239: Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Seven: Too Smooth 239: Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Seven: Too Smooth Gao Yang and his team had recovered all their equipment, so a night battle was the inevitable choice.
With night vision goggles and pirates on the merchant ship unable to see them, and even more advantageously, Maide was willing to send men to board the ship with Farah.
The Skull Gang’s second-in-command, Abu, would personally join the fight, and among the pirates who had already switched allegiance to the Skull Gang, some were willing to go to the Cloldylin.
They knew each other well, which would make boarding the ship easy.
The only concern was the die-hard followers sent by the pirate leader.
With the pirate leader already killed, only one die-hard remained on the merchant ship.
As long as he was dealt with, there would be no one left to resist.
So, if they could board the ship safely, there was a very good chance to recapture the Cloldylin without firing a shot or shedding blood.
Faced with such a favorable situation, Fernando, who originally opposed the recapture, changed his mind.
He was happy to resume his role as the captain of the Cloldylin, instead of letting his first mate control his ship.
The Cloldylin was anchored less than ten nautical miles off the coast, a distance even a fishing boat wouldn’t bother covering.
As soon as the darkness set in completely, Gao Yang and their six-man team took a speedboat controlled by Antoncel, along with six other speedboats from the Skull Gang, headed by Abu, majestically towards the Cloldylin.
Gao Yang and his team were now fully geared up, with night vision goggles and combat vests finally back on them.
However, they would not be the first to board the ship due to their conspicuous skin color.
Among the first to board, besides Farah, were two pirates who had just pledged allegiance that day.
These two knew the pirates left on the Cloldylin, including their blood brothers.
With these two taking the lead, it should be possible to retake the merchant ship without a fight.
However, to prevent any conspiracy by these newly-joined pirates, Abu would lead his six men to board personally.
If anything happened, they would immediately open fire to forcefully capture the ship.
Only then would Gao Yang and the rest forcefully board as well.
Everything went smoothly.
Farah established contact with the people on the merchant ship, and the speedboats approached the anchored vessel.
After Farah exchanged a few loud words with someone on the ship, a person came to the end of the gangway and extended a makeshift iron ladder onto the speedboat.
Farah was the first to climb aboard, followed by Abu and then the two volunteering pirates.
Everything proceeded without a hitch.
Once Abu’s men had all climbed onto the Cloldylin, a commotion suddenly arose on deck, and Abu quickly subdued someone.
No shots were fired, no one was injured.
Not even a minute after Abu boarded, the pirate leader’s loyal follower was under control.
Afterward, Farah excitedly spoke through the walkie-talkie, “It’s done, the boss’s henchman has been caught, but there are still two in the cockpit.
We’re heading there now, it’ll be over soon.
Just wait a little longer.”
Although everything was going well, Gao Yang still asked with some tension, “Is the camera on?”
Farah replied relaxedly, “It’s on, working perfectly.
Don’t worry, I’ll make him spill everything.”
Gao Yang patiently waited a few more minutes, then finally, Farah’s excited voice came through again.
“We’ve taken control of the cockpit, you can come up now.
But there are still crew members loyal to the first mate inside the cabins.
Do you need us to deal with them?”
“No need, just wait for us to arrive.”
After saying this excitedly, Gao Yang waved, and Antoncel maneuvered the speedboat to the foot of the gangway.
Gao Yang slung his shotgun over his shoulder and was the first to climb the ladder onto the ship.
On deck, a slender black man had been pushed to the ground with a piece of rag stuffed in his mouth.
He was still struggling, but Abu was stepping on his head, and two other black men had pinned his arms and legs, so there was no chance for him to break free.
Seeing Gao Yang ascend to the deck, Abu proudly said, “My men have gone to the cockpit; the ship is yours now.”
Gao Yang earnestly replied, “Thank you.
Without your help, it wouldn’t have been possible to retake this ship so easily.”
Abu snorted coldly, “If it were me, I would hold this ship for ransom.
But the boss said we absolutely cannot continue to be pirates, so you’re getting a bargain.
You just saved at least ten million US dollars.”
Abu was right.
They really could have extorted at least ten million US dollars using the ship, but both Maide and Abu chose not to do so, firmly wanting to distance themselves from piracy.
Gao Yang nodded to Abu and turned to continue his dash into the cockpit, and Antoncel also ran toward the cockpit with a face full of joy.
This time they really had done an impressive job, having snatched back a merchant ship that had fallen into the hands of pirates, and that too without a single injury or loss.
This was absolutely good news for future large-scale collaborations and a perfect selling point for publicity; it would surely give the British firms monopolizing the market a run for their money with their less impeccable professional ethics.
