Bessmertnykh quickly realised that he had not misheard just now.
One hundred million US dollars already exceeded the initial pilot scale proposed by the Leningrad working group.
It was enough to cover hospital supplies, port refrigeration facilities, and several food processing enterprises all at once, and it also meant that Saionji was willing to bear the procurement and transportation costs for these projects in advance before the Soviet Union completed its payment.
Mikhail Gorbachev did not immediately press for conditions, only looking at Satsuki.
"What are you planning to procure in the first batch?"
Satsuki reopened the project catalog brought by the Soviet side, her fingers successively sweeping across the pages of the two hospitals and the port refrigeration facilities, finally stopping at the column for the estimated amount.
"Medicines, medical consumables, milk powder, edible oil, cold storage equipment, backup generators, and port parts can all be included in the first batch of procurement."
She turned the catalog toward Mikhail Gorbachev.
"Saionji Trading will be responsible for procurement and transportation, and the partner bank will open a letter of credit. After the first batch of projects completes acceptance and repayment, the credit limit will be restored and can continue to be used."
Mikhail Gorbachev looked at her.
"Do you accept rubles?"
"We do not accept deferred payments in ordinary rubles."
"The Soviet side can use US dollars, Japanese yen, or export commodities confirmed by both parties for repayment. Nickel, palladium, titanium materials, timber, and aquatic products can all be discussed."
"What about crude oil?"
Bessmertnykh asked.
"That is also acceptable."
Satsuki picked up her wine glass, but did not drink.
"However, the war has already ended. Three months ago, the extra money everyone was willing to pay for each barrel of crude oil is now disappearing."
"Waiting for oil prices to solve the foreign exchange problem for the Soviet Union might take even longer than waiting for those five agencies to stamp their seals simultaneously."
The atmosphere in the private room settled down slightly.
During the Gulf War, the Soviet Union was still able to mediate between the United Nations and various countries, while the Japanese government bore a huge amount of military expenses.
But when the war truly entered the desert, both diplomatic seats and book funds needed someone to turn them into actual things.
The Soviet Union still held the seat of a major power, yet it became increasingly difficult to exchange goods produced domestically for equipment needed by hospitals.
Tokyo handed over that staggering check, but the Japanese team that truly entered the battlefield came from Global Rescue under Saionji.
Satsuki did not intend to continue commenting on the war.
She put the wine glass back on the table.
"The Soviet Union has resources, and Japan has funds and equipment."
"What is truly lacking right now is a channel that allows goods to leave the warehouse and money to reach the hands of the payee."
After listening, Mikhail Gorbachev's expression did not change significantly.
"Is Saionji willing to build this channel?"
"We are willing."
"And the price?"
Satsuki looked toward Chizuru.
Chizuru opened the second folder and placed a short memo onto the table.
The first few pages were the credit limit, cargo scope, and repayment methods. Bessmertnykh read quickly, and only slowed down when flipping to the appendix.
Behind each project were listed five confirmation positions.
The Soviet Union's union central competent authority.
Relevant departments of the Russian Republic.
Leningrad City Government.
Actual operating unit.
Designated settlement bank.
After finishing the first item, Bessmertnykh raised his head.
"The Russian Republic is not qualified to be listed alongside the union centre to confirm this kind of external cooperation."
"Then please have them confirm it in the capacity of a project execution organ."
"This is still inappropriate."
"To whom do the warehouses of the Leningrad port belong?"
"The state."
"Who specifically opens the door?"
Bessmertnykh did not answer.
Satsuki extended her hand and flipped the document to the next page.
"Administrative organ reorganisation, enterprise affiliation changes, and ownership form adjustments do not affect the continuous validity of existing contracts, repayment responsibilities, business licences, and priority rights."
Her finger stopped below this line.
"This clause also requires confirmation by all executing parties."
Bessmertnykh's expression became completely solemn.
"Miss Saionji, this has already exceeded the scope of ordinary commercial risks."
"For Saionji, every day that goods are detained at the port belongs to commercial risk."
"You demand that the Russian Republic bear obligations independently, and you have also considered changes in the state organisational structure."
He paused for a moment.
"What on earth do you think will happen to the Soviet Union?"
After the translator's voice fell, only the occasional soft sound of charcoal in the brazier remained in the private room.
Mikhail Gorbachev did not stop the foreign minister.
He was also waiting for the answer.
Satsuki looked at the document and seemed to consider it seriously for a moment.
