Rebirth: Super Banking System Chapter 2474 - 2312: That’s Not Allowed
Previously on Rebirth: Super Banking System...
At that precise moment.
Nearby, in a separate lounge, the joint expedition team was relaxing with tea. Their core responsibility was primarily to monitor the drilling operations and ensure everything proceeded without a hitch.
Once the drilling concluded.
They were tasked with evaluating any potential environmental impact on the surrounding seawater and ecology. As for the technicalities of the drilling itself, they felt little curiosity.
Because of this.
Most of the group were preoccupied with their phones, taking full advantage of this rare opportunity for leisure.
"The connectivity here is surprisingly fast."
"Absolutely!"
"I wonder whose satellite network this is. I heard rumors that Tang Qing’s company maintains a fleet of satellites in orbit. Could we be using their private communication relay?"
"Hard to say."
"Either way, as long as the signal is stable, that is all that matters."
"..."
They were all genuinely impressed by the quality of the setup. In a remote location devoid of traditional base stations, relying strictly on satellite internet without experiencing lag was quite the expectation-defying achievement.
Surfing the web.
Streaming videos.
Engaging in online gaming.
Everything flowed smoothly.
In fact.
One member ran a speed test and clocked a download rate of ten megabytes per second, matching the performance of a premium home connection. The prospect of their upcoming days at sea suddenly seemed much more pleasant.
Suddenly.
A representative from a newly integrated department let out an audible gasp.
"Oh!"
Instantly.
Every eye turned toward him.
"What is all the commotion about?"
His supervisor asked, looking visibly annoyed by the public outburst. Trembling slightly, the staffer replied, "They... they just struck something during the drilling process."
Hearing this claim.
Everyone’s interest was piqued.
The immediate assumption.
—Something had gone wrong.
"It seems their technology isn't as bulletproof as they claim. We may need to re-examine their drilling permits with greater scrutiny," one official remarked with a smirk.
After all, if everything went perfectly, wouldn't they seem entirely superfluous?
This comment.
Caused several others to nod in quiet agreement.
However.
The subordinate quickly clarified, "No, that is not it! They are live-streaming the output from the discharge vent right now. They hit a silver deposit, and it is clearly high-grade ore."
Upon hearing this bit of news.
The expression on everyone’s faces froze.
What?
A mine?
A silver mine?
"Are you certain?"
"Without a doubt."
Shortly after.
They scrambled to the Comet Group’s official portal and loaded the live stream broadcast. The chat room was exploding with thousands of user comments.
After hiding the interface.
They witnessed fragments of ore pouring continuously from the discharge chute.
"Silver ore: High grade confirmed."
"Silver ore: High grade confirmed."
"..."
The feed left them speechless. Most of the team were geological experts, and they could visually identify that the extracted material was of exceptionally high quality.
Momentarily.
Euphoria swept through the room.
"This is truly remarkable!"
"A silver deposit, what an incredible discovery."
"Haha!"
"..."
Finding a silver mine in their chosen sector was a major professional accomplishment. In the past, without specialized undersea hardware, such wealth would have remained forever hidden.
Yet.
Now they possessed the technology to extract it, transforming it into a viable economic resource. They felt an overwhelming sense of luck to have been assigned to this expedition.
"Let's find Tang Qing immediately."
"Agreed."
"..."
The group hastily rose to their feet and hurried toward the control center.
...
Moments later.
They confronted Tang Qing.
"Boss Tang."
"Director Qi."
With a polite exchange, Qi Yi moved straight to business. "Boss Tang, we are deeply grateful for this discovery of a major silver lode. Would you kindly assist us in drilling further to confirm the total volume of the reserves?"
At this stage.
Only the Explorer vessel held the capacity for such specialized testing.
"Not an issue at all."
Tang Qing agreed effortlessly. Since surveying was already part of the mission, he treated this as a complimentary service. A jubilant smile spread across Qi Yi’s face at the rapid confirmation.
This journey.
Was turning out to be a massive success.
...
Shortly after.
Qi Yi filed an urgent report with the ministry. The authorities treated the intelligence with the utmost gravity; silver, being a precious metal, carried significant financial weight.
True.
