Liu Yong stood in agreement, his expression firm and resolute. He understood the gravity of the situation and the need to be prepared.
"This kind of thing must be guarded against," he affirmed, his voice filled with determination. He knew that reasoning with the pirates was futile, and their affiliation with the Global Shipping Group wouldn't dissuade them from their hijacking endeavours.
After bidding farewell to Hu Shijun, Liu Yong conversed with Overlord, active in the Western Pacific Ocean. The mention of work piqued the interest of Overlord, whose recent days had been devoid of excitement, leaving it yearning for a purpose.
"Master, what work do you need me to do?" Overlord inquired, its spirit slightly shaken.
Liu Yong responded commandingly, "You must proceed to the Persian Gulf and stand by. Our tanker requires your vigilant escort in that sea area."
"Okay, master, I will make my way to the sea off the Persian Gulf promptly," Bawang replied. It embarked on its journey, wielding its colossal spear. While its weight gain had slowed down, the gradual accumulation had still brought it to an impressive 552 tons, marking considerable growth.
Bawang's capabilities were exceptional, maintaining a swimming speed of approximately 300 nautical miles. Swimming two or three thousand nautical miles without pause posed no challenge for this mighty entity.
Meanwhile, the owner of the Proton Ocean Shipping Group, Shi Wanquan, found himself plagued by a distressing predicament. Pirates had contacted him via long-distance phone, demanding a deposit of 50 million US dollars within 48 hours. Failure to comply would result in losing a crew member every hour during the night.
The weight of 50 million dollars bore heavily on Shi Wanquan's shoulders. Although the Proton Group was a sizable company, it could not produce such a substantial sum immediately.
In the past, they possessed the financial resources to tackle such demands. At the outset, their total transport tonnage exceeded 3.5 million tons. However, with the rise of the Global Shipping Group, their business improved considerably.
Despite their best efforts to survive, they had to sell several large ships during financial hardships. As a result, their current total tonnage stood at approximately 2.5 million tons.
Shi Wanquan found himself grappling with an exasperating dilemma. Where could he possibly procure such a substantial amount of money? The options ranged from seeking a bank loan to selling one or two of their largest vessels.
The office door swung open, and Yuan Guanghui, Shi Wanquan's subordinate, entered with a mournful expression. He reported, "Boss, the pirates called again, urging us to transfer the money."
"MMP! Couldn't they have reminded me sooner if I had the money?" Shi Wanquan muttered in frustration. Yuan Guanghui, well aware of the company's financial situation, asked softly, "Boss, are you worried about the money?"
Shi Wanquan sighed deeply. "Yes, where can I raise 50 million US dollars in such a short time? If it were 20 million US dollars, I might manage."
Yuan Guanghui suggested, "Boss, the ocean shipping business has become increasingly difficult, with the Global Shipping Group dominating the industry. Perhaps we should consider following in the footsteps of Risheng Group and gradually sell some of our large ships."
Shi Lijun contemplated Yuan Guanghui's proposal. "You mean sell our ships one after another to the Global Shipping Group?"
Surveying the shipping landscape, Shi Lijun recognized that the Global Shipping Group stood as the only viable contender to purchase their ships apart from the two state-owned ocean shipping groups.
The state-owned Ocean Shipping Group's intricate buying procedures and sluggish funds posed significant hurdles. On the other hand, selling to the Global Shipping Group would provide immediate funds, allowing them to secure the required 50 million US dollars within the given 48 hours.
Shi Lijun delved into deep thought, considering the potential implications of such a decision.
Meanwhile, Liu Yong was away from the office, overseeing the Universal Tower construction site. The grand skyscraper, designed to soar to an impressive 98 floors, had currently reached the 72nd floor. Progress was swift, adding a new floor every two to three days. The completion of the roof was expected within a month.
Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang accompanied Liu Yong, while Qiu Yang was not required to join them. They arrived inconspicuously, not wishing to disrupt the construction efforts, merely observing the towering structure from the outside.
Liu Yong's satisfaction radiated from his countenance as he remarked, "The construction is progressing admirably. In approximately a month, the roof will be complete. Within half a year, we shall have our new office space within this magnificent building."
Universal Tower, a landmark structure in Huahai City, ranked among the top five in all of China, epitomized the epitome of a Grade A office building.
Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang couldn't conceal their excitement, sharing in the creative accomplishment.
As the three of them marvelled at the construction progress, a young man dashed toward them. "Brother, could you take a photo of us?" he asked, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Liu Yong grinned warmly. The couple before him appeared to be college students seeking a commemorative snapshot.
"Absolutely," Liu Yong replied, accepting the phone handed to him. "Let's use the construction site as the background."
The boy, grateful for the offer, held his girlfriend's hand, assuming a pose. Liu Yong skillfully captured several photographs with his own mobile phone.
Delighted by the quality of the images, the young man expressed his gratitude once again.
Intrigued by their choice of background, Liu Yong inquired, "The Universal Tower is still under construction. Why are you taking photos with it as the backdrop?"
The boy responded, excitedly singing, "Brother, the Universal Tower is incredibly popular now. This area has become a hotspot for online influencers to visit. Taking a photo before its completion serves as a special commemoration."
Liu Yong smiled, never expecting the construction site to transform into a trendy spot for social media check-ins.
His attention piqued, and Liu Yong soon noticed many people capturing the site's essence. Some utilized smartphones, while others wielded professional cameras. Some focused on the building's construction, while others captured themselves alongside the structure. A young, fashionable woman even took it a step further, employing a mobile phone stand to engage in a live broadcast. She interacted energetically with her numerous fans, utilizing the construction site as an engaging backdrop.
"Everyone wanted me to live broadcast in front of the Universal Tower, so here it is," the young woman exclaimed, pointing the lens of her mobile phone toward herself and the building. "Take a look, everyone! The under-construction Universal Tower looms behind me."
Close enough to hear her words clearly, Liu Yong couldn't help but smile. The Universal Tower had indeed transformed into a hotspot for online celebrities, and this lively broadcast served as further proof.
As the young woman continued her engaging stream, Liu Yong's attention turned toward her. She exuded youth and style, likely in her early twenties.
Curiosity piqued, and he wondered if she had captured him in her live feed. Should he discreetly move out of the way? Observing the captivating woman immersed in her broadcast, Liu Yong contemplated his next move.
Indeed, Liu Yong had been photographed, though among the numerous individuals captured by the camera, and he remained just another passerby in the live broadcast. The majority of attention from the fans remained fixed on the captivating young woman.
Unbeknownst to Liu Yong, the woman went by the online alias "Xiao Qingya" and boasted over 10 million devoted fans, effectively qualifying as an internet celebrity.
Devoting herself wholeheartedly to the broadcast, Xiao Qingya occasionally adjusted her angle to capture her surroundings more effectively. Her fans chimed in with comments.
"The Universal Tower looks incredible. It's already so tall, probably at least 70 stories high."
"Being a landmark building in Huahai City, I can't wait for its completion. I hope it gets capped soon."
As expected, most fans' focus revolved around the under-construction tower. However, a few keen-eyed individuals noticed Liu Yong's presence in the camera frame.
"Who's that handsome young man? He's incredibly good-looking."
"A true epitome of handsomeness! Xiao Qing, point the camera at the handsome guy. We want a closer look."
Noticing the fans' comments, Xiao Qingya, too, caught sight of the handsome man beside her in the camera feed.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com