Qin Kewei and Gong Changfa both had personal experience at sea. Facing giant sea beasts, even ability users were too insignificant. Killing a giant sea beast hidden in the sea was as difficult as climbing to heaven. Most importantly, sea beasts were natural ability users. When they unleashed their abilities, almost no one could withstand them. Compared to ordinary people's abilities, sea beasts' abilities were even more powerful.
Moreover, the most important thing was that Qin Kewei and Gong Changfa had personally witnessed sea beasts surrounding them. While encountering one or two sea beasts was manageable, being surrounded by dozens or even hundreds of sea beasts would overwhelm anyone. This time, there would be no Andorf to trigger an earthquake again.
Therefore, Qin Kewei and Gong Changfa began to speculate. Gong Changfa even said, "Our Heavenly Selection Bureau does not have the capability to salvage meteorites, so please let the Ability Administration Bureau handle it. As everyone knows, the Ability Administration Bureau has achieved remarkable feats since its inception, and this time will be no exception."
Qin Kewei replied seriously, "That might not be feasible. Not long ago, our Ability Administration Bureau's members returned to the country, and they are extremely exhausted. Besides, everyone knows that Mr. Gong Changfa is the most destructive among all ability users. This task naturally falls to the Heavenly Selection Bureau."
After some argument, no conclusion was reached.
Suddenly, someone said, "Why don't we observe first? Perhaps the mutated blue whale is just resting and hasn't moved. Even if we find the blue whale, we still need powerful combat capabilities to obtain the meteorite. If we can't kill the blue whale, what's the point of going to sea and knowing its location?"
This statement immediately garnered agreement from Qin Kewei and Gong Changfa. The sea was too dangerous. If they encountered a few giant sea beasts, they might not be able to handle them. Sea beasts had strong vitality, and even underwater missiles had difficulty causing damage. In such a situation, going to sea was suicidal.
However, Long Qian insisted, "No, leaders. The entire world now knows how important meteorites are. The appearance of the apocalypse is closely related to the existence of meteorites. If our investigation is not timely and meteorites are taken away and studied by other countries, leading to the cultivation of an ability user army, wouldn't that be a disaster?"
This concern was very real because the importance of extraterrestrial meteorites was undeniable. Any country on Earth that obtained an extraterrestrial meteorite would have the strength to rapidly change the balance of power. Powerful ability users could even be stronger than armies, especially elemental ability users. Even ordinary ability users far exceeded people's imagination. If meteorites were obtained by other countries due to a lack of investigation, it would be a great loss.
Under these circumstances, the potential situation of the meteorites could not be ignored. Thus, headquarters directly made a decision, stating, "Then let the Ability Administration Bureau and the Heavenly Selection Bureau act together. It was your two departments' close cooperation that found the meteorite before. Now is the time for you to cooperate again."
Upon hearing this, Gong Changfa and Qin Kewei showed expressions of helplessness. They did not expect this dangerous mission to fall on their shoulders again. Previously, the Heavenly Selection Bureau had been almost wiped out at sea. Including Yun Laizhe, who had returned, only three people had come back. Although the number of ability users in the Heavenly Selection Bureau was now similar to before, these ability users had basically not received resource cultivation. Many ability users were not as good as the previous members, and their combat effectiveness was poor.
At this moment, Qin Kewei suddenly remembered something important and asked, "By the way, I heard that Xiao Sheng is preparing to get married in Rongcheng, and Fang Qinghao also frequently travels towards Rongcheng. What about these two?"
Headquarters responded without hesitation, "Immediately summon these two back. There is no time to delay. Now is the time to state any conditions you have, while it is still easy to handle."
Qin Kewei hesitated and asked, "When we set out this time, can we bring an aircraft carrier and a full fleet? Equip the ships with highly toxic weapons. This way, even if we encounter sea beasts at sea, we will have basic resistance."
Headquarters hesitated upon hearing this. They really hadn't expected Qin Kewei to make such an exorbitant demand, asking for an aircraft carrier. This was a very important asset, and it would be bad if it were used casually and casualties occurred.
Gong Changfa also added, "Exactly. What Qin Kewei said is completely correct. Air power is very important when encountering sea beasts at sea. It would be best if you could give us two more nuclear submarines. With them, we would have more confidence at sea."
"Enough! You two are not modest at all when asking for supplies. You ask for an aircraft carrier and nuclear submarines as if you are going to conquer a country. Let me tell you, the aircraft carrier can accompany you, but forget about nuclear submarines. This kind of power should be enough for self-preservation. Also, the research institute has developed highly toxic weapons; bring them along this time. I wonder if the highly toxic weapons will have a good effect when dealing with sea beasts."
After the meeting ended, most people were preparing for the New Year. As for the Ability Administration Bureau and the Heavenly Selection Bureau, they were forced to cooperate. Even if they didn't cooperate, they had no choice. If they encountered danger at sea, they would have to cooperate even with their enemies.
