Bawang only took 30 to 40 minutes, covering 150 to 60 nautical miles. It might take less time if it were moving at its fastest pace.
Liu Yong could already make out the overall shape of the enormous yacht on the water from his perch on Bawang's massive carapace, tens of meters below the surface.
In addition, Bawang reaffirmed, "Master, we are here."
"Yes." After taking off Bawang's back armour and pulling an alien computer from its enormous mouth, Liu Yong swam effortlessly in the boat's direction.
As he emerged from the water, Liu Yong shouted, "Chen Hu, hurry over and help me."
Hearing the commotion, Chen Hu, who had been waiting on the yacht for Liu Yong to resurface, hustled over.
Liu Yong instructed, "Take these items up, but be vigilant not to cause any harm."
These objects were invaluable!
Exercise utmost care; these items have languished beneath the sea for over 50,000 years. A single careless move could lead to catastrophe.
Chen Hu comprehended the gravity of the situation. He gingerly took the alien computer from Liu Yong's grasp and stowed it away. He then hefted the colossal light source, weighing over 1,000 kilograms.
Fortunately, his strength was more than adequate for the task. He connected the light source and placed it on the yacht.
Liu Yong directed, "There are still more items; I'll retrieve them."
Within Bawang's gargantuan maw lay numerous items, including an alien computer and four sizable crates.
Liu Yong made two additional trips to bring all of these items aboard. After meticulously securing them on the yacht, he shed his rubber diving suit, enjoyed a warm shower, and changed into dry attire.
Liu Yong decided not to make any further dives for now. He'd wait until Bawang grew even more significant, perhaps to 1,200 or 1,500 tons so that he could endure longer at depths exceeding 3,000 meters.
While Liu Yong showered, Chen Hu examined the items with great curiosity.
The two alien computers left him utterly perplexed. He had never encountered such technology before; it seemed like something straight out of science fiction. His best guess was that they were some form of advanced computer.
As for the four large crates, he was similarly intrigued, but he dared not open them without Liu Yong's permission.
After changing clothes and safely stowing away the salvaged items, Liu Yong signaled, "Let's go; we can head back now."
The yacht set sail and began the return journey.
After more than an hour of sailing, the yacht passed the area where the M country warship had sunk.
"Boss, look, a ship is coming to rescue them," Chen Hu pointed out.
Liu Yong observed a large container ship flying the flag of country M. It appeared to have been nearby and was now racing to the scene after receiving a distress signal.
Liu Yong noted the ongoing rescue operation and aided in rescuing the individuals on the two rubber lifeboats in the sea, numbering only 20 to 30 people. He speculated that a guided missile frigate would typically carry dozens of crew members, and it seemed that more than half had perished at sea.
Liu Yong felt no sympathy for them; their situation was largely of their own making. They had stubbornly followed him like magnets.
The yacht, without slowing down, continued on its course, seemingly oblivious to the ongoing rescue. Gradually, it distanced itself from the scene.
Five days later, Liu Yong and Chen Hu safely returned to Huahai City.
Within the Universal Building:
In his office, Liu Yong carefully placed the two alien computers he had retrieved on his substantial desk. He examined them repeatedly, growing increasingly enamored with their intricacies.
These two devices had undergone preliminary cleaning and were now dry and free of any seawater residue.
Liu Yong harbored an intense desire to delve into them but ultimately resisted the temptation. He recognized that disassembling these computers was a task for experts.
After gazing at them for an extended period, Liu Yong securely stowed them in a sizable safe. He then turned his attention to one of the crates, cracking it open and inspecting its contents.
Inside, he found a cache of thirty batteries, each roughly the size of a palm, resembling small cuboids, measuring about two or three centimeters thick, much like the previous battery.
These batteries likely served as backup power sources for the aliens, reserved for emergencies.
Three more large crates remained.
On their journey back, Liu Yong had inspected them superficially and was still in awe.
Inside these three crates lay items beyond Liu Yong's comprehension. He couldn't fathom their purpose despite careful examination.
Taking one of the crates, Liu Yong placed it on his desk, opened it, and studied its contents once more.
The contents consisted of pieces, some the size of a palm, others as small as a fingernail, and the largest no more than the size of a palm.
While they varied in size, they all shared a common trait: they were exceptionally thin. For example, a slender slice the size of a fingernail was only as thick as a coin, approximately 1 mm. The largest sheets were a mere three to four millimeters thick, all featuring exposed slots.
Liu Yong couldn't make heads or tails of their purpose, no matter how long he scrutinized them. The other two crates held similar items—thin sheets or peculiarly shaped batteries.
After a lengthy and engrossing examination, Liu Yong carefully placed all these items in the safe, securely locking them away.
It was getting late, and Liu Yong decided to contact Hu Nan and Ning Zetao the following day to provide them with the batteries.
Locking the safe, Liu Yong pondered the substantial gains from this venture.
The haul was monumental!
The batteries alone held incredible value. Moreover, the peculiar sheets intrigued him; their worth might exceed that of the batteries.
At the Global Scientific Research Center:
Hu Nan was leading his technical team in the development of graphene-aluminum batteries. The project had been underway for over ten days, with significant progress.
Many of the technical challenges that had previously plagued him were now resolved, and the project was advancing remarkably smoothly.
His team members were diligently conducting their research, while Hu Nan himself was preparing a research paper on graphene-aluminum batteries. He also needed to initiate the patent application process, which required his personal attention.
Then came a knock at the door—Ning Zetao entered with a somewhat troubled expression.
Hu Nan immediately inquired, "What's the matter, Old Ning?"
Ning Zetao replied with a sigh, "We only have one battery for our research, and it's causing a ruckus among the team leaders below. They're all vying for a share."
Hu Nan couldn't help but wear a wry smile.
Such conflicts were not uncommon; they occurred periodically, and he had dealt with similar situations personally.
Unbeknownst to them, the treasures Liu Yong had retrieved were about to spark a revolution in their research endeavors...
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