With a cheerful disposition, Liu Yong found himself in a particularly jubilant mood. "Today, I stumbled upon a tremendous opportunity," he exclaimed, his excitement evident. "And it came right to my doorstep, practically begging for my attention."
The deal in question had been carefully negotiated, amounting to a staggering sum of 500 million yuan. Shi Wanquan, visibly relieved by the successful negotiation, anxiously implored Liu Yong, "Mr. Liu, can we finalize the contract today? I'm eagerly anticipating the arrival of the funds."
Liu Yong, raising his hand to check the time, responded in a deliberate manner, "It's nearly 5 o'clock, and I'm afraid it might be too late to complete the transaction today."
A sudden wave of distress washed over Shi Wanquan. He desperately needed the money to fulfill a ransom payment, and waiting until the next day to sign the contract would only further delay the process. With a tinge of desperation in his voice, he beseeched Liu Yong, "Mr. Liu, could you consider paying us half of the money in advance?"
His voice grew weaker as he continued, fully aware of the unlikelihood of his request being granted. However, to his astonishment, Liu Yong calmly responded, "Sure, I can give you half of the money now."
"What? You mean you're willing to provide half the amount upfront?" Shi Wanquan was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events. It felt like he had just been transported from the depths of despair to the peak of ecstasy in an instant.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Shi Wanquan's face flushed slightly, revealing his delight. In front of him, Liu Yong made a phone call, briefly explaining the situation, and promptly instructed Qiu Yang to transfer 250 million yuan to the Proton Group's account.
Within a short while, Shi Wanquan received a message from the financial department confirming the arrival of the money. A sense of relief washed over him entirely.
Feeling a newfound sense of ease, Shi Wanquan asked, albeit tentatively, "Mr. Liu, we haven't even signed the contract yet, and you've already transferred 250 million yuan to our account. Aren't you concerned that I might default on the debt?"
Liu Yong smiled nonchalantly, locking eyes with Shi Wanquan as he replied, "Do you dare?"
His tone carried a hint of dominance, leaving no room for doubt. The sheer audacity of Liu Yong's question left Shi Wanquan momentarily speechless. He smiled sheepishly, struggling to articulate his response. "I truly dare not," he finally managed to utter.
With that, Liu Yong rose from his seat and made his way towards the exit, his voice resounding with authority. "Had it not been for the fact that the dozen crew members abducted by pirates were all from the Yan Kingdom, I wouldn't have intervened to save you," he declared.
Both being compatriots from the Yan Kingdom, Liu Yong couldn't bear to see harm befall his fellow countrymen at the hands of pirates. With that sentiment in mind, he left the premises, leaving Shi Wanquan behind, deeply contemplating the unexpected turn of events.
One of Shi Wanquan's subordinates, Yuan Guanghui, approached him softly and whispered, "Boss, this is 250 million yuan. Liu Yong didn't even ask for a receipt. If we were to turn our backs on the deal, it seems he wouldn't be able to do anything about it."
The idea appealed to Shi Wanquan, as it held a certain allure. However, he knew all too well that if Liu Yong had the confidence to provide such a large sum without seeking any guarantees, he must possess countless means to ensure compliance.
With a sigh, Shi Wanquan spoke slowly, "The Proton Group is no longer the same as it once was. Let's not entertain thoughts of defaulting on our debts; it would only lead to our swift demise."
Despite the lack of a formal receipt, Shi Wanquan truly didn't dare to renege on his obligations, well aware of the consequences. Meanwhile, Liu Yong returned to his office.
Taking his seat, Liu Yong was soon greeted by Qiu Yang, who entered the room with a visibly surprised expression. "Boss, did you really manage to acquire Proton Group's 'Lianyong' and 'Liansheng' for a mere 500 million yuan?" he exclaimed.
Liu Yong affirmed with a smile, "Yes, tomorrow you will represent the group and sign the official contract with Shi Wanquan."
Qiu Yang responded promptly, "Alright, no problem. Boss, I'm familiar with these two ships. They're in excellent condition and quite sizable, capable of carrying up to 120,000 tons of crude oil. I suggest we retain them."
At the time, the ships were not even up for sale, but now they had conveniently presented themselves. Liu Yong's happiness was evident as he listened to Qiu Yang's assessment.
Once Qiu Yang departed, Liu Yong's thoughts turned towards the crew members who had been taken hostage by the Proton Group. The pirates had demanded an exorbitant sum of 50 million US dollars, leaving no room for negotiation. It became clear that these were not ordinary pirates, but rather an organization of considerable scale pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Based on the location of the hijacking, it was unlikely that they were Somali pirates, as the incident had occurred off the Persian Gulf rather than the Gulf of Aden, where Somali pirates were known to operate. Deep in thought, Liu Yong remained seated in his office, contemplating his next move.
After carefully considering the situation, Liu Yong realized that one of his ships was approaching the waters off the Persian Gulf. It was a large oil tanker with a capacity of 1.5 million barrels, named "Shiquan." This maiden voyage, spanning thousands of miles, was destined to transport crude oil to the Persian Gulf.
Recognizing the urgency of the matter, Liu Yong promptly communicated with Bawang, instructing them to safeguard the oil tanker "Shiquan" and ensure its safe passage through the outer waters of the Persian Gulf, into the heart of the region. Once within the Persian Gulf, the vessel would be relatively secure, free from potential threats.
At that moment, Bawang had already passed through the Strait of Malacca and ventured into the Indian Ocean. Their arrival in the Persian Gulf was imminent, and there were no significant obstacles in their path.
In the Middle East, specifically in YM, a volatile and tumultuous country, one of the most significant anti-government armed forces in the region operated clandestinely—an organization known as Rhodes. Proudly serving as one of its leaders, Alfred devised a plan to hijack a Proton Group oil tanker, instructing his subordinates accordingly.
Pleased with the successful execution of his scheme, Alfred reveled in the fact that 50 million US dollars had been deposited into their account. He couldn't help but bask in his accomplishment, contemplating how he might be rewarded by the group's leader. The prospect of repeating such lucrative endeavors seemed as enticing as selling oil itself. Perhaps it was time to embark on a search for more ships from the Yan Kingdom.
Addressing his subordinate, Rob, Alfred issued an order with a firm tone, "Rob, continue your exploration of the Persian Gulf tomorrow. With it being an international waterway, you should be able to locate a suitable tanker."
Rob stood at attention, responding confidently, "Head, there won't be a problem. Tomorrow morning, my team and I will set out, and we won't disappoint you."
Satisfied with Rob's response, Alfred patted him on the shoulder and declared, "I'll be awaiting your good news."
The following day, Rob and his team embarked on their journey to the Persian Gulf, setting sail early in the morning without further delay. Under the morning sun, a colossal oil tanker plowed through the sea—it was the "Shiquan," owned by the Global Shipping Group, bound for the Persian Gulf.
Captain Tang Ruiming had risen early, eager to arrive at the port after over 20 days of sailing. With the "Shiquan" now in the outer waters of the Persian Gulf, he anticipated reaching his destination the following morning. He hoped for an expedient arrival, looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation before departing with a full load of oil.
As the morning passed uneventfully, with calm winds, the "Shiquan" fully entered the outer waters of the Persian Gulf by afternoon, less than 200 nautical miles away from the gulf's entrance. Tang Ruiming silently breathed a sigh of relief, recognizing that the journey had progressed remarkably smoothly and that the Persian Gulf was now within close reach.
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