"The committee responsible for approving port equipment last month has already changed its name this month."
She raised her eyes.
"The Russian Republic is demanding to acquire its own financial and enterprise management rights, and the Leningrad city is also formulating independent foreign trade cooperation methods. These things do not require Saionji to predict."
"I believe in the commitments made by Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev."
"However, the captain transporting medicines will not judge which seal has more authority between Moscow, the Russian Republic, and the Leningrad city."
Mikhail Gorbachev slowly leaned back against his chair.
"So you want everyone to sign."
"Confirmed by those who can truly open warehouse doors, mobilise trucks, and complete payments."
"This will make people think that the union centre is no longer able to represent the entire country."
Satsuki was silent, the answer self-evident.
Shuichi put down his wine glass at this time.
"Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev."
His tone was very gentle.
"Saionji bears the risks of procurement, transportation, insurance, and deferred repayment. But Saionji cannot control which organ is responsible for execution within the Soviet side."
"Having relevant units make joint confirmations will not weaken the centre's commitments. It simply allows concrete people to be responsible for realising every layer of commitment."
Mikhail Gorbachev looked toward Shuichi.
"Mr. Shuichi also thinks these clauses are necessary?"
Shuichi smiled.
"I would rather hope that all projects could be completed with just a single word from you."
"Yet last year's set of compressors told us that reality seems not to be so simple."
Mikhail Gorbachev lowered his head and glanced at the document.
The dishes on the table had already been changed to Hokkaido beef. The waiter burned the charcoal fire very steadily, and after the thinly sliced beef fell onto the ceramic plate, its edges quickly curled up, and the grease seeped out along the fine grain.
The scorched aroma of the grease drifted out, but no one moved their chopsticks.
After a while, Mikhail Gorbachev suddenly asked:
"Does this beef also come from Saionji's farm?"
Satsuki reached out and flipped a piece of beef at the edge of the ceramic plate. The grease fell onto the scorching ceramic plate, making a series of delicate, soft sounds.
"Tokachi, Hokkaido."
Mikhail Gorbachev looked again toward the tender asparagus beside it.
"What about the vegetables?"
"Most of them come from group farms. Seasonal vegetables in spring are still purchased separately according to their place of origin."
Mikhail Gorbachev picked up a piece of freshly grilled beef with his chopsticks and looked at the contract appendix by the table that had not yet been closed.
"It seems that at Saionji, even a dinner has to go through quite a few departments."
"At least they know when and where to deliver things."
Mikhail Gorbachev let out a laugh, and the tense atmosphere in the private room also loosened a bit accordingly.
Bessmertnykh did not follow suit with a smile, his gaze still lingering on the appendix.
"The confirmations of the port and bank can be discussed, but this item of the Russian Republic must be deleted."
"This is a matter of principle."
Satsuki had just swallowed a bite of beef and nodded.
"That is acceptable."
Bessmertnykh was somewhat surprised.
"After deletion, Saionji will only conduct spot transactions, will not provide revolving credit, and will not bear any deferred payment and customs clearance responsibilities."
"The goods will be loaded onto ships after payment is completed at the Japanese port. Matters after arriving in the Soviet Union will be handled by the Soviet side on its own."
Bessmertnykh's expression froze.
This was the safest approach.
But at the same time, it also meant that the Soviet Union must first produce hard currency; Saionji would not advance a single Japanese yen for them, let alone arrange port renovations and long-term supplies.
Mikhail Gorbachev looked at Satsuki and suddenly asked:
"What about research institutions?"
"We can cooperate separately."
Satsuki left the credit plan in the centre of the table, her fingertips turning to press down on those pages of research institution lists at the end of the project catalog.
"Saionji is willing to provide civil research contracts, paying project allowances for researchers in the fields of communications, precision optics, materials, and control. Some personnel can travel to Japan to work, and those remaining in the Soviet Union can also obtain equipment and funding through projects."
"How many people do you want to take away?"
"We have not even seen the first batch of lists yet."
Satsuki revealed a slight smile.
"I cannot possibly book plane tickets without knowing the other party's name, can I?"
Mikhail Gorbachev also laughed.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' worries about you do not seem entirely unfounded."
"What else did they say?"
Shuichi lowered his head to tidy his napkin, having completely no intention of participating in this topic.
Mikhail Gorbachev glanced at him, the smile deepening a bit.
