The weather is gradually getting warmer and the harsh winter is over.
However, the real severe cold has just arrived on this land.
As time goes by, the people of Russia and Ukraine gradually wake up from the joy of embracing freedom and begin to return to their daily lives filled with trivial things such as firewood, rice, oil, salt, potatoes, bread, vodka...
The red flag that was lowered in the Kremlin not long ago did not bring many changes to people's daily lives. The "500-day plan" allocated state-owned enterprise securities to each citizen only brought a
The illusory book wealth has increased, but food remains increasingly scarce, and light industrial daily products are also increasingly in short supply.
Based on Russian President Yelinchin's new policies, most laboratories, research institutes, and academies of sciences have been closed indefinitely. Even projects like mathematical research have come to a standstill.
The increasingly severe government finances of Russia, Ukraine and other countries have even been unable to pay the salaries of some armies, let alone take care of these scientific researchers who cannot create direct benefits. They are willing and able to continue to stick to their jobs and protect the
There are not many people left holding those precious data.
Of course, I just exist as an archivist.
Apart from clocking in on time every morning and patrolling all the research laboratories as has been customary for decades to ensure that no homeless people sneak in to cause trouble, or that no desperate unemployed people come in to steal, there is no other job.
After get off work, these scientific researchers who were once regarded as treasures by the country still flocked to bakeries and daily necessities department stores that seemed to have no end in sight, just like most people in the city, waving their elbows and squeezing into the front. Go buy bread and daily consumables whose price tags change every day.
Free trade is like a poison wrapped in honey, spreading rapidly across this land.
While cursing the unscrupulous shop owners, people kept taking out more rubles from their pockets to buy what they wanted at high prices. Fortunately, the red bear still had a lot of savings left behind.
With various economic stimulus policies designed to quench thirst, the situation has not completely worsened for the time being.
Whether they are new speculators or people who want to protect the past, they can still maintain a delicate balance in the embers.
However, many times...
Just relying on personal efforts is still too helpless in the face of the tide of the big era.
The new capitalist countries that emerged from the shell of the former Soviet Union are more eager than any other Western country to eat up the bear meat that has been on the table as soon as possible. The cold winter has arrived.
…………
Budeker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Russia.
As deputy director of the institute, Mr. Alexei’s daily routine is no different.
I run to the institute at seven o'clock every morning, count the names of those who are still at the institute, and occasionally hold small meetings to plan out how to get all processes running again as soon as possible when the country is preparing to restart the institute's projects.
In the afternoon, I locked all the files according to the Soviet Research Institute's regulations, or went to the bakery or department store to see if I could bring something good back home after get off work.
The only difference may be that recently, there has been a clerk from a foreign company in Austria surrounding him, taking the initiative to help him seize advantageous terrain in bakeries and daily necessities stores in advance, and pack up one or two people who want to rush into the research institute.
The homeless man who snatched instruments and computers and sold them, or helped him repair the exterior wall of the research institute that was damaged in the middle of the night...
The most important thing is that he can help Alexei cover up his family and pretend that the institute is still running normally...
Of course, it would be nice if the Austrian who claimed to be his old friend could have a normal mind.
"Mr. Frank, I'm just an ordinary researcher. If you need my help with anything, just ask. In this situation, even if it's a slightly excessive request... ugh..."
Alexey took the long bread stick from the man's hand, with embarrassment written all over his face, and hesitated before saying.
There is no unreasonable kindness in the world. He was able to reach the position of deputy director of the Budeker Institute of Nuclear Physics step by step. Alexey was not the kind of scientific madman who was ignorant of the world. He knew very well that the other party must have some intention on him.
.
A few decades ago, he would naturally have reported this "foreign spy" with ulterior motives to the police system without hesitation. However, as the red flag fell, the so-called confidentiality and counterintelligence had already become a joke-U.S.
People, the British became the guests of governments and business executives of various countries, and the military sold weapons and equipment at low prices to exchange for daily needs.
Even Alexei, who once firmly believed that he would not compromise, has gradually surrendered to reality unknowingly. In order to protect the precious research results from disappearing into nothing, and to maintain the daily expenses of the family, he silently accepted the decision.
With the help of the Austrian who appeared next to him, he still held on to the final bottom line deep in his heart.
Although... he no longer knows what the meaning of this is...
"Really? Have you really thought about it?"
Hearing Alexei's words, the young man named Frank did not have any expression of joy on his face. Instead, he showed a slightly tired expression. He looked at the middle-aged Russian man next to him with a hint of expectation and sighed softly.
tone.
Immediately afterwards, Alexey felt that his vision was slightly blurred.
