Chapter 60

The Bear Kingdom is Now Mine Chapter 60

060 I Believe in Your Abilities / The Problem Solver

Nikolai and Denis re-entered the Apple headquarters. The two could sense how much Gil Amelio, the CEO, had agonized over the matter from his haggard face.

"As discussed, we have agreed to transfer 45% of the shares for $900 million. The board members will repay the company's debts."

"I understand how difficult this decision must have been. I will not spare any support to help Apple regain its name."

"Thank you."

While Gil Amelio and the board representative expressed their gratitude, Nikolai had a different picture in mind.

"You've worked hard. Now, take a good rest."

The parties involved spent three hours meticulously reviewing every detail before finally signing the contract.

If the acquisition payment was not deposited within 15 days, the contract would be null and void.

However, he had already heard from Yuri Yusupov that the payment would be made within seven days.

"Well, then, I'll soon become Apple's largest shareholder."

"That's right."

"Before I leave, may I ask you for one favor?"

"Of course. What is it?"

Nikolai decided to completely overhaul Apple.

Just like the saying, "New wine in new wineskins."

"To do that, we need new people."

The person who founded Apple and brought it to its current success.

We need to remove those who chased him away and put him back in the CEO position.

Only then can we continue writing Apple's legend.

"Please set up a meeting with Steve Jobs. As soon as possible."

"…!?"

* * *

A restaurant in Silicon Valley.

Nikolai had only seen Steve Jobs in photos and videos on the internet; this was the first time he was meeting him in person.

Jobs, who had left Apple to found 'NeXT,' was now 41 years old.

He looked much younger than when he appeared on stage to introduce the iPhone despite his battle with illness.

"I've heard about it, but…."

Steve Jobs looked at him with interest.

Nikolai knew a lot about Jobs, but Jobs knew nothing about him.

The information gap was a source of power.

Nikolai smiled and said, "I won't beat around the bush."

"…?"

"Please lead Apple again."

"…!"

"Who knows Apple better than the person who created it?"

"When you were kicked out…."

It was well-known at Apple that Steve Jobs had many conflicts with the former CEO due to his autocratic behavior.

He incited the board members to rebel but faced a backlash and left Apple.

"I heard that you tried to oust the former CEO but failed, leading to this situation?"

"…."

"And I didn't kick you out."

"That's not what you told me."

"I understand there were differences in our positions. I don't care about that. Take charge of Apple and do as you please. You can even replace the entire management team."

"…Why are you doing this for me?"

"I'm an investor. I just want to entrust my investment to the person who can make the company grow the most. There are no other reasons."

This was a first for Steve Jobs, and he was somewhat taken aback.

It was surprising enough that a man in his mid-20s had become Apple's new owner, but to entrust everything to him?

He thought for a moment, wondering if he should take it at face value, and then started asking questions.

"Are you really saying I can run it as I see fit?"

"Do as you wish."

Dennis, who had been listening to their conversation, was burning with frustration, opposite to Nikolai.

How much money did he pour in to entrust the entire operation to someone else? Not just entrust, but let him do as he pleased.

He wanted to intervene immediately but decided to observe further.

"Still, there must be some conditions, right?"

"Of course, there are a few conditions."

"Please, go on."

"Major decisions need to be discussed with me. I won't oppose them without reason. Second, there will be companies I want you to collaborate with, and I hope you will follow my advice. And lastly…."

The first two conditions were not really conditions.

They were matters that the owner of the company could naturally demand, but when Nikolai called them conditions, Steve Jobs became even more confused.

"Acquire NeXT."

"Excuse me?"

"Exactly as I said. Acquire it and run it alongside Apple."

"While that would be good for me…."

"But don't set the acquisition price too high."

"…Why are you doing this?"

Steve Jobs suspected there might be a trap.

Anyone in his situation would have thought it strange.

However, Nikolai always spoke succinctly.

"I believe in your abilities."

People who lack confidence and knowledge tend to speak at length.

Conversely, those who are confident and knowledgeable speak simply and concisely.

Like Apple's famous advertising slogan, "Simple is best."

Steve Jobs changed his mind.

There was no harm in him running Apple, and this was what he wanted.

Just as the saying goes, "A man will lay down his life for the one who recognizes his worth," he had nothing more to say.

"Understood. I appreciate your trust in my abilities."

"If there's anything important, please inform Dennis here. He'll contact me immediately."

"I will do that."

It was a satisfying outcome for everyone.

Well, Dennis had some complaints, but he ultimately trusted Nikolai's judgment.

He knew Nikolai wouldn't pour such a large amount of money without a plan.

Nikolai, who had risen from his seat, extended his hand first.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, so I'll leave it in your capable hands."

"I'll handle it well."

"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot one thing."

"…?"

"Under any circumstances, you must undergo a comprehensive health check every three months, focusing on cancer and liver health."

Nikolai didn't know the exact year, but he knew Steve Jobs would die of pancreatic cancer and had undergone a liver transplant.

When he died, it became a global issue, and he had come across this information during his days as a journalist.

"What do you mean…?"

