Chapter 129 The Pirate King
"You... You... What do you want?" Bertrand"s tone was not as calm as it had been, and there was only constant fear. He did not expect that this opponent had the ability to use a submarine to attack them. How much power was behind this man?
"My request is very simple. Yesterday, I had already stated everything clearly on the phone. I don"t want to repeat it a second time! Of course, this pain would not cause you to make the decision to hand back the fortune you had gotten, but I"ll still say the same thing. Time will disclose everything to you." Chen Fan"s tone was very calm, as if he was just discussing what to eat for lunch.
"Bullsh*t" Bertrand was irritated and was swearing. "Only us pirates ever blackmail others. Absolutely no one dares to blackmail us pirates. Even the Ukrainian government paid their ransom. They dared not even utter a word. I don"t believe you have more ability than the Ukrainian government."
"Ukraine?" Chen Fan laughed. "Don"t always flaunt your past glories. I recognize that you are a very good organization and a leader in the world of piracy. But you"ll soon find out that you"re facing a very, very, dreadful opponent, who would definitely make you have sleepless nights unless you don"t go out to sea or behave and follow my terms."
Du... du... du... The satellite telephone again was cut off with a busy tone!
"The devil… it is definitely the devil!" Bertrand shuddered and called Thomas on the telephone.
"Sir!" Thomas couldn"t help to make a standard salute when he got the call. It had to be said that although they were the largest pirate gang in Somalia they still adhered to their strict training, even while stationed in remote areas.
Bertrand said something that made Thomas confused. "There are still three minutes and twenty seconds. Pray that you will be spared in this disaster!"
"What do you mean, Sir?" Thomas was driving the clipper.
"Hold the line!" Thomas sat down on the steps with his eyes fixed on his watch.
...
Five, four, three, two, one!
Rumble...
There was a big banging sound that came again from Bertrand"s cell phone and then a scream for help.
"Ah..." Bertrand held his head with both his hands and howled, "The great Mohammad, I made a fatal mistake, I should have ordered the killing of the crew..."
If Chen Fan could see Bertrand"s angry face, he would be happy.
Lounging on the sofa, Chen Fan again dialed Bertrand"s telephone.
"That was just a small appetizer. What you have done to me had hurt my heart so much that I not only had trouble sleeping for a week, but I am saddled with huge debts. The good thing is that I have a good heart, and I like to leave room for maneuver. So, you can have people save your crew, and this time I won"t do it again. But as soon as you go out to sea again, it will happen again and again."
Five minutes later...
Bertrand, who had arranged his dialogue in his heart for some time, s.h.i.+vered while he dialed a series of number.
On the screen of the mobile phone, it showed the letters that spelled "Leader Abadi."
Abadi, now 31 years old, was recognized as one of the world"s leading pirate leaders. Young as he was, he had more "glory" than Bill Gates.
At the age of twelve, he was captured by warlords to become an army slave, and he killed the leader at the age of 21 and got the crown. After the first month of his rights, Abadi turned his sights to the sea, or specifically to the Gulf of Aden, where 48,000 s.h.i.+ps pa.s.sed each year.
After several years of struggle, Abadi successfully climbed the throne of the world"s first pirates. He not only constructed his own hometown of Erigavo Village to become a pirate stronghold, but he also took a lot of cash to build ports, power stations, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities. He also built many villas there to provide homes for pirates with credit. He even established a unique pirate way of business.
Under Mr. Abadi, not only did he have special press releases, but he regularly released his latest results to the world. Every time a s.h.i.+p was successfully hijacked, he would let his men sail the s.h.i.+p to the port and then let a well-dressed negotiator negotiate the ransom price. The captured crew, not only could buy alcohol, tobacco, groceries in special stores, but a special hostage was supplied with all kinds of food in restaurants that were slightly more expensive than the ones in Zhongyun"s airport.
By now, Mr. Abadi had been charged with warrants issued in forty-seven countries. One hundred and twenty-three local courts had prosecuted subpoenas which had only been used in vain to add to his reputation.
...
"Abadi… Abadi..."
