《Empire of the Ring》Chapter 21: Another Family (1)
Advertisement
Youngho was at a used car dealer shop.
Now that he regularly visited Istanbul for his business, it was uncomfortable not having a car. If he had a car in here, he could use it to drive the siblings to school and eventually teach Fatima how to drive.
With Mustafa's help, he bought a year old small compact car from European L brand.
Youngho enrolled Fatima in a driving school first. In Istanbul, you could take written and driving tests after completing a five-week school program. He also wanted to take the siblings back to school. Fatima had dropped out of school when she was a sophomore in high school. Szechenyi was in 7th grade and Zeynep was in 3rd grade when they stopped going to school.
Youngho registered them in an American school in Istanbul called, George Marshall and while waiting to go to school, he hired a tutor for them to study English. Even though the siblings were not qualified to be enrolled in that school, Youngho could register them with the help of Edward the CIA agent.
After sending all the grape plants and farm equipments to Baku, Youngho delayed his stay to spend more time with the siblings. Gerhardt, his secretary, and the other officials in Baku would take care of the shipment for him.
The siblings got excited since Youngho was with them. They always nagged him to go out for a drive when Fatima came back from the driving school. They enjoyed the car ride which they could not afford since they were raised from a poor family.
Thankfully, he was able to drive around complex roads of Istanbul with the help from a GPS and Fatima's coach. The siblings became more brighter daily as they started to forget about the horrible past memories in the slum area.
Especially Zeynep who liked to follow around Youngho like a real big brother. She was a huge comfort to Youngho who was getting burned out from living far away from his homeland.
Youngho was not sure if it was one of the effects of the rings or if it's because of the siblings were smart, but the siblings learned English extremely quickly. Zeynep, the youngest one, was the brightest among the three. She spoke English at 7-8 year-olds' level and could have conversations with Youngho. She surprised him when she even learned some Korean words.
Advertisement
Youngho was getting ready to go back to Baku for he could not leave his stores for too long.
Zeynep who did not want to say goodbye started crying. The siblings who had the best days of their lives with Youngho, loved to be with him.
When their parents were alive, even though they were happy, they were extremely poor. They could not fully enjoy close relationship as a family since they were busy to get by each day. Now when Youngho, who gave and gave freely to them, said he was leaving, they were scared that they might lose him.
"Oppa, can't we just live together?"
Zeynep asked with tears. When she hugged him like she would never be able to see him again, Youngho almost cried.
These children now trust me and rely on me, thought Youngho.
Youngho, who was searching for ways to treat them better, could leave after convincing her that he will take her to Baku next time.
***
Karajan did an amazing job as a manager of direct stores while Youngho was gone. Gerhardt also had been doing well in the farm development site ever since Youngho told him that he will assign him as a director of the farm development business.
However, the problem was the officials sent by the government as an encouragement of the farm development business. Even though they were here to help, they were still officials, not his employees. Youngho treated them every night with dinners and drinks. He was exhausted.
When treating them, he tried his best to maintain close relationship. As a way to thank their hard work, he showered them with nice gifts like porcelain goods and clothes that their wives would like. Because of Youngho's efforts, they started to treat him like a friend rather than a foreign investor.
***
Youngho left to Nagorno-Karabakh after spending ten days in Baku. He needed to see his friends and also had a meeting with Edward. Because the CIA had made him a fake passport as a US diplomat, Youngho was able to go in and out of the two countries without any trouble.
"Lee Youngho, I almost forgot your name. What's making you so busy these days?"
"You know, I need to make money to feed you all."
Advertisement
"Oh you are? Then I forgive you. I have no shame, buy us drinks tonight!"
Park Jongil brightened the mood.
"No doubt man. Should we go downtown or should we unpack my bag?"
Jongil knew what Youngho was talking about.
"Did you bring raki, Youngho?"
"Yeah my man. I knew you would be missing this since Istanbul."
As Youngho took out bottles of raki, his friends all gathered with excitement.
"Do you have any frozen fish fillets? If you do, we've got to grill it. Raki goes well with grilled fish."