"Your body is too important to the company. It's my philosophy, so please follow it."

Steve Jobs, who distrusted modern medicine and was extremely averse to surgery, readily agreed because it was a health check and because Nikolai was thinking of him.

"It's for my own good, so I should be the one thanking you. I will do it."

In the original timeline, Jobs could have survived if he had only had surgery when his cancer was detected, as his cancer cells and normal DNA were arranged side by side.

There were only 20 people in the world with such genetic characteristics.

So, today was the day Jobs' fate was completely changed.

"Then, we'll talk again by phone next time."

Their first meeting ended, but this meeting would have a significant impact on many aspects of the world.

In the future, Apple, with a market capitalization of $3 trillion.

In the original timeline, based on the GDP of countries during Nikolai's journalist days, Apple's market capitalization was the sixth-largest in the world, after the UK.

Below that were France, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Russia, and South Korea.

A single company's value ranked sixth among countries.

Apple.

Nikolai was the true owner of Apple.

* * *

"Are you also planning to do this in China?"

Nikolai, who received a call from the White House, met with President Clinton for a while.

Most of their conversation revolved around Gazprom, with the key issue being how far the gas pipeline would extend.

"Chairman Jiang Zemin personally requested this, and I judged it to be acceptable."

"Hmm…."

Russia was currently maintaining good relations with the United States, but China was keeping its doors tightly shut.

President Clinton seemed either unhappy about supplying cheap energy to such a China or had other reasons, but Nikolai spoke openly.

"You mean to extend it to Europe, primarily through Germany?"

"Yes."

"I heard that oil has been discovered in the Chechen Republic. Do you plan to build a pipeline there as well?"

"I intend to if possible."

"I see. Understood."

Energy resources are directly linked to national power, so Clinton's sensitive reaction was not surprising.

Nikolai, after meeting Clinton, reaffirmed his commitment.

To make as many countries as possible dependent on Russia's gas and oil.

* * *

The "World Ball" lottery also rolled over to the second round.

With the prize money more than doubling, global interest grew even more.

While other countries could only buy tickets online, Russia had physical sales outlets, leading to a disproportionately high number of Russian buyers.

Consequently, the number of second-prize winners was also the highest.

As soon as Nikolai returned to Moscow, he headed to Yuri Yusupov's house with his parents.

"You must be tired from the trip from the US. You could have come tomorrow."

"I slept a lot on the plane, so I'm fine."

"Did everything go well in the US?"

"I wrapped it up well."

"That's a relief. The payment will be made in three days."

"Thank you."

"You mentioned Apple?"

"Yes."

"I did some research, and it seems to be a company with many issues. I was a bit worried about the large investment, but I believed you would handle it well."

Yuri Yusupov had not only researched Apple but also closely examined the situations in Indonesia and Thailand.

He intuitively felt that the current situation was similar to Russia's economic crisis a few years ago.

If Nikolai was showing such movements, he was certain.

He believed the same outcome would result.

In addition to borrowing from Indonesian and Thai banks using Gazprom as collateral, he also took out a loan using the Unicorn Group as collateral.

It would be fine as long as Nikolai repaid the loan when he paid back the acquisition funds.

After finishing his conversation with Nikolai, Yuri turned to his daughter-in-law Maria.

"Being the First Lady must be hectic, right?"

"I don't have any special duties. I just take care of the parts my father-in-law can't."

"Your in-laws must be lonely, so visit them often."

"Yes, Father."

"And Ivan, when do you plan to open the GUM department store?"

"I discussed it with Nikolai, and we think November would be good, like with U-Mart."

"That sounds like a good idea. However, I do have some doubts about whether a department store will be profitable given the current economic situation in Russia. But I trust you and Nikolai."

"Not all of it will be a department store. Some parts will be converted for other uses, so there shouldn't be any major issues."

There were over 1,200 department stores nationwide, so he planned to use them for various purposes.

"That's good. You know that the acquisition payment for GUM is being paid in installments, right?"

When there was no one to buy GUM, Yeltsin sold it to the Unicorn Group with the condition that it could be paid in installments.

"I know."

"Since you are the CEO of the department store, you will be responsible for the payments."

"Of course."

"I plan to gradually transfer some of the group's subsidiaries. Some will go to Yegor. And…."

Yuri thought of his third son, Anton, but shook his head.

'That guy is a lost cause. It would be better to leave it to my grandchildren.'

The side effects of his reckless behavior in his youth began to show as he aged.

While there were no immediate issues, he knew his body was gradually losing strength.

That's why he wanted to prepare for the future.

When a shadow fell over Yuri Yusupov's face, Victoria, who had come with them, playfully held his hand.

"Grandpa, can we stay here tonight?"

"Of course. You can stay anytime."

Despite her age, she was still his granddaughter, and Yuri's expression immediately softened.

* * *

The next day, Nikolai received a call from President Zahir and entered the Kremlin.

"You have another problem to solve."

Zahir now thought of Nikolai as a problem solver.

"What is it?"

"Take a look at this."

Nikolai smiled with satisfaction when he saw what was on the table.