Jiang Ning shook her head. “We don’t know how to fish, so a fishing boat is useless to us.” 

Actually, she wanted a cruise ship, and there happened to be one at the Haisheng Base that looked quite new. 

Huo Yishen frowned deeply. “We already have a yacht.” 

Growing up in an orphanage, they might not have learned many other skills, but they did learn to prepare for emergencies earlier than most people because of their harsh environment. 

Jiang Ning was no exception and had a strong sense of crisis awareness. “A yacht can help us survive at sea, but if we encounter a major storm or a super earthquake and tsunami caused by tectonic plate collisions, a huge wave could easily swallow a yacht.” 

Yes, Haisheng Base had a tarnished reputation and might likely cheat them, but Jiang Ning thought it was worth the gamble. “If we lose, we’ll just be out a batch of insulin; but if we win, we’ll have a cruise ship. If the worst happens, we might be able to survive on it.” 

Seeing her persistence, Huo Yishen did not object. “We need to plan carefully to minimize the risks.” 

His agreement made Jiang Ning very happy: “You’re good at strategy; I’ll follow your lead.” 

Her flattery made Huo Yishen smile, feeling a bit pleased. 

Jiang Ning sat on the sofa and ate some sunflower seeds while chatting with him. 

Huo Yishen didn’t eat snacks but handed her the shelled seeds. They discussed their plans late into the night before resting. 

The next day, Qin Chuan came early and asked, “So, do we have any concrete news?” 

Jiang Ning looked hesitant. “There is insulin; how much does Haisheng Base need?” 

“For them, the more, the better.” 

Qin Chuan, being shrewd in business, had already informed Haisheng Base of Jiang Ning’s general needs, guessing that she wanted either a fishing boat or a cruise ship. 

The Tang Group also had fishing boats, but since Jiang Ning didn’t want one, she must be aiming for a cruise ship. 

Qin Chuan had anticipated possible scenarios to avoid the trouble of running back and forth. 

He got straight to the point: “Does your supplier want a fishing boat or a cruise ship?” 

“My supplier doesn’t want to compete for others’ livelihoods; he wants a cruise ship.” 

Qin Chuan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Given the current environment, fishing boats were more valuable than cruise ships, as they were crucial for Haisheng Base’s growth and survival. 

He was really worried that Jiang Ning would ask for a fishing boat. Even if Haisheng Base had to exchange it for life-saving medicine, who could guarantee they wouldn’t cheat? 

According to the base leader, they were also willing to exchange for a cruise ship, which should significantly reduce the risk. Qin Chuan was relieved. “A cruise ship is no problem, but they want 60 vials of insulin.” 

Jiang Ning had that amount but didn’t want to give it all away. “Who can still produce 60 vials after almost two years of disasters? My supplier can only get 30 vials at most.” 

If insulin weren’t easier to find than vaccines, and if Haisheng Base could potentially acquire it through other channels, Jiang Ning wouldn’t be willing to offer so much. Besides the rarity of the medicine, too large a quantity would attract unwanted attention. 

Qin Chuan thought 30 vials were too few, but considering it was life-saving medicine that people couldn’t survive without, this amount should be enough for them to find more medicine over time. 

Although it was half of what he expected, he didn’t dare make the decision on his own. 

Jiang Ning was straightforward: “Brother Qin, I won’t lie to you. We are still hesitant about this deal because Haisheng Base has a bad reputation.” 

As a middleman, Qin Chuan only made a small profit and didn’t pressure them into the deal. “You and Brother Huo have been good to me. I’ve told you the truth about Haisheng Base, but I haven’t disclosed your situation to them, only mentioning your peers. 

If you have concerns, you can tell me directly. If we can’t resolve it, we don’t have to do this deal.” 

Watching him lay it out, Jiang Ning disclosed their planned strategy. “We won’t directly contact Haisheng Base. Instead, we’ll hand over the medicine to you in batches. The cruise ship will dock at a specific sea spot, where someone will pick it up. 

Additionally, we want two containers of fresh seafood as a fee for sourcing the medicine. What do you think? ” 

The plan was to start with two vials of insulin. After that, Haisheng Base would place the containers at a set spot. Once Jiang Ning got the goods, she’d provide another 14 vials of insulin. Then, she’d head to the sea area to meet the cruise ship. The next morning, at 10 a.m., they’d hand over the remaining 14 vials. 

Haisheng Base was not allowed to send anyone to track them throughout the transaction. Any violation of this agreement would cancel the deal. 

Acknowledging the potential risks involved in the deal, Qin Chuan praised their careful approach. “Okay, I’ll convey this information to them and let you know the outcome later.” 

Sensing their concerns, he reassured them, “Since meeting you both, I’ve been extra careful in my work, ensuring no one tails me.” 

While he spoke, Huo Yishen was busy with his own preparations. 

After seeing Qin Chuan off, Huo Yishen took Coke out for a patrol to ensure there were no signs of strangers near the hilltop villa. 

After almost two years of training, Coke transformed into more than just a combat dog; it became an outstanding police dog. It could carry out advanced commands and excel in search and scent tracking. The secret lay in its disciplined routine; Coke would train itself diligently, even when not given a specific task. 

There were several instances where Jiang Ning almost got startled by seeing it hanging in the hallway. 

Qin Chuan soon returned with a response: Haisheng Base agreed to exchange a cruise ship for 30 vials of insulin. 

Honestly, even Qin Chuan, the middleman, was amazed by Jiang Ning’s negotiation skills. “You’re really tough, cutting them down to the bone.” 

With the Tang Group and Haisheng Base at each other’s throats, it seemed like Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen were the ones benefiting from the conflict. 

Unfortunately, Qin Chuan was just a middleman; otherwise, he would have aspired to be like Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen. 

“They urgently need the medicine there. I’ll begin with the two vials of insulin. The two containers of seafood will be left at the intersection on General Hill by 3 a.m. tomorrow. You can pick them up then.” 

Jiang Ning had no objections. She went upstairs to get the two vials of insulin and handed them to him. “Once we receive the seafood, we’ll fetch the second batch of medicine, and we’ll decide on the specific transaction time later.” 

After Qin Chuan left, Huo Yishen took the dog to patrol the hill. 

At midnight, the alarm went off. 

Huo Yishen woke up Jiang Ning, and together they drove to the usual intersection in the dark. They parked the car discreetly and then found a good spot to watch the intersection. 

It wasn’t easy; it felt more like preparing for an ambush rather than just picking up seafood. 

Huo Yishen spread his jacket on the ground. “Anning, you should sleep for a bit. I’ll keep watch.” 

Jiang Ning didn’t fuss and lay down to sleep. “Wake me if anything happens.” 

Maybe she was really tired, or maybe she felt safe with him watching over her, but she quickly fell asleep. 

She didn’t know how long she had slept before being gently awakened. 

Jiang Ning sat up to see the lights at the intersection. 

Using her binoculars, she watched as two tractor-trailers arrived, each carrying containers. 

Several people got out to direct the unloading, which took about half an hour. 

They didn’t linger, leaving immediately with the trucks. 

Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen didn’t hurry to reveal themselves. Instead, they carefully scanned the area with binoculars. Only after making sure there were no hidden threats did they stand up to collect the goods. 

Even in the darkness, they wore wigs and masks, along with trench coats. 

At 3 a.m., in total darkness, they didn’t use flashlights but relied on night vision goggles, cautiously descending the hill. 

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