Free Web NovelAs I stepped into the hotel lobby, burly men walked toward us.
Recognizing them, Igor went ahead to speak with one. After a short exchange, he returned and reported in a low voice only I could hear.
“They’ll allow only two bodyguards. And they’re demanding we disarm, boss.”
“Disarm?”
“Yes, boss. It’s an unspoken rule of the Russian mafia—not to bring weapons into negotiation rooms. What should we do?”
“If that’s the custom, we follow it. Tell them we agree.”
“Boss, isn’t that dangerous?”
Chief Ma frowned, clearly recalling what had happened in North Korea. I gave him a reassuring smile.
“It’s fine. That won’t happen again.”
“······Understood.”
Igor and Chief Ma handed over their guns to the men. We then boarded the elevator under their escort.
One man rode with us. Instead of pressing buttons, he inserted a key into a small keyhole below the panel and turned it.
The elevator moved smoothly upward without any buttons pushed, stopping at the very top floor.
The doors opened onto a vast living room. It looked like Mogilevich was using the entire floor as his personal residence.
Strong, thick-set men stood waiting throughout the room.
“This way.”
The escort led us forward. Passing by rough-looking guards glaring with sharp eyes, we arrived before a lavishly decorated door.
“Boss, the guests are here.”
“Send them in.”
At the voice from inside, the men opened the doors.
The first thing I saw was a middle-aged man lounging on a sofa, a cigar clamped between his lips.
A stocky figure, the typical rough-hewn Russian man.
As I entered, Mogilevich’s men blocked Igor and Chief Ma from following.
“From here, he goes in alone.”
“I was told no such thing.”
Igor protested, but Mogilevich’s men only stood firm, faces hard.
A move to establish dominance.
I gave a faint smile, tilting my head slightly. Igor and Chief Ma read the gesture and stepped back reluctantly.
The doors shut, leaving me to walk slowly toward Mogilevich.
Still leaning back with legs crossed, head cocked to one side, he exhaled a long plume of smoke as I approached.
“Semion Mogilevich? Pleased to meet you. My name is Kim Muhyuk.”
I offered the greeting, but he gave no reply.
He didn’t stand, didn’t remove his cigar—just stared at me.
‘Rude man. Or he thinks he holds the upper hand.’
I kept a pleasant smile on my lips, but my eyes were flat, empty of warmth, meeting his as I assessed him in turn.
As I had sensed, he was nothing special to look at—just a heavyset Russian man.
Finished sizing me up, Mogilevich gave a half-hearted wave.
“Sit.”
I wasn’t interested in petty contests of pride. Without a word, I took a ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) seat.
When I didn’t react further, he arched a brow and extended his cigar case.
“Care for one?”
“No, thank you. I quit smoking.”
“Oh, quit? You’re tougher than you look.”
Mocking, he set the box aside, drawing deep until his cheeks hollowed before exhaling a thick cloud.
“I hear you’re a friend of Putin’s. Quite the connections for someone so young.”
“A connection, you call it. Perhaps that’s how you make friends. But in Russia, friendship isn’t about lining up behind someone, is it?”
“You seem to know Russian culture well.”
I’d tested him with a sharp answer, but he brushed it off. Then, cutting the pleasantries, he asked bluntly:
“Why did you want to meet me? A businessman from a small country like Korea—what could we possibly have to discuss?”
He blew another heavy smoke plume.
“I’ve heard you’re the godfather of the Russian mafia.”
“Godfather, perhaps.”
I didn’t circle around either.
“Don’t you have interest in the Japanese market?”
“Japan? Odd, for a Korean to bring that up.”
“Nationality is irrelevant. The market is what matters. So—are you interested?”
“What market? Arms trafficking? Narcotics? I’m already running those businesses. Do you have something new?”
He looked utterly bored.
“What about seizing the entire Japanese narcotics market? Smuggling, distribution, sales—all of it.”
The Yakuza and Heukryonghoe would soon clash in Japan. If the Russian mafia stepped in, it would be a bloodbath—three nations’ syndicates tearing each other apart.
“Kim Muhyuk, was it?”
“Yes.”
“Are you insane?”
“Perfectly sane.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you know why we stick to smuggling and let the Yakuza handle distribution and sales? Because fighting them is unnecessary—and unwinnable. What good comes from war against an organization that owns its own country?” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
He scowled as if disgusted by my words. I provoked him further.
“Giving up before even trying?”
“Then answer me this. If we started distributing and selling narcotics in Korea, would you allow it?”
“Of course not. I’d crush it immediately.”
“You see? Same principle. Do you think the Yakuza will sit idly by?”
