Of course, based on his previous knowledge of Indians, Mavi would never recommend that the Russian Navy sell them the most advanced equipment. At most, he would suggest selling them ships that were about to be decommissioned or replaced—and at a premium price.
After leaving Navy Headquarters, Mavi immediately instructed his butler to arrange contact with the Indian Navy and invite them to Russia to discuss the purchase of frigates.
Normally, military procurement deals between two countries do not involve private individuals. However, since Mavi had brokered this deal and even sponsored $26.5 million for the Russian Navy's project development, the Navy made an exception and allowed him to participate. They also hoped he could secure the order to prevent the Indians from purchasing warships from other countries.
As part of the arrangement, a significant portion of the Indian Navy's warship orders would flow into Mavi's Northern Sea Shipyard. It all depended on how many ships the Indian military was willing to buy.
Half a month later, a Boeing 747 from India successfully landed at Saint Petersburg Airport. This aircraft, India's equivalent of "Air Force One," was equipped with electronic countermeasure systems, missile defense, and aerial refueling capabilities.
Typically, this plane was reserved for long-distance trips by the Indian President and Prime Minister. However, it was also occasionally used for commercial flights or by other government departments—after all, the Indian government wasn't particularly wealthy, especially at that time.
As the Boeing 747 smoothly landed on the runway, a convoy of Russian military Tiger armored vehicles, which had been waiting on the tarmac for some time, slowly approached the aircraft.
The plane's boarding stairs extended downward, and an elderly man in a white military uniform, with a stern and somewhat brooding gaze, descended. His chest was adorned with several silver medals.
Judging by the insignia on his shoulders—two crossed swords, four stars, and a red-silver medal—he was unmistakably a full admiral. In India, such honors were awarded only to the Chief of Naval Staff.
Lieutenant General Nikov, who was in charge of receiving the delegation, stepped out of his Tiger armored vehicle with a serious expression. He approached the elderly officer and extended his hand.
"Admiral Sunil Bhar, welcome to Saint Petersburg," Nikov said formally.
Protocol dictated that an admiral should be received by an officer of the same rank. However, considering Russia's military strength, a lieutenant general was roughly equivalent to an Indian admiral, making this arrangement acceptable.
"Hello, Lieutenant General Nikov," Admiral Sunil Bhar replied, shaking Nikov's hand. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group boarded the convoy of Tiger armored vehicles and headed toward Mavi's Northern Sea Shipyard for a tour and discussions.
Since Mavi acquired the Northern Sea Shipyard, its operations had improved significantly. The facility looked much more modern—its previously rusted and weathered iron gates had been freshly painted, and once-stalled production lines were now buzzing with activity.
"Lieutenant General Nikov, your Russian Navy shipyard is quite impressive," Admiral Bhar commented from inside the vehicle as they approached the shipyard.
India's shipbuilding industry was in dire straits. Domestic frigate production was slow and inefficient, unable to compete with Russia. The 3,600-ton Brahmaputra-class frigate, which had begun construction in 1989, had only just entered service this year. Worse yet, it still used a steam turbine propulsion system—an embarrassing relic of the past.
Nikov glanced at Mavi's Northern Sea Shipyard and nodded in agreement. In an era when Russia's military-industrial complex was struggling, Mavi had somehow managed to turn this shipyard into a thriving enterprise—an impressive feat.
"It is indeed remarkable, Admiral Bhar. However, I should clarify that this shipyard does not belong to the Russian Navy," Nikov explained.
"Oh? It's not part of the Navy? Then it must have been privatized?" Admiral Bhar raised an eyebrow in surprise. A privately owned shipyard operating at such a high standard suggested that its owner was exceptionally capable.
"That's correct," Nikov confirmed, pointing toward a ship dock in the distance. Among the gathered naval officers stood a sharply dressed young Russian man in a suit, standing out prominently.
As Admiral Bhar and Lieutenant General Nikov stepped out of their armored vehicles, Nikov formally introduced the visiting admiral to the Russian officers and the man in charge of the Northern Sea Shipyard—Mavi.
"Admiral Bhar, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Mavi, the chairman of the Northern Sea Shipyard. Don't be fooled by his young age—he's quite capable."
Since their last meeting at Navy Headquarters, Nikov had developed a deep admiration for Mavi. After all, it was Mavi's connections that facilitated this Indian deal, so it was only natural to give him due respect.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Mavi. Your shipyard is quite impressive," Admiral Bhar said, extending his right hand.
Mavi maintained a calm expression and replied with a smile, "You flatter me, Admiral Bhar." He then reached out and shook the admiral's hand.
To be honest, Mavi himself hadn't expected things to escalate to this level. Just a few days ago, he had been casually chatting with a lieutenant general at Navy Headquarters. Now, he was hosting the Indian Chief of Naval Staff at his shipyard.
Damn… It felt like a dream! If not for the presence of so many naval officers and sailors, Mavi might have thought he was still asleep.
"Mr. Mavi, what kind of warships are currently under construction in this dock?" Admiral Bhar asked, his attention drawn to two large vessels.
"Those are Grisha V-class frigates under construction—each with a displacement of 1,200 tons. But Admiral Bhar, aside from these light frigates, our Northern Sea Shipyard happens to have a 55,000-ton Soviet-era battleship in our inventory. Would you be interested in taking a look?" Mavi asked with a smile.
As he spoke, Lieutenant General Nikov subtly whispered a few instructions to a nearby rear admiral, who promptly left to carry out the orders. It was clear that the two had coordinated something in advance.
"A 55,000-ton Soviet-class battleship? I'd be very interested, Mr. Mavi," Admiral Bhar responded enthusiastically. While he hadn't served during World War II, he deeply admired the battleships and heavy cruisers of that era.
Unfortunately, with the rise of aircraft carrier battle groups, battleships and heavy cruisers—designed primarily around heavy artillery—had been phased out. These days, they were practically nonexistent.
"It's in the largest dock over there," Mavi said, pointing toward the farthest shipyard.
To impress the Indian Navy and secure a lucrative deal, he had arranged for an old Soviet-class battleship to be brought out of retirement and fully refurbished.
Although the Northern Sea Shipyard couldn't build aircraft carriers or nuclear submarines, it was more than capable of restoring battleships and heavy cruisers.
Mavi's goal wasn't to trick the Indian Navy into buying the battleship. Instead, he wanted to get the 55,000-ton behemoth out to sea—only to have it completely obliterated by Russia's modern 3,000-ton Talwar-class stealth frigates.
This would serve as a powerful demonstration of Russia's naval strength!
The resulting visual spectacle would be breathtaking—like a recreation of a World War II naval battle. The sheer impact of such a display would be unforgettable… and it would certainly help seal the deal.
Of course, the explosions would inevitably kill or stun countless fish in the area. But Mavi had prepared two fishing boats in advance—one to clean up the dead fish and another to collect the stunned ones for a fresh seafood feast.
(End of Chapter)