Free Web NovelAfter years of frustration, Leeds United fans were overflowing with pride thanks to their Premier League title.
Because of that, the entire city of Leeds had turned into one giant festival.
Every pub in town declared a free-drink day, and the streets were filled with Leeds fans singing club chants at the top of their lungs.
There were so many people gathered for the players’ car parade that moving forward just 100 meters took over thirty minutes.
For these people, football was a lifelong companion. Fathers and sons wore the same jersey and cheered together.
A boy riding on his father’s shoulders clapped and laughed, and seeing that made me smile without even realizing it.
It reminded me of Korea’s atmosphere during last year’s World Cup.
“Heh heh.”
As I looked down at the streets from the hotel, enjoying the festive noise, I heard Myeongsu’s mischievous chuckle.
He was holding the jersey filled edge-to-edge with player autographs like it was a sacred treasure, grinning from ear to ear.
Seeing his reflection in the window, I shook my head and walked over. I smacked him lightly on the back.
“Is it really that good?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? This is the jersey Ronaldo actually wore. Look at the honor shining off this thing. I’m gonna pass this down as a family heirloom.”
He was genuinely overjoyed.
I gave him a light scolding, but seeing a guy who’d been stressed from work smile like this made me feel a little better myself.
“I should call Hyunseong. He’ll die of jealousy.”
Still hugging the jersey tightly, Myeongsu went back into his room.
Hopeless guy. I shook my head again, and that’s when Manager Ma approached me quietly.
“Boss, you received a call while you were at the stadium. President James asked that you call him back when you have time.”
I checked the time and nodded. Accounting for the time difference, he should be awake now.
I picked up my phone, went into my room, and called Han Kyungyeong.
“Hyung, I heard you called.”
— Yeah. First, congrats on the title. Damn it... I should’ve been there too...
His voice was full of regret.
But Russia mattered more right now. I brushed past the congratulations and jumped straight into the main topic.
“Before we start negotiations in the U.S., we need to close the Yukos deal. Roman told me there’s strong internal resistance?”
— You already heard? Ha... Yeah. The siloviki are getting greedy.
“Yeah? So what’s the situation? Dragging this out won’t help anyone. Russia doesn’t want this to go on forever either. What do they even want?” freewebnøvel.com
— State ownership. That’s it.
Nationalizing Yukos.
That was how things originally unfolded.
But that was in the version of Russia where I didn’t exist.
Now they had me—a trustworthy and extremely beneficial investor. There was no reason to walk into danger.
“Then why is something he ordered moving so slowly?”
— Honestly? I think he’s just watching. I talked with Medvedev over drinks, and it doesn’t look like he’s planning to crush their opposition by force. He issued a warning at the negotiation table... and that was it.
He knew the siloviki were playing games yet let them continue.
What was the Tsar of Russia thinking?
Should I have gone in person?
“So what do you think? Should we blow the deal up?”
The gains from acquiring Yugansk were enormous.
And it was crucial for my dream project: an oil pipeline connecting Russia → North Korea → South Korea.
— This isn’t about money. Twenty billion dollars? Big, but not a real problem. Just give it and it’s done. The issue is once we yield to these guys, we’ll have to keep yielding forever. We’re not planning to stop working with Russia after this. Better to act like we’re ready to walk away and push hard.
He thought the same way I did.
“Good. Then let’s assume we’re ready to cancel the deal. If I don’t have a signed acquisition contract before I sit at the U.S. negotiation table, we walk. I’ll just leave Russia and take a vacation in England.”
— Are you sure? Your relationship with the Kremlin might become awkward. And they do want us to acquire it.
“Then they shouldn’t have let this noise happen. You went as my representative, and if they treat my representative like this, I’m not doing them any favors.”
I had given Han Kyungyeong full authority because I had to go to the U.S.
He was me for this negotiation.
And they dared play games? I didn’t like it one bit.
“I’ll gather more information. You move under the assumption negotiations will collapse. I’ll call you again.”
— Alright. Damn it... this is why I hate working with people who only have pride and nothing else.
I ended the call, holding my phone, sinking into thought for a moment.
A quiet sigh slipped out.
After I organized my thoughts, I dialed another number.
After only a few rings, someone answered.
— Chairman Kim.
Medvedev welcomed me in a friendly tone.
