Chapter 15

The Bear's Soup is Now My Turn 15

015 Unicorn Bank / Rewards + Rewards + Rewards

December 1992 was a time of peak economic suffering in Russia.

Russia was on the verge of collapse.

It was a pitiful sight, unimaginable for a country that had rivaled the United States just a few years ago.

The women who had sold their bodies in the movie "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears," produced during the Soviet era, had become a reality.

Women earned money to feed their families, and men, with no work, survived by eating a few potatoes and broth made from bones, enduring each day with great difficulty.

Moreover, the number of people who froze to death on the streets increased.

Most of them were people who had become pessimistic about their hard lives and wandered the streets.

Children, left without anyone to care for them after their parents died, also roamed the streets.

"Everyone, look over there."

Yuri Yusupov, accompanied by his family and relatives, came out onto the street to show the tragic reality unfolding in various parts of Moscow.

"That is the reality we are facing in Russia now. Everyone, take a good look."

"..."

At Moscow Station, a temporary free food distribution center was operating.

The line was so long that it stretched endlessly in front of the Central Bank, making it impossible to even hand over a business card.

Russia's economic crisis spread like dominoes.

The Central Bank went bankrupt.

When the largest Central Bank in Russia went bankrupt, other small and medium-sized banks began to collapse one after another, and the impact extended to private enterprises.

Nine small and medium-sized banks went bankrupt.

Private enterprises went bankrupt one after another.

The result of these consecutive bankruptcies was laid out in front of Moscow Station.

"You must never forget this day until the day you close your eyes."

During the Soviet era, everyone lived a prosperous life.

There were no homeless people, and food was abundant.

On weekends, most people enjoyed happy times in their "dachas" (small cottages with gardens).

But now...

"I may have invested in Russia's economic crisis to save my family, but I did not want to see this."

"..."

"When a country is weak and politicians are corrupt, the suffering is borne by the people, as you can see."

Would corrupt politicians know hunger, or the pain of a breadwinner trying to feed their family?

Yuri Yusupov looked up at the sky.

'This sky, unchanged and as high and blue as it was during the Soviet era...'

Everything under the sky in today's Russia has changed.

He looked at the blue sky and made a vow.

'If the country cannot solve it, I will step in.'

His eyes burned with a fire that could melt even the most frozen ice.

"Father, does this mean our family bears some responsibility for how Russia has become?"

In response to his eldest son Ivan's question, Yuri nodded.

"Yes, we do. Now is the time for us to step in. We cannot ignore those suffering just because we are angry with the corrupt politicians."

"That's true."

"The money our family has earned through Nikolai's foresight is comparable to half a year's budget of a decent country, and it might even be more."

Yuri Yusupov's words were accurate.

Although they had not yet sold all their dollars and gold, a rough calculation showed that it was close to half a year's budget.

However, that was only if they sold the dollars and gold.

What if they used the money from selling the dollars and gold to buy other things that had plummeted in price?

"Since the establishment of the Yusupov family, we have never achieved such success. But... with great wealth comes great responsibility."

"..."

"From today, our family must use all our resources to buy things that have plummeted in value and take the lead in normalizing the country. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Starting with Ivan, everyone answered with a serious expression.

* * *

If things continued like this, a hellish Russia would unfold.

President Yeltsin gathered ministers and officials to brainstorm solutions, but there were none.

"Come up with a solution, a solution!"

"..."

The fundamental reason for the collapse of the banks needed to be addressed, but the government lacked the power and ability to do so.

However, they could not just stand idly by.

"If we can secure dollars and gold, we can do anything!"

Just as everyone was watching Yeltsin, waiting for a solution, Makar, the chief of staff, casually said,

"Didn't Yuri Yusupov express interest in acquiring the banks?"

"Oh, that's right."

"Since it was something Yuri wanted, wouldn't he be willing to acquire all the bankrupt banks if we offered him unprecedented conditions?"

"That's true."

"I'll go and negotiate with him."

"Sure. It's not the time to worry about bank losses, so tell him we will accept any conditions he wants."

"Understood."

When Makar, the chief of staff, met with Yuri Yusupov, Yuri, knowing the time had come, boldly stated his demands.

"I will acquire all the bankrupt banks, including the Central Bank, and also the bankrupt companies."

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman."

"I decided this because it is necessary for me. If the country recovers, our family will also rise again, won't it?"

"That's true."

Yuri Yusupov planned to buy everything at rock-bottom prices.

He decided to seize this opportunity given by heaven to save both his family and the country.

However, this decision was also made based on Nikolai's advice.

"Grandfather, there's a saying that you should row when the tide is high."

"Is there such a saying? I've never heard it before."

"Oh, it's a foreign proverb."

In any case,

"We must seize this opportunity. President Yeltsin is friendly now, but there's no guarantee the next president will be on our side."

"That's true."

"We must build enough power so that no president can treat our family lightly. For that, Russia is too small. We need to expand globally and make foreign politicians and companies our allies."

"You're right. I've seen and felt a lot since the fall of the Soviet Union."

Power! Only power can protect me, my family, and my country.

