"Hey, what's the deal with that guy over there? Why does everyone rush over to surround him the moment he arrives? Can't they see he clearly doesn't want to deal with them? Is that fun?" A cowboy, smoking a cigarette, looked at the crowd who kept going forward to talk to Harriman Fells, despite being repeatedly rebuffed. The cowboy spoke with some confusion.
"Hey, if you don't know him, then do you know what that sign hanging over there means?" Hearing the question, the middle-aged cowboy he addressed didn't seem concerned. He took the cigarette from the younger man, lit it, and pointed to the sign hanging above the distant exhibition hall. The younger man frowned slightly as he looked at the sign, then shook his head.
"You must be new here!" Seeing that he didn't recognize the sign, the older cowboy couldn't help but chuckle.
"Heh heh, I just graduated from college last year. Since I didn't have much ambition, I came back to help out on my dad's ranch." Hearing that the man had immediately identified him as a newcomer, the cowboy, who had been trying to act seasoned, smiled awkwardly.
"I knew you were new. Anyone who's been in this business for a few years couldn't possibly not know that sign." Hearing his admission, the middle-aged cowboy scoffed dismissively. He pointed to the distant sign and lightly clicked his tongue. That was a legend, after all.
"How so? Is that company really strong? I never heard my dad or anyone mention it!" Hearing the explanation, the young man became interested and asked with a puzzled look. He truly had never seen that company's sign before.
"Strong? Heh heh, no, not *just* strong—it's incredibly strong. Truth be told, this company has only been popular for about two years, but the wealth it has created in those two years is more than you could earn in ten lifetimes." The middle-aged cowboy glanced at the young man and chuckled. Although his tone was slightly envious, his words were absolutely correct.
"That amazing?" Hearing that the company seemed so powerful, the young man sat down, asking with an expression of confusion.
"Then let me tell you. This company is called Flying Dragon (Tenglong). I heard the boss is Chinese, and the image on that sign is the Chinese dragon. This story starts two years ago..." Seeing the young cowboy so interested, the middle-aged man began to recount the tale.
Perhaps because he was speaking a little loudly, before long, many people gathered around him, eager to hear his story. Harriman Fells, standing nearby, also heard their conversation, but he merely gave a light laugh.
The middle-aged man's tale was quite exciting, but even if he racked his brain, he would never know the true reality of the situation... Then again, Harriman Fells himself wasn't entirely clear on the full truth.
Why these cattle were so exceptional and how this company rose to prominence—truthfully, no one knew except Jiang Hai.
The next day, when Jiang Hai's small exhibition hall was completely packed with people, most of the cowboys became even more confused. They genuinely couldn't understand why Jiang Hai's cattle were so incredibly popular.
But whether they understood it or not, Jiang Hai's subordinates knew one thing: this year's championship belonged to them once again!
While everyone was discussing Jiang Hai, Jiang Hai himself was driving his car toward the small town.
Speaking of the fact that Jiang Hai had sent his subordinates to San Antonio, he himself had initially felt a bit apprehensive.
Beef cattle were different from red wine. Honestly, Jiang Hai didn't place much importance on the red wine business; it was the kind of thing where having it was fine, but not having it was also fine. That's why he had initially sent Dulles Gerard to brew wine and market it in Europe—he wasn't overly concerned about the sales success. But beef cattle were different; Jiang Hai's cattle were his main source of income now.
However, today's arrangement satisfied multiple parties. Although San Antonio couldn't invite Jiang Hai himself, they invited his cattle. Now, the two things generating buzz were Jiang Hai and Flying Dragon Ranch. Having the cattle from Flying Dragon Ranch was still an excellent outcome.
Moses Adams also successfully became the legal consultant for the convention, and Jiang Hai's team was guaranteed to achieve excellent results.
Most importantly, Jiang Hai wasn't leaving this time, and his women were extremely happy about that.
"It's perfect that you're not leaving. Otherwise, when are we going to have a baby?" Seeing Jiang Hai's plans, Qi Jie said with a playful smile. Honestly, they had been with Jiang Hai for a while now, and while they weren't doing *that* every single day...
Most of the time, it was happening every other day. Yet, even so, none of them had conceived a baby yet. It had been confirmed that Jiang Hai had no issues, so did they have issues? That seemed impossible; it couldn't be that so many people had problems, right? So now, their only thought was: since it wasn't easy to conceive, they should just do it more often. Eventually, someone would get pregnant!
Jiang Hai was naturally quite interested in this sort of activity, but even the most interesting thing becomes frightening when it happens daily. They say women are like wolves at thirty and tigers at forty, and Qi Jie and the others hadn't even reached that age yet, but Jiang Hai already felt overwhelmed. What about in the future, *cough*... So, after sending off Robbins Garcia and the others yesterday, Jiang Hai had been constantly exhausted back at the ranch.
According to Qi Jie and the others, since it was the middle of winter and there was nothing to do outside, they might as well stay home and make babies. What if they succeeded? Therefore, since returning to the ranch yesterday, Jiang Hai had barely left the bed.
This morning, they were ready to pounce again, but Jiang Hai dodged them. If this continued, even his physical fitness, which was eight times that of a normal person, wouldn't hold up. So, he found an excuse to go to the county town. As for the reason he used, Jiang Hai felt a bit embarrassed even saying it out loud: he claimed he was going to buy soy sauce... Fortunately, since there were so many people in Jiang Hai's house, the consumption of condiments was indeed very high.
Having found an excuse to leave, Jiang Hai breathed a sigh of relief and drove toward Winthrop Town.
Since he claimed he was buying condiments, the first thing he naturally had to do was buy condiments. He drove to the town's commercial street, where there were many supermarkets—large ones, small ones, and some run by Native Americans. Of course, they were all renting property from Jiang Hai. Jiang Hai looked for a Chinese supermarket, which was actually the Hai Shang Supermarket, run under the ownership of Old Man Zhang Dehai.
Hai Shang Supermarket was already considered medium-to-large among Chinese supermarkets in the US. Since Jiang Hai's beef and fish began supporting them, their business had gradually expanded. Currently, purely in terms of supermarkets, Hai Shang Supermarket was clearly a top-tier establishment among Chinese supermarkets in the United States.
Originally, there was no Hai Shang Supermarket in Winthrop. The only reason it opened here was entirely because of Jiang Hai.
Of course, it wasn't opened specifically for Jiang Hai; he didn't have that much influence. It was opened entirely for the Chinese tourists! No matter where people travel, getting used to the local environment is inevitable, especially considering the differences between the US and China.
Therefore, when Winthrop was developing tourism, Jiang Hai had suggested that it would be best to have some family inns where tourists could cook their own meals. Jiang Hai's suggestion was naturally accepted by the people of Winthrop, so many households in the town allowed guests to cook. Of course, if you were used to the local food, eating at a restaurant was very convenient.
However, certain seafood items could be quite expensive when eaten at a restaurant. But currently, things were generally fine because ever since Jiang Hai opened up his fishing grounds, he stopped selling lobsters and fish exclusively, making Winthrop's seafood industry quite impressive.
Many items sold in Hai Shang Supermarket came from China, such as various condiments. Americans don't use nearly as many seasonings; their flavoring is quite simple and monotonous. These products were prepared specifically for Chinese tourists.
But now, these items were also essentially prepared for Jiang Hai. After parking his car some distance away, Jiang Hai walked into the supermarket. Although it was called a Chinese supermarket, which might suggest it was small, it was actually very large.
