CHAPTER 418: CHAPTER 418 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

"No, no, no!" Andy held up his index finger and waved it side to side. "Doesn’t your China have a saying, ’Destroy before rebuilding’? Pirates on New Island are rampant, and the police even back them up. It’s not easy to get rid of them. But if foreign tourists get into trouble on New Island, causing widespread international attention, the authorities would have a legitimate reason to crack down."

"I get it." Sang Ning rubbed her temples with frustration. "So, the authorities are actually eager for the situation to escalate, even if lives are lost. One, they can wipe out the criminal forces completely. Two, New Island’s international fame grows, albeit a bad reputation. But the authorities can spin it into a PR opportunity. Once the criminal forces are dealt with, they can boast about the regained safety and gradually market New Island as a low-cost tourist destination. As for the tourists sacrificed as cannon fodder, they’ll simply fade into the sands of time."

Zhou Rui’s legs weakened, and his body tilted backward. If his assistant hadn’t calmly held him up, his head might’ve hit the stone steps.

Just my luck! He only wanted to film a simple show, picking a hidden gem of a destination to give viewers something fresh. But he never expected to gamble the guests’ lives here.

"Call the police! Call the police! Hurry up and call them!" Zhou Rui grabbed onto his assistant’s arm, his emotions spiraling out of control.

If someone really ends up hurt, he’d be on the hook too!

"Counting on New Island’s police is less reliable than counting on yourselves. By the time they arrive, the bodies will probably be cold." Andy wasn’t trying to sound cruel; he was just stating the harsh reality.

Recently, due to increased scrutiny, pirate activity had quieted down. Who would’ve thought Lu Yujing would be so unlucky, running into them right after landing?

Sang Ning didn’t even bother opening the car door. With one hand gripping the window frame, she agilely hopped into the passenger seat. While buckling up, she turned to Andy and said, "Time is of the essence. You’re a local; you must know the places pirates frequent. Please help guide us there."

"Wait..." Andy seemed unsure.

He and Lu Yujing were friends, sure, but not the type to risk their lives for each other.

Sang Ning didn’t give him room to refuse. She turned to Zhou Rui outside the car and instructed, "Director Zhou, please contact the embassy for help. We can’t trust local police, but China will always have our back!"

"Sister Sangsang, I want to go with you!" Song Shiye stepped forward, attempting to open the car door.

Sang Ning leaned out the car window and firmly pushed Song Shiye away. "We’re not going sightseeing! Kids should stop meddling!"

Sang Ning sat back, rolled up the passenger window, and said, "Andy, drive."

Andy gripped the steering wheel, hesitating to move.

Sang Ning sensed his reluctance. "Andy, don’t worry. Once you take me to the spot, you’re free to leave—you won’t be dragged into this."

"Sigh..." Andy let out a long breath and ultimately convinced himself, stepping on the accelerator. "You Chinese people are just trouble!"

——

The silent island night was pierced by the approach of a long business vehicle slicing through the darkness.

Inside the car, the tension was palpable.

"You speak Chinese?" Qin Feng gripped the seat in front of him, half-standing as he stared in shock at the local man in the passenger seat, who had turned around to face him.

"Chinese people are my biggest customers. Is it so strange for me to know a bit of Chinese? By the way, I have a Chinese name—Hu Yaoji." On the passenger seat, Hu Yaoji lifted his chin, sneering and letting his contempt shine through his expression. His face clearly said, "Everyone here is trash."

Qin Feng wasn’t immediately drawn to the term "customers." Instead, he was intrigued by Hu Yaoji’s accent. "Who taught you Chinese? Why does it sound... almost like a Sakura Country vibe?"

Hu Yaoji raised a thumb and brushed his chin. "Back when I hijacked a Sakura Country cargo ship, the captain happened to know Chinese. I kept him captive until he taught me; then I let him go."

"Sakura Country? That explains it." Qin Feng muttered, realizing why Hu Yaoji’s words carried a distinct foreign flair.

"Wait, what did you just say? Hijack?" Only then did Qin Feng’s brain register the key information, and he looked at Hu Yaoji in horror.

Everyone’s expressions in the car changed instantly. Even Li Haidong, who usually maintained an unshakable calm, now had visible cracks in his facade.

Ridiculous! He and Wei Lan had traveled the world for years, visiting countless nations, yet this was the first time someone had dared to blatantly rob them.

"Do you even know who I am? You don’t have the guts to cross me. If you release me now, I might consider sparing you." Li Haidong steadied himself quickly after his shock.

Given the Li Family’s wealth, hiring mercenaries abroad to deal with such scum wasn’t even a challenge. Those who dared challenge the Li Family would always pay the price!

"Wow!" Hu Yaoji clenched his fists, then spread his hands outward dramatically. "Even military officials kneel before me. Who do you think you are?"

Li Haidong’s expression turned glacial, his voice icy cold. "I can end your lives!"

"Oh? You can? How exactly—like this?" With three rapid rhetorical questions, Hu Yaoji pulled out a gun from his waist, spun it around, and pointed the barrel directly at Li Haidong.

Li Haidong froze immediately, his body stiffening.

Wei Lan discreetly nudged his sleeve, subtly warning him. Now wasn’t the time to posture—did he want a shorter lifespan?

A sharp blast shattered the brief silence in the vehicle.

Lu Yujing and Jiang Xiaoti screamed, clutching their heads in panic and descending into utter despair.

Lu Yujing couldn’t understand why she had ended up in a robber’s car. All she could do was beg repeatedly, "Don’t kill me! Please don’t kill me!"

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaoti had shrunk toward the window, as though willing herself to escape through it.

Qin Feng, the spoiled rich kid, had lived a cushy life, with his toughest challenge being breaking into the entertainment industry without family backing. Hardships were foreign to him—let alone this kind of traumatic ordeal.

Yet, the Qin Family had instilled in him the value of responsibility ever since he was little. Even though his inner panic was overwhelming, Qin Feng’s sense of duty surged forward.

He focused on Hu Yaoji’s gun with laser-like precision and leapt up, aiming to snatch the weapon away.

But unfortunately, he was seated in the very last row. To reach the front, he’d need to vault over the second row of seats.

Hu Yaoji had already spotted his intentions when Qin Feng stood up. Pulling out a pair of handcuffs, he hurled them at Qin Feng’s head.

The cuffs hit Qin Feng’s forehead squarely, leaving him dazed. His footing faltered, and he collapsed backward into his seat as the cuffs slid down to the floor beside him.

"Behave! You there—put those cuffs on him!" Hu Yaoji nodded his chin toward Li Haidong.

He gestured for Li Haidong to pick up the cuffs and secure them on Qin Feng.