Chapter 340: Blackmail
Translator: _Min_ Editor: Rundi
Due to the construction project being a sensitive topic, the construction company didn’t ask more about the usage of the sea platform. After they received the upfront payment, they sent the vessels to start building.
The sea platform was the size of two football fields, shaped triangularly. If it were far away from the shore, the difficulty of constructing it would be unimaginable. If it were standard steel, the tide of the ocean would dismember this giant. But if titanium were used, the cost of the construction would be an astronomical number.
However, because it was in a shallow sea with a depth of ten meters, the construction process was a lot simpler. A reinforced steel base could be inserted into the rock bottom of the ocean, making it equivalent to a man-made floating island.
The four vessels were anchored near New Moon Island as they sent out boats to explore the surroundings.
At the same time, Celestial Trade Company’s vessel also lowered a boat and approached the construction vessels. After they boarded the Mammoth’s ship, Ivan and Barkary had met Thomas. After they confirmed the details of the construction project, the three began to joke around on the deck.
A Ukranian, a Nigerian, and an Australian, it was as if they were in a United Nations meeting. Ivan was the oldest among the three and had the most to say. He joined the army in the Soviets, so he talked about the dramatic changes in East Europe and the civil war in Ukraine.
Just as they were having a great conversation, three medium-sized boats appeared from the horizon along with a few sharp air horn sounds.
“What’s that?” Ivan frowned and took out the binoculars from his pocket, but he couldn’t recognize the red-blue flag.
Barkary didn’t recognize it either as he narrowed his eyes and took a few hard looks. Thomas had more knowledge as he immediately recognized it.
“It’s Country F’s flag. It should be their fishing boats.” Thomas raised his eyebrows as he felt a trace of ominous feeling and walked to the tip of the vessel.
The three fishing boats stopped beside the vessel. Immediately, a southeastern Asian with yellow skin and his shirt unbuttoned walked out onto the deck of their ship and shouted a few gibberish words at Thomas.
Although Thomas recognized the flag, he didn’t know the F language as he had to drag the translator on the boat out to explain to him.
“What is this guy saying?” Ivan walked beside Thomas with a frown.
The F citizen saw that another foreigner came out from the boat and gave Ivan a hard stare. But Ivan, born in Russia, had seen more bullet holes than people was not afraid as he stared back at him.
The F citizen was someone that preyed on the weak. Seeing that Ivan didn’t back down, he subconsciously wanted to go back. But when he saw the two other fishing boats come by, he regained his courage and stared back and began shouting towards the ship.
“He is saying that this is the territory they fish in. Our construction boats have scared away the fish, and they are seeking compensation from us. These shameless bastards, the construction gets delayed every time they’re here,” Thomas cursed.
F country’s fishing boats? But isn’t this Xin’s territory?” Ivan frowned.
New Moon Island was twelve hundred kilometers away from the southernmost island MLL Island of Country F. Therefore, there should be no territorial disputes in this area.
“Speaking from the law, yes. But these bastards never follow the law. Even if they took a sh*t here before, it would be their fishing territory even if it was in your backyard. It is the result of the moronic president,” Thomas cursed.
Since he was in the military construction business, despite being a veteran, he still had fury in his attitude. It was just the years in business that had rounded out his eyes. He knew that there was no use in being angry. If he angered the natives, there was no way the construction could continue.
He took a few deep breaths and calmed his emotions down. Then, speaking with the interpreter, he began to negotiate with the fishermen.
But Ivan standing on the side had a different reaction.
These monkeys were here to scam them. His eyebrows jumped, and he signaled Barkary.
Barkary understood. Smiling, he jumped onto the boat and headed to Celestial Trade Company’s vessel.
“Now we would have to ask the Xin government. This is their territory; they should send their coastal guards here and capture these monkeys asking for bananas. Then transfer them back to their home country. But even then, they would almost be immediately released by their government,” Thomas said in rage.
