Ch 108: The World’s Number One Resort

“How long has it been? Should we pull up the rope?”

“Forty minutes… he should be fine, right?”

…

At 1:00 a.m., the Pacific Ocean lay calm and flat like a mirror. The elite bodyguards stood on the deck, gazing down into the water, feeling a bit anxious. They were non-intelligent AI with simple programming. Their first directive was to protect the safety of Sora Island, and their second was to obey the island owner’s orders. Now that Tang Huai had jumped into the sea, they were at a loss for what to do next.

“Splash!”

“There’s someone underwater; he’s coming up!”

In their moment of indecision, a wave broke the surface, and the elite bodyguards instantly snapped to attention, pulling the rope in their hands. Thirty seconds later, a “water person” was hoisted out of the sea.

“Is everything on the ship normal?” Tang Huai removed his mask, taking a few deep breaths of fresh air. It had been an hour since he dived in, and since the Tequila was an illegal ship, Tang Huai had decided to be cautious.

“We detected a military patrol boat a hundred nautical miles ahead, but other than that, no issues,” one burly bodyguard reported. Tang Huai nodded and headed inside the cabin.

The 100-square-meter storage room was still as messy and damp as before. By the wooden table sat a figure, drinking and curiously examining the tattooing tools on the tray.

At the figure’s feet was a curled-up white man. His eyes were vacant, and he had numerous bloody wounds on his body, indicating the torment he had endured in the past hour.

These two were Alang and the man found under the pile of sacks earlier.

“O’Brien, a well-known South American drug dealer, frequently operates between Mexico and Stanbuck,” Alang explained as Tang Huai entered. He pulled out a stack of documents from the table. They had been found on the ship, detailing O’Brien’s drug dealings over the years. Cross-border drug trafficking was not the business of kind souls; in addition to drug transactions, the documents revealed extensive human trafficking. Over the years, O’Brien had abducted many people. Worse, he had thrown those who refused to obey directly into the Pacific Ocean.

He was truly a ruthless criminal.

“Ahh, ahh—”

Tang Huai flipped through the documents for a while when a pained groan sounded from his feet. He glanced down to see O’Brien, vacant as before, with blood-mixed saliva dripping from his lips, presenting a gruesome sight. His cries were merely an involuntary physical reaction.

Tang Huai glanced at him, then looked up at Alang.

“I gave him a little lesson,” Alang shrugged, pointing to his own head. The implication was clear—O’Brien had been mentally broken, rendered useless for the rest of his life.

“Ahh,” O’Brien, seemingly attracted by the blood he’d spit out, dipped his hand in it and licked it, a trace of ecstasy appearing on his otherwise vacant face.

A once-infamous drug lord had been reduced to this.

Tang Huai knew of Alang’s methods. Though he called it a “little lesson,” O’Brien would probably never recover.

O’Brien had committed countless crimes, but Tang Huai, having grown up under the flag of socialism, was not someone who could kill. At the same time, he couldn’t let O’Brien go unpunished… His fate was a real dilemma. Tang Huai had initially planned to take O’Brien to Sora Island and imprison him for life, but Alang had taken care of the problem for him.

“Thank you.” After a moment’s thought, Tang Huai expressed his gratitude to Alang. Tang Huai was no saint; this was indeed the best way to handle O’Brien.

“Extra pay,” Alang replied, taking a swig of beer, unconcerned. Great Tang Resort wasn’t short on money. He regretted offering that 20% discount earlier.

“Honk, honk—” Tang Huai smiled and was about to say something when a distinct horn sounded in the distance.

“Who’s on the ship? Stop the vessel ahead.” Three powerful searchlights shone in their direction.

Tang Huai stepped out of the cabin to see three patrol boats, each about eight meters long, surrounding both the Tequila and the Great Tang No. 1. Although the patrol boats were small, their movements indicated they were not ordinary vessels.

A brief standoff ensued.

“United Nations Pacific Peacekeeping Force.” A minute later, a man in camouflage appeared on the lead patrol boat, speaking fluent English to identify himself.

Tang Huai glanced at Alang subtly, and Alang nodded. This confirmed that the identities of the three patrol boats were genuine.

Tang Huai let out a long breath. As long as they weren’t drug traffickers… he really didn’t have the energy to engage in a battle of wits with them.

Five minutes later, a long ladder was lowered from the Tequila, and the peacekeeping soldiers cautiously boarded the ship. The soldiers surrounded the vessel and skillfully began to search the entire ship.

“I am Frank from the T09 Unit of the Pacific Peacekeeping Force,” the officer from before approached and handed Tang Huai a palm-sized identification card. Tang Huai looked it over; it briefly described Frank’s nationality and position.

Frank was German.

“I am Tang Huai, the manager of Great Tang Resort under the FillTech Company. One of our employees was kidnapped, and we tracked them here… Unfortunately, the employee did not survive,” Tang Huai returned the ID, explaining the story he had already planned. Great Tang Resort was an entertainment island; otherwise, appearing here would be too suspicious.

