In the bleak midwinter, red flags, vodka.
Moscow.
This city, which had served as the nation's capital from the era of the Grand Duchy of Moscow to Tsarist Russia, the Soviet Union, and later the Russian Federation, seemed destined to spend this long winter in an atmosphere of silence and uncertainty.
According to the customs of the Russian Orthodox Church, although the Soviet Christmas was celebrated about two weeks later than in Western countries, the city should have already begun its festive decorations – a rare occurrence, given that it was one of Russia's two most important traditional holidays.
An invisible cloud seemed to hang over the entire city, with a hint of melancholy lingering on everyone's brow. Newspapers, radio, television, notice boards... all the mediums through which people obtained information had temporarily fallen silent. Apart from the most basic, cold announcements, the Soviet Union seemed to have instantly fallen silent after December.
In the gray concrete buildings, only the bright red hammer and sickle flag added a splash of color.
Most people chose to go home after work, rather than gathering in bars for a drink or a chat, as they usually did. In an oppressive atmosphere that was almost unbearable, people had lost the mood for idle talk and discussion – everyone knew that the power to decide the future was no longer in their hands.
Since Ukraine declared its secession from the Soviet Union and became an independent, free nation, things had only gotten worse.
Bad news came from the Kremlin one after another, with reports almost every few days of a region declaring independence or holding a referendum on secession from the Soviet Union. The vast red map of the Soviet Union was shrinking rapidly at a visible pace.
Ordinary people did not understand much about high-level political games; they mostly saw only the most superficial news.
Compared to the fear of witnessing the disintegration of a vast union, the most prevalent emotion in people's hearts was a sense of bewilderment – the situation in the past six months had changed so rapidly that it was difficult to understand.
Just at the end of March, a referendum had been held on whether to continue to preserve the union, and the Soviet people, with over 70% support, had chosen to preserve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
But in less than half a year, the whole situation had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.
One after another, the constituent republics declared independence, and political events within the country's upper echelons occurred almost every month.
And just recently, the leaders of the three founding republics – Russian President Yeltsin, Ukrainian President Kravchuk, and Belarusian Supreme Soviet Chairman Shushkevich – held a signing ceremony in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha for documents dissolving the Soviet Union, such as the "Agreement on the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States," announcing the formation of the "Commonwealth of Independent States."
This pushed the oppressive and stagnant atmosphere in the air to its peak. Everyone understood that the complete collapse of that once unbreakable union was truly only a matter of time.
Everyone in Moscow was filled with trepidation, waiting for news from the Kremlin – no one knew if they would wake up one day to find that the pillar they had once believed in and relied on had suddenly disappeared.
In this winter without war, the entire Soviet Union seemed to have returned to the era of decades ago.
In the midst of anxiety, countless undercurrents surged.
Late at night, in the newly established "Free Ukraine" government's presidential reception room.
Guards still wearing Soviet uniforms stood outside the door with blank expressions, dutifully guarding the somewhat strange and comical business negotiations taking place inside the reception room – on one side was the newly appointed Ukrainian President Kravchuk, and on the other was an unknown shipping company from Norway.
Under normal circumstances, an ordinary enterprise should not be qualified to directly discuss with the leader of a country, especially a comprehensive power that is recognized as one of the top three in Europe today, however...
For Kravchuk, the amount of this deal was too tempting.
As a nation that had just declared independence from the Soviet Union, almost the day after Ukraine seceded, the Soviet Union's economic supplies to Ukraine were instantly and completely cut off – the huge army supplies, and the national welfare to be closer to the wonderful capitalist world, almost within a week, the Ukrainian treasury was on the verge of collapse.
For various reasons, the "free loans" promised by the Americans had not yet arrived, and in order to maintain the Ukrainian national economy on the edge of the cliff, Kravchuk, who had just taken office as Ukrainian president, had lost a lot of hair these days, and was almost ready to announce military cuts and postpone government salary payments.