It was no smaller than some large supermarkets in China, covering at least five or six thousand square meters. This size was achieved by knocking through several of Jiang Hai's properties. Like typical supermarkets, it was divided into many sections.
There was an appliance section selling phones, refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, washing machines, and so on, which was convenient for local residents.
The household goods section sold items like plates, bowls, plastic sheeting, toilet paper, etc. There was also a dedicated cosmetics area, primarily featuring shampoos, facial cleansers, and various makeup products—they had everything.
Further inside, there were dedicated sections for snacks, dried goods, cookies, milk, juice, and more. Past these was the largest section: fresh produce and groceries. Here they sold rice, flour, oil, salt, fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat—everything imaginable. Since it was a Chinese supermarket, items on the shelves were labeled with bilingual names (Chinese and English). Of course, only one price was listed, because while the RMB wasn't exactly worthless in the US, it certainly couldn't be spent.
After entering the supermarket, Jiang Hai wandered around and unconsciously made his way to the condiment section. Naturally, he went on a sweeping shopping spree: one bottle each of light soy sauce and dark soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, steamed fish soy sauce, oyster sauce, cooking wine, yellow wine... A chaotic assortment—anything that was on the shelf, Jiang Hai bought a serving of. After all, they would eventually use all of it.
Just as Jiang Hai turned a corner, a familiar face appeared right in front of him... (To be continued.)
A New Tactic
"Cindy?" Jiang Hai couldn't help but exclaim in surprise as he saw the person coming around the corner. Indeed, the newcomer was none other than Cindy Clive. Seeing Jiang Hai, she also visibly paused for a moment before giving a light smile and a nod.
"You... you're here shopping too!" Looking at Cindy Clive, Jiang Hai hesitated briefly before speaking to her with a smile.
To be honest, regarding Cindy Clive, Jiang Hai felt a bit... well, at a loss? Alright, using that word wasn't exactly wrong. After all, Jiang Hai and Cindy Clive had once had a thing going on. Though it never developed into anything substantial, there had been times when their relationship felt like a thin layer of paper, ready to be torn through with just a little push.
But ever since she was promoted to the Town Government and had met Qi Li, the distance between them had grown.
It seemed she couldn't accept sharing Jiang Hai with others. Jiang Hai couldn't really blame her for that; it was only human nature. To be honest, there were too many eccentric people in Jiang Hai's manor; genuinely normal ones were few and far between.
"Yes, are you buying all these seasonings?" Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Cindy Clive gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked somewhat puzzled at the items in his cart. It wasn't common to see someone buying so many seasonings.
"Uh, hehe..." Hearing her question, Jiang Hai couldn't very well say it was because he had many loved ones.
"Hey, can't you see me? You're only talking to my sister!" At that moment, another voice sounded by Jiang Hai's ear. Only then did Jiang Hai notice another figure beside Cindy Clive. Seeing this person, Jiang Hai was certainly not unfamiliar.
Karma Clive, Cindy Clive's younger sister. Though, to be precise, they only shared half their bloodline.
However, the two sisters got along remarkably well. Such a situation might not be common in China, where, not being born to the same mother, there would be emphasis on seniority and hierarchy. But in the US, this kind of thing was actually quite common.
So in the US, there were many blended families where siblings got along very well.
Compared to the Karma Clive Jiang Hai had seen a few years ago, she had changed a lot. After all, she was in university now, not as a freshman or sophomore, but preparing to enter her junior year. She had learned to wear makeup and dress up. In China, the difference between a senior and a freshman could be like night and day; in the US, it was even more pronounced!
Karma Clive's figure was getting better and better. Though it was still winter, she wore a fitted cashmere sweater, leggings, and a pair of ankle boots, perfectly showcasing her figure—full where it should be, slim where it should be, especially her legs, which were both straight and slender. A thin cotton coat was draped over her arm, making her look quite fashionable and beautiful. Seeing Jiang Hai looking at her, she deliberately struck a pose, making Jiang Hai even more embarrassed. Though, admittedly, staring at a girl like that wasn't very polite.
"Hi, Karma." Jiang Hai gave an awkward smile and greeted Karma Clive. Hearing him call her name, Karma Clive smiled and stood behind Cindy Clive. She was well aware of the story between Jiang Hai and her sister, but alongside that understanding, she also looked at Jiang Hai with curiosity. When she first met him, he was merely a potential prospect; one couldn't say for sure if he would become as successful as he was now.
But looking at it now, not catching this guy back then was her sister's mistake. He was a perfect golden bachelor.
"You keep shopping. We still have some things to buy." Sensing the awkward and tense atmosphere, Cindy Clive gave Jiang Hai a polite smile, then pushed her cart past him. Hearing her calm tone, Jiang Hai sighed inwardly. It seemed there was no hope. But then again, maybe he was being too greedy... After all, he now bore responsibility for more than just one woman.
"Sigh, let's just turn this page." With a wry smile, Jiang Hai prepared to continue pushing his cart forward.
But at that moment, Karma Clive suddenly ran back the way she came and tapped Jiang Hai on the shoulder.
"Hey, is your phone number still the same as before?" Looking at Jiang Hai, Karma Clive asked.
"Oh, it's still the same." Hearing her question, Jiang Hai nodded, unsure of her intentions.
"I have something to discuss with you. I'll talk to you about it on the phone when I have time." Upon hearing Jiang Hai's response, Karma Clive quickly grabbed some ketchup and ran off. Watching her hurried departure, Jiang Hai was completely baffled.
But none of that concerned him, and he couldn't figure out why she wanted to talk to him. So he shrugged and continued pushing his cart forward. Soon, he had everything he needed. After loading the car, he thought about wandering outside a bit longer but found he wasn't in the mood. After a moment's consideration, he drove back to the manor. Jiang Hai was essentially a homebody; staying indoors suited him just fine.
Driving back, he soon arrived at his manor. Parking the car, he carried several large bags of items inside. Though the seasonings were heavy, with Jiang Hai's strength, it was no problem at all.
Carrying the bags inside, Jiang Hai realized the villa was mostly empty. Only Daliana, Marian, and Talaga were sitting there watching TV. Seeing Jiang Hai return, they looked up at him.
"Why is it just you three? Where is everyone else?" After putting the items in the kitchen, Jiang Hai came out and looked curiously at the three girls. He patted Daliana's head, who was sitting in the middle, and asked.
"They went to take a bath." Swatting away Jiang Hai's hand, Daliana pouted and spoke to him.
"A bath? Then why didn't you go?" Hearing this, Jiang Hai was taken aback. What was going on?
"They wouldn't take us. They just said if you came back, you should go over there." Hearing Jiang Hai's question, Marian blinked her eyes and explained. Though Jiang Hai still didn't fully understand what they were up to, he walked out of the room and headed toward the bathroom. As he left, the three girls huddled together.
"Honestly, they're so mean, not taking us along." Watching Jiang Hai walk away, Talaga said with a look of indignation.
"Ah, what can we do? Who told us we're his daughters and not his women? He hasn't even noticed we're ready, has he?" Looking at Jiang Hai's retreating back, Daliana rubbed her well-developed, indescribable upper assets and said dejectedly. What feelings they harbored for Jiang Hai, he truly didn't understand. Jiang Hai only knew he had always regarded them as his daughters, even though these daughters weren't much younger than him and shared no blood relation.
"Hey, you two are his daughters, but I'm not. Why hasn't he taken me?" Giving a disdainful look at the two underage girls who harbored improper intentions toward Jiang Hai, Talaga proudly gestured to her own, even more developed assets.
Jiang Hai had found Daliana and Marian when they were fourteen. Three years had passed, and they were now seventeen.
