Ruthra thought, "What's the deepest thing he knows about… And what in the world could I possibly have done?"

– What about Catherine?

– Catherine is calm, stable. She doesn't mind having an affair. Quite the risk-taker at heart. Loves to get her adrenaline pumping. Hang gliding, skydiving. You wouldn't know it from her passion.

– She's in a secret relationship with who?

– You should know that yourself and report to me. We are preparing you there, after all," the admiral said the last in a whisper and pointed his finger upward. – She's in touch with everyone, but I can't call them secret. She's sort of facilitating their plans.

– So what are their plans?

– It's likely that Andrian will tell you everything at some stage. And Irene… and probably something in Catherine's secret. Iulia and Shallow are dangerous. You can expect anything from them. Most of all, Eulalia. She uses everyone.

– I wonder how.

– She's got a gut feeling, or there's something we don't know. Maybe there's a leak. It sounds to me like you're being friendly and overly trusting. A woman is still a woman. A fish seeks the deepest, a woman seeks the best.

– I obviously missed something.

– She knows… and most likely from you, even if in passing… indirectly you mentioned it.

– About our program?

– Yeah. About what we're cooking. About what we are preparing you there, – he said again in a whisper and pointed his finger upwards. – The people are ready, the Kantemirov division, by the way, too.

– I tried to keep that little guy away from me.

– But you first let Iulia get close to you, and then you let YatSan get even closer. They were all in doubt then, but now that the prospect is looming, they have become more active and are ready to make any kind of conspiracy.

– How does this threaten the program?

– Have you been drinking too much? I don't think you've been drinking. I don't need you to explain what power is. Especially power in Russia. We don't know who they're connected to or who's behind them. We've got our eye on Chalky. He's very dangerous. Sit down, why are you standing up like a soldier? Let's have a drink to celebrate the victory. Although we don't celebrate in advance… Then let's start.

Ruthra didn't quite know what was going on, and only the television on was telling him what was going on. Four sectors of the screen were showing simultaneously. Demonstrations were going on in Moscow. People were walking mostly peacefully. They carried banners, sang songs and shouted into megaphones. Sometimes singers, actors, creative personalities, politicians and scientists performed in the squares. The main theme boiled down to distrust of the past elections. The theme was unambiguously clear. Everything spoke about it: both the banners and the voice message. The main demand – give change. Many people were repeating a learned and invented cry: "My grandfather lived under stagnation, my father under stagnation, I under stagnation". And from the tribunes and squares they were saying: "Volodya, go away. Volodya, go away for God's sake. Volodya, you're our friend, but the truth is dearer. Volodya, go away with a calm soul, there are still smart people in Russia, imagine that".

And the main thing that caught the eye was: "Rutra for president!" It was often accompanied by an "e-e-e-e-e", especially in shouting. Or often, "We don't need agents – Rutru to the presidency.

Ruthra was genuinely surprised. The Admiral noticed him staring intently at the screen.

– What are you looking at? Let's go to the armored car. It's a tradition. The throne must not get cold in the Kremlin.