Empire of the Ring

Chapter 287: A Cheap Scheme (3)

Chapter 287: A Cheap Scheme (3)

Youngho felt as if all the fog had lifted from his head.

There was a huge difference between being frustrated for not having any clue and knowing the answer already. Now that Russia’s scheme was revealed, his worries disappeared.

Although the naval vessels of Turkey and Russia were standing face to face against each other in the Black Sea as if they could fire at any time, ships of Arirang Shipping and the bulk freighters that worked for Zeynep Corporation freely traveled around as if nothing was going on.

At first, when Youngho ordered to resume the sailing of the bulk freighters that carried minerals, the owners of the vessels were reluctant. They worried about losing their vessels and crews. They even asked for Zeynep Corporation to sign the liability form for their potential loss. Since Youngho was confident, he signed the form for them.

The power of information had made him act without fear.

Youngho was sure that Russia was not going to begin a war in the Black Sea. It was only a scheme to earn time to arrange the number of its army in Armenia and to support Luhansk’s independence. In order not to be detected by a U.S. satellite, it had been slowly moving its army to Armenia little by little. Since everything was clear to him, he did not have to fear anything for his people and businesses.

He was a little annoyed that he had to go through such stress for nothing.

However, there was always a risk for accidents with naval vessels. So, he put up a sign of Russian naval vessels on all of his vessels that sailed to the Black Sea through Sea of Azov that was in the downstream of the Don River. It was a flag that the Russian Navy had specially made and had been selling to private vessel owners for a ridiculous reason that any vessels with the sign would be safe in the Black Sea. This was unlikely, but since now was a special time, Youngho decided to buy them wishing that it would be of least help.

The flags were produced with different colors every time, so they could not be used twice. Using this cheap skill, the Russian Navy tried to make as much profit as possible taking advantage of the current situation of the Black Sea. Many freighters that were ripped off from its lie had a bunch of naval flags put up at once. After sailing around several times, ship owners would learn that the naval flag did not have many functions. Soon, the flag business of the Russian Navy slowly fizzled out.

“Those brats! It was nothing but a bunch of lies.”

Jong-il was furious that he had wasted time for busily running around to stock supplies to prepare for war. Moreover, extra supplies were given to the Kazakh Navy. It was a waste of money for nothing.

“We only say this because we know what’s going on. Most of the other countries there are still strung up.”

“Everyone’s afraid to set their ships afloat. You got any business idea for a time like this?”

“What? Do you want to sell flags like the Russian Navy?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I wonder how they can be so shameless as soldiers.”

Youngho already learned how shameless Russian military could be in Chechnya but sometimes it really went too far.

“You know, on the other hand, that might provide a great opportunity for us.”

Many corrupt soldiers meant that it was easy to have access to companies of the munitions industry. Youngho wanted to take advantage of that to buy the latest missile boat in Russia.

“You’re not going to buy missile ships, are you?”

“They’re the people who sell even nuclear weapons to make money. I bet some of the wealthy Arab oilmen carry several nuclear briefcases.”

“It turned out to be just a rumor later.”

“Why do you think that rumor was made? There must have been such deal even though it might not have been successful.”

As a matter of fact, there had been a few cases where nuclear weapon deals had been made with Russian mafias in eastern Europe. The CIA once investigated those cases.

“Missiles boats should be quite expensive.”

“You know any unnatural deals come with a bargain. Also, no one’s going to make trouble when it looks like a freighter on the outside when, in fact, its inside is a battleship.”

Youngho had one thing in mind.

He had heard that there were many abandoned or given up battleships or freighters that was being remodeled as warships in Russian shipyards.

Sometimes it was because prearranged national defense budgets had gone missing often. Other times, it was because shipyards had gone bankrupt and all of their vessels in the making were just abandoned.

“Oh, man. You’re really warming up now. Why don’t you go tell Sergey and get a great bargain or even tell Yaniv to get some freebies?”

Jong-il, who seemed to be intrigued by Youngho, was now teasing him instead.

Ignoring his friend, Youngho kept on explaining.

“I don’t even need a big one. One in the 3,000-ton class should be perfect to sail around. Let’s put off Baku’s shipyard for now and go meet Sergey first.”

“You said Baku’s shipyard makes great vessel bodies. Why are you switching your mind?”

Jong-il was disappointed that he could not make the vessel on his own.

“You know, the circumstances had changed now. Why would we go for the hard way? Let’s try the easy way first.”

“Okay but instead, I’ll be in charge of making the 100-ton yacht. Don’t stop me.”

