Empire of the Ring

In Siberian taiga forest and tundra areas, fist-sized gold lumps were often found along rivers and lakes.

Likewise, many diamond stones were found, which the people of Evenki described as shiny stones, referring to the stone’s reflection of the sunlight.

The Evenks, who did not know the value of the jewels, did not really pay attention to them other than keeping some of them as souvenirs. Their only priority was to find places with many mosses, the food of reindeer.

Even if they knew the value of shiny stones, it would have been a hassle to carry heavy stones around because they moved around from time to time as nomads.

They knew where the shiny stones were spotted, but they did not pay much attention.

This was because the shiny stones had made their lives more impoverished.

All kinds of humans had searched and harmed the Evenks in search of shiny stones in the past, so they penetrated deeper into the tundra to avoid people’s eyes.

This was why Cha In-soo’s exploration team was accompanied by Evenks, but there was no special place on the way from Yamal to the Yenisei River.

Thinking of Youngho, who must have been looking forward to it, In-soo’s forehead frowned.

After days of deep rest in the icebreaker, the team prepared again and entered the taiga forest.

As it was a trip to survey the areas where the pipeline would pass, the rugged areas were filmed with drones, and the rest of the sections were searched to check the geological conditions and surrounding conditions.

When the Evenki guides told where the shiny stones were, the team marked the coordinates on the precision map and went through the taiga forest.

They could arrive at the Kazakh royal family’s logging site by the time they were fed up with the endless forest.

Taiga was a name for a huge woodland that surrounded the north side of the earth.

The coniferous forest, which covered the northern hemisphere like a blanket, was called the boreal forest, and the Russians called it the taiga.

The crown-shaped coniferous forest surrounding the northern hemisphere of the Earth was usually covered with snow from November until April.

The average temperature here was -35 degrees Celsius, but one would be surprised to learn that the average temperature in July was 25.5 degrees Celsius, similar to the northern coast of the Mediterranean.

There were more trees than the tropical rainforests in the taiga area, which served as a carbon storage that absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

If the forest was destroyed, it would cause a “carbon bomb” phenomenon in which massive amounts of carbon stored in the permafrost were released into the air, which would be catastrophic for the Earth.

Therefore, the logging site of the Kazakh royal family was working hard on planting trees as well as logging.

Cha In-soo’s group was in the second day of entering the forest that was being developed by the Kazakh royal family.

“Whew! It’s still a mess. What were those guys thinking?”

Cha In-soo, who was looking around the scene where diamonds were illegally collected previously, said swear words.

The Kazakh royal family took over the place where a Chinese company left after disturbing the natural environment. The land was turned over so much that it was still difficult to restore the land even years after.

Although the trees planted last summer settled down, it was questionable whether the overturned land would be restored only by planting of trees.

Sergeenko, who was looking around the area, was also upset.

“They’re really bad guys. We don’t touch the taiga forest either. They’ve turned the ground upside down, and this place no longer has a chance.”

Cha In-soo smirked to hear that the mafia cared for the environment. Was it not a group that could do anything for money?

“Even though there are diamonds in the ground?”

“No matter how blind the mafias are with money, they only collect diamonds exposed on the ground, not turning the land upside down. We know that if the nutrients in the soil disappear, the forest dies.”

Water was used to find diamonds, but the organic matter and microorganisms in the soil were also washed away in the process.

The earth of the taiga region was formed through thousands of years, so it was hard to recover it in a short period of time.

The huge area was suffering from the illegalities committed by a Chinese company.

“It was fortunate that we banned all the Chinese companies from the area, but if it was neglected a little longer, the whole forest would have been destroyed.”

“I am grateful to the Kazakh royal family for that. The only place that’s doing a good job at logging in the area is probably the Kazakh royal family.”

“It’s a little bothersome, but it’s what we have to do for future generations. Even if other companies that have been granted logging permits in Siberia abandon their conscience, it’s His Highness’s will to set an example for all. It’s also to buy the Russian government’s favor so that we can keep our business for a long time.”

“I hope the Kazakh royal family will continue to manage the Krasnoyarsk region. Then the Evenks will have a way to live, too.”

“That’s why we’re struggling like this. You’ll see. Once pipeline construction begins and the Trans-Siberian Railway is completed, the Russian government will want us to stay.”

“I’ll help you as much as I can.”

“His Highness thinks of Mr. Sergeenko as a partner, so now you’d have to go beyond helping.”

Sergeenko was glad to hear Cha In-soo’s words.

He was a mere local mafia, and it was a huge deal to be favored by a royal duke.

“Please say thank you for me. If he thinks so highly of me like that, I’ll do my best to achieve his goal.”

