Chapter 631: Five-Minute Life-or-Death Situation

This time Xu Jijun really played the word "confidence" to the fullest, damn it, he hasn't even boarded Elegant Maiden No. 1 yet, yet he dares to reveal his hijacking plan.

He even clarified exactly what weapons he brought.

"Damn, he really lives up to being my classmate Lin Dongfan—he simply doesn't put the Haishan Police in his eyes." Lin Dongfan just showed a hint of a playful smile.

Comrade Chen Shaokang beside him.

Suddenly Chen Shaokang blurted out: "Director Lin, I feel he's not disregarding the police; he's disregarding you. This is clearly a provocation, a declaration of war against you."

"If you don't speak, no one will treat you as a mute."

For such a clueless comrade, Lin Dongfan could only give him a small white-eye, letting him figure out why he's being looked down on.

Time is life; Xu Jijun will board the ship in five minutes.

Lin Dongfan has no time to waste talking here.

The dilemma facing everyone now is this: if we leak word to those on the ship, Chen Xiaoyu will be in mortal danger; if we don't, Elegant Maiden No. 1 may be taken over, and the situation will spiral completely out of control.

Xu Jijun is not only gambling with his life, but also dragging Lin Dongfan's troops!

Chen Shaokang suddenly asked again: "Director Lin, should we immediately notify the marine police to intercept the ferry? Or urgently contact Captain Chen Xiaoyu and have her..."

"No!"

Lin Dongfan firmly rejected Chen Shaokang's suggestion.

Xiaoyu is only nineteen, a lovely beauty like a flower and jade; in this brand-new era, how could we let her fall into the curse that "beauty brings a short life"?

Lin Dongfan said: "That guy Xu Jijun always says what he means and follows through. If we tip off those on the ship, Xiaoyu will surely die!"

At this moment, Grandpa Fan had forced himself to stay calm.

He stared intently at Chen Shaokang.

He decisively made a series of decisions:

"First, immediately notify the marine police and maritime affairs department, under the guise of a 'maritime safety drill', secretly seal off the sea area from the old dock to Elegant Maiden No. 1's anchorage, strictly forbidding any vessels from entering or leaving!

The action must be swift and covert, absolutely cannot alert the enemy.

"Second, mobilize the SWAT detachment's marine assault team, to standby on speedboats outside the blockade. Without my or superiors' orders, no one may approach Elegant Maiden No. 1 without authorization!

"Third, inform the police's technical department to fully track Xu Jijun's phone signal and pinpoint his exact location after boarding!

"Fourth..."

Having said that, Lin Dongfan glanced at the nearly collapsing Han Jinling.

He then issued another order: "Assign a female officer with counter-terrorism experience to specifically look after Han Jinling, and come with me to the old dock to persuade surrender."

"Understood!"

Chen Shaokang turned and left the interrogation room, his footsteps echoing urgently in the empty hallway.

Lin Dongfan then dialed the Municipal Party Committee Secretary Yu Huacheng's dedicated line: "Secretary Yu, the situation is urgent! Xu Jijun is forcibly boarding Elegant Maiden No. 1, intending to seize the ship and hostages..."

He briefly reported the current situation.

On the other end of the line.

Secretary Yu Huacheng's response was steady and strong: "Dongfan, I understand; the city will fully support your on-site decisions. Safety first, especially the hostages' safety—I will immediately coordinate the relevant units."

"Thank you, Secretary Yu!"

Lin Dongfan hung up, glanced at the clock on the wall—two minutes had already passed since Xu Jijun's five-minute deadline.

He picked up his phone again, but this time he hesitated, his thumb hovering over Chen Xiaoyu's number, and ultimately he didn't press it.

Xu Jijun isn't a madman, but when he goes berserk he's even more terrifying than a lunatic.

That guy is a paranoid, psychologically flawed, unable to accept failure. Back in college he joined amateur car racing; to win, he didn't shy away from the risk of overturning and killing people, pushing his car to extreme speed in corners. Later he succeeded, and after his success he sang the song "Love Struggle Leads to Victory".

If he finds out about the leak, he will truly not hesitate to kill Chen Xiaoyu.

We cannot gamble with Xiaoyu's life.

All we can do now is trust in Xiaoyu's adaptability, hoping she senses the danger and endures these deadly five minutes.

Lin Dongfan rushed out of the interrogation room, heading straight for the command center.

On the big screen, the electronic nautical chart had already marked the anchorage of Elegant Maiden No. 1 and the position of the old dock, with a red blockade zone quietly forming.

Confirmations came over the radio from all units, the atmosphere tense as a drawn bowstring.

Time ticked by second by second.

Each second felt as long as a century.

Lin Dongfan stared fixedly at the screen, as if he could pierce the distant night sky to see that ocean-going fishing boat, like an isolated island on the shimmering sea, and the ferry madly rushing toward it.

He could imagine Xu Jijun's expression now—that reckless, all-or-nothing madness and the final arrogance of being "Mr. G".

This high-stakes gamble rides on the fates of too many people.

Technical staff urgently reported: "Director Lin, the ferry Xu Jijun is on is rapidly approaching Elegant Maiden No. 1!"

"Keep monitoring Xu Jijun's exact location." Lin Dongfan's heart leapt to his throat; he dared not be the slightest bit careless.

In the command center, not a sound could be heard; everyone held their breath.

Life or death, success or failure, hangs in the next few minutes. All we can do is wait and prepare for the worst outcome.

On the big screen.

The red dot representing the ferry, like a soul‑reaping specter, inched closer to the static icon representing Elegant Maiden No. 1.

A moment later.

Technical staff reported again: "Director Lin, the ferry has come alongside, and Xu Jijun is climbing the gangway of Elegant Maiden No. 1!"

Everyone's hearts tightened in unison.

Lin Dongfan stared fixedly at the big screen, wanting to call Chen Xiaoyu to tip her off but daring not to. He could only silently pray, hoping she would sense the danger and react nimbly.

On the sea, Elegant Maiden No. 1.

The wheelhouse door was ajar, and Chen Xiaoyu was intently checking the night voyage log.

Don't just look at her being only a nineteen‑year‑old girl; in the dim light her profile also appears somewhat frail, yet she truly possesses a composure that does not match her age.

Sea wind seeped in through the porthole gap, bringing a salty dampness and also a hint of an unusual sound.

Chen Xiaoyu suddenly lifted her head, her delicate brows knitting instantly.

"Not right!"

"This doesn't seem like normal sea‑wave rocking."

In her murmuring, Chen Xiaoyu put down the night voyage diary in her hand, picked up a marine‑specific strong‑beam flashlight with her left hand, and took a self‑defense high‑voltage stun gun with her right.

As early as last year, Lin Dongfan had already warned her: "There are many more men than women on the ship, and you're so gorgeous—you need to learn to protect yourself."

Brother Fan's advice, she kept it in mind at all times, carrying an anti‑wolf device on her person.

She walked toward the sound, flashing the flashlight left and right: "Who? Who's messing with me in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Come out! I'm counting to three: one! two! …"

"It's me."

A middle‑aged man stepped out of the darkness.

Chen Xiaoyu shone the flashlight and saw it was her paternal uncle Chen Dingchao, whereupon she relaxed: "Uncle, what are you doing in the bridge at this hour instead of sleeping?"

"That old classmate of Lin Dongfan's, the Xu Jijun who came by last time." Chen Dingchao said: "He sent me a message today saying he wants to stay overnight on the ship to look at the stars at sea. I was too busy earlier and forgot to tell you. He's already aboard, so I'm letting you know."