The meeting room was steeped in an air of profound silence, a hushed tension that seemed almost palpable. Throughout the chamber, nearly everyone in attendance seemed ensnared by rapt attention. However, amongst the assemblage, a handful were privy to the truth that today's meeting held far more weight than its outwardly innocuous facade suggested.
At the vanguard of the discussion was the introduction of the Global Shipping Group, though this was but the preamble to more momentous revelations. Concealed beneath the surface lay an array of matters of utmost importance, yet not all the high-ranking executives were made cognizant of these impending intricacies; only a select few were entrusted with this confidential knowledge.
Amidst the pretense of earnestly absorbing the discourse about Global Shipping Group's operations, there were individuals who were, in fact, grappling with their own confusion. For instance, there were those who dealt in specialized metal materials, wondering what relevance a shipping conglomerate held in their domain.
Following the introduction, a high-ranking executive could no longer contain his bewilderment and questioned, "Mr. President, forgive my uncertainty, but what significance does the presentation about Global Shipping Group hold for us?"
"Indeed, what could possibly be the rationale behind this?" Another executive chimed in, his tone incredulous. The notion seemed unfathomable – a shipping company intertwining with their interests at the Black Iron Company appeared incongruent at best.
Perplexity gripped the minds of numerous high-level officials, their collective gaze settling upon Sherman, beseeching him for elucidation. With measured gravitas, Sherman began to unravel the truth, like a master storyteller building suspense.
"Gentlemen and ladies," Sherman's voice carried a weight of anticipation, "You might be unaware that this ostensibly shipping-oriented enterprise harbors an impressive secret – they possess an extraordinary metal composite. The Yan Kingdom's military has already made substantial procurements of this very material."
A ripple of incredulousness surged through the room, punctuated by the odd exclamation of "what!" and phrases like "an exceptional metal?" Within the annals of Black Iron Company's repertoire, their specialization lay in the realm of specialized metal materials, an array encompassing diverse alloy steels and cutting-edge high-temperature compositions. That a seemingly unrelated shipping consortium boasted access to such remarkable metal was nothing short of astonishing.
Sherman's preparedness was palpable, as he orchestrated a prompt segue into a live demonstration. With a flourish, his command beckoned forth a subordinate who commenced a succinct exposition of this newfound superlative metal, its attributes laid bare on a commanding display.
All eyes were fixated on the imposing screen, the erstwhile hush becoming almost suffocating in its intensity, punctuated only by the rare sound of indrawn breaths. Then, the profound silence surrendered to an orchestra of exhalations, as amazement and disbelief tangoed across the canvas of expressions.
Voices erupted in a chorus of incredulity:
"By the heavens, this can't be real!"
"The existence of such a metal is nigh implausible!"
"Am I hallucinating? Is this some surreal dream?"
Emotions and exclamations traversed a kaleidoscope of reactions, as the initial tumult of disbelief gave way to a rising tide of earnest awe. It was as if the entire room was caught in the throes of a seismic revelation, a tableau depicting the collision of the prosaic and the miraculous.
Gradually, the din moderated, replaced by an undercurrent of envy and yearning, tinging the ambiance with an undercurrent of covetousness. A senior executive's declaration encapsulated this collective sentiment, "A shipping consortium wielding such a peerless metal is beyond inconceivable. This treasure ought to rightfully belong to our domain."
Determined murmurs filled the air, accompanied by fervent propositions:
"We must secure this metal, at any cost."
"Mr. President, we must take any measures necessary for this metal."
Sherman surveyed the landscape of emotions and yearnings, his own longing echoing within him. For, ever since his introduction to the existence of this otherworldly metal, dreams of its incorporation into the Black Iron Company's arsenal had become recurrent companions.
Prompted by Sherman's invitation, a high-level executive proffered a strategic solution: "Mr. President, I advocate initiating dialogue with the Global Shipping Group. We should ascertain the viability of procuring the smelting technology for this extraordinary metal."
Yet, dissension soon arose. A dissenting voice opined, "The feasibility of such an arrangement is dubious; they're unlikely to relinquish their technology."
And so, the discourse oscillated between feasibility and aspiration:
"What alternative paths lay before us?"
"Perhaps we could secure a quantity of this metal for research purposes, channeling our efforts toward reverse-engineering its fabrication."
Debates, discussions, and ideas mingled within the chamber, as time flowed like a river. Eventually, a course of action took form – a dual strategy, entailing procurement of the metal alongside clandestine investigations into its origins within the Global Shipping Group.
Meanwhile, upon the vast expanse of the North Pacific Ocean, the "Blue Whale" and its companions reached a shallow sea after a week-long sojourn. Here, a trove of grey-black metal lay hidden beneath the sea's surface, a secret known only to those initiated, like Ren Ziquan.
Ren's experience lent the salvage operation remarkable ease, resulting in the retrieval of over a dozen tons of this enigmatic metal within a span of days. Laden with their newfound treasure, the vessels commenced their journey back to Huahai City.
As the "Blue Whale" sailed the waves, a trio of foreign visitors descended upon the Xinpeng Special Steel Smelting Plant. Their leader, Zavier, a middle-aged foreign dignitary, headed the Black Iron Company. The unexpected arrival spoke volumes about their intent, a tacit acknowledgement that a formal invitation would only be met with refusal.
Barring their entry, the factory's security personnel were momentarily nonplussed by this unexpected visitation. Yet, the weight of their identities compelled swift communication with the appropriate channels. Subsequently, the foreign delegates found themselves within the confines of a reception room, where they engaged in conversations with Xin Feiwen, the intermediary.
It was soon revealed that Zavier's purpose pertained to the enigmatic super metal. The foreign company wished to purchase a portion of it and negotiate technology transfer – a proposition rendered moot by Liu Yong's directive. After internal deliberations and consultations with Liu Yong, Xin Feiwen conveyed the stance: the metal could be procured at a steep price of $20 million per ton, yet technology transfer remained an implausible demand.
Liu Yong's strategic decisions stemmed from his exclusive deal to provide the military with the initial 50,000 tons of the super metal, accompanied by the privilege of limited exports. The product's provenance from alien technology eliminated the fear of leaks, while Liu Yong's judicious reputation as a custodian of this novel resource affirmed his discretion.
As Xin Feiwen absorbed Liu Yong's directive, admiration bloomed for his audacity and sagacity. To unhesitatingly price the metal at $20 million was audacious, a testament to Liu Yong's grasp of the metal's unique value.
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