Leveling Up With My Pet



The Overlord remained inactive again, observing the unfolding events from a distance. Positioned a few hundred meters away, his massive head loomed over the sea, surveying the situation with keen interest.

The warship rapidly descended, its hull partially submerged, leaving mere wreckage floating on the surface. The sea was teeming with over a hundred individuals struggling to stay afloat, with some unfortunate souls already succumbing to the depths.

Among them was Mansur, desperately treading water without a life jacket. Resourceful as he was, he managed to seize one from a subordinate.

However, he knew survival would be a close call, even with the added buoyancy. The nearest landmass was a daunting two hundred nautical miles away, leaving him with the grim realization that the ocean would become his final resting place, mere sustenance for the marine creatures.

Regret started to gnaw at him.

Suddenly, an explosive crash reverberated as Mulatu shattered another exquisite cup. Fresh news had just reached him, confirming the destruction of his handpicked elite operatives and the costly warship he had acquired.

The vessel "Shi Tai," belonging to the formidable Global Shipping Group, had effortlessly traversed the treacherous Gulf of Aden—no wonder Mulatu seethed with anger.

A valuable warship reduced to debris, alongside the vanishing of over a hundred skilled individuals—each loss felt like a deep wound in his heart.

Sensing the Boss's rage, a subordinate cautiously suggested, [ " Boss, we have relatively accurate information about the 'Shi Tai's' whereabouts. It's currently sailing through the Gulf of Aden. Shall we dispatch another group to intercept it? " ]

The implications were clear: if you fail at first, try again.

Mulatu's face darkened, and he fell into a long silence. He couldn't simply give up; the thought gnawed at him relentlessly.

Sending another group seemed tempting, but anxiety also crept in. What if the same mistakes were repeated?

After pondering for an extended period, Mulatu ultimately resolved to make another attempt. Speaking slowly, he declared, [ " Send a few small boats this time. We must seize control of the 'Shi Tai' without fail, ensuring no more mishaps. " ]

[ " Very well, I'll personally handle the arrangements, " ] replied the subordinate.

Meanwhile, the "Shi Tai" continued its voyage through the Gulf of Aden.

Onboard, the crew members still revelled in the spectacle that had unfolded a few hours ago—the triumphant eradication of the pirate menace. The memory of their victory brought them immense satisfaction.

Several more hours passed, and dawn began to break. The sun's rays bathed the sea in golden hues, painting a breathtaking picture of tranquillity.

Suddenly, someone's gaze became fixated.

-Impossible!

Could they have stumbled upon pirates once again at this early hour? 

Astonishingly, that was precisely the case. With alarming speed, six speedboats hurtled toward the "Shi Tai", carrying a motley crew of armed pirates.

  [ " Look, everyone, it seems to be pirates!" someone exclaimed, pointing in their direction.

The "Shi Tai" captain Peng Yi swiftly grabbed a telescope, peering into the distance. His eyes widened in realization as he beheld the six speedboats, each brimming with weapons-wielding pirates.

His voice reverberated through the air, carrying a sense of urgency and alarm. [ " Beware, everyone! It's a pirate! Protect yourselves and stay alert! " ]

The crew aboard the ship found themselves in a state of disarray once again, their senses heightened by the sudden warning. However, amidst the chaos, a thrilling spectacle unfolded before their eyes.

Several speedboats, positioned a few hundred meters away from the "Shitai," were about to encircle their vessel. But, in a twist of fate, one of the speedboats capsized before they could even make their move.

-Good heavens!

The crew members were initially stunned, their expressions reflecting disbelief. Yet, the shock soon gave way to uncontrollable shouts and exhilaration!

[ " Haha! They've capsized a ship! " ] 

[ " Look, everyone! Another one flipped over! This is truly a spectacle to behold! " ] 

As if under a captivating spell, the pirate speedboats continued to overturn, one after another, failing to come anywhere near the "Shitai," let alone encircle it.

Within minutes, all six pirate speedboats had capsized, leaving the pirates aboard thrashing about in panic upon the sea's surface.

[ " Boom! " ]

Mulatu's anger erupted, causing him to drop a beautiful cup inadvertently.

