating by now.”

“Hey, you don’t know about the Kamchatka Peninsula so well. It’s in the north but it’s a warm place somehow. Because salmons are still there, this is when the bears are most active. Kamchatka is where there are more numbers of bears than people. I’ll probably catch several of them.”

Yaniv’s voice was uplifted.

The Colgate-Palmolive would be building more factories depending on the demand. When the factory was completed, products that could suffice the demand of 30 million Russians every year would be distributed to the south and east Russia. He was extremely happy that he would be monopolizing the distribution of American products.

***

The tension between the U.S. and Russia caused by the recent Crimean situation had been lifted because of the American corporation’s investment. It was a sensitive issue but Russia welcomed it with arms wide open. It was a sign that the political situation of the Black Sea was softening.

The U.S. was allowing this for two reasons. It wanted to interrupt the relationship between Germany and Russia, which was quickly progressing, and it wanted to invest in Kazakhstan without Russia’s interruption. Silently, the U.S. was making moves to establish a petrochemical factory in Kazakhstan.

Since Youngho told President Nazarbayev about it ahead of time after he came from Germany, the president was maintaining his poker face from Russia. He still wanted to make sure in person, so he called Youngho to the presidential palace.

It would have been nice if he sent a private jet but unfortunately, Youngho had to fly on a domestic airplane to Astana. Kazakhstan’s national airline was Air Astana. The airplanes were comparatively new since they were imported after the nation’s independence was claimed but many of the pilots used to serve in the Russian air force; their take-off and landing were terribly rough. Youngho wanted to fly the airplane himself every time he used Air Astana.

The President after his official work hours liked to use his study that had a little fireplace on one side of the wall. It was a place where only his close friends were invited.

Normally, presidents of big nations would spend their days busily traveling to other nations and hosting guests to their nations but since Kazakhstan was only a developing country, he even looked like he was idling. It seemed that there were not many guests who would go out of their ways to visit Central Asia, a landlocked region. Not to mention, he was seen as a dictator-like president due to his long-term seizure of power. Because of this, many western countries avoided getting close to him.

Because the president was not too busy, Youngho was able to see him frequently.

President’s entourage treated Youngho special because the president was especially fond of him.

“How’s the president’s condition?”

“Oh, Mr. Lee. Because you sent a great medical team and prescribed medicine, the president is doing so much better these days. We’re all very surprised.”

“How’s the president’s mood today?”

“He’s excited to see you, Mr. Lee.”

At the study, a bottle of Zeynep Wine was in the middle of a table.

“Mr. President, I heard that you’re not allowed to drink anymore. Why do you have that wine on your table?”

“My doctor has confirmed it with the head doctor of the autonomous state. He said that a little bit of wine is good for my health.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I’m happy to see you doing better.”

“This wine tastes great. Please get me some more next time.”

“Sir, now you’re starting to see the value in my wine. You have no idea how much effort was put into making this. Once you taste it, you can’t resist Zeynep Wine.”

“I feel like you’re asking me to make this an official wine for the presidential banquet.”

“Mr. President. I’m not a person who boasts of things that he has, but I’m just that confident in my wine. I also used all of my money earned from wine sales to the autonomous state. It definitely deserves to be called Kazakhstan’s wine.”

Many countries around the Caucasus and Central Asia would put Georgian wine as their official wine, but Youngho did not think its taste. It seemed that those nations used Georgian wine for a symbolic gesture since it was produced in the region. It was not because Youngho was subjective toward Zeynep Wine but because his wine was evaluated by many different sources that it was better in quality and taste.

“Okay. I’ll tell my secretary to make your wine as the official wine of the presidential palace. I should give you a huge reward for your job in attracting American corporations but I assume this way is better for you to think about your position.”

“That’s more than I can ask for, sir.”

“I didn’t want to go through the hassle of having dinner together. You know, it’s better not to be seen by many people.”

“This time is, in fact, more convenient for me.”

The president soon sent his secretary out of his study. This meant that he wanted a private meeting time.

“Come sit closer.”

***

The clock at his study pointed to ten o’clock.

Youngho had been speaking to the president for more than two hours now.

Tomorrow, the word about Youngho’s extensive private meeting with the president would spread in the political world of Kazakhstan. Two hours was a long time to figure out each party’s personal affairs.

