Chapter 746: Arrival
Translator: Translation Nation Editor: Translation Nation
Zi was enlightened from his answer asked in shock.
"So, you were merely gambling?"
Sheyan nodded and replied.
"Yes, but losing the gamble wouldn't worry me."
He glanced at Zi and smiled gently.
"Because, we have her majesty the empress holding the lines."
This was his first time addressing her in that manner. This was because when she stood forth previously, she emanated a dignified and haughty bearing that of royalty. However, that sensation was often quenched by her usual apathy and sense of superiority, and often wearing a guise of coldness. Only during a crisis, would she unsheath her leadership dominance. That was probably why she could lead a large party by herself.
Zi didn't return a smile to him and chose to remain silent. However, Sheyan didn't know that his words would bring about an immense effect for himself in the future. If he could predict the future, he would definitely have kept his lips sealed this time.
Tiny shadows surfaced in the distant horizon of the sunset. The shadows soared swiftly towards the submarine.
The sailors, who were taking a breather, were instantly horrified as though they had just seen a ghost when they noticed those shadows. The Chief Mate immediately gripped Sheyan's arm and howled frantically.
"P-Pterodactyls, those insatiable flying beasts are here."
Sheyan reluctantly took a deep breath of the fresh but fishy air. He didn't intend to challenge these aerial hegemons for supremacy, and the group of humans retreated into the submarine.
"Submerge, let those pesky bats screech in vain over the seawater."
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Three hours later, the submarine finally reached the shores of Isla Nublar.
Accurately speaking, they resurfaced in a semi-flooded karst cave.
While navigating here, the submarine made countless detours around sharp and jagged submerged reefs; all to avoid encountering savage dinosaurs lurking around the coast. Furthermore, the majestic size of marine dinosaurs prevented them from lingering in such shallow waters.
The sailors called this place the Union Mansion – what a peculiar and senseless name wasn't it?
Actually, the reason for that was simple. This safe haven located on the treacherous Isla Nublar wasn't something that formed naturally. Instead, it was constructed through dollars and sweat by individuals who discovered the boundless commercial potential and benefits of this island.
As for those wealthy individuals, they coincidentally established a union and a mansion here....
Still, one could observe how arduous it was to construct this simple and crude landing point. How disastrous the cost must be.
The submarine approached the cavern shore, yet it remained silently submerged. Evidently, even the Union Mansion wasn't a totally foolproof location.
As it turns out, they had been a case of a massive invasion by Deinonychus before, where the passengers became a buffet upon stepping ashore.
The submarine sailors weren't planning to stay here and looked at the contestants with anxious eyes, wishing that their customers would pay up as agreed; because they knew, they couldn't do anything if Sheyan and company didn't abide by the agreement.
Still, Zi wasn't one who liked keeping debts. After paying up, the grateful sailors quickly departed.
When the gang of four trudged onto the dry area of the cave, Zi retrieved a few dinosaur-combating weapons from her personal storage and distributed them.
Her weapons weren't the same standard as those Sheyan had purchased earlier.
The new 'Peluba Remodeled Rifle' and 'Shamier Jolting Gun' were now military grade. Meanwhile, everyone received a main battle weapon – the 'Hector Stunner'.
The 'Hector Stunner' could discharge and retract a penetrative spear that would pierce deep into a target's body, before supplying a thousands volt electric current like a taser to shock the target.
Although it was night time, the moonlight and starlight of the night sky still provided adequate visibility.
To ordinary humans, traversing through Isla Nublar at night would be immensely dangerous. In contrast, the contestants, who possessed the 'Spraymist' to avoid the realm's greatest threat of dinosaurs, could still travel at night. Besides, this place was originally designed to be a tourism holy land in the past.
Yet after years had elapsed from that painstaking endeavour, the roads and buildings had degenerated to a dilapidated mess.
Dark muddy boulders towered independently and shockingly enormous brackens even spanned three acres, emitting the foul stench of rot.
Wild vegetation, particularly ferns and brackens, ran amok in this place, adhering to rocks and pillars. All sorts of ferns could be found; common ferns, stone ferns, Hypodematium ferns, Aleuritopteris formosana, Pyrrosia lingua. The myriad ferns successfully drilled their roots into rocks and turned the place into a lusciously green paradise.
