Chapter 74

**The Bear's Soup is Now My Story 74**

074 Entering the Energy Hegemony Nations / The Start of the Final Showdown

Summer had arrived in mid-August in Moscow. People's clothing had already become shorter, and fountains in the squares of each city were spouting water. Teenagers, their faces flushed pink, were riding bicycles in the square and refreshing themselves at the water fountains.

Nikolai watched as Sonya ran around following the water jets rising from the ground and spoke. "How was Google?"

"It was well made," Sonya replied.

Ilya, also looking at Sonya, continued, "It seemed to have excellent accessibility as it was in English and had a search method similar to Yandex. The number of users is also growing rapidly."

In the original history, Google appeared in September 1998, one year after Yandex. However, in this timeline, it opened on July 25, 1997. Yandex also appeared a year earlier than in the original history, thanks to Nikolai's intervention.

Sergey and Larry Page, perhaps inspired by Yandex, created a model with high completeness, and despite not even a month passing, the number of Google users was growing explosively.

"A few days ago, I talked to Sergey, and he said that if the number of users continues to grow at this rate, they could go public in a year and a half."

In the original history, Google went public in 2004. However, a year and a half from now would be around January 1999, just a year before the dot-com bubble (IT bubble) burst. This presented an unexpected opportunity for Nikolai.

If he sells his 30% stake before the bubble bursts, he could make a huge profit here as well. A thin smile appeared on his lips.

"The timing is good. IT stocks are rising now."

"I agree. IT stocks have been rising for the past year."

"Surprising, but it's good for us."

Indeed, it would fill his pockets.

For the number of internet users to grow rapidly, the most important thing was the internet cable network. Although it took a few years, the results were now showing, and Nikolai was satisfied with that.

"By the end of this year, cables will be laid in other cities, so the number of Yandex users will increase. Even more so when it includes the independent countries later."

"You're right. But now we need to create a revenue model for Yandex."

As server usage increased sharply, costs were also rising proportionally. It was time to create a revenue model, as Ilya suggested.

"Have you thought about it?"

"I've organized it separately in the office. I'll show it to you when we go in."

"Let's do that."

"And about the Black Hole shopping mall. We're recruiting business owners, but there are still limits. Most business owners are quite old and not familiar with the internet."

"Delivery volumes are still minimal..."

"Yes. People who have received deliveries from the shopping mall are satisfied, but it's not easy to get them to make their first transaction."

Not only Russians but people from other countries are used to going to stores and buying things by touching them.

"Maybe running TV home shopping alongside it would be good."

Nikolai, thinking of a way to speed up the process, got up from the long wooden chair and patted his buttocks.

"Let's go to the office and talk. Shall we go in?"

"Yes, I'll bring Sonya."

Ilya also stood up and called out to where his daughter was.

"Sonya!"

Sonya, who had been chasing the water jets like a mole game, smiled brightly at her father's call.

"Daddy!"

"Let's go!"

A rainbow wrapped in diamond-like water droplets. Below it, Sonya, wearing a forsythia-colored skirt, was incredibly beautiful. Recalling the childhood memory that treasures are hidden at the end of the rainbow, Nikolai planned to create his own treasures.

* * *

Gum Department Store, Black Hole CEO Office.

After scanning through the materials Ilya showed as a way to generate revenue, Nikolai felt that the ideas of geniuses are similar.

'This is the method Google used to collect advertising fees, isn't it?'

He knew Ilya was brilliant, but he didn't expect him to think this far. Indeed, recruiting him from the beginning was a stroke of genius.

"What do you think?"

"It's very good. Let's proceed with this method. Although we won't see profits for a while, I think the effects will become apparent over time."

"Thank you, sir."

"If you have any more ideas like this, please let me know. If I think it's good, we'll proceed immediately."

"Understood."

Ilya, pleased to be recognized by Nikolai, clenched his fist.

Nikolai, looking at the employees who were engrossed in their work, felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Our company has grown a lot. Thinking back to when we started with an office behind the house, have I been giving you too much work?"

"Not at all."

Ilya emphatically waved his hands.

"No, I haven't forgotten the time I spent with Sonya in the container. When I was beaten and covered in blood by loan sharks, you saved me, didn't you?"

"...That happened."

"You not only saved us but also let us live with you and allowed me to do the work I wanted to do. Now, you've made me the head of the IT department of Russia's top IT company. What could be difficult?"

"I'm glad you think so."

"Really. My life is divided into before and after meeting you. If I hadn't met you in the container back then..."

Ilya shivered, even though it was mid-summer, as he recalled that time.

"From now on, only good things will happen. I'll make sure of it."

"I believe you 100%. I've seen with my own eyes how you've built your business."

Ilya, following Sasha, was the 'lifetime regular employee number 2,' so he had a strong belief.

For reference, 'number 3' is Denis, and 'number 4' is Victoria.

'It's time to create a 'number 5'.'

Nikolai had already thought about expanding further in the IT sector, so he decided to do it this time.

"Call the team leaders. I have a few ideas I want to discuss with them."

"I'll announce it."

After Ilya's voice echoed through the department store, 20 team leaders entered the CEO's office a short while later.

