In mid-August, Simon quietly left the United States and flew to Europe, with Ukraine as his first stop. The series of events triggered by the Rwandan genocide earlier in the year had begun to fade from public memory, but the Westeros system's private military deployment was still in full swing.
The initial 3,000 Ukrainian mercenaries, having survived several wars, had all become part of the Westeros system's core private army. With recent reinforcements, the number of soldiers registered under the 'Ukrainian Frontline Military Services Company' (UFMS) had now exceeded 5,000. According to the original agreement, 2,500 were stationed in Rwanda, while the remaining 2,500 were kept in Ukraine as a rotating reserve.
The headquarters of UFMS was located in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, but its military base was set in the relatively remote Rivne Oblast in northwestern Ukraine. Rivne Oblast is one of the poorest regions in Ukraine, with a population of only 1.1 million, primarily engaged in agriculture and livestock.
Due to the 'Sword of Damocles' plan by the Westeros family, their penetration into Ukraine began at the start of the year.
The Rwandan war in April unexpectedly accelerated the Westeros system's layout in Ukraine. Through the recruitment of soldiers and the purchase of weapons, the Westeros system established contacts with the Ukrainian military.
At the same time, during another crucial moment of regime change in Ukraine, the Westeros system successfully laid out its high-level connections in Ukraine through months of relentless support for former Prime Minister Leon Kuchma, who took office as president last month.
In Simon's memory, Leon Kuchma ruled Ukraine for ten years, and external evaluations of Kuchma often noted his skillful navigation of neutrality between the West and Russia, leading to a period of economic recovery and political stability during his tenure.
Superficially, this seemed true.
However, the reality was that Leon Kuchma facilitated the emergence of Ukrainian oligarchs.
Similar to Russia's 'Saint Petersburg Clan,' Kuchma's rise to power led to the ascendancy of the 'Dnipropetrovsk Clan.' Throughout the early 2000s, Ukrainian politics and economy were largely controlled by politicians and businessmen from the central Dnipropetrovsk region. The widely known 'Gas Princess' Yulia Tymoshenko was initially a member of this clan.
Months ago, during the election sprint, Leon Kuchma hinted that the Westeros system could set up UFMS's military base in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Simon was tempted but ultimately declined.
Maintaining contact with political forces is a necessary condition for the Westeros system to root itself in Ukraine.
However, Simon did not want the Westeros system to be too tightly bound to the Dnipropetrovsk clan, which had many enemies, including internal strife. Yulia Tymoshenko eventually stood against Kuchma.
Being too closely tied would inevitably drag the Westeros system into political conflicts.
Coincidentally, the head of the Ukrainian mercenaries, Krim Derevyanko, was from Rivne Oblast. Given that he had been promoted to the rank of colonel in the Soviet Army before the age of 30 and was one step away from becoming a general, Derevyanko had significant ability and deep roots in Rivne Oblast.
To penetrate Ukraine, the Westeros system needed to choose representatives in this country. The Derevyanko family and its related forces became the best candidates.
Simon arrived in Ukraine on August 16th and began with introductory visits.
He stayed in Kyiv for three days, meeting with newly inaugurated Leon Kuchma and other high-ranking officials discreetly, attending a series of banquets and drinking parties before moving on to Rivne Oblast.
The UFMS military base was located in the hilly forests about 60 kilometers north of Rivne, away from populated areas, covering an area of 35 hectares. Unlike the base under construction in Ohio, this one had all the necessary equipment in place because it was originally a Soviet military camp.
After the Soviet Union dissolved and Ukraine underwent large-scale disarmament, this camp was vacated.
Ukraine's current land policy remained conservative, but through the Westeros system's operations, UFMS acquired ownership of this military base and surrounding 150 hectares of forested hills, along with a large number of weapons, tanks, and helicopters for military training.
Simon now walked through this private territory.
Surrounded by many people, only three were able to walk by Simon's side: his personal military assistant Celia Miller, newly appointed UFMS president Krim Derevyanko, and another dark-haired man named Sergei Komorov.
Sergei Komorov was the Westeros system's chosen representative in the business sector.
This 36-year-old man, three years older than Derevyanko, was only 1.7 meters tall and somewhat thin, with a very plain appearance. However, Komorov was a top graduate of Kyiv University's economics department. During the Gorbachev reform era in the Soviet Union, Komorov foresaw the future and abandoned his secure job at a military factory in Rivne to start a business, primarily in building materials.
Despite its remote and impoverished nature, Rivne Oblast had high-quality clay and stone resources.
According to Komorov, much of the materials used to build vacation villas in Crimea for the Soviet leadership came from Rivne.
When selecting representatives, Simon naturally preferred oligarchs he remembered.
However, compared to Russia, he had fewer records in this area for Ukraine. As for those like Tymoshenko or the like, he had no interest. These people, while capable, were not smart enough. Given Ukraine's political landscape, staying behind the scenes as a powerful oligarch was the best strategy. Stepping out into the spotlight only made them targets for everyone.
Krim Derevyanko first introduced some of his family members.
Simon didn't mind nepotism; in fact, he liked it, provided the person had sufficient ability.
The Derevyanko family was focused on politics and the military, lacking the business acumen. After some consideration, they chose Sergei Komorov, a businessman from a lowly farming background with no connections but who had managed his business successfully in recent years. He was also familiar with the Derevyanko family, making him the perfect candidate.
For Ukraine, Simon did not intend to venture into sensitive energy and mineral industries. The stakes were too small, and it would attract too much attention.
