Free Web NovelI calmly took another sip of my coffee as I observed Putin, who still had a decent amount of hair left.
“If you already know, then this conversation will be easier.”
“Well, I’m not sure about that. The more I learn about you, the more mysterious you seem.”
Putin took a sip of his black tea and gave me a look of curiosity.
“I’ve been quite entertained watching Dreamhigh’s moves. Taking the opposite position of the old dogs on Wall Street while pretending to be on their side and walking away with most of the profits. Handing them the scraps afterward was impressive too.”
Even though the Soviet Union had collapsed, the intelligence network of the FSB, successor to the KGB, had not gone anywhere.
Which meant I had to assume the CIA knew even more.
‘They might’ve figured out the shell companies too.’
Even I couldn’t fully trace the money flow through those shell companies unless I looked at the documents directly, despite knowing all the account names.
My guess was that neither the CIA nor FSB had managed to track everything perfectly.
They might have suspicions, sure, but not confirmation.
“You certainly live up to your reputation as head of the FSB.”
“I don’t like conversations that go around in circles. I’d appreciate it if you spoke directly.”
His expression looked a little sterner than how I’d seen him on TV.
“It’s simple. I want to be your political partner and sponsor.”
“I already have the oligarchs behind me—Berezovsky, for example.”
“And if you take power, do you plan to let them stay? If watching Yeltsin hasn’t convinced you otherwise, then I’ll get up and leave right now.”
Though he would rise to the presidency with the support of the oligarchs, Putin would later purge most of them—those who tried to stay above him.
The ones who bowed deeply were spared, but most, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) including Berezovsky—who could be called his benefactor—were charged with corruption, had their assets seized, and were exiled from Russia.
Maybe he hadn’t thought that far ahead yet, but I didn’t hesitate to present him with a new option.
Putin frowned and didn’t answer right away.
“Should I get up, then?”
Just a few months from now, Putin would suddenly emerge as a frontrunner for the presidency with Yeltsin’s full support.
But for now, he had no connection to the top office. It was the perfect window where my offer could sway him.
Once the presidency was within reach, there’d be no reason for him to accept my offer. The fact that Berezovsky had arranged this meeting today was pure luck for me.
Putin responded with a question.
“And what makes you any different? Won’t you try to control me with money too?”
“I’m not Russian. I have no interest in politics. I just want to be your friend. The kind of friend who can help when things get tough.”
At the word ‘friend,’ Putin let out a faint laugh.
“A friend... that’s a curious thing to say.”
“A man without friends is like a tree without roots.”
That old Russian proverb slipped out of my mouth unexpectedly, and Putin’s face twisted in confusion.
I shrugged.
“I’ve heard that in Russia, you distinguish between friends and acquaintances.”
I turned toward him, his face openly skeptical.
“I want us to be true friends—ones who trust each other and treat each other like family.”
“Friends...”
It’s hard to become friends with a Russian, but once you do, they treat you like blood.
“Утро вечера мудренéе.”
“Morning is wiser than evening?”
“Oh, so you know that one too.”
It was a proverb about not rushing decisions.
“I’ll postpone my answer. I’m not yet sure if I should think of you as a friend or just an acquaintance.”
I couldn’t help smiling. That was exactly the kind of Putin I knew.
“Friends are valuable. You can’t make one lightly. I hope you won’t be offended if I delay my answer.”
I nodded in agreement at his next words.
No one’s satisfied with just one spoonful.
“Understood. Soon, you’ll be presented with an opportunity. I hope you don’t make the mistake of letting it pass. If you keep testing the waters with an apple in each hand like you used to, it won’t end well this time.”
Putin’s expression hardened.
You can’t call someone a friend just by sweet-talking them.
“Are you calling me an opportunist?”
“Not at all. That worked out before, but this time, you’ll need to make a quick choice. When the time comes, you’ll understand what I meant.”
Soon, Yeltsin would collapse from pneumonia, and his rivals would launch a massive attack.
As head of the FSB, Putin would shield him from those attacks and eliminate his enemies. That’s when he’d catch Yeltsin’s eye—and the eyes of the central political elite.
Back then, Putin’s political instinct led him to side with Yeltsin. But this time, when that moment comes, my words will echo in his mind first.
“You speak as if you already know the future.”
Putin’s gaze turned sharp.
I smiled, feigning ignorance.
“If I could know the future, wouldn’t that make me God?”
“Fair enough.”
“Let’s just call it intuition. I’ve got a strong one. It’s made me a lot of money. And now, that intuition is pointing toward you.”
“Like some Eastern mysticism?”
“Maybe so. Hahaha.”
We killed time with trivial chatter. I didn’t bring up friendship or sponsorship again.
After about an hour, I stood and offered my hand.
“I enjoyed this. I hope next time we meet, it’s as friends.”
“I enjoyed it as well.”
After the handshake, I stepped outside with Putin seeing me off.
“Chief Ma.”
At my call, Chief Ma came running with a manila envelope.
I took the envelope and handed it to Putin.
“Bearer bonds. There’s absolutely nothing problematic about them. Just a small thank-you for the excellent coffee.”
Putin didn’t look particularly pleased, but he didn’t give it back either.
“How long do you plan to stay in Russia?”
“About a week, I think.”
“I hope we can meet again before you leave.”
“Just make sure there’s good coffee and call me anytime.”