Sitting in front of the TV, Chen Fan repeated the name twice. Just then, the news channel reported the latest news. "At three o"clock in the morning, Somalia sailors successfully seized two ten-thousand ton j.a.panese s.h.i.+ps, and the ransom was directly increased to forty million."
After watching TV, Chen Fan went into the bathroom and filled the bathtub with hot water.
"Lalala,lalala, Abadi!" Chen Fan squeezed the shampoo on his head while humming a tune.
Ring...
At that moment, the phone that was placed by the side rang again.
"Is this guy calling to promise to pay the compensation?" Chen Fan wiped his two ears with his right hand, then rinsed them with water, was.h.i.+ng away the foam before answering the phone.
"h.e.l.lo..." Chen Fan"s accent sounded strange.
"Hey, son! I"m with your mother and the little girl, and now, we"re at Zhongyun airport."
"What?" Chen Fan suddenly opened his eyes. "Didn"t you just called me three days ago? You said you were going to take her to Sanya to travel. Isn"t that so?"
"Well, the little girl is rather haggard lately, and we don"t want her to run around, so we came back early."
"Then I"ll come and pick you up now!"
He hung up the phone and rushed to clean off the shampoo. He changed his clothes, and drove the car to the Zhongyun airport.
Not knowing why, but just now, Chen Fan"s heart suddenly felt a little tremor. He was going to meet her soon, and this meant that he was about to fulfill a responsibility that may accompany his lifetime.
After more than 20 years of life, apart from in kindergarten where he traded his first kiss with a little girl for two milk-flavored candy bars, he had not had any intimate contact with the opposite s.e.x. This could be said to be a great failure in life.
He decided that he was thinking too much and threw this thought out of his mind and quickly concentrated on driving.
Forty minutes later, Chen Fan came to the airport lounge, walked two laps back and forth and was finally noticed by his mother.
"Son!" Chen Fan"s mother stood up and shouted to Chen Fan"s back.
In the words of a philosopher: "In the instant that Chen Fan had turned his head, a man and a woman, seven meters apart, had two series of indelible changes in their hearts".
Chen Fan did not answer but subconsciously looked at the timid looking little girl that was sitting next to his mother. She was nervously clutching his mother"s arm, trying hard to hide her little face.
"h.e.l.lo!" Chen Fan said casually as he stepped forward.
Although Chen Fan"s expression was like a warmhearted brother, his heart was already filled with concussion, shock, and convulsion.
She deserved to be named the Miao girl who had the beautiful name of "flower dress and silver decoration."
Her face was glittering and translucent. The color of her skin was as white as snow. It was as if G.o.d fabricated the oval face and inlaid it with a pair of sad eyes. Soft hair like ta.s.sels hung on her delicate neck across her perfect curve. On her chest was a silver locket that made a beautiful hook shape.
"H... Hi..." Her voice was as sweet as Haagen-Dazs, like a clear spring, gently was.h.i.+ng his heart.
At this time, Chen Fan"s mother smiled at the Miao girl and made the introduction. "Meng Er, this is your brother, Chen Fan."
"Well, let"s hurry home!" The father stood up, rudely breaking the awkwardness.
Carrying two bags of luggage and walking on the left, Chen Fan looked at the helpless weak figure as an indescribable feeling entered his heart.
Helplessness, bewilderment, sorrow, and a little dependence were written clearly on her face which expressed the heartbreak and compa.s.sion she must have felt.
Chen Fan seemed to understand her state of mind.
A seventeen-year-old girl suddenly lost her only family and became helpless. How could she carry the burden of her future on weak shoulders in a society full of l.u.s.t?
Chen Fan could not imagine what would have happened to her in the years to come if his parents had not adopted her.
To be honest, the original intention of the parents was a little selfish, but Chen Fan had decided to take care of her, protect her and make her happy, no matter what steps he took in the future.
Walking out of the airport hall, Chen Fan packed the few pieces of luggage into the trunk of the car and slowly moved downtown.
The little girl, named Meng Er, was curled up in the middle of his parents, her little face resting on Chen Fan"s mother"s arms, watching the unfamiliar surroundings quietly.