But in Jiang Hai's eyes, kids would always be kids. Jiang Hai himself was twenty-nine this year; who could he complain to about that?
"Pfft~ Don't even think about it! Hmph!" Hearing Talaga's words, Daliana and Marian simultaneously made a dismissive gesture and spoke with smug expressions. Seeing them like this, Talaga gave up on lecturing them and simply pounced. The three girls immediately tumbled into a playful scuffle. Though outnumbered two to one, Talaga, having grown up in the forest, was much more capable than Daliana and Marian. For the moment, she held the upper hand even against both of them.
But Jiang Hai missed this scene inside the villa. By then, he had already reached the bathroom area. Since it was only his girls there, he didn't think much of it and walked straight into the large bathroom.
But as soon as he entered, Jiang Hai got a shock. In his line of sight, he saw Qi Jie, Qi Ya, Ai Xiaoxi, Feng Yunchen, Azalina, Afra, Diana, Hilda, Becky, Xila-Rodney, Auxilia, Bridget, Janice, Galina, and Wallis Shelley—fifteen young women, all dressed in simple yet highly provocative attire, kneeling neatly before him. Seeing their actions, Jiang Hai was dumbfounded once again. He realized he'd been stunned quite a few times today.
"Master, would you like to bathe first, or... do that first, or perhaps... do that while bathing?" Seeing Jiang Hai's stunned expression, Feng Yunchen blinked playfully and said with a grin.
"What... what kind of game are you all playing?" Looking at the girls before him, Jiang Hai walked over, perplexed. What was going on? He couldn't quite make sense of it. But to be honest, the temptation was absolutely undeniable.
Seeing Jiang Hai walk in, Feng Yunchen gestured to the others behind her. Afra and the rest stood up and walked over to Jiang Hai, starting to undress him. While doing so, certain indescribable parts of their bodies inevitably brushed against him. And whether intentionally or not, they also guided Jiang Hai's hands to certain unmentionable places. Witnessing this, Jiang Hai grew even more rigid. His eyes darted around, but he didn't know what to say or do. Seeing his expression, Feng Yunchen shot Qi Jie a triumphant glance. This was her plan! (To be continued.)
Orca Attack
Regarding their relationship with Jiang Hai, they had vaguely sensed something was off since he got up and left this morning. While it was a normal man-woman relationship, and although Jiang Hai wouldn't grow tired of them, always being like this might have worn him down a bit!
So after Jiang Hai left, Qi Jie and the others held a small meeting to discuss how to continue'squeezing' Jiang Hai. If he was unwilling, that would indeed be troublesome, but they really wanted to seize the opportunity.
At this point, Feng Yunchen, who was quite experienced in these matters, spoke up. Men, in her view, were like kites.
If you pull the string too tight, he can't fly high and might even crash down, ruining the fun for everyone.
But if you let the string go too loose, he might fly away, which is also a significant problem.
So handling a man is like flying a kite—sometimes you need to tighten the grip, and other times you need to loosen it.
Of course, 'loosening' here doesn't mean finding more girls for Jiang Hai. To be honest, Jiang Hai's harem was already quite sizable, and most of the women here were content without much desire. Only a few were truly competitive.
But let's get back on track. 'Loosening' for Jiang Hai now didn't mean finding other women for him—that would be going too far. Instead, they needed to shift from active to passive. Jiang Hai enjoyed the feeling of being forcefully taken by women, commonly known as the 'reverse push' sensation.
However, being 'reverse pushed' every day would eventually wear on Jiang Hai's patience. Today's incident was just a small sign of that.
So what they needed to do now was to give Jiang Hai a sense of novelty. Just like long-married couples sometimes need some romance, so did they. Naturally, they needed to add some spice to their relationship.
Although Qi Jie and Qi Ya weren't too familiar with this, since Feng Yunchen suggested it, they decided to give it a try. It wouldn't hurt, after all. So after Jiang Hai left, they went to Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi's room.
What did Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi used to do? Models! Of course, the term 'model' might need quotation marks. Unlike international supermodels who walk runways and land endorsements, they were what people nowadays call 'fresh-faced models' or 'online shoot models.' At most, they endorsed some Taobao shops, but mostly, they took photos to become 'goddesses' for otaku, occasionally walking the periphery of the industry. While these two never went that far, they had been otaku goddesses, and they kept some of those clothes for added fun, not throwing them away. Now was the perfect time for everyone to pick something out.
Based on personal preferences—what kind of clothes, colors, or styles—they started picking outfits right in Feng Yunchen's room. Because of the rotation system Qi Jie and the others had established earlier, the girls felt no discomfort being naked in front of each other. They'd even fooled around with Jiang Hai together before, so the selection process was quick.
Azalina picked a semi-transparent bikini—the kind where the top front was just two small triangular cups held by strings, and the bottom front was also a small triangular cup, with the rest made of strings. She deliberately chose a bright red one, which stood out strikingly against her bronze skin.
Qi Jie chose a striped front-closure swimsuit without straps, just a band about the width of a palm with a flower-like clasp at the front. A slight twist, an upward flick, or a downward pull would undo it. The bottom was a seemingly innocent little conservative triangular brief, looking pure yet clearly visible.
Feng Yunchen went even bolder, opting for three masks. Well, they weren't exactly just masks—three small masks strategically placed over certain areas, leaving even more to the imagination.
Ai Xiaoxi wore a deep V-neck top—so deep it almost reached her navel—with two triangles and some straps, looking both elegant and... refreshingly cool...
Qi Ya somehow dug out a seemingly conservative swimsuit, but unfortunately, there were no conservative swimsuits here!
Only after putting it on did she realize it was more than one size too small. This kind of swimsuit was often seen in Japanese anime—even a pseudo-otaku like Jiang Hai would know it was called a'school swimsuit' (sukumizu). It tightly squeezed her chest and the indescribable areas below, making everything clearly visible. After changing into it, she felt something was off, but it was too late to change—the others insisted she wear it. Wallis Shelley also made an impression, wearing only a bra.
This thing was originally designed for smaller figures to lift and shape fat.
But she was already well-endowed, so squeezing it made things even more... intense...
After picking their outfits, they informed Daliana, Marian, and Talaga, then headed to the bathroom. While soaking in the bath, they discussed how to handle Jiang Hai when he arrived. Meanwhile, Jiang Hai was completely unaware of all this.
Now that Jiang Hai had arrived, they began putting their earlier plans into action.
Jiang Hai's clothes were soon removed, and someone pulled him to the edge of the hot spring. The girls filled their mouths with hot spring water, kissed Jiang Hai's body, and spat the water out to bathe him. Soon, his body was wet. Then the girls had him stand up, applied bath gel all over themselves—especially on certain indescribable pairs of things—and began lathering Jiang Hai up. Meanwhile, Feng Yunchen moved behind Jiang Hai, reaching around to touch a certain indescribable, already bulging part of him from behind.
"Hah, you guys, wow..." To be honest, Jiang Hai had experienced things like this before—whether when he went out to have fun or visited Pula Walton. He'd been treated like this before, but it was never as Shock or thrilling as today.
After all, in his eyes, those other women were just wildflowers—it was only natural they'd try hard to please him. But these girls were his own—people he'd treat well even without all this. Yet now, with them doing this, Jiang Hai felt even more... something.
"Having fun?" Looking at Jiang Hai's expression, though reluctant to admit it, Qi Jie had to acknowledge that Feng Yunchen was truly skilled in these matters. Sometimes, letting the man take the initiative was more effective than them doing it themselves. Thinking this, she leaned in, smiling at Jiang Hai while licking his neck with her tongue.
