Chapter 64
Chapter 64
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Soviet Collapse (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[German Central Bank... Announces Interest Rate Hike Again. UK, France, Sweden, and Others Backlash in Unison]
[Shaking ERM, Criticism of Germany's Selfishness Intensifies...]
[Thatcher: Didn't Expect Germany to Unify This Quickly]
-Rustle.
I frowned as I read the morning paper. It wasn't because of the hot summer sunlight or the fatigue from pulling an all-nighter yesterday.
'Coffee...'
No coffee in the morning.
My delicately furrowed brow reflected in the mirror.
"Hoo..."
I took a deep breath to steady myself. Even if my skin never blemishes, an angry face wouldn't look pretty.
"Um, miss... Is there anything you need?"
Choi Yeon-ha approached hesitantly. She was the new secretary I'd placed in my personal secretariat.
She was oddly cautious around me, but she worked briskly, which I appreciated.
But...
"You're still lacking a lot, Yeon-ha. Newspapers come with coffee. Right?"
Si-hyeon had been promoted to secretariat chief, and it was getting frustrating at times. Seo Joo-eun handled work well enough, but her personal service was a bit iffy.
"Pardon? Oh, yes! I'll get the coffee!"
-Scurry.
Choi Yeon-ha stumbled midway but steadfastly dashed off to the instant coffee station.
Tsk, my tastes had gotten so refined lately it was a problem. Cheap coffee just didn't cut it...
Still, dragging the chef all the way to Moscow was overkill, so no choice.
Right.
This was Moscow, the heart of the Soviet Union.
I was in the Soviet Union.
"Russia... it's cold and not my favorite, but the scenery is nice."
At least it was early summer; if it had been winter, I might not have come at all.
I stared out the window at the Kremlin and slowly pressed my finger to the glass. There was a beautiful woman now, having shed every last bit of baby fat and childishness.
The icy glass stung my fingertip like a cold blade.
-Haa.
A faint mist bloomed on the hotel window. Sparkling eyes, drowsy lowered gaze, long straight black hair blurring like low resolution.
In just underwear and a thin negligee, she looked incredibly sensual.
'It is cold, but... thick pajamas are uncomfortable.'
I'd specifically told the hotel to crank up the heat, but... it was still chilly. This was Russia, after all.
-...Why not just wear pajamas?
Si-hyeon would have said something like that. And I'd have shot back that I didn't want to miss out on savoring the blanket's texture several times over, especially without the nanny's nagging.
But she wasn't here now.
"Ahaha, what is this. Got attached, have we?"
I let out a light laugh. It wasn't a bad feeling.
-Tap tap.
"...Miss. I brought the coffee."
"A bit late, but... fine, you're forgiven."
Right on cue, Choi Yeon-ha arrived with the instant coffee, so I shook off my sentimental thoughts and sat up.
-Whooo.
A cold Russian morning wind whipped through.
"Hmm... good. Everything's good."
Now... this was our turf.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Soviet Union's collapse wasn't something that happened overnight, any more than Germany's reunification had.
Signs had been appearing bit by bit for years, and the decisive blows were merely the August 1991 coup and Ukraine's independence referendum at year's end.
Looking back, the Cold War had effectively ended by the late '80s, and South Korea had even normalized relations with the Soviet Union in 1990.
That's why I could come here to the Soviet Union, not Russia.
'That's why Oppa was only surprised when I said the Soviet Union would collapse this year—he never denied the collapse itself.'
The Soviet Union had already lost the battle of systems.
Lithuania and Armenia had seceded last year, and there had been a Soviet preservation referendum in March. Gorbachev was desperately trying to reform the Union, but...
Who knows.
Doubt it'll work. Some argue there was a last chance before the August coup, but that's coming soon anyway.
The Soviet Union was done for. Definitely.
At lunch with my contact, I subtly dropped that metaphor while explaining my investment rationale.
"Chebrikov. So... that's why I want to invest here. The Soviet Union is already opening up to capitalism. Whether the General Secretary's reforms fail or succeed... it'll open up one way or another. Definitely."
I flashed a friendly smile, and he faltered for a moment. His gaze flicked to my chest before he barely pulled it away—I knew exactly why.
Men, honestly.
"Ah... yes. I understand, lady."
-Crunch.
French fries crumbled satisfyingly. No expectations, but the quality was surprisingly good.
