Chapter 46: Five Have Collected Their Lunch

Four hours later.

Not far above the pyramid, an abandoned whaling station that had been out of use for a hundred years stood, and the convoy of the D-level personnel task force had already arrived at the edge of the station.

Park the vehicle, turn off the engine.

"Click— clang!" The sound of the car doors opening and closing rang especially loud in the deserted whaling station.

Everyone stepped down from the vehicle.

The D-level personnel originally serving as armed security wore black cold‑weather suits, each carrying a 7.62‑mm or 5.56‑mm rifle, fourteen in total.

The remaining D-level personnel wore white cold‑weather suits; they were formerly from the research institute or engineers, and for firearms they were only equipped with 9 mm or. 45 ACP pistols for self‑defense.

A D-level task force is still a task force; without guns it wouldn't work. Even if they're useless against Iron Blood Warriors, they at least need to show some presence.

However, Chris, who stepped down from the front of the vehicle, wore dark‑gray cold‑weather combat trousers below and a dark‑blue cold‑weather combat jacket above.

Inside the combat jacket he wore a bullet‑proof vest, and outside it a dark‑green tactical belt (as shown in the previous chapter's easter‑egg image); moreover, Sui Bian temporarily lent Chris Captain Epsilon's Mechanical exoskeleton and the MA5B.

The protagonist is still the protagonist, but good equipment is needed for Chris to perform at his best.

Chris loaded the MA5B, slung it over his chest, then closed the vehicle door and approached the group, raising his voice to speak:

"Everyone, even though we were assembled on short notice, I know we can't all be of one mind, but to complete the mission and get home, I think…"

"Alright, Captain." Before Chris could finish, a D-level security interrupted: "No need for morale‑boosting talk; with this time it's better to be practical. Tell us, what do you need us to do?"

When the D-level security finished speaking, many people silently nodded.

Indeed, saying pretty words is less useful than issuing orders.

Seeing this, Chris realized his earlier speech was unnecessary, and likewise nodded, saying:

"Alright, follow the pre‑departure group assignments: Teams A and B, search the area nearby for caves that lead underground.

Team C will transport supplies and equipment, first set up lighting here; Team D will inspect the entire whaling station for any anomalies.

Also, everyone turn on the chest‑mounted cameras so the fleet knows our current status."

"Understood."

After receiving Chris's instructions, everyone first activated the miniature cameras hanging on their chests, then split into groups of six to act.

Twelve people searched near the whaling station for caves pierced by the Iron Blood Warriors' mother ship, while the other six moved the tracked vehicle's supplies onto the ice surface and erected bright lighting so the place wouldn't look so dead.

Finally, Team D, composed of six D-level security personnel, inspected the whole whaling station; Chris wanted Team D to confirm that at this moment they were the only visitors here.

Seeing the twenty‑four D-level personnel become busy, Chris looked up, keeping watch on the nearby starry sky.

According to Sui Bian, the Iron Blood Warriors possess relatively advanced Optical Camouflage technology, allowing even their mother ship to approach the surface silently.

But Sui Bian also said that with careful observation, one can faintly discern its outline.

Chris, keeping Sui Bian's words in mind, tried his luck to see if he could spot the Iron Blood Warriors' mother ship.

However…

He found nothing.

Not long after, Team B discovered, behind an ice hill ten meters east of the whaling station, a cave that led straight beneath the ice layer.

Upon learning this, Chris immediately ordered the use of carried supplies and gear to begin setting up hoisting equipment at the cave entrance.

Cave entrance.

Except for Team D on guard duty, the entire temporary task force gathered here, with several people constructing the hoisting apparatus.

The former security D-level personnel found it odd that there was a bottomless ice hole here, but as rough types they didn't probe further.

Conversely, the former researcher D-level personnel raised various doubts to Chris, all of which he brushed off with "I don't know either."

After about forty minutes.

When the hoisting equipment was finished, Teams A, C, and D followed Chris, using the ropes of the hoist to descend into the cave beneath the ice layer, while the six members of Team B stayed above the ice as ordered.

Another half hour later, Chris and eighteen D-level personnel successfully reached beneath the ice layer.

This place differed from everyone's imagination; it wasn't a pure ice‑snow world, but contained soil and rock walls.

The group walked through the cavern for a while, soon discovering artificial steps and passages; following the passage out of the cavern, they felt a sudden sense of clarity.

The space was extremely vast, and looking ahead by the light from their illumination gear, a large artificial structure could be faintly seen.

Upon discovering this marvel, the group immediately fired three illumination flares toward the structure.

The flares rose, blinding light flooding the entire underground space, allowing everyone to see the true form of the artificial building.

It was a pyramid that blended multiple civilizational styles.

"Jesus… Jesus Christ… so… so there really was a civilization on Antarctica…"

Seeing the pyramid almost within arm's reach, a middle‑aged D-level researcher, unable to accept it, fell to his knees, muttering to himself in disbelief.

Beneath Antarctica's ice layer lies another world, even an artificial pyramid; these discoveries could overturn the current scientific community.

Unfortunately, being demoted to D-level personnel means they won't enjoy this honor, and the company will never make the discovery public.

Even Chris, who already knew the truth, wore a shocked expression.

Seeing and hearing it, indeed, witnessing it firsthand was even more shocking.

He paused.

Chris stepped forward again, raising his voice: "Gentlemen, let us continue forward into the pyramid to explore its secrets."

Curiosity is one of humanity's natures, prompting them to keep seeking the truth; thereafter, the party ascended the steps toward the top of the pyramid.

But on the ice surface at that moment…

"Ah!! Come out! Something… come out…"

"Bang bang!"

Human hysterical shouts and the chaotic gunfire rang at the edge of the cave entrance.

Five human corpses, each in a different death pose, lay on the ice surface, their bright red blood stark against the pristine snow.

The sole remaining human was the D-level security who had earlier interrupted Chris's speech.

A whoosh— the D-rank security guard was pierced through by an unobservable object, pinning his body face-up on the ice.

"Pfft… uh…" the D-rank security guard spat blood, already losing combat ability.

"Sizzle~." Suddenly, several electronic sound effects rang out.

Three burly figures over two meters tall, wearing silver metal armor, masks, claws, and weapons—like they were dispelling invisibility, revealed their true forms.

(End of chapter)