Empire of the Ring

Terrorism in Kazakhstan had dwindled as the Kazakh Army and the Countryside Force had been targeting small and large strongholds of the IS, crossing in and out of the Kyrgyzstan border frequently.

The IS headquarters in Syria was completely destroyed, and there was no other place left but an Afghanistan-based defense body and ones that were recently launched in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The U.S. Air Force in Almaty also began to attack IS strongholds, and the IS, which had been set up at the border, finally disappeared.

When the border was cleared to a certain extent, the Countryside Force also returned from their duty at the border. The return of 95 soldiers and 20 tactical armored vehicles, excluding those injured, also eased the state’s tension. After the tactical armored vehicles joined the state’s patrol line, the security was even more tightened.

In the meantime, Youngho was very busy.

( NovelFull )     This was because of Turkey’s establishment of the Otokar factory in Atyrau. The joint venture was possible due to the active cooperation of the Turkish government.

Kim Chun rushed in as Youngho was about to leave his office after preparing for a business trip to Istanbul.

“Prince Consort, the freighter has just arrived.”

“Hong Sung-ki must be here then, right?”

“He’s on his way to the Grand Palace. He said that he has something for you. He’ll be here soon.”

“There’s nothing urgent. I can go to Istanbul tomorrow, so please contact the airport and cancel today’s flight.”

Youngho was very curious about Nikolay’s gift that he offered to give.

He had received the balance for the sale of the factories in Moscow. He had been stressing that he would reward Youngho when he received the balance, so Youngho was secretly looking forward to it.

As Hong Sung-ki was pulling out from Siberia, he met up with Nikolay and received the gift intended for Youngho.

The icebreaker that returned this time had its last voyage of the year. The Arctic Ocean was already frozen and no longer navigable with the Arirang’s capabilities.

“You said you brought the gift. How come you’re empty-handed?”

“How can I carry the thing that needed to be carried with a car? I left it in the storage room on the first floor. It weighs as much as two tons.”

“What kind of stuff is it that it weighs that much? Did he send me vodka bottles?”

“We’ll be able to make our own vodka next year, wouldn’t he know that? I wasn’t able to see the contents since it was so thoroughly sealed. I hope it’s gold or diamond stones, but I doubt that.”

Hong Sung-ki had guessed right. If it weighed two tons, it must be gold.

Gold bar of such amount would be more than 100 million dollars at the market price. It was a big gift. Youngho felt burdened by it.

Although a commission of one to three percent of the transaction price was usually given to a person who acted as a broker, but such rates were ignored when it came to a large sum of 1.7 billion dollars. No matter how big the transaction amount was, a few tens of millions of dollars were the limit. The gift was too much for what Youngho did.

“What did you send me, Chairman Nikolay? This weighs so much.”

“You haven’t checked the contents yet. I added a little more when I heard that the state was attacked. I received so much from you every time, so this is a little token of appreciation.”

“By any chance, did you send me gold?”

“I assumed that you’d have enough cash, so I replaced it with gold bars.”

“It’s too much. What did I do to get this big gift?”

“You opened a new world for me. I’m flying out of the cage now. I’ll always appreciate it.”

“Well, I’ll have to buy the most expensive grape seedlings for your vineyard.”

( NovelFull )     “You mean it’s burdensome. Well, I’d appreciate it if you would pay me back with good seedlings.”

“I’ll also be responsible for the farming of vineyard. My farm staffs are experts, so I’ll get you to harvest the grapes right away next year. If you come to Baku in the winter, the farm work will be already done.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“Now I owe you a debt. If you need anything, please let me know. I’ll do as much as I can until I clear my debts.”

“It’s a family honor to dare indebt you, the duke of the Arirang state. Then I’ll have to ask you a favor right away. I’d like to buy a hotel in Baku, would you help me?”

“If I take the lead in creating a peer of the same industry, our employees will have a lot of complaints.”

“Hahaha…”

“But I can’t turn a blind eye to your request. The terrorist attacks have discouraged tourists from coming to Baku, but it’s a good time to buy a hotel building now. There is a hotel near Arirang Hotel. Would you mind?”

“I just follow the maxim of investing in recession.”

“There’s a hotel in Batumi that’s worth it too. Would you like to see it?”

“Is it near the Arirang Hotel, too?”

“Of course. It would be better if there were a lot of hotels together. Tourists prefer that area.”

***

Although Youngho received an unexpected gift, he had been dying to ask Nikolay how many gold bars he had. When the gold bars were passed over to Basten previously, Youngho’s stomach hurt in resentment. However, Nikolay generously gave gold bars to Youngho as a gift.

Nikolay’s family had acquired so much gold as his family had run a private gold mine for over a hundred years. The amount of alluvial gold in Siberia was huge enough to surpass the gold rush of the western era.

So far, Youngho had seen more than ten tons of gold bars coming from Nikolay. He wondered how many gold bars he had left now. However, he could not ask. He only hoped that one day, he would be able to buy gold bars from him.

Youngho decided to take Hong Sung-ki, who just returned from Siberia to Istanbul instead of Kim Il-kwon.

Less than 24 hours have passed since he returned home, so Sung-ki complained that Youngho did not even give him a break.

“If you don’t want to follow me, go to Baku instead of Il-kwon and protect the farm.”

