Ryujin loved fighting. However, he was very disappointed with this battle at sea because it had been easily resolved in slightly more than an hour.
Hanbin's naval combat abilities were extremely poor.
Lisa had been monitoring his fleet for a long time. Although it seemed like the fleet led by Ryujin was simply leisurely sailing around for several days, in truth, he was waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Hanbin was as cunning as a fox on land. Lisa had wasted a lot of energy trying to ambush him over the course of two years.
However, Hanbin had lost his land combat advantage because he was at sea today. He resembled a downtrodden person who was prepared to get violently beaten up at any moment!
Lisa had clearly done an excellent job giving Hanbin a taste of his own medicine.
Lisa's helicopter landed on the landing pad on the oil field's drilling platform. The man momentarily pondered when he heard that the sea battle was over. A sharp look that revealed his dashing spirit appeared on his handsome face. In a deep voice, he said, "Get Kim Hanbin's ship to shore!"
Yan Jun looked anxious. Growing up in a peaceful era meant that he had never experienced war. He felt a lump in his throat when the two sides exchanged gunfire.
On the contrary, Third Young Master Manoban seemed very calm during this violent conflict. Yan Jun could not help but be impressed by him.
"Let's go." The man's voice sounded detached and completely devoid of warmth. "We should go to the coast and have the honor of welcoming Mr Kim!"
The trading vessels and the Blue Gull ship were surrounded by a massive fleet. Ryujin's crew members had jumped on the Blue Gull's deck. They had started to seize control of the other side's forces.
The Blue Gull's sailors had never undergone specialized training to do battle at sea. They watched as their comrades onboard the other two ships died when their vessel sank to the bottom of the sea. After the ambushed, they noticed that the other crew was brimming with energy. This group of elite soldiers who were used to battling on land realized that they were completely helpless.
As the crew gathered on deck, their faces were ghastly pale from fright.
From the east, the first rays of red light appeared in the sky. The sun was starting to rise behind the dense rosy clouds.
Hanbin realized that the situation was helpless when he saw how well prepared the Manoban Family's fleet was. He shut his eyes and felt the bone-piercingly cold sea breeze. His mind felt perfectly clear while he listened to the seabirds' lively cries. The excitement and panic that were previously there had vanished.
He had anticipated this conclusion long ago.
"Mr Kim, I'm sorry to interrupt your trip. I haven't seen you in a long time. I've missed you!" There was a condescending expression on the man's face while his voice was calm and melodious. A faint smile lingered in the corners of his lips.
Hanbin watched as Lisa's attractive face became clearer through the sea breeze. It seemed like many things had changed.
"Third Young Master Manoban, I bet you've been well since we parted!"
This was the first direct confrontation between Hanbin and Lisa in two years. Although their battles were planned in secret, these two men had been openly fighting each for a long time. This encounter did not feel sudden. Rather, it seemed like it was long overdue.
Lisa detected the bloodthirsty aura that enveloped Hanbin's entire body. Lisa could not help but quietly laugh when he noticed that Hanbin still appeared perverse and ruthless in this situation. "Kim Hanbin, you still look so calm despite being at death's door. I'm very impressed by your attitude!"
Hanbin leisurely walked up the steps to reach the platform. As these two men who were of similar heights came into close contact with each other, the air seemed to crackle when their explosive gazes met.
"How did you know that I would attack this place?"
Hanbin realized that he had suffered a setback here. There was no need to mention the harbor at Luo Hai now.
Lisa did not answer Hanbin's question directly. He stared into Hanbin's eyes as if he could read his thoughts.
The man quietly chuckled. "Not only did I realize that you would come here, but I also predicted that you'd also launch an attack on the port."
Lisa paused while Hanbin's expression changed.
"Luo Hai's harbor patrol has already sent its officers to surround your warships and seize the items there as evidence. Your subordinates have betrayed you. It doesn't matter whether you return to Luo Hai or not because you're about to meet your doom."
Hanbin now realized that Shin Ryuji would sink his ship if he continued to resist them today. In the end, he would be destined to drown.
If they forced him to retreat, all of his actions would only lead to a lengthy prison sentence.
That would be too cruel!
Hanbin's entire body throbbed with pain when he heard this. The sea breeze blew as he gazed into the distance. "Does this mean that you destroyed the hideout at the construction site near Green Smoke Mountain?"
He assumed that Lisa was well aware of his secrets. However, Lisa had not taken any action because Hanbin had the upper hand when it came to land battles. Lisa had lacked any concrete evidence before this.
Nonetheless, Lisa had forced him into a hopeless situation when he lured him out to sea and proved that he was committing these crimes.
A faint light flashed in Lisa's dark eyes. He turned and walked toward a towering building on the platform. The dusky fog seemed to smudge his lengthy shadow.
"Mr Kim, the wind is too strong outside. This isn't the right way to treat one's guests!"
At the moment, he was still being contentious.
The resentment in Hanbin's eyes was obvious when he looked at Lisa and trailed behind him.
Lisa would occasionally come here to inspect and monitor the area. An office was prepared for him on the platform for this purpose.
The office was neat and tidy. The manager on site had already boiled some water because he knew several hours ago that Lisa was about to arrive. The water was ready for Lisa to brew his tea.
Hanbin seemed unconcerned. His eyes sparkled as he sank into the sofa. He appeared to be confidently confronting Lisa.
Lisa sat on the massive leather chair as he fixed his gaze on Hanbin. The corners of his lips turned downward while his gloomy eyes were filled with anger.