The young man's voice vaguely reached his ears, and it was the same answer he had heard countless times in the past few days.
"Sorry, Mr. Alexey, I think you may not be ready yet."
Shaking his dizzy head, Alex frowned and looked at the young man standing next to him. He couldn't help but roll his eyes. This was the most helpless thing. Every time he looked at him these days,
This is always the answer when you want to ask about the other person’s purpose.
After decades of living, this was the first time he encountered this situation. The middle-aged researcher spread his hands.
"Oh, Frank, you can't do this... No matter what your purpose is, you have to try it whenever you have the chance, right? You don't even tell me anything, why are you so stubborn about me?
Will you refuse?"
"You are a great person, I know that."
Frank thought for a while, looked at the surrounding shops, shook his head and said.
"Mr. Kurt Meyer specifically stated this when he handed over the task of persuading you to me. But it is precisely because of this that you are particularly valuable - I can only tell you at the moment that we do not have any malicious intent.
.In addition, I also told you that our Tianming Group has a special method for calculating task indicators, so you don’t need to be too uneasy... After successfully convincing you, I will be able to pass the inspection period and become a full-time employee."
"Honestly, it's hard to believe."
Alexei glanced at Frank, who was in a state of indigestion, then looked at the loaf of bread in his arms, and curled his lips.
"But judging from the current situation, as someone who has shamelessly accepted so much help from you, I don't have much position to question anything. I just hope that when you ask for it, we can finally become friends."
"Judging from the current situation, I think there is hope..."
The young man smiled and was about to continue saying something.
However, before Frank could finish speaking, Alexey's cell phone in his pocket suddenly rang, interrupting their conversation. As the deputy director of the institute, Alexey was still entitled to own a mobile phone belonging to the institute.
of your own mobile phone.
"Feel sorry."
Alexey's expression changed, he nodded politely towards Frank, walked aside and took out the big brick-like mobile phone produced by the former Soviet military factory in his arms - in this era, communication methods were not as popular as in later generations.
I will contact him through this method, and it will definitely not be a trivial matter of talking on the phone.
Not to mention, there aren't many people in Russia who know his contact information.
"Mr. Alexei, where are you now? Come back quickly!"
As Alexei expected, as soon as he connected the phone, accompanied by the buzzing sound of electricity, an anxious voice came from the other end of the receiver. The owner of the voice was very familiar to him. He was from Budeker Nuclear Physics Research Institute.
The security captain in charge of the duty.
"Calm down! I'm coming over right now. What happened?"
"People from the government, people from the government have already arrived at the door... They came with documents, saying that they were going to completely close the Budeker Institute of Nuclear Physics and fire all the staff in the institute. They will be issued by the government in a unified way after a period of time.
Part of the severance package, and then the documents and facilities inside will be cleared starting tomorrow..."
"Tomorrow?! Such an emergency?! It's impossible. Besides, there's no time to transfer the data in such a short time..."
"They... they said that there is no need to move, all the files and computers can be destroyed directly on the spot... There are also several Americans present. I heard that this site will be converted into... the Citibank of the United States in Russia.
As one of the branch offices, there is no need to build additional treasury and archives room..."
"cyka6лrдь! (Sukabule: "Hello!" in Russian) You stop them first, I will come right away!"
Alexey's eyes widened in an instant, and he roared at the phone. He didn't even bother to say hello to Frank who was not far away, and hurriedly rushed in the direction of the Budeker Institute of Nuclear Physics.
go.
For a moment, Frank felt as if he saw a giant white bear running wildly in the snow...
"Oh, is this the solution that Miss Theresa said..."
Frank sighed with a complicated mood, recalling the reply he received yesterday, shook his head, glanced at Alexei's leaving back, looked left and right, and turned into an unoccupied building next to him.
secluded corner.
Although I don’t know how all this was accomplished, since the lady has already taken action, there is probably no room for maneuver in this matter, and it has almost reached the final stage of communication...
However, why does he feel a little uncomfortable when he sees that the mission is about to be completed?
Frank shook his head, smiled self-deprecatingly, and his tone was particularly complicated - he didn't expect that in the end, he would need other forces to help him complete this task. When he took on this task, he didn't expect it to be so difficult.
"It's just a bunch of stubborn, troublesome, weak and stupid people..."
crackle.
With a slight crackle like a firecracker exploding, the man's figure turned into a twisted black light and shadow and disappeared into the air, leaving only the last word echoing in the corner of this empty city.
"…Muggle."
And at the same time, or a little earlier, a little later...
Similar scenes are happening in every corner of Russia and Ukraine. With the addition of the goblins, Elena Kaslana and the destiny behind her finally spread their wings in this vast land and sent out a breathtaking message.