It may not rival the value of gold.
However.
The sheer scale makes it vital!
Just consider the potential.
The feed showed a high concentration of silver, and at current market rates, a single ton commanded over seven million, making the deposit a treasure trove of immense worth.
...
Outside the ship.
News spread like wildfire, drawing crowds to the live stream to witness the spectacle of seabed silver extraction.
Simultaneously.
Major media platforms were whipped into a frenzy.
The headlines were sensational. Tang Qing remained an unstoppable force in the headlines; he seemed to generate endless controversy, ensuring journalists would never scramble for material.
A silver mine.
Especially one of such high quality, was incredibly marketable. Though the total reserves remained unverified, that did nothing to stifle the reporters from crafting aggressive, speculative pieces.
Perhaps.
Some of those bold predictions might eventually manifest in reality?
...
Inside the smelting facility.
At this moment.
The raw ore was being processed into solid silver bars. The Explorer carried a full, albeit compact, smelting suite.
These were designed strictly for exploratory mining and testing.
They were not meant to compete with industrial-grade refineries.
Exploration.
Extraction.
These were the primary purposes of the vessel. For commercial refining, the minerals would eventually require transit to a dedicated facility on land. Tang Qing picked up a one-kilogram bar of silver.
Just formed.
Still radiate warmth.
Over sixty degrees, by the look of it.
Qi Yi and his companions took hold of their own bars. Because the ore was so pure, everyone was gifted a sample.
In front of them.
Over a ton of finished silver bars stood neatly stacked.
Due to the superior precision of the machinery, these weren't like dull, rough ingots; they were shiny and polished, with smooth, refined edges.
Under the overhead lights, they gleamed with a soft, metallic luster.
"This... what is the total value of this stack?" one of the staff stammered.
"Ten million."
"Hiss!"
The room collectively sucked in their breath.
Ten million.
In a mere handful of hours, they had generated ten million in value, and if the output continued at this rate, the daily figures would be astronomical.
Incredible!
They had truly stumbled upon a massive fortune.
"Boss Tang, my deepest thanks." Qi Yi beamed.
Witnessing this.
Tang Qing chuckled. "Director Qi, are you thinking about pursuing the full extraction of this site?"
"If the reserves are substantial, then obviously, we intend to exploit it fully." Qi Yi replied with simple logic. If they could mine at full capacity, the potential daily haul would be staggering.
Just the thought of it.
Made his heart race.
"But the testing period is only scheduled for five days."
"That can be extended without issue."
Qi Yi remained unfazed.
Hearing this.
Tang Qing gave a slight, regretful shake of his head. "That is not possible."
"What?"
Qi Yi was caught off guard.
Are you serious?
"Why not?" he pressed anxiously. "This is a lucrative silver lode. If you handle the mining, your own company stands to profit immensely. Why turn it down?"
Upon hearing this.
Tang Qing gestured helplessly with his hands.
"Unfortunately, we have already entered into a binding contract with another party. Once these tests conclude, we are committed to assisting them with their own mining operations. It is completely unavoidable."
"Forget it, just cancel that contract," Qi Yi dismissed carelessly.
However.
Tang Qing’s next remark left him stunned.
"I’d love to, but a contract is a matter of professional honor and integrity. Violating it would not only damage our reputation but would also trigger a massive penalty clause."
"Five billion RMB."
"Furthermore."
"Their offer is quite generous. We are entitled to a ten percent share of the yield, so, regrettably, my hands are tied."
"..."
After listening.
Qi Yi was left speechless, the entire team visibly shaken by the astronomical cost of the breach. If Tang Qing were to walk away, what could he possibly use to offset such a staggering financial penalty?
Moreover.
Tang Qing had pointedly highlighted the importance of contractual obligations.
Lacking integrity.
Is the ultimate death knell for a businessman.
"Which group is it—are they domestic? We might be able to negotiate on your behalf," Qi Yi suggested quickly, thinking that if it were a local entity, they possessed enough influence to mediate.
However.
They were destined for disappointment once more.
"No, it is a foreign entity, the Myanmar Gold Group. I was told they discovered an offshore gold deposit that they were unable to exploit on their own, so they engaged our services."