Empire of the Ring

"If we don't go after Kazakhstan, it could disappear from the face of the earth. There is no one else to lead Kazakhstan. Do you want a lot of people to live in oppression?"

"Do you think Kazakhstan will bow to the pressure from other countries? Aren't you underestimating the country a little?"

"It could be bad judgment. But an unprepared, clumsy nationalist will lead to the collapse of Kazakhstan. If more than 120 ethnic groups have their own opinion, how will you afford to maintain your power? The successor of the power will try to suppress it unconditionally with his power. Besides the internal political issue, Russia and China's influence will shake the whole country. This is what we reasonably believe."

Eriksson once said that the Information Agency would have better information network than McKinsey, a world-renowned consulting firm. Youngho had been doing business with the company for many years, and there was never a problem. It was a company that was as capable as the U.S. CIA as well. If so, Basten's prediction was probably right. Because Youngho knew that fact so well, his agony was bound to deepen. Since he could not answer right away, he said that he would give him an answer after New Year's Day.

"Thank you for your advice, but this can't be an overnight decision. I need some time to think."

"So far, history has told us and various statistics are proving it. The answer is already there as well. Even if you start preparing now, I can't say that you'll be fully ready. I'm telling you as a friend, regardless of my personal greed."

"I don't know if I am capable of this. I run a small autonomous state, but Kazakhstan is a big country."

"You'll become more competent as you get yourself into it. Just think that your state has gotten a little bit bigger."

"That still is a burden, though. But I'll take the stability of the state and the future of Kazakhstan into consideration as I think about your suggestion."

"I'll help you with it. We're partners after all, and that way, my portion will be bigger in the future."

Basten was strictly calculative, but Youngho rather liked this frank attitude.

Basten made a bold move when he suggested to Youngho that Youngho should run Kazakhstan. It did not seem to be much of a deal for him to take underground resources in exchange for helping Youngho, but it may be a more substantial business since he and Youngho will become a strong allied force from now on.

Youngho was surprised by such a bold suggestion, but there was nothing that he could not do for the well-being of the autonomous state. It was better for him to run Kazakhstan than letting some moron take over and wreck the country.

***

Youngho did not wear a blindfold when he left the castle in the woods

This meant that the Information Agency had accepted Youngho as its own ally.

Likewise, Eriksson's attitude toward Youngho had changed. He did not keep his business smile or try to have a small talk. He was now treating Youngho as one of his colleague, not a client now that they shared a big secret together.

Youngho spoke first because he did not ask anything about Youngho's private conversation with Basten.

"Eriksson, is the future of Kazakhstan so uncertain?"

"It's a little hopeful now, but there will be a big problem in the near future. We've received a lot of speculation about the president's deteriorating health."

"Really? Then you shouldn't worry too much. You must not know that the medical team of the autonomous state is making regular trips to the palace to extend his life."

"The modern medicine will keep him healthy maybe until he's 100 years old."

Youngho was the one who cared for the president's health more than anyone else. It was because the president's power was directly related to the existence of the autonomous state. The president was also willing to undergo various tests and take nutritional supplements when doctors from the state visited him. He was well aware of what Youngho's sincerity meant, and even furthermore, he had no intention of stepping down from power.

"Just because you're breathing, it doesn't mean you're alive. He can't run the state affairs until he dies. That's why we need to be ready. You need to bring the various technology partnership projects into your state. Also, most importantly, you need to have a base for weapons production to build a future."

"I guess I should increase the size of the state."

"Of course, you should secure an area that's a few times bigger than it is now and increase the state's population too. Ask the President to accept if you can receive Kazakh people as residents too. You must become a multi-ethnic state in order to win Kazakh people's support in the future."

It occurred to Youngho that the Information Agency had been closely watching the Arirang state and Kazakhstan for a while. Otherwise, there was no way that Eriksson was suggesting well-analyzed ideas for the state's future.

"How long did you keep an eye on me?"

"Ever since the Arirang Farm was turned into an autonomous state. My supervisors all predicted that you won't be satisfied with having the autonomous state only."

"I'm sure all of them are fortunetellers."

"Hahaha… Well, you could say that. By the time when the coronation took place, they sorted the autonomous state as an individual country."

"That's a great honor. What's your personal opinion on our state, Eriksson?"

"Do you need my opinion?"

"If you don't mind."

"What my bosses think is what I think. I have a slightly different view, but it's a peripheral issue, and I don't know if it will help."

"I'll listen."

The peripheral problem that Eriksson mentioned was to maintain a plausible relationship with Russia as much as possible.