“It’s been a while, Chief of Staff Medvedev. I hope you’ve been well.”
— Haha, indeed. I know you’ve been the busiest man in the world lately. And don’t worry, I never thought you’d forgotten me.
“Thank you. I’ll send you a nice gift soon.”
— Your gifts are always a joy. Thank you.
We exchanged the usual pleasantries before I cut straight to the heart of the matter.
“I heard there’s a lot of noise regarding the Yukos deal. Has his intention changed?”
— Ah... No, that’s not it.
“Then why is the acquisition moving so slowly? It can’t be just a matter of price. That would make me feel somewhat... disappointed.”
— It’s nothing like that, Chairman Kim. We want you to take Yukos.
Medvedev sounded panicked.
I wasn’t going to let him off with such a flimsy reaction.
“Chief of Staff, I planned to build many things with Russia. But if you can’t even suppress internal resistance, how am I supposed to trust Russia? That would mean you could overturn a deal with me whenever it suits you.”
— Absolutely not, never. We would never do that. We are friends.
“But then why complicate things like this? Is the Kremlin’s authority so weak it can’t silence minor opposition? Or is something else going on?”
There was no way the Kremlin’s negotiations would falter because of “price.”
Unless—
They were letting the opposition rise on purpose.
— Ha... As expected, we can’t hide anything from you. Truth is... we’re using this to weaken the siloviki.
Just as I suspected.
There was no other explanation for why the Kremlin would allow resistance during a major acquisition they themselves pushed forward.
They were deliberately provoking the siloviki, letting them create noise, and planning to use that as justification to crush them. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
They were preparing to purge both the Yukos oligarch leadership and the siloviki at once.
A ruthless strategy—
but effective.
He then said exactly what I expected:
— If we don’t suppress the siloviki now, the Kremlin might face problems later. This is groundwork for long-term rule. We have to settle at least one issue during this opportunity.
He wasn’t wrong.
Right now, the oligarchs and the siloviki balanced each other.
If one side grew stronger, they could challenge the Kremlin’s authority.
“I see. In that case, I understand your actions.”
— Thank you for understanding.
He sounded relieved.
He thought understanding meant acceptance.
Wrong.
Understanding was one thing—cooperating was another.
I had my own battlefield: the upcoming U.S. negotiations.
And I needed leverage.
“Of course I understand. But I need justification too. If the acquisition contract isn’t signed before I sit in the negotiation room in America, I said I would walk away from the deal. That hasn’t changed. I don’t need Yukos badly enough to waste time. You haven’t forgotten I’m the second-largest shareholder of Gazprom, have you?”
Even without Yukos, my Gazprom stake alone gave me plenty of influence in Russia.
“This whole thing started because I offered to help Russia reduce Western pressure. But dragging this out for political reasons? That I can’t accept.”
— Chairman Kim, we’re friends...
I cut him off.
“Yes. I thought we were friends. Friends who’d help each other in times of need. But it seems you don’t see it that way. Otherwise you wouldn’t make decisions without consulting me first—would you?”
This had to be addressed now.
Otherwise, they might continue trying to drag me around.
— That was never our intention. Things developed too quickly...
“We gave you half a year before our visit. If the Kremlin failed to settle its internal affairs, that’s your problem. But we have no reason to suffer for it. So sign the contract within a week. If not, we withdraw.”
Silence fell on the line.
He didn’t dare reply easily.
He knew as well as I did—there was only one person capable of deciding this.
“You can’t decide this on your own. But you can persuade the one who can.”
— ...
“This might redefine my relationship with Russia. Let him know that clearly.”
— Understood.
He knew exactly what I meant by “redefine.”
— Please wait. I will persuade him. I promise.
“I’ll wait. Call me.”
I ended the call and stood up.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I stared out the window.
What would they choose?
“Will they decide to purge the siloviki?
Or preserve their relationship with me?”
The city outside was celebrating, but my heart felt heavier than ever.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Without waiting for a response, Myeongsu barged in.
“Hey. Let’s go get a drink. What’s with that face? Did you get sick? Why do you look so damn grim, Kim Muhyuk?”
Thanks to his words, I finally let ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ my expression relax.
I forced my mouth into a smile.
“Yeah. Let’s go drink.”
Complicated matters could wait.
Tonight, I’d enjoy the festival.
