NOVEL WEB Chapter 896
Viktor fell silent for a moment in response to Park Jinseong’s question.
But then he laughed heartily and said,
“Who wouldn’t fear the great traditions of Russia? Especially a soldier!”
There’s this humor out there.
Stalin is considered the greatest human because he purged everyone greater than himself.
Back in the days of the Soviet Socialist Republic, Secretary Stalin purged countless people, and the shock of that time established a tradition in Russia.
A tradition named purging.
Though it’s a tradition that’s less than a century old, who really cares about that?
All it takes for a tradition to take root is not time, but perception.
The Great Purge!
This massive purge, where over a million people met their end for all sorts of reasons, caused seismic shifts in society, like a meteor collision, etching fear deep into the Russian psyche.
And that fear continues to this very day.
Flowing through the bloodline.
“But something feels off. It’s similar to a purge, but different somehow…”
Viktor admitted, somewhat calmly, that he was indeed afraid of purging, but that wasn’t the only reason he had sought a fortune teller.
“Of course, rationally speaking, it would be wise to see this as a sign of a purge. The balding eagle Tsar has grown quite old, and it’s about time for some suspicion to rear its head.”
The people of Russia want a ‘powerful ruler.’
They prefer competent oppression over weak mercy, and decisive governance over indecisive virtue.
People hope that their rulers in Russia will mostly project a strong image, using that strength to protect them and lead the nation.
However, this preference can be both a boon and a bane for a dictator.
People inevitably age and weaken.
Time transforms a young lion into an old one.
The once-magnificent mane loses its luster, and the beautiful coat withers.
While many may awe and fear a young lion, will they still show the same reverence when that lion turns old and loses its teeth?
An old lion inevitably faces challenges from other young lions and, by nature’s law, ends up being ousted from the pride, wandering aimlessly until it meets a lonely death.
The world of politics is no different.
Especially in the realm of ‘dictatorship,’ it becomes even more so.
Though one can retire and play at being a retired monarch, they can never reclaim the throne, and while they may receive respect, their actual power wanes over time.
Of course, there are exceptions like in Japan, where retired figures still wield real influence behind the scenes… but such cases are just that—exceptions. It’s common sense that most ousted figures cannot return to the center of power.
This is why countless dictators engage in desperate acts to maintain their positions.
They stomp out any budding challenges before they can take root, routinely showcase brutality to prove their vitality, spread fear using oppression and violence, and accumulate achievements to prove they’re worthy of ruling.
Perhaps this is the behavior one exhibits when ensnared by power.
“An old person may be wise, but they cannot be strong. But that balding Tsar seems to be having problems with his cognitive abilities… Honestly, challengers will inevitably arise.”
That’s why it’s no wonder the current iron-fisted rule is slowly shaking.
Viktor spoke thus.
“But this time, it’s different. And if you ask me how it’s different, I can’t exactly say… but it is.”
It does seem that the aim is to maintain power.
But there’s a different essence to it.
It feels like proactive surveillance with a clear objective rather than actions driven by suspicion.
Though a sickle is wielded, it’s not for cutting foes but for clearly trimming the grass and trees.
It carries a distinct and evident purpose, yet it feels ambiguous, making it hard to guess.
Viktor wants to know the nature of this vague warning his instincts whisper to him.
And so he called Park Jinseong.
After hearing all this, all Park Jinseong could say was,
“Alright. I guess I have to do my part, but turn down a request for help would be hard.”
Acceptance.
He could hardly say something in stark contrast to his earlier ambiguous refusal.
This was simply unavoidable.
It was true that he was suffering from the aftereffects of the Ritual of Magic, and the ambiguity surrounding the bombardment of his synesthesia meant he needed time to recover… But refusing Viktor’s request would have been too much of a loss.
If Viktor survived, Park Jinseong’s trust would plummet, and if Viktor were truly purged, a competent ally would vanish, rendering Park Jinseong’s plans null and void.
