Chapter 53

The Bear Country is Now Mine Chapter 53

053 Perfectly Concluding / The New President

In the Gum Department Store Black Hole Office.

The people sitting at the negotiation table were five representatives from each camp.

The expressions of the two camps were completely opposite.

The people from Yeltsin's side looked as if they were about to die, while those from Zahar's side had the faces of victors.

Tanya, who was sitting in a chair, glared at Nikolai for a long time before pointing to one side.

"Why are you here from the broadcasting station?"

"This is where the fate of the country is decided. Shouldn't we handle things thoroughly?"

"Then, are you going to broadcast today's meeting content?"

"Not just today's meeting content, but you should also make a public address to the nation."

The meeting content and the public address. It must be broadcast to be certain.

One day before the second round of voting, it's because we don't know what Yeltsin will do if he regains his senses.

"Do we really have to do it this way?"

"Do you trust people, Miss Tanya?"

"…."

"I don't. However, if we are forced to trust each other, then I will. That's why I want to put two mechanisms in place."

"You're thorough, as expected."

After a brief exchange, the real negotiations began.

"The special address should be made at 3 PM tomorrow."

"Mr. Candidate, isn't that too soon?"

"Hehe, what good would it do to drag this out? Do as I say."

Zahar was no longer the former Minister of Justice.

He was a presidential candidate elected by the people and, for all intents and purposes, the elected president who had defeated the current president.

That's why he exuded the energy befitting an elected president.

"Understood."

"I plan to broadcast the content of today's meeting as soon as the address is over."

"It seems you have everything planned out."

"Miss Tanya."

Zahar said seriously.

"We've risked our lives in this election. Do you think we would be careless at the last moment? You might not know, but President Yeltsin, who is in the hospital, understands my heart well."

He was referring to Yeltsin standing in front of the tanks just before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Thus, both sides spoke about their positions, accepting what they could and rejecting what they couldn't.

Of course, most of the decisions were made by Zahar's side.

As the meeting progressed, the expressions of Yeltsin's people became even darker.

When all the negotiations were over, Nikolai drove the final nail.

"I also hope the President wakes up. However, isn't it realistically difficult?"

"…."

"Even if the President recovers, everything that happened today will have legal effect. Am I right?"

Ten days later, on July 2nd, Yeltsin miraculously regained consciousness.

At that time, Yeltsin might try to change his words.

He could say that everything done while he was unconscious is invalid.

If a dramatic situation unfolds in the Russian style, it could lead to the mobilization of the military.

To prevent such a situation, Nikolai mentioned a few clauses at the end.

"…That's right."

"Second, you must leave the Kremlin before the address ends tomorrow. From that day, President-elect Zahar will take over the duties. Do you understand?"

"We'll do that."

"Finally, if anything unpleasant happens regarding this matter, former President Yeltsin could suffer significant damage. That damage will be too great to bear."

So, keep quiet and live peacefully from now on.

In summary, that's what he meant.

She understood and responded.

"I'll live quietly."

With that, the five-hour-long meeting came to an end.

* * *

That day, Tanya returned to the Kremlin.

She sent her father to a house outside and gathered the necessary things.

"How do you plan to live from now on?"

In response to the administrative director's question, Tanya looked at the president's desk and said,

"The Russian presidential election is held every four years."

"Are you thinking of the next election…?"

"Father can't run, but we need to support another candidate."

"Of course, you didn't plan to end it like this."

"Who benefits from ending it like this?"

Now, she is stepping back to survive, but she has no intention of ending it like this.

Yeltsin has accumulated enough money to fund future possibilities.

After all, in the election, the candidate with the most money has a higher chance of winning.

She plans to use this money to prepare for the future.

However, there was something she was mistaken about….

* * *

That evening, at President-elect Zahar's house.

Nikolai was planning to cut off Yeltsin's last hope with Zahar and Yuri.

"Isn't Yeltsin's hidden money in the state bank?"

"It is. How did you know that?"

Yuri asked, but Zahar was also curious.

"How much money did we contribute to the president? Do you think we were the only ones?"

"Hehe."

"We need to freeze all of Yeltsin's and his relatives' accounts in domestic and foreign banks. Especially, we need to thoroughly investigate and recover all the secret accounts in Swiss banks to the national treasury."

"Understood. I'll give the order myself."

If Yuri takes charge, he will thoroughly verify it.

"Also, the Chechen War must stop immediately. As soon as the address is over, Grandfather should call the Chechen president. This will make the world recognize that you are officially performing the duties of the President of Russia."

"As you know, Chechnya is a land that must be united with Russia."

Zahar opposes the war but laments the geographical characteristics and the numerous underground resources there.

However, Nikolai shook his head.

"Why do you think it must be conquered by force? If we pressure Chechnya economically, it will collapse on its own. Block the supplies entering Chechnya for a month. Do you think they can hold out?"

When the Chechen people feel they are really starving to death, Russia will extend a hand.

There are more things to be done alongside this method.

"Good idea."

"Also, when you enter the Kremlin tomorrow, you should start with personnel changes. First, replace the Minister of Defense, the commander of the Chechen War, and the Chief of Police. Even if people say you're wielding your authority too quickly, you must change these three."

Their official appointments will be made after the presidential inauguration, but the people must be replaced beforehand.

If these people are not dealt with first, an unwanted situation might arise if Yeltsin wakes up.

