The Varyag was 67% complete, with the remaining work expected to be finished within three years. As for the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ulyanovsk, well, that was a much more complicated story.
Construction on the carrier began in 1988 at the Black Sea Shipyard. However, when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the project had only reached 30% completion. Due to financial difficulties, the Ukrainian government was misled by foreign interests and even considered dismantling the carrier.
Fortunately, strong opposition from the Navy's admirals, including Admiral Petrovich, prevented this from happening. Otherwise, the former Soviet officers and commanders might have been so enraged they'd rise from their graves...
Admiral Petrovich happened to be the father of Major Sheknya, the same officer who had previously received Mavi. When Mavi landed at the Ukrainian airport, he immediately spotted Major Sheknya waiting for him in her military jeep.
Today, Sheknya was once again dressed in her naval officer's uniform. The tailored outfit accentuated her slender waist and full figure. Her fair, delicate Ukrainian skin was on full display, highlighting her striking features.
Her soft, rosy lips, coupled with a perfectly sculpted nose, framed a face that was breathtakingly beautiful.
If Mavi hadn't already known Sheknya's background, and if she weren't dressed in military attire, he might have mistaken her for a celebrity or a model—certainly not a naval officer.
As Mavi stepped off the plane, Major Sheknya exited the jeep and greeted him.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Mavi. Welcome to Ukraine. We meet again."
"Good afternoon, Major Sheknya," Mavi responded calmly. He wasn't the type to lose composure just because he was in the presence of a beautiful woman. Even though she was the famed "naval beauty" with a powerful background, he still had business to handle.
"Get in, Mr. Mavi. I'll take you to the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters. Admiral Petrovich is expecting you," Sheknya said with a smile. The contrast between her stern uniform and her warm expression was strikingly attractive.
"Admiral Petrovich?" Mavi thought for a moment. Wasn't that—
"That's right, he's also my father. I assume you already knew, Mr. Mavi?" Sheknya confirmed without hesitation. Female officers really had a straightforward way about them—it was refreshing.
Mavi gave a slight nod and didn't say much. He got into the jeep, and they headed toward the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters.
With his rising status and influence, Mavi was now moving in some seriously powerful circles. Just a few weeks ago, he had visited the Russian Navy Headquarters, and today, he was heading to Ukraine's Navy Headquarters to meet an admiral. For an ordinary person, this would be a story worth bragging about for a lifetime.
Sheknya drove the military jeep swiftly along the highway, and before long, they arrived at a grand military fortress heavily guarded by armed personnel.
Ukraine had an unusually high number of women in its population. The severe gender imbalance meant that its military had a large contingent of female soldiers.
As they drove through the military district, Mavi saw several groups of Ukrainian female sailors in uniform. Compared to what he had seen in Russia, the number of women here was significantly higher. It almost felt like he had entered some kind of Amazonian nation… No wonder Ukrainian men never had trouble finding girlfriends—there were simply too many women.
"Mr. Mavi, what do you think of our Ukrainian female soldiers?" Sheknya asked casually while driving.
"What's the criteria for evaluation? Appearance? Fitness? Or combat capabilities?" Mavi responded carefully. Being in someone else's territory, he wasn't going to say anything that might cause misunderstandings.
His cautious response made Sheknya glance at him before smiling. "Mr. Mavi, you don't have to be so reserved. You'll be working closely with the Ukrainian Navy from now on. Our military treats our partners very well. With our support, you'll find that fewer people will dare to mess with you."
In this timeline, Ukraine still possessed nuclear warheads and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, making its military power a force to be reckoned with. No wonder Sheknya could speak so confidently.
"Thank you for your support, Major Sheknya," Mavi replied steadily. He wouldn't let this go to his head, nor would he recklessly involve himself in conflicts between nations or political struggles. He was just an arms dealer—picking sides carelessly would be a death sentence. Staying neutral and maintaining business relationships was his key to survival.
Soon, the jeep arrived in front of an imposing military building, its entrance flanked by numerous Ukrainian naval flags.
"We've arrived, Mr. Mavi. Admiral Petrovich is waiting upstairs. Follow me," Sheknya said as she nimbly exited the vehicle, motioning for Mavi to follow.
Mavi was slightly surprised that an admiral was personally waiting for him. As Sheknya led him to the top-floor conference room, he finally came face-to-face with the legendary Admiral Petrovich.
Like admirals in other countries, Petrovich's uniform was adorned with various prestigious medals and high-ranking insignias. His presence exuded the aura of a hardened military commander.
"Mr. Mavi, welcome," Admiral Petrovich greeted him in a formal military manner, extending his right hand.
"Nice to meet you, Admiral Petrovich," Mavi responded, shaking his hand. Every admiral had their own style, and this one was clearly a no-nonsense, pragmatic leader. He wasn't playing political games, nor was he trying to assert dominance.
This was the type of person who didn't care about formalities—he only cared about getting things done.
"Please, have a seat. Let's discuss the Black Sea Shipyard situation," Petrovich said, entirely focused on business rather than small talk.
Once Mavi was seated, the admiral continued, "Mr. Mavi, what solutions do you propose to reverse the current state of the Black Sea Shipyard?"
"Reversal? I wouldn't dare make any guarantees. But if I acquire shares, I'll do my best to salvage the situation, Admiral Petrovich," Mavi replied. He wasn't about to reveal his business strategies before officially securing a stake in the shipyard—that would be foolish.
Seeing that Mavi wasn't giving anything away, Petrovich didn't push him. He understood that caution was necessary in negotiations.
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(End of Chapter)