“Xin government? Why do we need to ask them?” Ivan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the monkey from F.
Thomas paused for a moment as he looked at Ivan, puzzled.
Ivan took out his phone. He didn’t call Zhang Yapin but called another number.
…
The interior was fashionably decorated. The warm colored wallpaper certainly gave a peaceful feeling. The range of appliances completed the room with comfort and beauty. Just by looks, the owner of the apartment knew how to enjoy life.
After he took off his shoes at the door, Jiang Chen scanned the decorations and asked Xia Shiyu nonchalantly,
“Are you still renting?”
“Mhmm.”
“Why don’t you buy a house? The company just paid out dividends last month, there is no way that you don’t have the money right?” Jiang Chen was confused.
Future Technology had its shareholders meeting in March, (Although there are only two shareholders), and paid out 4 billion USD in dividends. Xia Shiyu owned 1% of Future International. Because she was taxed in Xin, she barely paid any personal income tax. She had at least forty million in her savings account.
“I feel like you won’t live here too long.” She took off her shoes, and her feet covered in black stockings stepped into slippers. Jiang Chen, watching on the side, reflexively gulped and missed the deeper meaning behind Xia Shiyu’s words.
“Feel free to sit, I will pour you a cup of water… Also, where is your luggage?” Xia Shiyu looked at Jiang Chen’s empty hands as she asked in confusion.
Facepalm! He should have brought the luggage from the storage dimension in the airport bathroom.
Of course, Jiang Chen had luggage, but he couldn’t tell Xia Shiyu it was in his storage dimension.
“Uh, I prefer to buy local.” Jiang Chen had to make up a story.
Xiao Shiyu’s delicate eyebrows raised.
“That’s such a waste… It’s okay, I will bring you to Causeway Bay tonight. At least buy a few sets of clothing and formal clothing for professional gatherings. Those are necessary for a business professional.”
“Okay, as you wish.”
Sigh, he should have insisted on staying in a hotel. Of course, he brought everything with him, it was just inconvenient to bring it out in front of Xia Shiyu. Due to the devil controlling his mind for just a moment, he had agreed to live at Xia Shiyu’s place, leading him to have to rebuy everything.
It was not that he cared about the money, it was because he hated the trouble.
Jiang Chen watched Xia Shiyu go into the kitchen. He felt relieved and sank into the sofa.
A light scent twirled around the tip of his nose, it was Xia Shiyu’s odor.
It was a faint scent, and it carried a hint of lily. It made Jiang Chen feel thirsty. It had to be the work of hormones getting him into trouble.
Not long after, Xia Shiyu brought a cup of water from the kitchen and handed the warm water to Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen immediately chugged the entire glass clean to suppress the weird feelings in his mind.
“Are you that thirsty? Do you want another cup?”
“Ahem, no need.”
Xia Shiyu nodded, sat beside Jiang Chen, and grabbed a stack of documents that were on the table.
“These are the information about the bidders-”
But at the same time, Jiang Chen’s phone began to ring.
“Sorry, let me get a call.” As Jiang Chen spoke, he walked to the window and took out his phone.
[Ivan?
Did something happen at the New Moon Island military base?]
He looked at the name and picked up.
“Hello?”
“Boss, citizens from country F are causing trouble in the ocean territory near New Moon Island. They said our construction has interfered with their fishing.”
Country F fishers?
When Jiang Chen heard Ivan’s explanation, he first paused for a moment. He was so angry that he began to laugh.
[Fu*k, I’m already unhappy with them. Now they want to take advantage of me? I have to pay up even to build in my backyard?]
“You are asking for my permission on this? Pirates have invaded our territory. You tell me what the coastal guard should do. Don’t see me if you can’t take care of it properly.
…
After he received confirmation from his boss, a wicked smile surfaced on Ivan’s face.
The grimace was mixed with thrill as he was waiting for the boss to say this.
“Yes! Commander.”