Ch 144: The World’s Number One Resort

After Tang Huai finished speaking, he added a sugar cube to his coffee. He wasn’t accustomed to the taste of American coffee, finding it too bland.

Tang Huai appeared calm, but Jonathan’s demeanor turned more serious.

“This is in line with the North American Trade Protection Act. Mr. Tang, if Hawaii’s economic decline is not due to Great Tang Resort, then what is the cause?” Jonathan pulled out another document, his gaze sharp, as though Tang Huai had just challenged Hawaii’s authority.

“Is Hawaii holding a gubernatorial election next year?” Tang Huai asked, looking directly at Jonathan.

Speaking of elections, it’s impossible not to mention Jonathan’s legendary journey to becoming governor. Hawaii’s governor is elected through direct elections every four years. In the last election, Jonathan lost to the former governor by just 300 votes, becoming the lieutenant governor of Hawaii.

There is only a one-word difference between “governor” and “lieutenant governor,” but the powers they represent are worlds apart. Jonathan, who had dedicated his entire life to American politics, was dissatisfied with the position of lieutenant governor. With the outcome already decided, he could only focus on doing his job well.

Just when he thought he would serve his four-year term, the former governor suddenly passed away. According to relevant laws, Jonathan naturally assumed the position of governor.

During his tenure, Jonathan worked diligently, but Hawaii’s economy did not grow as he had hoped. With next year’s election approaching, this economic issue would be the perfect entry point for his political opponents to attack him. With just one year left, Jonathan wanted to make some achievements. It was at this moment that Great Tang Resort emerged.

Although Jonathan spoke with righteous conviction, he knew deep down that Hawaii’s economic downturn had little to do with Great Tang Resort. On the contrary, the resort’s popularity even brought more tourists to transit through Hawaii, boosting local consumption. Plus, the taxes paid by Great Tang Resort added up to a considerable sum.

The problem, however, was that Great Tang Resort had risen too quickly. A private island with an unknown background and rapid development—it was a walking cash cow.

After careful analysis by government officials and politicians, the proposal for a “transit fee” was born.

“This is Hawaii’s internal matter. Mr. Tang, this is already the greatest concession Hawaii can make,” Jonathan said, his hands clasped on his lap, steering the topic back to the transit fee.

“What if Great Tang Resort refuses?” Tang Huai countered.

“Then I’m afraid Hawaii will invoke the North American Trade Protection Act to impose additional fees and sanctions on Great Tang’s ships. For example… restricting passage.”

Jonathan’s response was firm and resolute. He had done his homework; Great Tang Resort was located in the eastern Pacific, surrounded by the ocean. The nearest transit points were Hawaii and Mexico. Compared to Mexico, Hawaii was closer, had wider ports, and offered shorter travel routes, making it the optimal transit hub for Great Tang Resort.

Take Great Tang No. 2 as an example: traveling from the resort to Hawaii took a day and a half, whereas traveling to Mexico took three days. Considering all factors, Hawaii was crucial to Great Tang Resort.

“Governor Jonathan…” It was now 9:30 PM. As Jonathan finished speaking, a secretary approached him and whispered that it was time for closing remarks.

“Mr. Tang, you might want to reconsider…”

“No need.”

As the secretary left, Jonathan stood up, intending to continue speaking to Tang Huai. However, he was cut off by Tang Huai.

“Has Mr. Tang decided to sign the transit agreement?” Jonathan asked with interest.

“Sorry, but this is an unreasonable demand. For the sake of Hawaii’s freedom and democracy, Great Tang Resort will have to abandon the Hawaii route.” Tang Huai stood up, his decision completely different from what Jonathan had expected.

“That’s a terrible decision.”

Jonathan’s expression darkened. Although the transit fee was somewhat domineering, it was a drop in the ocean compared to Sora Island’s revenue. He had anticipated many outcomes, but he didn’t expect Tang Huai to outright refuse.

“Mr. Tang, you should consult with the higher-ups at Great Tang Resort,” Jonathan suggested.

“The higher-ups will support my decision,” Tang Huai replied dismissively.

With that, the meeting ended on a sour note. Tang Huai was the first to leave. The guards at the door initially blocked his way, but let him through at Jonathan’s signal.

