Empire of the Ring

“It’s a fresh idea. What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s not a kid’s joke. You think Turkey’s going to buy it?”

“It is like a tantrum, but there’s no other way. Is it because you don’t want to go to Turkey?”

“Man, if the Director of Intelligence says that, it would look ridiculous. What on earth was Eriksson thinking?”

“Who would know that you’re the Director of Intelligence if you don’t say it? The Jelyan excuse is going to work.”

There was no other obvious way to slow down Turkey’s attack a little further. Before that, it would be fortunate if the U.S. intelligence agency could persuade hardliners to get the moderates out of Syria.

“Is there one or two countries that have relations with Syria? Russia is also involved. It’s overlooking Turkey’s attacks. I think Russia is determined to give the U.S. a hard time.”

“We just need to get the Kurds. We don’t care what others do after that.”

“Before that, ask a favor to Russia. You are in good terms with Putin these days, aren’t you?”

“Phew, guess I have no choice but to ask a favor. I didn’t want to do that.”

“The canal project started already. Putin can’t refuse your request at the moment. Also, Russia should be glad that we’re taking Kurds who are troublesome to Russia too. You should use Yaniv to talk to Putin.”

If only Turkey promised that it would not strike Syria again, the Kurdish hardliners might change their mind. The hardliners must also be aware that the local government could not survive permanently. In the future, when hard-liners could not hold out in Syria anymore, they would have no choice to move to Kazakhstan where moderates would have moved there already. If they had the possible future in mind, they would not act so recklessly against Kazakhstan.

“If the U.S. can’t convince the hardliners, we’ll have to send in our royal guards and bring the moderates out.”

“Now we’re talking. I’ll first go to Turkey and Syria.”

“You’d go to Syria?”

“Is there anyone else besides me who’s going to meet the hardliners?”

“Why are you going to such a dangerous place?”

“I’m going there as an uncle of Jelyan. Who else would you send?”

Jong-il’s involvement was appreciated, but it would be a problem if the Director of Intelligence of Kazakhstan fell into danger in Syria. Youngho was worried.

“When you go to Syria, notify the Turkish government in advance before you move, or they might resume their airstrikes.”

“Alright. I’ll take responsibility for the Kurds, so make a village for them in the royal territory.”

***

“Mr. Yaniv, how are you doing?”

-The Duke of Kazakhstan always cares about this old man, so of course, he’s fine.

“Oh, you’re still in your prime.”

-I’ll be 70 soon. Some of my friends from my youth are already gone. I guess I’ve lived for long.

“You’d live more than 100 years if you cut down on alcohols and cigarettes.”

-If I quit my only hobby, I’ll die in stress. So don’t care about me but you can cut back on your drinking.

“I’m so busy these days that I don’t even have time to drink. Princess Jelyan’s people are making me busy.”

-Jelyan? You mean the adopted child? What country is she from?

“It’s the Kurds.”

-Kurdish. That must be a headache.

Yaniv was fully aware of the situation in Syria.

“I’d like to ask the president for a favor, please.”

-Do you need mercenaries? Or do you need daily necessities?

“That’s something I can handle by myself. We need to earn some time so that we can get the Kurds to Kazakhstan.”

-The Kurds to Kazakhstan? Do you want me to move Putin?

As expected, Yaniv, the mafia boss, was quick-witted. It would have been a necessary skill to survive as a mob for such a long time.

“That’s what I need. Please encourage President Putin to join us in the good work.”

-You’ve become a little close to Turkey these days. So would it be fine if only the Kurds could get out of Syria safely?

“It will take time to convince even those who want to stay in Syria. Some will decide to stay there regardless of our efforts, but it’s an inevitable choice.”

-I’ll inform Putin about it.

“I’m sure Jelyan will thank you forever when she’s grown up.”

-She must’ve begged you to save the Kurds. Your kids are always busy running away from me when they see me, but maybe I’ll get to have a kiss on the cheek for this.

He also meant Zeynep when he mentioned ‘Kids.’ He was not happy that she was always cold to him. It was a shame because he would give anything to Zeynep if she was nicer to him.

“Jelyan still has no idea. I just had to act because I don’t want her to blame me in the future.”

-Tsk tsk. Please take the lead in something that will make you money. It’s not like anyone would recognize you for doing such a difficult job.

“Jelyan is my daughter. It was her national affair, and I couldn’t overlook the situation. I think I should do that as a parent.”