The face of a man in his mid-30s that was eager for his toy was very desperate.

“Dude. You act like a child when it comes to weapons.”

“Oh, what about you?”

The two went head over heels for weapons. Even the lieutenant commander Jun would pick up magazines for military supplies and weapons when he visited Youngho’s office. He sometimes even asked whether there were new weapons added to the armory of the autonomous state. He had already figured out that Youngho and Jong-il were weapon lovers.

***

Kim Chun and Kim Joo-hyuk of H Corporation were most excited to hear that the minerals were finally sent out.

Kim Joo-hyuk who thought that the Black Sea was in a volatile situation grilled Youngho by calling every day.

“Mr. Lee. You’ve put quite an amount of minerals at the port in Turkey. Aren’t you pushing it too hard? What’s going to happen to the minerals if war breaks out?”

“You know those bulk freighter owners kept on insisting that they would risk the possibility for damage. I couldn’t stop them.”

Youngho vamped up an excuse that the shipowners had initiated—resuming to work. It was himself who pushed them to resume for work since the residents of the autonomous state would be disappointed if they knew that the mineral business was stopped.

“Please don’t push it too hard. Our company was going to lend you funds if the bulk freighters were damaged for war. Since they’re our partners as well, we’re willing to support them for their unexpected loss, especially when that happens while doing business with us.”

“I understand your concern but I don’t want to cause trouble for H Corporation. If we stopped transporting minerals, your smelting factory in Korea will have to stop operating.”

“I’m just worried that there’s going to be war.”

Not knowing what Russia was truly up to, he was gravely concerned.

After listening to Kim Joo-hyuk’s nagging for a long while, Youngho could finally hang up the phone.

Kim Chu, who just came into the office and overheard his conversation, suggested that Zeynep Corporation should charge H Corporation for danger pay.

Youngho had not told him about the secretive truth of the Black Sea since it could be spoiled if the rumor was spread. All Kim Chun knew was that any vessel with the flag of the Russian Navy was safe to travel.

“Boss. Some of the technicians of the shipyard are asking if their cousins in Batumi could move to the autonomous state. What should I do?”

This was also a reflex effect of the tension in the Black Sea. Watching the warships of Russia and Turkey roaming around the sea made the people eager.

Batumi was a place that adjoined Turkey. If the war broke out in the Black Sea, Batumi would be heavily damaged and this made them feel insecure.

“How many families are asking to move?”

“They’re about 20 families. Most of them work in vehicle engineering and casting industries.”

Since the Arirang Autonomous State only received engineers and technicians as new residents previously, only the relatives of the engineers of the shipyard called them to ask about immigration. Car recycling plants and small-scale shipyards were concentrated in Batumi and Poti and they were one of the richest cities of Georgia.

“It’s too bad that we don’t have houses for them to live in now.”

It was too bad that all of the new houses were taken.

“They will have to build their own houses. We don’t have to build houses for voluntary immigrants. Shouldn’t we let them pay their portion?”

Houses were provided for the former navies and shipyard engineers, that were directly related to the survival of the autonomous state, but it was a different story if people wanted to move in on their own due to the potential danger of war.

The ones who emigrated to the state in the beginning stage were people who worked hard to build up the city in the harsh natural environment.

Although Youngho provided the land and necessary materials for them, they had built their own houses by working hard. People who moved in after them were privileged since they were benefited by the former immigrants, but it did not cause a problem because they were of the same ethnicity.

As for the engineers of the shipyard, they were welcomed by the state since they were necessary talents for the development of the state.

“Okay, commissioner. Please consider their economic status when you assign them their portion of work. Also, I think it’ll be good for them to build their houses near their relatives as they stay there while their houses are being built.”

“You can leave that to me. I won’t give them too much burden since they’ll be our neighbors as well. I just think it’ll be the best way for them to build their own houses. They’ll adapt to the autonomous state more quickly this way.”

He had the most amazing idea.

Since a house could not be built by one person, it was necessary to get help from others. While interacting with other workers, new immigrants would learn to adapt to their new life.

The residents of the autonomous state would never be mean to new immigrants since the state needed a larger population. They would soon be good friends and neighbors.

“I’m so glad to hear that.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about...”

“All I want to say is that Commissioner, you are the best.”

If people were emigrating because they suffered from poverty, this could be too harsh for them, but they were people who had enough money available. They were only trying to move because they wanted security. These people had a high potential of feeling superior to others in the state. It was a great suggestion to give them time to work hard for their own places and get to know other residents. Kim Chun had all of this in mind.