“Governor…” The secretary next to him hesitated, sensing that things were spiraling out of control.

“Don’t worry; Great Tang will come back,” Jonathan assured.

Jonathan lit a cigar. Transportation is a key factor in the tourism industry. If Great Tang Resort gives up the Hawaii route, it would mean forfeiting a much broader market… This would be an unwise decision.

“Let’s go,” Jonathan adjusted his cuffs, then exited the room, surrounded by his bodyguards.

Five minutes later, Jonathan was once again the well-regarded mayor of Hawaii, surrounded by admirers.

The Ace Hotel’s banquet hall was buzzing with activity. Tang Huai didn’t stay long. After making a quick round in the hall, he headed toward the elevator. Given the choice, he preferred relaxing in his room and catching up on the news.

“Hey, what a coincidence!” As Tang Huai waited for the elevator, a surprised and somewhat nervous voice sounded from behind him.

Tang Huai turned around to find two elegantly dressed Chinese women in black evening gowns. Both were stunning and were now looking at him with evident delight.

“Who are you?” Tang Huai thought for a moment but couldn’t recall who they were.

“Ahem, we came over on the Great Tang No. 2,” one of them said, brushing aside a stray lock of hair. The two women were passengers from the VIP cabin. After realizing that Tang Huai was difficult to approach, they had turned their attention to a South American tycoon. The tycoon had been invited to this evening’s banquet and happened to need female companions, which allowed the two women to attend as well.

This was Hawaii’s top-tier banquet, and they were thrilled. They had assumed Tang Huai was just a passing encounter but were surprised to run into him again after a quick restroom break. Judging by his attire, he was also a guest at the banquet.

This was an event where even having money didn’t guarantee entry.

“Mr. Tang, this is a card from the Governor’s Office. Governor Jonathan instructed me to inform you that if you change your mind, you can contact us at any time.” The two women were about to say something when a man in his thirties approached, handing Tang Huai a business card. The women had seen this man during the banquet’s opening remarks; he was the governor’s secretary.

“I understand. See you around,” Tang Huai said calmly, accepting the card. The elevator arrived at that moment, and Tang Huai nodded to the women before stepping inside.

The two women exchanged a bewildered glance. Was that really the governor of Hawaii, and he handled it so calmly?

A son of a high-ranking official? The Zhongnanhai circle? Various speculations swirled in their minds. Watching Tang Huai’s retreating figure, they hesitated, wanting to approach but ultimately deciding not to act.

Tang Huai was clearly at a level beyond their reach.

…

In the following two hours, Tang Huai didn’t spare a thought for what the two women were thinking. Instead, he took a quick shower and then video-called Xie Yunshu.

Tang Huai recounted the collaboration offer from Hawaii. Like Tang Huai, Xie Yunshu did not agree with Hawaii’s decision. Now that negotiations had broken down, Hawaii would certainly have follow-up measures, and Great Tang Resort needed to plan accordingly.

“How are things progressing with Inda?” Tang Huai asked after some thought. With sea routes restricted, they could only focus on air transportation.

“The QA inspections went smoothly, and the second airport at Sora Island has been completed. Inda Airlines has reported that the airline contracts are halfway through the process and are expected to be finalized by the end of the month,” Xie Yunshu replied seriously, opening Inda’s file.

Tang Huai nodded.

The second airport was built a month ago, located south of the Bianjing Ancient City. It was designed for large aircraft and was significantly larger than the first airport. With the aviation infrastructure in place, the remaining task was securing contracts with various airports.

Once those contracts were in place, Great Tang Resort would truly be able to connect to the rest of the world.

It was currently August 20th, leaving ten days until the end of the month. Tang Huai’s expectations weren’t high; he just needed Great Tang’s transportation to hold out for ten more days…

While lost in his thoughts, Tang Huai turned off the lights and went to sleep.

The next morning, he checked out of his hotel, bid farewell to Hank, and headed directly to Honolulu Port. Great Tang No. 2 had already departed, but because of staggered schedules, Great Tang No. 1 was now docked gracefully at Port No. 3.

