The morning's schedule concluded with a lunch for the senior officials attending the conference. In the afternoon, Simon made a brief tour of several of UFMS's businesses in Rivne City, arriving by 4 PM at the UFMS-affiliated school in the city's west. Officially, it was named Rivne West School.
This school, which continues to expand, provides full-age education from kindergarten to high school, primarily enrolling the children of UFMS mercenaries and Rovno syndicate executives. Given the school's exceptional quality of education, many parents hope to enroll their children here. The school does not refuse external applicants; however, only children of UFMS personnel and syndicate executives receive tuition-free education as a special benefit. Other families pay a hefty tuition fee.
To many, Rivne West School's most impressive feature is its current 3,700-student enrollment, taught by an extraordinary 2,100-member teaching staff. Ignoring other support staff, the student-teacher ratio is a mere 1.7 to 1—a rarity in elementary education.
This strategy stemmed from Simon's substantial recruitment drive. Following the collapse of the country, Ukraine's once robust educational system faced severe budget constraints. In many cases, teachers went unpaid, forcing them to seek other options. As a natural elitist, Simon disliked seeing such circumstances. The incident of a top physics professor begging for work after receiving a retirement check worth only five dollars drove Simon to order the school to aggressively recruit talent.
The result was an impressive teaching staff of over 2,100, many with PhDs, including former university professors from Ukraine and Russia. Simon set the average salary at $500, which, while laughable in the USA, is a top-tier salary in Ukraine—more than ten times the country's average income—allowing these professionals a comfortable life in Rivne.
With such an extensive teaching team for 3,700 students, there is an inevitable surplus. Many teachers, not all suited to classroom teaching, lead student clubs, contribute to local research institutes, or provide consultancy to enterprises under the Westeros system.
Even if these salaries exceed a million dollars monthly, it is inconsequential to Simon. In the ancient Chinese adage, it is "nurturing talent with wealth."
However, few of these highly paid educators choose to slack off.
Despite it being summer vacation, Simon noticed many students actively engaged on campus. He had long understood that a person's life path is more influenced by early education than by university. He once considered focusing the Westeros family's charitable endeavors in this direction but ultimately decided against it.
Even without the expectations held for Los Angeles's Solvay Academy, Simon's personally designed educational approach here is harshly elitist, with none of the "joyful learning" methods that often undermine Western public education. Students at Rivne West do not get a carefree childhood. Those eligible for admission can attend tuition-free, and paying students are welcome, but competition begins at the elementary level.
Though no one is expelled for poor performance, every student is ranked by academic achievement, with top students assigned to advanced classes and lower-performing students grouped together. The ample teaching resources also allow tailored instruction, whether focused on liberal arts, sciences, or sports for those who excel physically but lack interest in academics.
Simon also set up a scholarship program. Students from elementary to high school are eligible, and those admitted to designated universities will continue receiving financial support from the Westeros system and may even study abroad with further support.
If parents cannot accept this "Spartan" approach, they are free to withdraw. However, since the school's opening, more parents are eager to enroll their children, and no one has withdrawn due to the strict educational methods. The desire for education and for children to succeed is not exclusive to Chinese parents; it is almost universal.
Simon strolled around the campus. Even the kindergarten section was bustling, with some parents sending their children here due to time constraints, given the top-tier childcare available and, more importantly, that it is free. In the elementary, middle, and high school sections, classrooms were full of students engaged in summer lessons, various clubs, and sports activities.
The campus exudes a sense of ambition that stands in stark contrast to the country's overall decay.
As part of a special arrangement, Simon met the elderly physics professor from Kyiv State University who had once begged for a job. Sergei Yershakov, now 68, looked hale as he tutored high school physics to a group of students. Simon listened in for a while, and the difference from his own high school physics experience was striking.
After a brief chat, the professor thanked Simon, saying his job had supported his entire family. He shared some bittersweet reflections.
Simon stayed on campus for about two hours, leaving around six in the evening.
Another banquet was scheduled that night, this time for several senior figures in the Ukrainian military.
As Ukraine's new constitution solidifies, the country's political and military systems are undergoing another round of reforms. The military is, once again, facing downsizing.
After the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine's military had shrunk from over 700,000 troops to just over 200,000, yet even that number is unsustainable.
