222: Chapter 220: Go Big or Go Home!
222: Chapter 220: Go Big or Go Home!
Antoncel did his best to persuade Veil, the person in charge on the Victory, to provide two rest rooms.
However, the maximum stay of 24 hours could not be changed.
Thankfully, after waiting a few hours, Gao Yang and his group would be able to board a passing container ship and leave.
After being led to the cabins for a brief rest, Antoncel gave Gao Yang a bitter smile and said, “I think I’ll spend some time on deck.
You guys catch some sleep.
I’ll wake you up at two.
Veil said we can use a dinghy to get to the passing merchant ship as long as we pay, so there’s nothing to worry about.
Have a good sleep.”
Antoncel did not complain about how Gao Yang’s actions had cost him a chance to make a fortune.
He treated Gao Yang and the others just as he always had.
But the more Antoncel remained the same, the guiltier Gao Yang felt.
Watching Antoncel leave the cabin with a look of dejection, Gao Yang suddenly said, “I feel like we can’t just let this go.”
Cui Bo, equally frustrated, said, “It’s really stifling.
Brother Yang, what do you plan to do?
Are we going to settle the score with Curry?”
Gao Yang shook his head and said, “No.
Resorting to violence won’t solve the problem.
What I’m thinking is, why don’t we get our own ship and start a maritime security company?
We can compete with those British guys and take all their business.”
Li Jinfang, incredulous, said, “What?
Buy a ship?
Are you joking, Brother Yang?
How much does a ship cost?
There’s no way we could afford it.
Besides, we can fight on land, but we’re not professionals at sea.
Honestly, Brother Yang, I can barely stand to be on a ship for a couple of months, let alone live there permanently.
I couldn’t handle it.”
Gao Yang shook his head and said, “What are you thinking about?
Who said anything about buying a ship?
If Curry and his crew can rent, so can we.
Plus, Antoncel has been at sea for half his life; he definitely has the connections to rent a ship.
As for us, we don’t necessarily have to stay on the ship.
Frankly, I don’t like life at sea either.
What I mean is, as long as our investment makes money that’s all that matters; we don’t necessarily have to handle these things at sea.”
Li Jinfang nodded and said, “Alright, you’re in charge.
I’ll follow your lead.”
Gao Yang said with conviction, “I think that sooner or later we’re going to have to leave the mercenary life behind.
So we might as well start planning for our future life now.
We’ve all got a little spare cash, but just letting it lie idle in the bank isn’t doing us any good.
It would be better to invest it now.
During this time, I’ve seen that there’s money to be made in maritime security, especially since Antoncel has contacts.
It’s crucial to find business, and I think this is a surefire way to make money.”
Cui Bo also nodded and said, “I like the sound of that.
Our money might be too little on its own, but put together it’s not a small amount.
Brother Yang, just tell me what to do.”
Gao Yang slapped his thigh and said, “Go and call the Old Russian and the others over.
If they’re also willing to join in on this venture, I’ll talk to Antoncel about it.”
Space was limited on the ship, so the cabins weren’t very big.
The three Huaxia People, Gao Yang and his group, stayed in one room, while Glolov and his three companions were in the neighboring cabin.
Cui Bo quickly brought Glolov and the others over.
After repeating what he had said to Glolov and his group, Glolov immediately replied, “I’m in.
We can’t just rely on earning commissions from fighting.
Providing escort services in the Gulf of Aden, I believe the business can flourish for at least five more years, certainly no less than three.
As long as Somalia doesn’t become a normal country again, piracy will not disappear.
This is a business with a future, and I’m willing to buy in.”
Frey scratched his head and said, “Although I don’t quite understand, it sounds like a big deal from what you’re saying.
Okay, count me in too.”
Only Bruce helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said, “Count me out, you know my financial situation is tough, so there’s no need to think about me for the investment.
But personally, I believe it’s a viable venture, and definitely profitable.”
Gao Yang immediately stood up and left, saying, “You guys go ahead and sleep; I’m going to talk to Antoncel.”
Antoncel was alone on the ship’s bow, leaning on the railing, staring into the darkness of the night, seemingly looking at nothing.
But as soon as Gao Yang saw Antoncel, he quickly ran up to him, excitedly saying, “Hey, Antoncel, I have some ideas I want to discuss with you.”
Upon seeing Gao Yang, Antoncel forced a small smile and said, “Gao, what’s up?”
“It’s like this, anyway, it was my fault that you lost a very profitable job, and I’m sorry.”
Antoncel waved his hand and said, “Gao, if you came specifically to apologize to me, then I have to say there’s absolutely no need for that.
We are in this together.
Given what happened to you back then, there was no way not to fight back, so this matter is just bad luck, nobody else’s fault.”
Gao Yang shook his head quickly and replied, “I didn’t come specially to apologize.
