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Chapter 1008: Chapter 885: Can You Be Any More Snarky? (Subscribe, please!)
Back at home.
Tang Qing saw his daughter Maruyama Miyuki chatting with his mother, Maruyama Yūko.
According to the tradition of Japan,
once a woman married, she would generally take her husband’s surname.
Maruyama Yūko’s original name was Zhu Hong. She had also been on a government-sponsored study program at the University of Tokyo and was a classmate of Tang Qing’s father, later becoming an outer ring intelligence officer for Huaxia.
Her marriage to Tang Qing’s father wasn’t entirely due to the task.
There was definitely an emotional factor, but ultimately, their union was more or less influenced by their superiors. Otherwise, Zhu Hong, who came from a family of scholars, would have resigned herself to her family’s objections.
Fortunately, Tang Qing’s father was a good man.
In this marriage,
Zhu Hong had never felt regret.
Looking at the two most important women in his life,
Tang Qing’s gloomy mood was swept away; for them, he could commit any wrongdoing.
"You’re back, Shota...," Zhu Hong hesitated before speaking up. She was already seventy-five, with her face marked by the years and her hair grayed. Maruyama Miyuki stared at her father.
Tang Qing forced a smile and said, "He won’t be bothering us anymore."
Although it was expected,
hearing it outright, the two women couldn’t quite bring themselves to feel happy.
After all, Maruyama Shota was a member of the Maruyama Clan, a relative. No matter how vicious or evil the other party, this wasn’t exactly news to celebrate, especially for sensitive women.
"It’s okay, we didn’t do anything wrong," Tang Qing comforted them as he approached.
He took the hands of his daughter and mother.
He then sat down cross-legged.
"Yes, at least we aren’t in the wrong," Zhu Hong sighed.
Right or wrong, deserved or not, Zhu Hong had a clear conscience. If others were gearing up to kill them, hesitating out of a misguided sense of mercy would be toying with the safety of one’s own family.
"Father, the transfer documents for Meijo Shipping have been prepared, and an additional $50 million has also been secured. We’re just waiting for contact from the other party," Maruyama Miyuki said, taking out the documents from her bag to change the dreary atmosphere.
Tang Qing took the documents.
He glanced over them briefly, then tucked them back into the bag.
"Good, now we wait. I’m very curious about his real-world identity," Tang Qing remarked thoughtfully. Such an outstanding young man, unflappable and impressive in speech, he was eager to see the family behind him.
Maruyama Miyuki then said, "Father, I don’t think he will use his real identity to take over Meijo Shipping. After all, so many of us witnessed what happened then.
After their ship was modified, it hasn’t stopped for fuel at any country’s port. They’re clearly trying to keep his real background a secret."
"I know that as well, but I’m just too curious. I’ve even investigated their satellite phone numbers and discovered an odd phenomenon—their satellite codes haven’t actually been sold by the company," confessed Tang Qing, who was perplexed at the time.
Numbers not sold by the satellite company,
yet someone else was using them.
It was too fantastical.
Of course, this didn’t exclude the operation company for maritime satellites,
namely the International Mobile Satellite Company, which could be assisting Tang Qing in concealing, as he had considered the possibility of Tang Qing using a dummy number. But at that time, he had definitely used Tang Qing’s satellite phone to call his daughter, who was very far away.
That sort of call would unquestionably need to go through a satellite, with no room for pretense.
What he didn’t know was,
a Quantum Satellite could interfere with, block, intercept, or alter the wireless communication content within a certain region. When he used Tang Qing’s Communication Satellite for the call, it didn’t go through the maritime satellite’s data channels.
"What do you mean?" Maruyama Miyuki was also surprised.
Tang Qing’s frown deepened: "I don’t believe the number is a fake; the only reason is that someone inside the International Mobile Satellite Company is keeping this number confidential. But ordinary companies don’t get that kind of treatment."
This was the part that baffled Tang Qing.
Not just ordinary companies,
even Jumbo companies couldn’t make the company conceal a number for them, and really, there was no need to. Currently, there was no requirement for real-name registration of such things, and even with real-name regulations, one could use someone else’s identity.
Moreover,
his investigation this time
had been through the United States’ FBI, yet even they had come to this result.
What shocked him was,
after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the United States ramped up its counter-terrorism efforts drastically.
They tightened surveillance over global fund transfers and communication channels to prevent the possibility of sending harmful information to U.S. soil through ’untraceable’ methods.
Institutions like the International Mobile Satellite Company were scrutinized heavily and were not allowed to have ’untraceable users’ as far as the United States was concerned, yet the FBI couldn’t find this one.
This was with someone who had very high access privileges within the FBI.
Even Swiss Banks had to comply in the face of anti-terrorism efforts, and SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), the organization that holds nearly all interbank transaction information globally, had to partly share its data.
Not to mention smaller Communication Companies.
"Such a mystery," Maruyama Miyuki could only come to this conclusion.
"Someone should be coming soon. I really hope to see him again, to talk with him. Although it’s nerve-wracking, it feels comfortable. I..." Just as Tang Qing was about to express his thoughts,
the phone in his pocket rang.
A look.
