Receiving an invitation to the Kremlin was the highest honor for the Mikoyan family. To put it dramatically, one could die without regrets...
Upon hearing the news, Mavi immediately sat up from the couch. Damn... It was bound to happen sooner or later. He had always known that one day, he would be summoned by the higher-ups. He just hadn't expected it to come so soon—not even before the year 2000 ended!
"Reschedule the Chrysler meeting for next week. We'll go to the Kremlin next Wednesday," Mavi said, taking a sip of red wine with a hint of unease. Damn it, serving a ruler was like serving a tiger—one misstep, and an entire family could be wiped out.
Just as he finished his glass of wine, the house phone suddenly rang again! This time, it was a call from the head of the Mikoyan family—the highest authority within the family.
"Young Master, it's Lord Anatoly… He wants to speak with you personally." Even Ivan, who was usually calm and collected, had been startled twice today. First, the Kremlin summoned Mavi. Then, the head of the family personally requested to speak with him. It was as if fate had decided to throw all the shocks at once.
Sitting on the couch, Mavi reached out and took the phone. Ever since his parents passed away, his status within the Mikoyan family had plummeted. There was even a time when he was nearly deceived by swindlers who almost ruined his inheritance. It was only thanks to Lord Anatoly's intervention that the situation was resolved.
"Good afternoon, Lord Anatoly. This is Mavi."
In terms of family hierarchy, Anatoly was Mavi's grandfather. Mavi's father had been the third son of the family.
"Hello, Mavi. I received word that the Kremlin has invited you for a visit next Wednesday?" Anatoly's voice was aged and hoarse.
"Yes, Lord Anatoly. Is there anything I should be aware of?"
Mavi was no longer the reckless young man he once was. His actions had not gone unnoticed by the family.
"No, just conduct yourself well," Anatoly replied simply. As the family patriarch, he was not a tyrannical or selfish old man. After Mavi's parents passed away, Anatoly ensured that Mavi inherited everything rightfully his, without withholding a single cent.
"Understood, Lord Anatoly."
Even though Anatoly wasn't his biological grandfather, Mavi still showed the proper respect—after all, Anatoly was an elder.
"Good. That's all for now. Remember to attend the family banquet later," Anatoly reminded him before hanging up. It was his way of showing concern and approval, though he was not one to express emotions easily.
Mavi handed the phone back to the butler and then lay back down on the couch, lost in thought.
His life in this world was truly remarkable—he was being summoned by the President of Russia himself. If this had happened in his past life, he could have bragged about it for an entire lifetime, maybe even taken it to the grave...
---
Five days later, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, a modest Russian-made car slowly drove through the streets of Moscow.
The black vehicle looked utterly unremarkable, even somewhat outdated. Its license plate didn't stand out in any way. But after making a full circuit around Red Square, it boldly drove straight up to the Kremlin gates!
The Russian guards stationed at the entrance were momentarily stunned. Since when did such a beat-up car have the privilege of entering the President's residence?
"Hello, please present your identification," one of the guards stepped forward, blocking the vehicle and requesting credentials.
"Here you go." The driver rolled down the window and casually handed over the documents. The guard examined them thoroughly, still unable to understand how such a car had the clearance to enter the Russian Presidential compound.
"Proceed."
The guards at this level weren't foolish—they weren't about to behave like the brainless characters in novels who got themselves humiliated.
Seated in the back of the car was Mavi—the owner of this so-called "beat-up car." Even his family's grocery shopping vehicle was better than this one. But he had deliberately chosen it to remain as low-profile as possible.
The Kremlin was located on Borovitsky Hill, in the very heart of Moscow. To the south, it bordered the Moskva River; to the northwest, it connected to Alexandrovsky Garden; and to the southeast, it was adjacent to Red Square, forming a triangular shape.
As the car passed through the Kremlin gates, Mavi noticed two towers in the distance, each adorned with a red star made of ruby. These were the Kremlin Stars, often referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World."
Within ten minutes, the car had gone through multiple security checkpoints before finally crossing Kremlin Square and stopping in front of a pale-yellow building. This was the official residence of the Russian President, heavily guarded, with patrols ensuring no outsiders could get close. (At this time, the outer Kremlin had not yet become a tourist attraction, so security was extremely tight.)
To the west of the presidential residence stood a grand yellow building—the Russian Presidential Administration Building, where the President's office was located. This was also Mavi's destination.
When the modest black car came to a steady stop in front of the Presidential Administration Building, the driver stepped out and opened the door for Mavi, handing the security pass to the guards at the entrance.
"Clear."
After verifying Mavi's identity, the uniformed guards stepped aside to let him pass. As for the driver, he remained in the car, waiting for his young master to return.
The Russian Presidential Administration Building—it was Mavi's first time here. Standing in front of the grand yellow structure, he took a deep breath before passing through security and entering the building.
"Hello, Mr. Mavi, correct? Please follow me."
The Kremlin staff, having received notice from the guards, had sent a well-groomed Russian female civil servant to escort Mavi to the designated meeting room.
Mavi hadn't felt particularly nervous during the drive, but as the moment of the meeting drew closer, he suddenly found his mouth dry, and his anxiety growing. The rhythmic sound of the woman's high heels on the floor reminded him of his first-ever job interview...
"We've arrived, Mr. Mavi. Please wait here for a moment."
The woman led him into an elegantly decorated meeting room, poured him a glass of water, and then left.
The room was empty except for the sound of the air conditioning, which blew warm air around the space. Mavi took a large sip of water, trying to ease the dryness in his throat.
Minutes passed, each one feeling longer than the last. About five minutes later, he heard the sound of leather shoes clicking against the floor just outside the meeting room.
(End of Chapter)