Chapter 42

The Bear Kingdom is Now Mine Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Chief Engineer Nikolai / Planning to Go to Vietnam, Ends Up in Russia

The Sakha Republic, with an area ranking 8th in the world, is vast. Despite this enormous size, the population has not reached one million. This is due to the extreme cold, which can drop to minus 55 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the Russians had another name for this place: the abandoned land. For a long time, the Sakha Republic was known as such. However, from this abandoned land, subterranean resources comparable to gold were discovered—two types, in fact. The discovery of gas alone could sway a nation's economy, and now oil was found as well. The Russians began to call the Sakha Republic by a different name: the blessed land. As a result, people from all over Russia started flocking here to make money. The news of the massive discovery of gas and oil shook Russia, and Gazprom began recruiting employees.

* * *

The streets of the Sakha Republic's city center were bustling with people.

"Are you going to Gazprom?"

"Not just me, but most people coming from other places will probably do the same."

"An incredible number of people are coming. How many are they planning to hire?"

"About 2,000 in the first round."

"Wow, that many at once?"

"They might hire even more later. Many people are applying in advance."

Behind them, a man who had been listening intently asked,

"I heard there's no proper accommodation... Where will married people live?"

"I heard they're building thousands of apartments."

"Thousands of apartments?"

"That's what I heard. They should be ready for occupancy in about a year and a half."

"Then we'll have to find a place to stay until then."

For them, housing was the biggest issue. Nikolai knew this and took decisive action. The vice president of Unicorn Construction, summoned to the Sakha Republic, was taken aback by Nikolai's instructions.

"Accept all engineers and general workers. If there's a shortage of engineers, you can also hire people from independent states. We plan to complete the Sakha Republic site as quickly as possible."

The independent states are places that should be reunited with Russia. Nikolai believed this would happen someday.

"So, there's no reason to discriminate against their citizens."

"How much time are you planning to cut?"

"We need to finish within a year, at least six months earlier."

The vice president knew it was possible to finish within a year, but the issue was the number of people.

"We can't just hire so many people recklessly. Even if we send them to other sites after this one is done, there will be a surplus."

"Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the rest of Russia, will need them. Why would there be a surplus?"

"Oh, you mean what you said during the selection meeting?"

"Yes. We'll start with apartments, then bridges, roads, and public buildings. So, treat the engineers well and accept all general workers."

There was another reason for this, but the fundamental reason was different.

"Also, we plan to build a gas pipeline soon, so we need to hire many experts in this field."

"Gas pipeline...?"

"We can't consume all the gas domestically. Using ships for transport would be too expensive, so we plan to connect a pipeline to Europe."

In the original history, this was called 'Nord Stream.' It refers to the pipeline connecting Vyborg in St. Petersburg to Greifswald in Germany. The name is in German, but in Russian, it's 'Severny Potok.' However, the location is different now.

"Oh, already that far...?"

"We need to sell wherever we can. Prepare as quickly as possible."

"I will do as you say."

The vice president didn't even mention money, knowing that Nikolai was the owner of Gazprom.

"Also, make sure the snow on the roads doesn't accumulate or freeze. We can't have transportation blocked all year. Pay special attention to this."

"Understood."

Nikolai, along with the vice president, toured the site, addressing every shortcoming.

"It won't be easy for each employee to find accommodation. The company should help. Supporting part of the rent for a year would be fine."

"We'll discuss it."

Seeing the workers carrying bricks, Nikolai frowned.

"Why aren't they wearing cold-weather gear?"

"They're general workers, and we don't have enough to distribute. Many employees are still wearing what they received during the Soviet era..."

"Such issues should have been reported. If someone gets sick from working in this, what will you do? If the vice president doesn't handle these basics, who will?"

"...I'm sorry."

At the Ussuriysk site, Nikolai had immediately addressed such issues because he was stationed there. Here, however, there were many things that needed fixing.

"Replace the cold-weather gear, safety boots, and helmets with new ones. Provide enough for everyone, and distribute gloves. From now on, handle these basics first and report later."

"Understood."

At the school foundation construction site, Nikolai frowned again.

"Why are there so few heavy machines? I instructed you to secure as many as possible."

"They're coming from all over the country, but the road conditions are poor, so it will take some time."

"Didn't I consider these conditions when I gave the instructions?"

"The situation is urgent, so I couldn't pay attention to the details. I'm sorry."

Nikolai's criticisms at every turn made the vice president sweat, even in the freezing weather. It was even more intense than at the Ussuriysk site.

The vice president recalled his first meeting with Nikolai. He thought Nikolai, being young, wouldn't know much, but he was wrong. Nikolai knew more about construction than someone with decades of experience, which was astonishing. Installing innovative things he had never seen before made Nikolai seem almost mystical.

"If the same mistakes are repeated at other sites, you'll have to be prepared."

"..."

"Also, check if it's possible to purchase large quantities of high-content multivitamins."

"What for?"

"Food alone might not provide enough nutrients. They'll burn a lot of calories doing this work, right?"

"You're right."

"Always keep salt in the canteen. It's necessary for employees who sweat a lot."

"I'll take care of it."

After another five hours of touring, Nikolai finally returned to the office. Seeing this, Sasha shook his head.

