"It's not a nuclear bomb! Not a nuclear bomb! I'm planning to buy a few Tu-160 supersonic bombers and Su-27 fighter jets, and then bundle them together with an aircraft carrier for sale. This way, the profits should be much higher," Mavi quickly explained, nearly startled.
He wouldn't dare touch nuclear warheads—at least not for now. Given his current background and connections, he was nowhere near the level where he could deal with nuclear weapons. "Nuclear peace"—everything should be based on peace...
"Oh, that's good to hear. Mr. Mavi, in that case, I believe I can arrange for someone to assist you in making the necessary contacts," Admiral Petrovich replied, feeling relieved. If it were a nuclear weapons deal, it would undoubtedly attract serious attention from other nations—especially the European Union (since Russia and the EU were competitors, Russia had never joined).
Recently, the EU had proposed that Ukraine dismantle its stockpile of nuclear warheads and supersonic bombers, offering some compensation in return. However, the exact compensation amount was still under discussion among EU members, with estimates ranging between $10 million and $20 million.
Admiral Petrovich was well aware of Ukraine's struggling economy and its inability to afford the maintenance costs for such advanced weaponry. Given the circumstances, Ukraine had no choice but to sell off some of its military assets to ease the financial burden.
"Alright, thank you in advance, Admiral Petrovich," Mavi said gratefully over the phone.
This transaction with the Ukrainian military was just the beginning of their collaboration. Once their relationship solidified, future deals could involve top-tier military technology, such as gas turbine engines, turbofan engines, and air-to-air missiles.
"You're very welcome, Mr. Mavi. In fact, I should be the one thanking you for your contributions to the Black Sea Shipyard," Admiral Petrovich replied sincerely.
---
After finishing his call with the admiral, Mavi boarded his private jet and returned to Russia. Through his prior business maneuvers, he had gradually shifted many key industries to Russia—companies like Google, V-K (Vkontakte), and Blizzard Entertainment.
This move served two purposes: first, it safeguarded his assets from potential policy shifts, and second, it provided him with an additional layer of security.
Back in Russia, Mavi resumed his life as a wealthy young master, enjoying a life of luxury. He spent his free time indulging in the services of his maids and, when bored, playing with Winnie the little bear and Tigger the tiger cub.
In just two or three weeks, the once three-month-old Tigger had grown to the size of a cheetah. Amusingly, despite its size, the little tiger still insisted on being bottle-fed by Mavi. The four-month-old cub sucked so vigorously that Mavi couldn't help but be surprised by its strength.
Out of curiosity, Mavi dipped his finger in milk and placed it in Tigger's mouth. The powerful suction made him suddenly think of something rather bold—what if he hired an attractive wet nurse to feed the tiger? Wouldn't that be quite the sight…?
Of course, this was merely a passing thought. Before he could entertain the idea any further, news arrived from Ukraine. They had scheduled a meeting with Mavi at an air force base next Tuesday to discuss the deal.
Leisurely moments always seem to pass quickly, and for someone who had been reborn into this world, the true path lay in hard work and business success.
When Mavi's plane landed at Ukraine's international airport, he noticed a row of old Soviet-era military vehicles—UAZ-469s—parked on the tarmac. These vehicles had been in production since 1973.
Due to severe economic struggles, Ukraine had an even weaker independent research and development capability than Russia, relying heavily on outdated Soviet-era equipment. This meant that their military was still using all-terrain vehicles designed during the Soviet Union's time. Seeing this, Mavi didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
"Hello, Mr. Mavi. I am Colonel Sheni from Ukraine's 32nd Air Force Base. Admiral Petrovich informed me that you are interested in purchasing our Su-27 fighter jets and Tu-160 supersonic bombers?"
As soon as Mavi stepped off the plane, a man in a Ukrainian Air Force uniform approached him. Judging by the insignia on his shoulder, he was indeed a colonel. Clearly, he had been assigned to welcome this important client.
"Hello, Colonel Sheni. Thank you for waiting for me at the airport," Mavi said, extending his right hand for a handshake.
Having interacted with a Russian navy admiral, an Indian admiral, and a Ukrainian admiral before, Mavi no longer felt any pressure when dealing with lower-ranking officers.
"No problem at all, Mr. Mavi. It's our honor to host you," Colonel Sheni responded sincerely. He had been briefed by his superiors about Mavi's investment in the Black Sea Shipyard and his efforts to secure an aircraft carrier buyer for Ukraine.
From what he gathered, the leadership greatly admired Mavi's ability to turn situations around. They were hopeful that collaborating with him could offer a much-needed opportunity for the Ukrainian Air Force.
Seeing that the guest had arrived, Colonel Sheni continued, "Mr. Mavi, it's about time. Shall we head to the air force base for a tour?"
However, Mavi shook his head slightly and replied, "I'm afraid we can't leave just yet. The gift I prepared for your military hasn't arrived yet. Let's wait a little longer."
"A gift? What kind of gift, Mr. Mavi?" Colonel Sheni asked with a puzzled expression. He couldn't understand why the gift was so important that they had to wait for it before heading to the base. After all, they could have left first—some high-ranking officers were already waiting at the base, and being late might leave a bad impression.
Just as Colonel Sheni was contemplating this, a large transport aircraft made a delayed landing at the Ukrainian airport.
Five minutes later, the aircraft's cargo hold opened, revealing two military off-road vehicles painted with the Ukrainian flag!
However, neither of them were Hummers nor Russian "Tiger" armored vehicles. Instead, they were a brand-new, aggressive-looking type of military vehicle that Colonel Sheni had never seen before!
He was utterly stunned.
"Mr. Mavi, are these two military off-road vehicles the gift you prepared?" Colonel Sheni asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Compared to the outdated UAZ-469s their forces had been using, these new vehicles were far more imposing and stylish. Just from a glance, he could tell that their performance far surpassed that of the old Soviet models. Simply put—they were on an entirely different level.
"That's right, Colonel Sheni. If your military likes them, I can send over a few more in the future," Mavi said casually.
For him, these two vehicles were just small tokens of goodwill—barely a dent in his finances.
(End of Chapter)