220: Chapter Two Hundred and Eighteen: The End 220: Chapter Two Hundred and Eighteen: The End Curry’s face still bore an aggressive look, but Gao Yang knew he was scared.
Curry didn’t want to die nor did he want any of his men to die, and he also didn’t dare let any of Gao Yang’s people die.
Because once someone died, things would escalate.
This wasn’t like killing a few pirates that no one cared about; this involved individuals from several countries.
So, if anyone died on his ship, his security company wouldn’t be able to continue operating.
Curry didn’t take the handgun that Gao Yang had pointed at his nose, but turned his head aside and bellowed, “Who the fuck is going to explain to me what exactly is going on here!”
Curry’s action could be described with one phrase: blustering but cowardly inside.
One of Curry’s men immediately gave a brief account of what happened from start to finish, although it was very succinct, it was enough to make things clear.
After hearing the explanation, Curry’s face grew even uglier.
He was in a tough position; it wasn’t possible to simply let it go and have everyone put down their guns and go to sleep, and it was even less possible to kill Gao Yang and his men.
In fact, it was unrealistic to even think about beating up Gao Yang and his group.
Just as Curry was at a loss about what to do, Antoncel raised his hands and shouted, “Everybody, don’t panic, guys, don’t panic.
Perhaps things aren’t as bad as they seem.
We have military medics among us.
I think now isn’t the time for a standoff, but rather to save a life immediately, right?
Guys, no one make a move, let my people have a look, Test Tube, check him out.”
Curry’s expression softened a bit.
After glancing at Aida, who lay motionless on the ground, and showing a flicker of anger, he then waved his hand, tacitly agreeing to Antoncel’s suggestion.
Bruce didn’t move immediately because Gao Yang was the highest-ranking officer, and Antoncel had no authority to command him to do anything.
As for Curry, Bruce definitely ignored him completely.
Gao Yang wasn’t as crazy as he appeared to be.
He didn’t want to die, so if it wasn’t necessary to go down with his enemies, that was obviously the best option.
After a slight nod, Bruce handed over the rocket launcher on his shoulder to Li Jinfang.
Once Li Jinfang took the gun in one hand and steadied the rocket launcher on his shoulder with the other, Bruce said in a deep voice, “Step aside, let me through.”
Aida had been kicked more than three meters away by Li Jinfang.
Now, surrounded by Curry’s men, Bruce took a couple of steps forward, squatted down in front of Aida, first touched Aida’s neck, then flipped him over so that he was facing up, and with a blank expression, examined the wound on Aida’s head before starting to check under his combat vest.
While Bruce was examining Aida, everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound apart from heavy breathing.
They were all terrified that Bruce would pronounce Aida dead.
After a brief check, Bruce quickly stood up and announced, “He’s not dead.
His worst injury is just two broken ribs, and there’s a five-centimeter wound on his head, but at most he’s got a slight concussion.
If you treat him promptly, he won’t have any problems.”
Even if Aida really was dead, Bruce would say he wasn’t, because even a fool would know at this point that to utter the word dead would lead to unpredictable consequences.
Curry also crouched down and felt Aida’s pulse at his neck.
As the boss, he had to personally check whether Aida was alive or dead rather than just take Bruce’s word for it.
But anyway, Bruce’s statement had already given everyone present an opportunity to deescalate the situation.
Curry made up his mind that even if Aida was already dead, he would say Aida was still alive.
It was critical to resolve the current standoff first.
As long as they weren’t pointing guns at each other’s heads anymore, it was fine.
After all, he had over a hundred men on the ship, and Gao Yang’s group couldn’t leave.
As long as he got past the current dilemma, he could figure out how to deal with Gao Yang’s group later.
Fortunately, Aida truly wasn’t dead.
Feeling Aida’s strong pulse, Curry genuinely breathed a sigh of relief and then shouted loudly, “What are you waiting for?
Get some people to carry him to the infirmary.”
People were just about to carry Aida away when Gao Yang suddenly barked, “Nobody move.
Until I get a satisfactory answer, no one’s taking him anywhere!”
It wasn’t that Gao Yang was looking for trouble; he simply understood the situation as well as Curry did.
It didn’t take much intelligence for Gao Yang to realize that if they didn’t reach a consensus and just ended the standoff like this, they would be the ones in trouble on the vast sea with nowhere to run.
Curry glared at Gao Yang and snapped viciously, “My man needs immediate medical aid, what else do you want?”
Gao Yang replied sternly, “I don’t want anything in particular.
I just feel that this incident is far from over.
If we must die together, as the instigator of this trouble, he must also accompany us in death—that’s all.”
Curry’s complexion changed drastically, and he shouted angrily, “What exactly do you want?”
Gao Yang shouted, “It’s simple, give me an explanation.
I’ve said it before, now it’s not about me giving you an explanation, but you must give me one.
If you can’t satisfy me, I don’t mind dragging many people down with me.”
