Though Chief Ma’s n handled part of my protection in Russia, most of it was Igor and his subordinates.
But the fact that they failed to prevent information from leaking—and worse, failed to grasp it at all—left bitterly disappointed.
“Igor, I entrusted my life to you. Not in so other country, but here in Russia. Russian mafia don’t just have small arms, they fire anti-tank weapons. And yet you didn’t know of a terror plan? Were you planning to say after I was killed that you hadn’t known?”
“My apologies, boss.”
The reception room fell under a heavy chill. Fluster written across his face, dvedev hurried to smooth things over.
“President Kim, we only learned of it recently ourselves. It took quite so ti to confirm the intel. We only confird it as fact yesterday. But by then you were already en route to Moscow. There wasn’t an opportunity to inform Igor.”
“······dvedev. This is my life on the line.”
Sensing my anger, dvedev spoke steadily, eting my gaze.
“I understand. That is why we even deployed ard police for your protection. Igor is communicating with us regularly. Normally your security is coordinated with him. But this ti it broke out suddenly, and we couldn’t reach him. Please don’t scold him too harshly. It makes feel guilty.”
Because of dvedev, I decided to let it rest—for now.
Showing more anger when he spoke this way would do no good. I exhaled deeply, running a hand through my hair, and asked:
“dvedev, who else knows this information?”
“Putin does. He was furious—at the audacity of anyone daring to attempt such a thing in Russia.”
“Please make sure Igor receives this information. I cannot rely on Russian police protection indefinitely.”
dvedev nodded, pulled out his phone, and made a short call.
After ending it, he turned to Igor, still bowing his head.
“Branch Chief Igor.”
“Yes, Chief dvedev.”
“I’ve spoken with the Minister of Internal Affairs. Contact him and receive the intel.”
“Thank you.”
Turning back to , dvedev bowed slightly.
“We’ll give Branch Chief Igor all the information we have.”
“Understood. And thank you, Chief dvedev.”
I smiled at him, then looked to Igor, still lowering his head. The quiet anger in my voice made his tension clear.
“Igor, redo the entire security plan. Report to Chief Ma when it’s complete.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Leave us.”
“Yes, boss.”
Igor exited the reception room. Silence hung for a mont before dvedev spoke.
“President Kim, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the Soviet military valued pride above life itself. Don’t push him too far.”
“This isn’t about pride. This is my life. If President Putin were attacked while attending an event, would anyone in the cabinet—yourself included—survive?”
“······.”
Best case, they’d just be stripped of office. Worst case, they’d sip tea laced with radiation and waste away, or else take a bullet to the forehead.
“Igor will have learned from this. During my stay in Russia, Chief Ma does not interfere in security matters at all. That much is already consideration for Igor. But this was his mistake. He relied too much on FSB intel and didn’t gather separate sources. Anyway, it’s done. Let’s move on.”
Seeing dvedev nod, I dropped ice into my empty glass and asked:
“Not many people knew I’d be eting Mogilevich. How did that leak reach Ivankov and Usoyan?”
“We’re still investigating. Nothing is confird yet, but we suspect FSB or police informants among their ranks.”
His vague reply made pause, fixing him with a look. He grew embarrassed and apologized in a small voice. I shook my head.
“This isn’t sothing for you to apologize for, dvedev.”
“Still, the leak ca from our side. It only shows how deeply the mafia’s claws remain in governnt. This ti, I intend to thoroughly destroy any mafia opposing the state.”
“You’re planning to restart the mafia war?”
“Many mafia groups friendly to the governnt have shifted most of their business to legal fronts. But we can’t guarantee there won’t be others planning sothing like this again.”
Putin had declared war on the mafia, but in reality, most governnt-friendly syndicates had survived. It was less a war on cri than a purge of mafias tied to rival oligarchs.
“Putin said Russia must shed the disgrace of being a ‘mafia state’ like in Yeltsin’s era. He intends to start with the police. The FSB was already preparing such work when the intel about your assassination attempt arrived. That will likely serve as the trigger.”
So that was why they had paraded police so openly at the airport. I smiled, raising my glass toward him.
“Understood. Thank you for your concern.”
“Ha ha, not at all. You are Russia’s friend, President Kim.”
dvedev clinked his glass with mine. We downed the vodka and resud our talk.
“President Kim, can’t you cancel the eting with Mogilevich?”
“······.”
My smile vanished instantly, face hardening. Yet dvedev pressed on.
“The mafia, when profits are at stake, will even target governnt officials with terror.”
“dvedev, are you telling to hide like a frightened rat because of mafia threats?”
“That’s not what I ant······.”
His lips parted, but I cut him off firmly.
“The mont I yield to mafia threats, they’ll see as easy prey. The eting with Mogilevich will proceed. Don’t say that again.”
