Chapter 204 BOOM! - SINGLE SHOT
Liu Yong pressed the cold barrel of the gun against his head, his gaze fixed on his target as he watched the man complete the transfer.
[ " Hmph, daring to hijack our ship and demand a ransom of 100 million U.S. dollars. What an idiot. He paid a hefty price of 1 billion U.S. dollars, " ] Liu Yong scoffed, a hint of amusement lacing his voice. Trembling with fear, Zawahiri's face turned pale, beads of cold sweat trickling down his forehead. He stammered, [ " I have transferred 1 billion U.S. dollars as per your request. Please, don't kill me. " ] Liu Yong's lips curled into a sinister smile as he calmly pulled the trigger.
-BOOM!
A single shot echoed through the room, shattering the silence as Zawahiri's head exploded in a gruesome display. Liu Yong's voice dripped with dark humour as he remarked, [ " I never promised not to kill you. If I spared the likes of you, why bother waiting for the New Year? " ]
Reacting swiftly, Kang Zhenggang and Qiu Yang also pulled their triggers, the room filling with a rapid succession of gunfire.
[ " Let's go. Time to leave, " ] Liu Yong declared, his tone commanding.
The trio exited the small building, greeted by an awaiting off-road vehicle parked at the entrance. Liu Yong wasted no time, swiftly hopping onto it, and the three sped away.
-What! Zawahiri was dead! His stronghold had been decimated, leaving no more than 300 survivors!
News of this swift and brutal takedown spread like wildfire, shocking the remaining three pirate groups. They were baffled by the audacity of the assailants who had effortlessly eradicated the entire Melka organization.
Some speculate that the Global Shipping Group might be involved. After all, the Melka organization had recently hijacked one of their vessels, demanding a hefty ransom of 100 million U.S. dollars. The ship was only just released when this unexpected turn occurred. Others considered the possibility of a mere coincidence, unsure of the true orchestrator behind the demise of the Melka organization.
Furious, the leader of the Somali al-Shabaab vented his anger by knocking over several cups in succession, his breath heavy with frustration. The Melka organization, a pirate group he had painstakingly supported, had been completely wiped out, depriving him of a significant source of income.
[ " Who is responsible for eliminating the Melka organization? Find out! " ] he bellowed, his voice filled with a potent mix of rage and determination.
Meanwhile, Liu Yong and his companions had safely returned to the hotel where they were staying. Their hearts filled with satisfaction. Not only had they obliterated the entire Melka organization, but they had also amassed a staggering 1 billion dollars. Indeed a job well done.
Kang Zhenggang excitedly said, [ "Boss, this has been such a thrilling experience! I haven't felt this much joy in a long time. " ]
He Qiang nodded in agreement, adding, [ " Indeed, it's even more exhilarating than our army missions. On missions, we have to abide by strict discipline, but this time, we can do whatever we please. " ]
Liu Yong chuckled and praised them, saying, [ " You both performed exceptionally well. Once we're back home, each of you will be rewarded with a generous sum of 5 million yuan. " ]
[ " Really ? " ] exclaimed the two, their happiness soaring inexplicably.
[ " The Boss increased the reward from 2 million to 5 million yuan just because he's in a good mood. We couldn't have asked for more," ] they remarked happily.
As the three chatted and laughed in the room, Liu Yong's phone interrupted their conversation. It was a call from Qiu Yang in China, who sounded overjoyed.
[ " Boss, our group's overseas account suddenly received a remittance of 1 billion U.S. dollars. What's happening? " ] Qiu Yang asked curiously.
Liu Yong smiled and shared, [ " I personally confronted the gang of pirates and they sent the money as an apology. They promised they'll never attempt to hijack our ships again. " ]
Of course, he wasn't telling the truth. There was no need to divulge the actual events. As long as Qiu Yang believed the money came from the pirates, it would confirm the destruction of the entire Melka organization, making it impossible for them to hijack Global Shipping Group's vessels.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Yang's excitement escalated. [ " Boss, I've always worried about your safety. I never imagined you were so powerful. Not only did these pirates release our ship and crew, but they also apologized with 1 billion U.S. dollars. It's beyond my wildest expectations. " ]
Liu Yong laughed again and said, [ " The money has already been transferred to our account. If you want to buy a boat, go ahead. If you want to use it for the construction of the Universal Building, allocate it there. " ]
In essence, Liu Yong wanted Qui Yang to spend it as he pleased. Liu Yong wants him to be OK with trivial things like spending money. After all, the money came effortlessly, so Liu Yong didn't feel guilty about using it.
[ " Sure Boss " ] Qui Yang replied and ended the phone.
After chatting for a few minutes, the trio headed to the hotel's restaurant for dinner. Indulging in the most renowned local delicacy, roasted camel, they ordered extravagantly and accompanied their meal with expensive red wine.
It was a feast fit for a king. Despite their appetites, they couldn't finish even one-third of the camel. A whole camel, although delicious, proved to be too much.
They decided against venturing for a leisurely stroll because of the lack of safety outside. Instead, after their meal, they sat on the hotel's open-air balcony, enjoying the serene ambience before retiring to their room.
Liu Yong settled comfortably on the sofa and conversed with Li Changle for a while.
As soon as he hung up the phone, Bawang's voice resonated in his mind, breaking the silence.
[ " Master, I have arrived in the Gulf of Aden. Do you have any tasks for me? " ]
Bawang had embarked on a remarkable journey from the South China Sea of Yan Kingdom, traversing thousands of nautical miles in just two days to reach the Gulf of Aden finally.
Liu Yong responded, appreciating Bawang's efforts, [ " You have worked hard. Find a place to rest and recover. If there is a task, I will contact you proactively. " ]
[ "OK, master, " ] Bawang acknowledged his need for rest after swimming such great distances. He satisfied his hunger and sought a comfortable spot to replenish his energy.
Meanwhile, Liu Yong also retired to his bed for some well-deserved rest.
For some individuals, tonight was destined to be a restless night, such as certain members of the Somali al-Shabaab.
After the destruction of the Melka organization, the Youth Party mobilized its forces to investigate the incident thoroughly, determined to uncover the identities of those responsible for wiping out the organization.
The next day.....
Liu Yong woke up feeling reasonably well-rested after a good night's sleep. The foreign surroundings didn't make him tired. Checking the time upon waking, he proceeded to freshen up.
Now that the work was done, Liu Yong had entrusted the hotel to book three air tickets to Dubai the previous day. He wondered if they had been booked yet, aware there was only one flight to Dubai each afternoon.
At around 8:00 a.m. local time, Liu Yong and his companions gathered for breakfast.
The breakfast spread was lavish, but Liu Yong had no qualms about spending money generously. Compared to the one billion U.S. dollars from the previous day, the cost was insignificant, a mere drop in the ocean.
After breakfast, the hotel staff approached them courteously, presenting three first-class air tickets.
[ " The flight is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., so you will arrive in Dubai by evening, sir " ] informed the staff.
Liu Yong received his air ticket and realized it was still at 9 o'clock. They had ample time until 6 p.m. Could they venture out for a stroll?
[ " What do you think about going out for a walk? " ] Liu Yong suggested, curious about his companions' opinions.
Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang approved the proposal, eager to explore their new surroundings. They were undeterred by the potential chaos outside.
All three carried pistols and extra magazines for safety. Strolling around with a firearm felt somewhat uneasy.
Just as they reached the hotel lobby, prepared to step outside, a group of over a dozen individuals stormed in from the entrance, heavily armed.
................