A strange number, from Tokyo.
Maruyama Ken hesitantly pressed the answer button with a sense of confusion.
"Moshimoshi," since the number was from Tokyo, Maruyama Ken used the standard Japanese greeting.
"Mr. Maruyama Ken, how have you been lately?" A familiar voice that Maruyama Ken instantly sat up to; he would never forget this voice that had given him so many surprises and hope.
Maruyama Ken quickly switched to Chinese, saying, "Young brother, things have been pretty good recently. I’ve taken care of a rather big trouble. The transfer documents for Meijo Shipping are ready and can be handed over to you at any time. As a way of expressing my gratitude, I’ve also prepared a $50 million reward. I hope you’ll be satisfied with it. If you think it’s not enough, we can discuss it."
$50 million, by any account, was a bit much.
But Maruyama Ken was not a stingy person. He hoped to use this opportunity to solidify his relationship with Tang Qing, this secretive and powerful force.
A fighter.
To make friends with a fighter.
It was the nature of a fighter.
Outside.
He was a business magnate.
He was an underground Flood Dragon.
But towards Tang Qing.
Maruyama Ken had already placed himself at a very low position.
"I’m quite satisfied. Someone will come to your house tomorrow morning. Just transfer Meijo Shipping into his name, as for the $50 million, give it to him as well."
This time, Tang Qing didn’t plan to take Meijo Shipping under his own name.
The main reason was that he had discovered a big problem.
At the moment, he was too busy showing off.
Afterward, when he remembered that Maruyama Ken’s mother was an intelligence officer from Huaxia, he realized that making such a conspicuous move was not wise. It would probably be better to put the company’s ownership under a fighter’s name.
Once the dust settled, it would turn into a cold case. This also reminded him that in the future, when using teleportation nodes to ’explore’ around, he should minimize contact with people and avoid causing trouble, lest his true identity be exposed.
"You’re not coming personally?" Maruyama Ken asked, disappointed.
"It’s just a small company," said Tang Qing casually.
Maruyama Ken: "..."
The Maruyama family, with its massive business empire, wouldn’t dare say that Meijo Shipping was just a small company.
He couldn’t understand what Tang Qing was thinking; to place such a large enterprise under the name of his subordinates. After pondering for a moment, Maruyama Ken’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Tang Qing wanted to avoid exposing himself, perhaps for the purpose of selling it?
Maruyama Ken then said, "Young brother, if you’re planning to operate Meijo Shipping, I will transfer all the clients of the shipping company to you, and I can also help introduce business to the shipping company.
But if you’re considering selling it, please give priority to the Maruyama family."
After operating Meijo Shipping for so many years, he had developed an attachment to it.
Tang Qing continued to be open-minded, but the idea of directly selling it for money was still somewhat unacceptable to him.
"Don’t worry, I consider Meijo Shipping a long-term project and won’t sell it lightly. If I do sell, I’ll give priority to you," Tang Qing promised, though he reckoned this promise would never be fulfilled.
What’s eaten.
Why spit it out?
Shipping.
Vessels.
Those were high-quality assets. If one were to operate shipping alone, it might be unprofitable. One might view a shipping company as just an expensive commodity to be sold if the price is right. But for Tang Qing, such enterprises were not for sale.
"Thank you," Maruyama Ken said with gratitude.
"I doubt that day will ever come," Tang Qing thought it was better not to give Maruyama Ken any false hope.
"Then I will be even more delighted," said Maruyama Ken happily.
Tang Qing laughed, "Goodbye, Mr. Maruyama Ken. If you want to contact me in the future, reach out to the person who will come to see you tomorrow. He will also serve as the Chairman and CEO of Meijo Shipping in the future. The $50 million will also be allocated to Meijo Shipping for its operations."
"Thank you, and thank you again for saving me and for your assistance, for taking care of so many enemies," Maruyama Ken was even happier upon hearing this. Tang Qing’s willingness to run the business meant there was still hope for recourse.
Otherwise, if someone else sold it for money, the two of them would have no connection in the future.
"It’s nothing, helping you is also helping myself, some bloody executioners, plus a corrupt mayor of Hiroshima City, I consider it a clean-up of some scourges to the world. If it’s not something urgent, don’t contact me. I am quite busy too. Goodbye."
After Tang Qing finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
"... Yes."
Maruyama Ken was stunned then agreed upon hearing the buzzing sound.
Reflecting on what Tang Qing had just said, he didn’t seem to have heard it wrong. The enemy he spoke of was Minghai, Tang Qing had dealt with a significant trouble for him before he did, eradicating ’Minghai’ root and all.
But from what Tang Qing implied,
Maruyama Shota’s distant relative, the mayor of Hiroshima City, was he too sent away by Tang Qing?
He didn’t have the capability to do that.
Yet Tang Qing had managed it.
This move truly startled Maruyama Ken.
When he had just returned, the mayor of Hiroshima City was taken away by the ’relevant authorities’. He always thought it was a coincidence, that heaven was helping him, but now he suddenly learned that it was Tang Qing who was helping him.
Maruyama Ken really wanted to tell Tang Qing: Could you be any more awesome?
