Empire of the Ring

"It's a shame that we couldn't bring our nuclear submarine through the canal because of its shallow depth."

"Hahaha… I didn't think of that when we were working on the expansion. I watched the footage of the submarine in operation, so that's enough."

A nuclear submarine was at least more than ten meters underwater even if it was not submerged in water.

The depth of the canal was limited, so the submarine could not reach the Caspian Sea, which Admiral Jun regretted as he could not show it to Youngho.

He came to report the results of the acquisition of nuclear submarines from Russia and the deployment of them on the Greek island of Meltemi and the Seychelles Base in the Indian Ocean, respectively.

"Other places were fine, but they couldn't get through the gates."

"If a nuclear submarine comes into the Caspian Sea, it'll be a shock. I'm going to take the time to visit the island of Meltemi and Seychelles."

"If you visit in person, the morale of the soldiers will soar."

"It's been a while since I got seasick. By the way, how do you feel about operating with a nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean?"

"I have nothing else to say. I'm just proud. We've been playing hide-and-seek among ourselves, and ten warships couldn't find the submarine no matter what."

Nuclear submarines usually had a cooler running 24 hours, which was bound to be noisy, but that did not seem to be the case.

It was surprising to hear that even ten latest Aegis destroyers and frigates could not catch it.

The Kazakh Navy, which had two such submarines, was now invincible.

Youngho was pleased to hear such news.

"Is the submarine too good, or are the battleships not enough?"

"Your Highness, these are not simple comparisons since they are built for different purposes. Although we didn't find the submarine, the battleships could effectively keep it stationary."

"I'm glad to hear that. Now I'm not envious of any navy."

"If we turn the multi-purpose landing ship into a helicopter carrier, we'll be the strongest force in the Indian Ocean except for the U.S. Navy, although I'm a bit concerned about the Chinese Navy's advance."

"We have decided to leave the armament of the multi-purpose amphibious landing ship to the U.S. Navy. From the U.S. point of view, the deployment of a helicopter carrier in the Indian Ocean will be a relief."

"Your Highness, if you're going to arm it, why don't you have a few vertical take-offs and landing crafts onboard?"

"Can we operate a vertical take-off and landing plane with our ability?"

"I think we should make it special rather than making it a regular one. It's too slow and big for a multipurpose landing ship."

"I was actually planning to deploy more assault landing ships, but that's great. Let's operate the currently deployed landing ship as a helicopter carrier. The next assault ship will be built with a slight reduction in size."

"Thank you. Your Highness, if we had a helicopter carrier, we wouldn't have any enemy in the Indian Ocean."

There was no reason for Kazakhstan to operate a super-sized landing ship when it had no reason to invade a foreign country.

A new assault landing ship with a smaller size would be enough to operate.

"Then take the multipurpose landing ship to the United States and make it a helicopter carrier. It's already arranged. The U.S. is going to teach our navy how to operate a helicopter carrier. I ordered only attack helicopters and large-sized helicopters for troop transport, but if you need to, mount a vertical take-off and landing craft."

"Yes, sir!"

***

The Kazakh royal family had been suffering losses after taking over the Greek Port of Piraeus, but finally, it turned into a surplus after the new year.

Although the amount was small compared to the amount poured in, the fact that it started making revenues was important.

It was mostly Eriksson's effort. After putting the port of Piraeus on track, he pulled out of port management and returned to the royal territory.

"You've done a great job. I thought it would be back to normal in a few more years, but I'm surprised."

It was hard to believe that the port was making profits even after partially offsetting the cost of modernizing the port.

"The strike by the port union had worsened management, but the remaining conditions were the best."

"I hope I didn't ask you to come back when you wanted to stay longer."

The Port of Piraeus was a colorful tourist city equipped with all sorts of infrastructure. It was incomparable to the royal territory.

"My wife and children also wanted to return to the royal territory. There are demonstrators and police everywhere. It's scary to be staying in places where tear gas and rocks fly. I was so nervous that my wife and children couldn't even go out."

