Ch 143: The World’s Number One Resort

“The Honolulu port has been reached. Passengers disembarking, please proceed to Deck One…” The Great Tang No. 2 anchored, and the passengers packed their luggage, disembarking in an orderly fashion under the guidance of the crew.

The Great Tang No. 2 had three available gangways. The first gangway was for standard passengers, the second was for Great Tang staff, and the third was reserved exclusively for VIP guests.

The first and third gangways were adjacent, and as passengers observed the more relaxed VIP passage, they couldn’t help but feel slightly annoyed. Privileges of wealth seem to exist everywhere. While a bit frustrated, they also silently vowed that once they had the means, they’d definitely experience the VIP treatment themselves…

Despite the large number of passengers around the Great Tang No. 2, the Honolulu port was massive, with nearly a thousand ships docked year-round. The southern part of the port was lined with modern high-rises, and amidst the blend of skyscrapers and the sea, the Great Tang tourists didn’t seem too chaotic.

“Tang!”

As Tang Huai disembarked and was about to find a taxi, he heard a hearty call from a distance. Looking up, he saw Hank, dressed in a white tank top and blue shorts, with a cool, casual vibe. Next to him was a red Ford. Hank had been waiting for quite some time based on where he stood.

“Surprised?” Hank crossed the crowd and gave Tang Huai a big hug.

“Very unexpected. Weren’t you in Los Angeles?” Tang Huai returned the hug. The two had spoken on the phone just the day before, and at that time, Hank was working as a translator in Los Angeles. Tang Huai had casually mentioned his upcoming trip to Hawaii.

It was just a passing remark; he hadn’t expected Hank to show up in advance.

“A last-minute job,” Hank shrugged. The plan was indeed sudden.

“Which hotel?” The port was bustling with tourists. Hank put Tang Huai’s luggage in the trunk.

“Ace,” Tang Huai replied, opening the front passenger door. That was the official address on the invitation.

“Ace? Mr. Alhan is staying there too.”

Hank opened the window. The Ace Hotel was the official hotel of the Hawaiian government, usually hosting international dignitaries. He had assumed Tang Huai was attending a travel-related event. Now, it seemed more significant.

“Are you attending tonight’s Marine Life Gala?”

Hank started the car and turned the wheel, as if suddenly recalling something.

The Marine Life Gala was a local charity event organized by the Hawaiian government, focusing on pollution and conservation efforts in the Pacific Ocean. It was a high-profile event for networking among wealthy businesspeople.

“Is it being held on the Ace Hotel rooftop?”

“Yes.”

“Then it seems so.”

As they exchanged questions and answers, Tang Huai checked his electronic invitation upon realizing the nature of the Marine Life Gala.

The invitation only had an official greeting, with no mention of the event details. Given the official status of the Hawaiian government, such an omission wouldn’t be an oversight. It felt more like a subtle power move…

Tang Huai looked out of the window, lost in thought.

The little red Ford, like a vibrant rose, drove slowly toward the Ace Hotel. Back at the Honolulu port, two Chinese women watched the red Ford’s departure in a daze.

The mysterious and youthful A01 guest. While they couldn’t guess Tang Huai’s real identity, they assumed he was likely an “invisible” rich second-generation type. When the Great Tang No. 2 docked, they had followed Tang Huai off the ship, hoping for a chance to chat. Who would have thought Tang Huai would get into a Ford and simply drive away?

A Ford?

The red Ford was quite clean, but the two could clearly see that the car’s price wouldn’t exceed 30,000 USD—less than what they had spent for one night on the Great Tang No. 2…

“Must have misjudged,” they muttered to themselves, feeling a bit disheartened. As they comforted themselves, they couldn’t help but feel uncertain—had they really misjudged?

…

The Ace Hotel was twenty kilometers from Sora Port, and half an hour later, the two arrived at the hotel. The Ace had a dedicated reception team for the evening’s event. From Tang Huai’s invitation details, it was confirmed that he would be attending the Marine Life Charity Gala.

Tang Huai found his room and, after a quick wash, relaxed for a bit. Time ticked away.

At 7:30 p.m., Tang Huai changed into a proper suit and headed to the hotel’s rooftop.

The Ace’s rooftop housed a 3,000-square-meter banquet hall, which was the venue for tonight’s gala.

Champagne, gentlemen, and waiters… As one of Hawaii’s upscale hotels, the Ace’s banquet hall exuded a luxurious and grand atmosphere. However, unlike movie scenes, while there were many guests at the gala, the overall vibe was quite calm.

Most of the guests conversed in small groups, creating a quiet ambiance, far from the lively hustle one might expect. Perhaps that was the difference between a private and an official event. Tang Huai circled the hall, casually picking up a glass of champagne to sip.

Tang Huai wasn’t a wine connoisseur, but the champagne tasted good.

He sat down in the lounge area, scanning the surroundings.

Hank was working on the eastern side of the banquet hall, standing beside an Indian businessman, translating diligently. In his suit, Hank exuded an aura that was far removed from his usual shorts and tank top. This was the result of an Ivy League education.

Hank seemed to sense Tang Huai’s gaze and turned his head. Spotting Tang Huai, he gestured helplessly.

