Empire of the Ring

Eriksson said Putin's offer to secretly see him in Volgograd was a good opportunity.

Unlike Western countries, Kazakhstan had not joined Russia's economic sanctions so it could engage Russia in economic cooperation regardless of the U.N.—that was also why Putin offered it to Youngho.

Russia's worsening economic situation had created many problems in Russian society as a whole. It was so bad that in the previous news, it was reported that a Russian woman working as a kindergarten teacher had been involved in prostitution as part-time work. She would make only about 3,000 rubles—about 47 US dollars—for overnight prostitution, but the economic difficulties were so severe that people like her had to hit the streets to earn money.

Putin's greed for swallowing the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea was driving Russia to collapse. It would not be recovered unless he returns it to Ukraine. Thus, he had to join hands with anyone that could be of help and Kazakhstan was a tempting partner at the moment.

"Putin won't ask me to give more money, but we have limitations to our participation in economic cooperation. I don't know what Putin's intention is."

"This is a point when Putin needs a supporting role to shine on his leadership. He wants to show off that he's achieved economic cooperation despite the West's economic sanctions."

"So, we'll be playing a symbolic role."

"If he wants us to take that role, let him get it, and we'll make a profit out of it."

It was not Youngho's first time to do business in Russia so Putin could have requested it publicly, but he sent a special envoy to request it and asked him to meet in secret. There must be another intention in his mind.

Even now, Youngho and Yaniv's hotel business in Moscow and the warehouse business in Vladivostok were doing well. He also aggressively joined in developing Siberia that he even built a vodka factory in Krasnoyarsk, but yet, Putin was asking more from Youngho. He wondered what else was on Putin's mind.

"Eriksson, you say Putin wants a symbolic investment, but I don't think so. I suspect Putin is trying to bring the royal family in to make up for personal weakness."

"There's a slight chance of that. But it's also aimed at overcoming the falling domestic economy."

"There's bound to be a limit to the amount of money we invest."

"Maybe he's already targeting the business that has been invested in already. For example, he might want to open up a North Sea route off the coast of Siberia. Then he can ask you to join the Arctic business."

Only the part of the North Sea route that belonged to Russian territorial waters of the Siberian coast belonged to Russia and the rest of the route was managed by the Arctic Council, which was a political consultative body of the Arctic countries established to discuss issues related to the North Pole. The United States, Russia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland were the eight Arctic countries, and there were 12 non-Arctic countries as observer states.

This was evidence that many countries were showing interest in the North Sea route.

"Maybe he's interested in our icebreaker business."

"I'd be glad if so. It'll be safe if I did business with Putin. Russia has the most ice breakers in the world. It even has nuclear-powered icebreakers."

Having an icebreaker in itself meant a maritime power.

Russia had 32 icebreakers; six of which were nuclear-powered icebreakers while the Arctic Council countries and twelve observer states had only one to eight icebreakers each.

This was because using the North Sea route reduced the operation time of ships entering Asia via the Suez Canal by ten days and dramatically reduced fuel costs. Russia could collect money for various reasons, including tolls, icebreaker fees, and visas.

Also, having icebreakers helped to take the initiative in the Arctic's waters and resources based on topography. The value of oil, natural gas and fishing rights in the Arctic was so enormous that Russia was enjoying its topographic advantage.

Because of such advantage of the Arctic, there had been a territorial dispute in the Arctic Ocean as well. Norway and Russia had been in territorial dispute for 40 years in the Barents Sea, the lower part of the Arctic Ocean. For this reason, Russia had deployed a total of 6,000 mechanized infantry brigades in the Novosibirsk Islands and Murmansk region.

The quiet war for preoccupation in the Arctic Ocean had already begun in the past.

Youngho would also join the North Pole route once the icebreaker at the Danish Shipyard was completed next year.

"Without Russian cooperation, the Arctic shipping business is virtually impossible. The reality is that there is no country in the Arctic Ocean that can keep up with Russia's military. The U.S. has only one icebreaker so it can't send an aircraft carrier to the Arctic Ocean."

"Russia would think that we could lend the U.S. an icebreaker at any moment."

"It could. The U.S. can make an icebreaker if it wants to, but not right away. It takes about two to three years to make an icebreaker."

"I don't know what Putin is going to propose, but I don't think I'm going to give a definite answer or refuse to do so."

"We're going to have to make a judgment according to circumstances. That's why I'll accompany you this time."

