“Our young friend should know that in our industry talent is unimportant; talent designates everything.” Secretly applauding himself he went to read the company profiles, sightseeing that there were hors d'oeuvre, warm rain and warm wine on the side table, Igor first went to say hi to the wines, he unconsciously chose a glass of champagne, because everything is worth a celebration.

What is more trepid than academic politics? Schmoozing academic politics with foreigners. 

Igor found himself back on the board. Not multiple boards at once this time, just one. On the opposite side of the chess table sat the same Vasily Kamenev, in the blink of an eye comrade Kamenev morphed into a young woman with lovely silver hair. "Still thinking about quitting?" "Still thinking about moving on." "As much as I'd like a re-match sometime, I come to welcome you to Civitas. " "Any sacred message, Lady Solomon?”  "Be your own human, be independent." “As they were different things.”