Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

In order not to displease the authorities in Macau, the entire Umbrella Corporation base was built within the permitted standards, and at least from the outside, it did not look much different from an ordinary factory.

Wang Yaotang led the people from various banks on a tour of the Umbrella Corporation's base, starting with the training area.

"This is a simulation of the interior of a city building, used for training in protecting important figures and facilities inside the building."

"This is a simulated urban wasteland, used for training on how to protect targets after an explosion, how to defend in place, and how to evacuate quickly."

"This is a simulated street area, used for training on how to establish a defensive position using surrounding facilities after an attack on the street, protect the safety of the target, or break through the defense line."

Wang Yaotang spoke eloquently, and everyone was very interested, asking questions carefully when they encountered anything they didn't understand.

Although such a situation hasn't occurred in Macau for decades, wealthy people are always most concerned about their safety, especially given the increasing number of cases of kidnapping and robbery in the past two years.

After taking a walk around the training area and watching two teams conduct a street attack and defense exercise, a group of bank executives nodded in agreement. Professional security companies are indeed different; their bank's security department is not as professional.

Anyway, as the company's general managers, they had never heard of their subordinate security department having undergone similar training. Although the funding had never been reduced, these white security guards hadn't gained any weight except for gaining muscle!
After circling around, we returned to the base square, where ten modified Fords were parked in a row.

Unlike the original Ford, this modified body has almost no curves, with sharp edges and corners, resembling a pointed rectangular box covered with traces of metal rivets, giving it a very rugged look.

"Come, let me introduce it to you."

Wang Yaotang suddenly slammed his fist heavily on the car door, making a loud 'bang' that startled everyone.

"The car doors are fitted with 5mm bulletproof steel plates, which are strong enough."

"Of course, you might not believe me if I say this, but that's okay." Wang Yaotang reached out and took the large black star from Sha Ze. "Everyone, please make way."

No, it's just introducing a product. A certain amount of exaggeration is to be expected. Do you really want to play it for real?
Everyone stepped back in astonishment. Wang Yaotang raised his hand, turned sideways to the car door, and pulled the trigger. "Bang!" "Bang!"

After firing two shots, he turned off the safety and threw the car to Sha Ze. A group of people immediately rushed up and saw two shallow silver-white dents on the car door, with the surrounding black paint cracked into pieces.

Reaching out to touch it, the shallow pit was still warm and almost scalding hot; it had indeed just been made.

Really bulletproof!

"Can I give it a try?" Johnny, General Manager of Standard Chartered (Haojiang) Branch, asked with a hint of excitement.

"You know how to use a gun, right?" Wang Yaotang asked with a smile.

"of course."

"Aze."

After taking the gun, the crowd dispersed. Johnny aimed at the car door and pulled the trigger twice, "bang," "bang," clearly seeing two more shallow dents appear on the door.

really!

"Is the entire vehicle body bulletproof?" Johnny asked.

Wang Yaotang stepped forward with a smile, "Let me introduce our cash-out vehicle to you. It adopts a three-section design, namely the driver's cabin, the safety cabin, and the passenger cabin, which are completely isolated from each other."

I opened the car door and let everyone peek inside. The back was sealed off with steel plates.

"Considering cost factors, vehicle weight, and other factors, only two doors in the cockpit are bulletproof. In the event of an attack, the two people in the cockpit can use the doors as cover to confront and fight back against the criminals."

"Come on, everyone, take a look at the safety compartment and the crew compartment in the back."

Wang Yaotang opened the rear door. "This is the passenger compartment, which can accommodate two security personnel. Under the seats are toolboxes, which are fully equipped with fire extinguishers, gas masks, water, medical kits, etc., to deal with all kinds of complex situations."

“This is the safe compartment,” Wang Yaotang pointed inside. “It’s equipped with two sets of mechanical anti-theft locks. You have to enter both sets of passwords within 3 minutes to open the door. If you don’t do it within 3 minutes, the vehicle’s high-frequency radio system will automatically send an alarm to Umbrella Corporation.”

After the introduction, the two banks, Dafeng and Chengxing, who had already made arrangements, were very satisfied. They were pleased with both the three-section design and the sturdiness of the vehicle body. In comparison, the Toyota Hiace used by their own banks was simply made of paper.

“If a robbery occurs, our support will arrive at the scene within 10 minutes after the security personnel call the police. I don’t think any robber could take down my four security guards in 10 minutes and open two security doors to move the contents of the safe.”

"Of course, I prefer to show everyone through real-life demonstrations rather than just talking about it."

Chief Instructor Shi Jiayang immediately called for the two teams to come up.

Four men were wearing Umbrella Corporation uniforms and were clearly wearing bulletproof vests, while four others wore masks and were disguised as robbers.

“Wang Sheng, are you going to conduct a drill?” Johnny from Standard Chartered immediately understood.

“Yes, it’s an exercise, and a live-fire exercise at that. They’re all carrying real guns.” As he spoke, Wang Yaotang waved his hand, and the ‘robber’ handed him an MP5 submachine gun. He released the safety, aimed it at the car, and pulled the trigger.

"chug--"

Two more shallow dents were made on the car body.

Oh my God!
A group of bank managers' expressions changed drastically, and they immediately began to retreat. If a stray bullet killed them, it would be a tragic story.

They led the group far away and watched as the four security guards got into the car and started driving.

After the vehicle had driven a dozen meters, the four robbers lying on the ground suddenly jumped up and opened fire on the car, "rat-a-tat-tat—"

"Tu tu tu tu——"

"Tu tu tu tu——"

They started with a fierce barrage of fire.

The firepower caused a group of managers watching from afar to take a few steps back again. Royce of Atlantic Bank frowned and asked loudly, "Isn't this a bit too dangerous? I mean, the security." "I believe in the quality of my car," Wang Yaotang said confidently, waving his hand.

