Empire of the Ring

“Your Highness, the development of the offshore oil field area off Baku is already almost complete. Even if we have a new oil field, I can’t give it to you because I’m not confident in the amount of reserves.”

“I don’t intend to make a profit while helping a friend in trouble, but I can’t just lose money. I’d like to try exploring a new oil field. It would be good for the future of both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to explore an oil field.”

Youngho was following Eriksson’s advice to ask for an oil field off the coast of Baku, Azerbaijan, in exchange for lending money.

It was a place 30 kilometers northeast of Baku invested by Jewish bankers in the 1930s, which they gave up because of the lack of technology at the time.

It was relatively shallow in-depth and highly probable oil reserves, according to initial research.

“But if you don’t oil, you’ll be devastated.”

“If there is no oil there, I’d appreciate it if you spare me some land in Baku.”

“Hahaha… I’ll give you the Caucasus Mountains beyond the royal special district if you want.”

Aliyev was willing to give land as much as Youngho wanted.

It did not matter as Youngho could not take land from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan.

“You’ve solved Azerbaijan’s problem in a heartbeat, and I’ll be criticized by the people if I only repaid you with an untapped oil field. You know how much our people love the Kazakh royal family, right? I need to offer some tangible measures to convince the public or our government will be told to be shameless and ungrateful. Please let me know if there’s anything you want in particular.”

Youngho did not want to take advantage of the desperate situation, which would be a disgrace. Instead, it was enough for the Azerbaijan people to remember his favor for a long time.

It was because Baku was a precious place for Youngho and the Fatima siblings, and Youngho wanted to maintain a strong relationship with Azerbaijan as much as possible.

Besides, this was also a kind of investment and transaction. It was winning the hearts of Azerbaijanis and getting a potential offshore oil field.

“It’d be weird to want something in return for helping a brotherly country. Think of it as a reward for the Baku people’s love of our royal family.”

Aliyev stung at Youngho’s words.

He had that much money in his possession, too.

He could have used his own slush funds to free the Azerbaijani government from the foreign exchange crisis but he could not release slush funds recklessly.

It would reveal his activities of creating illegal funds and put his political life in danger as soon as it was exposed to the public or the opposition party.

“You love Azerbaijan more than Azerbaijanis love Azerbaijan.”

“It’s my second home. Who wants his hometown to go wrong?”

“I’m really ashamed.”

“Oh, please don’t be. Kazakhstan could also face a foreign exchange crisis one day. I’m just trying to help you so that you could help us in the time of hardship.”

Aliyev expressed guilt indirectly because of his slush funds.

Of course, Youngho knew about it.

The creation of political funds by those in power had been there for a long time. However, no power had yet been able to use it properly.

Because slush funds were used for personal use, most powerful people faced an unhappy end.

“Mr. President. When the oil is found in the new field, we will share the profits with Azerbaijan by 5-to-5 stake.”

“You don’t have to. It’s like selling a mine anyway, so does it make sense if we profit from it?”

“It could serve as a political burden for you. Would the people easily agree if there was a huge amount of oil or gas deposited there?”

A man’s mind was different in the morning and in the evening.

Aliyev was appreciative of Youngho at the moment, but as soon as it turned out that a huge amount of oil reserves were found, he would be sorry. The same went for the people of Azerbaijan. There was bound to be conflict.

“But who would say anything if the contract clearly stated it?”

“It would be better to share the profits half-and-half for the sake of the friendship between the two countries. Please accept it as a sign that we should prosper together.”

“…”

The reason for giving up the half was to eliminate the possibility of future conflicts as

Youngho was sure there was going to be a huge amount of oil.

“What’s the use of crying out for brotherhood only in words? We should help in times of need and share as much as we can.”

“Oh! Your Highness is determined to impress me today.”

***

President Aliyev announced the agreement with Youngho to the press.

He could just use it as a political achievement, but judging by the fact that he announced it was the favor of the Kazakh royal family, he seemed to have a bit of conscience left.

The announcement by the press made the citizens of Baku go wild as if the Kazakh royal family had become their own.

Who was there to provide huge amounts of dollars in these difficult times?

Besides, Kazakhstan was not as well off as the U.S. and Germany.

They believed that the Kazakh royal family was helping Azerbaijan because it cared for the people.

Some were voicing the need to bring the Kazakh royal family back to Baku.

They even criticized the government for its incompetence for letting the royal family go.

Youngho was embarrassed by such responses of the public.