Although he could have told Ilya directly, it was necessary to gather everyone occasionally to foster a sense of belonging and show that they were recognized at Black Hole.

"Make Yandex usable for people in the Arab and Middle Eastern regions."

"...!"

"In the future, Yandex must enter all countries that do not use English. The first step is the Arab and Middle Eastern countries."

Yandex will dominate the world, just like Google.

If a dual system of Google and Yandex is established, there won't be any worries even if one side has problems.

Moreover, with Yahoo, the operation will be even more stable.

"Is it difficult to create it?"

"No. It won't be difficult if we hire experts in that region. Then, after the Arab and Middle Eastern regions, where will the second step be?"

Second step?

Honestly, he hadn't thought about the second step yet, but a country came to mind.

"China, with the largest population, might be good, right?"

India, the second most populous country, uses a lot of English, so Google can enter there.

"Ah, that sounds good."

"Then, the rest of the team should focus on this. Everyone understand?"

"Yes!"

Everyone answered energetically because the CEO had personally given the order.

Nikolai had a reason for choosing the Arab and Middle Eastern regions.

In the future, energy hegemony nations will have more influence. Therefore, securing internet search users in the Arab and Middle Eastern regions, where oil-producing countries are concentrated, will be a significant boost to the business Nikolai is conducting.

* * *

In 1997, a cold wind swept across South Korea.

January 27: Hanbo Group, 14th in the business world, declared bankruptcy.

March 19: Sammi Group, 26th in the business world, declared bankruptcy.

April 21: Jinro Group declared bankruptcy.

May 15: Samlip Foods declared bankruptcy.

May 19: Daenong Foods (parent company of Midopa) declared bankruptcy.

May 31: Hanjin Public declared bankruptcy.

July 15: Kia Group declared bankruptcy.

The news only mentioned well-known companies, but 100 small and medium-sized enterprises were going bankrupt every day.

The domino effect of corporate bankruptcies, which began in January, continued until August, causing business owners and employees to shiver even in the summer.

Despite the situation, the Blue House and the Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy showed confidence, stating that South Korea's economic scale was different from that of other East Asian countries.

However, this was just the beginning.

In the original history, the hell began on December 3, 1997, when South Korea requested emergency financial assistance from the IMF. The real hell started in 1998.

Even a day before the IMF agreement on December 2, 1997, the Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy said there was nothing to worry about.

The South Korean people believed him.

While politicians' lies are not new, this was too much.

The crisis that started in Thailand and spread to Indonesia and other countries was about three months away from landing in South Korea.

At this time, Nikolai was planning to cap the East Asian financial crisis.

* * *

Elliott Management Hong Kong Branch.

Harrison was meeting with representatives of other speculative forces.

"Is everything going well?"

"The State Department has decided not to provide financial support to Korea, and Japan has also recalled all short-term loans."

"Then the game is practically over, isn't it?"

In response to the chief manager of Tiger Fund's question, Harrison smiled sardonically.

"Still, it's too early to relax since the game isn't over yet."

"Indeed, you're thorough. So, we just wait for Elliott's signal?"

"Yes. We will see significant profits again this time."

"Ha ha. Wouldn't it be great if life were always like this?"

They were as confident that they would win in Korea as they had in Thailand and Indonesia.

* * *

Moscow Kremlin.

Nikolai began briefing President Zahir and Chief of Staff Sergey on the current East Asian crisis.

After listening to the entire story, President Zahir asked, "You mean Elliott and Soros's Quantum Fund, and Robertson's Tiger Fund, are leading the speculative forces and pulling in more players?"

"Yes."

"Is the amount of money they are moving that large?"

"They can bankrupt a country. As you know, Thailand and Indonesia suffered the most significant damage from them."

"Hmm..."

While President Zahir was thinking, Chief of Staff Sergey asked, "If we get involved, we will inevitably have to fight them. To do that, don't we need to redirect our funds to another place?"

If the Russian government moves, it won't look good.

So, it needs to go through another country.

Sergey was right.

Since they are American companies, there's no need to reveal that the funds are from Russia.

"Through Black Hole Investment in the UK."

"Even if we do that, won't it be revealed later?"

"Black Hole Investment is an investment company. We can claim that the investment funds come from various parts of the world. Only Dennis and I will know that the funds are from Russia."

Even if they found out, it wouldn't matter.

Whether the funds are from the US or Russia, what does it matter?

By then, everything will be over.

"That's true. As long as there's no evidence that Russia moved directly."

"Exactly. And the Korean government will release dollars to counter the speculative forces, so we will have a significant advantage in funds."

Sergey thought for a moment and then asked President Zahir, "This is a plan we can't lose. What do you think, Father?"

"Hmm. I've thought deeply about it, and I don't think Nikolai's plan will go wrong. I agree."

"I also agree."

With the two of them agreeing, it was decided.

"If this plan succeeds, we will earn an amount that can't be compared to what we earned in Thailand and Indonesia."

"Wow."

"How much did they earn in those two countries, and you say it can't be compared?"

"We will take all the money they earned in those two countries and the money they originally had."

While doing this, Nikolai was already planning the next step.

To make this money grow again in the dot-com bubble (IT bubble).