"Their close associates must also be replaced."

"Isn't that too hasty? Yeltsin is already on the brink of life and death."

This person, or rather, Grandfather, is thinking too leisurely.

Yeltsin will wake up soon.

Others might think he is rushing, but Nikolai must make Zahar recognized as president as quickly as possible, no matter how much criticism he receives.

"Have you already forgotten?"

"…?"

"Yeltsin is the person who pushed out former Secretary-General Gorbachev to become president. As long as he is alive, we cannot relax. The lives of hundreds of people from our two families and the many people who followed us are at stake."

"Ahem…."

"A golden opportunity to change Russia has come. If we miss this chance, we might never have it again. Even if it feels a bit embarrassing and excessive, if we endure and proceed this one time, everything will return to normal."

"…I understand what you mean. Let's proceed as you say."

* * *

The next day, at 3 PM.

Breaking news erupted on all Russian TV channels.

【Due to a heart attack, President Yeltsin can no longer fulfill his presidential duties and will withdraw from the second round of voting. At the same time, I will relinquish my candidacy. Legally, the last candidate, former Minister of Justice Zahar, will perform the duties of the President with the Vice President until the inauguration…】

As soon as Tanya and her associates' special address ended, the meeting from the previous day was broadcast.

However, Nikolai's editing was so good that when Tanya saw the broadcast later, she slammed the table with her slender hand.

Bang!

"You bastard! What did you make it look like a drama?"

The meeting was made to look like justice triumphing and evil retreating.

With the special address and the meeting content, the Russian people were bewildered by this sudden turn of events.

Subsequently, rallies praying for Yeltsin's recovery took place across the country.

However, the mood was shifting towards recognizing Zahar as the president.

As the media moguls returned to their positions, they heavily promoted Zahar, and public opinion quickly shifted from Yeltsin to Zahar.

After all, both were candidates to remove Zyuganov's Communist Party, and their policies were similar, so the people did not feel a sense of rejection.

Zahar, along with his close associates, finally entered the Kremlin.

As soon as they entered, they began implementing what Nikolai had said.

"…Yes, then let's conclude the war here."

After finishing the call with the President of the Chechen Republic, Zahar did not stop there.

He seemed to have fully accepted Nikolai's advice, even going as far as to act boldly.

"Please attend the inauguration on August 9th, and I would be grateful."

UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

US President Bill Clinton.

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

British Prime Minister John Major.

French President Jacques Chirac.

Czech President Václav Havel.

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze.

Pope John Paul II.

Moscow Patriarch Alexy II.

President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Jacques de Larosière, and others.

He called all the places related to Russia.

"Take a break."

After drinking a glass of cold water, Zahar picked up the phone again at Nikolai's suggestion.

"You're right. I can't afford to be idle now. Next, it's the African countries."

Many world leaders were startled by the sudden calls over the two days.

* * *

Ten days, which felt like ten years, passed, and Yeltsin, who seemed to be on the brink of death, miraculously opened his eyes.

"Ah… Father!"

"Ugh… Tanya. How long have I been unconscious?"

"Quite a while."

"Who has been running the country during this time?"

"…Father. I have something to tell you."

Yeltsin, who had struggled to sit up in bed, smiled faintly and said,

"I thought I was going to die. From now on, I'll reduce my drinking."

"Father…."

"Markar. Why is Tanya acting like this today?"

In response to Yeltsin's question, Administrative Director Markar bowed deeply.

"While you were unconscious, Candidate Zahar became president."

"Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

Tanya recounted everything that had happened.

As her story continued, Yeltsin's face hardened, and he finally shouted.

"What! Who decided to give up? What right did you have to make such an announcement?"

"We thought you had passed away. If you had really passed away, Zahar would have automatically become president, but that wouldn't have guaranteed our future."

"Even so, you treated a living person as if they were dead! This is invalid! Call the journalists immediately!"

Where did the strength come from for a person who was almost dead? Yeltsin got out of bed and continued to shout.

"What are you standing there for! Call the journalists now."

"…The journalists won't come."

"What do you mean?"

"Zahar has already taken control of the media."

Yeltsin, who had been muttering, suddenly swayed as if he had anemia and fell to the side.

He had returned to his original state less than 20 minutes after regaining consciousness.

"Father! Call the doctor. Hurry!"

"Understood."

A short while later, the doctor arrived, examined Yeltsin's eyes and body, and shook his head.

"It seems he has had another heart attack. And…."

"And what?"

"He also seems to have had a stroke due to the shock."

"Then what will happen?"

"…It will be difficult for him to survive the night. I'm sorry."

Tanya slumped into her seat.

In the original history, he lived until 2007, but the shock of Tanya's words and the changed situation altered Yeltsin's fate.

Thus, Yeltsin left a small name in Russian history and departed quietly.

The next day, news of Yeltsin's death spread throughout Russia.

Regardless, as he had been the President of Russia, Zahar and Nikolai visited his funeral.

A month later.

With the end of the Chechen War, Russia officially transitioned to the regime of President-elect Zahar.

"Grandfather, or rather, Mr. President. The money Yeltsin hid is considerable, right?"

"It's enormous. That money will be a great help in rebuilding the country. Take charge and manage it well."

"Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll multiply it by tens or hundreds of times."

Nikolai had now become a person with a grandfather as the president.

'Now I can work freely.'

This was the beginning of Nikolai's unimpeded journey.