The late autumn chills were laced with the scent of sea breeze. It seeped through the cracks between the lattice windows. It was already past 10 o'clock, but the ocean mist continued to grow denser outside. It looked like a storm was approaching.
The weather at sea always underwent sudden changes.
Outside, the stifling atmosphere of the calm before the storm caused the two men inside the room to unconsciously keep mum as well.
Their profound hatred for each other had resulted in a confrontation that lasted nearly three years. However, this resentment could be traced back over a decade.
"Lalisa, I don't have much time left. If you have something to say, let's talk this out quickly."
Hanbin broke the silence first. His stern gaze was filled with a murderous intent when he glared at the man before him who was the most powerful individual in Luo Hai.
"I poisoned myself before I came ashore. I'll die in an hour once the poison kicks in. You won't even have to do anything."
Traces of a sinister smile appeared on the corners of Hanbin's lips as he said this.
Lisa's expression darkened. He expected that Hanbin would engage in a life and death struggle with him, but he had never anticipated that Hanbin would choose a road to ruin. He truly did not fear death.
"It would be such a waste if you died like this."
Lisa's dark eyes were devoid of a single trace of emotion. He leaned back before he deadpanned, "I never knew that you were so weak spirited."
Hanbin sneered. "I knew that you'd never release me. After all, Dongwook and Woo-bin's grudges and their lives were the things that stood between you and me. Why would I be afraid?"
Liu gritted his teeth when he heard Dongwook's name. His body stiffened and he clenched his fists. Overwhelming hostility seeped through his violent gaze.
"You're right, the same ending would await you whether you poisoned yourself today or not!"
"You'll get your revenge when I die because the entire Kim Family will be wiped out. Oh, that's not right. You still have Little Jenjen in the palm of your hand. Is it true that she's pregnant with your child? I'm assuming that she doesn't know the truth yet. It's so cute that she's willing to have your baby in spite of everything..."
Hanbin's sinister features broke out into a mocking smile. His eyes heavily hinted that his schemes had succeeded.
Lisa rose and angrily glared at Hanbin. Nonetheless, his voice was flat when he spat each word, saying, "You've deliberately distorted the truth and twisted the facts in front of Jennie. You never told her that the person who committed treason was your father, Woo-bin! He betrayed his superiors and his country to achieve his selfish desires. He secretly communicated with Ze Da, the leader of the rebel forces in Xi Fan, who smuggled in ammunition!
"Woo-bin was struck by malicious intent when Dongwook discovered this. Woo-bin decided to defy his superiors from the grassroots without any consideration for the country's interests!
"You and I both know that Dongwook wasn't the only person who lost his life. 3948 other heroes were sacrificed in Xi Fan when they were tricked into going to the village where they were ambushed!"
Lisa said all of this in a single breath. He glared furiously at Hanbin. A hint of anguish appeared in the gaze of the man who had been behaving arrogantly earlier.
"You're right, my father did betray the country. But what was the point of loyalty? The Kim Family provided outstanding military service in Xi Fan, and he was the best commander of land combat. However, Dongwook continued to overlook him because he was merely an adjutant!
"Any imperial commendations would solely be awarded to Dongwook when they returned to Luo Hai! You shouldn't just blame Woo-bin for all of this. Dongwook wouldn't have been killed without the background support of your second uncle Jae-wook!"
Lisa knew that Hanbin's Three Worldviews were skewed. He was influenced by Woo-bin as he had followed him since he was young.
The wind and rain gradually worsened outside the window. The storms at sea were always more intense than those on land.
The platform was surrounded by the ocean. It was suddenly forced to endure this devastating storm on its own. For the first time in ten years, Lisa was struggling alone during a storm...
"Kim Hanbin, you weren't directly involved in the long-lasting battle in Xi Fan, but you've committed numerous evil deeds under Woo-bin's guidance these past few years. Are you going to repent on your father's behalf before you die?"
Lisa assumed a victor's stance and towered over Hanbin. He was enveloped by a powerful aura. He resembled the personification of glory and justice. Seeing this, Hanbin suddenly felt dissatisfied. The man sneered, saying, "Lisa, do you really think that you're the ultimate winner?"
Traces of blood trickled down the corners of Hanbin's lips. The poison that he swallowed would swiftly end his short but evil existence. He would be disappointed if he failed to get certain things off his chest before then.
Lisa remained silent and turned towards the sea.
"I was prepared to die when I came here. You would lose everything if I succeeded, but at least you would still have Jennie."
Lisa turned around abruptly when he heard this. He asked sternly, "What do you mean?"
Hanbin snickered. The effects of the drug made his face look savage. Gloomy and penetrating chills seeped through the space between them. "You would win this war if I failed, but you... You would... You would lose Jennie!"
Lisa took a step forward and grabbed Hanbin. His body was gradually stiffening as he laid on the sofa. Lisa loudly asked, "What have you done to Jennie?"
Hanbin smiled before he replied to Lisa's question with his final breath. "I like seeing you... Afraid like this... You grew up as a member of Luo Hai's most illustrious family... You were their brilliant heir... However, you possess a hidden dark side..."
His stomach was suddenly struck by pain. Large beads of sweat ran down Hanbin's head and soaked his clothes. He panted heavily before he cursed, "F*ck, if I'd known about this earlier, I would have chosen a more lethal drug to get it over with!
"You still loved... You still loved Jennie despite knowing her true identity... Doesn't that make you... A wretched person? Don't you think that the world is going to condemn you for that?"
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*DO NOT VOTE PLEASE*