‘And it’s not simply about loss.’
However, accepting Viktor’s request wasn’t only about suffering a significant loss.
What was it that made Park Jinseong hesitate to read omens?
Wasn’t it the burden of cost and the wariness of synesthesia’s overflow?
Plus, something had happened with Odilia, so he figured it was wise to take care of himself.
But… now he could pass some of that burden onto Viktor.
“Though young lion, I too had urgent matters to attend to, and one of my plans has been disrupted, so I would appreciate a bit of help.”
“Oh really? If it’s something I can help with, I will. Of course, within reasonable limits.”
“Nothing grand. I know a witch who I have a connection with, and it seems something has happened to her. I wish to find her whereabouts and would need some help with that.”
“A witch? A white witch? A brown witch? Or maybe a Nazi witch?”
“I’m talking about the Great Witch.”
Upon hearing Park Jinseong’s request, Viktor paused as if pondering.
He realized what Park Jinseong’s request implied.
While he hadn’t explicitly asked for certain means, it was undoubtedly a request to mobilize someone from the intelligence agency.
But utilizing the intelligence agency in this situation was tricky.
In suspicious times, one must stay low and keep a low profile.
Mobilizing someone from the intelligence agency during such a period risked drawing the attention of a purging old man.
What kind of person is the current President of Russia anyway?
Isn’t he from the intelligence agency?
If he were to mobilize someone from the intelligence agency…
There’s a high chance they’d catch Viktor’s gaze.
But it felt awkward to refuse.
It’s not like Viktor couldn’t do it, and if one was willing to shoulder the risk, it was something he could do.
Moreover, it wasn’t as if Park Jinseong was pushing aside his urgent matters to lend his support.
Seeing that situation made it hard for Park Jinseong to say, “Sure, you can overextend yourself, but I don’t want to risk it, so I’ll decline.”
He could see that Viktor was taking this matter seriously.
‘It seems he wouldn’t typically hesitate like this, but with a razor-sharp sense of danger feeling right at his throat, he acts this way. He must really feel pressured to call me.’
He let out a hearty laugh.
And then, casually continuing the conversation, he said,
“Nothing serious. As I said, it may not be a huge help. But it might turn out to be a bit costly.”
“Costly help?”
“I’m planning to utilize the power of magic to locate my Great Witch, but since it hasn’t been long since I performed my Ritual of Magic, I’m in a situation where I need to restore my health. To prevent damaging my body, I’ll need a fair amount of materials. It would be great if you could help to gather those.”
A request to find materials for magical rituals, contrasting his earlier subtle suggestion to mobilize the intelligence agency.
“That’s a request I could certainly fulfill.”
For Viktor, who had even been willing to stretch his limit for face’s sake, this was something he could easily agree to.
Besides, what Park Jinseong had just employed was basic negotiation skills.
Making a tough demand first and then following it up with an easier request.
Viktor assumed Park Jinseong had intended to ask for ritual materials from the beginning.
‘As expected of shamans, they’re just so full of tricks.’
Viktor thought as he replied to Park Jinseong.
“I’ll get the ritual materials as quickly as I can. By the way, what’s the location?”
“I have a bunker that I got from you. It’s well-suited for a villa, so it would be proper to conduct the work there.”
“Hmm. Taking vacation to flee to a villa during a time like this… isn’t a bad idea.”
Viktor nodded at Park Jinseong’s suggestion.
Though leaving one’s post recklessly could lead to a situation where one couldn’t act properly and might get purged, staying put wouldn’t guarantee any security either. No one would stage a coup just out of fear of a purge.
So pretending to take a vacation to the villa, expressing, “I’m innocent and have no interest in power,” wasn’t a bad plan at all.
“Alright. Let’s meet there then.”
With that, the call with Viktor came to an end.
In the silence left behind in the room after the call, only the noise of the city outside lingered.
Park Jinseong looked up at the sky once more.
Just like before.
The stars said nothing to Park Jinseong.