Empire of the Ring

Officials at Krasnoyarsk International Airport were busy preparing for the visit of the Duke of Kazakhstan.

This was because the Duke of Kazakhstan said he would visit Krasnoyarsk with the representative of leading global companies.

Rumors had already spread that if Chinese companies withdrew, the Kazakh royal family and Western multinational corporations would fill the vacancies.

Despite the freezing weather, the airport was heated by media outlets that flocked from all over Russia.

“I’ve invested a lot abroad, but it’s the first time I’ve been welcomed like this. It’s strange that Russians welcome foreigners like this.”

“It’s proof that expectations are that high. If you don’t make an investment promise, it won’t be easy to return home. Hahaha…”

“Your Highness, our company will never go back empty-handed, so don’t worry. We can’t just turn around when there’s oil.”

“Don’t expect too much. You might be disappointed if it turns out the reserves are less than you thought.”

Johnso, the president of Bechtel Corp had been following around Youngho ever since he heard that oil was buried in Krasnoyarsk asking if he could join the project.

The fact that crude oil could be transported to the Arctic Ocean through the Yenisei River was more attractive than anything else.

He was attracted by the promise that the Kazakh royal family, which owned four icebreakers, would regularly deliver oil through the Yenisei River even in winter.

“We would love to have an icebreaker, but I don’t know if the Russian government would open the route for us.”

“Russia will not be as picky as it used to be. Especially for ships belonging to the private sector, the Arctic Ocean Council promised to fully open the Arctic shipping route. If you invest in Krasnoyarsk and contribute to regional economic development, there will be no obstacles to using the Arctic Ocean and the Yenisei River.”

“Your Highness, when will President Putin arrive?”

“He said he’d be here in two days. We’ll be free until then, so why don’t we visit the taiga forest?”

“Can we go to the forest even in winter?”

“Winter is the busiest time in the taiga forest. It’s the best season to work if you can stand the cold.”

The word ‘taiga’ meant ‘forest of swamps’.

The forest turned into swamps in the summer.

“Isn’t it dangerous because of wolves, bears, and tigers in the forest?”

“There is no danger at all because we have light-armored vehicles ready. If we have a chance, we should go hunting wolves together.”

“Can a foreigner hunt here?”

“There’s nothing wrong because I contacted the head of the local military unit.”

Entering the forest without a gun in Siberia was tantamount to suicide.

It was not illegal to shoot animals for self-defense.

“It wasn’t a myth that the Kazakh royal family has taken control of this place.”

“Oh, that’s not true. We’re just strangers here.”

“How easy is it to give all sorts of favors to strangers? It’s all possible because it is the Kazakh royal family.”

***

The party could not keep their mouths shut while they toured the forest along the forest path, as the forest was full of all sorts of trees.

Even after a few hours of driving, the forest was still nowhere close to the end.

“This is the taiga forest.”

“It’s just the tip of the iceberg. I haven’t seen where it ends even by going around for hours in a helicopter. This is the forest that provides one-third of Earth’s oxygen, so we shouldn’t be cutting the trees down randomly.”

“Then, how is the Kazakh royal family logging?”

“We only harvest trees that have grown for more than 100 years, and we cut down trees in certain areas in the form of a belt to prevent forest fires.”

It took more than a dozen years for trees to grow into a small seedling in the taiga forest.

It would be a big mistake to think of trees growing in temperate and tropical areas.

The trees that could be cut down included birch trees around 80 years old, cedar trees that had grown for more than 120 years, spruce trees, and pine trees.

It was a sin against humanity to cut down hard-grown trees that withstood the cold weather seeing only one or two months of daylight a year.

If the forests were destroyed, the Earth’s lifespan would be over.

Lt. Col. Klimov, commander of the Krasnoyarsk troops, welcomed Youngho’s group.

His hospitality was of utmost sincerity, as the unit had never been visited by such huge visitors before.

“Your Highness. It’s an honor to have you come all this way to this place.”

“It’s been a long time. I hope I didn’t cause you a lot of trouble in this wintertime when the soldiers should rest.”

“No, sir. The soldiers love to have precious guests.”

The soldiers must like to have Youngho since he brought gifts for them.

They knew that when the Duke of Kazakhstan visited, they could have enough combat rations and cigarettes.

Serving prepared refreshments, Commander Klimov explained the state of the forest using a map.

“As you know, the development zone of the Kazakh royal family is marked with the red line. It is connected to the Yenisei River.”

“Is the area marked with blue the Yenisei River? How big is the width of the river that it’s this huge on the map?”

Martin, president of ACS in Spain, asked Klimov.

“It’s broadly marked because it floods and expands in the summer. Based on the freezing winter, the river is only 10 kilometers wide.”

The representatives could not shut their mouths to hear that the area was ten kilometers wide in the mid-stream area.

Youngho added a little more to it.

“If you go down to the tundra, it’s usually about 20 kilometers wide, and the river downstream near the Arctic Ocean is about 30 kilometers to 40 kilometers wide.”

“Is that a sea or a river?”

“In Siberia, everything is huge. If you have a chance later, you could see it for yourself on a freighter.”

“Your Highness. How long does it take from here to the Arctic Ocean?”