The situation was going strangely, even though he intended to maintain the image of the Kazakh royal family in moderation and take only practical benefits, not to win the support of the people of Azerbaijan.

Although this incident raised President Aliyev’s support for state affairs, people’s attention was focused on the Kazakh royal family.

A mere 1.5 billion in loans could not be the only reason to make citizens go crazy.

It was a time of disillusionment with the long-time presidency, so the Kazakh royal family’s move was remarkable to the Azerbaijanis.

“I’m not too happy to see the enthusiastic response from the people of Baku.”

“I was only going to take a little profit, but I didn’t count on the citizens’ responses. We’ve put a strain on the government of Aliyev.”

The popularity of the Kazakh royal family soared to the point where it could falter Aliyev’s regime.

“The popularity of our royal family is not very welcome for the Azerbaijan government…”

Youngho and Eriksson were troubled by an unexpected problem.

It could be misunderstood by many as Kazakhstan had been annexing its Central Asian neighbors into federal states.

The popularity of the Kazakh royal family was a shortcut to the federation as it was preceded in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

“Lord Eriksson. Shouldn’t we draw the line first?”

“Wouldn’t it look even more strange? I think it’s better not to care at all.”

“We’re the only ones in trouble because of President Aliyev’s blabbering on the press.”

Both expressed shame, but they were happy at the same time.

It was better for the public to like Kazakhstan than to hate it.

“Your Highness. What do you think of Azerbaijan?”

“…”

“I’m saying this because the way the Baku people look at the Kazakh royal family is unusual. How many countries are there on earth that allow the long-term presidency and dictatorship? How long do you think the people of Azerbaijan will tolerate it?”

“Are you talking about annexing it?”

“I think you should consider a broad-based federal inclusion.”

Youngho had not dreamed of taking over Azerbaijan.

Even if the people of Azerbaijan wanted, he would have refused as the political pressure was too burdensome.

“It’s not a very appealing idea.”

“The people of Baku already accept the Kazakh royal family as their own. I think it wouldn’t be too much of a burden if it remained symbolic. It’s just like the Commonwealth. We can maintain a loose form of federation.”

The fundamental reason for integrating Central Asia was to prevent China from overtaking Central Asian countries with weak economic power.

There was no profit or gain to Kazakhstan as it meant more problems to handle.

The increased borders had only increased defense spending since it became a federation and the only economic benefit had been nothing but an increase in the number of royal gold mines so far.

That was why Youngho was delaying Uzbekistan’s transition to the federal state.

The population of Uzbekistan was 32 million which was difficult to deal with Kazakhstan’s current economic power.

Uzbekistan’s population was as many as the population of the three countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, combined. This could be a dangerous move that could put all state’s people in poverty.

Eriksson, however, was suggesting that Azerbaijan be incorporated into the federation.

Although it was a mouthwatering proposition for Azerbaijan’s potential, there were too many problems with it to readily reach out.

There was also the question of how the international community would view it, and the burden of intervening in territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan followed.

No matter how loose the federal system was, if a conflict broke out, it was only a matter of time before the Caucasus area became a new powder keg.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was over, but there remained another Azerbaijan territory, Nakhchivan, between Armenia and Turkey.

***

“Honey, did you hear that, too?”

“About what?”

“The people of Baku are asking us to stay at the royal villa in the Serbian Ranch for at least two months a year.”

“It’s something that comes up every time, but it’s nothing new. If you don’t have a problem, go stay there with the children for a while. I heard that Azerbaijan’s economy is very difficult these days, so your visit will be helpful.”

“You’re coming with me, right?”

“I visited there a few days ago, so this time, just visit with the kids”

Although the timing was a bit strange, the Queen’s visit to Baku had always been there.

When the Queen of Kazakhstan visited Baku, Baku’s tour packages were also sold like hotcakes.

The Queen’s trip to Baku was also positive for the economy of Baku.

“Hoho… I think I’ll have to get paid separately from now on.”

“Oh, we get tax exemption in Baku. That’s a lot.”

Zeynep Farm and Serbian Ranch in Baku were legally recognized as special royal districts and Kazakh territory in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s government had also exempted taxes and given the royal family the right to have its own security forces.

“I’m planning on staying there for about ten days this time, but if it’s good for the people, I’ll have to do a car parade, too.”

“Good grief. Are you trying to be crowned as the Queen of Azerbaijan?”

“That would be better. That means Baku will be my home.”

Fatima answered without a second of hesitation.

“Do you like Baku that much?”

“Of course. Why, do you not like it?”