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墨書 Inktalez
Thank you all for your support, and thanks to the generous donation from Ice 100. I will continue to tell this story.
My complexion must have looked terrible; I felt my body trembling slightly. The temperature in this underground environment wasn't low; lying naked on the ground, I didn't feel cold at all. But now I was shivering, which could only be described as a chill running down my spine.
I do not believe in fate; more precisely, I do not believe in destiny. I am not arrogant enough to think that human effort can conquer all, but I believe that a person's fate can be changed. Every action we take alters our lives and our destinies.
After that desert archaeology expedition, my life underwent a tremendous transformation. I was forced to withdraw from the system of the Archaeology Department, but I did not leave the field of archaeology. In fact, I did not even withdraw from that archaeological activity in the desert. My subsequent work has revolved around Lop Nur; regardless of whether the official activities in Lop Nur were terminated, my efforts continued unabated. I needed to provide an explanation for myself and my fallen teammates; otherwise, my life would be bleak and meaningless.
Consequently, every scene from that desert archaeology expedition often replayed in my mind, especially everything that happened after we entered the underground—it was all too vivid to forget.
When we reached the Underground Water Reservoir, it had already run dry. I imagined what it must have looked like when it was full of water; there should have been plenty of water flowing into it from the Drainage Channel, causing the water level to rise quickly. However, the area and depth of the underground reservoir indicated that it did not have much capacity for storage. If it had been full back then, there wouldn’t have been that large crack caused by an earthquake at its bottom. The water level would rise to a certain height and then overflow into the Drainage Channel.
I shook my head slightly. There were places here that were inaccessible. Back then, I had carefully observed both the Reservoir and the entrance to the Drainage Channel, particularly noting the clear marks indicating the highest water level on both walls of the Drainage Channel. The water level had not risen due to the reservoir being filled to capacity. Therefore, there must be some kind of drainage mechanism in place, which reminded me of that stone platform in the middle of the Reservoir and the hexagonal groove on top of it.
Of course, this was merely speculation. I had no evidence that there was a drainage mechanism hidden within that stone platform; it was just that it stood out so prominently as the only high point in the entire Underground Water Reservoir. If there were any mechanisms at play, it would naturally be my first thought.
The underground lake! I suddenly shouted in my mind.
I recalled that cold, bone-chilling underground lake. The one that housed the gigantic Giant Octopus Beast.
No matter how the water from the Reservoir flowed through various channels and mechanisms, it would ultimately be funneled into the underground lake. So, would the water here, flowing from the Pit Vortex that resembled an Underground Water Reservoir and into the underground lake below, eventually drain into some massive lake?
As I thought about this, my already trembling body felt even more unnerved. My teeth chattered together. If that were the case, we shouldn’t be worrying about food; we should be more concerned about not becoming food ourselves.
I glanced over at Jack, his Glow Stick casting a faint light, and my gaze grew eager. I wanted to swap weapons; I wanted to take Jack's AK-47. I was the only one who understood how powerful that AK-47 could be in the environment I envisioned. I needed to complete this exchange before Jack caught on, even if it meant sacrificing some food. Food might soon no longer be a concern.
I realized I had been lost in thought for quite a while, during which A San had remained silent. Of course, I wouldn’t urge him to speak; I was completely immersed in my fear.
Just as my gaze was fixed on Jack, my attention snapped back to reality when I noticed A San’s eyes peering at me from the side of his face.
“Fatty, shape-shifting Fatty,” I almost shouted. Were you here just to mess around?
But then I quickly noticed the cunning glint in A San's eyes. It seemed he leaned forward slightly to observe me more effectively, which was why I caught a glimpse of his eyes. Just moments ago, his face had been completely shrouded in darkness; I truly couldn’t tell if he was watching Jack or secretly observing me.
As my expression changed, the face of the Vietnamese man, illuminated by the glow stick, quickly vanished into darkness.
I fell silent. I hadn't expected A San to be so cunning and calculating; he had been observing me all along. My earlier expression and distracted demeanor must have appeared as cowardice in his eyes.
I admitted that I was indeed afraid, but my fear was not of what he imagined. I couldn't explain this to him, and doing so would only make me seem more timid. The worst part was that he might make a wrong judgment—well, perhaps a correct one—believing that I had a weak character. During our conversation, he would gradually test the waters and try to take control, keeping some key insider information to himself.
I quickly adjusted my emotions, swallowing hard a few times to ease my dry throat. I needed to take the initiative; I couldn't let my voice sound dry, hoarse, or thin.
"Your legend and the ancient tomb remind me of something else. I may have heard a similar tale and had a similar experience. Ultimately, we might find that this matter is not closely related to the ancient tomb but is even more thrilling."
At this point, I let out two strange laughs from my throat. I was trying to downplay his perception of my cowardice; even if he thought I was mentally unstable, I couldn't let him see me as weak.
With my laughter, I leaned my face toward A San. In that moment, my expression hardened again, my gaze direct and devoid of any emotion as I looked at him.
I couldn't hide in the darkness, even though I was better at it. But in this round of conversation, I needed to be strong—stronger than before. I had already shown weakness when I shouldn't have; there was no way I could hide now. Hiding was a tactic for those at a disadvantage—like A San now compared to how I had negotiated with Li Squad Leader in the past.
"I need more specific details to confirm my suspicions—details!"
I didn't hint at which specifics I wanted; this stemmed from my uncertainty about what he knew. I also didn't want him to guess my thoughts. I felt that engaging in a battle of wits with this Vietnamese man was quite taxing.
At such close range, especially with the glow stick held up in front of him, his face could no longer remain hidden in darkness. A San chuckled nervously and turned his head away, his eyes beginning to wander across my face again.
I maintained my composure and coldness. Anger simmered within me, but I knew I couldn't let it out, not even let him see it. Anger is a manifestation of fear and insecurity. Yet in the next moment, I could no longer suppress my fury; immense anger indeed stemmed from immense fear.
"I don't know the details; I only know that the European wants a piece of hexagonal iron." A San said this with a tone of grievance, as if complaining about my relentless questioning.
I suddenly jumped up, acutely aware that the flesh on my face twisted in response. I saw the look of terror in A San's eyes. (To Be Continued...)
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