"Let's do it as you say."

After meeting with Makar, the chief of staff, and the officials, the Yusupov family acquired the Central Bank and all the other bankrupt banks.

The name of the Central Bank remained the same, but the other banks were merged and renamed.

To the Unicorn Bank.

With full government support, the Yusupov family entered the banking industry and took over the Russian financial sector.

The Yusupov family did not stop there.

They bought not only the companies that the Romanov family could not afford to keep but also all the companies that had gone bankrupt and were on the market.

Among them were the car, energy, construction, and food companies they had previously given up on.

"It's been a while, Alexei. Zhenya is here too."

"Hello, Mr. Chairman."

The situation had changed.

Just a few months ago, Alexei Romanov and Zhenya were in a position of power, but now Yuri Yusupov and Nikolai were in the 'superior' position.

"Did the Romanov family deposit their money in the bank?"

"..."

"But what can be done? The bank has gone bankrupt."

All the money was lost.

When they complained to President Yeltsin, the result was already decided.

- Didn't the Romanov family turn their back on me during my impeachment trial?

- Well, at that time...

- And now you want help? Come on, Alexei.

- ?

- You are a shameless person. I will keep a close eye on your family while I am president.

With those words, everything was over.

Now, the only person left to bow to, even though they did not want to, was Yuri Yusupov, so they came to his house.

"Mr. Chairman... I heard you acquired that bank."

"Yes, I did."

"I'm not asking for everything. Can you return at least half?"

"I would like to, but the government has set a policy. It wouldn't be fair to other depositors, so I can't do it. I'm sorry."

Although he had expected this, hearing it directly was a shock like the sky falling.

"Mr. Chairman, is there really no way?"

"If Zhenya had become part of our family, I would have gone out of my way to help. It's a shame, but you proposed the annulment first, so there's nothing I can do. What do you think, Nikolai?"

Yuri asked Nikolai while spearing an apple with a fork.

Nikolai, who was eating a fragrant biscuit, wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth and said,

"The engagement was a promise made by the heads of both families. But it was annulled with a single phone call."

"..."

"At the time, I was surprised and a bit angry, but now I want to thank you."

"?"

"If I had married Zhenya, what would have happened? I would have lived with a woman who played around with different men, knowing nothing."

"..."

"Thank you, sir. For the annulment."

"Ah, if you receive a favor, you should express gratitude. Well done."

Yuri chimed in.

Alexei Romanov's lips trembled.

Zhenya's face turned red with embarrassment.

However, they could neither get angry nor leave their seats.

"Zhenya, the luxury items you wear are not few. It seems you are still managing to eat. If things get tough, you should sell these luxury items first."

Zhenya bit her lip.

But she could not storm out because of what her grandfather had told her before coming here.

"Also, it seems you haven't received the notice yet, but soon all the men of the Romanov family will be drafted into the military."

Nikolai had leaked this information from his maternal grandfather, who was the Minister of Justice.

"Shouldn't physically fit men fulfill their sacred duty of military service? If they try to avoid it with money, what will the general public say?"

Even though he had avoided it with money himself.

Alexei Romanov and Zhenya were flabbergasted by his audacity.

Yuri Yusupov was also taken aback by this audacity.

Then, he said coldly to Alexei,

"Go now. See if there's anything you can sell, and if there is, sell it immediately. A wounded and weakened predator is always a target for other predators."

"..."

"Your days ahead will be very difficult. I'm sorry I can't help."

Yuri Yusupov said this softly.

Thinking of the humiliations he had endured in the past, he wanted to destroy the Romanov family, but he did not.

There would be many others to do it for him.

As they left, Yuri said,

"You should also look for a new woman, shouldn't you?"

"Marriage?"

"Yes, you should start a family while you're still young to have healthy children."

"..."

"I'll look for one."

In this era, Russian women often married in their mid-teens or early 20s.

* * *

Ivan and Nikolai were busy.

They started shopping for prime government-owned land and private land and buildings.

"The money from selling the dollars and gold Yegor had is enough to cover all this. I've never felt this way in my life."

"We need to proceed simultaneously across the country. If the news leaks, people might hold out and not sell."

"I agree. We've started nationwide acquisitions today, so don't worry."

Although Russia has the largest territory in the world, there isn't much usable land.

However, with the country in ruins, both the rich and the poor were selling their possessions at rock-bottom prices.

Ivan Yusupov and Nikolai set up a plan akin to a wartime operation and systematically acquired everything.

When the task was completed, Nikolai finally heard the words he had been waiting for from Yuri Yusupov.

"Tell me what you want."

"The total construction cost of the three large supermarkets we are building, one year's operating costs, and the funds to build a factory."

Nikolai was slightly nervous.

Although he had brought great benefits to the family, people are different when they enter and leave the bathroom, and the amount he was asking for was too large for a young man in his early 20s.

As expected,

"Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all...?"

"Is that all you want?"

Not accepting what he said but asking for more?

"Compared to what you've done, that seems insufficient. Speak up before I change my mind."

Nikolai wet his lips and started listing other things.