Chapter 48

Gobanov, a stout and bearded Ukrainian, greeted Tang Dao with enthusiasm. His alcohol-laden breath almost overwhelmed Tang Dao as he gave him a boisterous hug.

"My dear... Davari, hiccup~" Gobanov hiccupped, his eyes glazed with inebriation. He chuckled, his ample cheeks trembling. "You've come to our aid in our time of need. God bless you, and we will surely defeat those capitalists!"

Tang Dao glanced at Joseph, who appeared equally uncomfortable with Gobanov's exuberance. As they settled into a meeting room, Gorbanov and his colleagues offered Tang Dao tea—boiled water, as tea was considered a luxury they could hardly afford.

Sitting around the table, Gorbanov, known for his direct temperament, wasted no time. "Mr. Nicholas, Joseph may have briefed you on our plan. What do you think?"

Tang Dao paused, looked at the officials before him, and shook his head. "It seems rather unfair to me."

"100 million rubles could easily buy American goods!" one colonel voiced his discontent.

Tang Dao smiled, saying, "Perhaps, but we can't deny that American goods have a broader market. When it comes to heavy-duty transport aircraft, the C series, which isn't as expensive, is readily available in the market."

He tapped his fingers on the table and focused on the senior colonel. "I'm happy to assist my friends, but I'm no fool."

American C-series transport aircraft were known for their quality, and despite being less exported, they commanded a high price. One hundred million rubles was a considerable sum in the pre-collapse Soviet economy.

Gobanov and his colleagues exchanged glances before conceding, "Fine, we agree to your first two conditions."

However, Tang Dao raised three fingers and continued, "My third condition is personal. I'd like to borrow money from the State Bank of the Soviet Union, with a guarantor's signature. Afterward, I'll pay a thank-you fee of one hundred thousand dollars."

This request puzzled Gorbanov and his team. They found it odd but hesitated, given the significance of the National Bank. They weren't willing to take on such a risk.

Tang Dao, sensing their reservations, realized that offering the thank-you fee of $100,000 had raised their suspicions. He redirected the conversation, "Of course, this third condition is a personal favor, unrelated to our transaction."

Gorbanov and his team eventually accepted Tang Dao's first two conditions, leaving the third aside for now.

"I must tell you, Mr. Nicholas, our boys are remarkable," Gorbanov said, checking his watch. "If you have time, I'd like to introduce you to them."

Tang Dao agreed to the proposal.

As the meeting concluded, Joseph was tasked with preparing refreshments. However, Tang Dao couldn't conceal his anxiety, knowing that the upcoming events could have dire consequences.

…

After Polikova administered the injection, she was concerned about potential immediate consequences for Peter Rovsk. In a panic, she rushed out of the room, inadvertently leaving behind her medical tools. She hurried to the restroom, splashing water on her face to calm her racing heart.

Summoning courage, she approached the service desk, where a telephone stood.

"Polikova, why are you sweating so profusely?" inquired a fellow nurse at the service desk, noticing her disheveled appearance.

Polikova attempted to reassure her, explaining, "I'm feeling a bit dizzy. I washed my face." She gestured toward the telephone. "I need to make a call."

Polikova dialed the white man's number, and after a couple of rings, he answered. The call left her with an ominous feeling as he cryptically mentioned "news."

Her heart sank as the white man chuckled and hung up without elaborating, leaving Polikova anxious. She couldn't ignore the call for help from Rovsk's ward, as someone had rushed out, shouting for a doctor.

"It's over," Polikova muttered under her breath.

…

Meanwhile, after the white man concluded the call, a smug smile adorned his face. He gloated about his successful scheme to deceive Polikova and pocket the money.

As Robert handed over a stack of US dollars, the white man prepared to seize his ill-gotten gains. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen—a dagger had pierced him. Fearing that he might cry out, Robert clamped a hand over the man's mouth and inflicted more wounds with the dagger.

Gasping for breath and unable to scream, the white man pushed Robert away and attempted to flee. As he turned, he fell to the ground, lifeless.

Robert retrieved the stack of dollars, wiped the dagger clean on a bill adorned with Franklin's face, and tossed the money onto the corpse. He looked down at the lifeless body and remarked, "Sorry, I'm a man who tells lies too."