Chapter 23: On the Ruins

The viewers watching the live stream finally let out a sigh of relief. The broadcast feed stabilized at the same time. As the lights inside the refuge flickered on one by one, the crew of the *Voyager* were finally able to glimpse the magnificent circuit architecture within the shelter. It was an array of constantly flickering monitor loop light-points, refreshing data under the protection of a transparent hydrophobic layer. The docking point for the research vessel had also been marked, as if waiting for their arrival.

Captain Spring-Fall, a man with a thick beard, was highly vigilant. After all, he had seen no mention of a refuge here on the navigation charts of his return voyage. Yet, he did not believe that the Yunzhou authorities—who had hired him for a high-security deep-sea relic exploration—would hide such critical information. Once the data stream stabilized, he did not immediately send his crew to inspect the refuge. Instead, he first connected to the communication lines of the Maritime Bureau and the Meteorological Bureau.

On the other end of the feed, the Director of the Maritime Bureau appeared, his face grave: "To the crew of the *Voyager*, the deviation in the hurricane’s trajectory prediction is a failure on the part of my department."

"Let’s discuss the division of responsibilities when we return. For now, there is a more urgent matter at hand." The Nordic captain straightened his epaulets and tie, then asked with a professional demeanor: "Director Chen Hui, can you provide us with full information regarding the No. 43 refuge we are currently in?"

After he asked this, the response from the other end was an uncharacteristic shake of the head. "I apologize, but there is no information regarding a No. 43 refuge in the Maritime Bureau’s database."

"No information?" Academician Qi Ming pondered. "When the hurricane changed its path, I checked the psionic field orientation; the laws of nature were already beginning to show signs of pluralistic influence. Has the Yunzhou Academy of Sciences contacted the 'Great Library'?"

"The Great Library has not yet responded. Based on my communication with the Bureau of Special Affairs and the Night Watchers," Director Chen Hui replied in a deep voice, "if this is not a private, unauthorized navigation point, then only one possibility remains: this is a 'relic' left behind by the Fourth Epoch civilization."

At this moment, hearing the public exchange between the fleet and the Maritime Bureau, the atmosphere in the *Voyager*’s return voyage live stream chat grew tense once more.

"Can someone explain, is it dangerous inside a relic?"

"I'm not sure, but according to my cousin who attends the Psionic Academy at Binhai University, half of these relics are just remnants of civilization linked to the present world via the Einstein-Rosen Bridge, with no knowledge corruption or rule-based lethality."

Hearing these comments, Su Wen, sitting in front of the television, shrugged. He then gently handed a cup of hot milk to Jiang Menghan. "Warm yourself up. Don't worry, everything is fine now."

The most dangerous, climactic part was over, save for the final curtain call. Yet, these people were spinning wild theories about Fourth Epoch civilization relics just to find a logical explanation for the refuge he had built. It really was a bit of an unnecessary drama.

Speechless.

Under normal circumstances, the young woman might have sensed something amiss. But in this moment, she only felt a sense of security that brought more warmth than the milk in her hands. This feeling reminded her of her high school days. Back then, after a parent-teacher meeting had just concluded, she—the top of her grade and one of the only two students whose parents hadn't attended—had sat stubbornly in the chemistry storage room on the second floor of the lab building, clutching a competition registration form. Until that lazy boy had snuck in, intending to return a bottle of alcohol, and told her two jokes that weren't actually funny. Yet, even now, she could clearly remember those two lackluster jokes.

Hearing Su Wen’s concerned words beside her, the young woman nodded and obediently drank the warm milk. Afterward, she hugged a cushion on the sofa and said nothing more.

Ten minutes later, a crew member checking the edge of the landing with a maritime searchlight made a new discovery: "Professor Jiang, look, does this nameplate look familiar to you?"

He had found the inconspicuous "Leis-Angton" logo on the backlit side of the boarding point. Jiang Xiuyuan examined it closely and provided a precise conclusion: "It is the ET-37 hydrophobic material put into production in recent years. It’s a mature technology."

He turned to consult the Meteorological Bureau: "Director Chen Hui, do you remember if there were any large-scale construction factories near Lighthouse No. 43 on the Binhai coastline?"

Shortly after, the lead professor received the answer he was looking for: [Schlott Heavy Industries].

At the same time, less than five minutes after the information had been cross-referenced, the Bureau of Special Affairs began preparing for an investigation into Schlott Heavy Industries once the hurricane disaster passed.

"Everyone off the ship. We should be safe now." Spring-Fall’s gravelly voice finally lost its strained edge. He smiled and added, "Don't forget to carry your important belongings with you, lest you lose something. There is no surveillance here; don't make me have to go to the station with you."

The retired Norwegian captain was quite familiar with Chinese culture. He leaned against the infirmary wall, undergoing an examination by the ship’s doctor—a Tier 2 Enlightenment-path transcendent.

After finishing the treatment, she sighed: "Captain, I hope the next time I see you, it’s because you were injured by mental factors."

"My apologies, Doctor, that’s not something I can decide."

At the infirmary door, Professor Jiang Xiuyuan was waiting for him, carrying a research document case. Spring-Fall said warmly, "Remember three years ago in the Sea of Lost Souls? We agreed that if we made it out alive, we’d pick some unlucky soul to treat the others to the most expensive rum at 'Afterlife Bar'." He added with a touch of humor, his address becoming more casual: "Old Jiang, it can't always be me who's the unlucky one. It’s your turn to pay this time."

The refined Professor Jiang adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Captain Spring, I can pay, but I’ll only recommend the West Lake Longjing from the Binhai Research Institute."

The crew members arrived one after another at the refuge lounge. Before them lay a public activity space with a distinct high-tech aesthetic. Because there were very few daily necessities in the mechanical waste, Su Wen had used his [Schlott Employee Terminal] to purchase a large batch of supplies. There was plenty, but the prices were exorbitantly high. Perhaps this was something "Schlott Heavy Industries" had thoughtfully prepared so that their employees could work sixteen hours a day. After all, the surplus value of a tool-person was like water in a sponge—it could always be squeezed out.

However, this disguised exploitation did not affect Su Wen. Instead, it allowed the *Voyager*'s passengers to enjoy what could be called thoughtful service: soft sofas, independent single-room lounges, and even a recreation room.

But most of the crew were not in the mood for a game of Gwent at a time like this. Once the electromagnetic signals stabilized, the first thing they did was call their families to report that they were safe. Jiang Xiuyuan was no exception.