Chapter 129: A Proposition for Friendship

I calmly took another sip of my coffee, studying Putin, who still had some hair left on his forehead.

“It seems our conversation will be easier since you know who I am.”

“Well, I’m not sure if it will be easier. The more I know about you, the more mysterious you become.”

Putin took a sip of his black tea, giving me an intrigued look.

“I’ve been following Dream High’s moves with interest. Taking the opposite position from the old dogs of Wall Street while pretending to be on the same side, and taking most of the profits. Even passing the scraps to them.”

Even though the Soviet Union collapsed, the FSB, the successor to the KGB, still had its intelligence capabilities.

So, I had to assume the CIA had even more information.

‘They might have found out about the ghost companies too.’

Even I, who knew all the accounts, couldn’t track the flow of funds from the ghost companies unless I looked at the related documents.

My guess was that even the CIA and FSB wouldn’t be able to track everything perfectly.

They would have suspicions, so they might have guessed to some extent.

“As expected of the head of the FSB.”

“I don’t like beating around the bush. I’d appreciate it if you could be direct.”

His expression seemed a bit stiffer than the one I often saw on TV.

“It’s simple. I want to be your political partner and supporter.”

“But I already have oligarchs, including Berezovsky.”

“If you seize power, are you planning to leave them alone? If you still want to do that after seeing what happened to Yeltsin, I’ll get up from this seat.”

Although the oligarchs helped Putin become president, he purged most of the oligarchs who tried to be above him.

He left alone the oligarchs who kept their heads down, but he confiscated most of the assets of Berezovsky and most other oligarchs—who could be said to be his benefactors—on charges of corruption and exiled them from Russia.

I didn’t know if he was already thinking about this, but I didn’t hesitate to offer him a new option.

Putin frowned, unable to answer readily.

“Shall I leave?”

In just a few months, Putin would suddenly emerge as a leading candidate for the next presidential election with Yeltsin’s full support.

But right now, he had nothing to do with the presidential election. He could be swayed enough by my offer.

After the presidency came into view, there would be no reason for him to accept my offer. It was fortunate for me that Berezovsky had arranged a meeting with Putin today.

Putin also responded with a question.

“Wouldn’t you be the same? Wouldn’t you try to control me with money?”

“I’m not Russian. I have no interest in politics. I just want to be friends with you, Putin. The kind of friends who can help each other when things get tough.”

Putin chuckled at the word ‘friend’.

“Friend… That’s an interesting thing to say.”

“A man without friends is like a tree without roots.”

When that old Russian proverb suddenly came out of my mouth, Putin’s face was filled with bewilderment.

I shrugged.

“I’ve heard that in Russia, there’s a distinction between friends and acquaintances.”

I spoke to Putin, who was openly suspicious.

“I want to become a true friend in the real meaning of the word, someone who trusts each other and treats each other like family.”

“Friend…”

It is difficult to become friends with Russians, but once they become friends, they step forward to help each other like family, no matter what difficult situation they are in.

“Утро вечера мудренéе.”

“The evening is wiser than the morning?”

“Oh, you know that too.”

It was a proverb that meant not to rush into making decisions.

“I will postpone my answer. Whether to consider you my friend or simply leave you as an acquaintance.”

That was the Putin I knew, so I smiled.

“A friend is a precious existence, so you can’t make friends recklessly. I hope you won’t be disappointed if I postpone my answer.”

I agreed with Putin’s words.

You can’t be full on the first bite.

“I understand. Soon, you will have an opportunity, Putin. I hope you don’t make the mistake of missing that opportunity. Acting like you’re weighing apples in both hands, trying to play it safe, won’t do you any good in the future.”

Putin’s expression hardened.

Can you call him a friend just by saying good things?

“Are you saying I’m an opportunist?”

“No. You had good results back then, but this time, you need to make a quick choice without thinking too much. When the time comes, you will know what I mean.”

Soon, Yeltsin will collapse with pneumonia, and a massive attack from Yeltsin’s political opponents will begin.

At this time, Putin, the head of the FSB, will become Yeltsin’s shield, defend against their attacks, and then remove Yeltsin’s political opponents. Thanks to this, he was properly noticed by the central political world and Yeltsin.

At the time, Putin held Yeltsin’s hand with his own political sense, but now, when he makes that choice, the words I said will come to mind first.

“You speak as if you know the future.”

Putin’s eyes flashed sharply.

I smiled, pretending not to know.

“If I could know the future, wouldn’t I be a god?”

“I suppose so.”

“Let’s just call it a hunch. I have a pretty good hunch. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to make a lot of money. This hunch is pointing towards you.”

“Like Eastern mysticism?”

“Maybe. Hahaha.”

We spent time chatting about trivial things. We didn’t talk about friends or sponsors anymore.

After talking for about an hour, I got up from my seat and extended my hand.

“It was a pleasure. I hope we can be friends next time we see each other.”

“The pleasure was mine.”

After the handshake, I was escorted out of the house by Putin.

“Manager Ma.”

At my call, Manager Ma came running with a folder.

I took the folder and handed it to Putin.

“It’s a bearer bond. It’s money that won’t cause any problems at all. It’s the price for the good coffee you served me.”

Putin, who received the envelope, didn’t look happy, but he didn’t give it back either.

“How long do you plan to stay in Russia?”

“I think I’ll be here for about a week.”

“I hope we can see each other again before you leave.”

“If you have good coffee, please call me anytime.”

Putin stood in front of the door, staring at me until the car I was in disappeared from sight.

After turning the corner, I playfully muttered.

