Chapter 46

Peter Rovske, seated in the dimly lit bar, held a Bible in his hands, savoring its pages. He was unlike his predecessors in the Rovsk family; he carried a sense of refinement and believed in the formalized management of the club.

To achieve this vision, he pursued a degree in Business Administration at the University of Manchester in the UK and even obtained a Ph.D. His ambition was to elevate the club's operations and reputation to a more gentlemanly standard.

He was the third generation of the Rovsk family, a lineage with a unique history. His grandfather, of Mexican origin, had come to Ukraine with dreams of finding gold but had instead found himself sold into slavery. However, fate had a different plan when he fell in love with a local businesswoman. Their love story took an unexpected turn, and he managed to secure a place in her family and, eventually, her heart. The businessman, deeply enamored with his daughter, had no choice but to give his blessing. With this background, the elder Rovsk used his wealth to attract loyal associates, eventually gaining control of the pier along the Dnieper River. The Rovsk family's influence grew substantially.

As a result, the Rovsk family was a blend of different ethnic backgrounds—black and white—and held a respected position within Kyiv society.

Suddenly, the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by a cacophony of hurried footsteps. Peter Rovske furrowed his brow in annoyance but then relaxed. He shifted his attention toward the entrance, where a disheveled figure stumbled in, his face etched with terror. The man spoke in a panicked tone, "Boss... uh, boss, there are a lot of troops outside."

Troops?

Peter's heart skipped a beat, and as he heard the rest of the message, his calm demeanor faded, replaced by a grim expression.

"They've aimed their cannons at our bar and set up heavy machine guns. They've begun pulling guests out at the entrance, covering their faces with masks and beating them."

"Let's go outside and take a look," Peter hastily closed the Bible and made his way outside.

---

Meanwhile, Andrejevic and Vladimir wore equally grim expressions. Vladimir, in particular, had shown initial displeasure at the sight of Tang Dao. However, his perspective had shifted dramatically upon discovering the valuable stockpile of daily necessities in the warehouse. He considered himself a patriot, and now, he saw an opportunity to protect his homeland.

Upon Andreevich's request, Vladimir had mobilized the troops, albeit under the guise of a "patrol." In reality, they had "lost their way" and somehow ended up at the entrance of the Rovsk Bar. Strangely enough, a cannon had accidentally been "fired" from their troop carrier, and the presence of a PK machine gun required some creative reasoning.

Andrejevic, initially furious, had calmed down after disembarking. He realized that killing the gang leader might lead to unforeseen consequences. He glanced at Tang Dao, who appeared unfazed, and spoke in hushed tones, "Ivan, are we really going through with this? If it escalates, it won't end well for us."

Surprisingly, Vladimir remained resolute. Gazing ahead, he declared, "Ivan, do you know? Ukraine is truly hopeless, and I'm considering resigning as a colonel."

"What?" Andrejevic was taken aback, his surprise evident. He hastened to ask, "You're resigning?"

Vladimir nodded, lifting his head slightly as he leaned forward. "As you mentioned, Ivan, I hold a deep love for this country, but it's currently under the control of those who despise it. Maybe, in this world, love and faith aren't enough. Perhaps it's all about self-interest."

Andrejevic fell silent. As a friend, he felt that Vladimir's viewpoint was overly simplistic.

In this day and age, faith held little significance. Poverty, it seemed, was the new original sin.

However, as a businessman, Andrejevic secretly hoped that Vladimir would remain in the military, as it would serve his interests. He couldn't bring himself to voice this desire, though. Perhaps this was his way of showing respect for a man of faith.

Vladimir checked the time once more, giving a subtle nod. He signaled to a group of over twenty strong men wearing masks who rushed out from behind them, brandishing iron pipes.

With a subtle hand gesture, the group charged toward the bar as if following a predetermined order.

Inside the bar, Peter Rovske had just dashed outside with a member of his crew. When he witnessed the chaotic scene, he was about to shout to stop the violence. However, before he could raise his hand, he was kicked in the stomach. Collapsing to the ground, he was soon surrounded by three or five burly men who began punching and kicking him mercilessly. Simultaneously, others went on a rampage, smashing everything in sight within the bar.

Peter instinctively shielded his head, feeling excruciating pain throughout his body. Blood began to flow from a gash on his forehead, and he struggled to maintain consciousness. He heard a supposed officer outside shout instructions.

"Listen, gang members inside! Drop your weapons and surrender, or we'll use force!" As he spoke, a 2A65 MCTA howitzer was pushed toward the bar's entrance. This cannon could obliterate the bar with a single shot.

