Empire of the Ring

At last, a medium-size drone was developed with the technology of the autonomous state.

Acquiring the source technology that could make a drone's body and propeller that could lift up to 70 kilograms was also a great feat for the state's technical skills. While producing core electronic devices were still remote from the state's technology level, the fact that it made the stable body—which was the hardware part had made great strides.

It was not too far away to make drones that people could ride if the technicians tried even harder. The American source company D Drones said that it would also provide high-end technology in recognition of the state's technological prowess. The fact that the defect rate of drones made in the Arirang Autonomous State was close to zero also played a part in this.

There was another reason that D Drones was sharing its technology. Recently, China, which was famous for copying other countries' technology, had swept the drone market around the world. Now, Johnson, the director of D Drones, had come to the state to talk to Youngho.

"Mr. Lee, can you increase research and development spending further in the future?"

"We can surely do that if your company shares some of the key technologies that will enable research and development on the basis of them."

"Most definitely. Now that it's proven that the drones we produce here are better than the ones we produce in our own country, we've come to think about them. We're looking at basic electronics technologies and mapping transfers."

"Then I'll immediately expand our research facilities and make generous investments for the research team. All I ask for your company is to provide me with research and development equipment. I'll pay for it."

"Okay. In the meantime, a lot of researchers have been pulled out of our research and development efforts. We have no choice but to rely on the Arirang Autonomous Prefecture. Fortunately, our products are still more popular than the ones produced by Chinese companies, but ours are not as cheap."

Drones had become so popular now that even elementary school children played with small drones. Drone technology was also not uncommon.

"The production line at the U.S. plant has been decided to produce only small drones, so the medium-sized and large-sized production will be up to the autonomous state. Our management and major shareholders see this place as prospective production sight. I think we got high marks for securing a stable production line."

"The passion of our workers is really great. It would be a lot more beneficial in the long run for your company, too."

"In a few years, we'll develop drones that people can ride on. You can look forward to it."

"If you do, you'll have obtained all the skills related to drone technology. I'll celebrate your achievement in advance."

Making drones that could have people on board was not considered a complex technology. This was because it only needed the secured propulsion power and flying distance of a propeller that could handle the weight. In the near future, the state would use drones to sow wheat. If the drones of the state could acquire the technology to evade anti-drone devices, they could be used as unmanned weapons as well.

"Is your group's laser welding technology transferable too?"

"It's in the hands of the laser company under D Drones corporation, so I won't be able to answer your question. It's produced and sold in all-in-one welders."

"As far as I know, the core technology is in optical lenses, right?"

The follower couple had researched about laser welding technology and informed Youngho about the optical lenses ahead of time. The technology allowed industrial diamonds or rubies to collect and send light from spreading. Since he could gather as many rough diamonds as he wanted, it would be helpful to have the lens technology. He asked about the welding technology to build basic knowledge to make laser guns in the future.

"I don't know exactly, but I know that we usually use rubies for lens material. It's all very expensive, even for industrial use. Why do you ask?"

"I've just begun to develop land in Siberia. When I was in Krasnoyarsk, I came into contact with local mafia members."

Youngho went on for quite a long time. He lied that the local mafias had been forcibly selling rough industrial diamonds to the business holders including him there. He showed Johnson some of the diamond ores. He checked them thoroughly.

"Mr. Johnson, could you take these and check whether these could be used as a material for the lens. If there's a chance, I'll take a chance to bring them from Siberia."

"No, you'll do that kind of dangerous thing?"

"For a business, I'll pay any price."

"Let's start by exploring the possibilities. If we can have a stable supply of the materials, we'll be thinking about technology transfer."

***

Youngho was going to sell rough diamonds to Eriksson in the future, but it seemed that there was a better use for the diamonds. Since it seemed that D Drones was going to be Youngho's close business partner, he decided to share the existence of the diamonds.

D Drone's Johnson was glad to hear about diamonds. D Drones had been making artificial rubies to make lenses and its price was quite expensive. Youngho's diamonds was intriguing news.

"Are you saying that we might be able to make laser guns?"

"It's not going to be easy but we might as well try."

"It's going to be amazing if we can put that on our armored vehicles. I guess I don't have to worry about the lack of our force and manpower."