He dismissed me outright. If I wanted to reel him in, I needed a bigger lure.
“Word is, the Chinese triads are about to flood Japan with men. Planning to take the market for themselves. Will you just sit back and watch them steal it?”
The kind of intel he couldn’t hear anywhere else. Mogilevich swore.
“Bloody hell! Is that true?”
“Of course. A war’s about to erupt.”
Grinding his cigar into the ashtray, he shut his eyes, silent.
After a long, brooding pause, he opened them, speaking firmly:
“Then all the more reason not to interfere. If those two fight, we profit. Mafia battling mafia in Japan······ the arms trade will be excellent.”
“You’d be content selling weapons?”
“Listen, President Kim. The greatest profit comes from war. And nothing is more lucrative than supplying weapons to it. Especially when it isn’t nations but mafias. Your intel is useful—thank you.”
His decision was made in moments, numbers already tallied in his head.
As expected of the man atop the Russian mafia.
“Then I’ll make the same offer to other bosses. I came to you first only because you’re said to be the godfather.”
“Ha! No one does business without my blessing. All are beneath my feet. Whoever you go to, the result will be the same.”
“I doubt that. I’ve already heard of groups plotting to assassinate me simply for meeting you.”
His booming laugh cut short, his expression turning cold as he stared at me.
“Are you saying they tried to kill you on my orders?”
“Isn’t that what follows from your words? You just said no business can be done without your permission. Yet I came here with a proposal, and rival groups tried to eliminate me. If you didn’t give the order, then your claim is false. Am I wrong?”
“You’ve got guts, boy. To speak that way before me.”
Mogilevich’s glare hardened, voice low and fierce.
“I met you only out of curiosity. The Korean businessman whispered to be Putin’s friend. I intend no deal. As for those plotting against you, forget it. In Moscow, not a finger of yours will be touched.”
He plucked another cigar, clipped it, and lit it with a torch.
Then he rose, walking to the panoramic window that overlooked the Kremlin.
Smug, he gestured to the view.
“See this? The Kremlin and Red Square—mine to behold. Moscow is my empire. So don’t worry about petty thugs. Enjoy your sightseeing.”
A man who believed Moscow his own empire, living in a world of arrogance. There was no point in further words.
“You may leave. Our business is done.”
“Mogilevich, you’ll regret refusing this deal.”
“I have never once in my life regretted anything. Spare me your nonsense, and go.”
Mocking laughter escaped with thick smoke. I turned and walked out.
Outside, Chief Ma and Igor rushed up.
“Let’s go.”
Seeing my grim face, they followed without a word.
Escorted back down in the elevator, we stepped into the chill Moscow air. The sharp cold cleared my head.
“Back to the residence.”
The plan hadn’t gone as hoped, but it wasn’t a disaster.
If the tiger crouched, the fox would still strike.
With a thin smile, I cast one last look at the hotel’s top floor—where Mogilevich still was—before turning away.
Later, in my office, after long reflection, I summoned Igor and Chief Ma.
“Igor, can you arrange a meeting with Ivankov or Usoyan? I want to see them.”
“I’ll try to make contact.”
“Tomorrow I meet Putin. I want it arranged before I return to Korea.”
“Understood. I’ll do my best.”
Chief Ma carefully asked, clearly guessing what had happened at the meeting.
“Did the negotiations not go well?”
“No. He says he’ll just sell weapons while the Yakuza and Heukryonghoe fight.” ƒreewebɳovel.com
“······.”
“He ran the numbers on my intel in minutes and chose what profited most. Just as rumors say—sharp mind. Such a man doesn’t bend easily. Shame.”
“Shall we eliminate him?”
“I’ll see the other mafia bosses first before deciding.”
At that, Igor spoke up.
“Boss, eliminating Mogilevich won’t be easy.”
“Harder than Ivanov?”
“Much harder, to be honest.”
He was saying a mafia boss was harder to remove than the head of the siloviki. Naturally, I had to ask:
“Why?”
“After the Soviet collapse, Mogilevich rapidly united the scattered mafias. And with his sharp mind, he posed as a legitimate businessman. Removing him recklessly could plunge everything into chaos.”
“That’s your reason?”
I gave a short laugh, half in mockery.
“Why fear him so much? What, does he actually have nuclear weapons?”
Igor’s face hardened, and he nodded.
“It’s possible. After the collapse, everything was chaos. If a few nuclear weapons ended up in mafia hands, it wouldn’t be surprising.”
“Shit! Are you saying the mafia really has nukes?”
It was so absurd I cursed aloud.
And in that instant, the image of Mogilevich, smug before the Kremlin windows, flashed across my mind.