Youngho’s status would be raised, but he would have many competitors as well. Ironically, there was not much important information shared throughout their private meeting.

The president was just curious about the future steps of the autonomous state, so it took up a lot of time to talk about that.

They talk about the petrochemical factory which would be built in Atyrau and the road construction business only for a little bit since the president was already receiving reports from Youngho through his secretary.

“I’d expect more than a billion dollars of investment but it’ll worth more if you think about businesses derived from the petrochemical factory.”

“It’ll be a gain for us even if they take all of the oil produced from the factory. I mean, think about the number of jobs that will be created in Kazakhstan.”

A petroleum refining facility would benefit the country from the construction stage to the operating stage of a petroleum refining facility since there would be jobs for people throughout the process. Moreover, the oil profit would be divided by the two countries, so it was a gain for Kazakhstan. Although the factory would be automatized, numerous people would be still needed to run the facility including laborers and security guards.

“There are more than 100,000 people every year, who go to foreign hospitals to get medical treatments. I checked the statistics and 8,000 people went to Korea for the same reason.”

He meant that Youngho should speed up the process of building the medical institute and general hospital in the autonomous state, and turn the steps of rich people that were traveling to other countries to receive expensive medical treatments.

“Sir. That’s what happens when you don’t treat high-quality human resources for what they deserve. If you treat them the same as regular officials, they’ll all leave Kazakhstan not long after.”

“The problem is that people will complain if I pay them more than others.”

“You should ask for the public’s understanding. They are the people who studied longer than others and practiced their knowledge and skills for years. If you don’t treat them for what they deserve, the medical people will turn to other nations.”

“So I’m asking for the autonomous state to become a test model for that. I’d like to expand the territory of the Arirang Autonomous State and make it a special autonomous state or a state area of extraterritorial jurisdiction. In exchange, I want you to move proactively to become a role model society for the whole Kazakhstan.”

Youngho was stunned by the president’s unexpected suggestion.

A special autonomous state or an area of extraterritorial jurisdiction was an area that worked similar to a foreign country’s embassy in a different nation.

Extraterritoriality would guarantee the Arirang Autonomous State an inviolable right for individuals, honor, administrative documents, and communication. It also exempts the state from jurisdiction, police authority, taxation, and required services from Kazakhstan. In one word—the autonomous state would be treated as a foreign country in Kazakhstan.

Youngho had to refrain himself from dancing for joy.

He thought that he should stay as calm as he could but at the same time, he thought that there was no reason to hide his excitement from the president. He smiled brightly.

Seeing how Youngho could not contain the excitement to himself, the president continued talking with a smile on his face.

“But people would have to fulfill duties as Kazakhs. I heard that the Countryside Force is doing a great job as a maritime police. Please keep up the good work for the peace of Kazakhstan.”

“Thank you, Mr. President. I won’t disappoint you. I’ll soon make weapons dedicated only for the Kazakh military.”

Youngho was too excited that he slipped about weapon production, but it turned out that it was a good thing that he told him the truth.

“I waited to hear that from your mouth. Now you’re telling me. Russia wouldn’t cause any trouble for that since the autonomous state is an area of extraterritorial jurisdiction from Kazakhstan.”

“I’ve been contacting researchers that worked at weapons laboratories in the Soviet Union era silently, but I guess you’ve already heard about this.”

“You need to remember that Kazakhstan also has an intelligence department.”

“I didn’t want to hide it anyway. I’m a little bit concerned about Russia, so if we made some useful ones, I was going to give them to the Russian military as a gift.”

“This is why I like you. You’ve become a better Kazakh than other Kazakhs.”

“It’s because I love Kazakhstan. This is my second home. I should cherish it and embrace it. I don’t want the success of the Arirang Autonomous State without Kazakhstan’s success. I want to live well together.”

The president was touched by Youngho’s remark.

Grabbing Youngho’s hand, he spoke in a shaky voice.

“I’m grateful that someone like you came to Kazakhstan. You work diligently to help our country.”

Youngho was overwhelmed at the president’s words.

Not wishing to show his tears, he hastily said goodbye to him and left. He felt guilty to reflect his actions since many of his motives were not for Kazakhstan’s good but for his own. He could not stay there any longer.