Chapter 639: Ordinary Master Boards the Ship to Exchange Hostages

You want extra money?

Lin Dongfan's eyebrows twitched, he almost couldn't hold back his laughter; he never thought Huang Duoduo, this idiot, would also know how to exploit the situation. Looking at him, he's finally seen the light.

"Fine, speak up—how much extra do you want?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Huang Duoduo, fingers cuffed, counted seriously: "Director Lin, betraying the boss—this kind of despicable act warrants compensation for mental anguish. G Xiansheng used to treat me to fine food and drink; now he wants me to stab him in the back, my conscience won't allow it—I need an extra million. Besides, this besides..."

"Stop beating around the bush, be brave, speak."

"You just said G Xiansheng had taken over twenty people hostage. So, if I now board the ship and stab G Xiansheng in the back, it's not only helping you capture him, but also helping you rescue the hostages—two matters. The six million you mentioned earlier is the reward for capturing him. The money for rescuing the hostages needs to be calculated separately."

"How much do you want?"

"Considering you gave me a chance to redeem myself through merit and even swore an oath to heaven, I won't ask for an exorbitant amount—let's calculate per head: one million per person rescued."

Saying this, Huang Duoduo held up one finger.

At that rate, twenty-four people come to twenty-four million, plus the earlier six million, making a total demand of thirty million.

Lin Dongfan couldn't help but frown: "Although I have several billion in net worth, I'm not short of thirty million. But you're hiking the price like this—very unfair."

"Director Lin, to be frank, asking thirty million isn't much." Huang Duoduo said earnestly: "Let me tell you, G Xiansheng used to charge at least fifty million per deal to help others flee the country, and for wealthy corrupt officials he'd even demand hundreds of millions. All are lives—do the lives of those on the ship count less than those of corrupt officials? I don't think so. Life is precious; I believe their lives are worth this price."

"If you put it that way, it does make some sense, showing equal regard for life."

"Then shall we make a deal?"

"Deal."

"Thank you, Director Lin, for giving me this chance to redeem myself and get rich. Rest assured, I'm also an ambitious person. When I get out of prison, if you give me thirty million, I'll at least donate half to charity."

"With that awareness, this chance to redeem yourself belongs to no one else—come with me."

After the agreement was reached, Lin Dongfan brought Huang Duoduo back to the waterfront.

After briefly consulting Yu Huacheng of the Municipal Party Committee and Liu Minghui of the City Bureau about the defection plan, Lin Dongfan had someone bring a bulletproof vest for Huang Duoduo to wear, just in case.

11:17 p. m.

Lin Dongfan personally escorted Huang Duoduo and Wu Changsheng aboard the ferry to Elegant Maiden No. 1. The large ship was brightly lit; the closer they got, the clearer it became.

On the top deck.

Xu Jijun held a night-vision telescope, cautiously observing the surrounding sea environment.

After confirming that all coast guard vessels had retreated to over five hundred meters away, Xu Jijun turned his gaze to the ferry slowly approaching the gangway, observing the people on board.

Only four people were on the boat—Lin Dongfan, Wu Changsheng, Huang Duoduo, and a helmsman.

Xu Jijun shouted to Lin Dongfan: "Fan, same old rule—you personally escort them up. The armed police posing as the ship's helmsman is not allowed to come up."

Understood.

Lin Dongfan raised his hand and returned an OK sign.

As the ferry neared the gangway, without waiting for Lin Dongfan's order, Wu Changsheng rushed onto it, as if any delay would be a disrespect to 'freedom and life'.

Lin Dongfan ignored him, wondering how to get down now and how to get back up later.

Lin Dongfan solemnly patted Huang Duoduo's shoulder and whispered: "You've never seen G Xiansheng without his mask, have you? The one shouting above is him—keep your eyes on him."

"His voice sounds a bit off—G Xiansheng's voice is deeper, with a middle-aged man's timbre." Huang Duoduo looked up at Xu Jijun on the deck, again becoming confused.

Lin Dongfan whispered: "Just treat him as a voice-acting expert, a top-tier god, the kind of badass—go on."

Oh.

With Lin Dongfan's support, Huang Duoduo stepped onto the gangway.

The view on the upper deck was much the same as when Lin Dongfan first boarded. The twenty-three crew members trussed up like grasshoppers remained in a line. Meanwhile, Chen Xiaoyu, with a time bomb strapped to his chest, remained handcuffed to the ship's rail, the cuffs positioned a bit high, preventing him from squatting—he could only stand.

Xu Jijun put away the night-vision telescope; now he held a gun.

He directly aimed his gun at Lin Dongfan: "Unlock their handcuffs."

"First remove the bomb on Chen Xiaoyu." Lin Dongfan, still holding Huang Duoduo, did not let go.

Wu Changsheng, who had boarded first, now approached Lin Dongfan in handcuffs, extending his cuffed hands with a light laugh: "Director Lin, can't tell the big from the small joker, huh? You don't have a feel for who controls the ship now? Stop haggling, be sensible, and quickly unlock my cuffs..."

Damn!

Lin Dongfan kicked out suddenly, hitting Wu Changsheng in the abdomen.

The street-fighter's punch is hard, his kick strong—one kick sent Wu Changsheng sprawling on the deck, gritting his teeth in pain.

Lin Dongfan! Do you believe I'd kill every hostage on this ship? Damn your mother, Gobi Desert...

Wu Changsheng clutched his stomach and pushed himself up; half his anger spent, he was silenced by Xu Jijun's cold glare, not daring to utter another sound.

Xu Jijun looked back at Lin Dongfan.

He furrowed his brow.

In a gentle tone he told Lin Dongfan: "As for the other twenty-three crew members, you may take them ashore, but Chen Xiaoyu cannot come. I need a captain. Rest assured, once I safely leave territorial waters, I will send her back to my country my way. I guarantee I won't harm a single hair of hers."

"You've gone back on your word, brother—we agreed to exchange hostages, yet you're not keeping faith." Lin Dongfan said glumly.

Xu Jijun frankly said: "I need to keep a hostage to ensure I can safely sail out of territorial waters. You have no choice—quickly unlock their cuffs."

"Besides the time bomb on Chen Xiaoyu, have you planted any other bombs hidden elsewhere on the ship?" Lin Dongfan asked probing.

Xu Jijun pointed his gun at Lin Dongfan: "You know I won't answer that—why waste words? Unlock their cuffs and take those crew members below!"

You disappoint me greatly.

Lin Dongfan shook his head helplessly.

He produced the universal handcuff key of the same model, first unlocking Huang Duoduo's cuffs, then handed the key to Huang Duoduo so he could free Wu Changsheng.

The twenty-three crew members, previously crouched like grasshoppers, now stood up.

As Lin Dongfan stepped forward to loosen the ropes behind them, Xu Jijun kept his gun aimed, guarding against the crew breaking free and launching a counterattack.

He also gave Huang Duoduo an order: "Duoduo, go pick up that sniper rifle and escort them down the ship."

Okay.

After Huang Duoduo freed Wu Changsheng's cuffs, he deliberately kept a spare, slipping the handcuffs into his own pants pocket for future need.

This sniper rifle thing—he was touching it for the first time, and when he lifted it, it felt much heavier than he imagined.

In order to prove he wasn't a useless person who had never handled a gun.

Huang Duoduo imitates the imposing posture of the riot police on the dock, holding the gun and warning Lin Dongfan and the others: "Behave, be honest, line up to disembark! Don't force me to shoot."