Chapter 6105

Because Tawanna is set to arrive on the island tomorrow morning and will begin preparing welcome materials tonight, it's increasingly difficult for the guests to keep this information under wraps. Therefore, the staff openly admitted, “This is the news we have received, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or whether there will be any changes.” The tourists frolicking with the devil rays on the beach erupted in cheers. They had tried to buy a concert ticket for ten times the normal price. It was hard to admire a superstar from afar. They never imagined that their idol would actually vacation on the same island as them. It felt like a person going on a trip and unexpectedly encountering Jay Cole at the hotel where they were staying. How could that not be thrilling? Moreover, while White Horse Island is technically an island, it functions more like a large hotel, with all public facilities accessible to guests without restrictions. This means that everyone might share a meal with Tawanna at the same restaurant, swim in the same pool, or set sail together on the same yacht! Amid this group of elated tourists, two individuals stood out, looking surprised and devoid of any joy. One was Charlie. The other was his wife, Claire. Charlie was someone who definitely did not want to see Tawanna. Especially not while he was with Claire. He even questioned whether Tawanna had discreetly sent someone to keep tabs on him, knowing he was here, and decided to follow him. However, after some thought, he concluded that Tawanna probably didn’t possess such extraordinary capabilities. Considering what she had said previously, it seemed she simply wanted to take a vacation, leading him to believe that this might just be a coincidence. But what a frustrating coincidence it was! He had gone on a trip with Claire, aiming for at least a few peaceful days together. With Tawanna arriving, how could he expect any peace? Additionally, the American woman's wild and uninhibited nature sometimes overwhelmed him. He preferred the more subtle warmth often exhibited by East Asian women. As the saying goes, tenderness is like water. Claire herself was far from happy. Since learning of Charlie's true identity, she had suspected a great deal about Tawanna. The real reason Tawanna had come to China for multiple concerts was that she believed her husband had invited her. After all, Tawanna was ostensibly invited by Bruce Automotive, a joint venture between her husband's grandfather's family and her own. The brand was even named after Charlie's father. With that inference, Charlie’s recent outings with Tawanna under the pretense of being the Feng Shui Director now seemed dubious. She had started to suspect that the male dancer whom Tawanna kissed on stage was Charlie, but she thought that an international superstar like Tawanna would never be interested in a Feng Shui master like her husband. At that moment, she felt that Tawanna was an unreachable figure, soaring far above her husband Charlie. But now, reflecting on it, it wasn’t Tawanna who was on a pedestal; it was Charlie! Now, as soon as they arrived at White Horse Island, Tawanna was coming tomorrow. It was clear she must have come for Charlie. This was the only trip she had taken with Charlie, and it might very well be the last. What she never anticipated was the arrival of another formidable rival, which lightened her mood a bit. Noticing Charlie's slightly surprised expression, she deliberately asked him, “Husband, is Miss Sweet also coming to White Horse Island? Is this just a coincidence? Did you mention to her that you would be here?” “No!” Charlie sighed, “I only told others that I would be going on vacation during the Chinese New Year, but I didn’t disclose where. There are countless resorts in the world and many islands in the Maldives. I never thought Tawanna would choose this one.” Claire observed that Charlie appeared to be genuine, but considering his past seriousness, she remained skeptical. She said, “While there are many resorts worldwide, the entire northern hemisphere is currently in winter. The best warm beach resorts are limited to tropical and southern regions, and the Maldives is undoubtedly among the top choices. It’s not surprising that a wealthy person like Miss Sweet would select this location.” As she spoke, she murmured softly, “You and Miss Sweet certainly have a knack for running into each other.” Charlie replied awkwardly, “So then, I must be destined to meet the Middle Eastern at the restaurant just now.” “That's true,” Claire nodded, “you know I’ve lived in Aurous Hill for years without bumping into acquaintances on the local subway. Yet here you are abroad, meeting familiar faces left and right. You must be destined for something.”

