5: Chapter 5 Arrival in the United States

Just then, his phone vibrated. An unfamiliar overseas number had sent a concise text message in English:

"Mr. Chen, Prism is online. Team leader Fortress here. We have received your coordinates and mission summary.

The team will finish assembling in Miami within 12 hours. Please advise on the next steps and funding authorization."

Professional, direct, and without a single wasted word.

President Chen Ran's spirits lifted, and he immediately replied in English: "Excellent. Initial funding of 150,000 USD is in place.

I authorize you to conduct the following procurement and leasing within the US, with priorities as follows:"

His fingers typed rapidly:

"1. Vehicles: Lease two full-size SUVs in Miami. They must be reliable, spacious, and suitable for transporting personnel and basic equipment. One for daily use, one as a backup."

"2. Vessel: Immediately locate and lease a vessel in the Miami or Fort Lauderdale area suitable for ocean voyages, with basic stability and the capability to be fitted with simple salvage equipment.

Objective: Capable of operating safely in the target area of the North Atlantic Ocean high seas for at least two weeks.

Prioritize modified sturdy fishing boats or small supply ships, no less than 70 feet in length.

Keep the lease budget within 80,000 USD per month. Partial prepayment is negotiable. Send me the details of the candidate vessels for review."

"3. Reception: Book my flight to Miami for 48 hours from now. Arrange for a vehicle to pick me up at Miami International Airport."

"4. Temporary Base: Lease a short-term residence or warehouse with a garage near the docks for team assembly, equipment storage, and preliminary preparations."

"All expenses are to be drawn from the funds I've transferred to you. Maintain clear accounts. Fortress, you have full authority over execution. Provide regular briefings."

The reply came almost instantly: "Instructions clear. Executing. Vehicles and temporary base will be secured within 4 hours. Vessel options will be provided within 8 hours.

Airport pickup arrangements will be sent along with flight confirmation. Fortress."

Crisp and efficient.

President Chen Ran put down his phone and let out a long breath of relief.

A long-absent feeling of having everything under control began to rise within him.

The system provided a reliable and efficient professional force that could immediately translate ideas into action.

This feeling was more grounding than simply seeing the numbers on a bank card fluctuate.

He immediately checked his mobile banking.

Sure enough, there was a new deposit notification: +1,050,000.00 RMB.

His total capital instantly jumped to nearly 1.1 million RMB!

One of the biggest obstacles to getting started had been cleared in an almost brute-force manner.

Over the next two days, President Chen Ran entered a state of high-speed preparation.

The efficiency of the Prism team was staggering.

On the night he returned to Hangzhou, Fortress's briefing arrived via encrypted email.

The email was concise, attached with photos and documents:

Vehicles: Two Chevrolets leased, in good condition, parked at the leased temporary warehouse.

Temporary Base: A storage unit with an independent garage and small workshop in the southern Miami dock area. One-month lease, paid.

Vessel Options (Preferred):

adventurer: 85-foot modified trawler, steel hull, specifically reinforced aft work deck, equipped with a hydraulic winch and a small crane.

The owner previously used it for marine research support; it is well-maintained.

Monthly lease quote: 75,000 USD, 50% prepayment required, available for immediate delivery.

Sea Hawk: 78-foot aluminum alloy fast supply ship. High speed, low fuel consumption, relatively new bridge equipment, but the work deck is small and requires an additional A-frame.

Monthly lease: 68,000 USD.

Requires three days of preparation.

Recommendation: Fortress leans toward the adventurer. It is sturdy, durable, and the work platform is ready, saving modification time and risk.

An on-board inspection has been scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Airport Pickup: A direct flight from Shanghai Pudong to Miami has been booked for President Chen Ran for the day after tomorrow.

Flight information attached.

Fortress will personally wait with a vehicle outside the airport arrival hall.

President Chen Ran carefully examined the photos of the adventurer. A rugged steel-hulled ship with a spacious deck; the aft structure indeed looked solid.

This is the one! He replied to the email: "Lease for adventurer approved. Pay the deposit as requested by the owner.

Inspect it thoroughly, especially the engine, generator, navigation, and communication equipment. I will arrive the day after tomorrow as planned."

"Received. Executing." Fortress's reply remained concise.

The day before departure, President Chen Ran settled everything in Hangzhou.

He gave up his rental apartment, settled the bills, and packed his few belongings. Most were put into storage, leaving him with only a suitcase containing essential clothes, his laptop, documents, and personal items.

He sent messages to his parents and Wang Xiaopang, informing them that he was heading to the US and might be difficult to contact for a while.

Wang Xiaopang called him, his tone exaggerated: "Holy crap, Brother Ran, where are you going? Just leaving like that? Even going abroad? You're not going to do some telecom scam, are you?"

President Chen Ran laughed and cursed: "Get lost. It's serious business. I'll bring you a gift when I get back."

