The container effortlessly ascended through the water's surface, indicating its impeccable sealing that prevented any water ingress. Liu Yong, upon realizing this, couldn't contain his delight.
Further inspection revealed that these four containers were not ordinary; they were special packing boxes designed to be sturdier and more secure than standard containers. Not only were they well sealed, but their size exceeded that of their traditional counterparts. Although their width and height appeared similar, the length was undoubtedly longer, akin to half the length of a standard container.
"Overlord, we must act swiftly and seize these four boxes before the people from country M arrive," Liu Yong exclaimed with urgency, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Bawang comprehended the gravity of the situation, understanding the need for prompt action. Time was of the essence. With the plane's tail exposed above the water, it was susceptible to being discovered by search and rescue vessels or helicopters dispatched by country M.
The imposing Overlord temporarily grasped its colossal spear-like object with a front paw, swiftly seizing the first box in its jaws and swiftly departing, swiftly putting distance between it and the scene.
Liu Yong interjected with a reminder, "Overlord, find a nearby uninhabited deserted island and conceal these four containers there."
Placing them in the water was out of the question as they would undoubtedly float away with the ocean's currents. Hence, the only option was to secure them on land. However, with no available land in close proximity, their only choice was to locate a deserted island, hide all four large containers there, and later transport them individually.
Covering a substantial distance in a single breath, Bawang swam dozens of nautical miles, diligently scouring the area for an uninhabited deserted island. After over ten minutes, a ray of hope emerged as it finally stumbled upon one.
The island boasted a considerable expanse, estimated to be around two or three square kilometres. Verdant trees adorned the landscape, forming dense jungles, making it an ideal location to stow away the containers.
Once on the island, Overlord carefully placed the first container amidst the jungle, ensuring it remained inconspicuous from both aerial and nearby maritime vantage points.
There was no time to waste, as the people from the country. M might stumble upon the wreckage of the plane at any moment. The second container was successfully transported to the island three to forty minutes later. An hour and a half elapsed before the third container joined its companions on the landmass.
Having concealed the third container, Overlord wasted no time and swiftly swam back towards the plane wreckage, resolute in his mission.
The local time now approached 9:00 a.m., causing the dissipating white fog over the sea to enhance visibility by over half. If the early morning visibility spanned 500 meters, it now stretched to at least one kilometre.
Liu Yong prayed fervently, hoping that one container remained on the plane, praying that the people from country M would not arrive and discover the wreckage.
Bawang's relentless pace persisted, taking him no more than twenty minutes to traverse the distance from the unnamed deserted island to the plane wreckage. At this moment, Liu Yong's heart skipped a beat as a helicopter materialized on the periphery of their field of vision. Undoubtedly, it was a search and rescue helicopter hovering a mere 800 to 900 meters from the wreckage.
"Bawang, hasten your pace. The opponents may stumble upon the wreckage at any moment," Liu Yong urged, his voice laced with concern.
"Understood, Master," Bawang replied resolutely.
Bawang successfully extracted the final large container from the plane, wasting no time in departing. The helicopter in the distance had already spotted the downed plane, a large military transport aircraft whose exposed tail made it increasingly conspicuous as the dissipating white fog unveiled its visibility.
As Bawang distanced himself, the helicopter closed in, hovering at an altitude of 30 to 40 meters above the sea. Upon confirming the presence of the crashed military plane, the occupants aboard the helicopter erupted into excited exclamations.
Twenty nautical miles away, a search and rescue ship surged toward the location at full speed. Upon arrival, frogmen promptly plunged into the water, initiating the search and rescue operation.
Meanwhile, atop the nameless desert island, Bawang successfully transported all four large containers, situated roughly 50 nautical miles from the crash site. It struck a balance between distance and proximity, not too far to hinder retrieval, yet not too close to risk exposure.
Liu Yong released a long sigh of relief, grateful for their temporary safety.
Overlord spoke, his deep voice resonating with hunger. "Master, I require sustenance. Let us rest momentarily and satiate my hunger before we continue."
Having traversed the waters of the Gulf of Aden in one continuous swim, Overlord had not paused for over ten hours, nor had he consumed a morsel of food.
Understanding Overlord's fatigue, Liu Yong responded compassionately, "Overlord, you have exerted yourself greatly. Please find nourishment in the vicinity and take some time to rest."
Bawang glanced at the four hidden containers on the island, ensuring their security, before plunging into the sea for sustenance.
Fifty nautical miles away, several frogmen disembarked from the search and rescue ship at the site of the plane crash. Upon verifying the situation, they expeditiously relayed their findings to their colleagues aboard the vessel.
Ernesta, in charge of the search and rescue mission, wore a look of disbelief. "What? There's no trace of the lithography machine? Is the cargo hold empty?"
This revelation left him incredulous. It was simply inconceivable!
Ernesta yearned to dive into the water himself, refusing to accept the circumstances. However, as the frogmen returned one by one, consistently reporting the same findings, he had no choice but to acknowledge the truth.
Cursing under his breath, Ernesta pondered the whereabouts of their lithography machine. Could fish have devoured it? Yet, sea creatures did not consume such items.
Perhaps it had been jettisoned from the cargo hold before the plane crash, but the probability of this scenario was nearly negligible.
Unwilling to concede defeat, Ernesta ordered his team to scour the sea within a several nautical mile radius of the crash site. Lowering a submersible from the ship, they meticulously searched the seabed, hoping to recover the lost lithography machine.
On the pinnacle of the island, Bawang concluded its meal and slumber, awakened by renewed vigour and boundless energy. The four large containers rested in the adjacent jungle under the shade of towering trees.
A distant whir of helicopter blades slicing through the air, alerting Bawang and prompting it to plunge into the water to avoid detection.
"Master, a helicopter is approaching," Bawang swiftly informed Liu Yong.
Immediately, Liu Yong activated his third-party vision, confirming the presence of a helicopter hovering at a mere two to three hundred meters above the ground. It soared over the island, with the closest proximity to the landmass not exceeding one kilometre.
Observing the helicopter recede from their field of vision, Liu Yong deduced that the current island offered insufficient safety. The lithography machine could not remain there for an extended period.
It had to be relocated once more. The current location was perilously close to the crash site.
Addressing Bawang, Liu Yong declared, "Overlord, this place is not secure. We need to transfer the four containers to a new island, at least a few hundred nautical miles away from here."
Understanding the urgency, Bawang responded promptly, "Master, I will immediately search for another suitable island and relocate all four containers there overnight."
Liu Yong affirmed, "Time is of the essence. Find a suitable island now, and ensure all containers are transferred to the new location by tonight."
With determination, Bawang set out to locate a suitable island, resolute in its mission.
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