America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 331 Animals Among Animals

Madison: That's not necessary. Perhaps you can come here and wait a while. Our friend will bring a Colombian congressman to discuss this matter in person.

Madison: But I need to remind you that although the Colombian government has agreed to transfer Silver Island, those guerrillas are not so easy to talk to, and the government will not take the initiative to send troops to help you drive them out. If you can't deal with the guerrillas, then you've just spent 2000 million to buy a blank contract, a verbal agreement, which is equivalent to an undeliverable check.

Zhang Ailun: Of course I know that. Whether it's a failed investment or an attempt by the guerrillas to retaliate, I'll bear all the risks myself. I'll handle this privately; I don't need the Colombian government's help, just their official statement. I can come to your place now. Is my gun still on your plane?

Madison: Your equipment is indeed with me. Security found it; it seems you were in such a rush yesterday that you forgot to take it with you. I didn't see any reminders given to you. Don't worry, I've got it safe now, and you can come and pick it up anytime.

Zhang Ailun: Okay, just because I wasn't carrying a gun, I was almost robbed at knifepoint by a few black men on the street last night.

Madison: Hahaha, is that even possible? I'm shocked! This is what the streets of the West Coast look like at night. Aren't you used to it yet? I bet you're not really in any trouble right now, otherwise you wouldn't have insisted on coming here and would probably be lying in a hospital bed.

Zhang Ailun: I'm used to it, buddy. Of course I'm fine, don't worry. If my men hadn't arrived in time, those black guys would definitely have left something behind, instead of just getting a few minor injuries and being taken away by the police.

Madison: I could have predicted their fate wouldn't be much better. But why didn't you choose to take them to your private island for revenge?

Zhang Ailun: Do you think I'm like you? I don't grow cotton on my island, what would I need them for? I have no interest in supporting them for nothing, this isn't the era of maritime trade anymore.

Madison: You're right!

After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhang Ailun put away his phone and asked Sieg to drive to a hangar in the suburbs. He also sent a message to Bailey, asking him to come and help pilot the plane.

Upon arriving at the destination, Zhang Ailun got out of the car, waved goodbye to Sieg, and let him drive back to Los Angeles on his own.

After entering the hangar password, Zhang Ailun entered the hangar and found several Beggars' Sect disciples maintaining the aircraft. There was also a Black Hawk helicopter and a Cirrus SF50 Fathead Shark parked inside.

Another Black Hawk helicopter was flown by Bocktu to Texas to help Jimmy deal with the Aragua fire, and he hasn't returned yet.

When the Beggars' Sect disciples saw their leader arrive, they waved and greeted him warmly. Zhang Ailun nodded in acknowledgment and had someone drag the Cirrus Fathead Shark out.

After boarding the plane and sitting in the cabin for a while, I saw Bailey arrive in a pickup truck.

Bailey parked the pickup truck in the hangar, handed the keys to the Beggars' Sect disciple, boarded the plane, sat in the driver's seat, greeted the leader, fastened his seatbelt, adjusted the electronic equipment, and then asked, "Boss, where are we going?"

"I have business to attend to at Collections Island in Madison," Zhang Ailun said.

Then he put on sunglasses, closed his eyes to rest, and said, "Wake me when we get there."

"OK".

Bailey agreed, expertly started the plane, and after a short sprint down the runway, it rose into the clouds as the air pressure changed. It headed towards Collection Island in Madison.

An hour later.

We arrived at Madison's private island. The island's outline could be seen on the horizon in the distance.

Bailey woke up the Grand Master and then contacted the island's control tower. After receiving clearance to land, he slowed down, dove down, and landed smoothly on the airport.

Zhang Ailun stretched, unbuckled his seatbelt, and got off the plane. He saw several armored vehicles parked next to the airport. Madison got out of the car, waved to the leader, and said with a smile, "I knew you were almost there, so I was waiting here. Here, this is your equipment, returned to its rightful owner."

The tactical chest pack was exchanged with the leader.

Zhang Ailun opened it and took a look; all the equipment was there.

He joked, "What, you want me to give you an award?"

"No need for that. Once you've taken care of Silver Island and actually dug up some valuable silver coins, just give me a few." Madison laughed.

"Has our guest not arrived yet?" Zhang Ailun glanced at the female assistant beside him. A new face? This old man is really still going strong.

"This is Follett's female assistant. She came to tell me about it beforehand. Follett is a fruit tycoon in Colombia," Madison introduced.

"Really? I thought you were your new female assistant. Hello, I'm Hamburger Juankin." Zhang Ailun smiled and shook hands with the female assistant.

