The Boss's call startled everyone present, and their gazes shifted to Ren Ziquan with envy. It was clear that the Captain had earned their admiration. Who else could be the Boss but Liu Yong himself?
The atmosphere quickly quieted as Ren Ziquan tried to collect himself and respond, [ "Boss, you're looking for me? " ]
Liu Yong's voice boomed through the phone, [ " Old Ren, I suggest you sail another ten nautical miles to the southeast. I believe the chances of finding the plane wreckage are higher in that area. " ]
Ten nautical miles southeast? Ren Ziquan was taken aback. How did the Boss know the wreckage was likely to be found there? Liu Yong was thousands of nautical miles away in Huahai City.
Despite the strangeness of the situation, Ren Ziquan felt compelled to follow the Boss's directive. He declared boldly, [ " Okay, Boss. We'll set sail immediately. " ]
After the call ended, Ren Ziquan gave the order to recover the submersible, and the mighty vessel known as the "Blue Whale" embarked on its journey towards the sea area suggested by Liu Yong.
Although Liu Yong's words were merely a suggestion, the possibility of his incorrect instructions was unthinkable. The plane wreckage lay approximately ten nautical miles southeast of their current position. It would be inappropriate to doubt such precise guidance.
The "Blue Whale" powered through the waters, closing the distance of approximately ten nautical miles in a mere 20 to 30 minutes. Ren Ziquan commanded, [ " This is the spot. Drop anchor. " ]
Following closely behind the "Blue Whale," the Overlord relayed the scene to Liu Yong. With a third-party view, he could observe the situation unfolding.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtOne crew member aboard the "Blue Whale" soon spotted the plane wreckage and exclaimed in surprise, [ " Captain, I think I see a piece of the plane wreckage! " ]
Ren Ziquan raised his binoculars and confirmed the sighting a few hundred meters away. Excitement surged within him, and he announced enthusiastically, [ " Indeed, it's a substantial piece of plane wreckage. There's no doubt that the plane crashed here. " ]
Immediately, the submersible was deployed, and the divers began donning their diving suits and oxygen tanks in preparation for underwater exploration.
To maintain secrecy, the Overlord silently departed for the time being per Liu Yong's orders.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the "floating" plane wreckage that had momentarily surfaced soon returned to the depths of the sea. However, amidst the ship's flurry of activity, no one paid attention to this minor detail.
Once the submersible was positioned, it transmitted clear images of the seafloor. It didn't take long before a remarkable discovery was made.
[ " Captain, we've found the plane wreckage! Look! " ] a crew member exclaimed, pointing at the display screen.
Ren Ziquan's excitement surged. The screen displayed a significant aircraft wreckage, nearly two-thirds the size of a wing, lying diagonally on the seabed.
The rest of the crew rallied with renewed enthusiasm, and the divers, equipped with oxygen tanks, descended one after another to explore the depths less than 100 meters—an ideal range for their expertise.
Filled with excitement, Ren Ziquan immediately relayed the good news to Liu Yong via satellite phone before contacting the YD International Search and Rescue Center, using the contact number provided by Gal.
The person who answered the phone at the YD National Search and Rescue Center was stunned upon hearing that the plane wreckage had been found. Cheers erupted from the other end, indicating the overwhelming joy that had taken hold.
Shortly after, a search and rescue helicopter, carrying Gal, whom Ren Ziquan had previously met, and another high-ranking official named Myron, swiftly flew towards the location of the "Blue Whale."
After reporting the situation to the YD National Search and Rescue Center, Ren Ziquan directed the crew to salvage the significant wreckage they had discovered.
With each crew member proficient in their respective roles, salvaging the wreckage in waters less than 100 meters deep proved straightforward.
Soon, the massive wreckage was successfully lifted from the seabed and placed on the deck of the "Blue Whale."
The crew erupted in cheers and jubilation as the wreckage emerged from the water. Ren Ziquan, too, felt a sense of relief, knowing that they had secured a substantial reward of $100 million.
One crew member approached Ren Ziquan with curiosity and asked, [ " Captain, I heard that the first person to find the wreck can receive a reward of $100 million. Is that true? " ]
Ren Ziquan smiled, [ " Indeed, considering the size of the wreckage we salvaged, it seems we've secured the $100 million reward. " ]
Excitement rippled through the crew. Some even examined the wreckage as if it were solid gold.
[ " Captain, we've found another large piece of wreckage—a section of the fuselage that's even larger than the one we've salvaged. Shall we retrieve it as well? " ] a crew member reported.
Ren Ziquan waved his hand and replied, [ " Of course, salvage it and place it on our deck. " ]
The "Blue Whale," with its massive size—displacing 85,000 tons, measuring nearly 290 meters in length, and 55 meters in width—had more than enough space to accommodate the plane wreckage.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe combat divers swiftly maneuvered underwater, securing the other wreckage with cables before hoisting it onto the ship using the onboard lifting equipment.
This more significant piece of wreckage fueled even greater exhilaration among the crew.
The ship's atmosphere was boiling as the plane wreckage emerged from the water, brimming with excitement and awe.
The second wreckage was successfully salvaged and placed on the deck of the "Blue Whale." Numerous crew members observed the scene with keen interest.
Some crew members seized the opportunity to document the momentous occasion, capturing numerous photos with their mobile phones, which they would likely share on social media to showcase their achievement.
[ " Friends, take a look! The YD government has invested significant resources, and after the wreckage remained undiscovered for so long, we have now located and salvaged it, they would proclaim in their posts, eager to bask in their triumph " ]
As crew members revelled in the excitement, someone noticed a helicopter approaching from a distance.
[ " Captain, a helicopter is approaching! " ] they exclaimed.
Ren Ziquan raised his binoculars and confirmed that it was the YD National Search and Rescue Center's helicopter. He signalled the crew to prepare for the helicopter's landing.
The helicopter touched down smoothly on the designated helipad of the "Blue Whale." As it came to a halt, seven or eight individuals disembarked.
In addition to Gal, there were several unfamiliar faces, including a distinguished middle-aged man who appeared to be a senior official from the YD National Search and Rescue Center.
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