Free Web NovelInside the private jet bound for Russia, I went through the investigation files handed over by Chief Prosecutor Kim Woongrae.
“This case—there’s no way President Kim Hakgwon doesn’t know. Too many people are tied to it. The past scandals will look like child’s play compared to this. The moment it blows, the fire will spread everywhere.”
It was a case where almost every chaebol in South Korea had given political funds.
They had squeezed loans tight, then lured them with sweet words of “we’ll lend to you,” while pocketing political money. On top of that, there was evidence that the president’s son had participated in stock manipulation.
This was a complete gift set of corruption. The scandal could easily spread to the Chief Presidential Secretary, the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, and even the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs.
“Ha······. How should I use this?”
The scale was bigger than I expected. I let out a sigh as I put the file down.
“What do you think, Chief Ma?”
I asked Ma, who was sorting documents next to me. He stopped for a moment and answered.
“It’s too risky to use right away. It would be better to use it after Kim Hakgwon’s term ends.”
“As expected, right?”
“Yes.”
Even a lame-duck president was a frightening opponent if he decided to move. There was no need to provoke Kim Hakgwon unnecessarily.
At the moment, our relationship wasn’t bad, so I decided to wait and watch.
“President Bush’s visit to Korea is next week, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Busy times. I was planning to stop by the UK, but that will have to be postponed.” freewebnovel.cσ๓
“Yes, understood. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld have also requested a separate meeting. You’ll need to be in Korea for Bush’s visit.”
The purpose of the Bush administration’s visit was to lay the groundwork for the Iraq War.
Unlike the war in Afghanistan, the Iraq War had little justification.
The Bush administration had decided to go to war based on the words of Iraqi defectors who chose political asylum.
The Iraq War was a war born purely of greed.
“Things are turning out interesting.”
After that, I continued to process paperwork for a while before finally setting it down.
Once the urgent matters were finished, I put on an eye mask and spoke to Chief Ma.
“Chief, I’ll rest a bit. Wake me when we reach Moscow.”
There were still more than five hours left of flight time.
I needed enough rest to work hard again once we arrived. Not long after putting on the eye mask, I drifted into sleep.
“Boss, we’ll be landing soon.”
At Ma’s voice I opened my eyes, removed the mask, and lifted the window cover.
Far off, the lights of the airport began to come into view.
“How long did I sleep?”
“About five hours.”
“That long, huh.”
I stretched wide, loosened my body lightly, and asked.
“What’s today’s schedule?”
“There is none today. Tomorrow night you have a meeting with Semion Mogilevich, and the day after that with President Putin. Aside from that, no appointments.”
It would be the first meeting with Putin since the failed coup in Pyongyang.
I had heard Medvedev’s excuses over the phone, but not from Putin’s own mouth. I was curious what he would say.
While I was speaking with Ma, the private jet landed safely at the airport.
After a simple immigration process, I stepped outside.
But armed police were standing around the car meant to pick me up.
“Find out what this is about.”
At Ma’s order, one of the bodyguards ran over.
Soon after, he returned with a man who seemed to be the commanding officer.
“Are you President Kim Muhyuk?”
“That’s right.”
“I am Colonel Morozov, commanding officer of Domodedovo International Airport Police. Salute!”
Colonel Morozov suddenly snapped to attention, drawing everyone’s eyes to us.
“Nice to meet you, Colonel. But what is all this about?”
“Chief of Staff Medvedev ordered that nothing must happen to President Kim during his entry. We were commanded to provide security.”
“Chief Medvedev?”
“Yes, sir.”
I already had mercenaries waiting to guard me. What was the point of this show?
“I appreciate the thought, but my security team is already here. Please withdraw. It makes me uncomfortable.”
Morozov looked troubled, hesitating.
“Why is that?”
“Apologies. We can only follow orders.”
“Ah, wait. Chief, contact Medvedev.”
While Ma called, I smiled at Morozov, standing stiff at attention.
“You’re working hard.”
“This is my duty, sir.”
“Boss, he’s on the line.”
I held out my hand and Ma passed me the phone. A familiar voice came through.
― President Kim, it’s been a while.
“Chief Medvedev. Congratulations on your appointment.”
― Ha ha, it’s all thanks to your help.
Medvedev had been promoted a year earlier than in the original timeline because of the advice I had given Putin.
I appreciated his gratitude, but this was excessive.
“Right now armed police are insisting on escorting me. They say you ordered it. What is this about?”
― So you’ve met them. Yes, I ordered it for your safety.
“You know I already have my own security. Isn’t this unnecessary?”
There was a brief silence, then his voice came lower, more serious.
― President Kim, I’ll come to your residence myself.
“All right, but please call off the police. I don’t feel comfortable.”
― I understand. But just this once, accept the protection.
If Medvedev was being this insistent, there must be a reason.
It wasn’t to my liking, but I had to agree.
“Fine, understood.”
― Thank you. I’ll see you in two hours.
Ending the call, I spoke to Morozov.
“They said I should accept your escort. I’ll leave it to you.”
“I will ensure your safety to your residence.”
As I walked forward, the line of armed police parted like the Red Sea.
After I got into the car, the police and my security team departed first, followed by my own vehicle.
