Chapter 277

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Protagonist:

Lin En

Lena

The underground cavern was astonishingly vast, its bounds invisible at a glance.

Countless stalactites hung from the ceiling, and the ground was riddled with pits large and small.

The air was thick with a strange fishy stench, and a faint whiff of rotting protein that turned the stomach.

Ralph's expression grew uglier by the moment.

She could clearly sense that a large quantity of psyker traces lingered here.

And there was also an aura she seemed to recognize — the aura of the Tyranids.

Though faint, it was absolutely unmistakable.

"This place... is it some kind of beast's hatching nest?" Dominic also noticed something was wrong.

He crouched down, examining fragments on the ground that resembled chitinous carapace.

And on the walls, vague traces that looked like biological tissue had been corroded.

"Tyranids?!"

Dominic instinctively turned to look at Lady Ralph, receiving an affirmative nod in return.

【But the scale looks a bit small; it might just be a probe.】 Ralph said via sign language.

"A probe, why?" Dominic stroked his chin, somewhat puzzled.

The two continued deeper inside.

In the depths of the cavern, they found some shattered carapaces, some withered hyphae, and traces left by dried mucus.

"Looks like they tried to hatch some Tyranid units here, but for some reason they've already moved out."

Dominic stood up and said in a heavy tone.

"They want to take root on a planet, preparing for the subsequent invasion."

"What about the Frost Dragon?" an escort asked.

Dominic shook his head, a rare disappointment showing.

"That so-called Frost Dragon, I reckon, is just a legend fabricated by Keli Feng."

"He used this legend to boost his prestige and win over those wildmen."

"Not a bad method."

Ralph said nothing; she always felt things weren't that simple.

An ordinary Tyranid outpost — why would someone go to such lengths to delay them?

Moreover, that icy psyker aura was somewhat different from the Tyranid aura she had encountered before.

But she had no evidence.

The main thing is, Tyranid infiltration on Hive Worlds is a very common occurrence.

Almost every Hive World has, to a greater or lesser extent, Tyranid vanguard forces — the Gene Thief Cult.

In the early lurking phase, they even help the Empire maintain order and increase production efficiency.

This is also why many Governors clearly know of the Gene Thieves' existence yet choose to turn a blind eye.

"Let's go." Dominic said, "We're heading back."

"Not continuing the investigation?" Ralph asked via sign language.

"Investigate what?" Dominic smiled.

"Even if we investigate thoroughly, what then — round up every last Tyranid?"

"Or claim Keli Feng governed poorly, giving the Tyranids an opening?"

"Keli Feng is a good Governor; he can govern Brevis well and hold back the Green Skin expansion."

"As for the Gene Thieves, as long as they don't cause trouble, we'll just leave them be for now."

"Wait for a later chance to tell Keli Feng and let him clean them up slowly."

Dominic paused, then continued:

"Besides, we have more important matters to attend to right now."

"The Tithe hasn't been collected yet, the Fleet is still under repair; no need to meddle in other trouble at a time like this."

Ralph looked at him and nodded.

She understood Dominic's meaning.

In this dark era, sometimes one has no choice but to make compromises.

The group walked out of the underground cavern.

The escorts outside immediately surrounded them.

"My Lord, how was it? Did you find the Frost Dragon?"

"There's no Frost Dragon." Dominic shook his head.

"Inside was just an abandoned Tyranid experimental outpost."

"Tyranids?!" The escorts' faces changed drastically.

"Don't be tense." Dominic waved a hand.

"It's been abandoned for a long time; there's no danger."

"Pass the order down, pack up, return to the Starport."

"Yes, Adult!"

When the Hunting Squad's figures disappeared at the foot of Double Peak Mountain, Sorin's figure slowly emerged from behind a distant ice rock.

She watched the departing Hunting Squad, relief washing over her.

She raised her wrist, pressing the button on the Communication Device.

"Quest complete, they still discovered the hidden underground cave, but came out and returned directly to the Starport."

"Thank you, Sorin." Lin En's relieved voice came from the Communication Device.

Sorin didn't speak, turned off the Communication Device, and her figure once again merged into the Darkness.

In the Governor's Mansion, Lin En let out a long breath, leaning back against the chair back.

Just now, upon hearing about the hidden underground cave, his heart suddenly leapt into his throat.

Only after hearing that the other party returned directly to the Starport, with no other superfluous actions, did his suspended heart settle down.

The Tearing Worm in his cuff poked its head out: "Should be safe now, right?"

"It's safe." Lin En smiled, reaching out to rub its little head.

Looks like Dominic just treated the Underground Laboratory as an ordinary Bug Race Nest, didn't think too much about it.

This is the best outcome.

But Lin En thought about it afterwards and it made sense too, it's just a Bug Race Nest after all, isn't it very normal on a Hive World?

Who could guess at once that there's an unspeakable secret between oneself and the Bug Race?

But as long as Dominic is still on Brevis for one day, the risk of one's secret being exposed increases by one degree.

Still have to think of a way as soon as possible to make him leave.

Early the next morning.

In the VIP Reception Hall near the Starport.

Dominic was sitting at the Desk, boredly wiping a pair of brand-new Brevia Wild Bull Horns.

The Ice World Expedition didn't find the Frost Dragon, but it wasn't completely fruitless either.

At least, he learned that Brevis has a Gene Thief Penetration problem.

And, the Battle with the Green Skins and shuttling through the wild bull herds also gave him his fill of excitement.

But now, he was bored again.

The Fleet's repairs still need half a month to complete, the Tithe matter is also Temporarily shelved.

He really didn't know what to do.

Just then, a guard's voice came from outside the Door:

"Adult, Governor Kerry·Feng requests an audience."

"Kerry·Feng?" Dominic raised his head, eyes lighting up, "Let him in."

Soon, Lin En pushed open the Door and walked in.

He wore a standard blue-gray Governor's uniform, expression grave.

"Dominic Adult." Lin En walked to In Front of Dominic, speaking directly.

"I have a very important piece of news to tell you."

"What news?" Dominic asked.

Lin En took a Deep Breath, relaying the news he had just gotten from Lena:

"Dolido's Green-skinned Warlord, Big Stomach Liang Ge Na, is mustering Troops."

"A massive Fleet with Ship Count exceeding two digits, tens of millions of Green Skins, has already set sail from Dolido."

"Their Target is, Kal II!"

Dominic's hand wiping the bull horn stopped.

He raised his head, looking at Lin En, his Tone surprisingly mixed with a Trace of...... Excitement?

"You say what? Hundreds of millions of Green Skins? Over a hundred Warships?"

"Yes." Lin En nodded, Tone Heavy.

"And, according to our intelligence, Liang Ge Na himself has also personally taken the field."

"Certain the intelligence is accurate?"

"Certain."

Dominic Fiercely stood up, walked to the Window, gazing at the starry sky outside the Window.

In his eyes, a Flame of Desire ignited.