Chapter 151 - 110: The World Is So Big, I Want to Go and See It (3)
"Don’t worry, we can dig it ourselves. We can make a large opening for you, which will make it easier for you to get in and out. Otherwise, leaving through the communications room only lets you transport a dozen or so people at a time. The efficiency is just too low."
"Ah—thank you so much. We haven’t even found anything you’d like yet. This is a little embarrassing."
"It’s nothing. Just put it on our tab. If there’s something we like in the future, we’ll naturally come asking for it. I’m guessing you wouldn’t dare go back on your word."
Upon hearing Lin Kong’s words, the mayor wanted to slap himself. ’Why did I have to open my big mouth?’ he thought. ’They weren’t even going to ask for anything. Now look what I’ve done.’ He had no idea what they might demand from him in the future.
The group didn’t wait long before someone reported that the inspection was complete and the freight platform was ready for use.
It had to be said, the Haiqiu Race must have had some skill to survive this disaster. Even though the platform hadn’t been used in nearly a decade, they had kept up with its maintenance. It only needed a quick inspection to be ready for immediate use.
After taking the large elevator platform to the surface, Lin Kong found that the exit was inside a warehouse. The warehouse was large and well-sealed, so there wasn’t much ice inside. It was just a bit short. Looking out the window, the ice sheet above stretched up endlessly, completely out of sight.
"Time to get to work!" Niu Armor was the most enthusiastic. The thought of being able to return to their territory after this made him very happy. On this trip, he was the one who had suffered the most and taken the worst beatings. To top it all off, the very creature that had beaten him was now a traveling companion, making it impossible for him to get revenge.
He desperately needed to go home and soothe his wounded soul in the land of tender comforts.
Niu Armor took out his shovel, charged out of the warehouse, and started going at the thick, hard ice in front of the door. Shards of ice flew everywhere, and in just a moment, he had dug a large hole.
The Haiqiu People who came up with them stared dumbfounded at the scene. Although they hadn’t doubted Lin Kong and the others’ claim that they would shovel the ice, seeing the hard ice that their own race had struggled against so helplessly be carved into a large hole by Niu Armor with an ordinary alloy shovel was still a massive shock to their worldview.
The mayor, trembling, took his favorite snack—"Colorful"—from his bag, popped it into his mouth, and chewed a few times. Only then did the world begin to feel real again.
"Nasnageer, I’m not seeing things, am I? Are they really just shoveling it with those... shovels?"
"Your Excellency, you are not mistaken. They are, in fact, shoveling it."
The two looked at each other, speechless. Only their flushed faces betrayed their inner turmoil.
...
Afterward, Dong Lin and Yuan Xiaobo also joined the ice-digging ranks.
Dong Lin, in particular, became the main force. It didn’t need a shovel; it just had to pierce the ice with its two large tusks and shatter it. That was all it took.
Xijing City sent many strong men to help. They would haul down the shattered ice, collect it, and pile it in a corner of the warehouse. A small portion of it was even transported to the Underground City, reportedly for research.
Finally, a few days later, a sloping, 10-kilometer-long ramp (spanning 8 kilometers horizontally and 6 kilometers vertically) appeared at the warehouse entrance. The ramp led directly to the top of the ice sheet and was even carved with many anti-slip grooves.
"Your Excellency, we’re preparing to leave. But we’ll be back soon, and we might need to borrow your elevator platform then. Is that a problem?"
"No problem, no problem at all! You’ve all helped Xijing City immensely. It’s the least we can do to help you."
Just as Lin Kong and his group were saying their goodbyes to the Haiqiu People, Aburara suddenly spoke up from the crowd, "Mr. Lin, excuse me, but can I go with you?"
"Aburara, you..." Nasnageer hurriedly pulled him back.
"Dad, I’ve spent my entire life in the Underground City. I’ve always wanted to see the world on the surface. That’s why I followed you to the communications office, just for the chance to go up and look around during maintenance. If it’s possible, I want to go out and see the world with Mr. Lin and his group."
"Aburara, there’s a ready-made exit right here now. If you want to see the surface, you can go up anytime you like. There’s no need to risk your life with us, is there?" Lin Kong asked curiously.
"Sir, if I just stay here, I think I’ll most likely end up just like them," Aburara said, pointing to the workers around them. "A job where you can see your entire future in a single glance... I don’t want that. I want to follow you and see the wider world." Aburara’s tone was resolute. It was clear he had given the matter serious thought.
"Aburara, it’s dangerous outside! You’re not like Mr. Lin and his group. The temperature is so low, you’ll freeze to death!" Nasnageer said, grabbing Aburara and trying to reason with him earnestly.
"Dad, the world is so big, I want to go see it!!"
"Hey, Nasnageer, it’s a good thing for children to want to see the world. If Mr. Lin agrees, you should let him go. It’s also a good chance for him to see what the outside world has become on our behalf. I’m sure Mr. Lin will protect him. Right, Mr. Lin?" the mayor said, holding Nasnageer back and trying to persuade him.
Lin Kong nodded.
"You’ll take me with you? Mr. Lin!!"
"Come on. One more person isn’t much of a burden anyway."
"That’s great! Thank you, Mr. Lin!"
"Sigh... then we’ll have to trouble you, Mr. Lin!"
"This isn’t a small favor."
...