There were quite a few tourists standing on Deck 1. Unlike the usual laid-back atmosphere, the ship’s entrance was now crowded, layered with people all around. A few crew members gestured, seemingly explaining something.

“Sorry, this is a new Hawaiian policy: all ships coming from Great Tang Resort are prohibited from docking.”

“That’s unreasonable! It violates the spirit of fairness! Fine, if we go to Mexico instead, can we dock there?”

“Please don’t make things difficult for us.”

As Tang Huai approached, he saw three Hawaiian police officers in black uniforms standing at the entrance. The lead officer held a document from the Hawaiian Police Department, while Alang stood nearby, frowning and arguing with them.

“This is a new Hawaiian regulation. Please don’t make things difficult for us,” Alang said, his expression irritated. The Hawaiian police officer raised a pair of handcuffs, adopting an official, businesslike attitude.

The tension in the air was palpable.

“I’m sorry…”

“Set sail,” Tang Huai interrupted, calmly instructing Alang.

“Understood,” Alang was surprised by Tang Huai’s arrival but complied. He raised his hand, and the crew began coordinating with travel agency guides.

Great Tang No. 1 was originally scheduled to depart at 3 PM, but now they had to leave five hours earlier, requiring a complete rearrangement. Fortunately, there were no flights from China to Hawaii today; otherwise, the situation would have been much harder to manage.

The tourists were somewhat confused by the sudden change but, given the offer of free passage on Great Tang, they had no complaints. An hour later, the coordination was complete, and Great Tang No. 1 set sail.

Under the watchful eyes of the Hawaiian police, Great Tang No. 1 slowly left the port.

The August sea breeze carried a hint of saltiness. Tang Huai stood on the deck, contemplating the events of the past two days. He understood that this was Jonathan’s way of pressuring Great Tang Resort. To continue docking, they would have to accept Hawaii’s official terms, which were humiliating.

Today’s incident could be reported to the United Nations, but the process would be slow. As an overseas island with little political clout, Great Tang might not see a favorable outcome. They could also seek help from the Chinese Embassy, but since Sora Island wasn’t a part of China, the embassy would find it hard to intervene.

In short, Great Tang Resort would have to swallow this bitter pill.

“This is truly frustrating,” Tang Huai muttered to himself as he gazed at the horizon. Although he had left decisively, he didn’t feel as calm inside as he appeared. Hawaii’s actions were unconventional, but for now, Great Tang had no choice but to endure.

At this moment, Tang Huai felt a strong urge to develop Great Tang Resort further. In addition to tourism, they needed to focus on building their military and global status.

“What do we do next?” Alang walked over to Tang Huai and handed him a can of beer. He had become much more composed compared to the previous year.

“Let’s use the Great Tang–Mexico route for now. The air transport service will be operational by the end of the month,” Tang Huai replied, opening the beer. For now, they had no choice but to give up on the Hawaii route. However, the incident had put him on alert.

Great Tang was like a coveted treasure without a powerful backer. Today it was Hawaii; tomorrow, it could be other places. Great Tang needed to rely on its own strength to secure its international status, a process that was bound to be difficult. At this moment, Tang Huai finally understood the hardships China had faced in its international development.

“I’m planning to explore the Indian Ocean,” Alang suddenly said as Tang Huai was lost in thought.

“The Indian Ocean?” Tang Huai was surprised. Ever since the captain system was upgraded, Alang’s activities were no longer limited to the Pacific Ocean but extended worldwide.

“Not necessarily the Indian Ocean. It could also be the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, or Solari,” Alang said, sharing his thoughts. With Great Tang No. 2 now in operation, Great Tang No. 1 was starting to feel underutilized. With the restrictions on the Hawaii route, Great Tang No. 1’s activities would become even more limited. For example, at full speed, Great Tang No. 2 could travel to and from Mexico in three days, while Great Tang No. 1 would take five days, significantly reducing efficiency.

“When do you plan to set off?” Tang Huai hesitated before asking. Alang’s loyalty wasn’t high, but he had been diligently serving Great Tang for a year, and Tang Huai didn’t want to restrict his freedom.

“Early September,” Alang replied, somewhat surprised by Tang Huai’s straightforwardness.

