Chapter 12

The Bear Kingdom is now mine, Chapter 12

012 Independent States / Newspaper Company Shares 7% + 5% = 12%

Beep!-

-Mr. Anton has arrived.

"Let him in and prepare some tea."

-Understood.

As the door opened, Anton entered with his shoulders slumped and a tense expression.

Yegor frowned and sat down on the sofa.

"What's the matter that you suddenly called me?"

Anton didn't answer his brother's question but sighed deeply and sat down on the sofa.

"Is something bothering you?"

"Brother, do you happen to have some money?"

"Money? What kind of money?"

"I need to use some urgently. If you have it, can I borrow it for a few months?"

"How much?"

"As much as possible."

"You must have done something again, right?"

"Not something... I just need to use it urgently."

"Did you ask Father?"

"I just met him, and he said he spent it all on dollars and gold. He even took a loan from the bank. What more can I say to him?"

"Father took a loan from the bank? I thought only Grandfather did that."

"Grandfather took loans from domestic banks, and Ivan took loans from independent states."

Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia...

These countries used the Russian currency, the ruble, in their early days, so the eldest son, Ivan, took loans in rubles.

Since he took loans in rubles, he could repay them in rubles.

"Loans from independent states..."

Yegor's brows furrowed.

While he was lost in thought, the secretary placed the tea and left.

"Ivan's company handles all the essential goods nationwide, so he must have had clients in each independent state."

"Do you know how much he received?"

"I don't know. The eldest brother may seem nice to the family, but he's very strict about money."

"Hmm..."

"It seems the eldest brother's idea to take loans from independent states. Father didn't have clients in those states."

That's true.

Father, Yuri, used only state-owned banks for decades.

He occasionally used other banks, but the transaction amounts were not significant.

'Even if Nikolai is the eldest son, this is too much... This is like pouring all the family's assets into it.'

If Nikolai's prediction doesn't come true, the Yusupov family will disappear from Russia without a trace.

However,

'The situation is moving as Nikolai predicted...'

Did the eldest brother take loans from all 14 countries, or just some of them?

No, that's not important now.

If this goes as Nikolai predicted, the succession will be firmly established.

By Ivan's dominance.

Yegor's brows furrowed even more.

He was tapping the wooden armrest of the sofa in time with the clock when Anton's voice brought him back to reality.

"As I was coming here, I saw a long line in front of the central bank. It seems there's not much time left. Nikolai's prediction is becoming a reality."

Who doesn't know that?

I'm feeling jealous and defeated, even to a nephew who just turned 20.

"Alright, I understand your situation, but I don't have any money to lend you."

"Even if Ivan doesn't, you must have some spare funds, right?"

Anton looked at Yegor as if he knew everything, and Yegor snapped.

"Why do you think I do? And what do you mean by spare funds?"

"Ivan would follow Father's orders even if he said to make vodka with pure water, but you... You can be flexible with dollars and gold, right?"

"Ha, really. Then you must have bought dollars and gold too, right? You can be flexible with that, can't you?"

"..."

He shouted, but he felt sorry for his brother, whose shoulders were slumped.

"You saw it on your way here, right? The state-owned bank is on the verge of bankruptcy. How can I have any money? I'm sorry, but you'll have to figure it out yourself."

"If I could solve it, would I come to you?"

Yegor tried to be understanding, but Anton was desperate.

"Tell me the truth. Did you not follow Father's orders?"

Anton closed his eyes and thought for a moment, almost as if he was sure of Yegor's question.

'Alright, I'll tell the second brother. We've shared secrets and done backroom deals together, so there must be a way.'

His thoughts didn't last long.

When Anton opened his eyes, he told the truth.

"Actually, I acquired a steel company."

"A steel company? The one Father told you to give up?"

"At first, I was going to acquire a different company..."

"Going to acquire?"

"It was a great company, and I couldn't bear to give it up..."

"You fool! Then what about the dollars and gold?"

"I bought them with the remaining money after acquiring the company."

"Be specific. How much did you buy?"

"...Less than half of the funds I had."

"Ha... This is a big problem. If Father finds out, you know what will happen."

The fact that he hasn't been caught yet shows how preoccupied Father is. He's also getting old.

Still, even if Father is getting old, the Yusupov family is still under his influence.

And at such a critical time, the youngest son didn't follow Father's orders, which he emphasized repeatedly.