Putin stood silently at the entrance, watching until my car disappeared from view.
As we rounded the corner, I muttered playfully,
“I expected him to be more intimidating since he’s ex-KGB.”
“They’re masters at hiding their true nature. What you see isn’t always what you get.”
I could feel Igor’s negative opinion of the KGB in his tone. freewebnøvel.coɱ
“You really don’t like the KGB, huh?”
“It’s not that...”
I burst into laughter at his sour expression.
“It’s fine. I don’t trust him a hundred percent anyway.”
Putin’s still a politician.
But I had enough confidence he’d move in the direction I wanted.
He was someone who openly bragged about being ex-KGB.
‘If we became friends, it’d be fun.’
Night had fallen, and the streets of Moscow were quiet.
I was genuinely curious what choice Putin would make.
* * *
— Down with the sale! Evil foreign capital, get out!
Following the merger decision with Ilseong Motors, labor strikes erupted across most subsidiaries slated for sale, starting with Joongwoo Motors.
“Vice President, how much longer do we have to wait?”
Han Kyungyeong was speaking with Vice President Kim Byungwoo in the chairman’s office of Joongwoo Building—Joongwoo Group’s symbolic headquarters.
“Just a little longer, please.”
“No, sir. This strike is illegal. What exactly are we waiting for?”
“......”
“I understand your position, but can’t you see that the longer this drags on, the more damage it does to Joongwoo Group? You need to sell while it still holds value. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
Han Kyungyeong massaged his throbbing temple.
Despite being much younger, Kim Byungwoo couldn’t even speak properly in front of him.
“‘Joongwoo Man’? Fine. But the company needs to survive first. Should I just walk away? Is that what you want?”
“No, sir.”
“Bring me the finalized agreement by tomorrow. If you don’t, I’ll handle it myself. And when I do, it won’t be with such nice negotiations.”
The friendly, easygoing Han Kyungyeong that appeared before Kim Muhyuk was nowhere in sight here.
This was the classic corporate raider.
“Understood. I’ll bring results by tomorrow.”
“The most urgent matter is Joongwoo Motors. Handle that first. We need to transfer it to Ilseong immediately.”
The government had arranged the big deal to transfer Joongwoo Motors to Ilseong, but Ilseong kept dragging its feet. The handover needed to happen as soon as possible.
“I’ve recommended you to the investors as the next chairman. Are you really going to let me down? You’re the one who has to steer this massive ship called Joongwoo Group.”
Kim Byungwoo couldn’t hide his shock at Han Kyungyeong’s words.
“We own it, but management is left to professionals. That’s how Dreamhigh operates. We have no plans to go public again. That way, we avoid all the regulations. Investment is entirely handled by Dreamhigh.”
Han added more gently, trying to reassure him.
“With Dreamhigh’s deep capital and Joongwoo Group’s talented personnel, we can actually build the world’s top company—not just talk about it.”
Kim Byungwoo understood the advantages of being a private company.
The downside was raising capital—but Dreamhigh’s funds solved that.
“The new Joongwoo Group will be union-free by default. Just like Ilseong Group. But we’ll guarantee the best treatment for our employees. Tell anyone who doesn’t like it to hand in their resignation.”
“Understood. I’ll do my best.”
“Not your best. Just get it done.”
“Yes, sir!”
After Kim Byungwoo left, Han Kyungyeong, frowning, let out a deep sigh.
“Damn it. I’m sick of this shit.”
He was even starting to wonder if he should just bring in the enforcers and bulldoze everything, like Muhyuk had suggested.
“We’ll wait until tomorrow.”
But even after a day passed, Kim Byungwoo failed to reach an agreement.
In the end, Han called President Lee Sanggeun.
“Yes, President Lee. It’s time. Let’s go.”
— Understood.
The decision was made to shut down the plant.
Arriving at the Joongwoo Motors factory with his bodyguards, Han greeted Lee Sanggeun, who had arrived ahead of him.
“The police will probably just stand by. If you need more, we can bring them in.”
“No need. We’ve got this.”
“We need meaningful results before Muhyuk returns from Russia. Starting with Joongwoo Motors, things will get busy.”
Legally, there was no problem—but Ilseong refused to accept Joongwoo Motors as long as the union existed.
Han Kyungyeong sighed internally.
“Let’s begin.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Lee Sanggeun approached the buses, burly men wearing masks and caps began to pour out.
“Let’s wrap this up fast. We’ve got pork belly and soju waiting for us tonight.”
His voice was the signal.
Thugs wielding clubs surged toward the factory. The union members who saw it from afar turned pale.
But the thugs didn’t care. Workers staging a sit-in were dragged out like dogs.
Han bit his lip at the sight.
He was only doing this because it was business, but that didn’t mean he felt nothing seeing the workers in such a pitiful state.
But he wasn’t a philanthropist. He was the villain who had to evict them all.
Ignoring the cries of the workers being dragged out of what they once considered a lifelong job, the gangsters blocked the factory entrance with buses.
As if on cue, the police lined up in front of the buses.
Since the IMF crisis, Korea’s concept of a “lifetime job” had vanished. Those workers had no choice but to end up on the streets.
In the end, the Joongwoo Motors union was completely dismantled, and 70% of the workers were laid off.
Just like that, Joongwoo Motors fell into Ilseong’s hands.