Curry pointed angrily at Aida, who was lying on the ground, and yelled, “The one injured is him, not someone from your side!
What more do you want?”
Gao Yang sneered and replied, “Your man insulted us, so even if he dies, he had it coming.
But given the current situation, do you really think a simple ‘let’s forget about it’ will suffice?
What I want is very straightforward.
Tell me now how you plan to resolve this matter.
Go ahead.”
Curry didn’t know how to respond immediately to Gao Yang’s realistic demand.
It was apparent that Gao Yang wouldn’t lower his weapon and let the gathered crowd disperse unless he received a promise.
However, the injured man was one of Curry’s subordinates, and he couldn’t just casually say ‘forget it’ and forgo holding Gao Yang responsible, especially if Aida were to die—someone had to be accountable for his death.
After hesitating for a moment, Curry said in a heavy voice, “As long as Aida is fine, if you pay his medical expenses and apologize to him, I won’t pursue this matter any further.
Then you can get the hell off my ship.”
Gao Yang laughed coldly and said, “I reject your proposal.
Now listen to my idea.
As long as Aida is alive, let him wake up and apologize to me, and compensate me for my mental anguish.
Then I’ll drop the matter, or else, I’ll drag you all down with me.
Boys, is anyone here a good brother of that idiot Aida?
If you are willing to accompany him in death, congratulations, your wish is about to come true.”
A white man angrily said, “Ram, don’t go too far!”
Antoncel also spoke up urgently, “Ram, I can pay the money; it’s just medical expenses, which isn’t an unreasonable request.
Let me pay it, please.”
Gao Yang completely ignored Antoncel, letting him compensate Aida and apologize was out of the question, so he could only make more excessive demands.
After hearing the white man call him by name, Gao Yang had a thought and loudly said, “Roy, this has nothing to do with you.
Get out of here.
It’s not worth it for you to die for a racist idiot.
The rest of you, don’t move.
If you twitch a muscle, my finger will twitch, and that won’t be good.”
Roy, the white man named, was one of Curry’s subordinates.
While Gao Yang had stayed on the transfer ship before, he had chatted with Roy, so they were acquainted, but not close enough for Gao Yang to deliberately let him off the hook.
Gao Yang just felt that it was easier to handle things with someone he knew, so he decided to do Roy a favor first.
True to form, Roy couldn’t leave alone, but out of consideration for the favor Gao Yang offered him, he remained silent for a moment before shouting, “These are all my brothers here; I can’t possibly leave.
Ram, this is just a minor issue; we don’t need to escalate it like this.
We used to be friends, right?
Listen to me, you can certainly discuss this matter slowly with my boss.”
After pretending to hesitate, Gao Yang finally nodded and said, “I’m not afraid of dying, and I enjoy taking many people with me to the grave, but I can’t harm a friend.
Alright, Roy, I’ll give you this face.”
Having said that, Gao Yang stared at Curry in front of him, “I’ve always valued the opinion of friends, so here’s my last proposal.
You take your people and leave, and I’ll no longer demand compensation or an apology.
But don’t think you can make any more demands.
This matter ends here.
Can you do that?”
Curry was resolute and had the presence of a boss, shouting loudly, “I need to confirm that Aida isn’t in critical danger.
If Aida is unharmed, you leave my ship, and nobody has to compensate or apologize.
But if Aida dies, you won’t escape.
Let my people go now, and I’ll stay as your hostage.”
While Curry showed responsibility, Gao Yang was put in a difficult position.
If he really detained Curry as a hostage, Gao Yang could guarantee Curry’s men wouldn’t disperse—it would remain a deadlock.
But without a hostage in hand, once Curry’s men left, they could immediately attack without the mutual fear of dying together, which was also highly likely.
After only a moment’s consideration, Gao Yang suddenly raised his gun skyward and said sternly, “I’m a man of my word, and I’m not afraid you’ll break yours.
So go, treat your man.
No hostages; I don’t need you as one.
You just need to know one thing—if you play any tricks, then let’s have a proper battle on your ship.”
Watching Gao Yang put away his gun, Curry waved his hand, and a few people quickly picked up Aida and ran off.
After another look at Gao Yang, Curry took a deep breath, waved his hand, and said, “Everyone put down your guns; we’re leaving.
As long as Aida is okay, we’ll consider the matter closed.”
Curry’s men gradually put down their weapons, and after Gao Yang breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, he also waved his hand.
Li Jinfang and the others turned their guns toward the ground.
Curry’s men gathered together.
Though they did not raise their guns again, they remained highly vigilant as they departed.
Seeing Curry’s men leave together, Gao Yang immediately turned to Antoncel and said urgently, “Quick, go pack your things.
And, are there still two American security companies on this ship?
Do you know their people?
Contact them.
They don’t need to help, just have them come out and watch.”
(To be continued.
If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation and monthly tickets.
Your support is my greatest motivation.
Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)