"Forget the gift, just come back in one piece. By the way, you need to get your illness treated soon!" Wang Xiaopang lowered his voice.

President Chen Ran just smiled and didn't say much.

On the final night, he stayed alone in a hotel near the airport.

Outside the window were the city's eternal lights, but his thoughts had already flown across the ocean to that deep blue expanse.

The existence of the system, the Prism team, the ship he was about to acquire, and that golden dream that had slept for nearly three hundred years... it all wove into a web full of risk and temptation.

He pulled up the system interface again, looked at the flashing coordinates, and whispered to himself: "san antonio... I'm coming."

Two days later, USA, Florida, Miami International Airport.

The long flight had left him somewhat fatigued, but as he stepped out of the international arrivals corridor and felt the humid, salty Miami air hit his face, President Chen Ran's spirits were invigorated.

The noisy crowds, the confluence of various languages, the announcements—everything reminded him that this was a completely different world.

Pushing his luggage cart, he walked toward the designated exit according to the description in Fortress's email.

Just as he stepped out of the automatic doors, his gaze swept over the crowd waiting at the curb and almost immediately locked onto a target.

It was a white male wearing ordinary khaki pants and a dark polo shirt, standing tall and straight like a javelin amidst the crowd.

With a buzz cut and a resolute face, his calm gaze scanned the exit until it met President Chen Ran's eyes.

He nodded slightly, without any extra expressions or movements, but President Chen Ran was instantly certain: this was Fortress.

President Chen Ran pulled his suitcase over.

"Mr. Chen, I hope your journey was smooth," Fortress said, his voice low and steady—the same voice he'd heard on the phone.

He reached out and took President Chen Ran's suitcase with natural, powerful movements.

"The car is just ahead. Shall we go to the temporary base first, or directly to see the ship?"

"Directly to the ship," President Chen Ran said without hesitation.

"Very well."

Fortress led President Chen Ran to the parking lot, where a black Chevrolet Suburban sat quietly.

There was already another team member in the car, also of a lean and capable build, sitting in the driver's seat. After nodding to President Chen Ran, he focused on the road ahead.

The car drove out of the airport, merging into the slightly congested afternoon traffic of Miami.

President Chen Ran looked at the foreign scenery passing by—palm trees, brightly colored buildings, the azure sky, and the sea horizon in the distance. The sense of unreality in his heart was gradually replaced by concrete objectives.

"Has the ship been checked?" President Chen Ran asked.

"Checked. The mechanical parts are in good condition, and the fuel tanks are full.

Navigation and communication equipment meet requirements. Winch and crane tests were normal.

The contract has been signed and the deposit paid.

The ship is currently at the dock in Biscayne Bay, ready to sail at any time."

Fortress reported in a tone as if he were discussing something perfectly ordinary. "Per your request, we have procured a batch of basic supplies: fuel, fresh water, food, first-aid medicine, diving cylinders, and some tools.

More professional salvage and underwater operation equipment will need to be ordered or leased once you confirm the list."

"Good. What about the other team members?"

"Six are at the dock making final preparations; two are at the base guarding the supplies and maintaining a perimeter watch."

President Chen Ran nodded, satisfied with the team's efficiency and thoroughness.

The absolute loyalty and perfect backgrounds generated by the system were showing immense value right now.

About forty minutes later, the Suburban drove into a slightly aged dock area.

The smell of fish and diesel in the air grew stronger.

Fortress parked the car near a pier.

"We're here. The ship is at Pier 3."

President Chen Ran got out and followed Fortress onto the wooden pier. The afternoon sun scattered golden sparkles across the sea, and several boats of various sizes were moored in their berths. Soon, he saw the adventurer.

It looked even more rugged and sturdy than in the photos.

The dark blue hull had some traces of peeling paint, but the steel shell was thick. The raised gunwales, the spacious aft work deck, and the hydraulic winch that looked very reliable all met his expectations.

On board, several figures dressed casually but moving efficiently were busy tidying ropes and checking equipment.

Seeing Fortress and President Chen Ran approach, they paused and looked over with respect, but did not step forward to interrupt.

Fortress led President Chen Ran onto the gunwale.

"This is your ship, Captain."

Stepping onto the deck, a solid sensation came from beneath his feet.

The sea breeze brushed his face, carrying the scent of the open ocean. President Chen Ran looked around at this steel partner that was about to carry him toward wealth and the unknown, and a surge of heroic pride rose in his chest.

He walked to the stern, rested his hands on the cold railing, and looked out at the boundless blue sea before him.

Further and deeper out was the North Atlantic, and those coordinates.

"Fortress."

"Sir."

"Notify everyone. Complete all final supplies and equipment checks tonight."

"Yes, sir."

"I want to see the adventurer leave this dock before sunrise tomorrow."

A sharp light flashed in Fortress's eyes. He stood at attention and answered briefly and powerfully:

"Understood, Captain. The adventurer sets sail at dawn tomorrow."