Looking at her pretty face and hearing her voice, Jiang Hai couldn't help but smile. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her lips deeply. Seeing the fire was stoked enough, Afra and the others rinsed the foam off Jiang Hai's body. Then four or five of them knelt down and began servicing Jiang Hai's 'brother,' while Afra, at Feng Yunchen's signal, started attacking Jiang Hai's rear with her tongue. With this sensation hitting him, Jiang Hai was really starting to lose control!
"Let's go!" Thinking this, Jiang Hai picked up the already-prepared Qi Jie in front of him, ready to dive right in.
But just then, a piercing phone ringtone sounded. Jiang Hai initially ignored it, but the ringing persisted. Meanwhile, Qi Ya went over, saw the caller was Edward Anderson, and brought the phone to Jiang Hai.
"Damn it," Jiang Hai muttered under his breath. He'd never hated Edward Anderson as much as he did now, but the hatred came and went quickly. He knew Edward Anderson wouldn't keep calling unless it was something serious. After a moment's thought, under Qi Jie's slightly melancholic gaze, he swiped to answer.
"Hey, it's me. What's up?" Suppressing his irritation, Jiang Hai asked Edward Anderson over the phone.
"Boss, we've got a big—problem!" Hearing Jiang Hai's voice, Edward Anderson replied gravely.
"What's going on? Explain clearly. Did someone come to steal fish?" Hearing the sound of boat engines and sea wind from Edward Anderson's end, Jiang Hai frowned. It wasn't the usual time for fishing boats to go out, as they typically fished at night to use fish-attracting lights to gather schools for better catches.
If they were out now, it meant there might be trouble. Could it be that someone was stealing fish again?
"It's worse than that. It's not people stealing fish—it's fish stealing fish!" Hearing Jiang Hai's question, Edward Anderson almost gritted his teeth as he spoke.
"Fish?" Jiang Hai was taken aback. What did he mean by fish stealing fish?
"Orcas. A pod of Orcas has appeared around our fishing grounds." Sensing Jiang Hai's confusion, Edward Anderson cut to the chase. Hearing his Gritting teeth tone, Jiang Hai swallowed his initial thought—what's the big deal about Orcas? If Edward Anderson said it was a big problem, it likely was.
"Alright, I'll head over right away to take a look." After a moment's thought, Jiang Hai shrugged helplessly at Qi Jie and the others. To be honest, if there was trouble at the estate, he had to check it out. Even though the girls were putting in tremendous effort and he was fully prepared...
He still knew how to prioritize. Hanging up the phone, Jiang Hai lowered his head and gave Qi Jie a deep French kiss.
"I love this, really, I truly do. Wait for me to come back, and we'll continue." Looking into Qi Jie's eyes, Jiang Hai smiled, then said to the girls around him before quickly putting on his clothes and leaving. (To be continued.)
Annoying Orcas
"Those damned whales!" Jiang Hai muttered, pulling on his clothes and stepping out of the bath. Honestly, he was so furious right now, he felt like killing someone.
Since he couldn't kill people, he'd settle for killing fish—er, whales weren't fish, but whatever. He was certainly brave enough to kill things in the sea. Well, maybe. Possibly. Probably. He figured he was brave enough. Ignoring everything else, Jiang Hai quickly jogged back to his villa, hopped on his ATV, and sped away. The weather was warming up now; only shaded areas still held snow, and most of the rest had melted, making the ATV the right choice. He raced toward the dock. Initially, he had planned to go straight to the airport.
But considering that Mallen Rupert, the person who could fly the plane, was currently out on the sea, and Bell Leicester had to look after the cattle, flying the plane himself—well, he was still a little nervous. Although he had learned how to fly, it was completely different from driving a car.
If he crashed a car, at worst the car would be totaled. There were no cliffs around his place, so a fatal crash was unlikely. As long as Jiang Hai wasn't instantly killed, he could escape.
Flying, however, was different; one mistake and you could be truly finished. Jiang Hai was too afraid of death, so he decided to take a boat instead. When he arrived at the dock, Enol Cesc, who was stationed there, had already prepared a runabout. The two men boarded the boat and headed toward the location where Edward Anderson had sent the signal.
They sped along like the wind. Because they were moving so fast, after about an hour, Jiang Hai spotted Edward Anderson's boat in the distance. Besides their vessel, many dorsal fins were cutting through the water far away.
"These damn whales," Enol Cesc cursed under his breath, looking at the orcas before them.
Their boat quickly approached. Before they even docked, Enol Cesc threw a mooring line, which Tommy Charles on the fishing vessel caught. They secured the small boat tightly to the larger vessel, then quickly pulled it closer, allowing Jiang Hai and Enol Cesc to board Jiang Hai's fishing boat. The moment Jiang Hai stepped aboard, he rushed over to Edward Anderson. After steadying his breath and seeing the dorsal fins in the distance and Edward Anderson's grim face, Jiang Hai's expression also darkened. He began counting the orcas in the distance. He had initially thought it was just a small pod, but now it seemed he had been too naive, because this orca group was absolutely immense.
In other words, Jiang Hai was definitely in big trouble right now. These orcas were absolutely bad news for him!
Some might say Jiang Hai was making a mountain out of a molehill, so why was he reacting this way? Because orcas eat fish.
In this world, no law is absolutely fair, such as environmental protection laws, which are considered crucial globally.
This legislation actually causes huge harm to fishermen and ranchers, but in the name of the "future of humanity," governments simply discard the interests of these people. It must be said that this is unfair to fishermen and agricultural workers.
This situation is the same everywhere. For instance, in China, you might work hard raising cattle and sheep, waiting to sell them.
But if a wolf or a tiger comes and eats your livestock, and you kill the predator, you can be sentenced to jail. However, if you don't fight the tiger, the state is happy to see your cattle and sheep eaten, all in the name of maintaining the tiger's wild nature.
After the animals are eaten, the government claims they will compensate you, but the money isn't even enough to buy new calves and lambs. Who are you supposed to complain to? Moreover, your land investment is wasted, because with wild animals like tigers and wolves roaming around, how can you continue farming? But actually, the situation in China is still relatively decent. If this happened in India or Africa, who would compensate you?
If your animals are eaten, it's considered your bad luck; you've fed the wildlife. However, the laws there aren't too strict, so if you retaliate and kill the animal, few people will know—it's a double-edged sword. Compared to those countries, the situation in Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia is even more irritating. It's the same with tigers and wolves: you get some compensation if your livestock are eaten, and then you decide whether or not to sell your land, though it's unclear if anyone would buy it.
Although the compensation is slightly higher than in China, to Jiang Hai, the money they pay is utterly worthless!
How much are his beef and his fish worth? Can these people afford to compensate him fully? Given how poor the U.S. government is right now, even if they bankrupted the entire U.S. Treasury, they might not be able to cover Jiang Hai's assets. Therefore, they are destined to compensate strictly according to the legal statutes.
Fortunately, the U.S. isn't Australia. Australia is even stricter: if a bird is suicidal enough to fly into your windshield and you hit and kill it, you can be sentenced to jail... To avoid these troublesome issues, Jiang Hai had been taking precautions for a long time. On land, it was easier: he built fences and raised three "bodyguards" in the forest—a mountain lion (which was now nearly as large as an African lion, or perhaps even bigger), a giant python, and a crocodile. With these three guarding the area...
