Chapter 30

The Bear's Soup is Now My Story Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Mayor Who Held On by Relying on His Backing / The Third Newspaper to React

Moscow GUM Department Store.

It took five months to preserve the beautiful parts of the department store and create various facilities, before it could be occupied.

Inside the department store, accommodations, restaurants, lounges, baths, saunas, beauty salons, and even a place for massages and a swimming pool were built, so the employees could focus solely on their work.

[IT Specialized Company Black Hole]

'This company using such a place as an office must be our Black Hole alone.'

Ilya had estimated the number of people at 125.

Since then, 10 more people had applied, so now there were a total of 135 employees looking at Nikolai.

This many...

'Is still not enough.'

At first, it felt like a lot, but thinking about how global IT companies have thousands, even tens of thousands of employees, it seemed small.

Of course, that was the number of employees when they became huge companies in the distant future.

'But thinking about the future, it would be better to hire more.'

Nikolai had read all 135 self-introductions and resumes.

After reading them all, he understood why Ilya had introduced them with confidence.

'70% are graduates of Moscow University. The rest are from top universities.'

Among them were many who had worked on the government's 'secret projects' during the Soviet era and at the 'National Defense Science Research Institute.'

Most were talents who had worked in the information and communication fields representing Russia.

It was sad that these high-level talents had nowhere to go after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic crisis.

While survival was the top priority, it was still a bitter pill to swallow.

'On the other hand, it's a bit melancholic.'

If it weren't for Nikolai and the Unicorn Group, Russia's advanced science and technology would have been lost to foreign countries.

Nikolai wanted to give these people, who had lost their will to live, a new dream.

"You were the best talents of the Soviet Union. You were admired and envied by others."

But what has become of you now?

"As you have already experienced, the world is harsh. Just working hard and diligently has its limits."

"...?"

"The result is you standing in front of me now."

Russia has now accepted a capitalist economic system.

So, what should we do?

"We must follow the capital, the core of capitalism. Only then can we protect our loved ones and ourselves."

Though it sounded simple, the employees were shocked as if they had been pierced by a needle.

These people, who had been accustomed to the distribution system for decades, had experienced firsthand the terrifying power of money.

"I have that capital. If you trust and follow me... I will promise it here."

"You will never suffer from lack of money again."

Taking a brief pause and looking at the employees, their eyes seemed to be shining.

"You have seen the success of U-Mart. That was just a part of the success."

"...!"

"In the next 18 months, by June 1995, we must create 'Black Hole.' No, we must absolutely create it."

Nikolai didn't know exactly when Amazon would appear, but he knew it would be by 1995.

"If we create it, I will give each of you an apartment."

"...!"

"I promise this in the name of President Yuri Yusupov of the Unicorn Group."

Instantly, the eyes of the 135 employees and Ilya became hot.

It was as if fire was shooting out of their eyes.

"I will not hold back any support. Of course, I will not be stingy with your salaries. So, focus on creating Black Hole."

They would also be involved in creating 'Black Hole' and 'Yandex,' which Ilya was developing.

Nikolai appointed Ilya as the general manager of 'Black Hole' and had him manage the employees in his absence.

After finishing his speech, Nikolai shook hands with the employees, reaffirming that his choice was not wrong.

'I was sick of the arrogance of foreign companies, but now I will do it to them. You guys, just try to take it.'

* * *

20 days later, February 1, 1994.

Ussuriysk.

One of the trading cities in Russia's Far East, a small city with a population of 170,000, bordering China and North Korea.

A unique point is that many Koreans who had lived in Uzbekistan have moved here, making it easy to see Koreans.

It was once part of the Bohai Kingdom, and historical sites are scattered throughout.

Arriving in Vladivostok, which is adjacent to Ussuriysk, Nikolai looked at the distant port dyed by the sunset, lost in thought.

'I still vividly remember leaving this place.'

He had left with the determination never to return, but now he was back in another person's body.

The strange feeling coursing through his body made Nikolai shiver involuntarily.

Misunderstanding it as a reaction to the cold, Sasha said casually,

"Are you not going to book a hotel?"

"Of course. We'll eat dinner too. How many accommodations have they built on the site?"

