TYMIMA Chapter 127

In the end, Adrian and the others were delayed by the sudden downpour.

After more than ten hours of flying, Lance and his group finally arrived at the polar region. After collecting their luggage, they found only Dream Witch’s group had arrived.

The two teams met up at the polar airport and learned that heavy rain in Phobos Bay had delayed all subsequent flights.

Everyone regretted resting on the plane and not turning on the wireless network—otherwise, Lily’s ability could have stopped the rain immediately.

Lance made a quick decision: “Let’s go first. We’re too big a target now.”

They changed out of their summer clothes in the airport bathroom and put on thick cotton coats, then quietly left the pristine, spotless polar airport.

This was truly the homeland of the Hachimo people. The bustling crowds spoke fluent Hachimo, and were so used to the icy world that they could walk on ice with total ease.

The current temperature was minus thirty degrees Celsius. No matter how thickly dressed, people quickly became uncomfortable outdoors; exposed skin would rapidly go numb and stiff, risking permanent damage.

Nature is far more awe-inspiring than any superpower.

Lance was now standing in the polar capital, called Gran City—a relatively prosperous place with advanced facilities. Houses were built on the leeward side of the slopes, with winding roads leading directly there, and the airport was set in a mountain hollow to reduce the impact of cold winds.

The Hachimo people were originally a group of humans who hadn’t evolved superpowers.

During the decades of chaos after the Day of Dawn, people’s safety was never guaranteed, and incidents of ability-users harming others were common. Ordinary humans could only migrate to remote, bitterly cold places.

The polar regions were sparsely populated, resource-poor, but relatively safe. These migrants brought advanced technology and abundant funds, and together with the local natives, built Gran City.

The descendants of these humans and the indigenous polar people became today’s Hachimo people.

Later, the Polar Glacier Organization set its sights on increasingly livable Phobos Bay, and a new generation of young Hachimo with powers gradually moved there, building new homes.

Now, Phobos Bay has become a melting pot of cultures, the most open-minded and economically prosperous region.

That’s why there are so many flights between the polar region and elsewhere.

Gran City is still six hours by car from Samp Town, the closest settlement to the Loracity Icefield. Even if they rushed nonstop, there wouldn’t be much time left in the day.

Lance couldn’t help but check his watch frequently.

Every minute they were late, Mad Clown suffered a minute longer. Although Oliver tried to make the situation there sound bearable, Lance knew that was just him sugarcoating it.

A place that could use cruel methods to forcibly terminate pregnancies for prisoners—how terrifying must it be?

Dream Witch’s voice shivered in the wind and snow: “Lucas won’t be in danger for now. With Fata there, and a healer-type awakener, there’s still time.”

Ghost Eye Guild’s Ling Qi was Chu Fu’s student, a B-class healer, currently working at Hechuan International Hospital.

“We’ll go to Samp Town first, study the terrain, and wait for Adrian’s group before figuring out how to find the entrance,” Lance said, raising his hand to hail a taxi.

With nine people, they needed at least two cars. The local driver was surprised when he heard they wanted to go to Samp Town.

“That place is already at the edge of the polar region, very remote and desolate. All the young people have left, not many old folks either, and no tourists want to go there.”

Lance explained smoothly, “We’re a Tasman scientific expedition team, here to study the survival of marine ability-users in the polar ocean. I heard Samp Town is closest to the sea—there might be a community of marine ability-users there.”

“Oh, Tasmanians.” The driver understood and looked at them with new respect.

Everyone knows now that the Tasman Pirate Nation is wealthy and stable, its people never worry about making a living, and they lead the happiest lives.

“So, can marine ability-users here apply to immigrate to Tasman anytime?” the driver asked.

Zhan Pingchuan chimed in, “Sure, but who knows if they could adapt to the warm seas over there.”

“Sigh, I’m envious.” The driver turned up the heat, “People like us who never awakened can only stay in this frozen place.”

Zhan Pingchuan kept the conversation going: “Don’t say that. Everyone knows the polar region has the best public order, which means ordinary people here have high integrity. Gran City looks just as prosperous as Peach Blossom Spring Village or the Federation’s capital.”

The driver was flattered and started chatting more: “Yeah, security here is good. The people who migrated here back then were all smart and wealthy—Gran City was built by them.”