"There's no problem with the supply and demand of the Countryside Force since everyone came back, right?"

"Well, I think we can get on with it now."

Cho Chul-hwan, who was in charge of the Countryside Force and defense of the state, complained that there were not enough soldiers in the force to guard the borders of the state.

"We've got to work with whatever we have."

"I know. I'm just saying. I'm telling you I'll only be able to sleep well if the weapons lab makes missiles and equip our vehicles with them."

"So, I heard that soldiers are called at the Kazakh border area these days."

"I had a meeting with the commander here a few days ago, and the Chinese force has stepped up their border security to stop the Uyghur people from escaping. The Kazakh government took it as a violation of the international agreement, so it had no choice but to have a forward deployment of the Kazakh Army there."

The three countries, Russia, China, and Kazakhstan previously had agreed to maintain 100,000 military soldiers within 100 kilometers of the border. However, the Chinese military broke the agreement using Uyghurs as an excuse. The Kazakh government was quite upset about it.

"I guess their supply line is not smooth again. They're using Uyghurs as an excuse."

"If people want to leave Uyghur, why doesn't the Chinese government let them be?"

"I'm sure that the Chinese government is protesting against the Kazakh government since it's trying to reduce the supply of oil crude now."

***

Hearing that Xinjiang Uyghur region was suffering, Youngho was worried about the Serbian mercenaries that were helping Uyghurs there. They were the people who were cast out to the Uyghur region from the autonomous state a while ago to atone for their past crimes as former Serbian militia against Bosnians.

Even if they were reborn as warriors, there was no guarantee that bullets would naturally avoid them. He wanted to call them to the autonomous state now, but the mercenaries had been refusing his suggestion. Although their reason was to fight for Uyghur's independence, it was only an excuse to stay there since they feared that they would not adjust to life in the autonomous state if they returned.

They were not safe in the Uyghur region but they were still glad that their families in the state were able to sleep comfortably because of them. Family members of war criminals were not disadvantaged at the state, and the money they earned from being mercenaries was great. It was because the US CIA had been supplying a lot for Uyghur independence fighter groups and the mercenaries in the region. They were also grateful that they could still talk to their families with satellite phones and through state's intelligence agents who visited them once in a while.

"How is his condition?"

"He had to cut off his toes because he had frostbite."

"Tell the agents to bring him out. He's over 50 years old. It should be hard for him to do the job of a mercenary. If he can't adapt to the normal life here, we'll have to use him as a security guard at the logging area in Siberia"

The news of the oldest man of the Serbian mercenary group was delivered through an agent that he lost his toes to an illness. It was no wonder since he had been wandering the rugged mountains of Afghanistan and Tajikistan in severely cold weathers. Even with well-built, insulated clothes and shoes for the winter weather in the Tian Shan Mountains and the Pamirs did not last long. And, the fact that people could not wash often there made the illnesses worse.

Despite having his toes cut off, he was still refusing to come back.

"How did he overwork himself to make the situation that bad when there weren't many battles last winter?"

"His feet got wet when he fell in a small stream, but he didn't have shoes to change. He just neglected it until it turned out to be this way."

The medical and other supplies were far short in the Pamir Highlands at 5,000 meters above sea level since there was no one who would deliver the supplies to the mercenaries in the rough mountainous area.

"Man, if only we could provide some supplies to the mercenaries…"

"Why don't we use the drones we developed this time?"

"It's a good idea, but it's only for a short range."

"It's easy to get to Tajikistan, so why not fly drones near the border a few times. I'm going to give some of them to the agents. If it works, it's going to be useful in Siberia as well."

It was an eye-opening suggestion. If basic supplies could be delivered by drones rather than using light-armored vehicles, it would be a major revolution in short-distance delivery line in Siberia.

"We should bring the patient first, and start increasing the drone's flight distance."

"Wouldn't the flight range increase if f I lose some weight of the luggage on board?"

"That's only temporary. I will try to figure out a way to drastically increase the flight range this time. I'll have enough time until this winter. If I could get a technical tie-up in time, it won't be impossible."

"Oh, please make it that way."

"It's a long game anyway. Let's see who wins."