***

At the international airport of Volgograd, a 12-seater jet gently landed on the runway. It was a plane that carried Youngho's group.

Flights that had been stranded were rushing into the runway as the Kazakh royal jet had landed. Several planes were spotted preparing for takeoff on the airport taxiway. Youngho, who was looking out through the window, shook his head.

"They say that too much courtesy is no courtesy. It's too much welcome."

"Our plane seems to have caused the airport to be temporarily paralyzed. It's not bad manners."

"Eriksson, I didn't know you like to be authoritative."

"Hahaha… I love the way the Russian authorities are treating the Kazakh royal family."

Even though it was supposed to be a secret visit, Volgograd Airport was heavily guarded for protection. It was a respectful gesture for the royal family, but Youngho thought it was too much. From the moment the jet entered the Russian airspace, four Russian airliners escorted it to a standstill and it was the same in the airport."

"It's a burden…"

"This shows how important your visit is to Putin."

"Socialist welcome is a no-no."

"It's very common in the West to ban takeoffs and landings for a while when important people use airports."

"It's understandable to do that in an airport, but isn't it too much to do that from the airspace?"

"Hahaha…"

The Volgograd in mid-November was colder than the Arirang royal territory.

He could see little snow piles on the side of the field leading from the airport to Yaniv's mansion as if it had snowed a few times already.

Temporary checkpoints were set up all over the road and Russian police officers looked alerted than usual. It seemed that they were nervous for a VIP's visit. Otherwise, they would not have come out in the cold weather.

The limousine drove off unhesitatingly, under the escort of the leading police motorcycle.

"It's an honor to have you in my mansion, your Highness, how was your trip?"

"I've been treated so well that I don't know what to do."

"President Putin said that he will pay particular attention to your visit this time."

Yaniv was treating Youngho courteously as there were many people watching the two.

"I should thank the president for his consideration."

Youngho and Yaniv, who greeted each other hurriedly moved to Yaniv's private study.

Both felt too awkward to continue this kind of cliched conversation.

"Why did you have to be the Duke and make me do cheesy stuff?"

As soon as he entered the study, Yaniv grumbled.

It was a pain for someone who had been a mafia all his life to be set up in such a courteous situation.

"I think you're perfect for such a setting. You've been so respectful, Mr. Yaniv."

"Do you know how much I've practiced that? What happens if I make a mistake in front of Putin? I'll be in so much trouble."

"What's the problem? Putin already knows that we're friends."

"When you're a dictator, you always have a scapegoat in mind near you in case things go wrong, and that might be me."

Even if he turned into a businessman, Yaniv was a man as influential as Putin in southern Russia. Russia was a place where public authority was no use before the mafia, but he was unusually nagging this time. It was proof that he had many things to protect.

"It's scary to hear that someone like you is making such comments. I guess time changes everything."

"I'm being cautious because of Sergey. I'm worried if he'll be able to escape the arrows of Moscow's greedy people."

Even though Sergey was more of a brain in Yaniv's business, he had been working under Yaniv for decades now, he would do great even if Yaniv was gone.

"He's a businessman. And he's been learning under you for many years, do you not believe that he will be able to take care of politicians? If he deals with legal and proper businesses only, there won't be any problem."

"When a businessman is righteous in Russia, he'll easily become the target of other businessmen and politicians. You need to be on both sides."

"If this place doesn't suit Sergey's character, you can tell him to come to Kazakhstan and start a business."

"Leaving Volgograd is like a failure anywhere else. If you can't endure in a place where nothing is impossible when you get your hands dirty and smile, you've got to doubt your ability as a businessman."

Russia was like heaven to business people when they could maintain a good relationship with those in power.

"Lee, I have a rough idea of what Putin's going to ask for tomorrow."

Yaniv continued.

"…"

"From what I've learned from my friends in Moscow, I think he's going to put up a fictitious company for this canal project."

"What do you mean by a fictitious company?"

"Well, it's a company that only exists in the document. The owner will be Putin's closest ally."

"I guess the practical owner would be Putin himself."

"I'm sure he's transferred all of his shares in the Canal Project to him, so Putin's now a major shareholder of that company."

"But doesn't the canal belong to the Russian government?"

"Russia is Putin himself. He's dreaming of becoming a Russian Tsar."

"What does it have to do with me?"

"In order to do so, he needs a lot of funds to govern."

"Could that be an opportunity for me and you?"

"Who knows if it will be an opportunity or a drag? I have a hunch that Putin's offer to meet you here is not necessarily a good thing."