Empire of the Ring

“What on earth have you been up to all along?”

“I just worked very diligently.”

“This can’t be made just because you work hard. I only saw some rough roofs in a desert when I looked at the satellite pictures of the autonomous state before you started to work on it.”

The autonomous state’s current image was indeed something he could not have guessed.

“This was only possible because of all the treasures that the descendants of the Serbian Kingdom that was saved for hundreds of years were poured down over here.”

“Oh, please. Stop lying. You didn’t use black funds from mafias, did you?”

“You’d find out within a day if I’m really lying or not. Why would I do such a stupid thing?”

The state looked different when a person looked down on it in an airplane compared to looking at it through a car.

People walking around the state looked content, and the whole city was very modern.

Everything was so clean that even Youngho was surprised. It seemed like Kim Chun had made efforts to clean up the whole city since he knew Youngho’s friends would be visiting.

“Why don’t we unpack our belongings at the hotel first and meet again for dinner? Our cook must’ve prepared the best food to satisfy your tastes.”

***

“Ma’am, do these suit your palate?”

“I never knew steamed trout and bulgogi* were this good.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Our chief’s taste is very particular that I had given up a long time ago but you’re different than him.”

Michael, who was nibbling on his dish with his fork glared at Youngho.

“Why do you blame my taste?”

The food on his dish did not look like they had been eaten at all.

“Haha, the whole world knows about how picky his taste is. You don’t have to mind him. When you come to Frankfurt again, please invite me again to Arirang Hotel. I’d love to accompany you again for a nice meal.”

Michael’s wife had fallen in love with Korean food ever since she had some at the Arirang Hotel a few days ago.

“Will you be alright? I think the chief is starting to get a little jealous.”

“Hahaha… This guy? Jealous?”

“I’ll be glad if you take this grandma out. I don’t have to hear her nag.”

She gave him a sharp stare for a moment then started to flatter Youngho.

“Mr. Lee. I now see you differently than before. I never knew that you were in charge of such a big city because you are about my son’s age, I have treated you too naturally. I apologize.”

“Oh, there’s no need. I think of you two as someone very special to me. I’ve been relying on you from the bottom of my heart. Please feel free to treat me like your own son.”

This was not a lie but a truth.

Youngho was the only underling of Michael who was welcome to his house. Since Youngho had gone to their house every time he visited Frankfurt, he was comfortable with the couple already. They were like next door neighbors. Youngho was also a special friend to Michael.

Youngho and the couple went out for a walk after finishing their meal.

As the sun set, it cooled down just enough for them to have a refreshing walk.

Michael nodded after looking around the streets that were lit by the street lights. He spoke all of a sudden.

“Lee. It seems you really don’t want to stay in the CIA for long.”

“I have too many things that I had already started that I can’t be tied down in one place. When you leave the European chapter, I might as well leave.”

Youngho might have resigned already if Michael was not there.

“Who’s trying to kick you out? You can stay as a field team director. You don’t need to do much in that position. Why are you trying to abandon your current position? Stay until they ask you to leave. You know how it is. There’s more to gain than lose in our job.”

Indeed, Youngho had gained so many things through the CIA.

Although Youngho worked hard to provide information to the organization, it was the organization that supported him to settle down in Azerbaijan in the first place. He was appreciative, so he stayed loyal to the CIA.

“Wouldn’t I get that much information from anywhere else?”

“It’s the quality of the information that matters. You are managed by the system of the headquarters as a different kind of agent and not just a regular one. You won’t get disadvantages in any way. Don’t think about integrity, just take advantage of the organization.”

“As much as I want to do that, I don’t know when I’ll be abandoned by the group. You know how harsh the reality of the global society is.”

“You can’t succeed if you are afraid of failure. Did you wish to take advantage of it without having the guts for it? This might sound odd coming from an American, but the U.S. will join hands with a devil for its own good.”

“…”

“You are managed as a potentate by the CIA’s headquarters since you’ve performed beyond a mere agent’s work. You can easily become an influential figure who could control multiple regions. The high wind and waves of the Black sea will affect Kazakhstan as well. You can make more difference if you become a person of power than just stay as a mere businessman.”

Michael’s purpose for visiting the autonomous state was this.

He needed a person who could embrace South Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and other Central Asian regions since he would be retiring soon. He was thinking about a separate entity from the European chapter. After seeing the autonomous state’s current status and confirming that Youngho was the person he was looking for, he finally made a decision to suggest this to Youngho.

***

Michael’s surgery was finished in a matter of hours.

What he received was a cardiovascular procedure. Although it was his heart that needed repairing, the surgery left a cut on his thigh that was the same size as a nail. It was a surgical procedure to enlarge the blood vessel. It was difficult to understand why Michael’s breathing was much easier now after doing such a simple procedure. It was quite magical.

“Chief. Do you really feel comfortable with breathing now?”

“Oh, how many times should I tell you?”

Michael yelled at Youngho. It seemed like he was already feeling well.

Youngho was happy to have the old Michael back.

“That yelling is a sign that you feel better now.”

“I’m a patient, Lee. Don’t talk to me anymore.”

He was making a big fuss over a little procedure that made a small cut on his thigh.

“Just know that I’m the savior of your life.”

“Okay. Now, savior, could you please leave the room? I’m going to sleep now.”

When Youngho checked with Kim Dong-sung, he said that Michael could move around and do simple daily work now. Apparently, the procedure was something so simple that any surgeon could do it with the right equipment.

***

Michael was recommended to rest for two more days before going back to work, but he had to leave to Frankfurt due to the Crimean Peninsula situation.