After Gao Yang hurried into the bridge, he saw the first officer John crouching on the ground with his hands over his head in terror.
Besides him, there were several other people in the cockpit standing with their hands up, looking stunned.
And their expressions became even more colorful when they saw Gao Yang rush in.
As for the pirates who had stayed in the cockpit, they hadn’t even been disarmed yet because, at this moment, they were aiming their guns at the crew who were just a moment ago on their side.
Gao Yang just glanced around and exclaimed, “Quick, show me your phone, did you get it recorded?”
Farah excitedly handed a phone to Gao Yang, saying, “Got it, all recorded, definitely can be used as evidence.”
Antoncel, who had followed Gao Yang in, also said with excitement, “Quick, let me see it, show me now.”
Gao Yang opened the video on the phone.
Although the footage was a bit shaky, it was clear enough to make out what was happening on the phone’s screen.
Two Black men entered the cockpit in front of Farah, where the first officer, looking at Farah with an impatient expression asked, “Why did you only come now?
Hurry up, God knows how much we can move off the ship.
Where is your boss?
Why hasn’t he come?”
“My boss will come, but he’s got something on and can’t make it now.
Also, he told me to inform you that you are no longer of any use unless you want to die.
So, it would be best if you wouldn’t think about getting your money.”
The first officer’s face turned extremely angry as he shouted, “We had a deal.
I only want ten million, damn it, the cargo on the ship alone is worth hundreds of millions of US dollars.
Are you trying to default on me?
Huh?
Where is your boss?
Let him tell me personally.
You think I’m no use now, so you don’t want to pay me?
Is that it?
Damn it, he can’t do this!
I’m asking for just a tiny fraction, and I’ve even knocked out the damn armed guards.
I’ve exposed myself, and you’re not planning to pay?”
After a tirade of angry shouts, the first officer said with a face full of terror, “You treacherous, damned pirates, I’m finished, how could I be so foolish to believe that your boss would pay, and I’ve been exposed too, completely done for.
I’m such an idiot to believe that you stinking pirates would honor your word.”
After the first officer finished, Farah excitedly said something in Somali, and then the two Black men who had gone in before him immediately stepped forward and twisted the first officer’s arms behind his back.
After they hurriedly said something, the two pirates holding guns looked astonished, lowered their guns, said a few things in Somali, turned off the guns’ safeties, and raised the guns again, but this time they were pointing them at the first officer and the several crew members in the cockpit.
After watching the video on the phone, Antoncel exclaimed, “Perfect!
Fantastic, the ship’s back, and we’ve got the evidence we need, a perfect wrap-up, Ram, well done!”
Gao Yang, with a chuckle, put the phone in his pocket and then said, “Inform Fernando that they can board now.”
After saying that, Gao Yang waved his hand, and Lee Jinfang and others came forward and tied up the first officer with ropes that had been prepared.
The first officer, now pale as death, offered no resistance as he was bound.
However, one of the crew members began to cry out loudly, “No, I was forced, I’m not with John, you can’t treat me like this, I was coerced, once the pirates got on board, what could we do?”
Antoncel shouted loudly, “Whether you colluded with your first officer in rebellion, that’s for the judge to decide, damn it, traitors like you should be whipped to death with a cat-o-nine-tails on the deck.
If you can’t produce strong evidence now, you will be treated as mutineers.”
After that, Antoncel, with hate in his voice, said, “First, tie up the first officer, we’ll deal with the others when Fernando arrives.
He should be able to distinguish who was coerced and who’s in cahoots with the first officer.”
Fernando arrived quickly, and as he began to curse the first officer fiercely, Gao Yang pulled Antoncel aside, and after they left the cockpit, Gao Yang said in a low voice, “You follow Fernando for the upcoming trip.
We’re not leaving, but this must be kept secret.”
Antoncel knew that Gao Yang and his group were staying behind to train the Skull Gang’s soldiers, but because it was not certain whether they could successfully retake the Cloldylin, no final decision had been made.
However, now that the ship had been recovered, everything could proceed according to plan.
Antoncel nodded and said, “I’ll go to Israel and find your friend to start up our security company as quickly as possible.
But it will take time to find the right leases, recruit staff, and to get everything in order.
I estimate around three months.
But how will you manage to give me the money if you guys are staying?”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “Don’t worry about that, Bob will give you an account number later.
I’ll just transfer the money to him, and I’ll also make contact with the Israelis.
All you need to do is go to Israel and find them.”
Antoncel clapped Gao Yang on the shoulder and laughed, saying, “Whether I can retire early is up to you.
I’ll take care of everything I’m responsible for.
As long as your money arrives and there are no problems on your friend’s end, in three months, you’ll be the boss, buddy.”(To be continued.
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