Gao Yang posed a question that left Glolov silent for a long time, his face distant, just staring at his own toes, seemingly lost in thought. The formerly lively and joyful atmosphere had become heavy once again due to Glolov's mood.
After a long while, Glolov began to speak in a deep voice, "I never blamed him, never did, even when I knew he had swallowed up all my money, I didn't blame him. In fact, I still consider him my best brother to this day, but I killed him with my own hands."
No one spoke, knowing that Glolov would continue if he wanted to, and this time Glolov didn't sink back into his thoughts but soon began to recount the past between him and Ivan.
"It's a long story. Ivan was a comrade-in-arms and my best friend. We fought together in the first battle of Grozny. Back then, he was an excellent army medic. After leaving the service, he finished medical school and worked in a Moscow hospital, becoming a promising surgeon.