dvedev still wore that sa genial expression.
“But if I may ask, what brings you here...?”
“Ah, Putin said he felt bad for not paying enough attention to his guest and asked to go in his place.”
Apparently, dvedev had co at Putin’s request.
“But why are you out on the terrace? You should be inside, enjoying the food and talking with people. It’s not every day you get an opportunity like this.”
“I just had a headache, so I stepped out for so air.”
“Well, that can happen if you’re not used to these kinds of events. Would you care to co inside with ? It’s a party, after all.”
I followed him without protest.
Earning so goodwill wasn’t a bad thing.
“Let’s go.”
As we stepped back into the hall, all eyes turned to us.
dvedev casually picked up a glass of wine and handed it to .
“Honestly, I don’t enjoy anything that’s not vodka, but since it’s all wine here, it’s a little dull.”
We clinked glasses lightly and began chatting, and the stares around us felt like they were burning into my cheeks.
“It was like this earlier too... All these languages flying around. No wonder I got a headache.”
“It’s probably best not to try to understand everything. But your Russian is excellent. I’d believe it if you said it was your mother tongue.”
“I worked hard at it. Thank you.”
Pleased with my language skills, dvedev bead.
“What are you two talking about that’s so amusing?”
“Mr. Kim, let introduce you. This is Minister Sergey Solomatin, our Minister of Industry.”
“A pleasure to et you. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
“Oh! You’re the businessman who invested in Russia last year. What an honor to et you. I’m Sergey Solomatin.”
Solomatin smiled warmly and extended a hand first.
“Russia is an attractive place to invest in.”
“Thank you. Not all businessn feel the sa, though. Please help us promote that more.”
“I’ll do my best, however modestly.”
After that, Russian politicians and officials kept coming by, recognizing dvedev and sneaking glances at .
Politics is a living organism.
Everyone knew dvedev, who once served under Putin during his Saint Petersburg mayoral days, was about to enter the heart of power.
Thanks to dvedev staying by my side, I was able to et and greet high-ranking guests not just from Russia, but across Europe.
At so point, dvedev noticed soone and said,
“Please wait here for a mont. I’ll be right back.”
He disappeared quickly, leaving to look around on my own.
As soon as dvedev was gone, the gazes evaporated like magic.
I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.
“Bored, Chief?”
“Not at all.”
After speaking Russian and English nonstop, I really felt like speaking Korean again.
Chief Ma leaned in and whispered softly in Korean.
“That dvedev guy... he seems pretty influential in Russia.”
“He’ll beco one of Putin’s closest allies. Other countries don’t really know who Putin is yet.”
They’re probably still figuring out where to form alliances.
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk?”
Then soone addressed in Chinese.
“Yes, that’s .”
“Just as I heard—your Chinese is excellent.”
I instantly recognized the face. It was Wen Jiabao, one of China’s Vice Premiers.
“And you are?”
I asked as if I didn’t know.
“I’m Wen Jiabao, Vice Premier of China.”
“Ah, a pleasure to et you. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
“I’ve heard of you for so ti. It’s good to finally et.”
How the hell does he know ?
Then he leaned in just enough so only I could hear him.
“i Hong.”
“...”
Wen Jiabao smiled from ear to ear.
“...Goddamn it. What the hell is this supposed to be?”
“You must think lightly of China. You just told the Vice Premier that you’re annoyed.”
“And you’re smiling here? So you were the Chinese power figure behind i Hong all along?”
“Who knows?”
This bastard was playing gas.
“I don’t even care. I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Please leave.”
“Hmm... It seems you’re not interested in doing business in China. Isn’t Peregrine your company?”
“Is that a threat? Do whatever you want. I’ll pull out of Hong Kong. Doesn’t have to be there.”
That smug face—God, I wanted to punch it.
“What are you two talking about?”
dvedev had returned and slipped smoothly between us.
“Ah, Professor dvedev. It’s been a while. Since we t in Saint Petersburg, right?”
“About half a year, I think. But what were you discussing with Mr. Kim? Do you know each other?”
“Hahaha, just a brief acquaintance.”
“Hmm...”
dvedev glanced sideways at my stiff face.
Then turned back to Wen Jiabao with a smile and said,
“Vice Premier, Mr. Kim is here as a guest of Pri Minister Putin.”
Wen Jiabao’s smile instantly vanished.
dvedev added with a pointed look,
“I would appreciate it if you showed him proper respect.”
But that didn’t last long.
Wen Jiabao smiled again and waved his hand.
“Haha. I didn’t realize. My apologies.”
“No need. Please leave now.”
“I’ll be in touch another ti.”
He didn’t even wait for a response and disappeared into the crowd.
Once he was gone, dvedev turned back to .
“Is sothing going on?”
“I t him for the first ti today.”
“Your expression says otherwise.”
“I’m fine. Thank you for stepping in.”
It was unexpected that dvedev would intervene so openly.
“The Pri Minister should be out soon. The private etings took longer than expected.”
Though it was a party, Putin had been holding one-on-one etings with figures from powerful countries.
Because of that, he hadn’t shown his face once in the hall—an awkward situation for a guest of honor.