“Great Tang Resort?” Frank took back the ID, still looking skeptical.

“Located at 122 degrees west longitude, 10 degrees north latitude, on Sora Island,” Tang Huai briefly provided the coordinates.

Frank understood. He hadn’t heard of Great Tang Resort, but he had heard of Sora Island—a mysterious island shrouded in fog, with an elusive exact location…

Frank recalled the island’s position, then glanced around. Tang Huai’s demeanor and actions were those of a normal person, but the elite bodyguards by his side were different. These men stood upright, exuding strength and looking even more formidable than the elite soldiers in his own unit.

These were definitely not ordinary people.

Tang Huai noticed what Frank was thinking and signaled to the nearest bodyguard.

The bodyguard stepped forward and took out an ID of his own. The ID was much darker in color than Frank’s. Frank glanced at it, and after three seconds, he gave the bodyguard a respectful nod.

The bodyguards’ real identities were those of world-class retired soldiers. With the help of the system’s advanced technology, their backgrounds and military experience were fully detailed and traceable. Frank was briefly stunned by the bodyguard’s impressive resume. Additionally, he became even more curious about the FillTech Company and Great Tang Resort; to employ individuals like these as bodyguards, the resort must have an incredibly strong backing…

“Are we rescued? I want to go home.”

“Oh my God, we’re finally saved. I thought I would die here…”

While Frank was lost in thought, four young men and women who looked like college students came out of the cabin. Seeing the scene on the deck, they began to cry. They didn’t recognize Frank, but they did recognize the camouflage uniforms. At first glance, they knew they were truly rescued.

Frank briefly questioned them. They confirmed that there had been another young man when they boarded, but he was taken away separately by O’Brien. Considering the half-open window in the warehouse, it was clear that the young man did not survive.

“He has gone to heaven,” Frank offered some comfort to Tang Huai. He didn’t know the young man’s identity, but for Great Tang Resort to go to such great lengths to rescue him, he must have been someone of importance.

“Yes, he has gone to heaven,” Tang Huai replied, nodding heavily.

Frank and his men then took a brief statement from Tang Huai. After that, Tang Huai, Alang, and the others returned to the Great Tang No. 1 and sailed away under Frank’s watchful gaze.

“Sir, this doesn’t seem to be in line with the regulations,” said a sergeant, approaching Frank. According to protocol, Tang Huai and his group should have been temporarily detained and handed over to the Chinese government. After all, the timing and location of Tang Huai’s appearance were highly suspicious.

“Nothing out of regulation,” Frank waved his hand dismissively. Their mission was to capture the drug traffickers, and now that the traffickers were caught, there was no need to complicate matters further. The identity of Great Tang Resort was too mysterious, and those retired bodyguards alone made Frank reconsider meddling.

“They found O’Brien, but he seems to have suffered significant psychological distress,” the young officer added after Frank finished speaking. They had spent three months planning this operation, yet it had unexpectedly ended so easily…

“Excessive drug intake can easily cause mental disturbances,” Frank paused for a moment. He knew that O’Brien’s mental breakdown wasn’t as simple as it appeared, but as he had previously decided, their objective was to apprehend O’Brien, not to invite unnecessary trouble.

The Pacific Ocean spans 180 million square kilometers, covering 46% of the world’s water surface and 32.5% of its total area. The vast ocean is far from being as calm as it seems on the surface. As long as Great Tang Resort wasn’t a terrorist organization, they had learned to adapt.

Half an hour later, O’Brien’s associates were rounded up and detained together. Now that the situation was resolved, the next step would be a military tribunal.

…

“It’s now 2 AM. With the speed boost from the vessel enhancer, we should reach Sora Island around 8 AM…”

While Frank was handling the aftermath with O’Brien, on the deck of the Great Tang No. 1, Alang handed Tang Huai a can of beer, commenting on their journey back.

Thanks to the vessel speed enhancer, the Great Tang No. 1 was traveling at twice its usual speed. Alang thoroughly enjoyed this extreme cruising pace.

“Thanks,” Tang Huai accepted the beer, expressing his gratitude once again. Although it might have seemed repetitive, Alang’s assistance tonight had been invaluable.

“Kvass from Russia, too low in alcohol content for my liking,” Alang dismissed the thanks, explaining the beer’s origin. He preferred strong liquors with over 30% alcohol and didn’t care for these lighter beverages. Strictly speaking, kvass barely even qualified as alcohol in his view.

Tang Huai smiled. Though Alang didn’t show it outwardly, Tang Huai noticed that A Lang’s loyalty had risen from 47 to 49. This increase was partly due to Alang’s upgrade to a mid-level AI. An increase of two points over the past year… well, that was quite good.

After all the ups and downs they had been through, Tang Huai no longer demanded absolute loyalty. As long as they cooperated happily, that was enough.