“Prince consort, how can the deputy director of the intelligence department work at a farm?”

“Well, I was going to stop by at Denmark, but if you don’t want to I can’t push you. I’ll give you a week off from now, so take a break all you want.”

“You’re going to Denmark? Of course, I’ll escort you there. There’s no one that knows Denmark more than me.”

When Hong Sung-ki used to work for Arirang Shipping as a security guard, he had been to the coastal countries of the Baltic Sea frequently. Of course, he missed those days. There would also be girls whom he made acquaintance with at his favorite bars. As Youngho mentioned about Denmark, Hong Sung-ki’s face was suddenly brightened.

“Denmark is also plagued by terrorism, so be armed.”

“Hum, I’ll fill up the bullets in my GLOCK pistol.”

“How are you going to get through the airport security check?”

“I’ll let each airport know that the VIP from the Arirang Autonomous State is on his way. That way, I can arm myself as a bodyguard.”

“Oh, if you make such a fuss, the IS will love to hear that.”

“I’ll take care of everything. Leave it to the best of the men in the autonomous state.”

Although Hong Sung-ki is a bit talkative, he was as reliable as Kim Il-kwon, and he was also quick to move.

Suh Min-seok should accompany Youngho as his secretary, but he could not even protect himself in times like this. Although the schedule to Istanbul was delayed by a day, Youngho was relieved that the two tons of gold bars were added to the asset of the Grand Palace of the state. Combined with the production of this year’s gold at Serbian ranch, there would be up to ten tons of gold bars. Even if the dollar tumbled, Youngho would not be afraid of it.

***

A six-seater jet landed comfortably on the runway.

As the jet was moved to the small plane’s mooring, a limousine was approaching Youngho and Sung-ki.

“What’s that?”

“That’s from the Kazakh embassy in Turkey.”

“What the hell did you do?”

“Well, this is natural. The Duke of the Arirang Autonomous State is here.”

“Jeez, I don’t like this. I just want to go do my business quietly.”

“All the high-ranking government officials already know that you’re the president’s favorite. They’re trying to impress you. Well, I only asked for your convenience at the airport immigration, but this is a little too much.”

“Am I the President’s sweetheart? I’m his favorite?”

“What’s wrong with being favored?”

“Shush! The driver might get the wrong idea.”

“You’re the duke of the Arirang Autonomous State, which is equivalent to a minister-level official of the Kazakh government. Of course, the embassy should honor you. And, you’re the only one in the country that meets the president in private so often like a good friend.”

“Oh, I’m a fool to talk to you. All right, let’s just ask them to check us in, and please turn down the car. My friend is already here to pick us up.”

“Yep, I see.”

When Youngho said he was coming, Mustafa decided to come to the airport.

Whenever Youngho visited Istanbul, he visited Mustafa. Youngho owed him since he connected him with Fatima a long time ago, in addition to being a good friend and a business partner who sold the carpets produced in the autonomous state.

Youngho had been sorry that he could not invite Mustafa to the coronation or Szechenyi’s wedding before. So, he was going to loosen his belt and feast with him for a long time.

“My brother, you look great.”

“Thanks to you, I’m doing a lot better here.”

Mustafa, who had been waiting in the airport, welcomed the two with a big smile. Mustafa had put on some weight.

“Brother, did you send the grape seedlings I asked for?”

“I’m sure it’s already in Baku. I went to the grape seedling seller and he happened to have seedlings to send to Baku too. So, I sent yours alongside his. But did you buy land again?”

“I was asked by a Russian businessman. He has a vineyard near my farm in Baku, so I’m helping him.”

“I should have done grape farming.”

“Even though I’d recommend grape farming, I don`t recommend wine business to anyone. I got lucky since I had a market in Russia, but it’s indeed not for anyone. Brother, the rug business is perfect for you.”

In fact, Mustafa looked like a rug vendor. Youngho imagined him moving with his big body while smoking a hookah and negotiating prices. It was a plausible picture, indeed.

“I heard that I can live in Armenia richly with what I have right now. Should I retire and go home?”

“I’d like to stop you from entering Armenia. I can’t predict how the world will change in the future.”

“If you don’t know, who knows?”

“It’s because the world is too small. Everyone is now an expert with the help of all sorts of technology. My brother, the easiest way to live is to stick to the way you used to live. It’s never going to change.”

“Alright, whenever I think about my country Armenia, I get frustrated. I’m getting thirsty. Why don’t we go to a bar? I’ve been dying to drink with you.”

“Let’s have it at the hotel. That’s the safest place.”

“Istanbul is safe anywhere. They’ve lived like that for hundreds of years, so they don’t even blink at the sight of terrorism.”

“So, is that why there are so many people on the street?”

“These days, tourism is a little slow.”

“It’s such a dynamic city.”

“There are always opportunities in places like this. You also came here to look for opportunities in this dangerous city too.”

“I’ve already found opportunities and luck here in Istanbul.”

“You are indeed the luckiest person to visit Istanbul.”

Hong Sung-ki interrupted.

“What do you mean, Boss, that you find luck here?”

“You can get lucky if you go to the flea market.”

“Isn’t it a place where you sell fake antiques?”

“Sometimes you can even find a real thing.”