Empire of the Ring

Youngho’s group was on its way to the city of Astrakhan sailing along the Volga River. There were quite a lot of ships on the river.

“There are still many tourists even though it wouldn’t be weird if war broke out now.”

“Putin won’t make an irrational decision since he needs to sell oil crude and gas to other countries. The country’s economy will shift abruptly. Who’s going to want that?”

Sergey came alongside the two friends on their way to the Arirang Autonomous State. He said that he wanted to see how much the state had changed but, in fact, he was really coming to secure more carpets.

“Brother, you know you can’t get more carpets even if you come to the state. Why are you coming anyway?”

“I said we can provide automatized machines for the carpet factory.”

“I know those machines will help us make uniform products, but it’ll ruin the reputation of the Arirang Autonomous State.”

“I can make it look like the products were made in Iran. Don’t worry. The demand is overflowing.”

Wealthy Russians these days liked to display luxury carpets in their houses.

It was kind of their cultural vanity. People tried hard to look sophisticated by having a wall of books that were never going to be read and by displaying oriental antiques. Collecting unique things would make them feel distinguished from others. The supplies became scarce since all of them were trying to buy carpets and potteries. That was why Sergey was sure that there would be a high demand for carpets even if the products were not handcrafted.

The biggest market for carpets was Istanbul. If a product went through the Istanbul market, the price would multiply. So, Sergey wanted to buy them directly from the autonomous state in Kazakhstan.

“You made this Yacht in the autonomous state?”

“Well, we bought an old vessel and repaired it. It’s small but quite heavy. Jong-il had done some weird things on this vessel.”

“I guess you disproportionately armed this small vessel.”

Sergey’s guess was correct about what they have done to the vessel since he knew that Youngho and Jong-il were weapon lovers. He still did not seem to understand why.

“Well, this is for a just in case moment.”

“You two just want to play a battle game. Aren’t you tired of it by now since you two are living in the Caucasus where people always raise their guns and knives?”

“That’s why we should be more prepared. Would you just sit still and do nothing when danger is near you brother?”

Volgograd was the most peaceful place if there was no war between the mafias. Sergey had no idea how afraid Youngho was to lose the paradise that he had created and enriched.

“So, I’m telling you ahead of time now. Volgograd is safer. You can live like an emperor in Russia as long as you have a lot of money.”

“Phew, brother. You say that because you’re a Russian. It’s not my cup of tea.”

“You’ll get used to it when you live there.”

The people once had a saying that no animals were around the tiger’s cave, it must be safe for Sergey as he was in the center of mafia groups. He did not know how valuable it was to have freedom without any interference since he was never interfered by others under Yaniv’s wings.

Sergey continued.

“I’d rather live in Russia. It’s way more charming than the Western world where everything is restricted. Russia is a place you see interesting things happen every day.”

It was surprising how Russia could operate now with so many holes, but countries in the Caspian coast were as prosperous as Russia. Maybe Youngho was still here because he was charmed by that side of the region.

***

People would exclaim in wonder when they first saw the autonomous state.

They were astounded by the existence of a whole new city built inside stone walls on an empty plain. They were even more surprised the second time they visited once they found out that the state was drawing water from the river for wheat farming.

Sergey’s reaction was no different.

“I don’t believe that all those houses were made and this many people were gathered here in such a short period of time. It can’t be possible unless you’ve remodeled a city that was already there.”

He was dumbfounded.

“Aren’t East Slavs always tough and relentless?”

“We used to be but Stalin had made all of us lazy, but I guess that toughness was in the blood of Vulcan Slavs as well.”

In order to survive in a cold place like Russia, people would have to be tough and diligent.

They used to work to store food and wood logs in Russia’s short summer so that they would last throughout the winter. However, the communistic system had changed people. As people were commonly distributed their own portions, they stopped trying hard.

“The Serbian people’s toughness amazed me as well. They’re so diligent and faithful that I couldn’t help to support them with my own money.”

“Well, their common purpose of re-establishing the old kingdom must have made them strong also.”

Being a knowledgeable person, Sergey had already seen through how it must have been with the Serbian people.

After looking around the small state that was full of surprises, Sergey was envious of the state. He later even complimented Youngho for establishing the state. This would never be possible in Russia.

“If more of these kinds of cities are created, Kazakhstan will become a strong nation that no other countries could treat badly.”

“I don’t know about that. Greedy politicians won’t leave the residents alone if they get richer. Unless the mindset of politicians and officials are changed. That’s not going to happen any time soon though.”

“I’d like to build a small city like this sometime in the future as well.”

His eyes were full of envy.

With Yaniv’s wealth, it would not be difficult to make countless small cities like the Arirang Autonomous State.

“Brother, you should establish an agricultural corporation under your name.”

“Why not under Boss’s name?”