The two chatted a bit longer. After finishing three bottles of kvass and half a catty of nu’er hong rice wine, Alang staggered back to his quarters, leaving Tang Huai alone on the deck of the Great Tang No. 1.

A cool breeze swept over the deck. Tang Huai drained the rest of his kvass and turned his gaze toward the sea.

Perhaps due to the rising wind, the dark sea surface was now marked by waves.

“Tat-tat, tat…” Tang Huai tapped his fingers on the railing, producing a rhythmic and peculiar sound.

The sound was muffled yet steady.

Ten seconds later, Tang Huai paused and fixed his gaze on the water’s surface. Apart from the rippling waves, there was no other movement.

“Splosh—”

Thirty seconds passed. Just as Tang Huai began to doubt if anything would happen, a two-meter-high splash broke the surface, and a black fish tail emerged, swaying back and forth.

A smile unconsciously tugged at Tang Huai’s lips. The fish tail stopped swaying, and a man with shoulder-length black hair surfaced.

Under the moonlight, the man was wearing a makeshift cloak of seaweed. He hesitated for a moment before meeting Tang Huai’s gaze with a mix of uncertainty and resolve. Tang Huai grinned as he looked back at the man.

When he was underwater, Tang Huai had thought he might sink into the depths. He hadn’t expected Yu You to appear so suddenly. Compared to the greenhouse at the villa in Ring City, Yu You seemed as if he was truly born of the water.

Yu You’s eight tentacles looked fearsome and intimidating. However, having already accepted that Yu You wasn’t an ordinary person, Tang Huai, after a brief moment of surprise, found himself effortlessly embracing Yu You’s true form. The black tentacles, despite their terrifying appearance, had a soft and slightly sticky texture. Tang Huai quickly got used to them and then happily began to stroke the large tentacles.

Yu You felt utterly helpless but had no choice but to swim closer.

He hadn’t wanted to appear before Tang Huai in this form, as it was even more unsettling than the fish-tail state. However, given the situation, he felt that all his embarrassment was laid bare in front of Tang Huai.

Tang Huai wore an oxygen mask, so Yu You couldn’t clearly see his eyes—and he didn’t want to. He feared seeing any sign of disdain in Tang Huai’s gaze.

Yu You was only five meters away from Tang Huai. He didn’t understand why Tang Huai was holding on to him so tightly, yet he couldn’t bear to break free.

Feigning calmness, Yu You’s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts. It felt like he was a prisoner waiting for a court’s judgment—nervous and at a loss.

Just as Yu You felt overwhelmed, Tang Huai released his grip on the tentacle. Yu You felt a mix of emotions, though he knew this was probably how it should be. He was about to swim away when Tang Huai swiftly approached him again. Then, to Yu You’s surprise, Tang Huai gently cupped the tattoo on his right cheek.

Tang Huai’s right hand carefully touched it, his gesture full of tenderness and caution. Yu You saw Tang Huai’s lips move—the words “It’s okay.”

Yu You was completely stunned. Tang Huai didn’t seem to mind Yu You’s reaction at all. He leaned forward and touched Yu You’s tattoo with the oxygen mask. For the first time, Yu You could see Tang Huai’s eyes up close. In them, he saw nothing but calmness—no displeasure or disdain.

In the depths of the ocean, their actions felt almost intimate. Yu You suddenly felt a strange sense of peace, as if he had been floating in mid-air for a year and had finally found solid ground.

Under the moonlight, Yu You and Tang Huai gazed at each other for ten seconds before Yu You quickly swam away.

Tang Huai watched his retreating figure. While they hadn’t exchanged words underwater, it felt like they had reached an understanding. The knocking sound on the ship’s hull had been Tang Huai’s signal while searching for Yu You. In return, Yu You would follow the Great Tang No. 1 near Sora Island. Tang Huai gave Yu You a system-tech wristband, so they could continue to communicate as they used to.

Tang Huai had considered bringing Yu You back to Sora Island, but after some thought, he decided against it. Compared to the confinement of land, the ocean was where Yu You truly belonged.

After Yu You left, Tang Huai also prepared to return to the cabin. However, as he took a few steps, he recalled the gentle touch from earlier.

At that moment, Yu You had looked exactly as he did when they first met—cautious amidst the chaos. While Tang Huai had intended to comfort him, the touch on his cheek had also stirred a more primal desire. Tang Huai wasn’t sure if he would have done something impulsive had there not been an oxygen mask between them…

Another gust of sea breeze swept past, and Tang Huai shook his head, pushing the thought aside.

With twenty-seven days left for his mission, he needed to focus on completing the system task.

Tang Huai felt his determination growing.

Author’s Note: Boss Tang: “Oh no, it’s that feeling of heart-racing love!~O(∩_∩)O~”

Next up, it’s time to kick off the construction mode!

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️