Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth
Chapter 990 - 895: Refuse a Toast only to Drink a forfeit

Chapter 990: Chapter 895: Refuse a Toast only to Drink a forfeit

Like most energy companies, the headquarters of the Siberian Coal Group is also located in Moscow.

On a street to the southwest of the city center, there’s an inconspicuous little red building.

It is only seven stories high, built of red bricks, and surrounded by a row of iron fences, quite understated.

However, next to the main gate, there’s a bronze plaque with "Siberian Coal" inscribed on it.

In the yard, a lineup of identical BMW 7 series are parked, presumably public service cars provided by the Group for senior management personnel.

From this little detail, one could still tell that the company was quite wealthy.

On the very top floor, the seventh floor, inside a massive office.

Menchinko was frowning deeply as he looked at the elderly man with graying hair in front of him.

"Mr. Constantin, let me emphasize once again that Siberian Coal is not for sale!

We are not selling now, and we will not sell in the future!

Moreover, this meeting was out of respect for you, but I do not wish to hear words that might harm our mutual feelings again."

Obviously, the elderly man with graying hair was Constantin.

It was only yesterday that he had his assistant contact Menchinko’s side, mentioning he was in Moscow and wanted to visit Menchinko. On the phone, he didn’t bring up anything about an acquisition.

Today, Menchinko had been all smiles welcoming him.

But as soon as they sat down, Constantin bluntly said he wanted to buy the Siberian Coal Group, which left Menchinko dumbfounded for quite a while before he could respond.

However, Menchinko couldn’t very well fall out with him, so he politely declined, saying he wasn’t short of money and had just integrated the domestic coal industry. He was planning grand things hence could not possibly sell the Group.

But Constantin seemed not to understand and once again spoke of wanting to acquire the Siberian Coal Group.

This irritated Menchinko, leading him to say the words above.

...

Constantin sat there smiling, not at all angered by the rejection.

He smiled warmly at Menchinko and said,

"Mr. Menchinko, I still suggest you consider it carefully, and not hastily refuse an offer of goodwill from a friend.

Perhaps I can remind you that Russia today is no longer what it was ten years ago; not just anyone is qualified to run an energy business.

There are too many examples to look at, just look at those once glorious energy tycoons. What are they doing now?

Some have committed suicide out of fear of prosecution, some fled abroad, and some ended up in jail.

The wiser ones, like A Bu and Khodorkovsky, made accurate judgments about the situation.

Either they retired, or they transferred their stock rights, which is why they now live comfortably without any worries."

Upon hearing these words, a chill went through Menchinko.

He wasn’t ignorant of the happenings in the country these past few years; he cared deeply!

But the last few years he had secured the "friendship" of Kasianov, and since he kept a low profile in his business dealings, he managed to sail smoothly without anyone setting their sights on him.

But now Kasianov had been ousted!

Menchinko was desperately trying to curry favor with the Hilarwick Group.

Menchinko was smart; he knew that the country’s largest force was represented by the Kremlin-backed Hilarwick Group. Only with the Kremlin’s endorsement could he truly be safe.

Besides, he was just a businessman with absolutely no political ambitions.

So he thought he would not be in any danger.

Those tycoons who were "regulated," wasn’t it all for political reasons that they were dealt with...

But he never expected that at his most vulnerable, someone would actually attempt a hostile takeover, proposing to buy his Siberian Coal Group!

Noticing the threatening tone in Constantin’s words, Menchinko narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at him for a few moments.

Of course, Constantin’s expression didn’t change, his heart didn’t skip a beat, and he looked back at Menchinko with a smile.

Menchinko’s mouth twisted into a hint of mockery as he retorted,

"What if I just refuse? What do you plan to do then?

I am a law-abiding citizen and also hold British citizenship. If you dare act rashly, I can take this to the International Court!"

In reality, he was just bluffing, not backing down. Although he had never dealt with Constantin, the old fox, before, he had heard a thing or two about him.

A few years ago, Constantin had been relatively low-key, developing his businesses in Petersburg.

He mainly dealt in the telecommunications business, holding considerable shares in the country’s two major telecom companies.

But he had not entered the energy field, so he couldn’t even be called an oligarch.

However, over the past two years, suddenly a "Romanov family" emerged, catching many by surprise.

Although Rossiyana inherited the Grand Duke title, not Constantin, it also meant Constantin was a descendant of the Romanov Family, a progeny of the Tsar!

But so what if he was a descendant of the Tsar? Could that really be worth the tens of billions of dollars in assets owned by Siberian Coal?

As for the relationship between the Romanov Family and the Kremlin...

Menchinko was still uncertain.

Perhaps that relationship was the source of confidence for Constantin’s visit today to talk about an acquisition!