Please note who has signed the license recommendation.
The manager found the document and went into the reading. This time, he looked up to us almost immediately.
Its very unusual, gentlemen, he spoke with doubt in his voice,from the point of view of the regulations approved by the banks board of directors, the identity of the signatory is not a significant factor. But your case is clearly out of line. Im going to have to submit your application to the director of our branch. He will contact you shortly.
The director of the capital branch of the Federal Military Bank was also unable to make a decision on his own. He contacted us and said that he had given our documents to the board of directors for consideration. They held us for three days, after which we received a categorical rejection from the bank. Not only were we not given the requested amount, we were denied service at all. The head of the branch who told us the news sounded confused and surprised. Either he was a great actor, or he didnt truly understand what had happened. And a new anxious bell rang in my head, and an evil little worm pounded his hammers with a double force.
* * *
Five other big banks have failed us, too. Two of them categorically refused to deal with us. The others were ready to open accounts for us, and one of them even promised to consider a loan application for 10 million, and the manager assured us that we had every chance of getting approval from the bank management. But it certainly couldnt solve our problem.
Everything became clear on the third day. I was contacted by a confused and clearly upset Rabinovich.
Igor, I have some bad news for you, he stated directly, I was approached by people from Global Weapon Industries. They made it clear to me that they wanted to negotiate with the owners of the Lavroff Weapons Company about selling the firm. Im very interested in working with you, but I want to warn you right now, if you decide not to sell, I will be forced to terminate our business relationship. My business is going to be ruined by such ill-wishers. These are very serious people, and I wouldnt want them to be my opponents.
Thank you for your candor, Leo, I responded thoughtfully, trying to shape my behavior in new circumstances, I will not refuse to negotiate. Lets see what these gentlemen have to offer me. Are you still ready to participate at this stage?
Until a decision is made to refuse, yes.
Then arrange a meeting for us, please.
Representatives of one of the worlds largest arms manufacturers refused to come to our office. They chose not to invite us to their office either. We met in a neutral area, in the negotiating room of one of the most expensive business centers in the capital.
So, gentlemen, I took the initiative after our mutual introduction, You have a proposition for me. Im listening to you very carefully.
Igor Yakovlevich, started quietly the Hispanic Enrique Cruz, the first negotiator of the arms corporation,we are pleased to meet you. Such a young officer, and already a knight of the Gold Star and the Iron Cross. Youre a great military man, and obviously thats where you come in.
Thank you, Mister Cruz, I nodded my head, but thats clearly not the reason of our meeting.
Take your time, Mister Lavroff, I was just beginning my thought. So, youre an exemplary officer with incredible combat experience for your age and rank. A brilliant military career awaits you, as you are now a student at the General Staff Academy, and graduation opens many doors to any officer. My colleague Martinez and I would like to understand why do you suddenly need to change your lifestyle abruptly and start a business that you dont know too much about?
Gentlemen, I answered with an accentuated surprise in my voice, but it is more than logical. I was on two combat missions, and in both cases, I was able to achieve high combat effectiveness by improving standard weapons in the service of the Federation Army. Is this not a cause for optimism when we set up our arms business?
For optimism? Not at all. You dont seem to know what youre getting yourself into and what you have big ideas about. The development of weapons and military equipment requires enormous resources, both material and human. In addition, this field of activity had long been divided among the major players. We, Global Weapon Industries, have about 40 percent of the arms market. There are three other large corporations, but their shares are lower. And thats it, Mr. Lavroff. Theres nobody else around. Of course, small companies do their own developments, but theyre not working directly with the Ministry of Defense, they are contractors of a large firm and perform some of their orders. And I can tell you honestly, most of these are either subsidiaries or dependent companies of the same major players in the arms market. But you, bypassing the usual procedures with the full licence to develop and manufacture weapons, have fallen out of this long-established pattern. Nobody needs a new market contestant with direct access to the Ministry of Defense competitions.
Thanks for the informative tour of the arms business, Mr Cruz, I said with a smile, So what does the GWI management want from me?
Wed like to buy your company. Along with the license, of course, because its whats most valuable. Our management is ready to offer you 100,000,000 rubles. Its a very good price, Mr. Lavroff. Think of it. In addition, we are prepared to purchase separately all your work already done on the modernization of standard weapons and buy from now on all the promising improvements and new samples that you can create.
Cruz stopped talking, and all three, including Rabinovich, looked at me waiting for an answer. Judging by the look on my consultants face, he found the GWIs offer more than generous.
This is a good offer, gentlemen. And if I were an ordinary businessman, I would take it without hesitation.
Whats stopping you, Mr Lavroff?
Only one thing. I didnt start this business for profit. I already have enough money to live comfortably. But, alas, not for long. It will be hard for you to understand, gentlemen, I can already see, but still, try, at least to get my motives right to the people youre here for. I just got back from the battle, and I know the reality on the fronts, as Ive been moving in the highest military circles, Ive been among real high-ranking military commanders. With the available weapons and resources, we will not be able to defeat the quargs, we will lose the war. Its a matter of several years. Who would want the money you promise me for my company? Who would spend it and where?
It seems to me, Mr Lavroff, that you are painting the devil blacker than he really is, said Martinez, but it seemed like I was making him uncomfortable, Thats defeatism over the situation
Do I look defeatist to you? I mildly interrupted the GWI negotiator, Im sure youve studied my biography.
My colleague was wrong to say, Enrique Cruz rushed to smooth things over, What he really meant was that he himself was more optimistic about the issue. Please continue with your thought.
Well, gentlemen. I created the Lavroff Weapons Company because I feel I have the power to change the situation. Ive picked an excellent team of like-minded people with the necessary expertise. I already have a few promising ideas, which, by my own experience, I believe are the most important for rapid deployment in the Federation Armed Forces. Thats what I want to present to the New Equipment and Weapons Commission of the Ministry of Defense. Again. I dont want any profit. Everything Ill earn I plan to put into research and development, and in order for them to be implemented as quickly as possible, I need a direct communication with the Ministry of Defense. Im gonna do exactly what I think is most relevant to the army right now, and I dont want anyone interfering in this process and dictating to me what is more promising and less so in terms of commercial benefits.