The euphoria of good times was short-lived, as adversity soon cast its dark shadow upon the horizon. Tang Ruiming's focus sharpened, and he was taken aback to witness several speedboats approaching their location on the distant sea. A wave of concern tightened his heart as he wondered if these were pirate speedboats, for their velocity surpassed that of ordinary fishing vessels. The possibility of encountering pirates sent a surge of seriousness coursing through his expression, prompting him to swiftly grab his binoculars. With a quick glance, he confirmed his fears—there were indeed multiple pirate speedboats headed their way.
"MMP, it's actually pirates!" Tang Ruiming exclaimed in disbelief. Taking charge, he immediately sounded the alarm aboard the ship and urgently conveyed through the microphone, "Attention, everyone! Attention! We have a pirate speedboat approaching us!"
Four pirate ships loomed closer, visible even without binoculars. The crew members onboard could discern the impending threat, causing panic to ripple through their ranks, their faces paling ever so slightly.
Beneath the sea's surface, just a few hundred meters away from the "Shiquan," Bawang swam leisurely, acting as the ship's covert guardian. The revelation of pirates planning to harm their vessel only ignited Bawang's ire.
"How dare they!" Bawang seethed, witnessing the pirate speedboats attempting to flank the "Shiquan." Determined to strike first, regardless of the consequences, Bawang swiftly swam towards one of the pirate vessels. Positioning himself beneath it, he grasped a colossal spear and deftly punctured the underside of the speedboat—a task that required minimal effort.
The speedboat succumbed to the assault, flipping over and sending the heavily armed pirates hurtling into the water. The crew on the "Shiquan" stood in stunned silence, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.
"Look, their boat capsized!" someone exclaimed.
"Amazing! Another one overturned!" another marveled.
As if under a spell, each pirate speedboat met the same fate, one after another, until only the last vessel, overwhelmed by fear, swiftly changed course, powering away at full throttle.
Regrettably for them, their escape was short-lived. Without venturing too far, the boat capsized, plunging all its occupants into the unforgiving waters below.
With the speedboats sunk and several pirates floundering on the surface, Tang Ruiming felt a surge of relief. "Damn, they had the audacity to attack our ship. They must be feeling like fools now," he remarked, satisfaction lacing his words.
Leaving the disoriented pirates to their aquatic struggle, the "Shiquan" gradually sailed away, putting distance between themselves and the remnants of the failed assault.
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Global Shipping Group, Hu Shijun entered Liu Yong's office, delivering the anticipated report. "Brother Yong, just as you predicted, the pirates initiated an attack on our ship. The 'Shiquan' reported that a group of pirates intended to hijack them. However, all the pirate speedboats capsized, and the pirates fell into the water," he joyously informed Liu Yong.
Liu Yong, of course, was aware of Bawang's clandestine protection and understood the sea lion's vital role in foiling the pirate attack.
Nevertheless, the audacity of these pirates rankled Liu Yong. They dared to target the ships of the Global Shipping Group, igniting a simmering anger within him. "Do they think they can jeopardize our operations without consequences?" he mused aloud. "Perhaps it's time we paid a visit to the Middle East and remind them of their folly."
Across the seas, in Rhodes Armed, Alfred's countenance darkened. A team he dispatched had been utterly obliterated, becoming mere morsels for the denizens of the deep. How had this transpired?
The inexplicable overturning of all their formidable speedboats perplexed him greatly. Could it be that the ships of the Global Shipping Group concealed secret weapons unknown to him?
Lost in thought, Alfred's face bore a deep scowl. He yearned for another attempt but feared a repetition of the inexplicable events. To relinquish his ambitions after a single failure was not in his nature.
In Alfred's eyes, the Global Shipping Group represented a sumptuous feast waiting to be devoured. After hijacking one of their vessels, his initial demand stood at a staggering 100 million US dollars.
One of his subordinates, sensing Alfred's unyielding determination, offered a suggestion, "Boss, since we failed to hijack a ship from the Global Shipping Group, we can alter our approach by kidnapping one or two crew members."
Alfred's gaze fell upon the subordinate, his voice tinged with anticipation. "Tell me quickly, what ideas do you have?"
With a detailed explanation, the subordinate laid out his plan. "The Global Shipping Group has numerous large ships engaged in oil transportation throughout the Middle East. Harriman Port, located in the Middle East, stands as one of the region's largest oil export ports. Their tankers frequently dock there. We can dispatch a team to Port Harriman and abduct a couple of their crew members."
The choice of Port Harriman was deliberate, as its proximity to Rhodes and the tenuous law and order prevalent there made it an ideal target.
Alfred found the proposition enticing. The notion of dispatching individuals to Port Harriman to seize a few crew members seemed well within their capabilities. "But even if we manage to abduct them, do you think the Global Shipping Group will meekly surrender the ransom? They would demand at least 50 million US dollars, if not 100 million," he voiced his reservations.
The subordinate confidently replied, "Boss, the people of Yan Kingdom cherish life dearly. They won't gamble their lives for money. I believe the Global Shipping Group will comply willingly."
Satisfied with the response, Alfred issued his directive. "Very well, proceed with the plan. Lead a small team to Port Harriman and abduct one or two hostages."
"No problem," the subordinate affirmed, brimming with confidence.
Port Harriman, situated along the northwest coast of the Arabian Sea, held a vital role as a prominent oil export hub in the Middle East. Its significance stemmed not from its proximity to the Persian Gulf, but from its status as a crude oil port belonging to AM country.
AM country shared borders with YM country, and the distance from Rhodes-controlled territories to the region barely exceeded a few hundred kilometers.
Within Port Harriman, several large vessels were docked, including the oil tanker "Shirong" from the Global Shipping Group. The vessel had arrived three days prior, poised to be loaded with crude oil and supplies. It would embark on its journey in approximately three to four days.
Adjacent to the port lay the town of Saimaili, a small settlement inhabited by fewer than 10,000 residents. The town's existence was entwined with the port's operations.
A three-story hotel within the town served as a relatively comfortable abode for the crew members of the Global Shipping Group during their visits. Gui Yuanliang, a sailor aboard the "Shirong," adhered to the regulations that stipulated their stay exclusively at the hotel. Venturing into the town required the captain's approval.
"Captain, I would like to explore the town and purchase some local goods," Gui Yuanliang requested.
Captain Sima Hongguang hesitated momentarily before granting permission. "Granted, but you must be accompanied by at least one other crew member, and your excursion should not exceed one hour."
With the captain's consent, Gui Yuanliang's face lit up. "Don't worry, Captain. I'll return within half an hour."
Sima Hongguang cautioned him, "Stay vigilant and keep your phone accessible."
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