Ukrainian army was reported to have gathered up in a large scale at the border area of the Crimean Peninsula. Of course, the Russian Army at the peninsula moved too. This was around the same time the military of the U.S. and Turkey began their joint training.

The Truman Carrier Strike Group that was previously at the Gulf was moved to the Mediterranean Sea followed by the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group which was relocated to the Mediterranean as well from the harbor in Norfolk, Virginia. Moreover, a division of the U.S. Army that was stationed in Germany was also being relocated to the Port of Gaeta, Italy, where six of the U.S. naval fleets had been stationed.

All of these movements implied that the situation at the Crimean Peninsula was not just child’s play.

“Jong-il. Did you stock all of the reserve materials at the ranch?”

Youngho had ordered people to stock up daily necessaries and grains in case of war. Although there were always six months of supplies in storage units of every base, this time was different. It was because it was highly probable that the Black Sea would be closed down, which would cause a deficiency in traded goods.

“We’ve got unlimited wheat from the autonomous state. Gas and daily necessaries were enough to supply us for a few years. How’s the autonomous state?”

“This place is always peaceful. It’d be great if it rained. Anyway, you need to come here with Il-kwon. Let’s go to Volgograd together.”

“Did Michael give you an assignment?”

“No, the guy just got a surgical procedure done. He was not in a condition to give me an assignment. I just want to know what Russia is up to.”

“I talked with Agent Philip in Georgia. He said that everyone is very tensed up there. You know, Georgia is a much worse enemy to Russia than Azerbaijan.”

The U.S. military advisory group was placed in Georgia. For Russia, Georgia was like a thorn under a fingernail.

“The movements of U.S. is very different now. I don’t think they’re moving just to protest this time. Go ahead and make sure the ranch and farm are in good shape before leaving.”

“Il-kwon needs to stay here. It’s too much for Insoo to take care of all the things by himself.”

“Okay. Get here as soon as possible.”

Youngho had a bad feeling ever since Michael immediately left for Frankfurt unexpectedly. This could lead to something huge.

***

It was a terrible idea to cross a border in a private airplane in a time like this. Even if they flew over Azerbaijan, Russia’s air defense network was operating at full scale. So, they decided to fly regularly from the international airport of Atyrau to Moscow, and from Moscow to Volgograd.

“You know Astrakhan is close to Atyrau. It’d be great if we have a small-size vessel. Whether it was peaceful or not, moving on a ship will be the safest.”

Jong-il made a suggestion since the route that was connected in Moscow was very inconvenient.

Atyrau was located at the downstream of the Ural River in Kazakhstan, and Astrakhan was located at the downstream of the Volga River in Russia. They were only 250 kilometers away from each other, and a small vessel could travel the distance without any problem.

It was not efficient to use the car ferry as their private vessel for traveling, so a vessel that weighed about a hundred tons would be perfect for this purpose.

“This would be the first yacht building request in the autonomous state.”

“You know, they’ll make it like how they did with the naval vessels. It won’t take long. They’re extremely talented that each of them could open a small shipyard.”

The skills of the engineers of the Shipyard thaw was bought from Batumi were indeed amazing. Youngho let out an exclamation when he saw them building canoes and small-sized motor boats for residents’ leisure.

They made 20 boats in 20 days. Their skills could be described as divine.

Yaniv received the two, but he did not seem to be fully sober from the night before. He must have been drinking with someone until late at night.

“I had almost forgotten your faces. You must be really into building your kingdom.”

Yaniv was teasing Youngho.

“Mr. Yaniv. You are an honorary resident there.”

“What? Are you letting me join those country Serbians since we’re all Slavs?”

He always made fun of Serbians as mountainous country people. It was not that he had harsh feelings toward Serbians. Instead, it was his way of showing friendliness to them.

“The commissioner of the state is a Koryoin.”

“Whoa, I see. So, it’s not one of those Serbian country people.”

“Sir, if President Putin gets ousted from his position, you might get in trouble. I was worried about you, so I made you an honorary resident of the state.”

“Hahaha…”

He looked like he was still not fully recovered from drinking previously, but he ordered to get the table ready for drinking.

It was sickening for Youngho when he imagined about drinking like Yaniv.

“Mr. Yaniv. Isn’t it too soon to drink?”

“Sergey. Until what time did we drink last night?”

“We drank until two in the morning.”

Yaniv shrugged his shoulders.

Enough time had passed for him since he last drank. Now, it was time for drinking again.

The table was full of food and drinks.

The topic of their conversation was naturally about the Crimean Peninsula’s situation as they ate and drank together.

“You know, alcohol demand is higher when there’s war. Can you deliver some more wine to us?”

Yaniv mentioned ‘war’ without hesitating a bit. He had a good reason behind his faith.

“I’m at a weird place now. I have to be sad that people would suffer for war but happy for my wine business.”

“President Putin said that he will never yield this to anyone. He will definitely act upon it. You should get prepared for that.”

“Would that affect Azerbaijan as well?”

“That will depend on which side Azerbaijan choose to stand with.”

That meant that a scenario was already set.

Youngho’s mind was turning busy suddenly.

Jong-il who was sipping his drink and was sitting next to Youngho gradually hardened his face as well.

Youngho had relied on his intuition all his life when he had to make a major decision. Most of the time, his intuition was right. As of the moment, that intuition was telling him to prepare for something.

*Bulgogi – A popular Korean meat dish. It was made of thin slices of marinated pork or beef which could be barbequed or be cooked on a stove-top griddle.