Liu Yong gazed at the staggering amount before him, a whopping 5 billion U.S. dollars. It was an immense sum, and every penny had been transferred to his account.
Evan Joyce pleaded, trembling, "Mr. Liu, please spare my life. I swear I'll pretend none of this ever happened. I won't even think about going to the police."
Liu Yong fixed his eyes on Evan Joyce, his voice dripping with calculated menace. "So, should I end your life, or should I show mercy?"
A resounding "plop!" echoed through the room, followed by the sight of several high-ranking figures dropping to their knees, their foreheads touching the floor as they begged, "Mr. Liu, we implore you, please spare us!"
It was evident that the fear of death had gripped them all.
"Plop, plop."
Even Evan Joyce, relinquishing any semblance of pride, joined the others on his knees, praying for mercy. He promised not to bear any grudges, trouble Liu Yong, or avoid involving the authorities.
Liu Yong cast a disdainful gaze upon them. Such gangsters were hardly worth his attention. If they dared to seek revenge, they would be swiftly eliminated.
Waving his hand dismissively, Liu Yong commanded, "Go, let's return."
Heading towards the exit to settle the remaining business, knowing that his objective had been achieved, Liu Yong left behind a manor that now bore the weight of lifeless bodies. All the men had been ruthlessly dispatched, leaving only the defenceless servants unharmed.
The three off-road vehicles departed, vanishing into the distance. The place they left behind was an eerie sight, with corpses littering the once vibrant manor.
After a considerable amount of time had passed, one of the leaders spoke slowly, his voice laden with apprehension. "Boss, can we really just let it go like this?"
Evan Joyce, helplessness colouring his voice, responded, "What else can we do? He wiped out so many of us with just nine people, unscathed. We are no match for him at all. This matter has come to an end."
In that moment, Evan Joyce deeply regretted his decisions. If only he had known, he would have willingly transferred a total of 3.52 billion U.S. dollars into Liu Yong's account. Not only would it have saved over a billion dollars, but it would have spared the lives of seventy or eighty of his subordinates.
This encounter had proven to be a heavy blow for Evan Joyce, filling him with regret, a regret that weighed heavily upon his conscience.
Within the luxurious confines of the Presidential Suite in a hotel, Liu Yong returned, his countenance relaxed as if he had merely taken a leisurely stroll.
Li Changle, perpetually filled with worry, found solace upon seeing Liu Yong's safe return. "Brother Yong, you're finally back. Are you alright?"
With an effortless air, Liu Yong replied, "Everything's fine. Evan Joyce has handed over all the money as I requested. It was an easy task."
Li Changle suspected the whole process couldn't have been so simple, but her astuteness urged her not to probe further. She wouldn't question Liu Yong's judgment.
Liu Yong glanced at the time, gesturing with a wave of his hand. "Come, let's have dinner before heading back."
Within the hotel, Liu Yong ordered a sumptuous feast, indulging in a delicious meal before going to the airport.
The private Boeing 777 jet stood ready, prepared for their departure. Shortly after Liu Yong and his companions boarded the plane, it taxied onto the runway, gaining speed until it gracefully lifted off, soaring towards Huahai International Airport.
During his trip to Rio City, Liu Yong reaped considerable rewards. Not only had he witnessed Chen Hu's triumph in winning gold medals, but he had also amassed a staggering 5 billion U.S. dollars.
...
Far out in the South Atlantic Ocean, the "Blue Whale" sailed through the vast expanse of water. On its return journey to Huahai City, it cruised at an economical speed, eschewing haste.
After days of traversing the ocean, covering thousands of nautical miles, the vessel had bypassed the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal. Now, it found itself skirting the African continent.
Sailing southward from the North Atlantic Ocean, it had reached the southernmost tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope.
Captain Ren Ziquan peered through his telescope, his face displaying a serene expression as he observed the boundless sea in the distance.
"Captain, we are passing the Cape of Good Hope today. Tomorrow, we will enter the Indian Ocean," a crew member reported.
Ren Ziquan nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. "Our journey has been smooth. We are finally on the cusp of entering the Indian Ocean."
Lowering his binoculars, he reached for the satellite phone, relaying the ship's status and current location to the company. The "Blue Whale" had been back from South America for two days, and this was the first time Liu Yong had returned to the company's office since his arrival, even though it was already 10 o'clock in the afternoon.
Just as Liu Yong settled into his office, preparing to delve into the pile of documents and reports on his desk, a knock came on the door. Qiu Yang entered the room.
"Boss, the 'Blue Whale' has reported that they have reached the Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost tip of Africa, and are about to enter the Atlantic Ocean," Qiu Yang informed him.
Liu Yong's spirits lifted instantly. "Their progress is commendable. I hope they return soon."
On the "Blue Whale," four lithography machines were stowed, ready to be transported. Universal Semiconductor, the newly established company, was poised to commence the construction of two factories.
"In no more than 30 days, the 'Blue Whale' will arrive in Huahai City. By that time, the construction of our two factories will be in full swing," Qiu Yang assured Liu Yong.
The two engaged in conversation, discussing the current state of the company and the imminent construction of the new factories. Each facility demanded an investment of 30 to 40 billion dollars and had been meticulously planned by a team of experts. These factories would undoubtedly rank among the world's most advanced and scientifically designed chip manufacturing establishments.
...
In the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Overlord swam leisurely, lurking several tens of meters beneath the surface. Having recently devoured a massive sperm whale, it was now satiated, its hunger temporarily sated.
Located far from both the North American and European continents, the Overlord meandered through the icy waters. Lost in thought, it wondered about the mysteries concealed beneath the ocean's depths.
The Overlord's mind drifted to memories of the peculiar white fish it had encountered in the Indian Ocean trench. They were large and delectable, a single catch that satiated its appetite.
Now, it yearned to explore the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean, pondering the existence of undiscovered colossal creatures. Could they be devoured, and if so, what would they taste like?
Driven by curiosity, the Overlord embarked on a deeper descent, plunging into the sea's abyssal depths. The water grew darker as it ventured further, with sporadic light spots illuminating the surroundings—the bioluminescent fish inhabiting these depths.
Undeterred, the Overlord continued its descent, hoping to encounter larger prey within its perceptible range. Yet, despite its extensive perception, it only encountered creatures of modest sizes, with the largest measuring a mere one or two meters.
As it reached a depth of over 4,000 meters, the Overlord finally arrived at the seafloor. A vast and level expanse stretched before it, resembling a sprawling plain at the ocean's bottom.
The Overlord leisurely swam across the seabed, its perception encompassing a radius of 500 meters, providing a clear view of its surroundings. The seafloor remained uniformly flat for dozens of nautical miles—a seemingly endless plain.
Suddenly, the Overlord sensed a colossal and seemingly bottomless pit ahead. Intrigued, it swam towards it, discovering a circular abyss of unfathomable depth.
The Overlord hovered at the pit's edge, captivated by its enormity.
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