Then Park Jongil suddenly shouted as Cha Insoo opened the bottle and poured the drink in a cup.
"Dude! You need to dilute it with water. That's 52% alcohol."
"Man, I'm stronger than you. I can handle this much alcohol."
They had an alcohol party that day. They drank 10 bottles of raki with five people. It was about 750ml* for each person. They carelessly got drunk because the next day was a Sunday, on which they did not have to work. They went to sleep after singing together on the karaoke machine that they ordered from Korea.
In the morning, the gang started to wake up one by one drawn by the smell of ramen that Youngho was cooking in the kitchen. They gathered and ate it with kimchi to soothe their stomach from the hangover.
"Youngho, we decided to become raki lovers now," said Cho Chulhwan, who still looked a little drunk.
"This alcohol, it's expensive dude. It's more than 30,000 won. Just stick to wine or cognac."
When Youngho made complaints, Chulhwan cut him off.
"Man, I haven't felt like this in a long time. This is a great alcohol. I command you to deliver 20 bottles of raki each time you visit here. You wouldn't disobey the general of training's command, Lee sailor?"
"I barely brought ten bottles because they were heavy, but now 20?"
"I will alter my command. You can bring 10 bottles, got it?"
The gang was cluttered from the effect of the hangover from the day before.
Even though the job of drill instructor was not easy, Youngho's friends still kept their atmosphere upbeat looking on the bright side. Because they were comrades who trained together from Korea, they had special bond with each other. Now that they worked and lived in a foreign country together, they were even closer. Looking at his friends all treating each other like brothers, Youngho's heart was heavy. He was worried about them getting pulled into a possible local battle in near future.
In the next day afternoon, Youngho met Edward in his small branch office in Stepanakert.
"Lee, we need to buy more combat ration, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, and other extra items. We need to prepare step by step now in order to get ready for the possible situation in a year."
Surprised, Youngho cautiously asked, "How many quantities do you want to order?"
"10,000 for each personal gears and combat ration for 100,000 portions."
"And the price would be the same as the first order?"
"Yes. Your products were proven to be excellent with good pricing."
"Combat ration is something I can order as an agent but the mountain climbing equipment, I should order it through Chunho Merchant. There will be some extra fees."
"Lee, this is an official purchase. Of course Chunho Merchant should get paid for their part."
"Alright, I'll make an order for the mountain climbing gears right away. As for the combat ration, I will split the order and deliver them in three parts to be safe. So, should I ship them to Poti Sea Port?"
"Yeah, please go ahead and do that for us. I'm careless because I have you. You make it so easy for us to buy mass equipment."
"Ed, I'm proud that I can be of help for keeping the peace."
Putting up his thumb, Edward smiled at Youngho's remark.
"You are the most amazing guy I've ever met."
Edward's remark was toward Youngho, who was helping the poor siblings in Istanbul because he asked his help about the siblings' school enrollment. Edward was impressed by Youngho's selfless heart.
Thinking he should learn to say cool things like Edward, Youngho was flattered by his compliment.
Somehow Youngho received a big order again. He was eager to tell this to his friend and sister in Seoul headquarters.
*750ml- about 25 ounces
Advertisement
- In Serial30 Chapters
Dragonheart Core
To take a dragon's hoard is to challenge death. The greatest of the sea-drakes wakes, curled on his silver throne; but there is no silver. His hoard is stolen. He rises, screaming, and chases the thief to the ends of the world—only to be shot from the sky. But dragons do not die easy, and never one with such festering hatred. A dungeon core rises from his corpse. If he intends to survive so near the cove of pirates that slew his past self, he'll need to master his powers—and quickly. For these pirates are dragonslayers; they won't be felled by mere mushrooms or spiders. Beneath the lawless Calarata, the young dungeon core will have to fight to survive; and one day, he will return death to the man who killed him. Updates twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday at 1 pm EST!
