Mavi's warship order brought immense joy to the entire factory, where over 1,900 workers had been thrilled for half the day. It had been a long time since they had received a substantial order. Previously, they had barely made ends meet by building cargo ships and fishing boats.
Looking at the excited crowd below, Mavi couldn't help but feel that the shipyard workers were a simple and honest bunch. When an order came in, they were happy; when there were no orders, they were discouraged. In the end, it all boiled down to supporting their families and striving for a better life.
"Everyone, please don't get too excited. This is just the first piece of good news I have for you—there's a second one," Mavi said calmly to the crowd. Then, he clapped his hands, signaling a Russian bodyguard standing by to push a large wooden crate onto the stage.
After the excitement of the first announcement, the 1,900 employees eagerly awaited Mavi's second piece of news. Any doubts or resistance they had toward him had been completely wiped away by the frigate order.
Everyone watched as the bodyguards pushed the crate to the front. One of them opened the lid, revealing stacks of deep green banknotes inside—U.S. dollars!
"I'm not seeing things, am I? That's all U.S. dollars in there!" exclaimed a shipbuilding engineer in the front row, unable to believe his eyes.
His outburst caused the entire crowd to erupt in shock.
"What?! U.S. dollars?! Is the chairman giving out money?!"
Nothing is more exciting than receiving money on the spot. Mavi understood this well, which is why he had decided to pay his employees a month's wages in advance to boost morale. And since it didn't cost him much, he saw no downside.
"Please, stay calm. Line up one by one—everyone will get their share," Mavi reassured them. The U.S. dollars in the crate were all in small denominations—five- and ten-dollar bills—making it easier for the workers to use. He had thought of everything.
However... something unexpected happened.
The Russian bodyguard who had opened the crate accidentally removed the lid completely. A sudden gust of wind from the harbor swept through, sending some of the banknotes flying.
In an instant, the air was filled with fluttering green bills…
Standing on stage, Mavi watched helplessly as the money scattered in the wind. He was so speechless he could almost strangle someone!
Fortunately, the other bodyguards reacted quickly, shutting the lid before more money could escape. The estimated loss? About $2,500—blown far, far away.
As for the bills that hadn't traveled too far, the workers picked them up and returned them. They were shipyard laborers, not thieves, bandits, or petty crooks. They earned their living through honest work.
Seeing this, Mavi felt a sense of relief. Meanwhile, the Russian bodyguard who had made the mistake stood there with a miserable expression, looking as if he was awaiting punishment.
Mavi found himself at a loss with these fiercely loyal but sometimes foolish bodyguards. He could only issue a minor punishment to make sure they learned their lesson.
As he watched the workers line up in an orderly fashion to collect their wages, Mavi took the microphone again and added, "Go and tell your old colleagues—if they want to return to the shipyard, they're welcome."
With only 1,900 workers, it was impossible to keep the shipyard running at full capacity. Many had left out of necessity, forced to switch careers. Mavi was willing to give them another chance.
Rather than sending out official notices, he let his current employees spread the message. He knew that after receiving an advance paycheck, they would be more than happy to do him this favor. Besides, now that the shipyard had orders, it meant stable wages and generous bonuses. Who would want to miss out on such a lucrative opportunity?
Mavi's series of actions left the shipyard director, Mikhail, and the other senior staff in awe. They never expected their young new chairman to be this capable and bold!
Although they wouldn't say it out loud, it was clear that following this new chairman seemed much more promising than working under the previous one…
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With the timely arrival of the order for two Grisha V-class frigates and Mavi's generous advance payment of wages, the entire Northern Shipyard's atmosphere became revitalized. Even those who had been forced to leave due to financial struggles began returning in small groups, rejoining the warship production efforts.
Three days later, in his luxurious mansion in central Moscow, the butler Ivan held a phone in his hand and turned to Mavi, who was lounging on the sofa.
"Young Master, the retired warships from the Northern Defense Fleet have arrived at the shipyard. How would you like them to be handled?"
Mavi, while playing with Little Tiger's ears and pressing his foot against Winnie's soft white belly, casually replied, "Strip the rust, repaint them, and convert them into luxury yachts."
Yes, the reason Mavi had gifted two light frigates to the Northern Defense Fleet was not only to build a good relationship with them and gain an introduction to the Central Maritime Bureau but also because he had his eyes on those decommissioned warships!
He planned to buy them all, convert them into luxury yachts, and sell them to the wealthy elites he had met in Dubai. This would be an insanely profitable business—practically free money.
Even if the Dubai billionaires didn't buy that many, Mavi could use platforms like Google, VK, and Amazon to spread the word. He was certain there would be wealthy individuals out there who found ordinary yachts too unimpressive and would be eager to own a luxury yacht converted from a warship.
Just imagine—a massive destroyer turned into a yacht. The sheer presence of it would completely overshadow those delicate little pleasure boats.
Of course, the Navy would remove the automatic cannons and any sensitive equipment before the transactions. After all, those couldn't be sold to private individuals.
"Bring me the satellite phone," Mavi instructed a servant while continuing to pet the tiger.
Once he had the phone, he called his Dubai friend.
"Hello, Amur? Yeah, it's Mavi."
"How's that modified sports car I sent you last time? Got a good ride out of it? Well, I've got something even flashier this time. Want to come to Russia and check it out?"
"Great! Bring as many friends as you like. See you then."
Thanks to the modified Bugatti he had gifted last time, Mavi had developed a strong relationship with this group of Dubai elites.
When it came to flaunting wealth, Mavi wasn't any less extravagant than these Dubai princes. But considering how outrageously rich they were, it was about time he tapped into their fortune and made some serious money off them.
(End of Chapter)