Johnson, president of Bechtel Corp, showed his interest.

“It takes about three to four days. It’s so much fun when you fish on board that you won’t know that much time has passed.”

“Have you traveled there yourself?”

“I’ve only been to the downstream. I went there with my crew to explore the tundra.”

Everyone looked at Youngho with wonder.

They were surprised that Kazakhstan’s top official went to explore the rough place himself.

It was because they had had a lot of trouble before coming to Siberia in the middle of winter.

They reluctantly followed as the Duke of Kazakhstan asked, but they originally intended to send only working-level officials.

This was a reminder of why Kazakhstan had become a strong country.

“Your Highness. I think we need that experience. Please create an opportunity for us.”

“You don’t have to suffer that much. We have video recordings, so if you look at them, you can experience them indirectly down the tundra and Yenisei River.”

“Is it hard for you to experience it yourself?”

“We’d need a large expedition team, and you’d have to have the strength to withstand long journeys. If you’re willing to take it, I’ll take you myself.”

“I don’t think I can.”

Johnson, who was close to being overweight, announced his intention to give up early.

On the other hand, Martin, president of ACS in Spain, had his eyes glistened.

He thought there was something about Youngho’s visit to the tundra.

“I want to experience it in person at any time. Give me a chance.”

“When the investment is decided, any time will be fine. I also have friends from the Evenki tribe there.”

“Do you know the natives, too?”

“I’m a little acquainted. They are pure people who live far from civilization. They live off of reindeers.”

They did not seem to believe Youngho’s words. He wondered how they would react if they learned that the Mafia families from the Evenki tribe were moving to Kazakhstan.

***

After touring around the forest, they rushed to downtown Krasnoyarsk.

This was because Putin arrived a day earlier than scheduled.

Three civil-use armored vehicles carrying Youngho’s group tried to enter the city, but the inspection was beginning at the entrance.

With Putin’s arrival, the city was heavily guarded.

Although traffic to and from the gate was moving slowly, cars carrying Youngho’s group were speeding along the streets, guided by a police patrol car.

Bechtel’s president, Johnson, looked worried as he saw hundreds of police and soldiers walking around heavily armed.

“Your Highness. Does Russia have terrorism, too?”

“There are Chechen rebel attacks now and then. It’s been a little slow these days.”

“Don’t they target foreign companies or factories?”

It was a concern for foreign entrepreneurs.

“That’s not happening, so don’t worry. Even if there was a terrorist attack, it was mainly in the border area of Moscow. The rebels are quiet these days. I think they’ve lost their strength.”

“That’s another problem with Russia.”

Everyone was silent at Johnson’s remark. He seemed to have met an unexpected ambush while dreaming of a rosy future. Youngho’s heart sank when he saw their faces.

It was like a red light was on for foreign investment. Any problem in the consortium could be resolved together, but the Kazakh royal family could not stop terrorism. Russia was a country that had so many conflicts and disputes between people that nothing was predictable. From Chechnya, which was famous for terrorism, to Ukraine, it was a place where terrorism was rampant.

“Your Highness, are the officials in Krasnoyarsk transparent?”

It was a difficult question to answer because the Kazakh royal family was also offering some bribes to the authorities. When Youngho hesitated, he asked again, “Is it still a place where bribes are rampant?”

“It’s less than the rest of Russia, but the officials wouldn’t dare to ask directly. It’s embarrassing to say it, but the Kazakh royal family also has been paying the officials a little money. You have to think of it as lubricant here. Think of it as a tribute to the underpaid bureaucrats. It’s different from the state business, so we can’t do anything about it.”

“How’s the mafia here? I’ve heard rumors that the mafia has symbiotic relationships with bureaucrats.”

It was a place where rotten bureaucrats and mafia lived together. However, Youngho had much to say about the mafia members. This was because the mafia here was like Youngho’s hands and feet.

“In Russia, the mafia and bureaucrats are natural enemies but have symbiotic relationships, but the mafia here is a natural enemy of bureaucrats.”

“…”

“The mafia here is the one that scolds officials who are in collusion with Chinese companies. The Mafia in Krasnoyarsk is special. It’s getting pretty good reviews from citizens. Mafia members are cleaning up all the back alleys and gangsters, so they are more trusted than the police.”

“You mean the mafia even acts as the cop?”

“The mafia makes order in the back alleys that are not within a public authority. It happens often in Russia, and I’m not proud of it, but the Mafia of Krasnoyarsk is on the Kazakh royal family’s side.”

“Are you saying that the Kazakh royal family has joined hands with the mafia?”

“You can’t say that. Think of it as being under our control. They will also be of great help to your business.”

“Then we’ll have to bribe the mafia as well as the bureaucrats.”

“You don’t need that because we’re only in a business relationship with the mafia here. The mafia sells vodka and combat food produced by the royal family exclusively. If officials make excessive demands, let the mafia know, and it’ll be solved right away.”

“What a strange place.”

“This is Siberia. It has its own laws, so it’s more convenient to do business after you get used to them.”

“Is there another law in Siberia?”

“Oh! I’m disappointed that the CEOs who want to do business in Russia don’t know the laws of this area.”

Everyone stared at Youngho not knowing what he was talking about.