“I understand.”
“He’ll probably set up a separate eting with you after the party.”
“Really?”
“He seed like he had sothing to ask and sothing to offer. You’ll hear the details directly.”
“Got it.”
At that mont, the large doors at one end of the hall opened, and Putin entered.
He walked confidently across the floor, took the mic on the podium at the center.
“My apologies. This is my own Pri Minister inauguration party, yet I arrive late. How shaful.”
He opened with an apology.
“I am ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Vladimir Putin, newly appointed Pri Minister of Russia. I imagine many of you are curious about . So of you know , so don’t. Until recently, I was Director of the FSB. You’ve all heard of the KGB, I’m sure. But we’re not the devils other countries make us out to be. Do I look like a devil?”
His joke drew laughter from Russian officials and politicians—but not from foreign guests.
“The economic crisis in Russia will soon be over. To the honored guests here, I hope you will return to your countries and discuss investing in Russia. A friend in need is a friend indeed, wouldn’t you say?”
He was nothing like the man I’d t last year.
Now, he radiated confidence—starting to resemble a modern tsar of Russia, bowing to no one.
After finishing his speech, Putin stepped down and began greeting guests.
There were so many attendees that he could only offer quick greetings as he passed.
“Thank you for coming. The trip wasn’t too difficult, I hope?”
“Thanks to your invitation, I’m enjoying the drinks and the atmosphere.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Let’s talk more later. For now, enjoy the party a bit longer.”
“Understood, Pri Minister.”
People in the hall subtly widened their eyes at how casually and warmly Putin spoke to .
He smiled with ease. No one could tell whether it was real or staged—but they were all watching closely, glancing between us.
“See you later, then.”
Putin shook my hand and gave my shoulder a friendly pat as he passed. It was a stark contrast to his stiffness the last ti we t.
Then he left the hall again—his etings weren’t done yet.
“The Pri Minister seems to really like you, Mr. Kim.”
“Does he?”
“Yes. He’s not soone who smiles like that. As a forr KGB man, he’s a master at hiding emotion.”
Once he was gone, the hall erupted again in a cacophony of languages.
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk.”
The Foreign Minister approached.
dvedev tilted his head, not recognizing him, and looked at .
“He’s the Foreign Minister of South Korea. Let introduce you.”
I couldn’t ignore it, so I did the honors.
“Ah, I didn’t recognize you. I’m dvedev, currently a professor at the university. A pleasure.”
“I’m Kim Hyungil, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. Nice to et you.”
“With people like Mr. Kim here, I’m sure Korea will overco its economic crisis in no ti. Enviable.”
Sensing an opening, Minister Kim made his move.
“By the way, Professor dvedev...”
“Yes?”
“I’d like a bit of private ti with the Pri Minister. Could you pass along the ssage?”
“Hm...”
Both dvedev and the Minister looked at .
‘God, stop bothering .’
With a sigh, I added,
“...It seems the Minister hasn’t been able to arrange a eting. I’d appreciate it if you could ask the Pri Minister to spare just a little ti—for my sake.”
“Understood. Please wait a mont.”
While dvedev went to relay the request, I was left alone with the Minister. The ambassador was nowhere to be seen.
“Thank you for speaking on my behalf.”
“You ca all the way here and still couldn’t arrange a eting? Isn’t the communication channel working?”
“There are just so many countries requesting ti. We got pushed back.”
That was Korea’s reality.
They prided themselves on being an economic powerhouse, but to nations like Russia and the U.S., they were still just a small country in the Far East.
It honestly disgusted .
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
“I nearly missed the chance to deliver the President’s letter. Even a brief mont with the Pri Minister would be enough.”
“A personal letter?”
“Yes.”
“You brought a letter from the President himself and still couldn’t get a eting?”
“There were so issues with inter-ministry coordination...”
I’d just seen the North Korean delegation heading in earlier.
Clearly, sothing had gone wrong between the Russian and Korean foreign ministries.
“Let’s wait and see.”
Ti passed awkwardly.
“Soone will be here shortly. It won’t be long, but you’ll get your eting.”
When dvedev returned with the news, Minister Kim’s face lit up.
“Thank you, Professor dvedev.”
“Thank Mr. Kim, not . The schedule was already full, but the Pri Minister made room because Mr. Kim asked.”
“Thank you, Mr. Kim. I’ll report this to the President when I return.”
“I’m glad I could help. I hope the rest of your trip goes well.”
Watching Kim walk away, I swallowed the annoyance rising inside .
More and more guests were starting to leave the increasingly noisy hall.
“You may go now, Mr. Kim.”
Soon after, dvedev escorted to the room where Putin was waiting.
Putin stood up and welcod warmly.
“Mr. Kim, good to see you.”
“Likewise, Pri Minister.”
“Please, have a seat. dvedev, don’t let anyone in.”
“Yes, sir.”
With dvedev gone, it was just and Putin.
“Did you enjoy the party?”
“Thanks to you, yes.”
“I don’t have much ti, so let get straight to the point.”
What Putin brought up next was sothing I hadn’t seen coming at all.
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