The MP5 bullets are 9mm in caliber, and these bullets were previously reloaded with reduced propellant, making it impossible for them to penetrate the bulletproof steel plate.

Before testing, Wang Yaotang specifically contacted Engineer Liu, and only then did he learn that bulletproof steel plates cannot be bulletproof indefinitely; they have a limited lifespan!
This domestically produced 5mm bulletproof steel plate has high hardness and low toughness, making it difficult to bend and shape. After being hit by a bullet, the steel plate in this location will develop minor cracks, and it will completely shatter after being hit by more than three bullets in the same location.

In other words, after this exercise, the Ford will have to be returned to the shipyard for further modifications...

Bulletproof cars are very expensive!
After a burst of gunfire from the robbers, the armored truck suddenly braked to a stop. The small doors on both sides of the truck opened, and two Remington pistols were extended, firing two shots at the ground.

He then opened the small window on the car door again and fired two more shotgun shells at the rear of the car.

After the counterattack, the exercise was considered over. It was impossible for both sides to actually fight and kill several people around the armored truck, but it still shocked the bank managers who witnessed it firsthand.

If they didn't have confidence in their bulletproof vehicles, they wouldn't have conducted such an exercise!

The group quickly walked to the Ford. The small craters on the sides and concrete ground from the shotgun shells were clearly visible. It was easy to imagine that if it were a robber, these few shots would have killed him on the spot!

Looking at the vehicle body, there are at least a dozen shallow bullet holes in the lower part of the cockpit and crew compartment, and seven or eight holes in the safety compartment.

"Isn't this... bulletproof?" Standard Chartered Johnny asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Considering cost and vehicle weight, we used ordinary 3mm steel plates here, which are not bulletproof. However, the safe compartment is used to store valuables such as banknotes and gold, so even if a bullet hits it, it won't cause much damage," Wang Yaotang said calmly, and everyone expressed their understanding.

Looking at everyone, Wang Yaotang smiled again and said, "Of course, there are also armored vehicles that are fully bulletproof. However, as you all know, bulletproof steel plates have a lifespan. These steel plates are ruined after being attacked and need to be replaced. Therefore, if we want to use a fully bulletproof armored vehicle, the cost will be higher."

Everyone agreed that they understood this point.

Nothing is more convincing than seeing it with one's own eyes. The general managers of several local banks, including Dafeng and Chengxing, decided on the spot to sign security escort contracts with the protection umbrella.

The contract was prepared in advance, and in addition to the fixed annual fee, there was a separate expense for each escort.

Based on the current business volume of the two companies, the annual expenditure should be around HKD 400 million. This is slightly more expensive than the security and escort services previously provided by Standard Chartered and HSBC, but the level of professionalism and security far exceeds that.

This price isn't high, considering it's cash being transported; the security company would have to compensate for any losses!

They knew about the condition of the armored truck that the police had inspected before; that beat-up truck... was simply unbearable to look at.

Apart from the local banks in Macau, other overseas banks did not make a decision immediately. Wang Yaotang was not in a hurry and took them to the security company's small pier.

The two speedboats, styled like Ford cars, immediately made everyone understand.

"Is this speedboat bulletproof too?" Johnny asked.

"Not only that." Wang Yaotang smiled and had someone remove the waterproof tarpaulin. The Type 56 light machine gun mounted on the top of the cabin instantly made everyone gasp.

"Traveling between Hong Kong and Macau is considered going abroad, so we have to consider the issue of piracy. Therefore, I ordered military coastal high-speed patrol boats from the north."

"To rob a Umbrella Corporation escort ship, besides having enough speed to catch up, you also need to be able to withstand machine gun fire. I think it would be difficult for any pirate to succeed."

Everyone chuckled softly.

On land, many vehicles can cause sufficient damage to military vehicles, but the marine environment makes this impossible. It's too open, and you'll be detected before you even get close, followed by the onslaught of storms.

At sea, there's no need to consider road conditions, nor is there any concern about harming civilians.

“Standard Chartered Bank hopes to cooperate with Mr. Wang’s security company on security and escort services in the long term!” Johnny did not hesitate any longer and smiled as he extended his hand to Wang Yaotang.

“It is a great honor for Umbrella Corporation to become a partner with Standard Chartered,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile as he shook hands with the other party.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"By the way, Standard Chartered Bank has four armored vehicles. I wonder if we can sell them to Umbrella at a low price." Johnny blinked.

Is this about cleaning up the mess?
Wang Yaotang smiled and nodded in agreement.

The other banks were also very interested, but security services are not just about safety; they involve the interests of many parties, and they couldn't make a decision right away.

We still need a catalyst.

This opportunity has already been brewing in Hong Kong.

……

In the morning, after completing a training session, Lan Cheng called three of his teammates who had also bet on Sato Yosuke to win to a corner for a smoke.

The four men sat in a circle, and after smoking half a cigarette, Lan Cheng suddenly asked, "How many pieces of Sato trash did you buy?"

The three looked up, exchanged glances, and then remained silent, their expressions grim.

"Heh, it's hard to say. Let me start. I bought it for 50 yuan and borrowed money from loan sharks."

No one mocked Lan Cheng. After a dozen seconds of silence, someone spoke up: "I bought 40 worth."

Once the conversation started, everyone stopped hiding anything and revealed their secrets.

50/40/38/45
They either borrowed from loan sharks or from all their relatives and friends, never expecting to lose it all at once.

"Five days. If you don't repay within five days, the loan sharks will come to the training base to collect the debt," Lan Cheng said in a deep voice. "Have you thought about how you plan to repay?" (End of Chapter)