"But it's still better than the royal territory with bitter cold and dusty storms, isn't it?"

It was not enough to talk all day long to praise Greece.

There were beautiful cities near an emerald sea like a painting and warm sunshine in every season.

"It's a warm and beautiful place. However, the social order has collapsed and you can't expect to see the Greece of the past. Staying there for a vacation is fine, but living there is definitely not a good idea. The educational conditions were much worse than here, so I didn't get attached to the place. The royal place is much colder and desolate, but there's no place in the world that's safer and more comfortable than here."

"It makes me feel good to hear that from you, Sir Eriksson."

It was a bit funny to say that it was a good place to live, but the Arirang royal territory was a more vibrant and dynamic place than any other European city, regardless of the weather and nature.

It was also an educational city with all kinds of educational institutions, not to mention policing.

In addition, it was an industrial city, which housed numerous defense and light industry factories.

The population of the city had already topped 1.5 million.

However, it was not too crowded. Due to the hard work of planting trees and forming water reservoir systems, it had turned into a place with numerous oases with large and small lakes and forests all over the city.

"Now I think the royal territory is where I'm supposed to be. I'm saying this because I can't think of anywhere else to live."

"Oh, you sound like you badly missed this place. It's pleasing to hear that you praise this place so much. Hahaha…"

"Your Highness, I've gained some insights while living abroad."

"…"

"How long do you think Kazakhstan will be on a roll?"

Eriksson suddenly took the smile off his face and asked with a serious look. Youngho could not find an answer.

"Your Highness, the world I saw here and the world I saw from Greece were so different. The world is fluctuating greatly. If we get pulled into that whirlwind, we won't even be able to step on the threshold of becoming an advanced country, and we'll just remain an ordinary country. Kazakhstan is doing well now, but we have to be even more careful. Maybe we've been lucky all along."

"Is it that serious?"

"Yes, it is. We need to prepare a lot."

Just as the frog in the well could not see the wide world, it was Youngho who had been on a roll in Kazakhstan and had not experienced much failure and frustration, so he always thought it would always be the same as today.

Come to think of it, he had been terribly lucky so far.

Because he went on a business trip to Armenia, he could have become a local agent of the U.S. intelligence service and obtain a vineyard in Baku, Azerbaijan.

If he had not met Fatima in Istanbul, he would neither have been able to be master of the mystical ring and shoes, the relics of the Serbian Kingdom, nor able to establish ties to the Serbian royal family.

He also made great connections with good people who helped him along the way.

"I think luck is also your ability. That's because luck comes to those who give their very best. I've never been arrogant in my life. I will never relax until Leon is grown up and takes over the throne."

"I'm not concerned about the royal family, but I'm saying we need to bring the people of this country together."

"Our people have changed a lot."

"That's true, but people are overspending and real estate prices in large cities are skyrocketing because they think the country is becoming rich and stable. It's a typical bubble phenomenon, and the fact that the number of civic groups registering and in action is growing is another sign. They are not hungry or feel in danger anymore. Greece was in the same situation just before it went downhill."

"Isn't corruption of officials and politicians the cause of national bankruptcy in Greece?"

"Workers who don't work and demand only high wages played a part. Civic groups instigated and encouraged laborers to lower their activity costs."

"I see."

"They liked to see foreign capital coming in, shaking the stock market and buying land for good tourist attractions as an investment. Yet, they didn't even know they're being reduced to employees of the foreign investors."

Eriksson once again stressed the need to tighten the belt, saying to put the case of Greece as a teacher.

It was quite alarming to hear as Youngho had never doubted that Kazakhstan would end up that way.

The royal family was firm and the clean government was carrying out the right policy, and the underground resources were inexhaustible, which the world envied.

No country in the world had achieved such brilliant results in such a short period of time.

Still, Eriksson said only the prepared would survive in this world.

Youngho knew the world had entered a state of economic war now but was complacent thinking that Kazakhstan was an exception.

It was more persuasive as it was coming from the best brain of the Swedish Information Agency, which was run by an elite group.