8 312 - In Serial54 Chapters
A Psychic's Scarlet Dream
Those who can do things scientifically impossible are called supernaturals. Among those who know about them, there maybe those who fear them, those who respect them or even those who want to kill them. That however doesn’t matter to the supernatural named Kais as he has and wants no connection with anything that might be related to the world of supernaturals. However, the day he meets a particular brown-haired youth, that would change and he who has tried to run away from the truth for many years will be forced to confront it. New Chapters every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
8 271 - In Serial6 Chapters
Ruler of the martial world
Emperor Kong Ming was the strongest who ruled over trillions of Martial Artists. Betrayed by his junior and disciple died, Heaven gave him another chance. He take oath, in this life he will slaughter all the people who betrayed him . But In this life in this unknown world when he has to Cultivation all over again can he become strong enough to take his revenge , or will he trampled under someone's foot. (Disclaimer, this is not a isekai, MC dose not go in past . but reborn in the current timeline. Another thing this is my first book . I am not that good at writing. If you have any suggestion feel free to drop it in the comment box . thank you (I have permission of using the book cover I used )
8 67 - In Serial11 Chapters
After Days Chronicles: A Cabin By A Lake And The Things Beyond.
They had come to this place in a mysterious way. A tempest in time whisked her to him then him and her to here, a cabin by a lake, on the top of a mountain, in a valley that no map remembered. Earth, after the Breaking, is a middle ages, modern day, post apocalyptic cluster-fuck. All living things have been altered, in one way or another. The human race is not exempt. Although most of its changes are physical, not mental. Nor moral, for that matter. This is just one of the many stories of the time known as The After Days. 'So, you control the essence?' "No. I give the thing that is, hmm... the essence inside, the bility, hmmph, the a-bilty to move and shape. I tell what I need and they do, or do not if they not liking it." 'Okay let's see if I get this straight then, you touched the rope and gave its essence the ability to move like a snake, then you asked it to do what it did and it...?' "NO! I speak with mind to the hemp and vine, gave its essence the ability. Yes. Ask it to help me. It say sorry for the hurt. Not you I say, not you, you not hurt me. He make you to hurt! He hurt. You no hurt. Help me, free me. Please. Get me keys. It touched the blood on me. I felt it, sad. I felt it anger. I not ask it to. It kill Mekel, I not ask, but I knew, it, was... umm... chance... poss-a-bility. Nature knows. Nature does. I not force nature, I only ask for help."
8 158 - In Serial6 Chapters
The Misty Gloam
Once a month the mists of the Gloamwood spread outward covering the nearby wildlands and it's inhabitants. It is an unnatural ethereal mist that steals the breath and sight of living creatures leaving a curse-like Mark on it's victims who slowly lose their mind and self to hallucinations before falling into a coma. On the outskirts of the Gloamwood lies a small village named Briarhaven. Working as a small time hunter trapper Vance Melier and his younger brother Avar eke out a humble living. During a year of erratic mists appearing without warning Avar becomes Marked when his spirit candle burns out. Now Vance must brave the Gloamwood to break the Mark on his brother before the mists return to take him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author Note: This is my first 'book' or attempt at writing a story so please don't tease me. I've always been a voracious reader but never worked up the courage or confidence to write a story and I still don't kind of but now I'm here to work on my writing chops. Intended to be a short story but we'll see how it pans out feel free to leave some writing tips or helpful criticism. Hope you enjoy.
8 124 - In Serial39 Chapters
Redeeming the Lost (A Comforter's Tale)
Life is always fun when you never get into trouble for causing mischief. Julie is a pro at keeping her packmates on their toes with her innocent fun. It's a perk of being a Comforter and never losing her puppy-like appearance. Admittedly, there are times when her skills are needed, and she takes her job quite seriously then.She isn't a fighter, but rather, is one who cares for others' hearts. A Comforter. After all, who doesn't want to hug a puppy? ---------------------What do most werewolf books have in common? They either focus on mates or on fighting. I decided to try a more unique route. No romance will be found here - this book focuses on the ties of friendship and hope.Thank you to Christine Leonardi from DeviantArt for the cover, and to @JimenaVivancoo for polishing it into an ebook cover!
8 143

