High above the city, a group of influential individuals surveyed the world below, seemingly believing that the revolutionary super metal was solely the product of Lin Jianguo's research team. Despite their elevated status and knowledge of the truth, they remained curious about the origins of this incredible material, well aware that Liu Yong possessed it but unsure of its genesis.
Among them was the military leader, his interest piqued by the miraculous properties of the super metal. Eager to uncover its origin, he posed the question to his companions, who chuckled in response. One of them spoke up, suggesting that it was best not to pry into Liu Yong's secrets, for everyone had their mysteries to safeguard. The source of the super metal was a secret known only to Liu Yong.
Another agreed, emphasizing that now that Liu Yong had reduced the price to a mere 2 million yuan per ton, their focus should shift from the source to supporting him. They deemed it vital to prevent others from acquiring this extraordinary material, thus becoming Liu Yong's reliable allies.
The consensus among the trio was swift. From their lofty vantage point, they saw things more clearly than ordinary people, no longer fixated on unravelling the enigma of the super metal's origin. Instead, they recognized that what truly mattered was its abundant supply to meet the military's needs. They regarded the excellent metal at 2 million yuan per ton as an exceptionally cost-effective resource.
Meanwhile, within the confines of the Universal Building, Liu Yong sat in his office, enjoying a sip of hot tea. He had just returned from a visit to the seaside warehouse where Bawang, his highly efficient team, had transported over 200 tons of the enigmatic grey-black metal, taking advantage of the early morning darkness to ensure secrecy and security.
Liu Yong eagerly ventured into the depths to witness the astounding sight for himself. Before him lay a sprawling landscape of wreckage, an awe-inspiring array of dozens of massive and minuscule pieces scattered across the ocean floor.
"This thing is truly magnificent!" he marvelled aloud, unable to contain his excitement.
Not only did the wreckage exhibit outstanding performance, but the price it commanded was also beautiful. Mulling over the possibility of acquiring these materials at 2 million per ton, Liu Yong couldn't help but consider it an excellent deal.
Below the sea's surface, countless broken pieces of grey-black metal awaited retrieval, amounting to tens of thousands of tons, if not more. And when taking into account the entire spacecraft's debris, stretching over 100 kilometres in length, the combined weight could easily reach tens of millions or even billions of tons.
Liu Yong's mind was captivated by the colossal treasure trove of grey-black metal, seemingly inexhaustible in its abundance. Nevertheless, he was not solely fixated on this vast amount of metal; his vision encompassed all the other valuable assets strewn amidst the wreckage, including the remnants of the spaceship's intelligent computer.
With such an overwhelming quantity of grey-black metal at stake, Liu Yong knew that even if the price were reduced to 200,000 per ton, it would still amount to a substantial fortune.
To Liu Yong's surprise, two days later, the military unexpectedly appeared at the Universal Building, where he conducted his business. The delegation, led by a senior colonel, arrived discreetly, dressed inconspicuously in casual attire, almost appearing like a group of businesspersons to discuss matters of commerce.
Welcoming them into the reception room on the 98th floor, Liu Yong was struck by the soldiers' straightforwardness as they expressed their interest in procuring super metals.
"Mr Liu, on behalf of the military, we are ordering 5,000 tons of super metals. Is there a problem?" the senior colonel inquired directly, laying the groundwork for a substantial contract?
The figure of 5,000 tons represented an astronomical value of 10 billion, making it an immensely significant deal. Liu Yong felt excited, realizing this would be his first important transaction with the military, an opportunity he couldn't quickly overlook.
Composing himself as best as possible, Liu Yong responded with grandeur, "Five thousand tons pose no issue. If the military desires 50,000 tons, I will be more than satisfied."
The senior colonel's composed demeanour wavered ever so slightly at the mention of 50,000 tons. He hurriedly asked, "Mr Liu, are you certain that such a colossal quantity is available?"
"Absolutely," Liu Yong replied with conviction. "There is no doubt about the existence of 50,000 tons. Give me a month, and I will ensure the complete delivery."
The senior colonel's face lit up with approval, "Excellent, I will report this to my superiors immediately. Let me make the call right away."
In the presence of everyone, the senior colonel swiftly made the crucial call, detailing the extraordinary opportunity that lay before them.
In a resounding voice that echoed through the room, a man addressed as Mr Liu made an intriguing proposition, exclaiming, "Mr Liu, we shall procure 10,000 tons initially, reserving the remaining 40,000 tons solely for our use, impervious to any external sales or exports."
Such a decision was of profound significance, for these 50,000 tons were equivalent to an exclusive military supply, a rare commodity that could alter the balance of power. In the past, Western countries had often imposed their dominance on them, but this time, the tables were turned, and they firmly refused to sell to their former dominators.
Rapid negotiations ensued between the parties involved, quickly settling the terms for the first 10,000 tons valued at an astounding 20 billion yuan, followed by the remaining 40,000 tons, with the entire supply to be completed within six months.
Once the military representatives departed, Liu Yong revelled in his office. Doing business with the military was undeniably a cause for celebration, and Liu Yong was more than pleased with the outcome.
However, amid his happiness, Liu Yong couldn't ignore the pressing task of retrieving all those tens of thousands of tons of grey-black metal scattered outside the dilapidated spaceship. He already had a preliminary plan to accomplish this formidable undertaking.
Liu Yong knew that a specialized steel forging plant was an absolute necessity to facilitate the retrieval process. It would be responsible for the initial processing of the recovered metals, transforming them into bars or thick plates ready for use.
The perfect location for such an endeavour was Huahai City, and there, the Xinpeng Special Steel Factory stood, under the ownership of its boss, Li Xinpeng, also known as Alexander.
Li Xinpeng found himself in dire straits, seated in his office and puffing on a cigarette as he faced relentless pressure from the bank to repay a massive loan of 50 million yuan. The factory's business had dwindled over the past couple of years, and the financial constraints were unbearable. He had even attempted to sell the factory as a whole package, initially demanding 4.5 billion yuan but later lowering the asking price to 3 billion yuan in a desperate bid to recover at least some of the invested capital. Yet, finding a suitable buyer remained an elusive task.
With a heavy sigh, Li Xinpeng muttered, "I'd settle for 2.8 billion, if only someone would make an offer." The factory possessed state-of-the-art equipment, predominantly imported, with a special smelting furnace alone costing over 100 million yuan. There were numerous other imported machines like steel rolling equipment and forging machinery.
As the smoke-filled room bore witness to his growing frustration, the director of Xinpeng Special Steel Factory entered, a loyal right-hand man to Li Xinpeng. In a tone of concern, he informed his boss, "Boss, our current orders are nearly fulfilled, and without new orders, we may soon have to halt production."
The news intensified Li Xinpeng's anxiety, forcing him to stub out his cigarette, contemplating the possibility of further price reductions to attract new orders.
Just outside the factory premises, a large luxury car pulled up, and two figures emerged – Liu Yong and Chen Hu. Standing before the gates, Liu Yong gazed at the factory and felt convinced that this was the place they sought.
Gesturing excitedly, Liu Yong said, "Let's not waste any time; it's time to step inside and see what awaits us."
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