Chapter 132: Negotiations and Tensions

Although they brought all these people, seemingly anticipating our resistance, their attitude wasn’t as forceful as I expected.

“Follow me, please.”

They led us to a building not far from the airport.

A building with no sign.

Unlike its exterior, the inside was quite clean.

“The Prosecutor General will be here soon.”

Upon reaching the inner part of the room, which contained sofas and a table, the man simply left those words and walked out.

Only Igor and Manager Ma were allowed to follow us into the room.

The rest of the mercenaries were waiting outside the building.

“I’ve already contacted Eric.”

It seemed Igor had contacted Eric as soon as the situation unfolded.

I slowly shook my head.

“The problem is probably our meeting with Berezovsky. Yesterday, there were reports of Yeltsin collapsing, and the Prosecutor General’s involvement means Prime Minister Primakov approved it.”

Igor’s eyes widened at my words.

“If the Prime Minister is involved, it’s a much bigger problem.”

Prime Minister Primakov, who was being considered as Yeltsin’s successor, was practically Yeltsin’s rival.

He was using Yeltsin’s hospitalization as an opportunity to expose his corruption.

It started with Berezovsky’s corruption.

Primakov instructed Prosecutor General Yury Skuratov, rather than FSB Director Putin, to launch an investigation.

It was unexpected that the focus shifted to me, but Yeltsin’s hospitalization was already two months ahead of schedule. I could handle this level of variable.

“Contacting Eric was a good move.”

The only concerning point was Prime Minister Primakov strongly criticizing the U.S. and NATO’s involvement in the Kosovo War.

Especially since Black Bear was deployed right in the middle of the Kosovo War.

But that wasn’t the issue right now. Overcoming the financial crisis was the priority.

A moment later, the door opened, and a man in a black suit entered.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yury Skuratov.”

He offered a brief greeting before getting straight to the point.

“Do you know why we’ve brought Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok here?”

“I wonder.”

“We are currently investigating Berezovsky, who is colluding with individuals inside the Kremlin Palace to engage in various corrupt activities. It has been noted that you have been meeting with Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok frequently as of late…”

It seemed the Prime Minister’s side had been continuously wiretapping, filming, and tailing Berezovsky.

“I simply came to invest in Russia. I intended to meet with Russian businessmen, and I happened to meet Berezovsky through Igor’s introduction. Is it a crime for a businessman to meet another businessman in Russia?”

“Ha… Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, you seem to be mistaken. We are aware that you have met with individuals from the Kremlin Palace as well, not just Berezovsky.”

“So, please tell me why I’ve been brought here. If discussing investments is a crime in this country, I might have to reconsider.”

“Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok!”

The calm atmosphere didn’t last long.

My conversation with Skuratov was going nowhere; we were just talking in circles.

I hadn’t done any business with Berezovsky, and even if I had, it would be foolish to admit it.

“What did you discuss with Chief of Staff Yumashev?”

“I inquired about issuing government bonds. I decided to invest in Gazprom corporate bonds instead, as they seemed more reliable than Russian government bonds.”

“Did you offer a bribe?”

“What bribe?”

“Did you give them a bribe to issue Gazprom corporate bonds?”

“Why would I give a bribe? I came to invest in a failing Russia, and you think I’d be crazy enough to pay a bribe to acquire bonds? Would you do that if you were me?”

“What did you say?”

I shook my head without realizing it.

This is Primakov’s sword? No wonder he’s so easily defeated by Putin’s counterattack.

“Enough, Prosecutor General.”

In the midst of the pointless conversation, the door opened, and Prime Minister Primakov entered.

“You must be Kim Mu-hyeok. Pleased to meet you. I’m Yevgeny Primakov, who happened to become Prime Minister.”

I stood up and shook the hand he offered.

“I’ve heard that you worked hard to establish diplomatic relations between Korea and the Soviet Union. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“You remember that? You’re quite knowledgeable for a young man. Have a seat. Was your journey here uncomfortable?”

“It wasn’t uncomfortable, but hundreds of police officers were a bit much. I thought there was a war going on.”

“Haha, I apologize. I’m well aware of what kind of company Black Bear is.”

I didn’t expect Prime Minister Primakov to come out himself.

“I hope you can help me catch Berezovsky.”

Primakov got straight to the point.

“I have nothing to do with Chairman Berezovsky.”

“I know. You’re investing in Gazprom.”

“Knowing that, you still blocked my departure?”

“Listen. I’m planning to summon Berezovsky to the Prosecutors’ Office soon. I’ve found some irregularities, but I’m missing the decisive blow to catch Berezovsky.”

I suddenly imagined helping Prime Minister Primakov instead of Putin, eliminating Yeltsin and the Oligarchs.

But that outcome wouldn’t benefit me in any way.

The people who supported him were those who longed for the old Soviet Union.

“We’ve only met a few times.”

“You must have had some secret conversation. An important conversation that would lead to someone killing his driver in the middle of the city.”

Primakov took off his glasses, cleaned the lenses, and casually dropped the remark as if it were nothing.

