Empire of the Ring

China was stirred as rumors circulated that Kazakhstan had nuclear weapons.

In particular, China’s state-run media were making a fuss, saying that if the existence of nuclear weapons in Kazakhstan turned out to be true, Kazakhstan would be in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The media even got furious that Kazakhstan had scammed against the world, saying nuclear weapons could not be accepted as a member of the international community.

“The Chinese government is going frenzy about our nuclear weapons.”

“It’s funny since they have nuclear power for themselves anyway.”

“It’s clear that our operation has worked, right?”

“Wouldn’t the nuclear research facility in the royal territory be a problem?”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an organization that studies nuclear power for peaceful purposes. There’s no plutonium reprocessing plant for nuclear waste. Rather, I’ll have to file a civil complaint to the Atomic Energy Agency and ask for a special nuclear inspection to bother it.”

“The existence of our nuclear power is a hot issue in the global community now. Even the U.N. Security Council has been summoned.”

“This is more than a success.”

“It’s not the time to joke. What if China overthrows our agreement about the Pamir Plateau because of this?”

Park Jong-il seemed to be worried that the hard-won Pamir agreement would be scrapped.

If the relationship between the two countries worsened again due to nuclear weapons, the two countries would face a tense situation.

“The Chinese government is only trying to take advantage of this situation. It’s just afraid we’ll develop additional nuclear weapons after we’ve been recognized as a nuclear power.”

“So it doesn’t believe that we actually have weapons yet?”

“Whether we have it or not is not important.”

***

Leaving the issue behind, Youngho carelessly left for Greece with Eriksson.

These days, Eriksson mostly stayed in Greece as there were many pending issues such as construction to expand the container field and the installation of a new crane.

The management of the Port of Piraeus was left entirely to Eriksson and he accompanied Youngho on a tour of the island of Meltemi.

The Port of Piraeus also had a great strategic value for Kazakhstan as part of it was planned to be used as a military port while with the expansion of the container field.

The port would be home to a multipurpose landing ship and a large hospital ship.

This was because the docks of Arirang Island or Meltemi Island were too small to contain huge vessels. Youngho could force the expansion of those ports but he did not want to damage beautiful natural resources for immediate convenience.

Various works on Meltemi Island were underway as scheduled.

The most demanding construction was building a dock, and because of good equipment and weather, it was going well without any major problems.

The Mediterranean summer was hot in the sun, but it was easy to work because it did not rain.

The workers of the royal construction company were staying makeshift barracks and all looked bright despite their shabby quarters. When Youngho inquired, they answered that they like the environment as the weather of the Aegean Sea in July was much more pleasant than the Kazakh summer. It was difficult to stay outside in the Midwest region of Kazakhstan in the summer due to the murderous heat that showed the pattern of desert weather. That was not the only thing that made the construction workers happy. They also genuinely enjoyed fishing at the beach after their daily shift was over.

“The people on the Mediterranean coast are blessed to live in such a nice place.”

“Good life means there are so many people who envy it. How could the mighty kingdoms have not bothered this beautiful place? Also, geographically, it was a place to be coveted. It’s a gateway to Africa and Europe.”

“In that sense, there’s no geopolitical significance like Kazakhstan, but the climate was so harsh that other nations didn’t bother it very much.”

“Any place that is humble and insignificant looks attractive to conquerors. Kazakhstan used to be swayed by other powers many times. It didn’t have the power to fight against foreign powers.”

In other words, the truth still availed in the past and until now. Treasures were useless without national power.

“A beautiful place like this or a place with many resources like Kazakhstan is always something to be coveted.”

Youngho had forgotten about Kazakhstan after coming to Greece, but Eriksson reminded him of domestic problems. History proved that a country without power always suffered.

“I’ve blown up Kazakhstan’s arms as a bluff, but I don’t know if neighboring countries will believe it.”

“How can they not believe it when our royal family’s financial strength is known to be astronomical? On top of that, in the Soviet era, we used to study and experiment with nuclear weapons. No matter how many times we deny that we don’t have one, they will think that there is a hidden card.”

Even Eriksson believed that the Serbian royal heritage was enormous.

