CHAPTER 87: CHAPTER 87: RAMPANT PIRATES!

(Thanks to Star YI200 for the reward of starting currency, greatly appreciated~~)

The decline of Samsung Heavy Industries is actually just a microcosm of the current situation of the world’s shipbuilding companies.

In fact, ever since high-speed transport ships emerged, the global shipbuilding industry has been forced to undergo a monumental transformation!

The major shipyards are well aware that if they do not develop the latest propulsion technology at the fastest speed to keep up with Jade Island, they will gradually be eliminated by the times and become cannon fodder in the industry’s transformation!

This is a matter of life and death!

So, all of a sudden, all shipyards worldwide initiated their own R&D plans, with their goal directed straight towards Jade Island’s high-speed propellers!

Of course, they also know that to develop such epoch-making technological products, simply working behind closed doors is obviously not feasible. The quickest method is to find some clues from those fast ships that Jade Island displayed in Leicestershire to conduct targeted in-depth research.

Therefore, engineers from various shipyards all gathered together to discuss Jade Island’s high-speed transport ships through ship images in videos or photos, hoping to extract some useful intel from these clues to aid their propeller research.

While these shipyards were secretly exerting their efforts, Jade Island was taking big strides forward, gaining worldwide attention with its extremely high work efficiency!

...

Since the official announcement from Jade Island that Jiang Shipping has officially commenced operations, Jiang Shipping has been favored by major global ports and logistics companies, frequently receiving cooperation invitations.

For them, the high-speed maritime transport service is bound to become the mainstream choice in the future transportation industry, so all major logistics companies and ports are willing to try this rapid transit service.

Against this backdrop, Jiang Shipping quickly took over a batch of international transport projects, involving logistics transportation of natural gas, petroleum, containers, etc.

Moreover, as the number of transport ships continues to expand, the business field and service scope of Jiang Shipping are also gradually expanding, with a tendency to swallow up the entire Asian market at once.

Such astonishing transport capacity left the whole world dumbfounded, deeply shocked by the terrifying expansion power of Jiang Shipping.

Of course, this move by Jiang Shipping inevitably provoked resentment from counterparts in the Asian industry.

Especially in the shipping industry, where business giants who have been operating for a long time, like Samsung Shipping, Kawasaki Shipping, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, harbor deep hatred towards Jiang Shipping.

These three shipping companies have always been the largest shipping giants in Asia.

However, with Jiang Shipping, this disruptor, coming in, it completely stripped these three giants of their competitiveness, not only plunging order volumes to the bottom but even facing the crisis of being squeezed to the fringes of the industry by Jiang Shipping.

Yet, Jiang Shipping does not care at all about this, under Jiang Cheng’s instructions, accelerating the pace of annexation of Asian business, seemingly not intending to leave a way out for counterparts!

Perhaps being driven too hard by Jiang Cheng, the three Asian shipping giants like Samsung Shipping could no longer bear it and started a series of actions, both overt and covert, against Jiang Shipping!

...

Baisha Bay.

A gentle breeze was blowing, refreshing the mind.

Compared to a few months ago, Baisha Bay has undergone earth-shaking changes now!

Initially, this stretch of white sandy beach with white sand everywhere only had a solitary villa.

But now, many leisure and entertainment facilities have been added here for people’s entertainment and relaxation.

By the seaside, in a hot spring with a sea view, Jiang Cheng was lying back, with his upper body bare, relaxing with his eyes closed in the hot spring.

At this moment, the sound of hurried footsteps came from behind.

"Island Master, there is a tricky issue that I think needs your personal attention."

Together with the footsteps, there was also Monica’s slightly anxious voice.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing the voice, Jiang Cheng slightly frowned and then opened his eyes, a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes.

From what Jiang Cheng knew, Monica is a very steady and competent secretary. No matter what emergency situation she encountered before, she could always handle it for him, and she never said that something needed him to deal with personally.

Hearing her slightly anxious voice just now, Jiang Cheng knew that this time there was probably some serious trouble.

Thinking of this, Jiang Cheng immediately turned his head and asked, "What’s wrong, Monica?"

Today, Monica was wearing a chiffon blazer, with a pink tank top underneath, fully highlighting her beautiful figure.

"It’s like this, Island Master, one of our medium-sized transport ships of Jiang Shipping was attacked by pirates in the Apali Sea Region today!" Monica reported to Jiang Cheng with a grave tone.

"Pirates?"

Hearing Monica’s words, Jiang Cheng stood up with a "swoosh," a slightly shocked expression in his eyes.

All along, being on Jade Island, Jiang Cheng had always been in a situation of peace and security with the surrounding forces, aside from those enemy countries covertly eyeing him.

However, from another perspective, it sufficiently shows that since its development, Jade Island’s powerful technological strength has been recognized by the world, and there are no reckless criminal forces daring to make a move against them.

But today is different, hearing Monica’s report, Jiang Cheng instinctively felt that this matter was far from simple.

What’s more, he had never heard of such a bold group of pirates in the surrounding sea area of Jade Island who dared to target transport freighters!

Additionally, considering Jade Island’s recent series of rather aggressive actions likely triggered other’s interests, such retaliatory behavior doesn’t seem that surprising.

Thinking of this, Jiang Cheng slightly furrowed his brows.

The current situation of Jade Island is indeed somewhat delicate.

First of all, it cannot be completely considered a complete polity, lacking political influence and military influence internationally. This is not because Jiang Cheng doesn’t want to expand these influences, but rather that he has unspeakable reasons!

Some hostile forces nearby are secretly monitoring him. If he doesn’t take any action, he will surely escape the other party’s surveillance, and sensitive actions like political or military ones are sure to awaken other forces’ vigilance.

By then, he would find it almost impossible to continue developing technology and economy smoothly as he does now.

Therefore, to create a good environment for Jade Island’s initial development phase, Jiang Cheng has refrained from political or military actions to avoid making noise that could alert the opposing forces!

However, after hearing about today’s incident, Jiang Cheng suddenly realized that simply hiding one’s capabilities and biding time might not be so reasonable.

Because, without one’s own military force, how could he protect all that he had painstakingly built!

Today’s pirate attack event is definitely not a coincidence, it must have been meticulously planned!

Jiang Cheng even dared to assert that if he doesn’t take effective action, from here on out, the safety of all Jiang Shipping’s transport ships, and even that of Jade Island, couldn’t be guaranteed!