“We both know Mr. Yaniv does not care for such things. You can start farming now, and it will be handy in the future. I’m telling you right now, the people who own their own land will have more power in the future.”

The border of southern Russia was only 300 kilometers away from the Arirang Autonomous State, and from there, Volgograd was 100 kilometers away.

If Sergey could get assigned on Kazakhstan’s land near the border and develop farmland there, Youngho would have a dependable ally nearby.

“An agricultural corporation…”

“The world is rapidly changing. I’m only suggesting. At least have some kind of safety net for unexpected events. You could even buy an island in the South Pacific.”

“You think the world is going to change.”

“Don’t you see how the world is in turmoil? Nations might perish and the world might run by small city-states instead. Even if that’s not the case, wouldn’t it give you peace of mind if you’re prepared for the worst?”

“I know what you’re saying. We have a very uncertain future ahead of us.”

Unlike already stable Western societies, Russia, Central Asia, and China where numerous ethnicities still lived together might face a time of turbulence soon.

***

Youngho had never experienced a failure when he had businesses with Sergey.

Youngho would suggest a business idea first to Yaniv so that he would invest in Youngho’s idea. Youngho would become the manager of the business since the business started out of Yaniv’s investment. Luckily, Yaniv always gave Youngho more shares—which he deserved. Both parties acted upon their own benefits, but it was true that Youngho received more than he expected. This was how Youngho’s partnership with Yaniv and Sergey usually went.

For these reasons, he felt indebted to Yaniv and Sergey, and that was why he was suggesting to Sergey that he should establish an agricultural corporation. The biggest reason for recommending it was that he knew that power and authority would not last forever. President Putin would step down from his power in the end, and Yaniv’s organization would also be affected by it since his connection to the president was one of the major reasons why he could succeed as a businessman even though he was merely a mafia boss. Under uncontrollable circumstances, Yaniv and Sergey might have to leave Russia for good.

They would thank Youngho later if that really happened. So, Youngho tried to convince Sergey to establish an agricultural corporation in Oral, which was a border city of Kazakhstan.

“Brother. Kazakhstan welcomes any foreign investment for agricultural development. I know some people see Russians negatively but that’s something you could overcome easily.”

“Boss would laugh at me saying that I’m so easily tempted.”

Sergey’s joke was telling him that he already made up his mind.

“You know, Russia won’t always be the same. Things will change rapidly, and other ethnic groups will also try to win their freedom from Russia’s domination. Chechnya and the other regions in the southwestern side of the country can’t be considered Russia. I’m only telling you that you should be prepared if you want to survive through that, just like I am.”

“Do you think Russia will be shaken that easily?”

“Well, now it still has power and it won’t be a problem, but we never know how long it will last. What Russia did to other ethnic groups will return to it like a boomerang.”

Youngho did not have to explain it in length to Sergey who had a doctoral degree in business administration. The decision making was up to Sergey now that Youngho had done his part. Youngho had brought Sergey water, but he could not force him to drink that water.

“Will there be any problem in getting a land?”

“If you pay taxes well, nothing’s going to be problematic.”

“Of course, we’ll pay taxes.”

“Now, brother. Please keep in mind that you’d have to develop the land and make it into either a farmland, a grassland or something else. The ownership of the land won’t be granted to you.”

“That’s only when you’re receiving the land for free. I don’t have any plans to develop a farmland any time soon. I’ll just buy the land with money. That’ll be more convenient.”

“Oh, you’re right. It’d be easier for you to just buy the land.”

With Yaniv’s wealth, buying land in Kazakhstan was nothing. If he could negotiate well with the Kazakh government, he might as well buy a land that was as big as the Arirang Autonomous State for only a hundred million dollars. Of course, he would have to sign a contract that he would only use the land for the purpose of agricultural development, but there would be less interference from the government since he would be fully paying the cost of the land.

Sergey returned to Volgograd after closely observing the Arirang Autonomous State. He took a train saying that he would stop in the city of Oral in West Kazakhstan before returning to Volgograd.

Before he left, Youngho told Sergey to think about the future when Yaniv would no longer be in power. Although Sergey was managing Yaniv’s corporation, once Yaniv was gone, he would have to share the corporation with the leadership group of the corporation. Yaniv would want to treat his underlings fairly wishing that his corporation would last for long, and in appreciation for their life-long service for him. Conflict might happen within the group if he did not treat them fairly. After all, they were all mafias, and they would easily start a gunfight with each other if necessary.

Even though Yaniv was a boss, he could only survive when he negotiated with his underlings successfully by satisfying their needs. Since Youngho had many businesses that he partnered with Yaniv’s group, this would also influence Youngho too. He would be fighting on Sergey’s side if that happened, but he wanted to prevent such a thing beforehand if possible.

Kazakhstan was not stable because of China’s existence, so he would rather not deal with a problem caused by Russian mafias if possible. A business should end as a business. He never wanted to get involved in another’s domestic quarrel.