Empire of the Ring

"Min-seok, what's the matter with you these days?"

"There's no such thing. What's the problem with doing what you're told to do?"

"You look troubled. What's wrong? Tell me about it."

As Youngho insisted, Suh Min-seok finally opened his mouth.

"It's because I don't know if I should let my parents stay here. They are worried after hearing that the fighters arrived here. They asked me if there's going to be a war any time soon."

"Tell them nothing's going to happen. If they're really anxious, tell them they can move to the farm in Baku."

Youngho could see why Min-seok's parents were worried.

Older people who had lived in the divided Korea had lived under the threat of conflict all their lives. Since Youngho made such a fuss that it looked like a battle would take place at any moment.

"They've already settled down here. They're not going to budge even if I push them to leave, but they're worried because the whole Central Asia is a place full of disputes and conflicts just like the Korean Peninsula."

"You're nervous, too?"

"I'm not afraid, but I think you're capable enough to get through this situation."

"Hooh! You mean you trust me?"

"I don't have much experience in the world, but you are more humane and broad-minded than any businessman or politician I've ever seen."

"Man, you flatter me with your words. Keep praising me."

"I can't say more if you bluntly ask me to do so."

"I might look like a huge person to you, but I'm scared of the world, too. The people I'm responsible for are giving me the courage I don't have. We're already in a situation where we can't even get our feet out of it, so I'm just trying to take the lead instead of just sitting back and waiting for the conclusion."

"Is what you want a full-fledged 'independence' of the state?"

"I only think about how the Arirang state can survive. One way is to build up power so no one can touch it, and that power could be force or diplomacy."

"With all due respect, what are you going to do when your efforts are not enough to stop the conflict?"

"If it's too much, we'll leave here. Don't worry about that. I can't stand idly knowing that I'm going to die. There has to be a place for less than 20,000 local residents to stay in this vast world, don't you think? It will be hard to get land for free like Kazakhstan, but we'll make a place to stay even if we have to pay for it."

Knowing that Min-seok would definitely freak out to hear about a possible war, Youngho made remarks to reassure Min-seok, but he never intended to give up the Arirang Autonomous State. He would protect the county even if there was a war.

***

Former members of the Navy Special Forces from South Korea were now working for Zeyenp Security Service, the Countryside Force, or the Vigilante Army of the autonomous state.

Back in Korea, non-commissioned officers of special forces were not treated very well, but in developing countries like Kazakhstan, they were skillful enough to carry out their duties in any position given. They were more skillful than the local officers who studied and trained abroad in Russia, so they had no trouble taking a senior position in military organizations.

The guys who were assigned to the Countryside Force ranged in rank from lieutenant to major, but everyone disliked to be in an administrative position. Such a position did not require a lot of work, but they hated being on the desk and preferred to roll and run in the front line. It would be a problem if people in the positions to plan operations and strategies for soldiers all fought at the front lines with guns. Even though they had enough ability to be in higher positions, they all refused to do their work.

"There's no one to serve in the logistics position or a transportation officer."

"They asked me why they should do that? They'd rather leave it to civilians and be in the field."

"We like to do that better than sitting at the desk too. We can't blame them."

"I'd love to roll in the field, but I'm stuck on the head of my desk because of you."

"We've got no choice but to let them roll in the field. Let's leave the logistics to the state administration. But tell them they'll be demoted if they try to pass their operational authority to the administration too."

In fact, Youngho was the one who was more excited than Jong-il when they carried out a mission. The two were almost invincible when they worked together like the serrated wheel.

"I wish we had a few more guys like Hong Sung-ki and Choi Sang-ho. All we got is a bunch of guys who only want to use their bodies. How are they going to carry out operations?"

"You know we're not going to make them engage in regular warfare. They're experts at disrupting enemy lines working in small groups."

"It's a problem that they don't have any real experience."

"Don't worry. There are not many forces that had trained hard as we did."

In fact, there was nothing to worry about as long as the state could defend itself.

If there was any sign of attack, the state's Foreign Legion would launch a preemptive strike in guerrilla-style. Youngho was confident since the British military satellite could check the surrounding situation in real-time. Still, he asked Eriksson to purchase Russian-made multiple rocket launchers, self-propelled, and tanks.

***

Finally, anti-government protests began in Astana, the capital city.