“I only say it because I’m worried for you.”
“If I hadn’t known, perhaps. But now that I do, I can’t back out. And you know I’m not one to go down easily.”
Worry etched his face. Understandable—he knew better than anyone how dangerous the Russian mafia was.
“They are a force that can’t be underestimated. Practically an army. Shaful as it is, when the Soviet Union collapsed, many of its weapons ended up in mafia hands. Their firepower is on a different level than mafias elsewhere.”
“dvedev, have you forgotten who I eliminated in Moscow?”
The current balance of power was no longer the sa. With Ivanov—the siloviki’s leader—gone at my hand, the siloviki had lost their drive.
Putin was pitting siloviki and oligarchs against each other in loyalty contests, strengthening his own grip. Changes I had a hand in bringing.
“My rcenaries are not weak enough to be beaten by mafia. Especially the Russia branch—composed mostly of Russians, and almost all ex-special forces.”
No matter how organized the mafia, they couldn’t match a private army.
“While I’m here, expect so noise. Please bear with it.”
“······Very well. If you need help, say so. I’ll have ard police on standby. If there’s movent, I’ll inform you.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s speak of sothing else. How’s the Russian economy? Oil prices seem to be rising, so conditions should be improving sowhat.”
“It’s better than before, but still far. Our dependence on natural resources remains a problem.”
I changed the subject openly, and dvedev didn’t press further.
After thinking a mont, I swirled my glass and spoke.
“For now oil prices will continue to climb. You know the U.S. is preparing for war in Iraq, yes?”
“Of course. It’s giving us headaches too. The UN just held fierce debate over it. Everyone agreed the Afghanistan invasion was retribution for terror, but Iraq has crossed the line. We cannot accept it.”
“And Putin’s stance is against it as well?”
“Yes. He said Russia will never support this war.”
As expected. Putin opposed the Iraq war.
I rubbed my chin, considering.
‘But if Russia supported it and the UN resolution passed······?’
After a brief thought, I spoke. If war was inevitable, one should seize the gains.
“Still, for Russia’s national interest, this war is an opportunity. Even if the Security Council blocks it, the U.S. will lead allies into invasion.”
dvedev’s face stiffened, nodding grimly. Hearing it aloud must have been unpleasant.
“You’re right. Right now, no one can stop the U.S.”
“Then Russia could give its consent—and claim what it can in return. I’ll discuss this with Putin directly.”
“Do you believe the Iraq invasion has justification?”
“No. But honestly, does justification matter? Everything runs on the logic of power.”
At my words, he gave a bitter smile. Being so close to power, he understood perfectly.
“I’ll leave the details to Putin. Thank you for today, President Kim. Because of you, we learned in ti.”
“Ha ha, not at all.”
“I’d like to return the favor. What should I offer you······.”
“No, your goodwill is enough.”
“That won’t do. Before I leave Moscow, I’ll prepare you a gift. Look forward to it.”
He tried to refuse, but a third rejection was unlikely. With a broad smile, dvedev rose.
“Then I’ll be going.”
I rose with him, offering my hand.
“See you at the Kremlin.”
Without hesitation, dvedev clasped my hand firmly.
When I returned inside after seeing him off, the smile had already vanished from my face.
“Igor.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Don’t trust the Russian governnt too much. Today proved it again. They withheld information not for lack of ti, but to earn credit with . That excuse was nonsense.”
Instead of deploying police to escort , they could have simply handed the intel to Igor.
It was nothing but a cheap ploy to create a debt.
Putin never bothered with such tricks. Which ant it was dvedev’s handiwork.
“That’s why I scolded you so hard earlier. The only people I trust are Black Bear rcenaries. You understand ?”
“Yes, boss.”
“Work with Chief Ma. Make sure tomorrow’s schedule is unaffected. I’ll rest now.”
I patted Igor’s shoulder and headed to my bedroom.
The next day, I departed to et Mogilevich.
“How long will it take?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“Oh? I thought it was closer.”
“Normally it would be just ten, but today advance teams are scouting for security.”
I couldn’t complain at that. I simply nodded.
“This was Mogilevich’s hotel, correct?”
“Yes. One of the most famous in Moscow.”
“And safe?”
“No problem. No matter how reckless the mafia, they won’t strike so close to the Kremlin. Still, we obtained FSB approval and stationed snipers in the area.”
Before long, my car stopped.
Igor and Chief Ma got out first, checked the surroundings, and opened my door.
“Boss, you may step out.”
As I did, the first thing I saw was the Kremlin in the distance.
“The mafia godfather’s hotel has a view of the Kremlin? Interesting.”
It was certainly symbolic.
I gave a low laugh and walked toward the hotel—to et the Russian mafia godfather rumored even to possess nuclear weapons.
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