Yeah, speaking of fries, our lunch meeting was at McDonald's.
It might seem wildly off-protocol at first glance, but... considering this was the Soviet Union's very first McDonald's, it wasn't that strange.
Could there be a clearer sign of victory than the symbol of capitalism planting itself in the heart of the Soviet Union?
"Ahaha, take your time—eat slowly and think it over. I don't have much time in the Soviet Union, but now that it's opening up, I can always come back, right?"
I gave an eye smile and tucked back a strand of long hair.
"Opening up... yes, I see. So people in capitalist countries live on stuff like this..."
The man running a modest energy firm in the Soviet Union eyed his burger with a strange expression.
"We don't eat it that much either. Just occasionally."
The reasons were a bit different, but hey, people gotta eat.
"By the way, I'd never heard of a lovely Oriental beauty like you at Alpha Fund. Haha, you look almost like a teenager."
"Thanks for the compliment—I get that a lot. And strictly speaking, I'm not with Alpha Fund. They're getting interested in the East lately, so I'm the one linking up with local firms..."
A savvy entrepreneur raised in capitalism might have spotted the inconsistency, but the young man before me was a fledgling from communist society—short on experience.
And with a beauty right in front of him, to boot.
"Hmm, it's complicated."
I could say what does it matter, but men are creatures whose IQ drops whenever a pretty girl is nearby.
Yuri Chebrikov seemed to have decided to devote his brainpower to the beautiful girl in front of him rather than grappling with capitalism's complexities.
Suits me just fine.
I could bask in praise from the smart while fooling the foolish—all at once.
"Ah, first time in Moscow? Have you done any sightseeing? Truth be told... this isn't the best spot for business talk."
Hmm, fair point.
Other than the classic pickup line starter, his reason hadn't fully evaporated yet.
The KGB was watching, after all.
"Ah, then... shall we step out for a drink? I know a spot."
I mimed pouring a wine glass and smiled with my eyes. Yuri Chebrikov smirked, his lips twitching subtly.
Women that great?
Hmm... no, probably because I'm just too alluring.
.
.
.
.
"That's fine—this is already impressive. Hardly anyone I've met in the Soviet Union understands capitalism, but I think you'll make a great partner for us, Yuri."
I emphasized "partner" and gripped his hand firmly in a handshake.
"Ahaha, me too... yes, I think so. Drinking with a beauty makes the liquor taste amazing."
In a dark, intimate bar.
As we chatted about the deal, I leaned in close, whispering near his ear.
"By the way... could I meet some of your other friends? I hear businessmen in the Soviet Union have lots of 'friends.'"
No matter how much the Soviet Union opened up, it was still communist. You couldn't do business without government ties, obviously.
A young guy like this in business? 100% deep connections to the KGB or high-ranking officials.
The youth, flushed like he was drunk, didn't seem to grasp my meaning yet as he reached out flirtatiously toward my body.
"Hmm, let's drink first. How about some vodka? You're in Russia now."
Wow, total Russian offering vodka to a kid.
I lightly swatted his hand away and reached for the bag beside me.
"Hmm, we're not at that stage yet, Yuri."
-Click.
I opened the bag I'd brought. It was stuffed with gold bars.
'Was a hassle carrying it all here.'
Of course, I hadn't come to the Soviet Union empty-handed and unprepared.
What if a business partner suddenly decided to become a sex partner? No thanks to any macho confessions of "she seduced me first" followed by rape.
-Snap.
At my signal, several burly bodyguards emerged and stacked the 007 bags one by one.
"Wh-what is this..."
Suddenly sober, Yuri Chebrikov stared at me in bewilderment.
"Hmm... a small token of sincerity? Or a taste of capitalism?"
Finally catching on, Chebrikov shot to his feet, pretending to be outraged.
"...Because of my uncle? I don't know how you found out, but an American firm openly bribing the KGB? I didn't think you'd be this rude."
He pretended to upend the bag while sneakily checking the contents. Golden bricks poured out, gleaming even in the dim light.
-Gulp.
"Oh my, I heard business is done this way... Isn't it? Roughly ten million dollars... Of course, most is a gift for the KGB, but a tenth for you wouldn't be bad, right?"
I laughed playfully and handed him one of the heavy bags from my hand.
"Here, a little something for your friends."
"Hmm..."
It was too much money to turn down.