Youngho did not say anything about the Kurds’ force but appealed to Yaniv’s pity. That way, Putin would have a reason to say something to Turkey.

What should Turkey do if it heard that the Kazakh princess had requested it? If even Putin stepped forward to help the Kurdish refugees, the Turkish government would not be able to begin its attacks on Syria anymore.

The world would be rocked by the story of Jelyan, who was once an orphan and refugee and was now turned into a princess after being adopted by Youngho’s family.

-Right. That’s the same since I can’t refuse Zeynep’s request. All right, I’ll tell Putin exactly what you’re feeling. He’s someone who loves his daughter, too. And this can improve Putin’s image a lot, so he’ll gladly do you a favor.

Yaniv said it was a chance for Putin to show his humane side.

People would praise him if he helped to move the Kurds in Syria safely to Kazakhstan because he could not overlook a neighboring country’s little princess’ request.

“I guess I’ll only make President Putin a humanitarian through this.”

-Hahaha... I’ll deliver your message to Putin. Don’t worry.

“Tell him that the Volga-Don Canal and the Baltic Waterway will be completed earlier than planned if he helped us.”

-That’s great news. Is there any other news?

“Also, the pipeline running toward China can be narrowed and the pipeline on the Russian side could grow bigger.”

Increasing the supply of oil to the Russian side rather than China was a little too far-fetched, but what would China say if Kazakhstan said that the oil output was down? It was not like China would come to Kazakhstan to check production.

-That’s more pleasant news. Putin’s going to love to hear that.

“I’ll trust you then.”

***

For those who have spent their entire lives dreaming of independence, losing their goal would be tantamount to death.

The Kurdish militia, which had been training and fighting to make a Kurdish nation, Kazakhstan’s involvement in the current situation was no good news.

They had managed to declare a self-governing government in northern Syria, which, even temporarily, was a Kurdish-only country, but this might be taken away by Kazakhstan’s involvement.

The news that a native Kurd became a Kazakh princess after getting adopted by the Kazakh royal family greatly shook the Kurdish people in Syria, especially because the Kazakh royal family had offered them a new place to settle.

Anticipation arose among them that Kazakhstan would not treat them badly when there was a Kurdish princess who was beloved by the people.

In the midst of all that, the Turkish military’s airstrikes were stopped.

Many of them were now starting to believe that they had new hope for survival since Kazakhstan had stopped stubborn Turkey. It was hard to believe.

Then there was another news that excited them. It was the emergence of Russia.

Putin had publicly called on Turkey to cooperate with Kurdish migration on humanitarian grounds.

Youngho thought that Putin would work quietly from below, but he publicly held a press conference thinking that it was a great opportunity, and what was funny was that he almost put on a show to appeal to the press. Putin said that when he heard Princess Jelyan’s story, it moved his mind.

As the issue of Kurds’ migration was publicized, hard-line Kurds and the Turkish government had to give in. It was because the painful story of a Kurdish princess who was adopted by the Kazakh royal family had hit the world.

The Turkish government stated that it would not use any force if the Kurds’ migration began. With Putin’s assurance, the government could trust the migration of the Kurds.

Hard-liners who tried to prevent the move were not able to do anything about it since their self-government would be condemned if it forcibly stopped its own people who decided to move on their own.

When this happened, Park Jong-il flew directly to Syria instead of stopping by Turkey first.

“Eriksson, it looks like your operation worked.”

“Well, I don’t know. Because you mobilized Russia, it will take credit. I didn’t know he would pull a humanitarian act to the press. I’m sure the U.S. would be upset about this.”

“Michael from the U.S. Intelligence Service is going to make a fuss about getting hit on the back of his head. How should I manage this?”

“Hahaha... No need to worry about that. The U.S. was bound to lose its face. It was a mistake to have the Kurdish forces leave the northern part of Syria and even arm them. There was a justification for preventing the IS from re-forming, but it was an unreasonable attempt. It only worsened the relationship between U.S. and Turkey.”

“I wish it would be smooth sailing from now on.”

“It won’t be easy for the people to leave their own homeland. That’ll be the biggest obstacle.”

The danger element was removed to some extent, so only Park Jong-il’s negotiation in Syria remained. The hard-liners were somewhat convinced by Putin, but they would be in a troublesome position as they needed to lead the self-government which was like an empty shell after so many residents would move away.