Chapter 95 – Father and Daughter [Daughter]

To that question, Siguk answered without hesitation.

“For money and power.”

The extremely honest answer instead caused a look of suspicion to appear on Ivan Ivanov’s face.

“I thought you already had enough money and power? Is one Korea not enough?”

“Yes. It’s not enough.”

“You’re quite greedy. Do you really intend to devour the whole world?”

“Anyway, there isn’t much I can dominate in the legal sphere. At best, monopolizing the Magic Stone trade within Korea is about it. But the story is different in the illegal sphere.”

“In the realm of crime, you can exert global leadership, something like that?”

“That’s correct.”

Ivan Ivanov looked at Siguk with a slight frown forming between his brows.

“Hmm…….”

With a light hum, Ivan Ivanov, who had been watching him, opened his mouth again just as Siguk finished another cup of black tea and was filling his third.

“Well, fine, let’s leave that aside. It’s not like I’m in a position to criticize someone for being excessive about their lust for power or possessiveness.”

Ivan Ivanov downed his black tea in one go, emptied his cup, refilled it anew, looked straight at Siguk, and asked.

“So, what’s in it for me?”

To that question as well, Siguk answered without hesitation.

“Sufficient funds for permanent rule are guaranteed.”

At that somewhat arrogant-sounding answer, the corners of Ivan Ivanov’s mouth subtly turned upward for a moment.

With the frown between his brows slightly eased, Ivan Ivanov asked Siguk.

“Permanent rule… Haha. Well, that’s an interesting story. Do you want to make me like Stalin?”

“As far as I know, many Russian citizens think of you, Nikolayevich, like Stalin. In a good sense, of course.”

As Siguk said, Ivan Ivanov was often publicly compared to the Soviet dictator Stalin.

While it was a negative connotation in the Western world, in Russia, it was positive.

The poverty of the 1990s following the dissolution of the USSR and the economic downturn brought on by sanctions after the 2014 annexation of Crimea had instilled in Russians a desire for strong leadership and the revival of a great power.

His predecessor, Vladimir Putin, who had passed away from cancer a few years ago, was a case of utilizing that image well, and Ivan Ivanov, though not as much as Putin, often seemed to consciously follow such a path in his actions.

“But I’m not Stalin. I can’t become that. Maybe I can’t even become like Vladimir Putin.”

Saying that, Ivan Ivanov smiled bitterly.

“With your help, I succeeded in crushing Igor Sechin’s forces in the Far East. But members of the Putin Syndicate, including Dmitry Medvedev, along with the oligarchs, still hold considerable power in Russia.”

“Still, you won the last election overwhelmingly, didn’t you? Defeating Gennady Zyuganov of the Communist Party.”

“Well, even so, this is my last term. Unless I suspend the constitution and become a real dictator like Stalin, dreaming of permanent rule like Putin is quite difficult under the current circumstances.”

Ivan Ivanov’s statement was a deliberate complaint.

As he said, it was true that the Putin Syndicate within Russia—the combined entity of the Putin regime’s power brokers and the oligarchs—exerted strong influence.

But ultimately, they were merely byproducts of the previous regime.

Even before successfully securing re-election, Ivan Ivanov had been weeding out their power within the regime one by one, and such purges were still ongoing.

In a normal democratic country, it might be different, but Ivan Ivanov’s earlier statement was based on a premise that, at least within Russia, didn’t hold water.

However, Siguk didn’t bother to point that out.

Instead, he began to persuade him, matching Ivan Ivanov’s rhythm.

“That’s why it’s necessary. Sufficient funds for permanent rule.”

Ivan Ivanov smiled and picked up his teacup.

Siguk continued.

“Anyway, no matter what fight you’re in, what you ultimately need is funds. No matter how great your ideas and talent are, you can’t win without sufficient funds.”

“That’s true.”

“Even if it’s not an international Villain Cartel, just forming an integrated East Asian Black Market will bring in enormous funds. The plan is to maximize that further through an international Villain Cartel.”

