Leveling Up With My Pet



The crew members were terrified and huddled together, praying for their survival.

Suddenly, someone burst into tears, and the panic spread like wildfire. Xiao Xu, one of the crew members, screamed in horror, 

[ " They must have come to kill us, they must have come to kill us. " ]

Wei Jianshe, the ship's captain, wanted to reassure everyone, but he, too, was consumed by fear. He was just an ordinary person, and the thought of death terrified him.

The room door burst open as they waited in terror, and the hijackers' leader strode in. He looked at the crew members disgustedly and said, [ " You have been rescued! The Global Shipping Group has paid a ransom of US$100 million, and you can leave immediately. " ]

The crew members were stunned. They didn't understand English, but they could sense the shift in tone. They had expected to die, but now they were being set free.

The leader and his men left the room, taking all the armed personnel. The crew members were left alone, in shock and disbelief.

Wei Jianshe, still trying to make sense of what had happened, suddenly realized what the leader had said. [ " We were rescued, we were rescued! The company paid a ransom of 100 million US dollars, we are free and can leave ! " ] he shouted.

Tears streamed down his face as he spoke. The other crew members finally understood what was going on. Some were crying like Wei Jianshe, while others were laughing in disbelief, muttering, [ " I'm not dead, I'm not dead, I'm saved! " ]

The crew members hugged each other, crying and laughing, overwhelmed with relief. This euphoria lasted for at least ten minutes as they savoured their newfound freedom and the gift of life.

Wei Jianshe carefully wiped away his tears and raised his voice, commanding, [ " Everyone, cease your tears and frivolity immediately! We must hasten to our positions. We need to sail away from this place. " ]

His fervent proclamation jolted many from their depressed state.

[ " Yeah, our top priority should be to depart as swiftly as possible, " ] remarked one crew member, his voice filled with urgency.

[ " Who knows, those pirates might change their minds and trap us if we linger, " ] added another crew member, a tinge of anxiety in his words.

With Wei Jianshe's rallying cry, the crew members swiftly assumed their designated posts. Before long, the cargo ship 'Eastern Star' gradually disengaged from the pier, commencing its departure.

Standing in the Captain's cabin, gazing through the window at the armed men stationed on the pier, Wei Jianshe pondered silently.

[ " We owe a great debt of gratitude to our group this time. The pirates demanded an exorbitant ransom of 100 million U.S. dollars, and thanks to our generous boss, the money was paid. We are fortunate to have such a benevolent leader. If it were a stingy boss, our lives would have undoubtedly been in peril. " ]

The "Eastern Star" sailed onward at full throttle, gradually distancing itself from the port.

After approximately 30 to 40 minutes of sailing, a voice of astonishment rang out, [ " Captain, look! It's our country's warship ! " ]

In the distance, a Type 054 guided missile frigate swiftly approached, escorting the "Dongxing" through the Gulf of Aden. As Wei Jianshe caught sight of the warship, particularly the familiar national flag proudly waving atop it, a profound sense of relief washed over him. Finally, the ordeal was over.

The afternoon came, and things had settled. Liu Yong was aware that the "Eastern Star" had safely departed with a considerable number of crew members. Having sailed through the Gulf of Aden under the protection of their own warship, he no longer harboured any hesitation or reservations.

[ " Now it's time for us to get to work. Let's check our weapons and equipment, " ] Liu Yong asserted.

He meticulously inspected his Desert Eagle, sabre, magazines, and the necessary grenades. Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang were equipped with even more weaponry and gear. In addition to pistols, tactical daggers, and grenades, they both carried assault rifles.

Each carried a tactical backpack with various supplies, including big bullets, magazines, grenades, and a first aid kit.

At Liu Yong's insistence, the two donned body armour and helmets.

[ " Boss, we've completed the inspection and we're ready to go, " ] one of them reported.

Liu Yong rose to his feet, holstered his Desert Eagle, and gestured, saying, [ " Let's go then. It's time to confront those pirates and give them a lesson they won't forget. " ]

The trio stepped out of the door and climbed into their jeep.

Through the information obtained from Han Yi, they were already aware of the precise location of the Melka organization's hideout. Formerly a military base belonging to the government's army, it was now transformed into a stronghold for the pirates.

As they departed the city, they embarked on a journey of over 100 kilometres. By the time they neared the military base, the local time was already 5 pm, and darkness would descend in a couple of hours.

Ahead, a checkpoint obstructed their path. Around a dozen armed personnel were stationed there. Observing the approaching jeep, they signalled for it to stop and undergo inspection.

[ " Security is quite tight here. This place is at least three or four kilometres away from their hideout, and they've set up checkpoints to prevent entry, " ] remarked He Qiang.

Liu Yong nodded, cautioning, [ " Let's handle this forcefully and not give them a chance to react. " ]

[ " Understood, " ]  Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang acknowledged in unison.

The off-road vehicle advanced for another two to three hundred meters before halting in front of the checkpoint. Several pirates armed with AKs approached to inspect while the rest were guarded.

They closed in on the car.

Upon seeing three Orientals inside, the pirates were momentarily taken aback.

Reacting swiftly, Liu Yong swiftly drew his Desert Eagle and fired.

[ " Bang, bang, bang. " ]

Gunshots resonated, each shot finding its mark with deadly precision—headshots!

Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang were just as quick to react, brandishing their pistols. A dozen pirates fell to the ground, their lives snuffed out by the trio's expert marksmanship, leaving little time for them to react.

While firing, Liu Yong felt no qualms. However, once the shooting ceased and he beheld the corpses, a wave of discomfort swept him, even a nauseating sensation.

[ " Let's go, drive ! " he hastily instructed.

It took a while for the feeling to subside. Just ahead lay the pirates' hideout, with the military base situated in the distance amid the flat expanse of the Gobi Desert.

The vehicle came to a stop. Further progress risked being detected.

Parking the car by the side of the road, the three of them disembarked. Liu Yong could already make out two small plateaus flanking the military base, each adorned with circular fortifications.

Liu Yong and Bawang possessed extraordinary abilities, including supervision power that resembled binoculars. They could easily spot the sandbags and machine guns positioned on the two small elevated areas with keen eyesight.

[ " It's crucial to neutralize the militants on those two highlands first, " ] Liu Yong asserted.

[ " Both of you should find a temporary hiding spot, " ] he continued. [ " I'll take care of the individuals on the high grounds. " ]

Before Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang could utter a word, the responsibility of dealing with the enemies on the highlands was abruptly thrust upon them. They watched in awe as Liu Yong dashed towards the small right plateau.

[ " Wow, is that our boss? " ] Kang Zhenggang exclaimed in astonishment.

[ " I can't believe how incredibly fast he is! " ] He Qiang added, his disbelief evident in his voice.

..............