The Overlord hesitated, a sliver of reluctance tugging at its resolve. Liu Yong, undeterred, pressed on with his plea: "We have no use for this colossal spear any longer. Let us depart swiftly, leave this place behind, and I shall construct for you a novel weapon with utmost haste."
Reluctantly, the Overlord acquiesced and departed.
To their astonishment, the 100-meter-long giant crocodile did not chase either, perhaps weighing its own odds in the matter.
The Overlord faded into the distance, and after considerable exertion, the gargantuan crocodile finally dislodged the colossal spear that had impaled its flesh. With great effort, it too departed the scene.
However, the wound inflicted upon its body bore a striking sight. Had the Overlord possessed even greater strength, it could have pierced the creature's very innards instead of merely embedding itself in muscle and bone.
Liu Yong procured a blank sheet of paper and meticulously sketched a design—a grand blueprint for a colossal spear. This new design is expected to surpass its predecessor in every way.
The former spear stood at a length of 50 meters, possessed a diameter of 500 mm, and weighed roughly 78 tons. But the spear being envisioned now, Its diameter expanded to a whopping 800 mm, lengthened to an impressive 60 meters, and its weight surged to an astounding 240 tons.
A lengthened reach of 10 meters and a weight tripling from 78 tons to 240 tons!
In Liu Yong's mind, he pondered the possibility of the Overlord wielding such a formidable spear. With its sheer mass and overwhelming impact force, it could likely impale the 100-meter-long giant crocodile through and through.
Truly, this new colossal spear was a remarkable creation.
The Overlord would undoubtedly appreciate it.
Equipped with this new weapon, Bawang's combat prowess would undoubtedly surge exponentially. The next encounter with the monstrous crocodile would likely be resolved swiftly and effectively through a stealthy assault.
Meanwhile, at Risheng Ocean Shipping Group, Luo Maoyuan appeared to have aged a decade in an instant. Seated weakly upon his executive chair, he gazed out of the window, his gaze vacant and unmoving for an extended period.
A catastrophic event had befallen the company— a 100,000-ton container ship had met its watery demise, dragging thousands of standard containers down with it to the murky depths of the sea. Regrettably, more than 30 crew members lost their lives. Risheng Group had been dealt a devastating blow.
Ever since their clash with the Global Shipping Group, Risheng Ocean Group had been plummeting into a downward spiral.
Mere months ago, they had fallen prey to pirates, their finances suffering as a consequence. And now, faced with this new calamity, it was no wonder that Luo Maoyuan seemed to have aged so drastically in such a short span of time.
After a prolonged period of contemplation, he reached for the phone resting upon his desk and issued a commanding order: "Summon all high-ranking personnel for an urgent meeting."
Thirty minutes later, the high-level assembly of Risheng Group commenced. During the meeting, Luo Maoyuan dropped a bombshell that left all bewildered and perplexed.
Luo Maoyuan declared, after due consideration, his decision to gradually divest from the ocean shipping industry and embark upon a transformation into the real estate sector.
Shockwaves rippled through the room.
"What?!" gasped one senior executive, struggling to fathom the audacity of such a proposition. Risheng Ocean Shipping Group, which had thrived in the shipping business from its inception, was now contemplating forsaking this familiar industry.
A concerned senior executive interjected, "Mr. Luo, our current financial situation is dire. The recent incident, wherein thousands of standard containers sank into the depths of the sea, will necessitate compensating customers for losses exceeding one billion. Venturing into real estate, given our limited resources, seems an insurmountable challenge."
Luo Maoyuan sighed wearily, his voice tinged with resignation. "Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to sell all our ships, which should yield at least several billions."
Thus, the once mighty Risheng Ocean Group found itself reduced to selling its very fleet in a desperate bid for survival.
A palpable sense of desolation pervaded the meeting room.
Meanwhile, at the Global Shipping Group, Qiu Yang presented a report to Liu Yong, detailing their astonishing prospects. It was determined that, in a short span of time, they needed to augment their shipping capacities by no less than 500,000 tons for standard container transportation, 2 million tons for crude oil transportation, and at least 500,000 tons for bulk cargo transportation encompassing iron ore and coal.
In essence, Global Shipping Group was required to bolster its overall transportation capacity by a staggering 3 million tons within a month.
Crude oil transportation, in particular, held paramount significance. Both Yanguo Petroleum Group and Yanguo Offshore Oil Group had placed substantial orders with Global Shipping. Enhanced crude oil transportation capabilities would inevitably attract a greater influx of orders.
Liu Yong deliberated thoughtfully before speaking, "While we have placed orders with prominent domestic shipyards such as Qidong Shipyard and Changxing Island Shipyard, it is plainly implausible for them to deliver such an extensive fleet in such a short timeframe."
Qiu Yang proposed a solution, "Given the circumstances, our best option is to focus on the second-hand boat market in our immediate plans. We hope to procure a batch of pre-owned vessels."
Liu Yong offered a nod of agreement but refrained from immediate commentary, acutely aware of the tremendous challenge that lay ahead.
Obtaining over 3 million tons of second-hand ships within a limited time frame was, by all accounts, an arduous endeavor. Securing even one or two large vessels within a month would be considered a success.
After a prolonged silence, Liu Yong finally spoke, his tone measured, "Proceed with the endeavor. I hope to acquire several boats from the second-hand market. However, remember that they must be sizable vessels of superior quality."
Qiu Yang assured, "Understood, Boss."
Engaging in a brief conversation with Liu Yong, Qiu Yang departed, knowing the urgency of acquiring a large vessel promptly.
While other ocean shipping companies classified "big ships" as those exceeding a displacement of 10,000 tons, the standards within the Global Shipping Group were vastly different. In their realm, a "big ship" denoted a vessel surpassing 100,000 tons in displacement.
Meanwhile, the Overlord had returned to its cavernous abode.
Upon its return, it indulged in a hearty meal, devouring the remaining flesh of the prehistoric wide-mouthed giant fish before nestling down within the confines of its cave, succumbing to a deep and restful slumber.
When it awoke, night had enveloped its surroundings, casting an impenetrable darkness. Yet, this did not hinder the Overlord in the slightest.
A pang of hunger once again gnawed at Overlord, necessitating another hunt. Instinctively, it reached out for the giant spear, only to realize that it had not brought it back.
Without a weapon, it contemplated the journey to the Tonga Trench. Anticipating a larger and more imposing weapon, the Overlord agreed with its master's assessment that the previous giant spear was insufficient.
Thus, the Overlord embarked on its journey, swimming out of the cave and setting a course for the Tonga Trench. Along the way, it encountered a group of whale sharks, numbering at least 20 to 30, varying in size.
Normally, the Overlord would seize the opportunity to catch two or three whale sharks and satiate its hunger. However, this time it paid no attention, continuing resolutely on its path.
The Overlord's swift pace propelled it deeper into the abyss. As the depth rapidly increased—2,000 meters, 3,000 meters, 4,000 meters—the creature finally ceased its descent after surpassing the 4,500-meter mark.
With its augmented size, weight, and various attributes, the Overlord was now capable of descending to depths of 5,500 meters and linger there for over ten minutes without issue.
At a depth of 4,500 meters, the domain of the prehistoric wide-mouthed giant fish, the Overlord caught sight of a colossal specimen. It dwarfed anything it had encountered before—a true behemoth.
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