"Hello, Mr. Kim. Our boss is currently on his way here on a private plane with a Colombian congressman. They will arrive in about an hour," the female assistant said hurriedly.

"Looks like we'll have to wait a little longer, Old Mad. Do you have any exciting shows planned?" Zhang Ailun asked Madison with a smile.

"I don't have a penchant for reporting banquets during the day. Perhaps we could ask Prien for his opinion?" Madison said humorously.

The Grand Master readily agreed with the suggestion, nodding, "We certainly need to respect Mr. Prian's opinion. After all, without him, I couldn't have found such a good private island location. I also happen to want to interview Prian again, so let's go now."

"Get in!!" Madison laughed and turned to get into the Cadillac. The Chief and Bailey also got into another armored limousine.

The female assistant thought it was some very important guest, so she went over in the car as well. But she didn't expect that there was indeed an important guest, but his appearance was so peculiar!

Upon arriving at the zoo area, Zhang Ailun and Madison visited Prian. Looking at the eternally sleeping Jehovah, they remarked, "He seems a bit thin from hunger. Didn't you feed him?"

"I have the doctor prepare the best nutritional supplements for him every day, which costs me several hundred dollars. I haven't skimped on him!" Madison said irritably.

"Considering the emotional value he brought you, and the $100 million cruise ship, why can't you be more generous?" the chief helmsman accused him.

"What else do you want me to do?" Madison shrugged.

"How can a few hundred dollars' worth of nutrient solution be enough? It should be at least a thousand dollars, right? You have so many animals here, consuming so much fresh meat and fruit every day. Even the gorilla next to you eats better food. How can you live with yourself doing this?" the leader said.

"It's my fault." Madison took a deep breath and began to seriously examine himself. He sighed, "Starting tomorrow, I'll increase his food intake. The nutritional fluids will be increased from $500 a day to $1,000 a day! I'll also arrange massage services for him and find Victoria's Secret models to help him stretch his muscles so that he can last longer."

"That's right. That's what a true philanthropist who serves society should be!"

The two exchanged a glance and burst into laughter, singing in unison.

The female assistant next to him was stunned by this beastly behavior, watching the two of them chatting and laughing.

That's insane! How could anyone do that? Killing someone is just a matter of beheading them, how deep must the hatred be?

Bailey watched Prien with interest, took out his phone to take a picture and post it on social media, but then saw the "No Photography" sign and couldn't help but ask the leader, "Boss, can I take a picture to remember this moment?"

"How do you want to take the picture? How about we go in and take a picture together with him, arms around each other's shoulders?" Zhang Ailun asked with interest.

"No, no, I'd rather film outside," Bailey waved his hands repeatedly.

"Taking photos is allowed, but it can only be circulated internally and cannot be leaked. Otherwise, our collector will be unhappy," Zhang Ailun reminded him.

Madison waved his hand dismissively, "Everyone on my security team has tons of photos like this on their phones, even videos. What's there to be afraid of? If nobody else knows about this, how can I keep those filthy guys in check?"

"OK!" Bailey immediately agreed and then took two photos.

The female assistant next to her also took a few photos and, barely suppressing her excitement, shared them with her friends.

Next, they visited the zoo. The leader noticed that the black panther was heavily pregnant, and the mother panther was lazily sunbathing on a rock. He exclaimed in surprise, "Is she about to give birth?"

"Of course. This is my favorite little animal. Look at its silky fur, so black and shiny. It feels so good to touch." Madison nodded with satisfaction.

"Where's the male leopard?" Zhang Ailun glanced around and saw only this female leopard. He didn't recall having any other black leopards.

"It's been released into the African savanna." Madison laughed. "Just kidding. I only had this one black panther to begin with. I brought over Prince Simba's panther to breed with. This female panther was also given to me by Prince Simba. Now she's about to have her third litter, at least four in total. If you're interested, you can take one."

"That's great. I only have one guinea pig on my island, and Prian is doing research on cultivating human organs inside animals." Zhang Ailun nodded and readily accepted.

"I wouldn't be surprised no matter what outrageous things that guy does," Prien scoffed. "But thankfully, that freak has already fallen from power, and he'll be blind for the rest of his life."

"Even without the Prien, there would still be the Orion, the Balian, the Marian. Capital has no shortage of these kinds of conglomerates," Zhang Ailun said.

"This has nothing to do with us. I don't invest in politicians, I only do my own business, and I don't have all my wealth in California or other states. I also have so many friends who are trying to win us over," Madison laughed.

