Chapter 3631: Can You Still Escape?

Wu Bolin rushed back to Wu Han Palace, still needing at least five days.

Meanwhile, the second transport aircraft fleet of the American military had already arrived at the mandatory midpoint of their return route over an hour later.

In this airdrop, there were no infantry—only M1128 infantry fighting vehicles and M142 self-propelled rocket launchers, along with their supporting reconnaissance vehicles.

The M1128 infantry fighting vehicles were equipped with heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, and even 105mm tank cannons, capable of forming a near-and-far firepower network with the M142; additionally, the reconnaissance vehicles were fitted with high-power, high-precision radar, able to detect moving targets and even individual soldiers within tens of kilometers, assisting the M1128 and M142 in precision strikes.

After these vehicles landed safely, they immediately concealed themselves behind a hill, with radar power at full blast, waiting for the appearance of the Japanese scientific expedition's snowmobile convoy.

The members of the Japanese persuasion team, including Watanabe Gorō, failed to land at McMurdo Station because their aircraft did not land but instead proceeded to the midpoint after airdropping, awaiting the second echelon's aircraft.

After the second echelon's aircraft arrived, the aircraft they were on finally landed on the Antarctic ice sheet, so Watanabe Gorō brought all members of the persuasion team here to disembark.

The second echelon's transport aircraft numbered two more than the first echelon; after deploying heavy equipment onto Antarctica, they immediately began their return journey, while Watanabe Gorō and the others remained inside the infantry fighting vehicles as required, spending their time eating and living alongside American soldiers in the vehicles, consuming individual rations, and for rest, simply leaning on small seats to nap.

Since the infantry fighting vehicles lacked toilets, American soldiers temporarily dug a snow pit in the field as a makeshift toilet, equipped with a diesel heater to maintain a certain temperature; otherwise, defecating in such conditions would likely cause frostbite, and if combined with constipation, it would be one of the most tormenting experiences imaginable.

Under such harsh conditions, the Japanese persuasion team endured great suffering, yet they had no alternative—having originally boarded American aircraft, they had to go wherever the Americans directed them; in this freezing, dark Antarctic night, even if they wanted to leave, there was nowhere to go.

What further depressed Watanabe Gorō was that the American commander never even disembarked, merely circling Antarctica before returning to a military base in South America.

Two days later, the convoy containing Wu Bolin had gradually approached.

Yet, including Wu Bolin, no one realized the danger involved.

They had already been detected and locked onto by radar when still tens of kilometers from the American forces; the M142 could fire guided rockets at them at any moment, though the American operational plan prioritized capturing them alive.

First, detain these Japanese scientific expedition members en route to McMurdo Station, then conduct a surprise interrogation to uncover the fundamental cause of their treason and determine how many potential enemies remain at the Japanese Showa Scientific Station.

After clarifying the situation at the scientific station, they would proceed to formulate the next phase of the plan: advancing to the Showa Scientific Station to suppress the rebellion.

Wu Bolin jolted along the way, seeing that the enemy had not dispatched pursuit troops for two consecutive days, he gradually relaxed.

These two days, Kikuchi Kōhei had also maintained contact via satellite phone with other scientific expedition members at Showa Station, inquiring about their current status; the feedback was that everything was normal, with no strangers approaching.

Wu Bolin naturally trusted these people completely, after all, they were puppets under his psychological suggestion, and they would rather die than betray him.

With no strong enemy ahead and no pursuers behind, he felt much more at ease, everything awaiting his return to Wu Han Palace for further deliberation.

But he did not know that multiple American offensive weapons systems had already locked onto them, ready to fire at any moment.

When the distance between both sides had shrunk to less than five kilometers, all American armored vehicles simultaneously emerged from the opposite side of the hill, launching a pincer assault toward the several snowmobiles where Wu Bolin was located.

The Japanese scientific expedition members beside Wu Bolin had not yet noticed anything.

However, Wu Bolin's keen senses detected the roar and vibration of multiple diesel engines several kilometers away; he instantly paled and exclaimed: "At least eight vehicles are approaching us!"

"Really?" Kikuchi Kōhei, bewildered, said: "Out there, everything looks perfectly normal, Master."

Wu Bolin solemnly said: "You'll discover it soon enough—I feel terrible right now, as if being stared at to death by someone's eyes."

Kikuchi Kōhei asked in surprise: "Master, have we already been locked onto by the enemy?"

"Locked onto?" Wu Bolin frowned and asked: "You mean locked onto by the enemy's weapons?"

"Yes." Kikuchi Kōhei said: "Our vehicles are civilian; the enemy can easily lock us onto with fire-control radar, and once locked, we have no chance of escaping their grasp."

Wu Bolin immediately said: "Quick! Full speed in reverse, then detour south—try to shake them off!"

The driver immediately made a U-turn in place, then accelerated in the opposite direction.

Seeing this, the American forces executing the pincer assault immediately floored their accelerators and gave chase, while also shouting over the radio: "Japanese scientific expedition members, please note—we are the American military, now demanding you immediately stop for inspection; otherwise, we will open fire on you immediately!"

Kikuchi Kōhei understood the English, nervously saying: "Master, it's the American military—they're telling us to stop for inspection, or else they'll open fire!"

Wu Bolin gritted his teeth: "Damn, they even sent someone to intercept us midway—this is trying to dumpling us!"

He cursed, then told Kikuchi Kōhei: "Tell them we're just ordinary members of the Japanese scientific expedition, we don't want trouble, but we also don't want to be controlled by them."

Kikuchi Kōhei immediately spoke in English: "Sir, we are members of the Japanese Showa Scientific Expedition, currently carrying out our scientific mission under orders—you have no right to demand we stop for inspection."

Immediately, Watanabe Gorō's voice came from the other side, shouting in Japanese in a harsh tone: "Damn it! I am Watanabe Gorō of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology—this winter, the ministry has not issued any large-scale exploration mission to you people; what exactly are you carrying out now?! Do you not realize you are already suspected of treason?!"

Kikuchi Kōhei's face instantly turned deathly pale.

He looked toward Wu Bolin, nervously saying: "Master, the second-in-command of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has arrived—he's even come here himself, clearly aware of our actions—what should we do now?"

At this moment, Wu Bolin realized he would certainly not be able to return to Wu Han Palace.

The Japanese domestic side had already detected the problem with Wu Han Palace; if this matter is not investigated and resolved, they will absolutely not let it rest.

Moreover, he had previously planned that if the American military approached, he could still blend in with the Japanese scientific expedition to bluff through, or seek another opportunity within them—but now that Japan itself has dispatched personnel, it means his chances of bluffing through within the scientific expedition are nearly zero.

The tense Wu Bolin immediately asked Kikuchi Kōhei: "If I try to escape now, can I still get away?"