The planned UFMS family community spans 30 hectares, allocated in the western suburbs of Rivne City on a large piece of undeveloped land, eliminating the need for complicated demolition.
When Simon and his group arrived at the site, they were met with a scene of bustling activity.
Over a thousand workers and various construction vehicles were already working on leveling the vast expanse of land.
Given the abundance of land resources, the 30 hectares were expected to accommodate the first 500 soldier families, with each family receiving a standardized 500 square meter independent courtyard after accounting for roads, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities.
This kind of arrangement would be unaffordable in the USA.
Currently, a 500-square-meter courtyard in Los Angeles, even in the poorest areas, would cost around $20,000 to $30,000, and in prime locations like Beverly Hills, it could cost over a million dollars. But here, the entire UFMS family community, including land purchase, house construction, and road building, averaged a budget of only $3,000 per courtyard, totaling $1.5 million for the entire project.
$1.5 million wouldn't even buy a mansion in some major cities.
However, for Ukraine, where the average monthly income was less than $30, this was a significant investment.
To put it simply, $3,000 equated to eight years of total income for a Ukrainian resident, based on the average monthly wage of $30.
In reality, most Ukrainians didn't even earn $30 a month.
Thus, the planned 200-square-meter, two-story European-style houses in the family courtyards were considered luxurious in Rivne, where many neighborhoods still consisted of large areas of cheap wooden structures.
Rivne, unlike the year-round mild climate of Los Angeles, is an inland city in Ukraine located at the same latitude as Northeast China, with long, harsh winters where temperatures can drop to minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius. Living in poorly insulated wooden houses was an ordeal, highlighting the dire living conditions of the country's residents.
This decline started in the 1970s and 1980s during the Soviet era but has recently plunged into complete disarray.
At the construction site of the community.
Simon walked on a plot designated for a school, listened to Komorov's introduction, and asked, "How is the recruitment of teachers going? I remember saying that we need the best."
Sergei Komorov gestured towards Celia and said, "Ms. Miller is in charge of this matter, but I believe it's going very well."
Over the past few months, Celia had been diligently learning Russian and understood the gist of Komorov's words. She took over and said to Simon, "Boss, we started recruiting teachers last month. Many schools in Ukraine have suspended operations due to unpaid salaries, including some universities. If you wish, I can even recruit a full team of professors."
Simon knew Ukraine's situation was dire, but hearing that schools were closing surprised him: "Is it that serious?"
Celia replied, "The former Soviet Union placed great importance on education, and the economically developed Ukraine even more so. At its peak, Ukraine had over 1,000 higher education institutions. But after the Soviet Union collapsed, many schools began to close due to government financial constraints, leaving many highly qualified senior teachers unemployed."
Simon didn't know what to say.
When a country's education system collapses, its future is lost.
China's rapid rise after the Reform and Opening-Up was closely tied to the resumption of college entrance exams, quickly providing the country with a large number of highly educated talents.
Reflecting on Ukraine's situation, where national treasures like aircraft design experts were beaten on the streets, elderly scholars in their seventies and eighties struggled for basic survival, former war heroes received no respect, and combat units were forced by politicians to kneel in public to appease the masses—such a country indeed had little hope or future.
Celia, unaware of Simon's thoughts, continued, "When we were in Kyiv the day before yesterday, I received a handwritten letter from a retired professor from Kyiv National University's Physics Department. He saw our recruitment advertisement in the newspaper and earnestly hoped to return to work. He is 67 years old, claims to be in good health, but hasn't received his minimum 1 million hryvnias monthly pension for six months, putting a lot of pressure on his family."
The hryvnia is Ukraine's currency unit, derived from the Soviet ruble.
Simon stopped walking, listening to Celia's story with a calm expression, and asked, "How much is 1 million hryvnias?"
In recent discussions, currency values were often converted into dollars for clarity, so Simon hadn't paid much attention to the exchange rate of Ukrainian currency.
Celia pulled out her wallet from her Hermès handbag, searched through it, and handed Simon a 200,000-hryvnia note, saying, "This is worth about 95 cents. Ukraine experienced severe inflation last year alongside Russia, but Kyiv hasn't issued new currency like Russia did."
Simon took the 'large denomination' bill, realizing that 200,000 hryvnias were only worth 95 cents. A retired professor's six-month arrears of 1 million hryvnias per month amounted to less than $5.
For some reason, Simon felt a deep sense of sorrow.
Looking at the bustling workers around the site, Simon asked, "What about them?"
Celia understood what Simon meant and responded fluently, "The average daily wage is about 100,000 hryvnias, varying by job, and we also provide one meal."
Simon nodded, pondering for a moment, then said to Celia, "Recruit 1,000 teachers, as you said. Choose the best possible, and if they're all university professors, even better."
Celia replied, "Boss, isn't that too many?"
Although UFMS's education benefits would extend to all soldiers' children, many soldiers were still single. Even with an average of one child per 5,000 soldiers, 1,000 teachers for 5,000 students was a ratio many top universities couldn't match.
Moreover, this was only for primary to high school education, making so many teachers unnecessary.
Simon insisted, "It's not just for soldiers' children. Soldiers themselves will continue their education, at least mastering a foreign language, taught by our teachers. Additionally, the school won't be limited to soldiers' children but will also enroll the general public. However, we'll only accept very smart and hardworking children, and if they meet these conditions, the Westeros system will offer them the same tuition-free benefits as soldiers' children."
Simon didn't trust people easily but firmly believed that every investment would yield some return.
Education was one of the most rewarding investments.
While some uneducated individuals might reach the top of the pyramid, the majority at the top were well-educated with high degrees.
