Empire of the Ring

Russia’s vice foreign minister greeted Youngho welcomingly at Moscow’s airport.

Since Youngho’s visit was not an official one, it was quite a treat for the vice foreign minister to come out. It was natural since he was investing in the Volga-Baltic Waterway expansion project despite the West’s economic sanctions on Russia.

Putin’s surprise did not finish there because he even mobilized the media to take pictures of Youngho’s visit. Leaving behind camera flashes, Youngho left the airport on the limousine that had been waiting for him. It took him to the Kremlin palace at a high speed.

In the car, Eriksson was sitting next to him. He whistled to express his surprise.

“Your Highness, Putin is giving you a huge welcome.”

“Last time, he sent fighters to escort the royal jet, and now he mobilized the media. I think the Russian public has its eye on the waterway project.”

“Well, it must be because it’s a huge investment of more than five billion dollars. It’d be weird if the Russian people stayed quiet since it’s a project that will save Russia’s economy.”

“It’s going to be an opportunity for Putin’s leadership to be recognized by the people.”

Putin’s approval rating would go up by a lot because of this project.

This was because it was such a large construction project. It would also create a lot of jobs for the Russian people and improve the domestic economy. Moreover, most of the materials and manpower for the waterway expansion would be supplied from Russia.

“Putin seems to have made a big decision, but it’s about how much share he’s going to give us. I hope he doesn’t get too greedy.”

“It’s a good opportunity for foreign capital. He’ll probably yield to us a hundred times. It’ll be Russia’s one day, so why would he be hasty?”

“He might change his words when the work is done. Isn’t that the exclusive characteristic of a socialist country?”

“Even a socialist country can’t make a decision on the waterway run by a multinational consortium. By the way, I’m going to suggest to Putin that we’d like to increase the development area of Siberia.”

“You’re very greedy, too, Your Highness. Don’t tell me you want to take over Russia too.”

“Well, I should be greedy for proper things. But I don’t want Russia even if Putin wants to hand it over to me. Even for the waterway project, I’ll step down after making a decent amount of profits. If I get greedier, only my relationship with Russia will get worse.”

There was a limit to foreign investment in a socialist country.

The best thing to do was to collect the principal and return it to the country.

***

The meeting at the Kremlin went well in a great mood since they did not have to negotiate anything.

It was agreed that the transparent spending of investment funds and waterway management should be left to the consortium.

Since it was agreed that the waterway shares would be distributed according to international appraisers after they assessed the value of the Volga-Baltic Waterway, there was nothing to argue about.

After the exchange of memorandums of understanding was completed, Putin invited Youngho’s group to the banquet room. Yaniv and Sergey were also present there.

“Your Highness, let’s toast again.”

Putin kept on asking for a toast.

“Mr. President, aren’t you drinking too much today? I heard you don’t like to drink too much.”

“I’m actually a good drinker, but I had been in the intelligence service for a long time, so I tried to stay away from drinking. Don’t worry about it. Yaniv told me that you’re a great drinker.”

“I can stand it because I’m young, but I’m afraid drinking too much might be harmful to your health.”

Putin was 67 this year. Although he had as much stamina as a young man, time could not be fooled.

“I heard that you used to be in a Special Forces unit in Korea. Would you like to exercise with me someday? I’ve never been beaten by anyone so far.”

Youngho did not know what kind of training Putin had gone through at the Soviet KGB, but he was quite confident about himself.

“I have to see you often for the waterway project anyway, so give me a chance sometime.”

“Hahaha… That’s good. Many good things will happen if two leaders get together often.”

You could be friends with Putin as long as he treated him this kindly.

However, a socialist country and a dictator would not change. Putin was only being friendly to Youngho because he needed him, and Youngho was helpful for his plan now.

In the end, it would be like water and oil that could not be mixed.

“Your Excellency has entrusted us with the waterway project and management. I’ll try my best to produce good results. If you could just provide us with the supply of materials and manpower, we won’t have much trouble with the waterway project.”

“Only the best quality materials will be supplied for the waterway project. Don’t worry about that. Let’s just drink freely tonight.”

“Given the situation, I’m planning on an early stage construction. What do you think?”

“What’s your hurry? Time is on our side.”

“I’m afraid that the companies in the consortium will change their minds about the investment when the world economy is recovered, and many other business projects to invest in are created.”

“That makes sense. It’s the sooner the better for Russia too. We can’t miss this opportunity since this can be the beginning of our economic recovery.”