If people came onto Jiang Hai's land, he could handle them. If animals came, these three guys would take care of it immediately. Coyotes, for example, were asking for death if they dared to approach. Even if someone found out, Jiang Hai could easily deny responsibility, claiming he didn't know anything, and that these animals were simply eliminated by the food chain. What did it have to do with him?
Therefore, Jiang Hai had basically no worries regarding his land. With these three providing protection, he felt very secure.
As for the ocean, similar incidents had occurred before. That time, it was a group of hammerhead sharks, which Jiang Hai and Da Sha (Big Fool) and his mate had dealt with. Afterward, he introduced a pod of dolphins. Jiang Hai had gone diving to check on them a few days ago.
Da Sha and his mate had given birth to three pups, all of which looked quite large. New families had also formed among the dolphins. It seemed his security force was steadily growing. They were also smart enough to know that they should primarily hunt outside Jiang Hai's waters, only returning occasionally when they were hungry or wanted a late-night snack, choosing fish that had no economic value but the same nutritional value, such as small tuna, skipjack, or many types of Atlantic cod.
Later, Jiang Hai brought back his current strongest weapon: Roger, a giant squid. After feeding it a significant amount of spiritual energy and plenty of food, the creature had become a veritable sea monster.
With such a force stationed here, it was no exaggeration to say the area was impregnable. Unfortunately, this army was being challenged today.
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are highly intelligent, social animals. Even humans are quite fond of these marine mammals because they are genuinely trainable, much like dogs.
To be honest, Jiang Hai used to like these creatures very much, but he only liked them when they were in an aquarium, definitely not when they were in the open ocean. This wasn't because Jiang Hai was cold-blooded or cruel; it was easy for others to judge when they weren't in his shoes.
Since these creatures weren't eating *their* fish, plenty of people would naturally stand on a moral high ground and spout nonsense.
So Jiang Hai didn't pay any attention to what those people said. All he knew was that these creatures were now interfering with his ability to make money.
"These guys really showed up..." Edward Anderson's face was extremely grim as he looked at the massive group of forty-one orcas before them. Right now, the orcas were most wary of the ship and the people on board. Their intelligence told them that these humans were not to be trifled with, so they were still observing.
"What's the plan?" Jiang Hai asked him after a moment's thought, hearing Edward Anderson's words.
"A long time ago, the orcas started eyeing our fishing grounds. But every time they tried to invade, they were chased off by those dolphins. I remember those dolphins are yours, and one of the large sharks, I think you released it. It seems they've claimed this area as their territory, so I didn't worry too much. But I never expected these guys would still be so persistent, actually gathering together to attack our area." Edward Anderson took a deep breath and spoke with a serious expression. Hearing this, Jiang Hai narrowed his eyes.
He naturally knew that Da Sha and his group were the ones driving them away. And if he wasn't mistaken, Da Sha's group should also be in the nearby waters right now. Sharks don't need to surface for air, so Jiang Hai couldn't see them underwater, but dolphins do need to breathe, so they would periodically surface in the distance. However, how could his two sharks and dozen or so dolphins possibly stand up to these orcas? Even adding Roger probably wouldn't be enough.
Jiang Hai's mind raced. To be honest, he didn't want to hunt these intelligent creatures, but they were seriously threatening his fishing grounds. What if he used his spiritual energy to turn them into his subordinates?
The moment this idea surfaced, Jiang Hai immediately dismissed it. Are you kidding? How could he possibly turn them into subordinates in the current situation? Could he force out forty-plus bursts of spiritual energy? When Jiang Hai first started using his blood, he could only manage four drops a day, which was incredibly taxing, like masturbating twenty times. Later, when he could force out the spiritual energy, look at how many days it took to heal Aphra and the others. The most he ever released was fourteen drops for the dolphins, which left him floating nearly a month before he recovered. Although he was stronger now, releasing energy ten or twenty times would probably leave him completely exhausted.
Furthermore, and most importantly, Jiang Hai needed a medium to release spiritual energy; he had to actually touch these creatures.
Was he sure that while he was touching one orca, the other forty wouldn't immediately tear him to pieces? These creatures were highly intelligent. What if they dragged Jiang Hai into the deep sea? That would expose his secret of being able to operate underwater! That secret absolutely could not be exposed. If there were only one or two orcas, Jiang Hai would have a solution, but with forty-one, what could he do?
After considering all options, Jiang Hai realized he might truly be out of choices. He looked earnestly at Edward Anderson and asked, "Can we hunt them?" Since he couldn't subdue them or drive them away, he was going to unleash a massacre!
A Bitter Struggle
"Unfortunately, I have to tell you it's a no, because it can see!" Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Edward Anderson pointed helplessly at the sky. By saying this, he naturally didn't mean that God or some heavenly being could see; he meant that satellites could see. Slaughtering wild animals, regardless of the reason, would definitely land Jiang Hai in a lawsuit.
Furthermore, in the US, just like back home, animal cruelty could lead to prison. Jiang Hai was the backbone of their manor. If something happened to him, it would be a disaster. So, as soon as Jiang Hai mentioned it, Edward Anderson rejected him with a grim expression. Hearing this, Jiang Hai couldn't help but frown. Was he really forced to suffer this loss in silence?
Just as Jiang Hai was feeling incredibly conflicted, the Orca pod in front of them suddenly moved. Perhaps they truly couldn't resist the food right before them, as a sound like the rattling of rusty iron chains reached Jiang Hai and the others' ears.
"Boss, they're about to attack!" Hearing these sounds, Edward Anderson said with an angry expression.
Orcas have a special trait; they can be considered the masters of language in the ocean because they can produce over sixty different sounds, each with a different meaning. This current sound was their signal to attack.
"Use the water cannons! Use the water cannons to drive them away!" Jiang Hai roared loudly, slamming his fist against the railing. He didn't want to go to prison, nor could he. There were definitely many people watching him right now. As long as he was around, everything was fine.
If he were to end up in prison and be absent, all sorts of monsters and demons would likely crawl out. Even the US Government would certainly not miss such an opportunity, so he absolutely could not give them any excuses.
Hearing Jiang Hai's order, Edward Anderson immediately commanded the crew to adjust the water cannons. Although water cannons could still harm wild animals, it was only a matter of injury and deterrence, which wouldn't cause legal trouble. In this world, everything must be human-centric.
Killing these Orcas would naturally cause trouble, but if they were merely driving them away, then no matter what environmental protection agencies said, it wouldn't pose a threat to Jiang Hai.
With Jiang Hai's command, the water cannons on his large ship fired instantly, slamming directly into the two closest Orcas. The massive impact of the water jets knocked them back several meters. They shook their dizzy heads and looked at the ship in terror. Simply put, these animals were still afraid of humans.
This was because their ancestors had been slaughtered by humans until they were terrified; this fear was deeply ingrained in their DNA.
Now, seeing that Jiang Hai actually dared to strike them, they became afraid. Many of the Orcas turned to flee.
However, at that moment, another sound rang out. It seemed the Orca Leader had noticed something.
The things hitting them were just water cannons, not Harpoon guns or firearms. If it was just water cannons, they weren't afraid. At the Orca Leader's command, all the Orcas temporarily suppressed their fear and dove headfirst into the sea. Orcas are indeed excellent swimmers, capable of diving over three hundred meters deep and holding their breath for over an hour. Usually, they surface every twenty minutes for air, but their limit can reach around two hours. Orcas like to hunt humpback whales and even blue whales by using their long dive times to trap them in the deep sea, preventing them from surfacing to breathe until they suffocate.
These were all adult Orcas—the juveniles likely hadn't been allowed to come—so their hunting experience was quite extensive. Hearing the leader's call, they dove directly into the water.