Protests had been confined to Almaty, where the Presidential Palace was, but the fact that they were taking place even in the capital was proof that the public of Kazakhstan had gone out of control.

Demonstrations in Astana, which had more police force than any other city, had been a violent clash between protesters and police from the start.

In the beginning, the police used tear gas and stones only, but now they were shooting at the protesters.

It was also at that point that news of the state of panic of the Presidential Palace was delivered. The state had been closely monitoring the Presidential Palace as it was being wiretapped in real-time, the agents of the state just confirmed that the president was packing any items and belongings from the palace. It seemed that he was going to move his valuables somewhere else.

The only way out of Kazakhstan must be by land through Russia or through the Caspian Sea. Given the president's situation, it was unlikely that he would go through Russia, so the Caspian Sea would be the only channel for him. That was because it was impossible for airplanes to carry heavy items such as gold bars.

"You still haven't figured out where he's going?"

"Not yet. The only proven way to know is to have agents around the palace track down huge vehicles that come out of the Presidential Palace day and night, and hope that he won't choose the Russian route."

"No, all of his belongings will be found by the Russian border securities. He will surely go through the Caspian Sea."

"It's an interesting move for the president. Is he going to sell all of that stuff?"

"Judging by the fact that he's packing up ahead of time, he probably doesn't want to protect Kazakhstan anymore."

"I'm sure he is desperate. The TV news is all about his corruption, and the public's support is running low. There's no place for him to lean on anymore."

Youngho wondered how the president would react if all of his precious assets were stolen.

If he used the Caspian Sea, Youngho would take the ship that would be carrying his belongings. Now, he could not help the president's secret account overseas, but he was not going to allow the president to bring out any penny from Kazakhstan.

Several days later, agents confirmed that fourteen trucks came out of the Presidential Palace. The trucks were already moving to the west, as predicted. Then there was only a conclusion that the assets would escape through the Caspian Sea. Turkish-flagged cargo ships had been waiting at the port for days.

"You said there were fourteen trucks in total, right?"

"Yep. They'll be at the Port of Atyrau tomorrow."

"Wouldn't it be better to take them from the harbor? We'll get exposed when we take them over on the ocean."

"That must be tough because of the tight security. We have no choice but to pretend to be pirates."

"What? There are no pirates in the Caspian Sea. They must believe that the Maritime Police and the Navy are tightly patrolling the territorial waters."

"Once they enter the international waters, who could they suspect?"

"There must be a lot of guards on board since the president has been robbed before. I bet this time, we're going to see some blood."

Youngho could not come up with any other solution. He would have to decide according to the situation after seizing the president's ship.

He picked ten agents who would play the role of pirates and disguised his own yacht in a messy way since it would be funny if a pirate boat was too clean.

"Oh, how much I care about that ship, and you had to ruin it!"

"It's a ship that's going to be messed up in time anyway. Stop making a fuss about it."

"Wouldn't the president ask the Maritime Police to escort the freighter?"

"No, this is his secret funds. He won't dare to openly ask for help. He would rather fear that we or the Navy would find out about his money."

"He's a real greedy old man. I wonder how many items he's got that he needs 14 trucks to move them. He couldn't leave them behind, could he?"

The president must be moving his valuables in fear that they would be taken away from him when the government was overruled. It was a good thing for Youngho. He was going to rob the Presidential Palace in the worst-case scenario, but he did not have to now that the president had packaged them nicely for him. The valuables must not be high-end furniture since no one would place so many guards to move some furniture. It only made sense to think that they were gold bars.

A while later, Youngho received a call from an agent at the Port of Atyrau to report that the Turkish ship had departed.

He left the Arirang Wharf with Jong-il and a crew of pirates on standby.

It was easy to catch up with the freighter with a speedboat, so they did not need to rush. The Ural River, which had just thawed out, was overflowing with yellow water. They chatted on the boat looking down at the Ural River. They were not nervous at all even though they were going to plunder.

The operation was simple. By the time they entered the open sea, they would take the cargo ship and move the goods to the car ferry that follow behind their boat.

And if nothing else, they planned to release the cargo ship and crew at the right place. However, if they resist severely, they would inevitably become a fish feed of the Caspian Sea. Former guards of Zeynep Security Service who came with them also looked peaceful without any tension in their faces. The raid on the cargo ship was nothing but a warm-up for them.