“Don’t worry; I’ll bring Great Tang No. 1 back safely,” he added.

Tang Huai patted Alang on the shoulder. The Persian Gulf area was far from peaceful. While Tang Huai was concerned, their relationship was purely business, so he refrained from saying anything further.

The two clinked their beer cans and looked out to sea.

With Sora’s navigation safeguards in place, Great Tang No. 1 sailed smoothly.

Three days later, Great Tang No. 1 entered the waters of Sora Island.

“Wow, it’s really just like in the videos! I can’t wait!”

“Where’s Sky Forest? I need a selfie with Queen Kelly.”

“I want to buy Ghost Town glasses. They’re not restricted here, right?”

Great Tang No. 1 dropped anchor, and the tourists on the deck excitedly took pictures. Like countless visitors before them, they were filled with anticipation for the upcoming trip.

There were tourists from China, Japan, North America, India… people from all over the world. Since Great Tang Resort went viral, Sora Island had truly become an international destination.

Tang Huai stepped off the ship, taking in the sight of the excited tourists and the distant scenery. All his worries vanished.

He recalled what Sora Island looked like last year: a barren, desolate place. Now, the difficult times were over, and Great Tang had no reason to back down.

With that, Tang Huai quickly adjusted his mindset, ready for the challenges ahead.

Signing contracts with global airports, supervising the dungeon construction, and planning new air routes with Xie Yunshu… the next week was packed for Tang Huai.

…

By the end of August, Tang Huai had finalized agreements with various airports.

Great Tang Airlines was officially established, and a contract with Inda was signed. Nineteen planes were dispatched to airports around the world. The revenue-sharing model between Great Tang and the airports was set at 80-20, with Great Tang taking 80%. The 20% for the airports included fees for airport use, maintenance, ticketing, and other expenses. With Inda Airlines leading the negotiations, all fees were kept within reasonable limits.

In addition to Inda’s nineteen planes, Tang Huai also ordered twenty more standard models to accommodate direct flights for tourists from all over the world.

Great Tang Airlines was set to begin operations on September 1st. During this time, aside from finalizing airport agreements, the Hawaiian government issued the “Hawaii Tourism Economic Ordinance.” This ordinance explicitly stated that, to protect tourism, ships heading to Great Tang Resort would be temporarily banned. Great Tang Resort’s transportation was effectively restricted.

Tourists were outraged. While those who had already visited Great Tang Resort weren’t as affected, those who hadn’t were dismayed. Traveling via Mexico meant wasting six days, which was far from ideal.

Some tourists questioned the rationale behind the Hawaiian government’s decision, but the government remained unmoved. The day after the “Hawaii Ordinance” was announced, Great Tang Resort’s official website issued a notice stating that visitors traveling from Mexico would have their onboard accommodation fees waived. With this announcement, it became clear that Great Tang and Hawaii were indeed in a standoff.

In addition to the fee waiver announcement, Great Tang also announced the opening of Sora Airlines, which helped mitigate the impact of the Hawaiian ordinance.

“Manager Tang, there’s a call from Japan’s Aoi Corporation,” Tang Huai’s secretary reported on September 1st as he was inspecting preparations for the maiden flight at the airport.

“Aoi Corporation?” Tang Huai was surprised. Aoi Corporation was a renowned manga production company in Japan. Half a year ago, after Luo Liang completed the illustrations for Karoshu, he hoped to secure the [Stroke of the brush] copyright. However, due to Aoi Corporation’s high standing in the anime industry and Great Tang’s relative obscurity at the time, Aoi Corporation politely declined Luo Liang’s request.

Now, six months later, Aoi Corporation was reaching out to Great Tang?

“Got it,” Tang Huai nodded.

After completing his rounds at Sora Airport and ensuring everything was in order, he headed to the Sora office building.

“Ring, ring—”

Just as Tang Huai sat down, the office phone rang again.

It was a call from Aoi Corporation.

“Put it through,” Tang Huai signaled his secretary after some thought.

“Hello, Manager Tang. I’m Tomohisa Fujiwara, the animation director at Aoi Corporation.” As soon as the call connected, a steady male voice came from the other end.

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