Water cannons are just water, no matter how powerful the blast. When water hits water, how many meters of impact can it really have?
While powerful in the air, what use were they underwater? Now, the leader was testing to see if Jiang Hai had Harpoon guns!
In reality, Jiang Hai indeed did not have any... so he could only watch as these whales dove underwater and swiftly charged into his fishery. Seeing this, Jiang Hai gripped the ship's railing so hard that he left finger indentations in the iron. What now? No one knew; even Edward Anderson could only stare blankly.
Despite their hatred, they had no way to kill these creatures. If they couldn't kill them, these animals would constantly raid Jiang Hai's fishery. Driving them away for good was impossible; these creatures were like persistent parasites!
Even if Jiang Hai fenced off the fishery later, these creatures would tear through the wire mesh to get in.
If they accidentally tangled and killed themselves, it would still be Jiang Hai's responsibility. Yes, it was that unreasonable!
"Shit, shit, shit!" Watching the Orca pod charge into his waters, Jiang Hai could do nothing but curse. But just then, streams of water surged forward; Jiang Hai's Imperial Guard had begun their attack!
Leading the charge was naturally Big Fool. Current Big Fool was not smaller than an Orca; in fact, he was a size larger than the biggest one. His mate was certainly not smaller than an average adult Orca either. These two charged the hardest.
Most importantly, sharks don't need to surface for air, so they held every advantage underwater.
"There's still a chance! Control the water cannons! If those Orcas dare to surface, hit them hard!" Seeing those currents, Jiang Hai's eyes lit up as he roared. Hearing his words, the people on the ship immediately adjusted the water cannons, aiming at the surface and waiting for the Orcas to rise. Although they didn't know why the Orcas would surface, Jiang Hai was the boss, and his word was law!
In the ocean, Big Fool led the way, charging directly at the Orca in the lead. This Orca was no pushover. Seeing Big Fool charge, it didn't back down. As the apex predators of the ocean, Orcas were never intimidated by sharks. Of course, its brain wasn't quick enough to immediately realize why this shark was so massive.
When they met on a narrow path, it wasn't just the brave who won, because Big Fool himself was far more powerful than this Orca.
His combat prowess was now on full display as he lunged forward and bit directly at the Orca.
Seeing those rows of razor-sharp teeth, the Orca, being a clever creature, finally felt fear at the last moment. It tried to dodge and strike Big Fool with its tail, but unfortunately, Big Fool lunged straight for the tail. A crunching sound rang out!
Big Fool bit directly into the Orca's tail, then thrashed his head and tore a large chunk away. Big Fool didn't even eat it; he spat it out and turned to face the second Orca.
Without its tail fin, the Orca couldn't swim fast, and its combat strength plummeted. It panicked and tried to flee, but could it? Big Fool's mate instantly struck from behind, biting into its belly and tearing away another large piece of flesh. This Orca was doomed!
Meanwhile, Big Fool was like a tiger among sheep as he began attacking the second Orca. For a moment, he was peerless and unstoppable. The second Orca didn't last long either; its left pectoral fin was shredded by Big Fool. It wailed and tried to retreat, only for Big Fool's mate to catch up and bite off its tail. Deprived of a pectoral fin and a tail, the Orca could only slowly sink toward the seabed. Its fate was to be crushed by water pressure or to suffocate.
Seeing the terrifying combat power of Big Fool and his mate, the Orca Leader was also startled. In fact, many of the Orcas here had been driven away by Big Fool before, but because Big Fool and the others hadn't lacked food back then, they only drove them away without pursuing. They had never been this vicious. Now that Big Fool and his mate were playing for keeps, these Orcas were truly frightened.
"Beautifully done!" Seeing Big Fool's unstoppable momentum, Jiang Hai pumped his fist. This was incredible.
However, the Orcas soon stabilized. Their leader seemed dead set on entering Jiang Hai's fishery. It called out again, and many Orcas began to change formation. Two-thirds of them formed a circular formation, surrounding Big Fool and his mate from a distance, while over a dozen other Orcas charged toward the Dolphins, who had previously only been providing support.
Orcas eat Dolphins; whether Orca lovers believe it or not, it is a fact. Although these Dolphins had been nourished by Jiang Hai's spiritual energy, they had already been adults when he bought them, so they hadn't grown exceptionally large. Currently, they were mostly three to four meters long. Compared to Orcas that were eight to nine meters long, they were at a severe disadvantage. If it were four Dolphins against one Orca, they would have a good chance of winning.
But now, two Dolphins had to face at least three Orcas, and they couldn't hold out. The Dolphins' formation was almost instantly broken by the charging male Orcas, and the remaining Orcas began to hunt them.
Compared to the other fish in Jiang Hai's manor, these Dolphins had received full doses of spiritual energy and had been fed plenty of spiritual fish and beef. Thus, the temptation of these Dolphins was far greater than that of common fish.
In an instant, these Orcas bared their grim white teeth and snapped at Jiang Hai's Dolphins.
Seeing these creatures dare to target their subordinates, Big Fool and his mate immediately tried to charge forward. Unfortunately, two pairs of fists are no match for four hands, and a hero cannot withstand a crowd. These Orcas clustered together, darting in and out, teasing Big Fool and his mate while keeping them trapped in the circle. For a moment, the situation on the field became perilously dangerous! (To be continued.)
King of the Ocean! Roger!
Jiang Hai's ocean had almost no pollution. Of course, it couldn't compare to those world-class diving spots or coral reef clusters where you could see right to the bottom at a glance. The visibility here in Jiang Hai's waters was only about three to five meters.
"Clear water yields no fish" is not just a saying. However, Jiang Hai's physical fitness, which was eight times that of an ordinary person, allowed him to see the fierce battle beneath the surface. Although he couldn't see it clearly, he could at least make out the individual black shadows.
At this moment, in Jiang Hai's view, his underwater guard team was in a dire situation. One pod of Orcas had trapped Big Fool and his mate, while another pod was attacking the Dolphins, putting the Dolphins in constant peril.
The gap between the Dolphins and the Orcas was simply too large. They didn't swim as fast as the Orcas, and they weren't as big. If they bit an Orca, the Orca would at most bleed a little, but if an Orca bit them, they were dead.
Fortunately, Jiang Hai's Dolphins had evolved; not only were they larger, faster, and more agile, but they were now relying on their nimble movements to constantly maneuver around the Orcas. However, the Orcas were highly intelligent.
Realizing they couldn't take down Jiang Hai's Dolphins in one-on-one combat, they changed their strategy. Several male Orcas continued to ram the Dolphins' formation, while other Orcas began to surround and kill them—five against one. No matter how tough the Dolphins were, it was impossible for them to escape! Right before Jiang Hai's eyes, in the blink of an eye, one Dolphin was cornered by four Orcas. Just as it was considering how to escape, an Orca suddenly shot up from below and rammed directly into the Dolphin's belly. The massive impact sent the Dolphin flying out of the water. Following immediately, the Orca also leaped out of the water, giving the Dolphin in mid-air no chance at all, and bit down on it.
"Fire!" Watching his Dolphin bleeding profusely from the bite, Jiang Hai roared. His men immediately activated the water cannons, blasting the Orca away while it was still in mid-air. Although the Orca hit the sea surface hard and was stunned, it shook its head and sank back into the ocean. As for the Dolphin, it was already dead by the time it fell back down, as its body had been nearly bitten in two, held together only by some skin, and its eyes had already turned a dull grey-black.
