Xuan Yuanjie reached directly for the control panel and pressed a red button. Instantly, all passages in the room were sealed, with alloy doors descending over the main entrance and an escape route.
The dozen or so people in the room were shocked by Xuan Yuanjie's actions.
"Everyone, what you have just seen proves that the intelligence provided by Mr. Ling Tian is accurate and undeniable!
This matter will be of the highest confidentiality, classified as top secret. This means you cannot disclose it to anyone, not even your close friends or colleagues!
In a moment, you will need to sign a new confidentiality agreement!
I am not exaggerating. If this secret is leaked, you will face imprisonment, and that imprisonment will be for life!"
The crowd exchanged frightened glances, unsure of what to say. They were not members of the Xuan Yuan family but rather research personnel hired by them. They had never imagined they would be involved in something like this.
"Mr. Xuan Yuan, it's not that serious, is it? It's just an underwater ruin.
I believe we can continue to research it. This will be a major discovery in human history..."
Xuan Yuanjie's expression turned serious.
"Engineer Hu, this is not the time for archaeological research. This underwater ruin is not ordinary!
It is related to a colossal conspiracy, one that could even affect the safety of the entire human world!
As you saw, Mr. Ling Tian had precise intelligence about this. Our purpose here was merely to verify its existence.
What happens next is beyond your involvement, and even I am not qualified to be involved!"
Seeing Xuan Yuanjie's serious demeanor, Engineer Hu could only accept, however unwilling. He couldn't fight against a stronger force.
Xuan Yuanjie personally held the confidentiality agreements and had everyone sign and affix their seals before leaving the room. He quickly contacted his superiors.
In the evening, Xuan Yuanjie found Ling Tian again.
"Ling Tian, the higher-ups have made a decision. They plan to destroy the pillars forming the teleportation array at the bottom of the sea!
This will sever the connection between Jiuyuan and Earth!"
Ling Tian nodded. This was a suggestion he had made. It seemed the higher-ups had discussed it and decided to proceed.
"Excellent. That is the most secure method. Regardless of the Merfolk's strength, if we seal them off in other dimensions, our Earth will be safe!
However, what method will be used to destroy those stone pillars?
The depth is truly terrifying. Even I cannot destroy those pillars through thousands of meters of deep sea."
"Ling Tian, this matter is supposed to be top secret, but for you, I can reveal it. Do you know about something called a nuclear torpedo?
With that, destroying those things will be no problem.
However, to destroy those things, the nuclear torpedo will need some modifications, as this depth far exceeds the strike range of ordinary torpedoes!"
Ling Tian was unfamiliar with the weapon Xuan Yuanjie mentioned. Upon returning to his residence, Ling Tian researched some information online and suddenly understood.
A nuclear torpedo, as the name suggests, is a torpedo equipped with a nuclear warhead.
For torpedoes, using a nuclear charge can significantly enhance their destructive effect on targets. During an underwater nuclear explosion, temperatures in the millions of degrees Celsius and pressures of millions of atmospheres are generated at the center of the blast. Combined with the incompressibility of water, the destructive effect on ships is even greater than an airburst.
Therefore, nuclear torpedoes do not need to hit directly. As long as they detonate within a certain distance, they can destroy any ship you wish to destroy.
Furthermore, the area-of-effect lethality of nuclear torpedoes makes them highly suitable for attacking formations of combat vessels, such as aircraft carrier battle groups, and escort convoys.
The smallest nuclear torpedoes ever commissioned by the "Big Five" powers, with less than 10 kilograms of nuclear material in their warheads, had a blast radius of 1,200 meters underwater.
The famous US Mk-5 nuclear torpedo had a blast radius of up to 11-12 nautical miles!
With the end of the Cold War, nuclear torpedoes have largely faded from the historical stage. The reason is not complicated; they are nuclear weapons, possessing only deterrent capabilities and cannot be used casually.
Moreover, nuclear weapons themselves are dangerous. Once a ship or submarine carrying nuclear torpedoes is sunk or catches fire, it can lead to very serious consequences!
Later, the Americans even removed the warheads from their Mk-5 nuclear torpedoes and replaced them with conventional high explosives.
However, a small number of reserves still exist in the nuclear arsenals of these major powers.
A few days later, in the evening, an oceanographic research vessel arrived in this area. After days of non-stop high-speed navigation, the ship finally reached its destination.
Two ships docked together, and Xuan Yuanjie brought Ling Tian aboard the opposite vessel. The highest-ranking official on this ship was named Ma Xiongfei. He was actually a general, but due to the sensitive nature of this mission, everyone on board was posing as ordinary research personnel.
Ma Xiongfei knew Xuan Yuanjie, and their greeting suggested they were quite familiar with each other.
"Xiao Ma, you've arrived. We've been waiting for a long time!" Xuan Yuanjie said with a smile.
"Mr. Xuan Yuan, you haven't waited long. We received the order, spent half a day preparing, and modified the weapons and equipment.
Then we began to rush here at full speed..." Ma Xiongfei hesitated here, then glanced at Ling Tian.
Xuan Yuanjie immediately understood and quickly explained.
"It's fine. Ling Tian is from Dragon Soul, and his security clearance is very high. He is qualified to know the relevant information.
Moreover, Ling Tian discovered this matter. He is fully authorized to participate in this operation and will provide consultation for our mission."
Hearing this, Ma Xiongfei was relieved.
"That's right. We have brought two torpedoes this time.
To adapt them for this mission, we have modified the torpedoes by installing pressure-resistant casings externally.
These casings can withstand a water pressure of 6,000 meters. Furthermore, the torpedoes are powered by their own nuclear propulsion. We have also replaced the propellers and sealing devices, allowing these two torpedoes to reach the designated depth before detonating!
As for when the attack will be launched, we still need to confirm the target's location..."
At this moment, an alarm suddenly sounded on the ship. A crew member rushed to report that something strange had happened on the sea surface!
The three of them quickly went to the deck, and the scene before them astonished them. The situation was truly unprecedented!