"You're right." Zhang Ailun nodded.

After visiting the zoo area, we drove back to the mansion villa. We had a cup of coffee and waited a while before a private plane landed at the island's airport.

"Our guests have arrived." Madison received the message and immediately sent someone to greet them. He then got up and went to the collection room to retrieve his treasured red wines, taking a bottle of Romanée-Conti and asking a waiter to bring him wine glasses.

Two Cadillacs carrying guests arrived outside the villa.

An obese middle-aged white man with a slicked-back hairstyle and a gray-haired, short-bearded congressman got out of the car with their assistant.

Madison and Zhang Ailun immediately went out to greet them.

"Long time no see, Follett! You've gotten so much fatter, I bet you'll die of uremia sooner or later!" Madison laughed as he walked over and hugged him.

Follett chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "You're doing well too, old man. You seem to be in better shape than before. Is it because you killed Prien? When are you going to die?"

"That might be a hundred years from now," Madison said nonchalantly. "You've got me wrong. I didn't kill Prien! On the contrary, I'm supporting him! He should thank me for not having to live on the streets or worry about being strangled in prison."

The Grand Master also shook hands with Follett, and they got to know each other.

"The videos and photos you shared are great," Follett laughed.

"I'm glad you like it." The Grand Master nodded with a smile.

"This is the congressman in charge of Colombia's land and resources management, Dutch," Follett introduced.

"Mr. Dutch. I can tell you have a lot of ideas." Zhang Ailun reached out to greet him.

"Mr. Kim, you must have even more plans in store for you!" Congressman Dutch smiled.

After chatting for a few more minutes, the group returned to the villa.

Madison asked the waiter to open his treasured red wine, and the group raised their glasses in a toast before getting down to business.

"Regarding Silver Island, after careful consideration in an internal meeting, we have decided to transfer it for $2000 million." Congressman Dutch had his assistant bring out the contract and hand it to the Grand Master for review.

Zhang Ailun glanced at it; it was all in Spanish, which he couldn't understand either.

Fortunately, the assistant had prepared a translator in advance and thoughtfully provided a translation, which was in Chinese.

The above also shows a regulation annotated by the Colombian Department of Land Resources, which means that the sovereignty of Silver Island belongs to the headmaster for a short period of time, and the mining rights are transferred together, but it is not a permanent ownership, but only a lease term of 99 years.

However, 99 years is not a short time, and the Grand Master won't live to see that day. If the tide rises even once, that island might be submerged and turned into a reef again.

After all, Silver Island's coastline is too shallow and the island's area is too small. At high tide, one-tenth of its area is submerged, making it essentially a reef island.

"The United Nations stipulates that any islands or land that are colonized or leased for more than 99 years shall become the permanent property of the other country or individual. We Colombia attach great importance to our overseas territories and islands and will not sell them easily, so it can only be considered a lease, and they must be returned when the term expires. Otherwise, I will also face great public pressure."

Congressman Dach explained, "But if the island is flooded or becomes worthless due to unforeseen circumstances, making it impossible to have a population, we will consider relinquishing its sovereignty. In that case, with an additional payment, the lease terms will immediately become permanent ownership."

Playing word games, huh? Typical politician.

At that point, the Grand Master would turn the island upside down and blow it to smithereens, thus rendering it worthless as a place to settle people.

Board the train first, then buy the ticket.

The leader nodded in understanding. There were no outsiders here, and he smiled as he said, "I promise that if we do find silver or gold coins, I will share 10% of the profits with everyone here."

"Are there really silver coins on that island? But I bet it wasn't that easy to find them; the initial work must have been quite extensive. Otherwise, those guerrilla groups wouldn't have been searching for so long, just focusing on tourism," Follett said with a smile.

"Perhaps we should turn the island upside down?" Zhang Ailun chuckled. "You only need to handle some written reports, but I have a lot more to consider! If we don't find the silver coins in the end, they would have been washed away two hundred years ago, and we might lose a hundred million."

The group burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Because that is indeed the case.

"I just hope this isn't another failed investment for Mr. Kim," Congressman Duch lamented.

It doesn't matter if we fail, they won't lose out either way.

It's all thanks to Colombia's prosperity! After all, it has contributed $20 in foreign exchange earnings to the people.

Twenty million? What? Twenty million?

1980 million belong to the government.

20 truly belong to the people of Colombia.

Everyone raised their glasses again and drank heartily.

The leader also sighed, saying that Colombian government officials were the worst of the worst.