"The problem is that the Russians see Kazakhstan as another Russia with a different name. Nearly 30 percent of Kazakhstan's population is Russian, and the country is economically subjugated to Russia. I'm sure the Russians in Kazakhstan feel the same way, and this is why they don't demand separation and independence right now even though they can."

"After Kazakhstan's independence, most Russians went back to the mainland, and the rest are those who refused to return to the mainland. They're sick of socialism."

"That's right, but even though they're critical and cynical of the Russian political system, their self-esteem of being a Slavic is great. They're going to turn their backs on you if you try to confront Russia with a gun."

"I don't want to be on bad terms with Russia, but I won't stand to be treated unfairly."

"Sometimes you have to take a step back. If Russia demands you to tear a piece of the land for them, be prepared to give it away. You have to think about the future. If you were to become a normal country, it wouldn't be too difficult to get the land back, which happened due to the fault of the previous government."

"Would it be so easy to get back to the land that was taken away once?"

"That's why I want you to build overwhelming power. When you're on an equal footing, you don't dare make unreasonable demands."

Eriksson emphasized not to ignore Russia.

It was not a peripheral issue, but one that should be handled with the most caution. It was unfair to kneel before power, but Eriksson had a point. Sometimes, a country with a lesser power should make a compromise to prepare for the future.

However, Youngho did not want to make a compromise since once he became submissive to a higher power, there was no guarantee that it would not happen again.

***

Youngho left Sweden and arrived at London Heathrow Airport.

Suh Min-seok, who had to stay at the hotel in Stockholm, complained. He followed Youngho as a personal secretary, but he had nothing to do in a foreign land, which made him feel a little fidgety.

"Hey, there's a lot of fun things to do here. Why don't you go sightseeing around the hotel and eat exotic food?"

"I can't. I'm afraid that I'll be terrorized any minute once I step out of the hotel. Where can I go?"

"So I told you to learn special martial arts when the Countryside Force received their training. You need to be able to take care of yourself at least. Everyone in the state should receive basic training."

"I hated serving in the military back in Korea. You want me to get trained again?"

"Oh, don't be a chicken and get a military drill. I'm sure you'll have to carry a gun in the future."

"So, do I get to do the same mission as the intelligence agents?"

"Why? Do they look cool in your eyes?"

"To be a spy is a man's dream."

"You sound like a boy. You don't know how hard the agents' train."

"But if I become an agent, I can quit my job as a secretary."

"Then you'll have to give back the title of a knight."

Suh Min-seok's eyes widened when he heared that he had to give up his title as a knight.

The knighthood was an honor to his family, and he did not want to give it up just because he wanted to become an agent. Of course, Youngho was only teasing him, but Suh Min-seok was serious. He suddenly changed his attitude.

"Oh, I was only kidding. I'll take the job of a secretary as my occupation forever and do my best."

"Hahaha…"

Youngho's head was cooled in a moment because of Suh Min-seok's sudden change of attitude. Business trips were not like going to parties, and he was always stressed having to make difficult decisions, but having someone like Suh Min-seok was quite refreshing.

Hong Sung-ki and Suh Min-seok were great people who could not hide their emotions easily since they showed up on their faces right away. So, accompanying them was much more relieving to Youngho than accompanying Kim Il-kwon, who was boring as a stick. Moreover, the two helped refresh Youngho's mind with their brilliant ideas when Youngho's thoughts were blocked. The fun of making fun of them was an extra.

The reason Youngho came to London today was because he had an appointment with the Chief of the UK Intelligence Service. Although the head of the British Secret Intelligence Service was the Foreign Secretary, most of the intelligence service's work was delegated to the Chief. Thus, Youngho had to deal with the Chief to handle such practical matters as training of intelligence agents.

"Welcome, Duke of the Arirang state. I hope you had a safe trip."

"It wasn't too much trouble since I had a business in Stockholm yesterday."

"That's great. The secretary sent his regards."

"Please tell him, thank you."

"I've heard that you're having many overseas trips these days."

"It looks like the news travels fast here. Well, I'm busily working towards making a toy airplane."

"We have a great aero industry in the UK, so if you need anything from us, just let me know. I'm willing to cooperate as much as I can."

"I am well aware of the latest Typhoon fighter that has been co-produced by four European countries."

"Well, since the plane is not for today's purpose, I'll bring you more information the next time I visit the autonomous state."

"I'll look forward to it. I know you're a busy person as well. So, let me cut to the chase. Could you tell me the purpose of our meeting today?"

"Sure. First of all, I'd like to share with you the recent decisions of our government."