Chapter 339 - (EDT) Second Part - Manmade Island
They remained on high alert after getting onshore. Relying on the Luna Device to map the area, the group of eleven was split into a team of three. Two teams of four will be encircling the island from left and right, while Zhang Qin Feng's team of three will walk through the forest until the other end.
Although everyone here was used to death and gore, this quietness still remained too eerie to them. It remained a mystery to them to find so many skeletons littered everywhere around them.
And based on how naturally the skeleton was piled together, Zhang Qin Feng could guess that the rising water tides were the culprit behind this formation. Perhaps, they'll be witnessing what would happen at nightfall.
After the three groups gathered at the other end of the island, Zhang Qin Feng ordered one of his men to go inside the water.
He wanted to see if the situation underwater was nearly the same as on the surface.
A while later, the results came..
From the diver's report, there's a high possibility that this island was manmade. This place lacks corals and creatures living around. Also, the way the sand was piled together had a hint that it was hiding some constructions down there.
The diver also spotted a few gigantic cables that seemed to be joining a few buildings together. And from the look of it, this establishment is not something small.
As Zhang Qin Feng is trying to decipher the information given by the diver, a noise appears near them. An unmistakable sound of a shelter's exit happened near them as they were greeted by a pile of human skeletons nearby.
Although the trace of the shelter was no longer there, the pile of remains and useless equipment is the best answer Zhang Qin Feng can take to verify his claims.
"I remembered that we walked past this place a little earlier, and it was supposed to be empty," said Zhang Qin Feng. His words made his men stay observant with the weapon in their hand, safety off.
'Stein, please try using the system to check if this place might be one of the shelters,' Zhang Qin Feng secretly communicate with the system to validates his suspicion.
[Toot... Immediately running a scan right now...]
[Sensor's effectiveness are tripled. Estimating the age of material and number of skeletal remains. The system will now generate a data report regarding the number of remains, the degree of their decay, and the possible dumping location...]
[The report will be produced in 48 hours. In the meantime, suggesting the user request Valerian's help on experimenting with some bone samples here. The primary scanning also confirmed that the death of these people was not related to any airborne transmittable pathogens]
"Alright, boys. Our island trip is over. Pack up and returned to the Vermilion Empress. There'll be something important for us to do later." Zhang Qin Feng clapped his hand and gave the order to retreat.
The group soon splits into two different teams.
The first team would be making their way straight towards where the fast boat is located. As for the second team, which Zhang Qin Feng would be at, will collect some remains on their way for study back in the vessel.
Their trip back to the vessel was as smooth as how they came to the island.
"How, boss? Did you found anything on the island?" Victor asked. It seems that the Shipbuilding Dock module had been deployed and was on its way to start constructing a vessel in there. That was also why Victor was here along with the twins, Valerian and Liam.
As for Marvin, Adam, and Frank, all their attention is now on the Shipbuilding Dock and Engineering Factory.
"Nothing much except skeletal remains everywhere. I've picked up a few gadgets on our way back, so I'll be troubling you to look at them. Make sure you check them using a separate network just in case." Zhang Qin Feng answered Victor's question by leaving two rucksacks in his hand.
Inside these two rucksacks were gadgets that were either broken, rusted, or no longer operable. It's likely because the system was compromised or the facility was unable to keep powering them.
"Also, I'll need you to do a few experiments on the remains here. Miria and Miriam, can both of you help Valerian for now? I'll be troubling both of you for now. But in return, I'll get some Macaroons for you next time, alright?" Zhang Qin Feng then ordered the soldiers to deliver the remains into Valerian's temporary office.
"If you could, please do your best to verify the cause of their death and any information you could get from these remains." Zhang Qin Feng added after the soldiers left.
"Is that possible?" Zhang Qin Feng asked Valerian in case his job request was too much for her.
"Mhmm... Not a problem at all. I can get them done in half an hour. Just get a rest for now, and I'll bring you the report later." Valerian smiled and left with the twins.
She seems normal, but the words she's using have a hint of worry behind them. Although Zhang Qin Feng was unsure if relocating Valerian in this vessel would hinder her researching ability. But for now, he'll need everything he could get his hand on.
"Shall I prepare something for you, boss?" Being the only one left, Liam asked Zhang Qin Feng what he could do to make Zhang Qin Feng's day. And as usual, Liam was the one who knew the way to satisfy Zhang Qin Feng's anticipation for food.
"Something light would do. Can you serve it into my room when you're done?" Zhang Qin Feng said.
After giving him a smile and sending Liam off, Zhang Qin Feng took his time to return to his personal cabin. It was not the captain's cabin, but this room was still as spacious as one. Lying down on the soft mattress with his eyes closed, Zhang Qin Feng fell asleep right away from all the mental exhaustion.
By the time he opened his eyes again, Valerian was sleeping by his side, hugging one of his arms. On the table was the food prepared by Liam. And he was smart enough to serve it with a dish warmer to keep the food in idle temperature.
But Zhang Qin Feng's attention was not entirely on the food waiting for him.
It was the stack of paper beside it.