Once again, their dispatched team had been annihilated—six speedboats capsized, and nearly all 20 to 30 pirates, masquerading as elite armed personnel, met their watery demise.

The leaders stood nearby, their heads bowed in fear, dreading Mulatu's potential outburst as a heavy and oppressive atmosphere enveloped them.

After a prolonged silence, Mulatu spoke slowly, his voice conveying resignation. [ " For now, let's set aside any thoughts of targeting the ships belonging to the Global Shipping Group. This situation is filled with malevolence. " ] 

They couldn't comprehend why their speedboats would inexplicably capsize every time they attempted to strike at the vessels owned by the Global Shipping Group, even before reaching them.

It was more than just nasty—it was downright sinister.

Mulatu found himself unable to fathom the reason behind it all. The warning from Liu Yong echoed in his mind, leading him to speculate that Liu Yong possessed some enigmatic method capable of overturning their speedboats.

Indeed, it seemed that Liu Yong had employed some unknown and extraordinary means.

Gradually, fear began to creep into Mulatu's heart. He contemplated the situation, realizing that they would have to abandon their plans involving the ships of the Global Shipping Group. They couldn't compete with such unexplained forces.

They wouldn't have embarked on this disastrous endeavour if they had known earlier.

Mulatu finally realized this after losing many armed personnel, multiple speedboats, and a warship that had been painstakingly acquired. However, it was a realization that came far too late.

In  Risheng Ocean Shipping Group. .........…

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy as Luo Maoyuan's face darkened; his silence spoke volumes. 

The weight of the situation pressed upon him as he absorbed the shocking demands made by the pirates, who had made contact with the Risheng Ocean Shipping Group. Their request was straightforward: within 24 hours, 100 million US dollars must be deposited into their specified account. Failure to comply would result in the loss of a hostage every hour throughout the night.

The sheer magnitude of the demanded sum echoed in Luo Maoyuan's mind. A profound sense of sadness washed over him as he realized the immense challenge that lay ahead. How could he acquire such an astronomical amount within such a short timeframe? Even procuring 50 million US dollars seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.

A senior executive, sensing the gravity of the situation, offered a reminder to Luo Maoyuan. [ " Mr. Luo, we cannot underestimate the cruelty of these pirates. If they do not see the money within 24 hours, they will undoubtedly follow through on their threats. We must exhaust all possibilities to swiftly transfer the 100 million US dollars to the designated bank account. " ]

Luo Maoyuan's heart sank further, consumed by profound sadness. He couldn't help but recall recent rumours he had heard. They spoke of a similar incident involving the Global Shipping Group, where Somali pirates had hijacked one of their freighters. While officially a ransom of 100 million US dollars was demanded, rumours suggested that Liu Yong, the head of the company, had personally journeyed to Somalia and negotiated with the pirates, resulting in both an apology and a significant sum of money paid as compensation.

Although hearsay, Luo Maoyuan couldn't dismiss the possibility of truth in those whispers. The sudden prosperity of the Global Shipping Group supported the speculation. Just the day before, they had placed extravagant orders with multiple shipyards for several large vessels, amounting to a staggering total value of over two billion dollars.

How could the Global Shipping Group possess such vast wealth if they had been asked for 100 million dollars? The pirates must have received substantial compensation for their troubles. 

Meanwhile, Luo Maoyuan and the modest Risheng Ocean Shipping Group needed a comparable means. They could not provide such a balance and negotiate an extension of the 24-hour deadline or reduce the demanded sum of 100 million dollars.

Luo Maoyuan seethed with frustration, his inadequacy contrasting with Liu Yong's resourcefulness. His resentment toward the pirates and his unfortunate circumstances simmered beneath the surface. Facing the grim reality of being hijacked, Luo Maoyuan felt trapped, devoid of viable solutions.

It seemed as though surrendering to the pirates' demands was his only option, leaving him disheartened and resigned.

In this dire predicament, he saw no alternative, no ray of hope on the horizon. The weight of the situation bore down upon Luo Maoyuan, his mind racing for any glimmer of a solution that might save his company and the lives of the hostages.

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