Chapter 2715: 2689: I Understand
Facing the mirror, he adjusted the gold-framed glasses on his bridge, tidied his hair with his hand, straightened his tie, and pulled the sleeves of his shirt.
With his appearance meticulously groomed, Baranikov, Deputy Director of the Office of Administrative Affairs of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, in charge of Homeland Security issues, began his day’s work.
He walked through the long corridor, paused briefly at the end of it, checked his watch, and when it was time for his regular work briefing, Baranikov knocked on a door.
“Please come in.”
Baranikov opened the door and then smiled as he said, “Good morning, Mr. President.”
“Hello, Baranikov, please wait for a moment, I’ll be ready soon.”
After quickly signing his name on a document, Putin placed the document aside on his desk, then looked up at his secretary and said solemnly, “You may begin.”
Baranikov opened the folder and respectfully said, “Mr. President, here’s a transfer order for General Nicore requiring your signature.”
Although the decision was carefully considered and discussed, Putin still gazed at it briefly before signing his name on the document.
After retrieving the document and placing it back in the folder, Baranikov said solemnly, “The meeting with General Boltenikov is scheduled for three-thirty in the afternoon — is that okay?”
Putin pondered for a moment before nodding and saying, “Okay.”
Baranikov then raised two more comparatively tedious but important issues, and once Putin had addressed each point, Baranikov could conclude the work at hand. Unless something urgent or significant occurred, he wouldn’t see Putin again that day. However, at that moment, Baranikov suddenly pulled out another document, somewhat puzzled, and said, “There’s one peculiar matter.”
Putin frowned slightly and said, “Peculiar?”
Baranikov looked puzzled and said, “Last night, the office of the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service received a strange phone call from someone claiming to be the Black Demon, requesting to speak with Director Chernovich.”
Putin fiddled with a pen in his hand, and upon hearing Baranikov’s words, he slammed the pen down on the table, then said with a serious expression, “Continue.”
Baranikov was visibly surprised; he paused briefly, then continued, “This morning, Chernovich reported the matter to General Vasilyevich, who then contacted the presidential office for you to personally handle the matter. General Vasilyevich didn’t disclose much information — I can only request that you personally address this.”
Putin was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, “What is the matter?”
Baranikov again displayed a trace of confusion, though his concealment was excellent; he still pulled out a document, a relatively thick one with over ten pages.
After placing the document before Putin, Baranikov began with a brief summary of the document’s contents, as per usual.
“The phone call mentioned that Yarebin had passed away, and the Black Demon hoped that he could be buried in the New Saintess Cemetery. I apologize, Mr. President, I don’t quite understand.”
Putin focused on the conversation transcript but only looked at the first page, without proceeding further. After a moment of silence, he stood up, left his desk, and began pacing back and forth in the office.
Baranikov grew more puzzled, even appearing somewhat stunned.
Baranikov’s expression was genuine; he wasn’t adept at feigning emotions. He didn’t know what Yarebin and the Black Demon signified, thus he was truly stunned by Putin’s reaction.
Putin suddenly halted his pacing, looked at his secretary with a serious expression, and said, “Yarebin, King of the Black Devils, he’s dead.”
Baranikov appeared very bewildered, indeed he was bewildered, because he truly didn’t know what the name represented, despite having heard it just last night.
In situations where it’s inappropriate to ask, Baranikov exemplified confusion suitably but refrained from asking any questions.
Putin took a breath and said, “It’s normal that you haven’t heard of his name — it’s classified. Well, did Director Baskov say anything?”
Baranikov immediately replied, “No.”
Putin tightly pursed his lips, then sat back at the desk, began attentively reviewing the remaining documents, and raised his head solemnly after finishing. “Pavlovich, this person is the Black Demon, no doubt, implying Yarebin indeed has died.”
Baranikov said softly, “The phone call requested to bury Yarebin in the New Saintess Cemetery, to cover with the Soviet flag, to inscribe his name on the tombstone — this request…”
Putin said solemnly, “Excessive, is it?”
Baranikov said in a low voice, “No, I just find it very odd. Of course, it’s somewhat excessive, but the entire matter seems like a joke. Naturally, I realize it’s not a joke, hence I find it odd.”
Putin sighed and said, “Yarebin — you don’t know what kind of person he was, nor do you know about the existence of the Black Demon, thus the request seems like a joke to you; covering with the Soviet flag, burying him in the New Saintess Cemetery—this request…”
Baranikov remained silent. He only needed to deliver the issue to Putin; the rest was unrelated to him. He couldn’t interfere, nor could he be involved.
After considering for a moment, Putin finally said, “Call Vasilyevich and ask him to come over when possible, and also call Baskov, no.”
Putin raised his hand and solemnly said, “I’ll call him myself.”
Baranikov immediately said, “Yes, I’ll call General Vasilyevich right away.”
Putin rested his hand on the phone, picked up the receiver, and hesitated upon pressing the keys. After a brief uncertainty, he lowered the receiver and then looked at Baranikov.
“Baranikov, Yarebin was a Soviet hero; he was a captain of a KGB secret unit codenamed Black Demon, with the rank of lieutenant general. He made his final efforts to save the Soviet Union. He was the greatest KGB agent, the strongest warrior, and once Russia’s most dangerous enemy; he had a legendary life with immense achievements.”
Baranikov looked surprised and said, “I never knew such a person existed.”
Putin nodded, then said solemnly, “Everything about him is classified. I want to ask you, do you think such a person is fitting to be buried with the Soviet flag in the New Saintess Cemetery? By the way, the New Saintess Cemetery is where members of the Black Demon unit rest.”
Baranikov said quietly, “A Soviet hero, yet an enemy of Russia — such a person, I feel, isn’t very appropriate, possibly leading to negative impacts.”
Putin suddenly waved his hand and said sternly, “No, I believe simply burying him is far from sufficient! We need not fear a vanished Soviet Union, a deceased old man even less — moreover, the old man was a hero, a true superhero!”
Putin’s gaze grew sharper, then he said solemnly, “A true hero deserves due respect. Some things you don’t understand, but I was once a member of the KGB, so I do.”