"Hmm... where... where is this?"
Mu Shaoyang slowly woke up. Bright light shot through his eyelids, causing his eyes to squint in pain. He slowly lifted his eyelids again, gradually adjusting to the light and looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, his mind clearing.
"Ah, let go of me, let me go."
Mu Shaoyang was tied up tightly. His struggles were futile and only resulted in his skin breaking and bleeding. Spoiled and pampered, he couldn't endure such treatment. Within seconds, he started crying uncontrollably.
"Wuwu, Mom... come save me, I don't want to die..."
"Creak..."
At this moment, the large door was opened, and Liu Zhenhua, along with several high-ranking members of the gang, walked in with smiles.
"Uncle Liu... Uncle Liu, I'll give you whatever you want. My dad will definitely give it, he definitely will."
Liu Zhenhua walked over, reached out, and patted Mu Shaoyang's face, his lips curling into a cold smile. "Heh heh, your dad cherishes money so much. I wonder if he'll give the price I've set. Taking you away is also the right time to call my good boss. I really miss him, hahaha!"
Just then, a scream shattered the silence of the Mu family villa. Zhang Ziqi ran into the study in a state of panic and fear.
"Honey, something terrible has happened. I received a call saying Shaoyang has been kidnapped and they want us to prepare money."
"Kidnapped?"
Mu Zhengtao frowned. His first reaction was not fear, but confusion. "What trick is this brat playing now?"
"Don't worry, maybe this brat is playing a trick to get more living expenses from us."
As Mu Zhengtao was about to speak, he received a video call from Mu Shaoyang. "Look, Shaoyang's video is here. Your phone call is probably just a scam."
As soon as the call connected, Mu Shaoyang's bruised and swollen face, covered in blood, shocked Mu Zhengtao and Zhang Ziqi to their core. "Son, son, what... what happened to you? Talk to me, quickly."
"Son, what happened to you? Speak quickly, wuwuwu..."
At this moment, a tall, sturdy man wearing a killer's hood, with only his eyes visible, appeared on the screen.
"Heh heh, Mr. Mu, this is a bit abrupt for our first meeting. I know guests in Hua Xia usually bring gifts. Fortunately, I've also prepared something, otherwise it would be impolite. Do you like it? Heh heh!" The man grinned, pointing at Mu Shaoyang behind him, whose mouth was gagged and who was crying out.
"You're after money. There's no need to harm the hostage. How much will it cost to ransom my son?" Mu Zhengtao, having understood the key point, calmed down, his mind working rapidly to devise a plan.
"Straightforward. 1 billion US dollars. Once the money arrives, your son will be returned to you completely safe and sound."
"What? Ten billion US dollars? Do you think I'm running a bank?"
"Heh heh, Mr. Mu, when we set a price, we naturally do our homework. This price is not small, but it should be no problem for you. Take the towel out of his mouth."
"Dad... Dad, hurry and save... *cough*..." Mu Shaoyang couldn't even finish speaking before the man beside him punched him hard in the stomach. He winced in pain, and then the towel was shoved back into his mouth, leaving him only able to wuwu for help.
"You..." Mu Zhengtao clenched his fists, veins bulging, his anger reaching its peak.
"Honey... honey, let's give them the money quickly, quickly, wuwuwu..."
Mu Zhengtao narrowed his eyes, staring at the man on the screen. After more than ten seconds, he compromised with a sigh. "The amount is too large. I need time."
"Very good. There's a saying in Hua Xia that a wise man submits to circumstances. Mr. Mu is quite wise, hahaha, but..."
The man's eyes suddenly turned cold. "I'll give you two days. We'll contact you then. What happens between us should stay between us. If anyone else finds out, you should know what will happen to your son."
"Honey, what should we do? Should we... report..."
"Didn't you hear what they said? Let me be quiet."
Just as Mu Zhengtao was shrouded in smoke and his mood was gloomy, the national internet monitoring agency had already obtained the relevant information. Less than twenty minutes later, a series of urgent knocks echoed through the Mu family mansion.
"Hello, may I ask if there's something?"
"We are from the Binhai Police Station. Here are our identification papers. We have something to discuss with Mr. Mu Zhengtao. Please inform him."
The butler's speed was very fast. Within a minute, he ran back. "Officers, please come this way."
Mu Zhengtao and his wife feigned calmness, sitting in the living room and waiting, their hearts filled with anxiety. As the officers entered, Zhang Ziqi had the urge to tell them everything immediately, but she was stopped by a look from Mu Zhengtao.
"Officers, please have a seat. A Liang, go and make some good tea."
"No need, Mr. Mu. We have something important to discuss."
The butler, A Liang, tactfully withdrew. The captain, leading the group, looked at Mu Zhengtao with a solemn expression. "Mr. Mu, our special department is already aware of your son's kidnapping in New York. Our director is very concerned about this matter. Please rest assured, the relevant departments have already launched a rescue operation. During this period, we hope you will cooperate. If the perpetrators call again, just try to delay them for a moment or two."
"Thank you so much. Please convey my gratitude to Director Fang. When my brat returns, I will definitely visit to thank him."
"Officers, thank you so much, thank you!" Zhang Ziqi was too emotional and almost knelt down, but was supported by a young police officer beside her.
"Mrs. Mu, please don't be like this. This is our duty. Trust the country and wait with peace of mind."
At the same time, in a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of New York, Liu Zhenhua was conversing happily with Brown, the local gang boss. However, both harbored their own intentions.
"Mr. Liu, it's a pleasure to cooperate. After this job, both of us can enjoy the rest of our lives, hahaha!"
"Heh heh, yes, I'm truly looking forward to it." Liu Zhenhua was also extremely excited. Once the money was in hand, he could start his life as a wealthy man. Although excited, he was clear about the situation. "Mr. Brown, once the money arrives, I only need 50 million."
"Oh... Mr. Liu is quite understanding of the situation. In that case, I'll decide to give you 80 million. After all, without you, we couldn't have pulled off such a lucrative job, hahaha!"
"Oh... then thank you very much."
Brown's sinister gaze flashed, and he sneered inwardly, "80 million? That's truly tempting, heh heh!"
"Bang~"
Suddenly, a loud crashing sound startled everyone in the warehouse.
"Shit... enemy attack, quickly grab your weapons!"
As Brown's gang members were about to grab their weapons, they were immediately choked by a large amount of white smoke, falling over and rendered helpless.
"The gas is toxic... everyone... everyone... be careful!"
At this moment, three valiant men in special forces uniforms, wearing masks, appeared. Their eyes scanned the surroundings sharply, and they took out their walkie-talkies. "Mission accomplished, awaiting instructions."
"Withdraw."