He would be busy until the end of the event.

Tang Huai raised his glass, signaling Hank to continue working.

Amid this relaxed atmosphere, the clock struck 8 p.m.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s Marine Life Charity Gala. I am Jonathan Kote, representing the Hawaiian government, and I extend my sincerest gratitude…” At 8:00 sharp, the hall lights dimmed, and a middle-aged man in a black suit took the stage.

This man was Jonathan Kote, 52 years old, and the governor of Hawaii for two years. Compared to his humorous persona on TV, he appeared much more composed in reality.

Tang Huai listened patiently. The theme of the speech revolved around marine conservation, and Jonathan’s eloquent delivery earned frequent applause from the audience.

Tang Huai sipped his champagne. He was watching a skilled politician in action.

Ten minutes later, the speech concluded, and soft piano music began playing, returning the event to its previous leisurely state. Tang Huai switched to a fresh glass of champagne. A few oil tycoons approached to chat, but upon learning that Tang Huai was in the tourism industry, the conversations quickly ended.

Tang Huai looked too young, and tourism had little overlap with the oil industry. In their limited time, these businessmen preferred networking with others…

Tang Huai remained indifferent. As “Sunshine Coast” played in the background, time passed from 8:30 to 9:00. He glanced at his watch, intending to step outside for some fresh air.

“Good evening, Mr. Tang. Governor Jonathan requests your presence,” a well-dressed waiter approached just as Tang Huai reached the door.

Tang Huai handed over his champagne glass.

At 9:03, the main course arrived.

Next to the banquet hall was a private meeting room. Upon entering, Tang Huai saw Jonathan sitting in the center of a sofa, flipping through a stack of documents. The room had security guards at the door and windows, creating an atmosphere starkly different from the one outside.

“Good evening, Mr. Tang. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Jonathan glanced at Tang Huai as he entered, standing up to greet him.

“Good evening.” Tang Huai returned the greeting politely. Then, following the secretary’s gesture, he took a seat opposite Jonathan.

“Mr. Tang, this is Hawaii’s financial report for the spring quarter. What are your thoughts?” After some brief pleasantries, Jonathan pulled out two documents.

“Looks good,” Tang Huai replied after a quick glance. He couldn’t verify the document’s authenticity, but the numbers painted a picture of a healthy financial report.

“This is last year’s financial report for the same quarter,” Jonathan nodded, handing over another document.

The numbers between the two reports varied significantly.

If last year’s financial baseline for Hawaii was set at 1, this year, it had fallen to 0.9—a 10% year-on-year decrease…

“Mr. Tang, Hawaii serves as a transit hub for Great Tang Resort. Both are island tourist destinations, but ever since Great Tang Resort officially opened, the number of tourists to Hawaii has decreased. What does Great Tang Resort think about this?” Jonathan continued as Tang Huai examined the report.

As Jonathan finished speaking, the room’s atmosphere suddenly turned tense.

“What do you mean, Governor Jonathan?” Tang Huai closed the report, his expression unchanged.

“Great Tang Resort has severely impacted Hawaii’s financial revenue. For a resort island, this is a significant blow!” Jonathan accused directly.

Hawaii acts as a transit point for Great Tang Resort, and in his view, Great Tang Resort has definitely siphoned off Hawaii’s tourism economy.

In the past, tourists arriving in Hawaii would typically spend on accommodations, shopping, and beach activities. Now, however, many tourists opt for a direct route: airport—port—Great Tang Resort. Aside from transportation fees, Hawaii’s income has significantly shrunk.

Jonathan elaborated for a full ten minutes, detailing the impact of Great Tang Resort on Hawaii’s economy and development. His rhetoric was even more persuasive than his earlier speech, painting Great Tang Resort as the culprit behind Hawaii’s economic decline.

After ten minutes, Jonathan fixed Tang Huai with a firm gaze.

The atmosphere in the room grew even more tense.

“What exactly does Hawaii mean by this?” Tang Huai sipped his coffee, asking calmly. The difference between “Hawaii” and “Jonathan” was just three letters, but the implications were entirely different.

“Henceforth, for every tourist passing through Hawaii, a fee of ten dollars should be charged, to be paid by Great Tang Resort,” Jonathan stated bluntly.

“Ten dollars?” Jonathan’s words were firm, but Tang Huai couldn’t help but find it amusing. So this was the purpose of the gala’s buildup.

Ten dollars might not sound like much, but with 30,000 tourists passing through Hawaii daily, that would amount to 300,000 dollars a day, nearly a million a month. This was just in the early stages; as the number of tourists increased, this fee would become an astronomical figure.

“Governor Jonathan, Great Tang’s ships already pay mooring fees, port entry fees, and taxes according to Hawaiian regulations. We respect Hawaii’s laws. Now, on what basis is this additional ten-dollar fee per tourist being charged? And, are you certain that Hawaii’s financial decline is due to Great Tang Resort?” Tang Huai put down his coffee.

His oratory might not be as polished as Jonathan’s, but his logic was sound. If one wasn’t careful, they might easily get tangled up in Jonathan’s reasoning.

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