General Vigtor handed over the floor to the Army General who had participated in the Chechen campaign, allowing him to present a summary of the operation.
This process lasted for about 45 minutes. Everyone in attendance listened attentively—there was no sign of impatience or anyone dozing off.
Sitting in the front row, Mavi also focused intently on the report. After all, with so many high-ranking officials watching, even a moment of distraction could leave a bad impression.
After another ten minutes, General Vigtor picked up a list from the podium and announced loudly to the audience, "Now, please welcome Valenkin Ivanovich Topolov, Igor Mikhailovich Bobreshev... and Mavi Ivanovich Mikoyan to the stage!"
General Vigtor read more than a dozen Russian names, with Mavi's name appearing at the very end.
Hearing his name called, Mavi swallowed nervously before standing up. Under the watchful eyes of the high-ranking officials, he took measured steps toward the stage.
Though the distance was only a few meters, it felt like a half-hour journey to Mavi—especially when he unintentionally glanced toward the front row and saw the Russian President looking directly at him.
For a brief moment, their eyes met. That gaze alone was enough to make Mavi feel a surge of nervousness. His lips and throat went dry.
Once all the named individuals had lined up neatly on stage, Mavi noticed countless military and political leaders in the audience directing their attention toward them. The sheer magnitude of the occasion was overwhelming.
At that moment, General Vigtor, holding a microphone, spoke from the side, "Ladies and gentlemen, standing before you are the officers and soldiers who made outstanding contributions to the Chechen campaign. They are heroes of Russia! Now, let us welcome our esteemed President to personally present them with their awards!"
As General Vigtor finished speaking, the room erupted in applause.
From the front row, the Russian President stood up solemnly and walked straight toward the stage.
At the same time, two female Russian officers, who had been waiting nearby, gracefully approached with trays carrying medals.
As the President arrived at the front of the stage, General Vigtor naturally handed him the microphone. "Mr. President, please say a few words."
Taking the microphone, the Russian President spoke briefly but powerfully: "Thank you all for your outstanding contributions to our country."
With that, he picked up the Zhukov Medal from the female officer's tray and began awarding it to each of the honorees on stage. This medal was given to individuals who had made exceptional contributions to Russia's military efforts, particularly in ground warfare and large-scale operations.
Mavi was honored to receive this prestigious award, personally bestowed upon him by the Russian President himself. The sense of pride was indescribable.
As the President continued down the line, pinning medals onto each recipient's chest, Mavi discreetly checked the pace of the ceremony and realized he was just two people away from his turn.
Thump, thump, thump! His heartbeat quickened—whether from nervousness or something else, he wasn't sure.
But that hardly mattered now. In just thirty seconds, he would be standing only ten inches away from the Russian President.
At this moment, Mavi's mind felt blank. He wasn't thinking about anything in particular—just waiting for the inevitable.
He didn't have to wait long. Soon, the Russian President, dressed in a formal suit, appeared right in front of him, his face solemn as he held the prestigious Zhukov Medal in his hand.
"Thank you for your service to our country," the President said in a low voice before deftly pinning the medal onto Mavi's chest. He then shook Mavi's hand and posed for a photograph with him.
---
Five minutes later, the entire award ceremony concluded amidst thunderous applause from the high-ranking officials.
The photograph of Mavi and the Russian President was developed the next day and sent both to the Mikoyan family and his own home.
To prevent this precious photograph from being ruined by his two mischievous siblings—or his equally mischievous child—Mavi instructed the butler to have a craftsman create a sturdy frame and hang it on the wall.
With the large-scale Chechen campaign successfully concluded (though sporadic guerrilla conflicts remained), Mavi's status within the Russian military soared. Many no longer saw him merely as a capable arms dealer—he was increasingly regarded as one of their own.
Because of this strong connection, coupled with Mavi's sharp business acumen, the Russian government assigned him a major client to handle.
And that client was none other than Vietnam—the "Little Overlord" of Southeast Asia, which had previously spent $1 billion purchasing military equipment from Russia in another timeline.
In this world, however, it was Vietnam's first time engaging in such a transaction with Russia. They were unsure about what to buy—fighter jets, Kilo-class submarines, Grisha-class frigates, or T-90S main battle tanks. They needed recommendations, and Mavi was entrusted with full responsibility.
Vietnam's military procurement budget for this deal was also $1 billion. Leading the delegation was Prime Minister Nguyen Phi Anh, accompanied by representatives from the Vietnamese Navy, Army, and Air Force. Their mission was to visit Russia, conduct inspections, and decide how to allocate the funds.
"Mavi, the Vietnamese delegation is expected to arrive in Russia next Tuesday at 11 a.m. We hope you can represent our military and properly receive them. Let us know if you need any assistance," said a courteous middle-aged Russian officer over the phone.
Mavi thought for a moment before replying in a deep voice, "Understood. Leave it to me—I won't disappoint you."
After hanging up, Mavi sat in contemplation.
How exactly should he "host" these so-called guests from Vietnam?
To Mavi, Vietnam was nothing but a backstabbing opportunist.
Vietnam had once received immense support from China, which had helped it defeat both France and the United States, two Western powers. But afterward, Vietnam's ambition swelled rapidly. It began referring to itself as the "Little Overlord of Southeast Asia" and even the world's third-strongest military power.