"Sometimes, you can be really harsh. Treating a 50-year-old vice president like a newbie."

"Age doesn't matter. If he's responsible for the site, he needs to be on top of things."

If the work is overwhelming, he should delegate.

"People with long construction experience often pretend to listen but ignore you behind your back. But with you, it seems different."

"I only speak the truth and don't push anything unreasonable. Most of it is for the employees' benefit."

"Still, seeing the vice president, who's about your age, being scolded and wiping his sweat, it was a bit uncomfortable."

If the vice president were less competent, he wouldn't have been so detailed.

Nikolai understood the vice president's limits from the Ussuriysk site and spoke within those bounds. He believed the issues he pointed out today would be handled perfectly.

After thoroughly inspecting the site and addressing every improvement, Nikolai returned to Moscow with Sasha.

* * *

Yuri Yusupov's face was full of smiles as he welcomed a familiar guest in his study.

"That was the time you were receiving successor training. Your late father praised you highly. Haha."

"You seem even more energetic now."

"Now, I'm so weak that sitting for a long time is difficult."

Sitting across from Yuri was the chairman of South Korea's Ohseong Electronics. After exchanging pleasantries for about ten minutes, Yuri brought up the main topic.

"You're planning to build a factory in Kaluga?"

"Yes, originally, we planned to build a TV factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam."

But the plan was completely revised.

Through Nikolai, who entered the country in 1993, he heard something unexpected.

"Hasn't Russia joined the WTO?"

"Yes, it has."

"Seeing that an FTA was also signed at the time we planned to enter Vietnam, we decided to build the factory in Kaluga."

"Truly a wise decision."

Yuri considered telling the chairman that the WTO and FTA were initiated by Nikolai but decided against it. He didn't want to involve his grandson in national affairs, and he doubted the chairman would believe it easily.

"Kaluga is a good place to build a factory."

Kaluga is a city about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Moscow. Its location is ideal for moving to Europe, and in the original history, Ohseong Electronics also built a factory there. Now, they are entering 10 years earlier.

"I'm very satisfied."

"The president must be very pleased, right?"

"He said he would provide all the support needed."

"Of course. He's been working hard to attract foreign companies. So, you're building a TV factory in Kaluga?"

"We also plan to build a semiconductor factory."

"Wow, the scale will be enormous."

"The factory will employ over 30,000 people, all of whom will be hired locally."

Hearing that 30,000 jobs would be created for Russians, Yuri smiled even more brightly.

"If I hadn't met my grandson that day, Ohseong Electronics would have gone to Vietnam."

"Perhaps it was all meant to be."

"I think so too."

"By the way, I received the gift you sent through Nikolai. It was too good. Thank you."

"I'm glad you liked it."

As the atmosphere became warmer, the chairman, curious about something, brought it up.

"Since arriving in Russia, I've heard a lot about the Unicorn Group."

"What have you heard?"

"About U-Mart, the Ussuriysk apartments, and recently, Gazprom."

"Ah, those things did happen."

"I sincerely congratulate you on achieving a 100-year business."

It meant a business that would enjoy prosperity for 100 years.

Yuri nodded in agreement.

"While the subsidiaries of the Unicorn Group are involved, it's not my doing."

U-Mart and the apartment business were impressive, but acquiring Gazprom was even more astonishing when he thought about it. If he had been a few days late...

'It would have been sold to a foreign company.'

If he hadn't seized the opportunity, the champagne would have been popped by a German company, not Nikolai.

Yuri recalled the phone call from his grandson.

-Grandfather, Gazprom has discovered gas and oil.

How his heart raced when he heard those words. Despite rarely being surprised, his heart pounded as if he had sprinted 100 meters in his youth.

Thinking about his grandson, who had no apparent flaws, Yuri returned to reality when the chairman asked.

"If it wasn't you, who...?"

"Didn't we meet two years ago in Korea?"

Two years ago in Korea?

"...You mean your grandson?"

"Yes. All those successes are Nikolai's. I didn't do anything special."

"..."

The chairman paused, trying to gauge the truth of these words.

Nikolai was only in his mid-20s. How much could he know about business at that age, and even if he did, to be the mastermind behind the businesses that shook Russia...

'Why is he saying this?'

Seeing the chairman's expression, Yuri continued.

"Everyone finds it hard to believe, but it's all true. I often don't believe it myself."

"Even if other companies are one thing, Gazprom will be a name known not just in Russia but worldwide. To think the owner is Nikolai..."

"According to Nikolai, it's just a matter of scooping up money now. Haha."

"Indeed. He's the owner of a company that extracts gas and oil."

The chairman quickly did the math in his head.

Gazprom's net profit would likely surpass Ohseong Electronics, even with a conservative estimate. Once they start extracting gas and oil in earnest, the difference would be stark.

The chairman felt a momentary dizziness.

'This is terrifying.'

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't recall anyone like this.

Just then, a voice came from outside.

"Grandfather, I'm here."

"Come in."

A housekeeper entered and placed three cans of Milkis on the table before leaving.

"..."

The chairman's face changed subtly.

Perfect timing.

'Now that he's here, I can ask him directly.'