Chapter 526

"Awake?"

A person walked in, not very tall, wearing glasses.

"Are you Guan Zu's man?!!"

Merlin knew that except for Guan Zu, no one would deal with him so ruthlessly.

"Guan Zu?"

Gao Gang: "Nonono... remember the ruthless bandit alliance?"

Merlin: "Ah? You are the ruthless bandit alliance?"

Gao Gang: "That's just what the police call us. Actually, our real name is—the Ruthless Bandit Team! However, the first-generation team has already been wiped out by the police. Now we are the second-generation team, inheriting the network of the first generation!"

Merlin: "…………"

Blowing!

You're just blowing!

Merlin wasn't some fool. Being able to stand out among the many families in Swire and serve as the Taipan of Swire Group in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, he couldn't be a fool.

However, he calmed down now and felt he had to find an opportunity to save himself.

Analyze it:

First, Guan Zu wanted to disguise himself as the ruthless bandit alliance, obviously knowing that this matter was too big and not daring to expose himself. Then he must act according to the principles of the ruthless bandit alliance.

The principle of the ruthless bandit alliance: credibility, give money and release people!

As long as the money is paid, he can leave.

As long as he leaves, Guan Zu is dead.

"So it was you guys..." Merlin pretended to breathe a sigh of relief, "Tell me, you're all seeking wealth, how much money do you want?"

Gao Gang: "Old rules, 1 billion USD!"

Merlin was straightforward: "Good, I want to make a phone call!"

Gao Gang shook his head: "No phone calls, take a photo, then record, and read according to the script I give you."

He was afraid that these family members would play some code and leak the news.

Merlin: "…………"

He was silenced directly!

You guys are really proficient!

Soon,

Took a photo of Merlin, then read according to the script, and recorded.

After finishing,

Gao Gang: "Hungry?"

Merlin: "Hungry... is there anything to eat?"

Gao Gang: "Last time we locked up the second young master Li, we ordered abalone for him... There's no abalone here, only raw ones... Come, eat..."

Then he really took out a raw abalone for Merlin.

Merlin: "…………"

Gao Gang: "Eat, why aren't you eating~~~"

Merlin: "I don't eat raw..."

"Don't eat?"

Gao Gang, who was just smiling, suddenly turned cold.

Bang~~~~

Gao Gang kicked the dog cage hard, the whole cage flipped with a bang, Merlin rolled in the cage, hit his head until he was dizzy, and also fell head over heels, squeezed into the iron cage upside down.

"Are you trying to starve yourself to death and not let me get that 1 billion USD?"

"Damn it!!"

Gao Gang cursed.

How honest Gao Gang used to be, being fooled around by a green tea, now he's been polluted and corrupted by Brother Zu.

Merlin: "…………"

Gao Gang: "Hurry up and eat for me!"

Merlin was afraid of being beaten again, so he hurriedly turned his body, picked up the abalone on the ground, smashed it open in a mess, and started eating.

……

A new day, the sun shone on the streets and alleys of Hong Kong.

All of Hong Kong woke up from its sleep, citizens got up from bed as usual, walked into the kitchen, or walked out of the house, starting another busy day of life.

Swire Group was still "safe and sound", as if Merlin hadn't been kidnapped at all.

On the TV screen, ATV and TVB news reporters were reporting seriously about the fierce shootout on Wong Nai Chung Road last night, but they all said that the police had not yet released the latest news.

However, there were still well-informed newspapers that had already obtained the news from some rebellious employees of Swire Group, knowing that it was Swire Group Taipan Merlin who had been kidnapped.

So, in this morning's newspapers, seven or eight newspapers reported this news:

"Ruthless Bandit Alliance reappears with a shocking kidnapping after half a year!"

"Shocking! Swire Group's boss kidnapped by ruthless bandits?"

Many citizens were shocked one after another.

What?

Again?

This... wouldn't that mean we can eat melon again?

The media world was even more boiling, with a large number of reporters like sharks smelling blood, swarming toward Swire Group.

Without big events, newspaper sales would drop.

For a time, the downstairs of Swire Building was surrounded by water, reporters carrying cameras and holding recording pens, waiting eagerly at the door, hoping to dig up first-hand news.

Just then, a black luxury Mercedes slowly drove to the entrance of Swire Building.

After the car stopped steadily, the car door opened, and Swire Group director Peng Lizhi walked out of the car.

