August 5, 1991.
At six in the afternoon, a time that should have been bustling, the streets of Su Xiong were eerily quiet.
An invisible sense of oppression hung in the air.
The few people who dared to walk the streets all had vacant eyes and faces filled with despair.
Looking at the bleak streets, Konev thought about how this proud Su Xiong would be trampled underfoot by all the Western countries in a month's time.
The once mighty Su Xiong would be reduced to a slave of the Western empires in this epic struggle for dominance that would be etched into human history.
At this moment, the nation still existed, yet it was as if it were already gone.
Konev even remembered that just a few months later, on December 25, 1991, Gorbachev would announce his resignation as President of Su Xiong.
The once invincible Su Xiong would be utterly defeated in its rivalry with the Eagle Sauce, and would collapse in utter humiliation!
By then, the Western countries would be consumed by greed.
They would confiscate all the assets of all Su Xiong people on trumped-up charges and assign them to the lowest labor positions.
For a long time afterwards, the mines and logging camps would be filled with newly arrived Su Xiong men, while the black bars and underground fertility clinics would be crammed with Su Xiong women.
Countries around the world would boast in their newspapers about the backwardness of Su Xiong's weaponry and the barbarity and low intelligence of Su Xiong people.
They would even claim that they were stateless, nullifying all Su Xiong people's contracts.
They would even use force to directly seize the land of the former Su Xiong Alliance nations.
Hungry nations surrounding Su Xiong would use every means at their disposal to carve up every inch of its flesh and blood.
The more powerful Su Xiong once was, the darker and more oppressive its future would be.
If things continued as they were, Su Xiong would be met with another tragic end.
That was how it was supposed to be, according to the normal course of history.
But a year ago, while playing a game called Red Alert: The Apocalypse, Konev had been selected by the system because his power level was off the charts.
He had traveled to 1990 and become Gorbachev's eldest son.
He had activated the Red Alert Construction Yard through the system and started to develop and produce Red Alert equipment!
In just one year, he had even expanded multiple Red Alert Conscripted troops!
These powerful initiatives, along with his outstanding performance, earned the approval of his father, Gorbachev.
Konev's position rose steadily, naturally, and he directly ascended to the position of Alliance Minister.
In this crumbling, collapsing Su Xiong Alliance, Konev was the only person in the entire alliance below his father, Gorbachev, and above everyone else.
But on his way to the top, he also witnessed what it meant for the top to be crooked and the bottom to be bent.
In the eyes of the former Su Xiong leadership, Su Xiong was beyond salvation.
So those people would congratulate Konev as he climbed higher and higher, but they would secretly mock him.
In the eyes of these brainwashed people, the fake freedom and democracy of the West was the true future.
They naively believed that they would be valued and given high salaries and positions by Eagle Sauce if they just went to Eagle Sauce.
In their eyes, Konev, who was blind to the truth and still climbing, couldn't save the Su Xiong Alliance.
He would become one of the main culprits responsible for the failure of Su Xiong, the suffering of the people, and the chaotic and miserable state of the world.
In the end, he would not only be executed, but he would also be written into history books around the world, becoming a notorious criminal!
And those 'smart' officials had already prepared to flee to Eagle Sauce or other European countries with all their possessions.
The former Minister of Trade had gone to Tao Wan Guo to find a new patron and was confidently convinced that he would be able to regain his former glory.
After all, as early as last March, Tao Wan Guo in the Baltic region had already declared its independence.
And these days, the news of the independence of two other small countries in the Baltic region was spreading like wildfire.
The news of their desire for independence was being widely publicized by the Western media!
The overwhelming news was portraying the three small countries as escaping from the clutches of hell and entering paradise.
All sorts of news bombarded the Su Xiong Alliance, causing many of its people to waver.
Gorbachev's repeated pleas to remain in the alliance not only failed to have any effect, but were also branded as evil dictatorship by the West.
Each time Gorbachev refused, the Western media would intensify their coverage, painting him as a cruel dictator who was hindering the freedom of mankind!
At this point, the Su Xiong Alliance was engulfed in flames, and Gorbachev was on the verge of a mental breakdown from the overwhelming responsibilities of state affairs.
Konev felt the weight of the pressure, and he stood up, looking up at the Su Xiong Alliance map in front of him, his eyes deep.
As the smoke from his cigar rose, his eyes refocused on the portrait of Gorbachev on the wall.
In the year he had been here, Gorbachev had helped him a lot.
Konev had also made a lot of efforts.
But even so, the course of history had not changed at all.
The red flag was about to fall, and the last flame was about to be extinguished by the West.
The Su Xiong Alliance.
Once, just these few words were enough to make the West tremble.
But even now, weak and on the verge of collapse.
Even though it was in ruins, many people in the Su Xiong Alliance had not given up.
They were unwilling to accept the current state of Su Xiong!
If only there was someone capable of turning the tide, someone who could shoulder the responsibility of Su Xiong, the loyal people of Su Xiong would once again be filled with power and courage to move forward, and the "Ula" would once again echo across the Western lands!
At this moment, the entire Su Xiong Alliance was before Konev, within his grasp.
And this hero who could save a crumbling nation, the president of the world's greatest alliance, why couldn't it be him!
More importantly, it was already August.
The longer it was delayed, the more effort it would take to turn things around.
Maybe someday, the independence of one of the Su Xiong Alliance nations would be the final straw that broke the back of the people who supported the Su Xiong Alliance!
By then, even with the Red Alert system, it would be difficult to recover the Su Xiong will that had been completely deceived.
It would be even more difficult to rekindle that red sea that spread across the land.
A warm current surged through Konev's heart, but his eyes were filled with a cool, resolute look.
He looked at the map of the Su Xiong Alliance, taking a deep breath.
No one could split the Su Xiong Alliance!
Not even the Supreme Leader of Su Xiong!
Konev stood up, picked up the secret mission order that he had already written, and murmured coldly, "Old man, I won't let you get away with it."
With that, Konev picked up the phone on the table, dialed a secret number, and called another top intelligence agent who was firmly committed to maintaining the Su Xiong Alliance and was willing to pledge allegiance to him:
Putin.
The phone was answered, and Konev confirmed the other person's identity in a low voice, "Is the gray bear ready?"
Putin's eyes shone with brilliance, his expression serious, "Ready."
Konev stared at Gorbachev's photo on the wall, saluted, and then ordered:
"I'll be right there when you're ready to move."