Chapter 144 - 107: Frozen History (Part 2)
"After a fierce debate, we agreed. We provided it with a great deal of food and even built a large nuclear power plant next to it to supply it with energy."
"In return, the great creature gave us tiny, ice-blue particles. Each one could store an immense amount of energy that could be easily channeled using a method the creature taught us."
"After that, our race’s technology advanced by leaps and bounds. Through research on those particles, many things once only imaginable in science fiction became a reality."
"However, by sheer chance, one of our scientists discovered that the ice-blue particles were actually fragments of the great creature’s scales."
"When this discovery was made public, our entire society erupted into a heated dispute. One faction wanted to kill the creature to obtain more scales, while the other disagreed."
"The argument raged for a long time, until another giant creature descended upon our planet. It asked if we had seen a creature that looked much like itself, but was ice-blue."
"Those who advocated killing the first creature stepped forward to lead the way for the new one."
"We don’t know the details of what happened next. All we know is that the entire world trembled that day, and the guides were almost completely wiped out. Only one, gravely wounded and on the verge of death, returned with a single message: ’Our world is doomed!’"
"From that day on, starting from the place where they battled, the temperature began to plummet. Everything was frozen solid, and the ice gradually spread across the entire world."
"We don’t know how that ice formed. It can’t be melted by fire, and we haven’t been able to destroy it, no matter what we’ve tried."
"With no other choice, to survive, most of the population began to excavate downwards, establishing the Underground Cities and using geothermal heat to sustain our civilization."
"Another group collected a vast number of the scales the creature had provided and used them to build Floating Cities. We have no idea what’s become of them now."
"Since we moved into the Underground City, our technological development has stagnated. If you could say we’ve made any progress at all, it would only be in excavation technology."
...
Nasnageer spoke for a long time, until the door to the automated stairway opened again.
Aburara came running out, shouting, "Director! A breach has appeared in the ice above the communications room! We can get out!"
Halfway across the room, he finally noticed Lin Kong and his group standing behind Nasnageer.
"You again?"
"How did you get down here?"
"Aburara, do not be rude. They are now our most honored guests."
"But..."
"How do you think that breach in the ice appeared?"
"Yes. I understand."
"Honored guests, if you would please wait here for a moment. I must go report the situation. The mayor will likely want to organize a party to welcome you."
"Aburara, please entertain our distinguished guests for me."
"Alright. We’ll wait here for your return."
Lin Kong and the others decided to wait for Nasnageer to come back, wanting to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
After waiting for a little while, Lin Yan took off his translator and asked, "What if that Nasnageer comes back with an army? What’s our plan?"
"It shouldn’t be a big problem." Lin Kong brandished the Energy Detector in his hand. "I took a look. These people are all ordinary mortals with no Extraordinary energy in their bodies. To us, they’re incredibly fragile."
"But the books say that mortals can develop equally great civilizations through technology, and they can create very powerful weapons."
"That’s true, but the Haiqiu Race can’t even break through that ice. It would be rather difficult for them to hurt us."
"Still, it can’t hurt to be prepared for an attack. Better to prevent any surprises."
The team members began their preparations, each pulling their preferred weapon from their pack.
Just then, Aburara hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. "Esteemed guests, may I ask you a small question?"
Lin Kong glanced at him. "No problem. Go ahead, as long as it doesn’t involve any secrets."
"Oh, no, of course not. I just wanted to ask... how did you get through the ice? You have to understand, my people spent nearly ten years trying to figure out a way to deal with that ice, but we’ve never made any progress."
Lin Kong blinked and gestured for Niu Armor to demonstrate, taking the opportunity to show off their Combat Power.
Niu Armor chuckled as he pulled a shovel from his pack. "Sure, let me show you. This is how we broke through."
Niu Armor held the shovel, enveloped it with Spiritual Energy, then aimed at the metal floor. With a gentle scoop, he effortlessly lifted a large slab of the metal flooring.
┌(.Д.)┐!! Aburara’s jaw dropped, his face a perfect picture of shock.
"Just like... that?" He waved his hands, mimicking a shoveling motion, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Yep, you just shovel it." Niu Armor roared with laughter, as if teasing a child. He took the shovel and scooped again, lifting another large chunk of the metal floor.
"Ah... th-th-this..."
"May I see that shovel of yours?"
"No problem!" Niu Armor casually tossed the shovel over. It was just an ordinary alloy shovel; he had several more in his pack, so he didn’t mind parting with one.
Aburara picked up the shovel and tried to dig at the ground with all his might. The massive recoil instantly knocked the shovel from his grasp, and he was thrown to the floor, where he sat stunned and bewildered.
This sight sent Niu Armor into another fit of laughter. He stepped forward and helped Aburara to his feet. "You’re just mortals. Of course you’d find it difficult to break through the ice."
Aburara’s heart sank. ’I can only hope that the Director—my father, Nasnageer—is truly reporting to the mayor and preparing a welcome, and not coming back with an army.’
...
Nearly two hours passed. Lin Kong and the others were growing impatient when Nasnageer finally returned, accompanied by a group of well-dressed individuals.
"My esteemed guests, I do apologize for the long wait. After hearing my report, His Honor the Mayor wishes to extend his sincerest welcome. A banquet has already been prepared at City Hall in your honor, and he eagerly awaits your presence."
At Nasnageer’s enthusiastic invitation, Lin Kong’s group boarded the vehicle that had come to pick them up, their guards still up as they headed for City Hall.
Just as Nasnageer was about to board, Aburara pulled him aside and quickly whispered what had happened with Niu Armor, pointing to the large crater dug into the metal floor.
Nasnageer’s expression shifted several times. He then took the alloy shovel from Aburara, handed it to a staff member beside him, and whispered a few words in his ear. The staff member immediately ran off with the shovel.
Then, with a broad smile plastered on his face, he boarded the vehicle and followed them to City Hall.
...
A little over half an hour later, Lin Kong’s group arrived before an imposing structure. In this massive, excavated cavern, the building stretched from the floor to the ceiling, appearing incredibly tall.
The vehicle came to a smooth stop. Nasnageer welcomed them as they disembarked. "Esteemed guests, this is our City Hall."
Guided by Nasnageer, the group entered the City Hall lobby. They met the mayor of Xijing City, and after a brief welcoming ceremony, they were escorted to an adjacent dining hall for their meal.
The entire process involved no ambushes and no one tried to poison their food, which, to the ever-vigilant Lin Kong and his team, was somewhat of a disappointment.
After the meal, the team members, Nasnageer, the mayor of Xijing City, and other officials retired to a reception hall in City Hall to talk.
"You seem quite eager to get to the surface, above the ice," Lin Kong casually brought up during the conversation.
The mayor gave a bitter smile. "To be honest, it may look like we’re living comfortably now, but we’re facing an energy crisis. If we don’t solve it, the entire Underground City will slowly shut down. All that will await us is death."
"To escape this predicament, our only option is to dig deeper. However, there are many mutated wild animals living underground now. If we’re not careful while excavating, we might break into one of their nests, leading to massive casualties."
"Right now, if we could get to the surface, we could try to explore the world, contact other Underground Cities or Floating Cities... no matter what, it would be better than being trapped down here to die."
"So, you want us to dig a bigger hole for you?"
"If you would be willing, we would be eternally grateful."
"But all things require an equivalent exchange. What, I wonder, can you do for us?"
...