I just feel that if we can’t improve our current situation, then we must exit this industry.
I didn’t care at first, but the thought that we are being forced out by Curry, that I can’t bear.
So, why can’t we be independent?
We can rent a ship as a transfer vessel, and if one isn’t enough, we get two ships.
In short, we don’t beg anyone, we have our own transfer vessel, and we are going to establish a big company, how about that?”
Antoncel looked at Gao Yang in surprise and said, “Rent our own ship as a transfer vessel?
Then establish a big company?
Okay, your idea is bold, but unfortunately, it’s not possible for us.”
Gao Yang spread his hands and said, “Why not?
It seems pretty simple to me.”
Antoncel gave a bitter smile and explained, “Money!
Gao, such a move requires a lot of money.
Not to mention anything else, just renting the ships is a huge cost.
We could not possibly come up with enough, and I can’t pull in investments either.
Bank loans are out of the question; no bank will loan to such a high-risk industry.”
Gao Yang immediately said, “Ten million, would ten million US dollars be enough?”
Antoncel was stunned for a moment and then said, “Ten million?
Don’t tell me you can come up with ten million.”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “In fact, I can.
Of course, not by myself, but the five of us can put together this amount of money.
You are a reliable person, and we plan to partner with you in a big business venture.
What do you think, interested?”
Antoncel’s breathing grew heavy.
After a short moment of contemplation, Antoncel spoke in a deep voice, “Ten million is not enough, but it solves half the problem, and with ten million, things get easier.
Perhaps we can find more investors.
However, how do we solve the manpower issue?”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “As long as we have enough money, it’s easy.
I’m not sure how much it costs to rent a ship, nor can I pull in the business, but don’t worry about the manpower.
I know many mercenaries.
With one phone call, I can bring in more than a hundred people.
Of course, their combat ability doesn’t compare to my team’s, but from what I’ve observed, the level required for escorting on ships isn’t that high, so I can definitely find suitable candidates.”
Antoncel shook his head with a wry smile, “Gao, it’s not that simple.
In fact, hiring mercenaries for maritime armed security is no good unless the people you can find are registered, legitimate security personnel.
The maritime security industry is very high-profile.
Right now, as just a few people, it doesn’t matter that we’re not legal; no one cares about us.
But if we operate two ships and have a security company with over a hundred people without proper documentation, it’s hard to say what kind of situations we might encounter.
Besides, those shipping companies won’t work with us.
Small-scale cooperation doesn’t pose much of an issue, but for full-scale cooperation, they have far too many concerns.”
Gao Yang frowned and said, “Mercenaries won’t work?
Then this is tough.
I know many ruthless mercenaries, but I don’t know any legitimate security service providers.
However, I think this problem could be solved too.
Right now you just need to tell me how much money we need in total.
You figure out the ships and the business, and I’ll take care of the personnel.”
After considering for a moment, Antoncel spoke in a serious tone, “For renting a ship, we can’t have it too small, at least over two thousand tons, and it must be a long-term lease, at a minimum a one-year contract.
This won’t be a small sum, and we need a helicopter and small boats for transporting armed guards.
We’ll also need to recruit crew members and helicopter pilots.
There are so many places that need money, but if we can lease everything possible to save on expenses, I think with twenty million we should be able to start the company.”
“Most importantly, can it make money?
What do you think are the prospects?”
Upon hearing Gao Yang’s question, Antoncel smiled slightly and responded, “Make money?
Of course, that’s not even a question.
With two transfer ships and recruiting two hundred armed guards, that would be fifty groups of four.
I can guarantee enough contracts to keep everyone busy.
Even if we pay our staff a top salary of fifteen thousand US dollars per month, a group would only cost sixty thousand for salaries, and we could cover that with just two of the lowest charged escort missions in a week.
Besides, we’re likely to have at least six more missions to fill the remaining three weeks.
After deducting expenses, each team could bring us a profit of one hundred and fifty thousand per month, and fifty teams total to seven and a half million.
Of course, accidents can always happen at sea, and there might be extra expenditures, but buddy, even with the lowest earnings and highest expenses calculated, we could still net a profit of five million a month.”
Gao Yang involuntarily took a sharp breath and said, “The most conservative estimate is a profit of five million a month?”
Antoncel shrugged and said, “That’s right, that’s the most conservative estimate.
However, that’s only if we manage to get the company up and running.
But the money’s not enough, and we don’t have the right people; how can we start this maritime security company?
Buddy, be realistic.
The prospects are great, but reality is often harsh.
If I could start a big, legitimate company, then I wouldn’t be messing around with small-time operations like now.”
Gao Yang smacked his hand and declared, “Enough, no need to say more.
I’ll figure out the money and the people.
Small-scale won’t cut it; we’ve got to think big.” (To be continued.
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