"The containers have already been moved, but it's taking some time to change them into cold-resistant walls due to the cold."

With this cold, cold-resistant walls alone might not be enough...

But without enough accommodations for so many people, this is the best option for now.

"But why hasn't Ussuriysk City Hall contacted us yet? It's been over 20 days."

"I was almost driven mad by the phone calls."

"Why?"

"The person in charge doesn't clearly say whether it's possible or not."

The permit for the industrial park to produce products for Korean companies had been approved, but ironically, the permit for the road expansion to access it had not.

It doesn't make sense that the industrial park permit was approved but the road expansion permit wasn't.

This is like doing things backward.

It was frustrating, but this is the Russian style.

But that's the old style.

Nikolai had no intention of waiting idly and even less of being played by the mayor of Ussuriysk.

"Let's go to City Hall tomorrow."

* * *

After a hearty breakfast, Nikolai and Sasha barged into the mayor's office of Ussuriysk without an appointment.

Despite not having an appointment, the mayor, either because he was idle or had other thoughts, calmly received Nikolai.

The first thing that caught the eye when entering the mayor's office was his protruding belly.

One would wonder what he eats to have such a big belly.

"Surprising. A young person like you is the general manager of the Ussuriysk industrial park."

"It's been over 20 days since I contacted you about the access road. Why hasn't the permit been issued yet? I thought it was a government project."

"Even if it's a government project, there are procedures. It will take more time to complete the feasibility study on-site. Since the industrial park permit has been approved, start the necessary construction on-site first."

"How can we proceed with construction without the access road expansion?"

Ussuriysk is one of the farthest places from Moscow.

This means that the central government's influence is limited.

The mayor of Ussuriysk acted as if he was the king of Ussuriysk.

But what gives him the confidence to act so boldly on a government project?

A single phone call from the government would be enough to end it.

"Then, can you at least give us a temporary use permit?"

"That's not possible. It's not a building but a road, and there's a high possibility of damage if a temporary use permit is issued."

This is just an excuse, and there must be another reason for delaying the permit.

After a moment of thought, Nikolai understood why the mayor was being so stubborn.

'That's right.'

The habit from the Soviet era, asking for a little money.

The widespread bribery in Russia, which is politely called 'lobbying' in foreign countries.

'When I should be the one demanding, I'm the one being demanded?'

Nikolai didn't want to create unnecessary trouble for the construction.

...Or rather.

He decided to make the mayor pay a harsh price.

"Mr. Mayor, if you have time, can you come out for a moment?"

"...?"

"Ah, I have some business at the bank. There are many eyes here, so it's a bit awkward for me to come back, and it's a large amount."

"Ahem."

"Just drive the car and put it in the trunk..."

The mayor curled his lips and nodded.

"Now we can talk. Haha."

The mayor, who stood up first, put on a large coat and gestured toward the door.

"Let's go. It's cold, so let's have a drink outside."

"Sure."

Nikolai and Sasha went to the bank, and the mayor went to a nearby restaurant to wait.

"When we come out of the restaurant, don't follow us. Buy an instant camera and secretly take pictures. Make sure the face and money are clearly visible, and get as close as possible."

"How will the money be visible as evidence?"

"You'll see when it's loaded into the trunk. Don't miss it and take as many pictures as the film allows."

Nikolai withdrew a large amount of money from the bank.

Then, he had Sasha load it into the trunk of his car and had a drink with the mayor at the restaurant.

About an hour later, they came out.

"Mr. Mayor, shall we go to the car now?"

"Ah, sure..."

"Please open the trunk. We need to load it quickly when no one is watching."

"Ahem. Let's do it."

Nikolai took a box from the trunk of his car and approached the mayor's car trunk.

But then,

The bottom of the box, filled with bundles of money, suddenly burst, and the money spilled out.

Since it happened so quickly, the mayor was momentarily flustered but quickly gathered the bundles that fell to the ground and put them in the trunk.

It was surprising to see such speed from his large body.

"Oops, sorry. The bottom burst suddenly..."

"It's fine. Come back tomorrow. I'll prepare the permit for you."

"Thank you. Be careful. I'll come back to greet you when the construction is finished."

"Hehe, you have a bright personality. See you