The mood instantly changed when Youngho mentioned that the consortium companies might change their minds. Putin would not be able to lift up his face to the Russian people when the project fell through.

The construction of the waterway could wait until the appraisal of the value and distribution of the shares were completed, but Youngho planned to start it early regardless of it because the project could fall through even if companies had signed a memorandum of understanding.

Kazakhstan was the country that benefited the most from the expansion of the Volga-Baltic Waterway, and it was also related to the Siberian development business and the North Pole route project. There was no reason for Youngho to delay it.

***

After two days in Moscow, Youngho’s private jet made a brief stop in Volgograd.

It was because Yaniv and Sergey insisted that he should stay one day in Volgograd.

They did not have time to talk deeply in Moscow, because Youngho was there as the Duke of the Kazakh royal family. So they got together as friends comfortably at Yaniv’s mansion.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Yaniv already had set up a drinking table for Youngho.

“Please don’t invite me to such an uncomfortable setting again. I was so frustrated that I almost died.”

“Did I call you? Putin called you. And you should endure such inconvenience because you’re setting a way for Brother Sergey’s future.”

“Oh, if I have to do that two more times, I’ll die in suffocation. I feel powerless when I get out of Volgograd.”

“You didn’t even make eye contact with Putin at the banquet. Why would you do that?”

“I talk to him freely when we go hunting, but it’ll be rude to talk to an autocrat at an official setting until you’re spoken to first.”

“It was the same with a private setting. I don’t get you.”

“I know where I belong well. Didn’t you notice? Putin’s closest associates also didn’t interrupt when Putin was with you. They know that Putin is not a very generous man.”

There was a reason why there were no useless people around a dictator. It was because dictators were obsessed with keeping their authority.

The closest associates of the dictator could not correct him even if he was wrong because they were afraid of his power and authority. They merely butter up the dictator to survive. Some would idolize the dictator either by force or by self-will.

To a dictator, there was no friend because he would have to remain as a dignified figure.

Yaniv, who was said to be a friend of Putin, was even being extremely careful around Putin. Seeing that, Youngho thought that Putin’s regime would not last for long.

Youngho looked at Yaniv once again because he never talked like this before.

“Oh, I can guess why you’re looking at me like that.”

“I just thought that there’s hope. If I’m lucky, I would be able to continue to maintain the waterway management rights.”

“Would you interpret it that way? Putin told you that he dreams of the great Eurasia. Was that all a lie?”

“Well, he will try it when he gets a chance. He’s opening the way with the waterway project right now. The foreign investment companies could be his prey. I can roughly guess what he is hiding behind his face. I’m not so gullible to be deceived by the crocodile’s tears.”

“…”

“It might be rude to say this to someone who has a personal relationship with the president, but ten years might be long for Putin’s regime. He must be trying to save up personal funds because he’s insecure about something.”

“Hmm! The dictatorship will end someday. So, do you think the politicians and entrepreneurs who served as the sewers of the dictatorship will be able to survive through that?”

“I’m sure it will be up to their own actions. Whether you made money illegally by the power or properly will be revealed later somehow.”

“Will my messy past be erased?”

“You’ve already washed your hands, haven’t you? And you have an inseparable relationship with the Kazakh royal family.”

“Well, I have such a great background.”

Yaniv’s face was eased to hear that he was supported by the Kazakh royal family.

It seemed that he felt sorry about his rough past.

“Sure. It’s a good thing you distributed all of your businesses to your subordinates and left them behind. I know you do a lot of philanthropy these days, right?”

“Oh, you can’t call it charity work when I give some petty money because Zeynep’s pushing me.”

“Mr. Yaniv, there’s no one kind as among people who used to be mafia. We’ve been on the same path for ten years now. Even though I became the Duke of Kazakhstan now, I never felt ashamed of you and your past. So don’t be ashamed about your background as a mafia. You had to do that to make a living in Soviet times.”

“I always appreciate you for that. I wouldn’t have blamed you even if you pretended you didn’t know someone like me.”

“I’m telling you not to dwell too much on the past. You’re helping the world more than anyone else right now.”

“Oh, I’ve heard all the compliments of my life now.”

“You’ve paid the most for Zeynep’s social welfare foundation, and of course you deserve it.”

“I fell for her charm. I didn’t do it out of compassion or good cause.”

“But it’s not easy to do that for everyone.”

“I’m saying I was forced to do so.”

“By the way, how much have you been ripped off by Zeynep so far?”