“So?”

“Nikolayevich, if you help, I’ll secure a sufficient stake for you. Just the annual dividends alone would bring Russia entirely into your grasp within three years.”

“And after I step down in 2036, I’ll manipulate Russia from behind the scenes? Just like you’re doing now?”

“Well, Nikolayevich, wouldn’t that depend on your intentions?”

Ivan Ivanov smiled brightly enough to show his teeth and downed his black tea in one go.

“Good. That’s enough. That level of persuasion is sufficient.”

At those words, Siguk’s expression also brightened.

“But, there’s one condition.”

“Please tell me.”

“Well, it’s not a difficult condition. Actually, starting in March, Polya is going to a university in Seoul, Korea, right? Anyway, she’s enrolled in a university in Seoul.”

When the topic of his daughter Polina’s university enrollment suddenly came from Ivan Ivanov’s mouth, Siguk momentarily wore a blank expression, only blinking his eyes.

“She’s entering as a freshman, and since it’s a strange foreign land, the child will probably be very lonely. So, I’d like you to take care of her a bit by her side.”

“…….”

“If you agree to this condition, I’ll support your plan sufficiently, to the extent that my help is needed.”

Siguk fell into thought for a moment.

In exchange for taking care of a woman’s study abroad life, getting the Russian President to participate in the business.

Not bad—no, in fact, it was a condition overwhelmingly favorable to Siguk.

Moreover, they weren’t exactly strangers; they had even shared a bed twice, having been intimate, so there was nothing particularly problematic about it.

A condition overwhelmingly favorable to Siguk.

That fact only heightened his suspicion.

“What, you don’t like it?”

At Ivan Ivanov’s question, Siguk shook his head.

“No. I don’t dislike it. It’s just… how should I put it… the condition isn’t as troublesome as I thought.”

“Not troublesome? You’ll find out once you experience it. That this condition wasn’t so easy or one-sidedly beneficial to you.”

Saying that, Ivan Ivanov grinned.

Listening to his laughter and analyzing his words quietly in his head, Siguk soon smiled as well.

‘What a sly fellow. He said he wouldn’t use his daughter in politics.’

Using his daughter Polina to establish a familial relationship with Siguk.

Ultimately, the condition Ivan Ivanov set for Siguk was merely a means to achieve that result.

Having an A-Rank Hunter and the de facto ruler of a nation as a son-in-law.

That would bring political and financial benefits incomparable to simply having a stake in an international Villain Cartel and receiving dividends.

‘Well, for now, I’m the one in need.’

To create an international Villain Cartel immediately, he needed to persuade Marcos, the ruler of South Philippines, and for that, he needed the Russian President’s power.

‘Anyway, there’s no rule that a relationship between a man and a woman must lead to marriage.’

Thinking that, Siguk took a sip of black tea.

Ivan Ivanov also looked at Siguk and took a sip of his black tea.

February 10th, 18:30.

The lounge of the Karamazov Hotel, overlooking St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, and the Kremlin across the Moscow River.

Usually bustling with wealthy bourgeois, this place was now monopolized by just two men and women sitting in seats with a good view, occupying the entire space.

“Cheers~!”

The woman, Polina, extended her glass filled with red wine forward.

The man sitting opposite her, Siguk, extended his glass in response.

The glasses clinked, producing a clear sound.

The two lightly took a sip of wine and almost simultaneously turned their gaze to the Moscow nightscape outside the window.

“Is Seoul that beautiful too? Siguk?”

At Polina’s question, Siguk remained silent for a moment, looking down at the Moscow nightscape and comparing it to Seoul’s.

‘Looking down from the Signiel Tower would definitely be more magnificent than here.’

Thinking that, Siguk answered Polina’s question.

“Well, everyone’s aesthetic sense is different. What’s certain is that Moscow has its own beauty, and Seoul has its own beauty.”

