Chapter 236 The Target ?



On the vast expanse of the sea, multiple ships continued their operations, their presence easily visible from afar. Occasional glimpses of divers entering or emerging from the water added to the scene's liveliness.

Among these vessels were Myron and Gal, their faces marked with seriousness. Days had turned into weeks as they tirelessly combed the sea, searching for something elusive. Despite their efforts, the two boxes of cultural relics remained elusive. It seemed as if the news of the dinosaurs had disappeared without a trace. 

Although they had discovered and salvaged numerous bodies in the past few days, there was no sign of the cultural relic boxes.

Myron's mind raced with thoughts, his desperation growing. He pondered that it would still be a glimmer of hope even if they found just one of the aluminium alloy boxes, even if it were damaged or mere wreckage.

Gal's satellite phone rang as time passed, prompting him to answer the call. Gradually, his expression shifted from solemnity to excitement, and he spoke fervently.

[ " Is it true? Are you absolutely certain? " ] Gal asked eagerly.

On the other end, Myron confirmed, [ " It's true. I've witnessed several of the cultural relics with my own eyes, including our most precious Buddha relic. " ]

Suddenly, the lack of trace of the cultural relic boxes made sense. Standing beside Gal, Myron asked with anticipation, [ " What is it? Why are you so excited? " ]

Gal quickly relayed the news, and Myron's eyes widened in astonishment.

"What?!" Myron couldn't contain his excitement, waving his hands frantically. [ " Let's go! We need to return immediately by helicopter. Right now! " ]

Without delay, Myron, Gal, and a couple of attendants hastened to board the waiting helicopter and departed swiftly.

Meanwhile, a message was conveyed to the ships involved in the search and salvage operations, including the search helicopters. They were notified that the search was officially concluded and instructed to leave the designated sea area.

In Huahai City, the "Blue Whale" salvage ship smoothly docked at the port. Qiu Yang, representing the Global Shipping Group, welcomed its arrival. Temporarily stationed at the company, Liu Yong listened attentively to Hu Shijun's report.

[ " Brother Yong, the YD National Search and Rescue Center contacted us with strong demands, insisting that we immediately return the cultural relics, " ] Hu Shijun explained.

Liu Yong chuckled. [ " If they want them back, they shall have them. It's an interesting proposition. " ]

He pointed out the countless cultural relics from their own country still residing overseas, untouched and uncalled for. Returning them voluntarily was unheard of, and Liu Yong considered such requests naive.

With a severe tone, Liu Yong declared, [ " Respond to them. If they wish to reclaim these cultural relics, it's not a problem. They must prepare a sum of 2 billion US dollars and ensure that our ships have free access to their three largest ports for an extended period. " ]

Such were Liu Yong's conditions, his firm stance laid out before them.

Upon hearing Liu Yong's demands, Hu Shijun's eyes lit up, admiration filling his voice. [ " Brother Yong, you truly are remarkable! " ]

With swift determination, Hu Shijun left to comply with Liu Yong's instructions, contacting the YD National Search and Rescue Center accordingly. The call was sternly protested, with the other party warning that if the cultural relics were not returned within three days, the Global Shipping Group would bear the consequences.

-HAHA HAHA HAHA!

Liu Yong merely laughed in response.

[ " Hmph, let's see. " ]

Hu Shijun voiced his concerns, [ " Brother Yong, aren't you worried about any repercussions? What if something happens to our ships? " ]

Liu Yong dismissively replied, [ " What can they do? At most, they'll find an excuse to attack our ships. " ]

[ " But, Brother Yong, shouldn't we worry about our ships? The Indian Ocean is a crucial route for our vessels, " ] Hu Shijun insisted.

Liu Yong asserted confidently, [ " I have no concerns regarding this matter. " ]

Satisfied with Liu Yong's assurance, Hu Shijun felt reassured.

Would the YD people dare to attack the ships of the Global Shipping Group?

The answer was a resounding yes. They were indeed plotting such actions, seeking an excuse to detain a few ships and compel the Global Shipping Group to submit to their demands.

Liu Yong was well aware of their intentions.

After seeing Hu Shijun off, Liu Yong turned to his computer, launching the management software to track the positions of each ship under his command. 

The Global Shipping Group owned a fleet of 50 to 60 vessels, varying in size and purpose. The most minuscule displaced 20,000 to 30,000 tons, while the largest surpassed 200,000 tons. In total, their combined displacement exceeded 8 million tons.

On his computer screen, Liu Yong focused on the world map, honing in on the ships navigating the Indian Ocean. He contemplated which vessels the YD people might target if they sought an excuse for an arrest.

After careful consideration, Liu Yong deduced that the most likely targets were the two large oil tankers, [ " Shixiong" ] and [ "Shiyue." ] They sailed in the Indian Ocean, fully laden with crude oil, and were close to the YD mainland.

Another possibility was the oil tanker [ " Shi Ning," ] en route to the Middle East and sailing close to the coast of India, not far from the YD continent.

Having analyzed the situation, Liu Yong issued instructions. He ordered the crews of  "Shixiong" and "Shiyue," which were relatively close to each other, to sail nearby as a precautionary measure. The "Shi Ning" was also advised to reduce speed and wait for the container ship "Jin Yao," positioned 300 nautical miles behind it. It was suggested that they sail in tandem.

These actions were taken to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, guarding against potential tricks employed by the YD people.

In addition to these measures, the most effective safeguard was the discreet presence of the Overlord.

This was Liu Yong's trump card.

If the YD people dared to seize the ships of the Global Shipping Group, they would pay the price.

Furthermore, the Overlord possessed incredible speed, capable of monitoring and providing protection across vast distances, ensuring the safety of multiple ships.

At that moment, the Overlord lay in comfortable slumber on the seafloor. A collection of skeletons belonging to the peculiar white fish adorned the flat ground near its cave. Overlord had been living luxuriously, feasting on white monster fish from the deep trench. Each meal consumed several tons, with the larger specimens reaching two or three tons.

Yet, a lingering disappointment remained—the giant monster fish with clawed feet had eluded its grasp.

Nevertheless, the white monster fish taste was delightful, and there was no shortage of them in the trench. Ranging from 20 to 30 tons, these fish grew as large as several hundred tons. Overlord had become selective, focusing on the white monster fish weighing over 100 tons.

[ " Overlord, there is work to be done! " ]

Upon hearing Liu Yong's voice, the slumbering Overlord swiftly regained its energy.

[ " Master, what task do you entrust me with? " ] Overlord inquired eagerly.

Liu Yong provided a brief overview of the YD people's potential attack on the Global Shipping Group's ships and disclosed the locations of the "Shixiong" and "Shiyue."

Without hesitation, Liu Yong ordered, [ " Set off immediately and secretly guard the two ships. " ]

..............