Peter nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. How shameless could they be? Clenching his teeth, he struggled to get up but was struck in the back by an iron rod. Unable to withstand the blow, he fell back to the ground. Helplessly, he watched as the bar, worth hundreds of thousands of rubles, was reduced to rubble.

He still had no idea who he had crossed paths with. All he knew was that he had encountered a group of ruthless individuals.

Andrejevic refrained from commenting, silently contemplating his friend's simplistic perspective. In an era driven by pragmatism, faith had lost much of its significance. Andrejevic couldn't help but think about the concept of original sin, realizing that, in this world, poverty often stood in as its modern equivalent.

As a businessman, Andrejevic had his own desires. He secretly hoped Vladimir would remain in the military, enabling him to profit further. However, he couldn't bring himself to voice this desire, understanding that this might be his final gesture of respect to a man of faith.

Vladimir, checking his wristwatch, raised his right hand slightly, signaling more than twenty masked men who were armed with iron pipes. They surged forward toward the bar as if they had received a well-rehearsed command.

Peter Rovske had just made it outside with one of his associates. When he witnessed the chaotic scene that unfolded, he intended to shout a warning to stop the violence. However, as he raised his hand to speak, he was met with a powerful kick to the stomach, sending him sprawling. Soon, three to five burly men swarmed around him, delivering brutal blows. Simultaneously, others inside the bar unleashed a rampage, destroying everything in their path.

Peter instinctively shielded his head, enduring the searing pain coursing through his body. Blood trickled from a wound on his forehead, and his consciousness teetered on the edge of darkness. Faintly, he heard what seemed to be an officer shouting outside.

"Listen, you gangsters inside, drop your weapons and surrender, or we'll resort to force!" The announcement was punctuated by the slow advance of a 2A65 MCTA howitzer toward the bar's entrance—a weapon capable of leveling the establishment.

Peter nearly choked on his own blood at the sheer audacity of it all. He clenched his teeth and mustered his strength to rise. Yet, before he could regain his footing, a brutal blow from an iron rod struck his back. Unable to endure the pain, he crumpled to the ground, his consciousness fading. All he could do was helplessly witness the bar, worth hundreds of thousands of rubles, being reduced to rubble.

He remained ignorant of who he had crossed paths with, but he was acutely aware that he had encountered someone ruthless.

---

The situation had devolved into self-defense.

Following the altercation, Andrejevic took Tang Dao to meet with the police chief, who provided a characterization of the incident. Essentially, the Mohawk gang leader had met his end in an unexpected confrontation.

Tang Dao, however, remained perturbed. He cast a glance at the Ukrainian who had assisted him. While the man claimed to have helped teach the gang a lesson, it had been more akin to a painful ordeal. Tang Dao realized that the man's involvement was an attempt to earn his favor.

Forced to keep his emotions in check, Tang Dao spoke with restraint, "Thank you for your assistance. Otherwise, I would have had to reroute this shipment to another location."

"Mr. Nicholas, it is our duty and right to combat local criminal activities. Rest assured," the Ukrainian replied with a sense of duty.

Tang Dao feigned satisfaction, nodding in response. He then turned to Robert, entrusting him with an important task. In Chinese, he emphasized the need to be cautious and not be fooled by the Ukrainian's tactics. "Don't let this guy deceive you. Pay attention to the pricing details. I trust you."

Robert, although feeling the weight of the responsibility, nodded resolutely.

Tang Dao recognized Robert's potential and had been grooming him. His ruthlessness, steadiness, and cautious nature made him an ideal candidate for the business.

As they left, Robert suggested a more drastic course of action regarding the Rovsk family. He even inquired about the hospital where the Rovsk family's leader was admitted, hinting at a willingness to take more extreme measures if the need arose.

Tang Dao mused that keeping someone like Robert as a secretary was a missed opportunity.

As they departed, Jin Dun's phone rang once more. Jin Dun answered and handed the phone to Tang Dao, saying, "It's Mr. Joseph calling."

Tang Dao's eyes lit up, anticipating news from the Air Force. The initial exchange between him and Joseph was filled with warmth. Joseph, in a cheerful tone, assured him of good tidings.

"Your request has been provisionally approved," Joseph began. "However, Comrade Goba Nove has a suggestion."

Kobanov, presumably Joseph's superior, had something to say.

"Please, go ahead," Tang Dao replied.

Joseph conveyed the proposal: "You may lease the Il-76 for $500,000 per month, but you must commit to purchasing it outright for 100 million rubles after using it for more than three months."

One hundred million rubles? Purchased after three months?

Tang Dao's expression twisted in response.

At this moment, if he were to describe his mood with a single word, it would be "Suka Bulie!"