“Tsk, our elders were hardworking and brave. You must be their descendant.”

“Haha, that’s right. My ancestors ran chain stores, made a fortune.” The driver couldn’t help but be proud.

“Business sense runs in the family—otherwise, how would you have landed such a big fare from us?” Zhan Pingchuan patted the driver’s seat back. “Bro, do you know much about Samp Town?”

Lance glanced at Zhan Pingchuan and silently gave him a thumbs-up.

He had to admit, his little idiot had a natural ability to make people let down their guard and get close.

Zhan Pingchuan winked at his little fox.

The driver laughed even more heartily, and now he was happy to tell Zhan Pingchuan everything: “Samp Town is by the sea, so there really are some marine-form ability-users. They make money fishing. The sea’s cold, the waves are big, the currents are complicated, but the fish are valuable. They work six months a year and earn as much as people in Gran Island.”

Zhan Pingchuan: “So life in Samp Town is pretty good?”

Driver: “Eh, not really. It’s still the border, so things are a bit complicated.”

Zhan Pingchuan steered the topic: “Can you go to the border now? My wife and I want to take a photo at the edge of the polar region.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it. Beyond the border is the Loracity Icefield, which is Federation territory.”

Lance immediately played along, wrapping his arm around Zhan Pingchuan’s: “Hubby, I want to see the Loracity Icefield.”

Zhan Pingchuan got the hint and replied affectionately, “Of course, darling. If you wanted to go to the moon, I’d build you a spaceship.”

Lance’s lips twitched, but he sweetly said, “You’re the best, hubby.”

The driver quickly objected: “Bro, what are you thinking? The heart of the Loracity Icefield is the notorious AGW Special Dangerous Death Row Prison. Regular people avoid it like the plague—who’d go there for sightseeing?”

“Aren’t all the prisoners locked up? Is it really that scary?” Zhan Pingchuan looked up, meeting the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “And don’t the prison people have to interact with Samp Town?”

The driver, completely at ease, grumbled, “It’s not the prisoners that are scary—it’s the guards. They’re said to be fiercer than bandits. Sometimes they come to town to eat, drink, sleep with Omegas, and don’t even pay. The locals don’t dare mess with them. Their supplies are handled by special staff, all airlifted in—never handled by townsfolk. At most, they hire some laborers for hauling.”

“Airlifted? Does the Loracity Icefield have an airport?” Lance asked.

Driver: “I don’t know if there’s an airport, but with that kind of environment, even the best pilots wouldn’t dare land there. So their supplies are sent from the border, across the Ice Rift Cliff on a cable chain.”

Lance said, “I see.”

This matched what Oliver had told them—maybe those recruited as laborers would know even more.

The driver said, “I advise you to stay away from that place, and don’t linger in Samp Town either. Lately, a bunch of big shots from the Federation have shown up. The news says there’s a Black Lantern Society rebel locked up in the prison, and because of that, there’ve been a lot more DUI checks in Samp Town. Anyway, it’s got nothing to do with us in the Polar Glacier Organization or the Tasman Pirate Nation—don’t get yourselves mixed up in the mess.”

Zhan Pingchuan raised an eyebrow.

So-called DUI checks were really just a cover for searching for suspicious people. Clearly, the Federation government knew the Black Lantern Society could only reach the Loracity Icefield through Samp Town.

Zhan Pingchuan said, “Thanks for the heads-up, bro. We almost went there.”

Driver: “It’s not easy for you outsiders to come all this way for research. Here, take my number—call me if you need anything.”

Zhan Pingchuan: “Thanks, brother.”

After six hours on the road, the taxi stopped in front of an inn in Samp Town.

Zhan Pingchuan, ever generous, tried to pay double, but the driver, in high spirits, insisted on giving them a free ride. The two of them argued back and forth, nearly becoming sworn brothers on the spot.

Lance carefully observed the town and found it truly barren and desolate. There were hardly any tall buildings, the roads weren’t as smooth as Gran Island’s, and even the snow on the ground hadn’t been cleared.

There weren’t many inns here, and none could be called star-rated. They were just locals’ homes converted into guesthouses with little rooms.

It was polar day, so although the snow was dazzlingly bright, there were hardly any cars or people on the streets.

According to navigation, they were only a thirty-minute drive from the Loracity Icefield.

