Empire of the Ring

The Aegis destroyer Aleksandar 1001 and 1002 left Greenland and sailed through the Arctic Ocean and the Mediterranean to the sea off Arirang Island in the Sea of the Aegean Sea.

Arirang Island was a Mediterranean bridgehead and served as the headquarters of the Kazakh Royal Navy as it was owned by the royal family.

The two Aegis destroyers proudly entered the port with the Kazakh flag, as it was negotiated with the Greek government to use the island as a naval base for the Kazakh royal family.

The destroyers were being anchored at the dock with the help of a tugboat. Large ships needed help from tugboats to prevent them from damaging the hull while trying to reach the dock.

"Wow! The boats at the Arirang Wharf off the Ural River dock themselves without tugboats, but these destroyers are indeed huge."

Cho Chul-hwan expressed his admiration for the destroyers being docked at the pier with the help of a tugboat.

"If you see a multi-purpose landing ship, you'll faint."

"What made you think you're going to build a vessel of 30,000 tons in weight? My head spins when I think of the cost of maintenance. Compared to the Army, the Navy is just a big headache."

"There's nothing like a ship that can transport huge troops at once. And if you carry about ten Apache attack helicopters there, it's like carrying the firepower of several army divisions."

"This will only do a favor for the U.S. or European countries. If there is a conflict zone, they will ask for our help."

The international community required countries to play a role according to its level of economic power or force. The higher the status of a nation, the more natural it was to be demanded to play a role as a member of the international community.

However, socialist countries such as China and Russia were subject to criticism because they are solely for their own interests.

"I have that in mind, too. If we act loyally as a member of the U.N. then, it won't ignore us when something happens to us later."

"That's a good idea. But I'm worried about Russia, but what can we do?"

"We should avoid conflict areas involving Russia as much as possible. Considering that 30 percent of the Kazakh population is Russian, we have to maintain an inseparable relationship with Russia."

When the ship was docked, the island's guards and a handful of residents welcomed Youngho and his Navy.

The people living on Arirang Island were the existing Greek residents and families of the members of the Royal Bodyguards.

As the number of commercial owners increased, kindergartens and mini elementary and secondary schools opened for the children of the Royal Bodyguards and residents. Then the native Greek people who were engaged in fishing soon opened restaurants, shops, and taverns to continue their livelihood.

The entire atmosphere of the island soon became lively.

Residents who had lived for a long time enjoyed the most benefits when the island became the property of Kazakhstan's royal family.

They were allowed unlimited use of drinking water and electricity, which had been cited as the biggest inconvenience. And with the establishment of educational facilities, they were able to escape the economic difficulties of sending their children to land.

Various amenities and medical services for the Royal Bodyguards were also available for them. The Kazakh royal family also promised to provide some money for education if the island's children went to higher schools on land.

This series of measures was intended to induce favoritism for the Kazakh royal family.

The Aegean Sea had a myriad of islands, and the water was very precious except for the residents of a few islands. Most of the Aegean islands were made up of rocks, and did not have much precipitation, which caused water shortages.

Besides the water shortage, the life far from land was bound to have difficulties in access to many resources.

Arirang Island overcame its natural environment with desalination facilities and was envied by other islanders. The island residents expressed gratitude saying that the poor life that has been accepted as fate for generations now felt rewarded.

Such a word had spread out making the island famous for a source of drinking water.

These days, people from nearby islands came to Arirang Island to get water if the water supply ship did not come on time from the land.

***

"Your Highness, that's the island you see over there."

Park Sung-won, the director of the Arirang Island base, was explaining to Youngho, pointing to the island across the street.

He was looking through a telescope at the highest point of the island because an island one kilometer away from Arirang Island was on the market.

"It's a little bigger than Arirang Island. How's the situation on the island?"

"There are 854 residents in 257 families. They're suffering from drinking water shortage these days."

"Some residents may have private property. Is there a way to solve it?"

"I've been in touch with the islanders and they said they would agree to the sale without condition if the Kazakh royal family is the buyer."

"For sale without condition? That's great. Is the harbor a private property for the residents?"

"Yes. Even if you buy all the land owned by the Greek government, it's hard to use a port without the consent of the residents."

As the Kazakh royal family's desalination system made Arirang Island better, it seemed that the residents of the neighboring island favored the Kazakh royal family as they suffered from continuous drought due to the recent abnormal temperatures. Although they had requested for drinking water to the Greek government, it was a difficult favor to do as the government struggled financially.

"Great. Go ahead with the purchase of the island."

The pier on Arirang Island was small and slightly damaged to be used as the headquarters of the Oceanic Navy, so this was a chance to have an island twice the size of Arirang Island.

Youngho's group traveled to Meltemi Island near Arirang Island.

It was a kilometer away from Arirang Island, so it took less than five minutes on a speedboat.

When they arrived at the island, all but a few elderly people came out and welcomed them.

A dark brown-haired man in his 50s, the chief of the island named Lajos, greeted Youngho with great respect. The weight of the Duke of the Kazakh royal family was making Lajos pay respect to Youngho.

"Chief, please make yourself at home. Formality makes me uncomfortable."

"Oh, how can I? Your Highness, it's an honor to have you come to our island."

"I visited because I heard that you're suffering from drinking water shortage these days. I want to help."

"The director of the base is helping us out. All thanks to you, Your Highness. On behalf of the village, thank you again."

"Oh, there's no need to. We Kazakhs always help our neighbors in need. I'd be criticized if I try to show off for giving you a little water."

Word hovered in his mouth that he had come to buy the island, but Youngho did not say so.

"I'm so embarrassed because we get not only drinking water but also daily necessities. I will repay you for this kindness in some way someday."

"This hospitality alone is a great treat."

"Since you've come all the way here to the island, I'd like to make a difficult request."

The words Youngho was looking forward to finally popped out of Lajos' mouth.

For them, the fate of the island depended on the decision of the Kazakh royal family. It was because they had no idea how long the drought would last.

"If there's any other inconvenience, I'll help you out as much as I can. Please feel free to ask."

"Are you not interested in our island?"

"I think the island is very beautiful."

"Meltemi Island has a much larger bay than Arirang Island, which is good to use as a port. Also, there is plenty of fish in the area."

Chief was trying hard to promote the island to Youngho.

"I really liked the harbor with the wide bay. The villagers also seem so kind that I felt so comfortable."

"With all due respect, it would be an honor if you bought our island."

"Are you going to offer me such a beautiful island like this?"

"I bragged about the island a little while ago, but it's hard for us to stand on our own terms. If you would let our people continue to live here like the residents of Arirang Island, we will support the Kazakh royal family with all our hearts."

On the way back, Youngho took a quick tour of the island on a speedboat.

As he circled around Meltemi Island, a smile did not leave his mouth.

The more he looked, the more he liked the island.

Now, the Kazakh Navy could finally make a proper bridgehead in the Aegean Sea.

It was a bit of a hassle to accept the islanders, but on the other hand, it seemed to be better in terms of sentiment than to fill the island with all military families only.

Maintaining the residents was beneficial because they could be used as a card to persuade the Greek government when purchasing the island.

There was no reason for the Greek government to refuse it because it also needed the Kazakh royal family to serve as a buffer for the Aegean Sea.

Turkey, which had always threatened Greece, would refrain from provocations as the Kazakh royal family was in the middle.