At Siguk’s ambiguous answer, Polina smiled and looked at him.

“I heard you’re in politics in Korea? Your skill at talking in circles has improved.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Previously, in bed, your way with words wasn’t at this level.”

At her somewhat direct way of speaking, Siguk momentarily flustered and could only laugh awkwardly.

Looking at him, Polina spoke.

“You heard from Dad, right? That I’m going to study abroad in Korea.”

“I heard.”

“Then you must have also heard that Siguk has to take care of me?”

“Heard that too.”

“Do you also know what that means?”

Siguk couldn’t answer that question immediately.

‘Just how much does she know?’

He just looked at Polina, wondering how much she knew of Ivan Ivanov’s intentions.

Towards such a Siguk, Polina smiled and spoke.

“I’m not a child. I know everything I need to know.”

“Hmm…….”

“Dad probably didn’t say it directly, but he definitely wants me and Siguk to get married. Asking you to take care of my study abroad life was probably all with that in mind.”

Rather, since the story flowed out straightforwardly from her mouth, Siguk felt more at ease to speak.

“Yeah. That’s right. Nikolayevich is probably definitely thinking that way.”

“What does Siguk think?”

“About what?”

“About marrying me.”

Polina stared intently at Siguk.

Siguk looked at her for a moment, then smiled, took a sip of red wine, and answered.

“I’m only 25 this year. You’re just 22 now. It’s not an age to be talking about marriage yet.”

“Are you saying no?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then you’re saying yes?”

“It’s not a matter of yes or no.”

“Hmm…….”

Polina quietly looked at Siguk.

At her appearance, like a puppy sulking at its owner who won’t play, Siguk almost burst into a broad smile without realizing it.

After looking at Siguk like that for a while, Polina downed her red wine in one go and asked him.

“Do you have another lover besides me?”

“A lover… Well? If you base it on regularly sleeping together, then yes, I do.”

“Are you going to marry that person?”

At that question, Siguk momentarily pictured wedding marches with the women he could call lovers in his mind.

A wedding march with Kurokawa Minori, the bold female boss at the pinnacle of the Japanese yakuza, Hakaiyamaguchi.

A wedding march with Yeo Jeongyeon, the Chairman of the Korean Superhuman Association, whose specialty is breaking criminals’ necks and dissolving their corpses in poison.

None of them seemed to paint a particularly good picture.

Siguk shook his head and answered.

“I don’t really have such thoughts.”

At that answer, Polina’s expression brightened considerably as she spoke.

“Good. Then it’s settled.”

“What is?”

“Anyway, Siguk will have to get married someday too. If you’re going to do it anyway, wouldn’t it be better to do it with a woman with good conditions like me?”

“Wow, you really have the nerve to say that with your own mouth?”

“Because it’s true. Anyway, if Siguk doesn’t have another woman in mind for marriage, then let’s decide to get married. But I won’t say anything about the existence of lovers.”

At Polina’s appearance, cosplaying as a bold woman all by herself, Siguk finally burst out laughing.

“Tsk.”

Siguk lightly flicked Polina’s forehead with his finger.

“Ow! Why did you do that?!”

“You’re being cheeky for a kid.”

“Siguk was only born three years before me!”

“Just eat. The day you enter Korea is less than a month away. What’s a month? Is there even 20 days left?”

“I’m going to Korea in ten days.”

“Exactly. Focus on that.”

“Okay.”

Saying that, Polina cut into her steak.

Watching her chew the slightly cooked steak, Siguk smiled without realizing it.

Seeing that smile, Polina also smiled back and spoke.

“When are you departing?”

“Tomorrow morning at 8:30.”

“Then you’ll stay over tonight?”

“Of course?”

“You can get enough sleep on the plane, right?”

Siguk immediately caught the meaning of her words.

“Hahaha.”

He just laughed and emptied his glass of red wine.

And so, the night in Moscow passed.

With the successful sponsorship contract with the President and a fierce romance with a beautiful woman.