One of two choices

Inside the company.

Yu Mingyuan sat in a chair, phone in his right hand, his brow furrowed. "...So is this a bunch of gunmen outside Dragon City looking for money, or is the Dock Gang trying to squeeze me?"

"The way I see it, the Dock Gang didn't take the cargo or the men, but they definitely want to use this to squeeze us," Tang Baiqing replied. "We've got supply channels, we move goods fast, and now we're expanding. It's only natural for people who make their living on the water to get jealous."

Yu Mingyuan fell silent.

"Mingyuan, we've known each other long enough, so I'll be straight with you." Tang Baiqing tried to persuade him again. "Whether we use the Dock Gang or the Dirty Gang to handle transport doesn't really matter to us. Either way, we just have to give up a share of the profits. But in terms of practicality and convenience, the Dock Gang offers more value than the Su, Bai, and Kong Three Families. They already make their living on the water, and they've got serious clout around the port. Using them would save you a lot of unnecessary trouble. For example, your operation isn't that big yet, but once you expand another level, even more people will get jealous. When Customs and the hijackers outside the district all come swarming in, can the Su, Bai, and Kong Three Families fend them all off for you? The Dock Gang can. This is what they do for a living. You get what I'm saying?"

Yu Mingyuan seemed to be thinking it over, but still said nothing.

"Anyway, I've said my piece. If you're interested in talking, I'll arrange a meeting with the brothers, Xu Hu and Xu Er. We can all sit down and restructure the operation."

"All right. Let me think about it."

"Don't worry. The Dock Gang isn't willing to step in and help us recover the cargo right now, but if they put in a word, the other side won't touch the men or the goods for the time being." Tang Baiqing gave Yu Mingyuan that reassurance in advance.

"Okay. I'll get back to you tomorrow."

"Sure. I'll wait for your call. Then we can get everyone on the other side to come out and sit down for a talk."

"That's all, then."

With that, the two ended the call.

In the dimly lit office, Yu Mingyuan lit a cigarette, his expression grim and his gaze brooding.

Things had reached this point, and someone as intelligent as Yu Mingyuan would never believe the Dock Gang had nothing to do with the hijacking.

Clearly, the hijacking was the Dock Gang's opening move, intended to put Yu Mingyuan in check. First, it demonstrated their influence and control around the port. Second, they didn't want to fall out with him right away, which was why they had come up with the story about gunmen outside the district stealing the cargo.

Then what role was Tang Baiqing, who had been acting as the go-between all along, playing in this? Had he really known nothing beforehand? Was he really looking at things from Yu Mingyuan's perspective?

The relationship between the Coast Guard and the dock organizations was like that between fish and water. Could this really be so simple?

Yu Mingyuan now had only two choices: first, kick out the Su, Bai, and Kong Three Families and bring in the Dock Gang. That would probably get the cargo returned quickly, ensure smooth sailing on the water from then on, and allow the business to continue. Second, reject the Dock Gang's terms and keep using the Su, Bai, and Kong Three Families. But that would mean the cargo wouldn't be coming back for now, the detained men would be in some danger, and he might also offend Tang Baiqing. Getting goods through the Zhannan Sea afterward clearly wouldn't be so easy.

It was a choice heavily weighted toward one answer. An inexplicable anger burned inside Yu Mingyuan, but he couldn't think of a third option.

As his frustration mounted, Yu Mingyuan stubbed out his cigarette and prepared to leave the company.

Knock, knock!

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Yu Mingyuan called.

The door opened, and Su Tianyu walked in. "Mingyuan!"

"Oh, Tianyu," Yu Mingyuan replied softly. "I was just about to leave."

"I came to ask whether you've found out what happened to the cargo." Su Tianyu walked over.

Yu Mingyuan licked his lips. Rather than tell Su Tianyu the truth, he gave a vague answer. "Tang Baiqing just called me. He said the Dock Gang has found some information and told me not to worry."

"They want something, so the cargo won't disappear," Su Tianyu said with a frown. "But people from my family are being held. I'm afraid something might happen to them."

"I'll push the Dock Gang again. Don't worry, and reassure your family. Rest assured, whether we have to spend money or call in favors, the company will get our people back." Yu Mingyuan patted Su Tianyu's shoulder.

Su Tianyu paused, then pulled a folded sheet of A4 paper from his trouser pocket. "Mingyuan, take a look at this."

"What is it?" Yu Mingyuan took the paper and unfolded it.

The A4 sheet listed figures, along with the names of supermarkets on various streets in Zhannan District.

Not quite understanding, Yu Mingyuan asked, "What do these figures mean?"

"Lately, our three families have all been developing new sales channels within our own circles," Su Tianyu replied quietly. "The figures listed here are estimates of future increases in sales volume, along with the addresses and sizes of the supermarkets and shops."

Yu Mingyuan looked at Su Tianyu in surprise. "...You've... you've been pretty thorough!"

"If you're going to do a job, you should put your heart into it." Su Tianyu looked up at Yu Mingyuan and suddenly said something that seemed to come out of nowhere. "Mingyuan, however good the Dock Gang is, they aren't our own people!"

That clearly caught Yu Mingyuan off guard. He slowly folded the A4 sheet and replied softly, "You're overthinking it, Tianyu."

"Mingyuan, push Tang Baiqing to find our people as soon as possible." There was no trace of a smile on Su Tianyu's face, and his voice was low. "If my people aren't back within two days, I won't need Tang Baiqing to look for them anymore."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Personally, I think kidnapping and threatening people's lives are the lowest tactics there are. Because if you can do it, so can someone else." Su Tianyu left the implication hanging. "Zhang Hao disappeared while working for me. If anything happens to him because of this, I won't be able to face his family. So if Tang Baiqing can't find him, I'll handle it myself."

"Can you find him?"

"...Maybe. Heh!" Su Tianyu smiled.

Yu Mingyuan looked at him and nodded, saying nothing more.

"I'm heading out, Mingyuan." Su Tianyu turned and walked toward the door.

Yu Mingyuan watched him go with a complicated look in his eyes.

Su Tianyu pushed open the door and left. Yu Mingyuan folded his arms and thought for a few seconds, then quickly grabbed his coat and left as well.

Near the docks.

Sitting in a car, Kong Zhenghui took three thousand dollars from his bag and looked at a shifty-eyed man. "Tell my fortune."

"About what?" the man asked.

"About those seven speedboats." With a cigarette between his lips, Kong Zhenghui handed over the money. "You've got one night."

"...That'll cost extra," the man replied.