"It seems Mr. Shuichi already knows the answer."
"Diplomatic evaluations are better kept by diplomatic personnel."
Shuichi said solemnly.
Satsuki turned her head to look at her father for a moment, not continuing to press.
Bessmertnykh re-examined the memo.
"The personnel data of research institutions cannot be handed over to foreign enterprises."
"I need the research direction, project leader, equipment status, and funding gap."
Satsuki said.
"Home addresses, political status, and military projects can be deleted. But Saionji at least needs to know to whom the project fees will eventually be paid."
"What about sensitive achievements?"
"We will not touch them at all."
"Dual-use technologies are very difficult to clearly divide."
"Then let us start with hospital equipment, industrial control, and civil communications."
Satsuki did not continue to press on this point.
"The Soviet side will first provide a catalog of publicly cooperable items for Saionji to choose from ourselves. If there are no suitable projects, this part can be temporarily set aside."
Mikhail Gorbachev looked at her.
He gradually realised that what Satsuki valued most today was always the ports, warehouses, settlements, and performance of contracts.
Scientific research cooperation could be postponed, procurement catalogs could be adjusted, and credit limits could also be opened in stages.
Only on those few confirmation positions on the document did she truly not back down.
Mikhail Gorbachev picked up the memo again and flipped to the first batch of pilot projects.
Leningrad Port Old Cold Storage No. 3.
Municipal Hospital No. 15.
Children's Clinical Hospital.
The project amounts of these few were not exaggerated at all, yet they all corresponded to problems that had been delayed for months.
He looked for a long time, and finally placed the document in front of Bessmertnykh.
"The union centre retains political authorisation."
"The Russian Republic, Leningrad city, operating units, and banks confirm in the capacity of executing parties."
Bessmertnykh immediately turned his head.
"Mr. President—"
"If the union can continue to exist, these signatures will not change anything."
Mikhail Gorbachev interrupted him.
"If a local government is unwilling to even confirm a warehouse managed by itself, we cannot expect Japanese enterprises to bear risks for it."
After speaking, he pushed the document back in front of Satsuki.
"In exchange, Saionji needs to announce a Soviet-Japanese urban livelihood and technology cooperation plan after I leave Japan. Also, this credit limit must truly enter execution and cannot just become an achievement written in the meeting minutes."
Satsuki pulled the document a bit closer and flipped back to the initial procurement list in the front.
"The cooperation plan can be announced. Once the Soviet side confirms the equipment models, quantities, and receiving units, Saionji Trading will immediately initiate procurement and open the first batch of letters of credit within fifteen working days."
Speaking to this point, she flipped the document back to those confirmation columns that were still blank.
"However, before that, I need to know how many days the Soviet side is prepared to take to complete these signatures?"
Mikhail Gorbachev looked toward the foreign minister.
Bessmertnykh was silent for a moment.
"Seven days."
"Ten days, let us say."
Satsuki said.
"I do not want the Soviet side to set up another committee just to rush for time."
This time, even Bessmertnykh could not help laughing a little.
Chizuru reprinted the modified meeting minutes.
The paper slowly fed out from the printer hidden behind the partition screen, leaving only the soft sound of the machine running in the private room for a moment. After checking the page numbers, she placed the documents beside each party's hands.
Mikhail Gorbachev did not sign a specific commercial contract.
On the last page of the minutes, he wrote down the instructions agreeing to move forward and signed his name beside it. Bessmertnykh subsequently signed the diplomatic and departmental coordination confirmation, while Shuichi put his pen to paper on the other side on behalf of the Saionji Family.
Satsuki watched from the side as Chizuru put away the copy belonging to Saionji.
On the project schedule originally brought by the Soviet side, there was only one position waiting for Moscow to stamp its seal.
In the reprinted appendix, the blank columns had become five places.
By the end of the talks, it was already close to eleven o'clock.
Mikhail Gorbachev stood up and took the coat handed over by his aide. Before leaving the private room, he turned back to glance at the documents on the table.
"Miss Saionji."
Satsuki also stood up.
"Do you really not know what the Soviet Union will ultimately turn into?"
Satsuki looked at him.
Outside the private room, Soviet guards had already opened the door leading to the back courtyard. The night wind came in through the crack of the door, rustling the unbound appendix in Chizuru's hand.
"I do not know."
Satsuki reached out and pressed down on the topmost page.
"Therefore, everyone who might continue to exist must leave their name here."