"Give me the gun!" Looking at the Dolphin that had floated on the surface for only a moment before sinking again, it would be no exaggeration to say that Jiang Hai was gnashing his teeth in rage. Watching his subordinate die right in front of him, if Jiang Hai wasn't furious, would he even be human?
"Boss!" Seeing Jiang Hai's state, Edward Anderson hesitated for a moment, but he still didn't give the gun to Jiang Hai, keeping it in his own hands instead. Seeing his actions, Jiang Hai looked at him with some confusion.
"I'll be the one to kill the whales, Boss. The manor can't do without you. When I get out, you wouldn't refuse to let me come back to work, would you?" Meeting Jiang Hai's gaze, Edward Anderson smiled, took a deep breath, and said. It was clear that he had made up his mind.
Hearing Edward Anderson's words, Jiang Hai smiled bitterly. This was truly bad luck! What kind of unprovoked disaster was this!
"Boss, look over there!" Just as Jiang Hai was about to say something to Edward Anderson, his subordinate Bilzefunea suddenly shouted. Hearing his words, Jiang Hai looked in the direction he was pointing.
He saw that in the distance on the sea surface, a massive, flesh-colored object was drifting toward the waters where Jiang Hai and his team were, pulsing along. Looking at that enormous creature, perhaps others didn't know what it was, but Jiang Hai knew very well.
"Roger?" Looking at that creature, Jiang Hai had been wondering why he hadn't seen that Giant Spear Squid yet, even though the battle had already started. Now it seemed this guy was just too slow at swimming...
Indeed, squids move by sucking in water and expelling it to create propulsion. Smaller ones might be hard to catch, but in terms of speed, they really lagged far behind fish.
"It's up to you, Roger!" Seeing this creature join the fray, although Jiang Hai wasn't entirely sure if its arrival would turn the tide of the battle, it was at least a glimmer of hope. Pressing down on Edward Anderson's gun, Jiang Hai decided to take a gamble!
Meanwhile, when the Orcas saw this Giant Spear Squid, they were also stunned, because they rarely saw such creatures.
The Giant Spear Squid, scientifically known as the colossal squid, was not a Giant Squid; they were actually larger than the Giant Squid.
But for the Orcas, they had seen this creature before, though it wasn't very common, because the Giant Spear Squid lived in the deep sea at depths of around two thousand meters, while they lived in the ocean at depths of around three hundred meters.
They only occasionally saw such creatures, and to them, they didn't seem to pose any threat.
Don't let the size of the Giant Spear Squid fool you; in reality, this creature weighed less than a ton and its lethality was very average. Its only ability was to block a whale's blowhole to suffocate it. Orcas usually wouldn't hunt this creature because it didn't taste good and was troublesome. This thing was the favorite food of the Sperm Whale. Of course, the Giant Spear Squid wouldn't go looking for trouble with Orcas either.
Basically, the two could be considered to live in separate worlds, but at this moment, this guy charging straight over indicated its allegiance: it was on the defensive side. And judging by its size, it seemed to be larger than the ones they had seen before.
"Squeak!" Seeing this guy, the leader of the Orcas called out twice. Consequently, two Orcas rushed over, intending to drive this creature away. If it didn't leave, they wouldn't mind taking it out. But just as they charged over, this guy struck first! Originally, the tentacles of this Giant Spear Squid were about as thick as a human wrist—of course, that referred to the tips; the bases were much thicker. And with the nourishment of Jiang Hai's spiritual energy, this creature had clearly mutated.
At this moment, Jiang Hai's Roger, if measured, would be about thirty meters long, definitely not falling short compared to a blue whale, and even larger than the boat Jiang Hai was currently sitting on. Its tentacles, which were originally as thick as a wrist, had become as thick as the wrists of four adult men under the nourishment of spiritual energy and these days of care. Seeing two Orcas charging over, it instantly shot out two of its eight tentacles, like large clubs, and lashed directly at the two Orcas.
Both Orcas were stunned, having almost no room to react, and were directly knocked silly by these two tentacles. One had to know that these tentacles had hook-like teeth on them. This lash opened up several deep wounds on the two Orcas, causing blood to flow instantly, but it also incited the rage of these two Orcas, who opened their mouths and bit back.
However, at this moment, the two tentacles Roger had originally extended circled around and grabbed the tails of these two Orcas from behind. Then, without a word, it dragged these two guys down into the deep sea. The Orcas panicked instantly.
They wanted to break free, but unfortunately, the Giant Spear Squid, which they viewed as light and easy to deal with, now possessed immense, overwhelming strength. It dragged them by their tails straight down into the deep sea. No matter how much these two guys tried to shake themselves free, it was all in vain; they could only be gradually swallowed by the darkness. Watching the two Orcas disappear just like that, the other Orcas were stunned. One had to know that until now, they had only lost two Orcas and were already on the verge of victory. But now that a Giant Spear Squid had arrived, they had immediately lost another two. What the hell was this? What kind of situation was this?
Now these Orcas were completely stunned. For a brief moment, the scene fell silent. However, they might have been stunned, but Jiang Hai's subordinates were not. Big Fool took this opportunity to charge out of the encirclement and once again severely injured an Orca.
It reunited with the Dolphins to fight against these Orcas. Seeing this scene, the Orcas prepared to use the same method again to encircle these guys; they still had enough numbers. But just at this moment, two pained cries suddenly rang out, and then the corpses of the two Orcas slowly floated up from the deep sea. These two Orcas had no other wounds on their bodies besides the ones from earlier, yet they had died just like that—died very cleanly. This time, the Orcas panicked again...
Orcas are different from Baleen Whales, Sperm Whales, Humpback Whales, and others; they don't dive very deep. In very deep places, where the water pressure is high, they have to surface immediately. But unfortunately, Roger wouldn't let them surface!
Dragging them down, and dragging them down—that was how these two guys met their end. Although they looked like they had no injuries on the surface, their lungs had been crushed by the water pressure; they were dead as dead could be.
Accompanied by the two Orca corpses, Jiang Hai's Roger surfaced once again. Looking at its huge eyes, all the Orcas felt a bit intimidated. Just kidding, it had so effortlessly taken care of two adult Orcas—since when could Giant Spear Squids be this fierce! The smarter the creature, the more it fears death, and these Orcas were the same.
Come to think of it, Orcas are not short of food in the ocean because they can hunt nearly ninety percent of the species in the ocean. They can eat fish, even sharks; they can eat Dolphins, seabirds, seals, fur seals, sea lions, and even walruses; they often hunt the calves of Sperm Whales, Humpback Whales, and Blue Whales, with a hunting success rate as high as over fifty percent. The reason they came here wasn't because they were so hungry their eyes were red and they would die if they didn't eat.
They sensed that there was something delicious here, which is why they came over. And so, now they were chickening out! (To be continued.)
Strengthening Maritime Defense
The current situation with these killer whales is like a person who is slightly hungry and already has food cooked at home, but upon passing a neighbor's house, they smell something incredibly fragrant and delicious being cooked there.
Most people would choose to rush home to eat, but these killer whales chose to charge into the neighbor's house, drive the owner out, and claim the meal for themselves. However, now that they realized the owner had a gun tucked into their waistband, they had no choice but to retreat.
Although the killer whales backed down, Jiang Hai's subordinates did not. Seeing the orcas hesitate and Roger surface, Big Stupid led the dolphins in a charge toward them. Most of the killer whales' initial instinct was to flee upon seeing the charge, but at that critical moment, the leader started vocalizing again.