The sharp-eyed reporter hurriedly grabbed the first position.

Other reporters were not to be outdone, and a large group of reporters swarmed over like a tide, surrounding Peng Lizhi.

Reporters stretched their microphones forward one after another, wishing they could poke them directly into Peng Lizhi's mouth.

One of the reporters asked at the top of his lungs: "Mr. Peng, may I ask if it's true that your Taipan, Mr. Merlin, has been kidnapped?"

Peng Lizhi had been prepared for this.

His face sank, and he scolded loudly: "You media must have professional ethics, you can't make fake news at will! Where is there any kidnapping? Hong Kong's public security is so good, where did these kidnappers come from?"

He was full of confidence, his voice loud.

The reporters were confused by his posture, looking at each other, and couldn't help but mutter in their hearts:

Could the news in the newspaper be fake?

The reporter pursued: "Then where is Mr. Merlin now? If he hasn't been kidnapped, where has he gone?"

Peng Lizhi: "Mr. Merlin has naturally gone to Southeast Asia to discuss business. This is a trip that was planned long ago, so he is not in Hong Kong right now."

Many reporters were skeptical, each full of disappointment.

Originally thought they could dig up a shocking big news, now it seems it's going to fall through.

Peng Lizhi muttered in his heart: You guys really aren't happy unless something bad happens.

Look at ATV, under Brother Zu's management, how much professional ethics they have!

Bowed toward the east (Causeway Bay) in his heart.

Peng Lizhi waved his hand impatiently: "Hurry up and leave, don't block the way here."

After speaking, he walked into the building with his head held high.

Elevator,

Arriving at the office.

Not long after, the secretary brought an envelope: "Mr. Henry, an envelope appeared in my car this morning, saying it was for you."

He touched it, feeling it was a cassette tape.

Peng Lizhi's expression paused.

It's here!

He returned to his desk, tore open the envelope, and pulled out...

A photo, a cassette tape.

The loyal Peng Lizhi had a serious face: "Immediately summon the few senior executives from yesterday, come over for a meeting, be fast! Also, get a tape recorder."

The secretary also realized the seriousness of the problem.

10 minutes later,

In a small conference room.

"Everyone!"

Peng Lizhi was full of seriousness and heartache.

"Just now, we received news from the kidnappers."

"An envelope, inside is a photo."

The photos were passed around one by one. In the photo, Merlin was locked in a dog cage, curled up.

His hair was messy, his face full of exhaustion and pain, his clothes soaked with water, looking embarrassed.

Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help but gasp.

"Also, there is a recording, I haven't listened to it."

"Now, let's listen to it together!!"

Peng Lizhi pressed the play button, and a recording played in the conference room.

Merlin's weak voice came through: "Everyone, I am Merlin, I have been kidnapped. The kidnappers are demanding 1 billion USD, the payment time is September 25th at 9:00, if they don't get the money, they will kill me..."

Everyone in the conference room had psychological preparation, so they weren't too surprised.

The recording ended.

Peng Lizhi was serious:

"Now it's 9:30 AM, there are only 23 and a half hours left until the payment time..."

!

Looking at the CFO, he asked: "How much of the 1 billion USD prepared yesterday has been prepared now?"

The CFO was serious: "Only 500 million USD has been prepared, the follow-up still needs to be raised... it's just... should we wait for people from Swire headquarters to come before making a decision?"

Peng Lizhi's eyes instantly became sharp, and he stared at the CFO, questioning: "What? Don't you want to save Mr. Merlin? If we wait for people from the UK to come, and something goes wrong, Mr. Merlin might not be able to come back!"

"We all work under Taipan Merlin, and we have all received his kindness. Now do you want to be ungrateful?"

"Also, what if we don't pay, and the ruthless bandits kill Mr. Merlin and then announce it? What about Swire Group's face by then? And the stock market, have you thought about it?"

This analysis,

Other senior executives also nodded in agreement.

The CFO said solemnly: "I'll do it as soon as possible!"

A few hours later,

Peng Lizhi received many calls from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

The news had reached those partners.

Swire Group has extensive business in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, involving shipping, real estate, trade, and many other fields.

Merlin's disappearance would trigger panic among partners, break the business chain, and if handled improperly, the reputation and market share accumulated by the group in Asia for many years would face a serious threat.

However...

What does this have to do with me, Peng Lizhi?

I have already turned over a new leaf!

