Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
When we got off the plane, I still felt a little dizzy.
Of course, it wasn’t because of air sickness; I was taken aback by Lin Xue’s organization.
I did not expect that they managed to build an underground airport in such a secluded area! When I entered that futuristic underground compound, I felt as if I was in a science fiction movie. The spindle-shaped ‘plane’ we boarded made me sigh with wonder at how advanced human technology had become!
Lin Xue’s explanation was this: “Actually, many types of technology shown in science fiction films have already been mastered in real life. However, as we did not want to cause too much disruption to people’s current lives, some of these technologies have been carefully restricted.
“Only important military affairs departments and special organizations like us can enjoy this kind of ‘futuristic’ technology. Some rather unique factions have also gotten hold of some special technology; however, that’s not something that we should be discussing.”
In contrast to my astonishment, Qianqian’s reaction wasn’t that big at all. Although she looked around with avid curiosity along the way—probably after she found out about the existence of persons with special abilities, she was now numb and immune to any more surprises. Her reaction was much calmer than mine.
As for Pandora… using her own words—having experienced what modern life was back home, she was rather interested in paying attention to how primitive technology was like.
It seemed that I was the only bumpkin around?
The spindle-shaped plane we boarded flew straight into a huge building and then stopped inside a spacious hall. Lin Xue informed me that this was a secret base her organization had established deep in Taklimakan Desert.
“Lin Xue, it seems as if your position in the organization is rather high?” Seeing every worker that passed by courteously stopping to greet Lin Xue, I couldn’t help it but ask.
“Naturally,” Lin Xue said somewhat proudly, “Have you forgotten what I had told you? In the entire organization, we only have twenty-odd persons with special abilities. That means that us twenty-odd are the entire organization’s leaders!”
I almost forgot that people with special abilities were a rare breed in this world; it wasn’t possible that these people would be treated or used as common soldiers.
“What is it, Chen Jun? Do you want to reconsider joining us? As you can see, we are rather formidable.”
“No, it’s alright…” For the survival of the entire human race, I was never going to join any human organization.
“Erm,” In such a high-security base, Qianqian was a little meeker as she said hesitantly, “when are we going to find my father?”
“Oh, no, we will rest for a day first. Tomorrow, we will go and see a rather special elder; then, we will set off together.”
“Is the place that we are going very dangerous?” I noticed keenly that Lin Xue’s expression had a tinge of seriousness.
“It’s not dangerous.” Lin Xue shook her head. “More accurately, it is a little strange.”
“A little strange?”
“Do you think that if something required people with special abilities to take care of, it could be not strange?” Lin Xue said as she rolled her eyes at me, “Ever since I entered this organization, I have had dealings with all sorts of weird and strange things. It is just that this time, it is even stranger than normal.
“Alright, these are your rooms. Go and rest for a while. I will come and call you guys when it’s time for dinner. Chen Jun, what are you grinning at? There are separate rooms inside, of course. Don’t think that I haven’t thought about this!”
…
While resting…
Pandora and I sat idly in the living room while the sound of Qianqian taking a bath traveled from her room.
“What is Big Brother thinking about?” Pandora quietly asked.
I was looking at the shower room all this while and then nodded determinedly.
Pandora stood up, walked to the door of the bathroom, and knocked on the glass door. She said, “Big Sister Qianqian, Big Brother said he wants to… wu…”
I covered Pandora’s mouth as I dragged her back to the sofa. After that, I seemed to see a sliver of a mischievous smile appearing on Pandora’s normally expressionless face. However, when I took a closer look again, Pandora had recovered to her usual icy-cold expression.
Did I see wrongly?
After sitting down again, I stopped having those nonsensical thoughts as I asked Pandora, “Have you guys found Uncle Xu? Have the satellites sent back any leads?”
The Lolita in front of me shook her head as she said slightly miffed, “We don’t have any leads. Based on the coordinates that Lin Xue had provided, we did not find any signs of human activity nearby at all. The energy scanners also did not detect any abnormal surges.”
“How about the few search-and-rescue expert Commanders? Do they have any leads?”
“None at all. They had released many search terminals deep into the rock and magma layers; however, we have yet to find any indications of human activity.”
…Magma layer; was there the need to search to that extent?
Now, I started to get a feeling that this matter wasn’t as simple as I thought.
Relying on the Xyrin Empire’s technology, many of Pandora’s men had already searched the entire southern part of Taklimakan Desert this while. Pandora could even now tell me accurately how many desert scorpions—out of which how many were male or female—there were underground in this part of the desert. However, they actually couldn’t find an expedition team that had only disappeared less than two days ago?!
At this time, Qianqian had finished her bath and had changed into a white base worker overcoat that Lin Xue had prepared. This overcoat had been made with a special material that had considerable defenses. Furthermore, it could also comfortably adapt to the weather differences in the day and night within the desert. It was a pity that some matter in this material interfered with persons with special abilities’ usage of their powers and was a handicap for Lin Xue. However, it was perfect for Qianqian.
“Ah Jun, what did Lili say you wanted to do just now?” Qianqian dried her hair as she asked.
“Ignore her; she was just bored. As for you… Qianqian, are you really coming with us tomorrow?”
“Of course, I have already come all the way here. How could I not go? This is my dad! Furthermore, Lin Xue had also said that this operation would require my assistance.”
“I see…” I was noncommittal. I was still a little suspicious of how Lin Xue had put this across. No matter how I looked at it, Qianqian was a very ordinary young girl. Her only connection with this matter was probably that one of the missing team members was her father. However, why was Lin Xue so insistent that Qianqian would play a role in this operation? It was really rather suspicious.
As I was chatting with Qianqian, someone knocked on the door as Lin Xue’s voice rang out from outside, “Qianqian, Lili, and that whoever else. If you guys are done, come with me. I want to show you guys the desert!”
…Why did I feel that Lin Xue was trying to humiliate me just now?
Following Lin Xue, we finally left this maze-like secret base and came to the surface entrance.
“Ah—” Qianqian exclaimed, “This is the huge desert?”
“How magnificent!” I couldn’t help it but sigh out with awe.
“…” Pandora’s expression didn’t change, perfecting her role as a blind girl.
In front of us was a boundless expanse of golden sand dunes. They seemed to be like stilled waves, and as the sun set, these dunes reflected gold-red glows. On the horizon, the endless sand seemed to connect together with the skies. It seemed as if the entire world was being filled by this unlimited amount of sand. We all felt as if we were that small and insignificant in the face of the wonders of nature. Near the horizon, we could also see some short black lines. I asked curiously, “Lin Xue, what are those?”
“Euphrates Poplar Forest,” Lin Xue said with a certain amount of respect, “They can grow and live for a thousand years and remain standing for a thousand more even after death. Even when fallen, they do not decompose for a thousand years. These are the trees of the desert.”
“The desert is so magnificent!” Qianqian sighed and said, “It is not only magnificent—it is splendid!”
“Is it?” Lin Xue laughed softly. “Now is when the desert is peaceful. When it gets riled up, you won’t say that then. Even if the desert isn’t riled up, the sand dunes in front of you are constantly shifting; in one night, they could move a few hundred meters. If this base isn’t specially built and equipped to interfere with the sand dunes’ movement—within a day, this underground base would become a grave. I am now very thankful that I was fortunate enough not to have been dispatched to be in charge of this place. Alright, it’s getting late, let’s head back for dinner.”