Charlie chuckled awkwardly, saying nothing further. With the butler busy preparing for Tawanna's arrival, Charlie and Claire walked back to their water villa along the beach. Jacob and Elaine, who lived next door, were still out. Just as Charlie was about to enter their house, he saw Hamid walking out of the villa directly opposite and waved at him, saying, “Brother Wade, do you have a moment to chat?” Charlie nodded, “Sure.” He then turned to Claire, reminding her, “Wife, go ahead and head back. I’ll talk to this brother for a little while.” Claire gave a slight nod and pushed open the door to enter the villa first. Hamid approached Charlie and, once close enough, whispered, “Brother, we need to talk.” Although there were private water villas surrounding them, conversations could still be overheard from the outside. So, after they walked a distance away, Charlie asked, “Brother, are you looking for trouble with me?” Hamid replied, “Brother, I booked a flight for the morning after tomorrow and planned to return. I’ll take a seaplane from White Horse Island to Male and then fly on to Beirut, Lebanon.” Charlie inquired, “Is this part of your original plan or a sudden change?” “It’s a sudden change,” Hamid sighed, “I initially planned to relax, but after hearing your conversation at the restaurant tonight, I’ve been restless and a bit anxious, so I wanted to leave sooner. I thought I’d leave tomorrow, but my two wives heard that Tawanna Sweet would be arriving on the island tomorrow. They were unwilling to miss her, wanting to meet her, snap a photo, and get an autograph before departing. I had no choice but to postpone my return.” He added, with a hint of regret, “I wanted a chance to converse with you properly, but it seems I’ll have to wait until next time.” Charlie responded, “That’s fine, I’ll handle my business first. It’s always beneficial to make connections with some fringe groups in opposition during this time and prepare ahead.” At that point, Charlie recalled something and asked, “Brother, do you remember when I helped you fend off the attack on Dragon Temple?” “Of course I remember!” Hamid exclaimed eagerly, “Your strategies were incredibly effective! The tunnel digging on the back slope, fortification repairs, castle construction, crossfire networks, and drone reconnaissance overwhelmed the well-trained soldiers at Dragon Temple. It was truly impressive! I can’t help but get excited just thinking about it!” Charlie continued, “I want to remind you about drones. When I suggested utilizing drones earlier, those smaller ones were meant mainly for reconnaissance—flexible, maneuverable, and almost undetectable by the enemy. However, over the past two years, the war situation in Eastern Europe has evolved, leading to new uses for drones, primarily carrying small bombs for low-altitude attacks and suicide missions. You should stockpile a significant number of drones, ideally around 100,000. If the enemy launches a full-scale assault, these drones could be very effective!” “Right…” Hamid nodded in agreement, “I’ve read many reports on this; it’s quite powerful, low-cost, and hard to defend against.” Charlie added, “You also need to prepare for drone attacks on your end. Look into acquiring advanced radar systems. While completely preventing an enemy drone attack is near impossible, you should at least have measures in place to protect your large equipment or prevent them from targeting you directly.” “Absolutely!” Hamid’s expression turned serious as he grasped the potential dangers, saying, “I’ll arrange for measures to counter drones at the permanent fortifications and the entrances of the back slope tunnel.” Charlie provided an additional reminder, “We need to conduct regular drone air patrols to closely monitor any personnel or equipment movement within a 50-kilometer radius of your base, and always be ready to escape. If the war turns one-sided, you need to find a way to survive. When you come to China looking for me, I’ll ensure your safety.” Hamid, feeling anxious, said, “Brother, is the situation really that dire? The base represents my hard work over many years. You’ve invested so much money and built extensive infrastructure for me; it would all go to waste if we truly had to abandon it!” Charlie shook his head, saying, “Brother, circumstances can shift dramatically. When it comes to survival, there’s nothing that can’t be relinquished except life itself.” To help ease his anxiety, Charlie smiled, adding, “But it may not be as serious as it seems. It’s just wise to be well-prepared. There are too many uncertainties in your environment, and anything can happen.” Hamid bit his lip and responded, “Alright! I’ll follow your advice!”