This is outright rebellion.

Yegor's head throbbed and he felt frustrated.

'How can I solve this?'

There's only one solution now.

"Tell the truth."

"What?"

"Tell Father the truth. That's your only way out."

"Brother! If I could tell Father, would I have come here?"

"Then, do you have a solution?"

"Um, well..."

Anton couldn't think of any solution no matter how hard he tried.

The only redeeming factor is that he invested almost half of the funds in dollars and gold.

"In such cases, the fastest solution is to confess and ask for forgiveness. Do as I say. I'll support you when you tell Father. I'll talk to Ivan too."

"Is there really no other way?"

"There isn't. Since we're on the topic, let's go to Father now."

"Ugh..."

Anton clenched his teeth and slowly spoke.

"Then, can you keep it a secret for a few more days? I'll tell him then."

"Why?"

"I want to investigate a bit more."

"Your investigation won't solve anything. What about the operating costs of the steel company you acquired?"

"That's why I'm asking for a few more days. I have to go now. I'll see you later."

With that, Anton quickly left the room.

"That guy... When we meet at Father's house next time, there will be a commotion."

* * *

Three days later, Nikolai finally received the long-awaited email.

In the workshop behind the house, Nikolai and his group were gathered around the computer as if they were about to perform a grand ceremony.

What a long wait for this reply.

"Ilya, check it out."

"Sure, I'll open it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ilya carefully opened the email.

From Ilya's expression, it was clear what the email said.

Sergei, who was on the other side of the world, must have been curious about the email.

Nikolai smiled and looked over Ilya's shoulder at the computer screen.

"What is it?"

"..."

"Ilya, is this from Sergei in the U.S.?"

"There's a name in the email."

"Damn..."

It's definitely from Sergei.

But...

**F*ck off! How did you randomly figure it out?**

'What a socially inept kid.'

"Maybe the content I sent before was too thin? It lacked credibility."

"Really?"

"Sure. Think about it. If a stranger sent you an email, would you immediately reply, 'Great! Let's meet next time!'?"

Sasha has a point.

I did send it too casually. I can send it again with more convincing content.

"But why are you trying to be so close to Sergei?"

"He's someone who will take partial responsibility for my future."

"..."

"Ilya, write down what I say."

"Sure."

"I am a member of the great Yusupov family in Russia. As the second son of the father who runs the Great Unicorn Group, I graduated from... no, I'm currently planning a business after studying at the art university. And..."

This time, I included personal information to make it a more convincing message.

"Should I send it?"

"Send it. This guy is really stubborn."

When I invest in Google, you'll be dead. I'll make sure of it.

"Sasha, where's the newspaper?"

"Just a moment. I brought it earlier... Oh, there it is."

Nikolai opened the newspaper with anticipation.

But.

'...It's not there.'

There hasn't been any content since the impeachment of Yeltsin.

That means there's nothing special happening yet.

Still, I need to read the newspaper every day.

"By the way, what did the newspaper company say?"

"They thought it was a good idea. They said they'll start delivering to every household in six months."

"In six months?"

Nikolai's brows furrowed.

Why is it so slow?

"Do you know where the company is?"

"I know, I've been there."

"Contact the CEO and ask to meet him now."

"Now?"

"Yes, right now. If I mention the Unicorn Group, he'll meet you."

"Understood."

Sasha disappeared into the house and returned a short while later.

"They want you to come to the company now?"

"Let's go!"

Even though I've been in the media industry for over 10 years, I'll make your company the top newspaper in Russia.

* * *

"Prizes?"

"Of course not. There's no such thing as free. If we can increase the number of subscribers quickly, the cost of the prizes will be negligible. Companies will beg to place ads."

The newspaper company CEO was surprisingly young.

He said he runs the company with his father, but he gives the actual orders.

"Will this really work?"

"I am Ivan Yusupov, the eldest son of the Great Unicorn Group. I'm the second son of the father. The blood runs strong, doesn't it?"

"Prices have risen so much that it would be difficult to give all the prizes..."

"We can offer them on a first-come, first-served basis, and the prizes will run out quickly, encouraging people to sign up faster."

Despite explaining the benefits and giving examples, the CEO didn't agree immediately.

How can I make money like this?

"Then, how about this?"

"How?"

If the best option isn't available, the second-best will do.

* * *

Four days later.

"It's clear at a glance