374 The Mighty One! The mighty vessel "Blue Whale" embarked on its voyage towards a distant sea area. As the ship sailed away, Huahai City gradually faded into the horizon.
A superb map sprawled across the table inside the captain's room, illuminated by a soft glow. Captain Ren Zhiquan, a seasoned seafarer, fixed his gaze on the map, marking a conspicuous red dot representing their intended destination.
With the precision of a skilled navigator, he employed a ruler to measure the distance and made rough calculations in his mind. Ren Zhiquan estimated it would take at least seven or eight days to reach their target, considering the current speed of the "Blue Whale."
In the depths of his thoughts, the captain pondered the enigmatic nature of their mission. For the sake of utmost secrecy, Liu Yong, the mission's architect, had refrained from disclosing the mission's specifics to Ren Zhiquan. The only assurance was that the captain would be briefed upon their arrival at the designated location.
Meanwhile, thousands of nautical miles away, the imposing figure of Bawang the Overlord loomed over the scene. With remarkable strength, the creature performed porting duties almost second nature. Its massive paws deftly carried grey-black metal fragments, each piece a testament to the wreckage that now adorned the ocean floor.
The hauls were substantial, amounting to several hundred tons each, and the temporary cave nearby served as a makeshift storage for the collected weapons. Time after time, the relentless Bawang ferried more metal fragments, carefully placing them within the shallow depths of the sea.
Despite the enormous effort, the Overlord remained undeterred. It continued its vital work, swimming with determined grace toward yet another damaged spacecraft, eager to salvage whatever valuable resources it could find.
One particularly sizable metal fragment caught the Overlord's attention. A piece exceeding the weight of 1,000 tons posed a significant challenge, even for a creature as mighty as Bawang. With a moment of hesitation, the Overlord decided to persist, knowing that the reward justified the effort.
As Bawang laboured on, the fragment's weight affected its swimming speed. What would typically take less than two hours to cover 500 nautical miles now consumed over three hours? Yet, the Overlord's tenacity knew no bounds, and it finally successfully transported the massive metal fragment to the designated location.
After a brief respite, the Overlord contemplated its progress. It recognized that growth was essential to meet the demands of this daunting task. It could only transport even more substantial metal fragments by surpassing the 1,000-ton weight bottleneck, perhaps reaching the impressive range of 2,000 to 3,000 or even 4,000 to 5,000 tons.
With determination shining in its eyes, Bawang knew its purpose—growth and overcoming limits. The journey ahead was arduous, but the Overlord was resolute in its pursuit.
Overwhelmed by fatigue and hunger after completing its latest task, Bawang realized that this endeavour was not a mere skirmish but a long-lasting battle. Transporting such an abundance of metal fragments to the shallow seas, located more than 500 nautical miles away, would demand at least ten days, if not longer.
Yet, the Overlord did not rush; it understood the gravity of its mission. After finding a temporary refuge within its cave, Bawang indulged in a much-needed meal and drifted into a well-deserved rest. The coming days would be filled with challenges, but Bawang knew it had the strength to face them all.
For several consecutive days, the mighty Overlord tirelessly carried an ever-increasing load of metal fragments, pausing only for essential tasks such as hunting and rest. The shallow sea they navigated was strewn with a vast assortment of these metallic remnants, varying greatly in size and weight. Some pieces were as light as a mere tens of kilograms, while others boasted staggering masses of hundreds or even thousands of tons.
Among these metallic vestiges lay the grandest find of them all, a colossal fragment weighing over 1,000 tons, which required an enormous effort from Bawang and his crew to transport. Departing from the bustling Huahai City, the "Blue Whale" had embarked on an arduous journey, traversing vast distances and battling the waves for nearly eight days to finally reach this mysterious sea region.
Standing resolute on the bow deck, Ren Zhiquan led a group of several individuals, all wearing expressions of awe and bewilderment as they beheld the seemingly infinite expanse of the sea before them. A mix of relief and confusion filled their hearts as they contemplated the purpose of their journey. What lay ahead for them in this far-flung corner of the world?
"The captain, this sea is rather shallow. We've taken measurements, and the depth is only around thirty to forty meters," one of Ren Zhiquan's crew members reported.
Another crew member chimed in, "Indeed, the seabed is remarkably simple here. The water is unusually clear, and the terrain consists mainly of fine sand, presenting an almost flat landscape."