Therefore, he decided to focus on basic necessities.
Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—these are essential for survival.
A few months ago, the Westeros system invested $10 million in Komorov's Ordek Company, acquiring 80% of the shares, leaving Komorov with 15% and the Derevyanko family with 5%.
'Ordek' was named after Komorov's hometown.
Before being selected by the Westeros system, Komorov's business was relatively small, with Ordek Company's total assets worth less than $30,000.
The initial 15% shares given to Komorov was a small test.
If Komorov was overly greedy and wanted more without regard for his foundation, he would not be worth nurturing.
However, when the Westeros system proposed cooperation, Komorov agreed without hesitation and did not haggle over the 15% shares.
This showed he was very smart, understanding that a connection with Simon Westeros was far more valuable. Otherwise, with his limited foundation, he would at best become a relatively affluent businessman in Rivne Oblast, finding it hard to advance further.
After receiving the investment from the Westeros system, Komorov had been busy acquiring various construction, food, and clothing companies in Rivne Oblast and surrounding areas over the past few months, planning to focus on these three sectors in the coming years.
Simon was not very optimistic about the construction industry, preferring the food and clothing sectors.
As the 'breadbasket of Europe,' Ukraine had abundant raw materials for food processing. In Simon's memory, Poroshenko had made his fortune in the confectionery industry.
Regarding the clothing industry, a large number of cheap laborers were needed. Ukraine, with a population of over 52 million and an underdeveloped economy, met this condition perfectly. Simon's plan was that even if they couldn't develop their own brands, they could at least serve as a production base for the Westeros system.
Whether it's luxury brands like Gucci, CK, or more affordable ones like LTD's Victoria's Secret, they all needed supporting factories.
"Now, many companies in the US and Europe are setting up factories in Asia. In fact, Eastern Europe has more advantages in many aspects, not least due to its geographical proximity compared to faraway Asia. Sergei, in the short term, I won't give you too much business, but if you do well, not only can you get orders from clothing companies within the Westeros system, but I can also bring you more business from Europe and the US. However, all this depends on you proving you can handle it."
Walking along an asphalt road on the outskirts of the base, Simon casually surveyed the surroundings while discussing business matters directly in Russian with Sergei Komorov.
Standing next to this young man, Sergei Komorov naturally felt a bit of respect and replied, "I understand, Simon. I am currently integrating several factories and planning to set up a training school to train skilled workers. Give me a year, and you will see satisfactory results."
As Komorov spoke, his mind was still occupied with his recent experiences in Kyiv.
The connections established with the Kyiv authorities through Simon alone were enough for Komorov to digest for a while. He had long realized his severe lack of funds and connections, which initially confined him to small-scale operations in Rivne. Now,
Simon Westeros had filled all his gaps.
Komorov had indeed thought about taking shortcuts into Ukraine's energy, mineral, or even military industries.
However, after recent interactions, understanding the young man's thoughts, Komorov wisely abandoned this idea.
Focusing on basic necessities, if done to the extreme, the scale and profits would not be much less than those monopolistic industries.
Moreover, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ensuing economic breakdown, the daily necessities sector, which should have been relatively competitive, was still in its early development stages in Ukraine. Being a pioneer with sufficient funds and connections, Komorov could achieve a monopoly. With the Westeros system's connections, expanding Ordek Company internationally would be equally easy.
Simon nodded and said, "One more thing, when hiring workers for these factories, Sergei, I need you to prioritize the families of UFMS soldiers, especially the families of fallen or injured soldiers, even setting a specific ratio. Discuss this with Krim and give me a detailed plan soon."
Hearing Simon's words, Sergei Komorov paused but did not object.
He knew there was no room for negotiation on this matter.
Hiring UFMS soldiers' families might bring in complex nepotism, which could be detrimental to the company's development. Moreover, compared to the average Ukrainian public, those soldiers were high-income earners in this country. Ordek Company's factories couldn't afford to pay $500 a month, not even $50.
Seeing through Komorov's concerns, Simon added, "Regarding wages and benefits, they should be standard. My point is, you must provide them with opportunities, but no special treatment. If they are unwilling to work for us, do not force them."
Only then did Komorov feel relieved.
UFMS mercenaries' salary levels were already being adjusted.
The $500 monthly salary would now only be paid during missions.
Back in Ukraine, their daily wages would be reduced to $100, but they would still enjoy pensions, medical insurance, child education subsidies, and a range of generous benefits from the Westeros system. UFMS was also preparing to build a community for UFMS families in Rivne, including residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and supermarkets.
Overall, a base salary of $100 might cause mutiny in the US, but in Ukraine, it was still far above the average income level.
Moreover, the key was the additional housing, education, and medical benefits, further binding these soldiers' interests with the Westeros system. Leaving would mean losing all these benefits, and betrayal would have even more severe consequences.
Discussing various topics, they walked around the base for over half an hour before returning to the interior.
Passing through soldiers in training, they arrived at a three-story office building in one corner of the base.
Understanding that Simon and Derevyanko had business to discuss, Sergei Komorov excused himself, stating he needed to return to Rivne city to check on the UFMS family community preparations. This project was also being handled by a newly established construction subsidiary of Ordek Company.
After dismissing other attendants, only Simon, Krim, and Celia remained in an office.
"Boss, I've selected a team, all elite special forces veterans from the Rwandan war, totaling 18 men, ready to deploy at any time," Krim handed Simon a dossier as they sat on the office sofa, then joked, "Given the high pay for this mission, Boss, why not include me as well?"
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