The forest was covered with humongous ash-green leaves, gigantic robust fan ferns and trees as old as the island itself. These sturdy moss green trees had plumpy branches that twisted and intertwined upwards, forming into a dense mess that covered the canopy. The deformed roots of the trees appeared to be wrestling with each other.
It was indeed a deserted, still and dark place.
The four contestants sprayed the 'Alpha Spraymist' on themselves. Instantly, an awful odour assailed their nostrils. When this odour blended with the unique atmosphere of Isla Nublar, it formed a mild protection layer around their periphery.
Close to five hundred metres from the Union Mansion 'port', the gang discovered a path that was semi-concealed by overgrown grass.
The path was exceedingly muddy and appeared to be man-made. Vestiges of deep tyre marks could be seen, were a large scale vehicle had probably passed through.
After travelling a short distance, they noticed a warning sign crafted with a human skull. On the sign, the words 'Private property, trespassers will be xxxx' were written.
As they advanced further, they discovered a fairly shallow cave where its contents were plainly visible; shockingly, eight barrels of oil!
Evidently, this should be one of Hammond's logistic warehouse. Carrying the secret resources from the Sando executives, he planned to fulfill his dreams here. Naturally, he would carry out a large scale construction to build a permanent base.
After building materials were unloaded onto Union Mansion Port, they were naturally transported with a truck that required refuelling.
Furthermore, it would be tough to conceal all these oil deeper into the island. Not only was it not functional to do so, it was also a safety issue. Dinosaurs possessed a keen sense of smell, therefore, the strong smelling oil may inevitably attract unwanted probing from dinosaurs with particularly outstanding sense of smell.
After a brief inspection of the logistic cave, Sheyan pensively contemplated and announced.
"Seems like Hammond's logistics base is reachable through a main road, thus, we have two choices. First, follow the main route, which should be comparatively longer. Second, follow a straight line, which will be nearer but far more treacherous."
"We'll take the straight line!" Zi resolutely declared.
"The main route may be even, but it may not be better. As the saying goes, a mousehole for rats, the snake path for snakes; animals wouldn't hunt in their own territories. If we take the main route, without Hammond's stronger edition spraymist, we may even collide with monstrous beasts like the Tyrannosaurus or Belodons. It'll be trouble once we get exposed. The softer terrain of the wilderness will make it easier for us to track traces of any massive dinosaurs."
The effects of the 'Alpha Spraymist' were indeed remarkable.
After trekking for nearly two hours in the dark fern forest, they only experienced a few small skirmishes and soon arrived at a checkpoint of the Sando Company.
The terrain here was analogous to a mountain ridge, and supplied a pretty breathtaking scenery. A leftside mountainous cliff exhibited a waterfall that connected with a river that meandered around the precipice, which converged into a tiny lake nearby. Pools of mud could be seen by the lakeside, and it was obvious, many dinosaurs loved taking a drink here.
The gang's objective was clear – a high standard cemented route leading into the darkness of a mountain belly.
According to signages on the way here, a whitewater rafting project was undertaken here for Jurassic Park in the past. A tiny karst cave scenery inside the mountain belly should be exceedingly gorgeous.
Evidently, Hammond had utilized his authority and successfully transformed that tiny cave into a research lab.
At present, it seemed like constructions had reached its end. The entire base was serene and quiet with not a single person in sight. However, with Brother Black's keen scouting, he located large amounts of concealed surveillance and hints of automatic firepower systems.
Soon after, the gang quickly discovered that Hammond's base wasn't fully completed. At least, a very distinct blind spot was found through the tiny river that meandered the precipice.
Time was tight and the matter couldn't be delayed any longer. The contestants hastily soaked into the water.
After swimming for 20-30 metres, they realized that Hammond had left an extreme vile snare in the river. The river was unexpectedly filled with piranhas that had teeth as sharp as razors. Moreover, they seemed to be genetically modified as well, where a dinosaur may even be gnawed into white bones in a flash. They could undoubtedly threaten a contestant's life!