Hearing the leader's cries, the killer whales hesitated. Whether it was Roger's intelligence allowing him to discern the presence of a leader, or just dumb luck, in its next attack, it grabbed the tails of three killer whales—and one of them was the leader!
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" Amidst the leader's frantic screams, Roger expelled the water from its body and rapidly dove toward the deep sea. Seeing that their leader was finished, the remaining killer whales fully demonstrated the principle of self-preservation. They instantly turned around and sped away in the direction they had come from.
Watching the invaders flee, Jiang Hai couldn't help but sigh in relief and smiled faintly. However, the memory of the sacrificed dolphin brought a pang of sadness. Honestly, this was the first time Jiang Hai's 'navy' had suffered a casualty, and losing a dolphin in the initial conflict showed him that the security measures at his fishing grounds were still inadequate.
If they had been sharks, the dolphins would have had no problem, but since they were whales, the dolphins were clearly intimidated.
Today it was killer whales; what if one day it was a sperm whale? What would Jiang Hai do then?
He needed to seriously consider these issues... After their leader was taken, the killer whale pod rapidly withdrew. Shortly after, the corpses of the three killer whales floated to the surface before slowly sinking to the seabed. They had died because the water pressure crushed their lungs, so they couldn't remain afloat for long. Already, a large number of fish were gathering around the whale bodies—for the fish residing in Jiang Hai's estate, this was an undeniable feast.
Sometimes nature is so ironic: the hunter in one moment becomes the prey of their own intended meal in the next.
However, Big Stupid and the others did not partake in the spoils. The death of one dolphin had left them deeply saddened. Many dolphins surfaced, letting out mournful cries, seemingly bidding farewell to their fallen comrade.
Seeing this, Jiang Hai could only sigh. He turned and went into the cabin, retrieving a piece of frozen beef from the fridge. All he could do now was help these creatures replenish their lost energy and recover from their injuries. While his 'navy' appeared mostly unscathed during the fight, some scrapes were unavoidable. Big Stupid, for instance, now had seven or eight cuts on its body; though not deep, they were bleeding steadily.
Jiang Hai infused four streams of spiritual energy into this beef—a rare extravagance for him. He then sliced the energized beef into more than ten pieces and distributed them. Big Stupid and its mate, along with every dolphin, received a piece. The largest portion was given to Roger; if it hadn't been for the giant squid today, Jiang Hai's estate would have faced disaster.
"I don't want to hear about what happened today under any circumstances," Jiang Hai said to the stunned fishermen behind him, watching as the creatures submerged again after eating the beef.
Everyone, including Edward Anderson, was baffled. Why would dolphins, sharks, and that creature—which they were fairly certain was a giant squid—help Jiang Hai? They truly couldn't make sense of it. However, incomprehension didn't mean they would spread the news. Hearing Jiang Hai's warning, they all nodded immediately. They certainly didn't want to lose their jobs here, and the newcomers were no exception. They had clearly seen how much Edward Anderson and the others had earned last year, and it was impossible not to feel envious.
Especially now that they knew Jiang Hai was about to purchase another batch of commercial fish, they wouldn't leave even if they were chased away.
Once the matter settled, Edward Anderson restarted the engine and headed toward the dock. On the way back, everyone was noticeably silent, especially Jiang Hai. He sat on the bow, gazing at the wind and waves ahead, ignoring the water splashing onto him, simply sitting with his chin resting in his hand. His mood was genuinely sour.
Upon returning home, he had no heart for playing with Qi Jie and the others. After he briefly explained the situation at the fishing grounds, the girls understood that it wasn't the time for fun. They obediently took quick baths and returned to the mansion. That night, Jiang Hai skipped his usual exercise and went straight to bed, embracing Feng Yunchen, Ai Xiaoxi, Xila, and Osiria, whose turn it was to share his bed. Soon, the four girls were fast asleep.
Jiang Hai, however, stared at the ceiling, contemplating how to increase his defensive capabilities.
There is a saying that has always circulated in Jiang Hai's hometown: "Only a dog can bite a dog to death." Of course, that's the general meaning of the idiom.
What he needed to do now was strengthen the defensive power of his waters. When considering how to deal with marine behemoths like killer whales, sperm whales, and humpback whales, the first animal Jiang Hai thought of was the killer whale itself. However, he immediately dismissed the idea. This wasn't because he had killed several orcas today; he wasn't that narrow-minded.
It was because he had specifically looked up this creature after returning, and they simply ate too much.
An adult killer whale weighs nine tons and must eat at least four percent of its body weight in food per day, sometimes more. Four percent of nine tons is 360 kilograms. If Jiang Hai estimated that half of that 360 kg came from his own fishing grounds, that would be 180 kg of fish. At $50 per kilogram for his fish, raising a single killer whale—even if he allowed it to hunt half its food elsewhere and only consumed the other half here—would cost $9,000 per day. If it ate entirely within Jiang Hai's waters, the cost would be $18,000. Naturally, he wouldn't raise just one. The daily food cost for ten would be $180,000, totaling $65.7 million annually. Jiang Hai might be extravagant, but he absolutely would not spend over sixty million US dollars worth of fish to feed so many killer whales, especially since they wouldn't necessarily only eat the $50 fish... Plus, with the nourishment of spiritual energy, they wouldn't stay at nine tons. After much thought, Jiang Hai concluded that raising ten killer whales would lead to bankruptcy, so he immediately discarded the idea. Since killer whales were out, he had to consider other options... The second animal Jiang Hai thought of was the Great White Shark. Compared to the orca, the Great White is smaller and much lighter. Its fighting ability is comparable, though it is clumsier, and naturally, it eats much less.
Great White Sharks differ from typical sharks. Ordinary sharks, like Big Stupid, are cold-blooded fish. Great Whites are not entirely cold-blooded; they are semi-warm-blooded. Therefore, while they can't survive for two months on a single full meal like Big Stupid and his kind, they can often last half a month. Even if they ate daily, their intake is only about 1.6% of their body weight. An adult Great White is roughly 3,200 kilograms—calculating it as three tons—meaning a daily intake of 48 kilograms. If they exclusively hunted Jiang Hai's fish, the cost would be $2,400 per day, or $876,000 annually. Raising ten would cost around $9 million. Compared to $65.7 million a year, this was less than one-sixth and well within Jiang Hai's acceptable range. However, there were caveats: first, this animal is not easy to find and is quite dangerous.
Second, the species itself isn't particularly intelligent and requires a very long time to nurture. Still, it was a viable option.
Thinking of Great White Sharks brought up the topic of cold-blooded animals, which, in turn, reminded Jiang Hai of his Giant Squid and sea snakes. However, he quickly dismissed the idea of sea snakes; Jiang Hai would never allow such creatures in his waters.
While they aren't highly aggressive, don't eat much, and could grow very large with Jiang Hai's spiritual energy, there was one problem: what if the fishermen accidentally caught one and were bitten?
Everything must prioritize people, so Jiang Hai would not raise sea snakes. Therefore, it seemed the best solution was neither the Giant Squid nor the Great White Shark. With a calculation made in his heart, Jiang Hai narrowed his eyes. Now, he just needed to figure out where to acquire these animals, as he knew his current stretch of ocean did not naturally contain them.
However, Jiang Hai wasn't worried about the specific location. He might not know, but old fishermen like Edward Anderson certainly would. He could just ask them tomorrow.
It was likely there wasn't a spot in the ocean Edward Anderson didn't know about—Jiang Hai meant the ocean, of course, not the land.
With the idea settled, Jiang Hai drifted into a deep sleep. Before long, he was completely unconscious. The busy day had finally ended! (To be continued.)