Having served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for a long time, he was skilled at observing people. His gaze never left me.

“I was surprised at the time as well. He suddenly started shooting. But we didn’t have any secret conversations.”

“Don’t you want to go back to Korea? Dragging this out won’t do you any good.”

Primakov’s expression didn’t change.

“Is that a threat?”

“Me? Others might misunderstand.”

I forgot that this was Russia.

I wanted to punch his smirking face.

“Well, what’s the big deal if I’m a little late getting back to Korea? Thanks to you, I’ll get a good rest.”

“Why take the difficult path when there’s an easy one?”

“I’m not interested in Russian politics. I’m a businessman. I came here to do business, not to get involved in dirty political fights.”

Primakov finished cleaning his glasses and put them back on.

“Listen. Just tell me what you discussed in the car. Then I’ll issue the flight permit right away.”

‘It’s a secret just between you and me.’

Berezovsky’s warning came to mind.

This guy will never be able to beat Yeltsin no matter what he tries.

Well, if I help him, he might be able to attempt a comeback. But I still couldn’t say the odds were high.

“I thanked him for introducing me to Chief of Staff Yumashev and for helping with the Gazprom investment. I also heard that he was grateful for investing in struggling Russia.”

“…Alright, contact me if you change your mind.”

Seeing no willingness to talk on my face, he shook his head and stood up.

“Are you saying I have to stay here?”

He didn’t answer, but it was a silent affirmation.

“Prime Minister, are you doing this because I’m a citizen of Korea? Would you do this if I were an American?”

As if he had nothing more to say, Prime Minister Primakov turned around.

“If you leave like this, the support that was agreed upon with the IMF and the U.S. will be delayed.”

Primakov stopped at those words.

“Do you have the power to do that?”

“Manager Ma.”

I received the mobile phone and called Rubin.

“Yes, Secretary Rubin. This is Kim Mu-hyeok.”

— Oh! Charlie, what’s the matter?

I briefly explained the situation I was in.

— Let me talk to him.

Prime Minister Primakov was watching my actions as if they were amusing.

“Take it. It’s Secretary Rubin from the U.S. Treasury.”

I shrugged and shook the mobile phone.

“Aren’t you going to take it?”

Prime Minister Primakov’s face contorted.

Soon, he received the mobile phone and showed off his fluent English skills.

“Is that really Secretary Rubin?”

I couldn’t hear the conversation, but I could roughly guess what they were talking about from Prime Minister Primakov’s words.

The U.S. wouldn’t go to war with Russia because of me, but they might delay the support a little.

From Rubin’s perspective, doing it once was difficult; doing it twice would be easy.

Soon, Primakov returned the phone to me with a distorted face.

“Yes, Secretary.”

— I already gave a warning, but Russia is different from Korea and Japan. The White House will never move for you.

“I know.”

I looked at Prime Minister Primakov’s face as I hung up.

Primakov was already managing his expression.

“Or would you like to speak with the President of Korea? If a diplomatic issue arises because of me, Chief of Staff Yumashev and Berezovsky would be pleased.”

The pressure from the U.S. or the protests from Korea might not be a big deal to him.

But it could be a weakness.

In the end, Primakov’s mask shattered.

“Can you handle it?”

“I’ll also reconsider investing in Russia. I’ll do interviews with the U.S. media, as well as the Russian media.”

…

“The Prime Minister of a country illegally detained and threatened a businessman who came to invest to help Russia. So, I decided to stop thinking about investing in Russia. Who would want to invest in a country where the Prime Minister, who was appointed to prevent Russia’s financial crisis, acts like this?”

Prime Minister Primakov’s face turned red with anger, but he couldn’t refute my words.

Isn’t he in a situation no different from a discharged soldier who has to be careful even of falling leaves?

I shook the mobile phone and said.

“Shall I make a call?”

Primakov didn’t answer my question and turned away. He gave instructions to Prosecutor General Skuratov as he left.

“Send him away.”

“But…”

“It’s okay. He wasn’t in our original plan. We have a chance of winning even with the original plan.”

“I understand.”

Prime Minister Primakov, who glared at me once before leaving the room, soon disappeared from sight.

Skuratov cleared up the situation instead.

“Please forget what happened here.”

“I’m not interested in power struggles. May I leave now?”

I stood up and smiled.

“And could you get the flight permit again? My schedule got messed up thanks to you, Prosecutor General.”

“I’ll make sure you can take off as soon as you arrive at the airport.”

I called Putin in the car.

“Director.”

—…

“I know you already know, so I’ll keep it short. It’s the moment of choice I mentioned. I hope you make a good choice.”

I hung up after saying that.

“What an eventful day.”

I said jokingly, but no one in the car laughed.

I arrived at the airport.

The departure procedures were ignored, and as soon as I boarded the private jet, the flight permit was quickly issued.

The private jet took off without a problem and began flying towards Gimpo Airport.

The eventful year of 1998 was passing, and the new year was dawning.