Since this country had completely lost its direction, Simon didn't mind nurturing more elites to gradually gain control.
After visiting the UMFS family community site in the morning, they toured several factories under Aldek Corporation in the afternoon. By the time Simon's group returned from a quarry south of Rivne, it was already dusk.
The convoy entered the city via the southern main road, turned left to pass through a residential area, and suddenly stopped due to an obstruction.
Simon was discussing the training of female guards in Ukraine with Celia in the car.
As in North America, they had recruited 100 girls with sports backgrounds from various universities.
However, since these girls were not urgently needed, Simon was more patient with their training, planning a slow and meticulous process. Thus, instead of immediately entering the military base for training, they were housed in Kyiv to receive intensive language training and specialized agent skills education from former KGB agents recruited by the Westeros system in Ukraine. Of course, not the "swallow" kind.
Noticing the sudden stop, Simon looked towards the front.
The black Mercedes leading the way blocked the view, leaving him unsure of what had happened.
The driver communicated with the bodyguard in the front car via radio, then turned to Simon and said, "Boss, there's a gang fight at the intersection ahead, blocking the road."
As the driver spoke, Ken Dixon got out of the front car, followed by Sergei Komorov and Klim Zherevyan, who had been following Simon's convoy on their way home.
Simon instructed Celia to stay put and got out of the car himself.
Seeing Simon get out, Ken Dixon and the other bodyguards quickly surrounded him.
Besides Simon's convoy, there were few other vehicles on the street. The group stood in the middle of the road, looking ahead at a group of twenty to thirty young men blocking an intersection, wielding knives and wooden sticks, fighting fiercely. The chaotic scene included loud shouts, bloody injuries, and people falling, creating quite a commotion.
Although Ukraine had strict gun control laws, there was still a high number of firearms in civilian hands.
These youths seemed to retain some rationality, adhering to the street rules by only using cold weapons.
Rivne Mayor Roman Nisciuk, who had been following Simon all day, ran over with an embarrassed expression and apologized, "Mr. Westeros, I'm sorry you have to see this. I'll notify the police to arrest these troublemakers right away."
There was no need for Nisciuk to call the police. Realizing they had blocked a convoy they couldn't afford to offend, with the closest bodyguards already aiming military-grade automatic rifles at them, the gang members quickly stopped fighting. They cautiously split into two groups, helping their injured or unconscious comrades before dispersing into the surrounding streets.
The last rays of the setting sun cast a reddish hue on the intersection, leaving several conspicuous patches of blood on the ground.
Seeing Simon still standing and staring
at the bloodstains, Nisciuk pulled on Klim Zherevyan. Although this incident wasn't directly his fault, if the influential young tycoon got upset and held it against him, his position as mayor could be jeopardized.
Zherevyan, who had seen much worse on the battlefield, was initially unfazed by the minor scuffle and had been enjoying the show with Simon. Noticing Nisciuk's gesture, he said to Simon, "Boss, it's just some small-time thugs fighting. Nothing worth seeing. Let's head back."
Simon nodded, got back in the car, and as the Mercedes started again, he told Celia, "Change the plan temporarily. I'll stay here for an extra day."
Celia was momentarily surprised but quickly agreed. She then added, "In recent years, Ukraine's unemployment rate has exceeded 20%, with youth unemployment even higher. Lacking livelihoods, many have joined gangs. When the UFMS family community first broke ground, some gang members tried to cause trouble, but after Klim intervened, no one dared to bother us again. These incidents won't affect us."
Simon understood.
Even though the Westeros system's presence in Ukraine wasn't deeply entrenched yet, it was not something local gangs could easily challenge.
Especially in Rivne, soon to be the Westeros system's stronghold in Ukraine.
Simon's decision to stay an extra day in Ukraine stemmed from other considerations.
Where there is light, there must be darkness.
Gangs could never be eradicated entirely.
Therefore, Simon intended to try controlling this dark force.
In his memory, Russian gangs had successfully extended their influence worldwide, rivaling the more famous Italian mafia.
With determination and strong support, there was no reason Ukrainian gangs couldn't achieve the same.
Simon had no interest in profiting from gangs, but controlling an underground force affiliated with the Westeros system would prevent incidents like the Italian mafia sending bullets to Westeros core members. He could then use a black-on-black strategy without personally intervening.
Even after returning to the central estate, Simon continued pondering this matter.
He could start with Rivne, secretly supporting some "daring and combative" youths to send them to Western Europe and North America, thereby reducing gang disturbances in Rivne, benefiting both sides.
However, effectively controlling these people posed a challenge.
Simon soon thought of the KGB.
The reason why many former KGB agents held high positions or even led in post-Soviet Russia was that these agents were indeed the social elite.
After the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine's initial strategy completely rejected anything Soviet, disbanding the KGB's Ukrainian branch and leaving many elite agents jobless like ordinary citizens.
Perhaps he could arrange for some of these elite agents, skilled at navigating the edges of darkness, to lead the gangs.
Entering the villa, Simon, after a busy day, temporarily set aside these thoughts.
The six girls greeted him proactively.
To these girls, Simon was a lofty figure, naturally commanding respect. His small gestures of kindness since last night had made them, who originally had no grand expectations, develop a sense of admiration for him. Their gazes were now filled with even more apparent respect and obedience.
After a day of running around, Simon planned to take a bath. Just as he instructed two girls, whose names he hadn't remembered yet, to prepare the bath, Emily mentioned that the villa had an indoor pool on the west side.
Bathing in the pool was certainly more comfortable than a bathtub.
Hearing this, Simon changed direction, unbuttoning his coat. With a casual command, the six girls either led the way or took his clothes, attentively accompanying him.
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