“You just have to do what you do now. In the future, your company and Zeynep Security Service will work together on pipeline construction and security services.”

When In-soo even mentioned specific business plans, Sergeenko looked as if he had the whole world.

This was because no Russian mafia boss would be as successful as he was.

The fact that he carried the Kazakh royal family on his back was more than enough, but now he was given even a bigger role in a huge project.

***

As Cha In-soo returned from Siberia with the expedition, the pipeline business began to take shape.

The companies that previously participated in the Trans-Siberian Railway Modernization Project wanted to join the project, so the royal territory was crowded with them.

Major oil companies would focus more on Yamal’s second project, yielding the pipeline project to the consortium that led Trans-Siberian Railway Modernization.

It was because as a result of the on-site inspection, it was decided that the companies who had experience in the construction of the Far East section of the Trans-Siberian Railway would be more suitable for the pipeline project.

In this way, two consortiums were formed in the Yamal project.

As the consortiums were formed, negotiations with the Russian government for construction contracts were quickly made.

The Russian government had no choice but to rush because it was a golden opportunity for economic revival.

After working-level negotiations such as stake participation were concluded, Youngho visited Moscow again to sign construction contracts for the pipeline construction and Yamal’s second project.

“Hahaha… I should set up a separate office for you at the Kremlin, Your Highness.”

Putin, who welcomed Youngho, was extremely delighted as two mega projects were signed at the same time.

“It’s a waste of time coming and going. If Your Excellency would, I won’t say no.”

“Hahaha… Now that we closed the contracts, we should at least have a glass of wine to celebrate.”

Putin, who usually did not drink much, frequently set up a drinking table after learning that Youngho enjoyed drinking.

“If this is only for me, you shouldn’t have to do this.”

“I’ve been drinking better, so don’t worry about it.”

After some time passed since the two started to drink, Putin opened his mouth.

“I didn’t expect you to decide so soon.”

Putin was surprised that the project was complete only after two months since Putin proposed it.

“There’s a Korean proverb that says, better strike while the iron is hot. I’ve already decided to invest, so there’s no reason to delay it. And I was in a hurry because I thought there might be a Chinese sabotage.”

“Indeed, the response from Korea and Japan is good, but the Chinese government is making a fuss about this. Anyway, thanks to you, Russia’s economic recovery will be hurried.”

“Your Excellency, I invested because I saw profits on the way. Rather, I should thank you for the opportunity.”

“I know better than anyone else that Russia’s investment environment is not good. Because you took the lead, we could attract foreign companies in it. Thank you.”

“Your Excellency has made a bold decision and handed over state-of-the-art weapons technology. Please think of this as a reward.”

“I’m willing to go beyond that and transfer even higher technologies, but I’m afraid your relationship with the United States will be affected.”

It was surprising to learn that Putin was worried about Kazakhstan’s relationship with the U.S., but he seemed to be honest.

There was no military alliance with the U.S., so there was nothing to be burdened about.

If he could buy good weapons cheaply, Youngho was willing to buy weapons from China as well.

He could roughly guess what Putin’s concerns were.

Recently, when Turkey purchased Russian air defense missiles, the U.S. government was furious.

The U.S. complained that it was impossible for members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to purchase weapons from Russia, which was like an enemy country.

However, it was nothing short of a thief to force U.S. weapons without transferring technology.

Now, the U.S. was embarrassed to learn about the recent agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan on the technology transfer and license production of the Sukhoi Su fighter jet. It could not protest openly, but Youngho could feel the pressure.

“I’ve been buying expensive weapons from the U.S. only because I thought the U.S. would transfer technology, but now I think I’m at my limit.”

Youngho said this to Putin to get another defense technology transferred by saying that he could let go of his relationship with the U.S.

Russia’s defense technology was so excellent that even the U.S. coveted it.

“We are ready to cooperate as much as you want. The problem is that Kazakhstan can’t still digest our technology.”

“I understand that we don’t have great technology. Nevertheless, we are recruiting talented people from many countries, including Korea. We should be ahead of others in assembly technology at least.”

Even if Kazakhstan started from the basics now, it could not catch up with advanced countries.

Basic materials were overflowing, and the application power to create new things based on them was the only way to Kazakhstan’s survival.

In fact, Kazakhstan had success in developing a powerful laser gun by repeatedly applying and developing already existing technologies.

No matter how many times one tried to make a fire with a pile of wet firewood, it would not catch fire. Likewise, if Kazakhstan forced itself to produce better weapons with its limited skills, it would only produce fake weapons like China.

As he talked to Putin, Youngho’s mind was busy with the idea of making an applied weapon.