A collective sense of uncertainty lingered among them, and one person couldn't help but voice the question that seemed to occupy everyone's thoughts, "What exactly are we supposed to do after coming all this way?"
Silence followed, leaving the group pondering their mission's purpose until Ren Zhiquan broke the quietude by picking up a satellite phone, his voice resonating with authority as he communicated with their superior.
"Boss, we've arrived at the designated sea area. Please provide instructions for the next steps," Ren Zhiquan spoke into the device.
Liu Yong's reassuring voice came through the satellite phone, acknowledging their efforts and setting forth their task: "You've all worked hard. Now, your objective is to send your team members into the water to salvage the abundant gray and black metals beneath the surface. Once collected, we'll arrange for their transportation back to Huahai City aboard the freighter."
Finally having clarity on their mission, Ren Zhiquan's curiosity was piqued. What were these gray-black metals hidden beneath the shallow sea's depths? He had heard rumors of a remarkably light metal, a military-exclusive material with a staggering price tag of 2 million per ton. Could this be the elusive metal they sought?
Fueling his inquisitiveness, Ren Zhiquan wasted no time in organizing the operation, sending the first group of skilled frogmen into the crystal-clear waters to investigate and pinpoint the locations of these mysterious metallic deposits.
Soon enough, not far from the majestic "Blue Whale," the divers discovered an impressive accumulation of gray-black metals scattered across the seabed. With the precise location marked, the "Blue Whale" shifted its course to anchor itself above the bounty, about a nautical mile away.
The subsequent steps seemed relatively straightforward - to salvage the gray metals. The crane on the "Blue Whale" salvage ship sprang to life, lowering its fishing lines with careful precision, initiating the endeavor to retrieve the valuable cargo from the depths of the sea.
Deep beneath the azure waves, the "Blue Whale" was a master of the deep-sea salvage, renowned for its expertise in retrieving sunken treasures from the ocean's abyss. In these crystal-clear waters, where the depths reached a mere 30 to 40 meters, salvage operations were typically straightforward and undemanding.
One day, the team's hard work paid off as they successfully salvaged the first batch of enigmatic gray-black metal from the ocean's depths. The sheer size of this metal piece astonished the crew. Judging by its dimensions, it should have weighed a staggering four to five thousand tons, yet to their bewilderment, it felt surprisingly light, as if it were only a fraction of that weight.
Word spread like wildfire among the crew, and the mystery of the metal's weight piqued their curiosity. With the captain, Ren Zhiquan's consent, the decision was made to hoist the salvaged metal onto the deck of the "Blue Whale" instead of transferring it directly to the adjacent bulk ship. This unusual approach gathered a throng of curious onlookers.
Among them was Old Zhou, an experienced member of the crew. He was renowned for his strength and had a reputation for accomplishing seemingly impossible feats. As the crowd buzzed with speculation, Old Zhou confidently stepped forward, his sleeves rolled up with enthusiasm. With a twinkle in his eye, he addressed Old Zhu, a fellow crewmate.
"Old Zhu, you underestimate the power within me. This piece of metal may be large, but it cannot possibly weigh more than two or three hundred catties. I can lift it without breaking a sweat," Old Zhou declared.
Old Zhu, intrigued by Old Zhou's confidence, saw an opportunity for some friendly banter. "Oh, really?" he responded with a grin. "If you manage to lift this metal, I'll bet a bag of Zhonghua on it."
"Count me in too!" chimed another crewmate, eager to join the bet.
With all eyes fixed upon him, Old Zhou's excitement only grew. "You can count on me! I'll prove to you that my words are true," he proclaimed boldly.
Without further ado, Old Zhou positioned himself in front of the colossal metal piece, and with determination in his eyes, he gripped it firmly with both hands. Everyone around him held their breath in anticipation. Then, in a show of incredible strength, he began to lift the massive object before their astonished eyes. Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd.
"This is impossible! How can Old Zhou possess such strength?" whispered some in hushed tones.
Only a man of extraordinary might could achieve such a feat. The atmosphere fell silent as the crew struggled to comprehend how Old Zhou had managed to lift such an immense piece of metal with apparent ease.
The "Blue Whale" and its crew had stumbled upon a remarkable enigma, and as the story of this astonishing feat spread among the seafaring community, adventurers from all corners of the world set their sights on the depths of these clear seas, eager to unlock the secrets that lay hidden beneath.
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