Chapter 2692 - 2666: Traitor

Up to now, Gao Yang still doesn’t know what happened internally within the Black Demon, but he has vaguely guessed some of it.

These few people, led by Tarta, are infuriated when mentioning Baskov, calling him a traitor. It’s definitely not just because Baskov chose to serve Russia, unlike them, who are scattered everywhere. If that were the only reason, they might despise Baskov, but they wouldn’t call him a traitor.

From a few exchanges between Baskov and Glewatov, it can be roughly understood that the forced dissolution of the Black Demon is closely tied to Baskov, whether it was due to betrayal or something else; in any case, Baskov is significantly linked to the dissolution of the Black Demon.

Yarebin previously never mentioned Baskov; even though Baskov did a lot for Gao Yang, Yarebin never had a good word to say about Baskov.

What’s especially important is that Yarebin once gave Gao Yang a small notebook, recording the names and corresponding real names of every Black Demon member remembered in his mind. But Baskov was not among them. What does this mean? It indicates that Yarebin also considers Baskov as a traitor to the Black Demon.

Though it’s unclear what actually happened, Yarebin brought Gao Yang to Moscow, which shows he intends for Gao Yang to meet Baskov.

Gao Yang vaguely understood Yarebin’s intentions.

Saluting back to Baskov, Gao Yang felt very strange, because he had no relation to Russia and had no strict inherited connection to the original Black Demon, but a Russian intelligence tycoon salutes him, acknowledges his captaincy, and even recognizes him quicker than Glewatov and Tarta.

This event, really, is full of mysteries.

Receiving Gao Yang’s salute in return, Baskov seemed very excited and gratified, but then fell into a long silence.

The four men remained motionless and silent. After a few minutes, Yarebin finally spoke first, he said softly: "Baskov, explain it to the ram (Gao Yang)."

Baskov’s face turned serious, he appeared a bit uneasy, with closed lips, he stayed silent for a while, then finally raised his head and said to Gao Yang: "Soviet dissolution, Eastern European upheaval."

Baskov’s sentence encapsulated the end of an era, the dissolution of a vast Red Empire, and hearing this sentence, Gao Yang knew one thing.

That is, the involvement of the Black Demon in affairs was absolutely the kind of major events that impacted the situation.

The internal split within the Black Demon was definitely far-reaching.

Baskov continued to speak plainly: "At that time, I was the deputy captain of the Black Demon!"

Gao Yang’s face changed suddenly; he felt that what Baskov was going to say next might be the ultimate secret within secrets.

Baskov clenched his teeth tightly, his lips moved a few times before squeezing out words from between his teeth: "On August 19, 1991, the Minister of Defense Marshal Yazov, KGB Chairman Kryuchkov, and many other leaders launched a coup to prevent Gerbachov and Yeltsin from signing the new Union treaty, formed the State Committee on the State of Emergency, detained Gerbachov, and sought support from Yeltsin."

Gao Yang’s breathing became a bit rapid, while Baskov continued to speak in a deep voice: "At that time, the captain was responsible for the operation to detain Gerbachov, and my responsibility was, if Yeltsin refused to express support for the State Committee on the State of Emergency, to capture or kill him. Considering the situation, capture was impossible, so my mission was assassination."

Gao Yang felt that, given the strength and position of the Black Demon, it seemed impossible that they did nothing during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, just watching the object of their allegiance collapse. Now he understood, the Black Demon did not do nothing; quite the opposite, they did something major that the world does not know.

Baskov continued with a serious face: "The captain’s action was successful, detaining Gerbachov, but I, after long thinking, chose to abandon my action and reported, revealing all the action plans of the State Committee on the State of Emergency, leading to the complete failure of the coup."

Glewatov said tremblingly: "Yes, you betrayed the Soviet Union, betrayed the Black Demon, protected that person so he could make his speech, making our last effort fail, yet you could have killed him, you had absolute assurance of success, but you chose to betray us."

Baskov ignored Glewatov, slightly turned, looked towards Yarebin, and said solemnly: "Captain, even if I had another chance, I would still choose this way. Yeltsin only delivered one speech, and the State Committee’s action completely failed, doesn’t this illustrate the problem? The destruction of the Soviet Union was already certain, unavoidable, and the Soviet Union must not fall into civil war! Absolutely not! If I had acted according to the plan, what would have been the consequence? Civil war! Unmanageable, unimaginable consequences in a civil war!"

Glewatov raised his voice angrily: "If we had succeeded, this wouldn’t have happened!"

"Impossible! The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the choice of the people!"

Gao Yang finally understood completely what had happened, in truth, the truth was merely this heavy, who was right? Who was wrong?

If the Soviet Union truly still existed, what would the world be like now?

"What a pity, if only what ifs, saying what ifs has no meaning."

Yarebin finally spoke, raising his right hand to stop Glewatov, who was eager to speak, and said in a deep voice: "Actually, Baskov was not wrong; continuing with our plan would very likely have led to civil war. My original choice was, even in civil war, even if many had to die, to stop those conspirators’ treacherous acts, but in retrospect, was our way really definitely right?"

Yarebin wore a face of pain, looked at Glewatov, and said softly: "Don’t we know the situation within the Soviet Union? We know, but we are powerless to change it. If we could have prevented it, changed it, then the world would not be the way it is now."

Glewatov said nothing, Yarebin sighed and said: "No war is correct; today’s Russia is not necessarily much better, but if civil war had really happened that year, whether Russia could exist today is still a question."

Glewatov looked very indignant; he shouted angrily: "But he shouldn’t have detained you!"

Yarebin let out a bitter smile and said: "The necessary things have not yet been said, do not interrupt him, Baskov, continue."