"Dear Director, I have this express package for you," the assistant politely announced, extending a small parcel into the waiting hands of Hu Jianguo, who happened to hold the esteemed position of director of the prestigious research institute. With a blend of intrigue and interest, Hu Jianguo directed his attention towards the intriguing package, swiftly discerning its diminutive proportions, measuring approximately 10 centimetres in length and width, piquing his curiosity even further.
Perplexed, he wondered aloud, "It's so small. What could it be?" He recalled not having made any recent purchases and speculated that perhaps it was something sent by another department.
Deciding it was best to inspect it later, Hu Jianguo gestured to his assistant, Xiao Li, saying, "Xiao Li, put it on my desk." He paid little attention to the small package and resumed his conversation with Liang Wencheng, an old friend and colleague, in the reception area.
"Old man, what's your next plan?" Hu Jianguo inquired, engaging in a casual conversation.
Liang Wencheng sighed softly and responded, "If we don't have much hope here, we'll have to rely on imports. Hopefully, we can secure the single crystal superalloys we need through international channels."
Hu Jianguo nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "The current turbofan X engine utilizes the best domestic superalloy, but during several verification tests, issues with the turbine blades have consistently arisen. Problems like surface ablation or blade cracks. We can't even determine its service life at this point, considering it's merely a verification test run."
He continued, emphasizing the importance of turbine blades as high-temperature vital components with a required service life of at least 1,000 hours. Comparatively, foreign countries often achieve service lives of 5,000 or even 8,000 hours. Hu Jianguo regretfully remarked, "We can't provide much help now. Developing domestic single crystal superalloys takes time. I suggest we prioritize international cooperation and attempt to import some single crystal superalloys as an interim solution."w
Liang Wencheng agreed, resigned to the reality. "It seems that's our only option. I hope we can import the required single crystal superalloys soon." He acknowledged the need to take one step at a time, starting with importing a small portion of the required materials.
As they chatted further, Liang Wencheng bid farewell and expressed his urgency to return to work, acknowledging the lost hope and hoping to resolve the technical challenges faced by the Turbofan X engine swiftly. Hu Jianguo apologized for the situation and saw his old friend off. He settled into his office chair and turned to the small package on his desk.
"Hey, it's sent by the Global Shipping Group. I wonder what's inside," Hu Jianguo mused, his curiosity piqued. Perplexed by the unexpected sender, as he had no previous connection with them, he retrieved a paper cutter from his drawer and carefully opened the package. He discovered an item wrapped in plastic film, accompanied by a small printed note.
The note bore a few concise instructions, indicating that the enclosed piece of metal was extraordinary. The Institute of Special Metal Materials was invited to conduct verification tests encompassing density, melting point, hardness, and tensile strength.
Hu Jianguo unravelled the plastic film and beheld the small piece of metal. As an authority on metal materials, he immediately recognized it as a piece of metal rather than a stone. Its density was remarkably light, adding to its intriguing nature.
Inspecting it closely with a magnifying glass, Hu Jianguo realized the uniqueness of the metal. Filled with anticipation, he picked it up and headed towards the laboratory, eager to explore its properties and potentially the depths of the North Pacific Ocean. The colossal figure known as Overlord resurfaced once again. After a few hours of rest in its cave, a deep hunger gnawed at its insides, prompting it to grab its massive spear and set off towards an enormous cavern sixty to seventy nautical miles away.
Hope lingered within Overlord's heart. Why had the few giant octopuses that once inhabited the cavern vanished? Would they return to their abode? Determined to find out, Overlord swiftly swam towards the entrance of the colossal cavern, spear in hand, undeterred by uncertainty.
As it ventured more profoundly, the seabed sloped gradually, and the familiar presence of the giant octopuses failed to appear even when Overlord reached over 5,000 meters. It delved further into the very bottom of the immense cave, which extended to approximately 6,500 meters in depth.
Disappointment washed over Overlord as the cavern proved devoid of any giant octopuses. Not a single one remained. With shattered hopes, Overlord gazed at the grey-black "stones" littering the cave floor before slowly swimming out, a growing hunger intensifying its inner turmoil.
"Well, there are no giant octopuses here. I must find something else to satiate my hunger," Overlord murmured, resigned to its current circumstances. It acknowledged that it needed to adapt and seek sustenance elsewhere.
Overlord descended one or two hundred meters below the water's surface, scanning the surrounding waters for large fish to devour. It paid no mind to the sheer size of its prey, gobbling down dozens of enormous fish weighing hundreds of pounds each.
Among the catch was a magnificent bluefin tuna, weighing an impressive five to six hundred pounds. Such a colossal fish could fetch an exorbitant price at upscale restaurants, but for Overlord, it vanished in a single bite, barely granting it the opportunity to savour its taste.
As it continued its hunt, a colossal whale appeared on the horizon, playfully spouting water into the air. Overlord wasted no time and swiftly approached, deeming the whale its next meal.
Having already consumed numerous massive fish, including the whale, Overlord's stomach was finally half full. The absence of the vast octopuses with their tons of flesh proved more challenging and time-consuming to satiate its hunger. It took over an hour to reach a point of satisfaction.
Setting its sights on a different goal, Overlord contemplated, "Well, there are no giant octopuses weighing thousands of tons. Perhaps they have migrated or sought refuge in nearby trenches." Motivated by this possibility, Overlord swam through the depths, employing its extraordinary sensory perception to its fullest extent, hoping to locate its elusive prey.
Swimming for several nautical miles, Overlord eventually came to a halt, within the range of its heightened perception, as a colossal figure loomed before it in the deep abyss.
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