When Xiao Sheng heard the summons, he felt like cursing. He was about to get married, and they were calling him up for conscription. Was this targeting him? Couldn't they wait until after his wedding?
Fang Qinghao was much more indifferent. After all, he had pursued Yu Renshu for so long without any results. In this situation, going to sea to complete a mission was a way to relax. As long as he was careful, he would hardly be in any danger at sea.
Gong Changfa, however, was furious at being outmaneuvered by Long Qian. He hated that this guy had exaggerated things, leading to him being dispatched to sea for a mission. This guy was truly despicable, plotting against him for power and profit. If he could retaliate, Gong Changfa would definitely do so.
After careful consideration, Gong Changfa indeed found Long Qian's weakness. "Long Qian, you've been plotting against me repeatedly, with each scheme more ruthless than the last. Since that's the case, don't blame me for plotting against you," Gong Changfa thought to himself.
After experiencing great ups and downs, Gong Changfa no longer valued fame and fortune as much. However, this did not mean Gong Changfa could be bullied casually. Gong Changfa's inherent pride could not be hidden. Now, Gong Changfa's revenge was about to arrive.
Gong Changfa's every move was being watched, but it was very easy for Gong Changfa to transmit information. This was because Gong Changfa knew many people in Yanjing. He only needed to find a couple of people to pass on important messages. Thus, on the second day after the meeting, the Qinghong Gang learned that the Tianlong Bureau was preparing to cut off their trade route with Yuzhou.
Upon receiving this news, Wang Ao Ye's first thought was that it was false information, as there was no reason for the other party to reveal such a thing to him. However, upon careful consideration, this matter could indeed be the content of the meeting. As for why the subsequent meeting content leaked out, that was not something Gong Changfa needed to consider, as the matter had already happened. What if it was leaked by someone who had a good impression of the Qinghong Gang?
"Since this is a conspiracy targeting the Qinghong Gang and Yuzhou, we will have to join forces with Shen Feng. I'll see how capable the newly formed Tianlong Bureau is," Wang Ao Ye had a special plan in mind.
As the Spring Festival arrived, ability users from the Ability Administration Bureau and the Heavenly Selection Bureau boarded an aircraft carrier with an escort fleet and set sail for the Indian Ocean to investigate the blue whale situation, but many people were in low spirits.
The Tianlong Bureau, on the other hand, needed to spend a pleasant Spring Festival in Yanjing before heading south to carry out the plan to cut off trade routes.
During the apocalypse, Shen Feng spent his first Spring Festival with his family. During the day, Shen Feng received guests at the Fengshen Palace and handed out red envelopes to his subordinates. In the evening, he would go to Du Xinshi's residence and stay by her side every day.
Most people in Yuzhou could eat their fill, and there was some meat on the table during the New Year. However, in more distant places, some people were still worried about not having enough to eat.
The myriad aspects of life were most evident during the Spring Festival. Some families were filled with laughter, while others were dispirited. Some families had tables full of chicken, duck, and fish, while others couldn't even afford to buy new clothes for their children.
"Bodhisattva Guanyin, please bless my sister-in-law and my little nephew, keep them safe and sound," Zhang Xixi knelt before the statue of Guanyin and began to pray.
Zhang Xixi also desperately wanted to find her sister-in-law. Although her sister-in-law had not been very pleasant to her before, for Zhang Xixi, she was her last remaining relative. Therefore, at this moment, Zhang Xixi hoped to find her sister-in-law and nephew.
Little Long watched Zhang Xixi kneeling before the Buddha statue and asked in a childish voice, "Auntie, what are you doing?"
Seeing Little Long sitting beside her, Zhang Xixi couldn't help but say, "Little Long, I'm praying to Bodhisattva Guanyin to bless my sister-in-law and nephew, and then offering incense. You don't understand yet. When you grow up, you'll know what I'm doing."
Du Fansheng was gradually learning to speak. Although he sometimes couldn't express his meaning clearly, Zhang Xixi and Little Long had spent quite some time together, and she knew what Little Long was saying when he spoke.
Just then, Du Xinshi appeared with a pot of chicken soup, saying, "Dinner is ready, dinner is ready! Xixi, Little Long, come and eat."
Zhang Xixi couldn't help but say, "Don't cook yourself next time. This is strenuous work, and it's not good for your health. We have chefs to cook for us."
Du Xinshi's situation was rather special, as she was pregnant. While pregnancy was generally manageable for most people, Du Xinshi also had heart disease. Pregnancy was already a heavy burden on the body, and now she was cooking, which was even more detrimental to her health.
Du Xinshi quickly said, "It's okay, I just made a little food. Hurry up and eat. This is food I made myself."
Late at night, the moon hung high in the sky. In some parts of Yuzhou City, fireworks began to be set off, drawing many children to the windows to watch. In the sky, only a crescent moon was visible, appearing incomplete.
The crescent moon shines upon the nine provinces, some families rejoice, some families grieve. Some couples share the same bed, while some wander alone.