Hehehe~~~

……

At the same time,

Under the cover of night, London's airport was brightly lit.

A private plane belonging to Swire Group, with the iconic blue and white livery, slowly slid toward the runway, then broke through the night sky and flew toward distant Hong Kong.

Inside the plane, it was luxurious and comfortable.

In the spacious cabin, Edward, in his fifties, sat on a soft leather sofa.

And beside him were his two secretaries, a man and a woman, and a strong, tall bodyguard.

After the plane reached high altitude and flew steadily, the blonde, blue-eyed, beautiful private flight attendant, wearing a sexy tight skirt, poured a bottle of red wine into a crystal glass.

Edward Swire directly ignored the flight attendant's little movements.

Edward, in his fifties, as an influential member of the Swire family, was tall, and his silver hair was combed neatly, his aristocratic temperament fully displayed in every move.

His heart was full of haze.

After learning the news of Merlin's kidnapping, the Swire family quickly held an emergency meeting. After intense discussion, it was finally decided that Edward would personally go to Hong Kong to coordinate resources from all sides and deal with this sudden crisis.

Merlin, as the core figure of Swire Group in Hong Kong, being kidnapped had plunged Swire Group into a huge predicament.

Edward held a document tightly in his hand, which was sent from Hong Kong, recording in detail the information currently mastered about Merlin's kidnapping, as well as the current crisis situation faced by Swire Group, including Swire Group's stock price falling, public opinion storms, shopping mall foot traffic being halved... and so on.

Frowning into a "chuan" shape.

Finally, his gaze looked at "Five-Star Group".

The report didn't say that Five-Star Group was the one who attacked Merlin, but the Swire family all felt that it was Five-Star Group's doing.

"Hans, where is our mercenary Poison Scorpion squad now?"

"Back to boss, Poison Scorpion squad is now in South Africa, transferring to India in two days..."

"Let them speed up and get to Hong Kong as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

"Also, how is the arms transport now?"

"Back to boss, not clear, this matter has always been personally responsible by Mr. Merlin, maybe we need Mr. Merlin to come back, or after we go, the person in charge comes to report personally, then we will know."

"Good."

……

……

Noon, 12 o'clock,

Guan Zu took Xu Zhengyang to eat Teochew fish ball noodles.

"Brother Zu!"

"Brother Zu!" *n

The boss, and one neighbor after another, greeted him one after another.

Guan Zu: "I want a large portion of three-color meatball noodles..."

Xu Zhengyang: "Give me a large portion of five-color meatball noodles..."

Soon,

It was served.

Slurp~~~~

Slurping noodles.

Guan Zu looked at the wall, the TV wasn't on.

"Boss, the TV isn't on?"

"Brother Zu, it's broken, I'll send it to be repaired tonight..."

"Hurry up and fix it, lunch without TV doesn't taste right..."

It's like grabbing Xiaomi's flagship car, without Boss Lei opening the car door, it always feels wrong.

And what Guan Zu didn't know was,

At this time, in other restaurants,

The TV hanging on the wall started playing the news.

"Now reporting a major news..."

"This morning, the police and customs launched a joint operation and seized 10 tons of explosives on a cargo ship. According to the police, this case was the result of two years of investigation by an undercover agent sent by the police."

"Arms experts confirmed that the seized arms are ammonium perchlorate inferior oxidizers, usually used as rocket fuel or military strategic materials, with great lethality, and are usually transported cautiously by customs..."

(Picture: "Gen-X Cops")

"The following is the wanted notice just released by the police..."

"Criminal suspect: nicknamed Dinosaur, real name Lin Weilong, Lin Weilong, triad member, and assisted an international arms smuggling group, using Hong Kong as a transit port to transport the seized raw materials to third-world countries to earn huge illegal..." ("Gen-X Cops" - Francis Ng)

……

With the broadcast of the noon news, the attention of a large number of citizens suddenly shifted from 'Merlin kidnapped' to the news of the 10 tons of explosives.

……

Guan Zu finished lunch, returned home for a nap, and then heard Ruan Mei talk about the 10 tons of explosives.

"What?"

"10 tons?"

Guan Zu was stunned for a moment.

The thought of playing games was gone.

Guan Zu's first reaction was:

"Could it be sent by Swire Group to blow me up?"

With so many bombs, even if Guan Zu is invincible, he would die.

(End of chapter)