“The fact that China is acting up, I think our intentions are working.”

“Now, do not be conscious of China and push ahead with what you are trying to do. China will be stuck with nuclear weapons for the time being. Even if China moves the international community, they won’t be able to find nuclear weapons we don’t have.”

“I guess I just need to settle the issue of forming a military alliance with the United States then.”

“You should also put pressure on Western European countries. If you’re on a free ride, you should at least pay for gas.”

Youngho was surprised to hear Eriksson’s remark. It was as if Eriksson looked into Youngho’s head. He was determined to demand European countries to provide defense funding or weapons.

“They’ll say that I’m acting recklessly believing in nuclear weapons.”

“Of course, if you have nuclear weapons, they’ll tell you to dispose of them immediately. But Western countries would think that even if we had Soviet-era nuclear weapons, it could be under control since we are recognized as democratic and rational as Europe.”

For a democratic nation, the royal authority was a little strong.

Nevertheless, Western countries had not hesitated to call Kazakhstan a democratic state.

This was because the royal family was in power due to the immature mindset of politicians and civic awareness.

Youngho also intended to put down his power someday when Kazakhstan found stability although he had no idea when it would be.

***

The construction of a cable car linking Arirang Island to Meltemi Island was underway.

The agenda thrown by Park Jong-il was adopted, and the review concluded that it was sufficiently economical.

The distance between the two islands was only one kilometer, so it was more efficient to travel by cable car than by a small ferry.

The cable car could carry up to 20 people and two tons of weight.

There was little difference in the time it took to and from traveling on a ship, but nothing was as convenient as a cable car to move small supplies or people. It was because the cable car could be operated in bad weather as well.

The waves were not too strong, but they often changed to the point where small boats could not travel. However, it was also difficult to fly light airplanes in bad weather, and not economical to use large ships.

“Is there any other problem?”

“We don’t have any problem at all thanks to the meticulous care from the administration of the royal territory. Some of my colleagues are struggling in the Siberian logging site, so I even feel sorry that I have such a comfortable job.”

Park Sung-won, the chief of the base who oversaw the two islands responded,

“You’ve been through a lot in Siberia, so just think that you’re taking a break. And while you’re here, you can find a girl to date.”

“The native girls here all go to work in Athens during weekdays, so I don’t think that’ll be easy.”

“Oh, you should get hold of them when they come home on the weekend. Or should I arrange a match?”

“No, I’ll take care of it myself.”

Since Park Sung-won worked at a Siberian logging site for the past two years, Youngho gave him a job at the warm Arirang Island and Meltemi Island to be the chief of the base as a reward, but Youngho felt guilty that he still did not find a girl to date. It was because he was the one who called Korean ex-special forces soldiers to Kazakhstan and sent them to work in remote areas.

Now, many had found their wives in foreign lands but there were ones who were shy and passive like Park Sung-won.

“What’s the height of the cable car?”

“The lowest part of the cable is exactly 125 meters above the water.”

“I’m sure there will be no disruption to the ships traveling below.”

“The Greek Maritime Affairs also approved that there will be no problem if it was more than 80 meters.”

“You said that a Swiss company was in charge of building it, right? How is it going?”

“It’s a smooth process. I think the cable car will be installed next year. We don’t think there’s going to be a problem in the operation because the completion of it coincides with when the small thermal power plant will be completed.”

While trying to solve electricity only with a simple power plant, Youngho was forced to build a small thermal power plant on the island of Meltemi to operate a large ship repair shop.

“Has anyone tried to enter the island with impure intentions?”

Since it was not a tourist destination, with only non-regular contact ships would travel, outsiders were automatically restricted from entering the area.

“People haven’t come to the islands after they were known to belong to the Kazakh royal family, but sometimes people on personal yachts reach the islands drawn by its scenery and our patrol boats kick all of them out. But since it is small, patrolling is difficult in bad weather. I think we need a bigger patrol boat for effective vigilance.”

Two 100-ton patrol boats from the royal territory were moved to the islands, but when the waves were a little high, they seemed to be trapped in the harbor.

“We need to deploy a 500-ton patrol ship and a small submarine.”

“That will cover the area well.”