“I thought he’d be fierce because he was from the KGB.”

“They are masters at hiding their true feelings. What you see isn’t everything.”

I could feel Igor’s negative perception of the KGB from his reaction.

“Igor seems to really dislike the KGB.”

“It’s not that, but…”

I laughed for a while at his awkward face.

“It’s okay. I don’t trust 100% anyway.”

Putin is also a politician.

Still, I had some belief that he would move according to my wishes to some extent.

He was also a person who openly bragged about being from the KGB.

‘It would be fun if we became friends.’

The night streets of Moscow were deserted.

I was looking forward to what choice Putin would make.

* * *

— Oppose the sale! Get out, evil foreign capital!

Starting with Jungwoo Motors, which was decided to be merged with Ilseong Motors, strikes continued every day in most of the affiliates that were decided to be sold.

“Vice President. How long do we have to wait?”

Han Gyeong-yeong was talking with Vice President Kim Byung-woo in the chairman’s office of Jungwoo Building, the symbol of Jungwoo Group.

“Please wait a little longer.”

“No, Vice President. It’s an illegal strike. What more are you asking me to wait for?”

······.

“I understand your position too, Vice President. But don’t you know that the longer this drags on, the more harm it does to the Jungwoo Group? We have to hand it over when we can get the right price. Do you know what I mean?”

Han Gyeong-yeong massaged his throbbing head.

Vice President Kim Byung-woo couldn’t even speak properly in front of Han Gyeong-yeong, who was much younger than him.

“Jungwoo man? Good. But what are you going to do if the company survives? Should we just let go? Is that what you want?”

“No.”

“Bring me a settlement plan by tomorrow. Otherwise, I’ll step in directly. Even if you can negotiate well then, I won’t just let it go.”

Han Gyeong-yeong, who was endlessly light and friendly in front of Kim Mu-hyeok, was not here.

He was a typical corporate raider.

“I understand. I will definitely bring you the results tomorrow.”

“The most urgent thing is Jungwoo Motors, so take care of that first. We need to hand it over to Ilseong as soon as possible.”

The big deal to hand over Ilseong Motors was concluded under the leadership of the government, but Ilseong kept making different noises. We had to hand it over as soon as possible.

“I recommended you to the investors as the next chairman, Vice President. Are you going to disappoint me like this? You are the one who has to drive the huge ship called Jungwoo Group.”

Vice President Kim Byung-woo couldn’t hide his surprised face at Han Gyeong-yeong’s words.

“We own it, but we leave the management to the experts. That’s our Dream High’s way. We will never list on the stock market again. That’s how much we can get out of various regulations. Our Dream High is in charge of the investment.”

Han Gyeong-yeong added, trying to appease Kim Byung-woo in a slightly softened voice.

“With Dream High’s abundant funds and Jungwoo Group’s high-quality manpower, we can create the best company in the world, not just world management in words.”

Vice President Kim Byung-woo knew the advantages of a non-listed company.

The disadvantage was that it was difficult to raise investment funds, but that could be solved with Dream High’s financial resources.

“The new Jungwoo Group’s basic principle is no union. Like Il-seong Group. But we will guarantee the best treatment for our employees in the country. Tell anyone who doesn’t like it to write a resignation letter.”

“I understand. I will do my best.”

“It’s not the best. Just do it.”

“Yes!”

Vice President Kim Byung-woo left, and Han Gyeong-yeong, who had been frowning, sighed.

“Damn it. I can’t do this either.”

He even felt like he should mobilize the mercenaries and overturn everything, just like Kim Mu-hyeok said.

“Let’s wait until tomorrow.”

But even after a day, Vice President Kim Byung-woo couldn’t agree.

Eventually, he called President Lee Sang-geun.

“Yes, President Lee. Let’s get started.”

— I understand.

The lockout was decided.

Han Gyeong-yeong, who arrived at the Jungwoo Motors factory with bodyguards, greeted Lee Sang-geun, who had arrived in advance.

“The police will probably just watch. If it’s not enough, we’ll deploy the police too.”

“No. We have enough on our own.”

“We need to have meaningful results before Mu-hyeok returns from Russia. Starting with Jungwoo Motors, we’ll be quite busy.”

There was no legal problem at all, but Ilseong said they could never accept Jungwoo Motors with a union.

Han Gyeong-yeong inwardly sighed.

“Let’s begin.”

“Yes.”

As Lee Sang-geun approached the bus, men wearing masks and hats got out of the tour bus.

“Okay! Let’s finish this quickly. We should all have some pork belly and soju in the evening.”

Lee Sang-geun’s voice was the signal.

The gangsters with clubs began to advance into the Jungwoo Motors factory. The faces of the union members who saw it from afar turned pale.

But were the gangsters the kind of people who would care about that? The workers who were striking at the factory were dragged out like dogs.

Han Gyeong-yeong bit his lip at the sight.

He was doing it because it was his job, but it wasn’t that he didn’t feel human emotions at the sight of the workers’ miserable state.

But he wasn’t a philanthropist. In the end, he was the villain who had to evict them until the end.

Ignoring the cries of the workers who were dragged out of the factory they had thought of as a lifelong job, the gangsters blocked the factory entrance with buses.

As if they had been waiting, the police stood in front of the bus.

Korea, where the concept of a lifelong job disappeared with the IMF crisis. They had no choice but to sit on the streets.

In the end, the Jungwoo Motors union was shattered, and 70% of the workers were laid off.

That’s how Jungwoo Motors entered Ilseong’s embrace.