Liu Yong's expression turned icy, his face devoid of warmth.
[ " You just said 'no', didn't you? Are you planning to seek vengeance for the Melka organization and hijack our ships in the future? " ] he accused Mulatu with a hint of animosity.
Mulatu's anger flared up in response. Surrounded by his subordinates, Liu Yong aimed a gun at him, his eyes blazing with intensity.
One of Mulatu's subordinates, a presumed expert, stealthily pulled out a pistol, preparing to shoot. However, Liu Yong fired a shot without hesitation before he could aim.
-BOOM!
-AHHHHHH!
The so-called expert collapsed to the ground.
The others were startled, freezing in their tracks. Their slight movements came to an abrupt halt as they dreaded becoming the next target of Liu Yong's bullet.
Liu Yong once again aimed his gun at Mulatu's head.
[ " Are you planning to cause trouble for us in the future? Do you seek revenge? " ] he demanded.
Despite Mulatu's anguish, the gun pressed against his head rendered his subordinates helpless in the face of the gun.
Reluctantly, he responded, [ " Rest assured, Mr. Liu. We won't seek revenge in the future, and we won't dare to hijack your company's ships. " ]
Liu Yong warned him sternly, [ " Remember what you've said today. You must not forget, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life. " ]
With that, Liu Yong holstered his Desert Eagle, tucking it away at his waist, and swaggered out of the room.
Many subordinates of Mulatu were left astonished.
[ " Shouldn't it have been standard practice to keep a hostage for safety and evacuate carefully ? " ] Mulatu thought.
Soon Mulatu was tempted to give the order to shoot, but apprehension crept into his mind when he glanced at the two lifeless bodies on the ground. What if, just in case...
The mere thought made him tremble with fear.
Another subordinate, witnessing Liu Yong's lack of a firearm, saw an opportunity to strike. Boldly, he reached for his pistol, intending to shoot Liu Yong in the back. Suddenly, a swift and forceful sabre appeared out of nowhere.
-Sanggg!
It moved with such speed, like an elusive shadow, that almost no one had time to react. The sabre pierced through the man's head, leaving only the hilt visible on the other side.
Oh, dear God!
The head is the most substantial part of the human body, yet the sabre penetrated so profoundly.
Liu Yong didn't even turn his head, silently reflecting that one doesn't necessarily need a Desert Eagle to take a life—sometimes, a sabre is just as effective.
Outside the tower, Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang could hear intermittent gunshots emanating from within. Their anxiety for Liu Yong's safety grew, and they contemplated storming inside with their firearms on multiple occasions.
Finally, their eyes saw Liu Yong strolling out with a calm countenance.
[ " Boss, are you unharmed? " ] The two asked almost simultaneously.
Liu Yong reassured them, [ " I'm perfectly fine, not a scratch. " ]
Kang Zhenggang inquired, [ " So this individual didn't trouble you? Did they not cause any harm? " ]
[ " They certainly intended to, but they lacked the capability, " ] Liu Yong responded. [ " I simply provided them with an education. Their leader assured me that they will abstain from hijacking our vessels in the future. " ]
The two exchanged glances, rapidly envisioning the lesson Liu Yong had imparted to their adversaries.
Liu Yong gestured with his hand and commanded, [ " Let's go, snap out of it. We have matters to attend to. " ]
In the afternoon, a car dispatched by the hotel arrived to transport San Rendao to the airport.
As they departed, all the weapons remained behind, abandoned in their hotel room. Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang couldn't help but feel regret.
They longed to seize those weapons for themselves, but the situation dictated that taking them on the plane was not an option.
At 6 p.m., the plane took off, and it was already deep into the night when they touched down at Dubai Airport. Liu Yong diligently sought out the finest local hotel for their temporary stay.
Liu Yong pondered whether the pirate organizations under the control of the Somali Al-Shabaab would continue to target the vessels belonging to the Global Shipping Group in the future. He fervently hoped they would abstain from such actions.
However, Liu Yong was resolute in his conviction that if they dared to engage in piracy, they would undoubtedly face severe consequences and pay a hefty price for their actions.
In the Red Sea ...….
The Red Sea stretched before them as the colossal vessel, owned by the renowned Global Shipping Group, continued its voyage. Two days had passed since it traversed the Suez Canal, and tomorrow morning, it was scheduled to enter the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden.
