After ending his cryptic conversation with Medvedev...
Alvin returned to the banquet hall for a while and chatted with some employees from Steel Digital.
Alvin kindly reminded them that since they'd come all this way, they should make sure to visit Moscow's various attractions.
Afterward, Alvin led Yelena and Tarkov back to his room, with Agent Jinna seeing them off.
Alvin sent Yelena away after she seemed intent on sticking by his side and constantly urging him to "rob a bank."
He sat on the sofa with a glass of whiskey and sank into thought...
The situation today had been extremely strange!
Alvin recalled every word Medvedev had said...
Russia was definitely hoping to get Steel Digital to invest there!
But what were they after?
Alvin finally reached a somewhat shocking conclusion...
"Russia can't hold on anymore!"
As the world's third pole, Russia had always relied on the legacy left behind by its ancestors to keep going.
Sanctions, sanctions, and more sanctions...
This superpower was either being sanctioned or on its way to being sanctioned.
It was only because its reserves were so vast that it could survive the "blockade," relying on its formidable military strength and its unbending temperament.
But the state of the world was beginning to change!
Humanity was no longer confined to Earth...
The wars on two fronts, in "Hell" and "Nidavellir," combined with the arms race in spaceships...
Russia was nearing its limit!
On paper, Russia's missiles, satellites, aircraft, and other high-tech equipment were all up to date.
But everyone knew that its domestic economy wasn't doing too well!
For a world power to avoid falling behind...
It would have to make the whole country tighten its belts and introduce rationing...
Otherwise, Russia's economy simply couldn't support the massive investments that lay ahead!
Russia could