Simon had obtained advance information about this reform. Ukraine's forces would be reorganized into three major military districts: the Northern Command centered on Kyiv, the Southern Command around Odessa, and the Western Command based in Rivne.
The Kyiv and Odessa military regions were expected choices—one being the capital, the other a port on the Black Sea. However, Kyiv's decision to base the Western Command in Rivne, capital of Rivne Oblast, seemed strategically targeted.
Simon had no intention of altering this decision.
If this were the Soviet Union or a stable regime, he might have concerns. However, today's Ukrainian army, numbering just over 200,000, could barely match the Iraqi forces defeated in the Gulf War.
Funding is the key issue. For example, Ukraine's defense budget for 1995 was only $9.1 billion, less than $10 billion, and after accounting for rampant corruption, likely less than half of that reaches the military. Troops can barely eat, let alone fight.
Simon's guest that evening was Vasily Borisov, who had been nominated to lead the Western Command. Borisov, age 56, held the rank of lieutenant general.
Years ago, Borisov had mobilized a battalion of engineers to assist with building Simon's military-themed park, and his family secretly holds shares in it. Additionally, Borisov's 17-year-old son, Alexander, was among those recently chosen for the scholarship program that would allow him to study abroad.
Borisov also had family involved in military trade with Angola through a Westeros-affiliated arms deal.
Borisov is, in every sense, an "insider."
Officially, Borisov is aligned with the Kuchma administration in Kyiv, though he's not part of the core circle. His recent appointment as head of the Western Command was partly due to Westeros's quiet intervention.
Compared to the Northern and Southern Commands, the Western Command is relatively small, with fewer than 60,000 troops. Simon couldn't help but wonder how his private 5,000-strong UFMS force might fare against the 60,000 Western Command soldiers.
Of course, such a confrontation is almost impossible.
If it did happen, Simon would merely watch from afar. Losing UFMS might be regrettable, but it would hardly be catastrophic.
Borisov, more of a bureaucrat than a soldier, exuded none of the authority one might expect from a commander of a major district. His corpulent figure alone suggested his focus on bureaucracy over military matters. In Simon's presence, Borisov and his colleagues showed only humility. The banquet proceeded with all parties in high spirits.
At 10 PM, the evening ended, and Simon headed back to the northern hot springs estate.
In the car, his assistant, A Girl, brought up an important matter. "Boss, Moscow sent another invitation. They hope you'll attend a banquet tomorrow night for an American investment delegation. Yeltsin will be there too."
Simon leaned back and, with his eyes closed, replied, "I'm not going."
Long accustomed to Simon's preferences, A Girl understood more than most. "Sometimes, Boss, it's important to show some presence."
Simon smiled, studying his assistant. "A, tell me, why do you think Yeltsin invited me again?"
"Perhaps to show sincerity or to facilitate communication," she speculated, "probably regarding your investments in Russia."
Simon shook his head. "Not this time."
"Hmm?"
Simon offered no further explanation. Only two people knew of his true plans, both Jennys. Even A Girl, though aware of his investments in Russia, could not have imagined Simon's aim was to influence Russia's next presidency.
This secret was too weighty. Though he trusted A Girl, he was determined to leave no unnecessary vulnerabilities.
The next day's invitation was, at best, a test—Yeltsin seeking proof of Simon's prior assurances. Simon had told Tatyana Yeltsin that his intended candidate was not his puppet. But such a statement would naturally spark doubts. This test might be Yeltsin's way of gauging Simon's intentions.
Accepting the invitation might indicate an excessive interest in Russia and his chosen candidate, prompting Yeltsin's suspicion.
Even if Simon was mistaken about the intent, his refusal would still achieve his desired effect.
Seeing her boss offer no further clarification, A Girl tactfully moved on to other pressing matters.
Back at the estate by 11 PM, Simon headed to the lounge instead of the hot springs. A few girls were watching TV there.
Not one for crowds, Simon picked up Eve Banchikova, the petite girl nicknamed "Doll," and settled her on his
lap, motioning for her older sister Galina to stay while the others left. A Girl headed upstairs, and after last night, Natalia Banchikova avoided him, while Marta Becknats remained attentive.
Taking the coffee Marta offered, Simon pulled Doll close and casually asked, "How was today?"
Simon's tone was casual, but Marta remained cautious, unsure of what he meant, and responded carefully, "It went well."
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