"Meng Er, this is your home now. Although the environment is not as beautiful as what you"re used to, there is a magnificent sea here. After two days, I will take you to the seaside." Mother Chen gently stroked her hair.
"Ok!" Meng Er, who was curled up in her arms, nodded.
"Dad, Mom!" Chen Fan paused for a few seconds, then he said, "I want to tell you something.
"What is it?" Chen Fan"s father raised his head and looked at him.
"I bought a 500 square meter mansion in Bolan Garden not long ago, and we are able to move in now."
"Five hundred square meter?" Chen Fan"s father frowned. "How much is the down payment?"
"Five million, two million down payment, and sixty thousand per month."
"Two million. Where did you get all that money? Didn"t you just buy a s.h.i.+p with ten million? Why do you have extra money to buy a villa? Just two months and you had earned two million?"
"Made more than a million, and then borrowed hundreds of thousands from that partner! The s.h.i.+p is coming back from Saudi Arabia, and I can make a few hundred thousand more, just to pay back the money I owed," Chen Fan said.
"Why didn"t you discuss this with us, boy?" Chen Fan"s mother scolded. "s.h.i.+pping is a very risky field. You should only buy a house in about two years after you have made a profit..."
"He had already bought it. He can"t return it, can he?" His father interrupted her nagging. "We won"t interrupt your decision. As long as you know what you are doing. You are no longer young. You don"t need us to teach you what to do."
"Ok !" Chen Fan nodded.
A half an hour later, the black BMW returned to the garden. Chen Fan parked the car and brought out the luggage from the trunk.
The little girl"s luggage was so little that he could hardly feel any weight in his hands.
There were four bedrooms upstairs, one master bedroom and three side bedrooms. He helped the little girl choose the bedroom facing the lake, and then Chen Fan was dragged by his mother to buy some daily necessities.
"Son, help Meng Er arrange her school. Your father and I will continue to travel. We will leave some s.p.a.ce for both of you to familiarize with each other." Chen Fan"s mother threw a few toiletries in the cart and quipped at Chen Fan who was nearby.
"Go with the flow. I am now considered a diamond bachelor. Would I still worry that there is no woman interested in me?" Chen Fan crumpled his lips.
"Diamond bachelor, are you sure?"
Chen Fan"s mother flipped his forehead as a little punishment and said, "If you meet someone you like outside, then you can treat her like a sister. If you do not find one, then marry her. The girl is so pitiful. You should not bully her no matter what, or I"ll never forgive you."
"Yes, you"ve said it a hundred times; even a pig can remember it."
"You got the second-lowest score in your high school, isn"t that a pig"s brain?" Chen Fan"s mother shook her head. "Poor girl. How nice it would be if she was born into our family. So much less to suffer!"
When they carried all the groceries home, Chen Fan"s father was sitting in the living room watching the football match, while the little girl was sleeping in the bedroom.
A moment before dinner, Chen Fan had retreated to his room, closed the door, and was ready to s.h.i.+ft his mind to the electric eel to see if the few yachts were still in the pirate"s dock.
If they were there, he would control the electric eel and bring them down with a spear. Then, he would blame it on the Erigavo camp.
At the local time, it was nine o"clock in the evening, and the dock was empty, with no signs of any boats.
He took two laps around the neighborhood and saw no suspicious targets that were likely to have been hauled ash.o.r.e by the pirates.
Ring...
The cell phone on the bar was ringing, pulling Chen Fan"s mind back from the electric eel.
"Hi, who are you?" It was an unknown number.
"Boy, you are very capable, and you are the first "fat sheep" that I, Abadi, have contacted." On the other end of the line came a blunt Chinese accent.
"You speak Mandarin too?"
Chen Fan had a weird expression on his face because he was going to find trouble with him tomorrow, yet he contacted him.
"I am his translator, speaking in accordance with his original translation!"
"Oh!" Chen Fan revealed an expression of understanding, "Again, I trouble you to translate my original words as original as possible."
"Abadi, you can now go to Alibaba and look for other ways to make money, because from tomorrow onward, your pirate business is coming to an end!"