At this time, the Norwegian financial backer who suddenly appeared in the Ukrainian government's vision was simply the most lovely friend in the world. Facing such a friend in need, Kravchuk naturally wanted to facilitate this big deal as soon as possible.
"...We have learned about your company's order. There is no doubt that choosing the Black Sea Shipyard is an extremely wise choice. You will not find another shipyard in Europe that is more excellent than us. The Soviet Union has a powerful navy that can compete with the Americans, and the backbone of this fleet all comes from the Black Sea!"
"...The world knows that Ukraine has advanced shipbuilding technology, so there is no need for Mr. President to emphasize this point. Since we are willing to pay such a high price, we naturally have complete trust in the capabilities of the Black Sea Shipyard. However... Mr. Kravchuk, the business world is like a battlefield, and time is a very important indicator. If the Ukrainian side cannot deliver the ships in a timely manner, then the meaning of this order will be diminished..."
"...Mr. Laki, don't worry. The Ukrainian government attaches great importance to your company's order for the construction of six large ships. This is an export trade that we are determined to win. However, Berth 0 is currently occupied, and a military vessel that Ukraine assisted in building during the Soviet era is currently docked inside. In this regard, we need to wait for a response from Russia before we can give an accurate answer."
"The Soviet Union? Mr. Kravchuk, you must be joking. The whole world knows what the situation is in the Soviet Union now. I don't think Moscow would care about the grand naval plan far away at the Black Sea Shipyard – as far as I know, the Berth 0 you mentioned has been out of operation for almost half a month, right? Perhaps Ukraine needs to get rid of the shadow of the past and embark on its own path."
"Ukraine has already shaken off the shadow of the Soviet Union, there is no doubt about that! However, this matter still needs to be discussed with Moscow. Please understand and wait a little longer... After all, it would be a very unacceptable loss for the Ukrainian government to simply dismantle the Ulyanovsk, which is about half built, into scrap steel."
"Well then, we will wait a little longer. At the latest, I hope to get a definite answer by January next year. I'm sure you understand that we can't wait forever... Although there is only one Black Sea Shipyard, if it really doesn't work out, shipyards that are slightly worse are not completely out of the question..."
"...Rest assured, Mr. Laki, there will be results soon! And I guarantee that as long as this order is signed, your company will always be the most loyal and friendly friend of the Ukrainian people!"
With the ticking of the clock, the negotiations in the meeting room gradually came to an end.
Kravchuk stood up and shook the right hand of the Norwegian company representative firmly with both hands.
If he remembered correctly, earlier this morning, the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Trade Department had mentioned in passing that an American steel company wanted to buy the steel used to build aircraft carriers at a high price.
As long as he negotiates with that American steel company tomorrow, and handles the opinions and disputes from Russia, the newly born free Ukraine will soon reap a double joy through these two large foreign exchange transactions, instantly turning the empty treasury into a surplus.
"This is the beauty of global capitalization... Praise free economy! Ukraine will be rich from now on!"
Kravchuk stood in the meeting room, looking at the economic advisors around him, and said with great emotion.
At the same time...
Similar scenes also appeared in other corners of the Soviet Union. Facing the dying bear, the long-starved fangs of the capitalists finally couldn't help but stab forward fiercely.
The feast has quietly begun.
However... at this banquet, there was an uninvited guest.
Hogwarts.
On the terrace outside the school owlery, at the top of the castle tower.
Ailina reached out and caught a snowflake falling from the sky, quietly watching it melt in her palm, recalling the information about the Black Sea Shipyard that she had just learned from Saint Grandpa's letter.
The girl's lips curled up slightly, and she clenched her fist, as if she had already grasped the steel behemoth in the distant dock.
It's almost time for Hogwarts to start showing its teeth.
Otherwise... there will be nothing left to eat!
"Reserve grain, fly! From now on, let the voice of Apokalis, the will of Destiny, soar over Ukraine!"
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Mom, the hotel actually has internet! What the hell?!