Chapter 15

Usually, the rubles in Shefov's pocket were only enough to buy a pair of military boots, about four hundred rubles. The rubles in his pocket had been there for three months, and apart from buying two ice creams a few days ago, he had almost forgotten what money was. Normally, the household expenses were managed by the women.

Every day, Valya drove him to work in the car assigned by the KGB. When the car ran out of fuel, he would directly go to the KGB's gas station to refuel. He wore the KGB-issued military uniform, ate the KGB-issued flour and sunflower oil, and used the KGB's own postal system for communication. This kind of life really didn't require much spending. After several years, Shefov had almost become a spiritual proletarian, feeling deep down that rubles seemed to have nowhere to be used.

Shefov's state was not severe. In some large state-owned enterprises, where towns were established due to production needs, the situation was even more serious. People carried out production tasks according to administrative orders, and their children went to schools in the enterprise towns. The enterprise's internal affairs department maintained public order, the enterprise's procuratorate verified cases, and the enterprise's court tried criminals. They used the enterprise's postal system, and these state-owned enterprises were directly responsible to the departments under the Soviet Council of Ministers. If it was an oil company, they would be responsible to the Ministry of Oil Industry and would not have any relationship with the local government.

Therefore, sometimes this issue would arise: a town might appear to have no difference on the surface, but in reality, it was composed of two groups of people. One part was the original residents of the town, and the other part was the employees and families of large enterprises. Such a town had two sets of government institutions with identical functions: two internal affairs departments, two procuratorates, two courts, each with their own postal system and gas stations, and they divided the land around the town.

Inside the town, the two internal affairs departments divided their jurisdiction. Sometimes, an incident on a street would be under the jurisdiction of the local government's internal affairs department if it happened on the left side of the street, and under the jurisdiction of the enterprise's internal affairs department if it happened on the right side.

Under the planned economy, this kind of life was not a problem. Society was supposed to have people working as workers and farmers. The responsible units were different, but people carried out production according to the plan. Any issues were handled by the relevant institutions, and essential living items were distributed by the units. Over time, many people encountered a problem: they had more and more rubles in their hands, but no way to spend them.

This was why, in the first few months after the Soviet Union's collapse, many people who didn't look like they had money appeared, wearing old-fashioned clothes but having large amounts of rubles to buy goods. However, that was only temporary. Soon, these ordinary people, who had never experienced capitalism, were drained of their savings accumulated over decades in the Soviet Union by the skyrocketing prices of goods.

The more densely populated the area with large enterprises, the more severe Shefov's attitude that money had no use became. After decades of this mindset, when their country suddenly collapsed, the people, who had no defense, were no match for the oligarchs. Once a socialist country collapsed, the people faced capitalists like lambs to the slaughter. With such a group of defenseless people, not exploiting them would be a betrayal of one's conscience. On the ruins of socialism, the oligarchs born would be even more brutal and shameless than their counterparts in capitalist countries.

Shefov's thoughts were very simple: as long as he lived, anyone who touched the public ownership system would die. There was no need for the Kazan prison to intervene; anyone who coveted state property should be shot on the spot. Problems with the state could be gradually resolved, but not by hoping for its immediate demise.

The premise was that he should not die young. He needed to adjust his body to match his mental state, rather than being like a stroke patient, always experiencing sudden shutdowns.

"The director's physical fitness has improved significantly. It's incredible to see such a change in just one month!" The gym of the Main Directorate of Military Administration was almost exclusively used by Shefov. The doctor, wearing a white coat and a mask, with only his eyes visible, sounded excited despite the lack of visible expression.

If Shefov were not the director and there were not two beautiful secretaries standing with their arms crossed watching the situation, he would have suspected that this doctor, whose expression was unclear, might cut him up for experimentation.

"Comrade Shefov, I want to draw some blood for research!" The doctor's words made Shefov's face change. Was he really treating him as an experimental subject? Did he want to leave the Main Directorate of Military Administration alive?

"I'm just an ordinary person; what's there to research?" Shefov calmly refused. He wasn't afraid that his blood was normal, but he was afraid it might have problems. Besides, what could an ordinary doctor research? If he could create a batch of bio-warriors to destroy America, Shefov would immediately let him draw blood.

He got up from the bed without stopping, turned to Isayevna, and asked, "What's the schedule for the afternoon?"

"Nothing. Comrades Kuznetsov and Medvedev will come tomorrow. I have already selected ten elite soldiers from the Moscow Military District, who excel in physical fitness, firearms, and willpower!" Isayevna said with a light smile, "I believe they will give our world champion some trouble!"

"Good, I'll meet these selected elites this afternoon!" Shefov said with a laugh, then turned and opened the door to the adjacent bathroom. Elite soldiers? Are they like the ones with three stars in Red Alert? Give me a Yuri's upgrade...

"Luca!" Isayevna slightly turned her head, and Luca understood and left the room to follow Shefov.

"Destroy all the test results!" Isayevna adjusted her cap and coldly ordered, "Just like before, the director's test results cannot be retained..."

"Major Isayevna, is that really necessary?" The doctor who examined Shefov took off his mask and teased, "Is the director's body a state secret?"

Isayevna slowly turned her gaze to the doctor, speaking rapidly and smoothly, "I went to the Health and Sanitation Department yesterday and took the comrades' files. You are no longer doctors at the KGB General Hospital. As my subordinates, I say destroy, and it will be destroyed, no questions asked..."

Back in his office, Shefov continued his regular sketching lessons, carefully measuring the vase by the window, waiting for the arrival of the ten elite soldiers, and meticulously drawing lines on the white paper.

"Why are you always smiling? What did you and the director do in the bathroom?" Isayevna suspiciously whispered, looking at Luca's blushing face.

"What are you talking about? This is the office! He wouldn't act improperly..." Luca squirmed, leaning close to the girl's ear, "It seems that Mrs. Valya is going to work in Ukraine, and the director will be coming home early to be with her recently..."

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