An hour later, we arrived at the mansion on the outskirts of Moscow.
The police didn’t come inside the gates, but lined the road with blaring sirens as we passed. Finally, we reached the mansion.
While waiting for the gates to open, Colonel Morozov approached my car.
I rolled down the window and gave him a polite smile.
“Thanks to you, the ride was smooth. I’ll remember this.”
“Salute! It is an honor for my family.”
Leaving him behind with his crisp salute, I closed the window. My reflection in the glass was cold and stiff.
The iron gates opened and the car rolled inside.
“Boss, it’s been a while.”
The first to greet me was Igor, head of the Russian branch of Black Bear.
“Igor, long time no see.”
“Yes, boss.”
“No problems with the Russia branch?”
“Thanks to you, none. A PMC like us can’t avoid the government’s eye, but thanks to your relationship with Putin, the Russian government has been favorable.”
“Good. Let’s go in.”
I patted his shoulder and smiled. Inside, we headed straight for my office.
While discussing Russian matters with Igor and Ma, I was informed Medvedev had arrived.
I left my office to meet him at the entrance.
Seeing me, he smiled and embraced me first.
“President Kim.”
“Good to see you, Chief. Let’s head inside.”
Medvedev laughed warmly, and I led him to the reception room.
“Would you like a quick glass of vodka?”
“Ha ha, of course.”
As expected of a Russian, the mention of vodka brought a wider smile.
At my glance, Ma quickly prepared premium vodka with simple snacks.
“How is the job as Chief of Staff?”
“It’s the center of power, but the checks on me are relentless.”
“That’s the fate of a number two. As I’ve said before, you have to endure the top leader’s checks while withstanding envy, jealousy, and slander from below.”
“You’re right. Power is frightening.”
In Yeltsin’s time, the president was just the front. Real power lay with the Chief of Staff and Yeltsin’s family.
That position was the very heart of power.
But Putin was different.
His hunger for power was greater than anyone’s, so he did not grant much to his Chief of Staff.
The formal authority had lessened, but the weight of the seat was still the same.
Now it was up to Medvedev’s ability to hold it.
“Still, isn’t it better than before? Chief of Staff of Russia and chairman of Gazprom—you practically hold both power and money.”
“That’s true.”
In Yeltsin’s time, Gazprom had been privatized and served as his private vault, but remained technically a private corporation.
Putin did not leave it that way.
With the government’s 40% share, and by seizing the shares of purged oligarchs like Berezovsky and transferring them to other state-owned firms, the government now controlled more than 50%.
Gazprom was effectively a state enterprise.
I myself held 21%. Second only to the Russian government.
But I still couldn’t place anyone on the board.
With government officials filling every seat, there was no way they’d let a foreigner in.
“Still, more people fear me now than before.”
Confidence seeped from Medvedev’s voice.
His new demeanor made me smile.
“Power doesn’t come from fear, but fear makes it easier to control people. Anyway, enough small talk. Why did you send armed police?”
I swirled the vodka glass and asked.
Medvedev glanced around, then downed his vodka in one gulp before speaking.
“The truth is······. We received intel that certain mafia groups here in Russia are targeting you.”
My hand froze with the glass. Where had the leak sprung that the mafia had gotten ahead of me?
“They’re after me?”
“Yes. We heard you are meeting Semion Mogilevich. Rival groups are planning an attack against you. That’s why we urgently sent armed police.”
I let out a sigh of disbelief. For a while I just stared at the glass, then asked again.
“So you’re saying the Russian mafia is after me? In Moscow itself?”
“Our intel says the likelihood is high.”
Chief Ma’s face had gone hard. I gave him an order.
“Bring in Igor.”
“Yes, boss.”
Turning back to Medvedev, I drained the glass in one go.
Setting it down, I asked him.
“What bastards are they?”
“Most of the mafia groups beyond Mogilevich’s influence have united.”
“My understanding is that Mogilevich has the strongest influence. He’s called the godfather of the Russian mafia.”
“That’s true, but there are others with comparable power—Vyacheslav Ivankov and Aslan Usoyan. We confirmed the two have joined hands.”
Ivankov and Usoyan. Names I didn’t recall.
“Their forces must be significant if they can rival Mogilevich.”
“Of course, even united they fall short of Mogilevich’s power. But their core members are mostly ex-KGB and police. Unlike Mogilevich, who’s Ukrainian, they hold the banner of being ‘true Russians.’ That has bolstered their ranks.”
“Bullshit. Even criminals babbling nationalism now.”
Dealing with criminals all the time had roughened my speech. I swore in Korean without thinking.
“Ah, excuse me.”
Though he wouldn’t understand, I quickly apologized to Medvedev. I couldn’t show such a slip in front of a power broker.
“Ha ha. No problem.”
Thankfully he just smiled and shook his head.
At that moment, Igor entered.
“You called, boss?”
“Igor. Did you know the mafia bastards are after me?”
“Is that true?”
“The Chief of Staff himself just said it. Didn’t you know?”
“My apologies. Other than contacting Mogilevich at your order, I know little about the mafia.”
“······Not knowing is incompetence, isn’t it?”
With a chilling smile I asked him.
Cold sweat was clearly running down Igor’s face.