This was the [[ " Hongda, " ]] a mammoth container ship with a staggering displacement exceeding 100,000 tons, surpassing even the recently hijacked [[ " East Star. " ]] Every nook and cranny of the [[ " Hongda " ]] was filled with containers, all imported from Europe.
Captain Lu Yingwu couldn't shake off a gnawing unease as he discussed the situation with his crew.
[ " The Gulf of Aden waters are far from peaceful, and my instincts tell me something's amiss. " ]
Seeking to reassure his worried crew, Captain Lu Yingwu remarked, [ " Our luck won't be that terrible. The pirates just hijacked the 'East Star' a few days ago, demanding a hefty ransom of 100 million US dollars. They'll likely target our company's ship later. They'll lay low for a few months." ]
Though hoping for the best, a sense of foreboding lingered within the captain.
[ " I sincerely hope you're right, Captain, but this unease keeps gnawing at my heart, " ] expressed a crew member.
Captain Lu Yingwu pondered momentarily before suggesting, [ " In that case, let's take precautions. Heighten our vigilance, bolster our lookout, and prepare ourselves. "]
Responding to their captain's orders, the "Hongda" increased its alert status as it ventured into the Gulf of Aden waters the following morning.
Several hours had passed since they set sail, and the sea remained tranquil. It was now afternoon.
With nightfall looming within the next couple of hours, a sense of relief washed over Captain Lu Yingwu. After all, pirates usually operated during daylight, seldom venturing out under cover of darkness when visibility was limited.
Feeling more at ease, Captain Lu Yingwu silently prayed, [ " May God bless us and allow us to traverse the Gulf of Aden unscathed." ] He understood that once they entered the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, the odds would be in their favour.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
As the saying goes, [ " Expect the unexpected. " ]
Moments after concluding his prayer, Captain Lu Yingwu heard a series of shouts, instantly realizing that a speedboat was rapidly approaching—possibly pirates.
[ " What?! Could our luck truly be this abysmal? How unlucky! " ] Captain Lu Yingwu's heart tightened, and his nerves grew taut. He swiftly turned his gaze toward the distant sea, revealing the emergence of three or four indistinct dark specks heading their way.
As the black spots drew nearer, it became apparent that they were three or four speedboats. With each passing moment, their visibility increased, leaving no doubt that these were pirate vessels. Even without a telescope, one could discern armed men aboard the speedboats, brandishing their weapons.
[ " Damn those pirates! " ] Lu Yingwu muttered, his anxiety intensifying. Some crew members couldn't contain their panic, succumbing to fear's grip.
The menacing speedboats gradually closed in, the closest one now a mere three or four hundred meters from the "Hongda." Captain Lu Yingwu could clearly distinguish the AK-47 assault rifles clutched by the pirates.
[ " It's all over. We're doomed, " ] a lonely feeling consumed Captain Lu Yingwu's heart.
On the flight from Dubai to Huahai City, Liu Yong reclined in a luxurious and spacious first-class seat, his eyes covered with a comfortable blindfold as he sought some much-needed rest.
His mind was still occupied with the events that had transpired in Somalia over the past two days, and he couldn't help but reflect on the sheer enjoyment he had experienced. We had successfully eliminated more than 300 pirates using our strategic approach, and the exhilaration of having $1 billion deposited into our account was genuinely satisfying.
Although I had warned Mulatu, I was unsure if he had taken it to heart. To be safe, I had instructed Bawang to tail the "Honda" in case Mulatu discreetly proved untrustworthy.
But what if Mulatu deceives us? What if he merely pays lip service to his promise of refraining from attacking ships belonging to the Global Shipping Group?
No matter. Bawang would silently trail the "Hongda" for the foreseeable future, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and its surrounding waters.
While other vessels relied on warships for protection, our ships were escorted by formidable Overlords.
Lost in contemplation, Liu Yong's thoughts were interrupted by Bawang's voice echoing, [ " Master, I am currently tailing the Hongda, and as you suspected, there have been sightings of pirates. " ]
Surprised, Liu Yong's eyes flickered open. [ " What? There are indeed pirates? " ]
He couldn't help but feel anticipation and vigilance as the journey continued.
................
