The Tyrant Billionaire

The governor's mansion, government offices, military barracks, ports, corporate registration buildings, banks, a water company, a power company, and entire communities of beachfront villas were being erected.

Compared to other banks' branches, Wells Fargo's was the largest and most opulent, boasting a massive underground vault. It would soon become the Caymans' premier reserve bank, storing gold, jewels, and currencies from around the globe.

The casino complex was even bigger than those in Las Vegas, complete with a main casino building and luxury hotels.

Nearby lay the island's finest beach—a seven kilometer stretch of powdery white sand, a future haven for diving enthusiasts.

Luxury villas and hotels lined the beachfront.

Adjacent to the casino, a wide shopping street was planned. This would be a duty free shopping paradise, offering luxury goods from all over the world.

Clothes, shoes, leather goods, jewelry, watches, perfumes, cosmetics, liquor, golf equipment, pens, smoking accessories, and cigars.

The brands would number in the thousands.

Visitors to the Cayman Islands could handle financial transactions, enjoy the resort's tourism and gambling, and indulge in duty-free shopping. With no taxes, luxury items would be affordable, making the island a global shopping center.

Arriving at the island's military camp, Hardy was greeted by Neil, who was responsible for the island's security. The formal military base was still under construction, so they were temporarily living in military tents.

A 600-ton patrol ship and several 50-ton patrol torpedo boats were docked outside the military port. Initially, Hardy had purchased three "Radford"-class escort destroyers, dispatching two to the Southeast Asia base and one to the Persian Gulf base.

Most of the other patrol ships and torpedo boats were also sent to those regions, where they played an active role in combatting pirates. However, this left the Cayman Island's defense fleet quite vulnerable, making Hardy feel that more warships were necessary.

Originally, he had strengthened his security company, but now that he had a territory—essentially his own country—a military force was essential to maintain national dignity.

Moreover, with a strong Cayman military, the security company could benefit as well. Going forward, the security company could be an extension of the Cayman military, and vice versa.

Unlike the underprepared soldiers of other national armies, HD Security could gain significant real-world combat experience, making it a strategic investment.

Since it was a proper navy, they should definitely acquire more warships.

His first thought was to get an aircraft carrier.

But Hardy quickly shook his head.
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Those massive vessels were incredibly expensive, a financial black hole he couldn't afford. Although the idea tempted him briefly, he dismissed it almost immediately.

Even the United States, with all its strength, maintained only a dozen or so aircraft carriers, so he decided it wasn't practical.

And besides, the U.S. would probably never sell an aircraft carrier to him, given how cautious they were with such military assets.

If he couldn't get an aircraft carrier, destroyers would suffice. He remembered seeing destroyers listed on the military surplus sales roster, so he planned to check their specifications and have a serious negotiation with Williams to get the best possible internal deal.

After spending three days touring the island, Hardy returned to Los Angeles. He was still working as a military surplus sales contractor for the U.S. Army. Summoning Colonel Adam Beach, he inquired about the current situation. Thanks to the civil war in China, they had managed to sell a significant portion of the inventory.

From blankets to tents, everything had value, and it was just a matter of breaking down the inventory and finding the right sales channels.

While browsing the weapons catalog, Hardy found exactly what he wanted. Aircraft carriers were out of the question, and cruisers were too cumbersome. Destroyers, however, were perfect for his needs. He chose the "Fletcher-class destroyers."

The Fletcher-class destroyers had a full displacement of 3,050 tons, a length of 114.8 meters, and a crew of 353. They had been in production from 1942 to 1945, with a total of 175 built in just over two years, an impressive feat of American industrial power.

These destroyers were relatively advanced, equipped with a comprehensive radar system and strong firepower, including main guns, torpedoes, and anti-aircraft guns. Unlike escort ships that were mainly defensive, destroyers were built for battle.

Hardy called Major General Williams to express his interest in purchasing a few Fletcher-class destroyers. "You know that my Cayman Islands are a self-governing territory, so we are entitled to a military force. We can skip the army since the island is only about 200 square kilometers, and an air force is impractical. The navy, however, is essential.

I'd like to buy a few Fletcher-class destroyers and hope for a favorable price."

"How many do you want, Hardy?" Williams asked.

"Four would be enough. More than that, and I wouldn't be able to afford the upkeep," Hardy replied.

Maintaining warships isn't as simple as just docking them. The vessels require constant maintenance, and a navy with proper logistics support incurs substantial annual costs.

"Alright, I'll have Beach inspect the ships for you. Some of them are in poor condition, designated for target practice or dismantling. We could sell them to you at a reduced price, which is more cost-effective than scrapping them," Williams said.

"Great, I'll wait for Beach," Hardy agreed.

They both understood the arrangement. Williams meant he would select the four best-performing ships and sell them as scrap at an internal discount, with Beach handling the details.

Beach arrived with a list.

The report listed four Fletcher-class destroyers in a semi-decommissioned state, deemed unfit for factory refurbishment and suggested for target practice or dismantling.

The final price stunned Hardy.

Each ship was priced at $1.08 million.

To put it in perspective, each destroyer cost millions to build, with the standard sale price being $3.6 million.

The $1.08 million price was essentially the internal scrap value.

Hardy instructed HD Defense Company to prepare for the acquisition of the warships.