Chapter 280: Please Convey That You Understand

I had lunch at the hotel while chatting with Manager Ma, my eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

“Boss, it seems like more than just a few places are watching us.”

“Looks that way, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. There are quite a few people sticking close to us.”

If I could sense them, Manager Ma must have noticed even more gazes.

Seems like there are more people interested in me than I thought.

“What should we do?”

“With them stalking us so openly, it doesn’t seem like simple surveillance… Let’s move to a quiet place and give them a warning later.”

“Okay, I’ll relay that to the security team.”

Whether it’s surveillance or stalking, it’s rather rude to make it so obvious. Even if they act like they’re flaunting their destination.

If something important happens, I can just drop them, but it still doesn’t sit well with me.

Shaking my head as I put down my knife,

“This food just doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Is that so?”

Unlike my barely touched plate, Manager Ma’s dish was nearly empty.

“Is it alright for you to eat?”

I had heard horror stories about British cuisine, but I never imagined it could be this underwhelming at a five-star hotel restaurant. Dining outside must be a challenge.

“When I was a mercenary, I ate things worse than this just to survive. This is pretty luxurious by comparison.”

“So, does that mean it’s tasty or not?”

I chuckled at Manager Ma’s deadpan reply, lifting my cup of black tea.

“At least the tea is good.”

This wasn’t just flattery; the tea was indeed exquisite.

Tilting the teacup, I gazed out the window, taking in the sprawling view of London.

‘Looks like at least three teams are monitoring, but where could they be from?’

I pondered, lowering my gaze slightly as I considered possible opponents.

“Oh no, Charlie! They can see everything from here!”

At that moment, I looked up at the familiar voice calling my name.

Roman, who should be in Russia, stood right before me, a broad smile on his face as he extended his hand.

I rose to shake his hand, feigning enthusiasm as I asked,

“Long time no see, Roman. What brings you here?”

“What else would a businessman do in London but business?”

Roman replied lightly, laughing heartily.

After the previous incident, he had faced restrictions on traveling abroad.

But it felt too coincidental for him to come to London just when I was here.

Even if it’s a coincidence, meeting him at the same hotel I’m staying in London, of all places?

If I took that at face value, I’d be a fool or a complete imbecile. I quietly called his name.

“Roman.”

Noticing my lowered voice, he hurriedly waved his hands.

“I’ll explain everything later. It’s true I’m in Britain to acquire a football club.”

So, his original intent was indeed to acquire a football club. I nodded slightly while keeping my skeptical gaze.

“So, it seems you’ve decided to go through with the club acquisition after all.”

“Exactly. Have you finished your meal, Charlie?”

“I was just about to get up.”

“Not very satisfying, right?”

I frowned at Roman’s playful remark, shaking my head.

“Definitely. I came to London hoping to try British cuisine, but it only ruined my appetite.”

“Haha, there’s a place nearby that makes delicious desserts. It’s not a British-run shop, though; it’s French, so I can guarantee the taste.”

His words carried a hint of suggesting we move somewhere else.

“Today just doesn’t seem like the day for that.”

Instead of immediately replying, I glanced around and shrugged.

Only three tables were watching us

“It’s fine. This is my shop. I can clear out other customers and have a private chat with you. But seeing you become so popular, Charlie, I’m really proud. You’ve become quite the celebrity.”

“In that case, let’s go for it.”

“Great! I’ll vouch for the taste.”

Roman instructed his secretary to clear the shop before walking out with me.

“What brings you to England?”

“I’m here for business too.”

“Is this your first time in London?”

“Yes. I’ve heard there are many days with bad weather, but today is surprisingly clear.”

As we chatted lightly, Roman matched my pace.

We hadn’t walked far when he suddenly stopped in front of a shop.

“This is the place. Let’s head in, Charlie.”

Roman pointed proudly at the dessert shop. He led the way, with Manager Ma and I following closely behind.

As our group entered, the shop’s door closed behind us. Soon, a sign reading ‘CLOSED’ was hung on the window, and the shutters came down.

“Please sit here.”

Roman gestured to a table in the center of the shop.

I slowly surveyed the shop while taking my seat at the spot he indicated, where he sat across from me with a smile.

Soon, cakes and various desserts were placed on the table, along with a cup of fragrant coffee in front of me.

“Give it a try.”

Roman lifted his coffee cup, savoring the aroma while encouraging me to taste the desserts.

“But first, let’s hear why you came to find me.”

“Feel free to have a leisurely chat…”

“Roman, do you think I look particularly happy right now? Or are you still planning to insist it’s just a coincidence? You happen to have a dessert shop not far from the hotel where I’m having lunch. Are you going to tell me that’s just another coincidence?”

As I spoke coldly, Roman put down his coffee cup, raising both hands in a gesture of surrender.

“I can’t joke with you, Charlie. It’s true. I came here on the orders of President Putin. Though it’s publicly known as my establishment, it’s actually managed by the Russian government.”

“Putin? Does that mean your intention to acquire the football club is a lie too?”

“No, that’s the truth. I’ve been in the UK since a week ago. After learning you entered Britain yesterday, Putin contacted me to come visit you.”

Putin must be watching my moves closely, so he couldn’t possibly be unaware of what I was doing.

It seemed he sent Roman, someone with whom I had friendly ties, to London to acquire a Premier League team.

There was no deception as I gazed at Roman’s face; it seemed sincere.

Holding back my suspicious gaze, Roman cleared his throat and began to speak.

“First, let me relay President Putin’s message: ‘I am a friend of Kim Mu-hyeok. I will never put m friend in danger, so I hope there are no misunderstandings. Everyone involved in this matter will bear significant responsibility.’ That’s what he said.”

I had asked Medvedev to relay my message to Putin, and since then, I hadn’t heard from him.

He must have been waiting to gather clear information about the matter before seeking me out.

“I don’t understand what’s happening. Why have you sent me here instead of saying it directly? However, I hope you can grasp the true intentions of what he’s trying to convey to me.”

I stared at Roman in silence. Though he spoke calmly, his expression was subtly tense.

It seemed he had completely become Putin’s loyal subject after Berezovsky’s downfall. Breaking the prolonged silence, I nodded lightly.

Please convey that you understand.

“Yes, I’ll let him know.”

As I sipped my lukewarm coffee, I lifted a small piece of cake to my mouth. The sweet flavor and creamy texture combined beautifully, tantalizing my taste buds.

“You can confidently recommend this. It’s quite delicious.”

As I murmured my approval, Roman erupted into laughter. With his expression relaxed, he also took a sip of his coffee.

“Though it’s a secret shop of the intelligence agency, I can guarantee the taste.”

“This is the most delicious thing I’ve had since coming to England.”

“I don’t like British food either.”

After discussing business, the conversation shifted to casual topics. Roman, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, was still quite interested in the club acquisition.

“Charlie, don’t you have any plans for acquiring a club? After coming to London, I realized there’s a certain charm in being a Premier League owner.”

“Is that so?”

A football club… I set my fork down and lightly tapped the table.