The driver said there were more DUI checks now, but honestly, at this point, they weren’t afraid of running into Federation people—sooner or later, they’d have to storm the prison anyway.

He wasn’t worried about the rescue mission failing, because the Outer God wouldn’t just watch him die. As long as the Outer God appeared, no matter how many traps the Federation set, it wouldn’t matter.

But his stamina definitely couldn’t support the Outer God killing everyone in the prison. If that happened, his identity as a Divine system awakener would be exposed, and all of Lan Wendao’s years of careful hiding would be for nothing.

Dream Witch and the others got out too, and the two groups met up. Zhan Pingchuan got a message from Adrian—they’d landed and were taking a taxi over.

Dream Witch asked Lance, “It’s still another six hours. Should we wait for them?”

Lance shook his head. “No, we don’t need that many people just to scout things out. I’ll go check it out first. The rest of you stay at the inn and rest, save your strength.”

There wasn’t much time left to rest. A dozen outsiders suddenly staying in this border town would definitely draw attention.

If the Federation had informants here, they’d probably show up soon.

Oliver spoke up: “I’ll go with you. I still remember this place.”

He couldn’t help but recall the past.

Snowflakes landed on his eyelashes, as cold as eighteen years ago. They wouldn’t melt on his skin, because all his body heat was drawn to his lower abdomen.

At the time, he didn’t know he already had Pine. Pine had tried so hard to survive.

Oliver’s calm eyes seemed like the last green in the world. He gazed at the misty depths of the Loracity Icefield, pain and sorrow sweeping through him like wind and snow.

Si Hongche, are you waiting for me here?

Lance glanced at the golden tips of Oliver’s hair and comforted him, “I promise, you’ll never go back to that abyss again.”

He knew bringing Oliver to the AGW Special Dangerous Death Row Prison and making him face his past pain was cruel, but Oliver’s ability was truly irreplaceable.

Oliver smiled gently. “I believe you.”

So the group split into two teams: Zhan Pingchuan, Lance, and Oliver went to investigate the cable chain, while Dream Witch took the others to rest at the inn.

As soon as they entered the inn, Dream Witch dropped her disguise, hypnotized the innkeeper, and knocked out the only Alpha staff member, to prevent them from acting as informants for the Federation.

The dazed innkeeper handed over his private car and filled up the gas tank.

Zhan Pingchuan drove, Lance kept watch on their surroundings, and Oliver gave directions. After half an hour, they finally reached the edge of the cliff.

The car stopped behind a few snow-laden bearberry bushes. The tire tracks were quickly covered by fresh snow. In the vast silence, the only sound was the waves crashing against the cliff below.

The area was deserted—even the vegetation was sparse. Near the sea, the wind suddenly picked up, the cold became biting, and Oliver’s sense of smell was completely gone—he couldn’t detect any salty tang.

Oliver stared blankly toward the cliff, his breathing growing rapid, frost forming on his trembling eyelashes.

This was where they’d taken him onto the cable car, sent him down in the elevator, and into four sunless years underground.

No one had come to save him. His only support was that fragile love. The deepest lesson he’d learned here was never to rely on anyone.

Oliver stepped forward through the thick snow, like a kite trembling in the wind. Complex emotions overwhelmed him—he deeply feared and hated this place.

He finally reached the edge and saw the heavy, sturdy cable chain.

It pierced the fog like a dagger, connecting two pieces of land.

Far below, the raging sea swept away falling snowflakes, and distant ice floes shattered against the rocks.

It was easy to imagine what would happen if someone fell.

“Go on! Cross this cable chain and you’ll know what hell looks like.”

“Heh, in there, you’d better pray you’re not an Omega.”

“Scared? You’ll be even more scared soon.”

“Still want to run? With rare lead ore handcuffs, where can you go?”

“Fuck you, bite me and I’ll kill you!”

…

Oliver’s breathing grew ragged, his chest and lungs aching. The hellish voices, together with the crashing waves, poured into his ears like an invisible nightmare, swallowing him whole.

Suddenly, Lance gripped his shoulder hard and yanked him away from the cable chain.

Lance looked steadily into his eyes, his gaze calm and steady: “Listen, Oliver. If you’re afraid of it, we’ll destroy it. If you hate someone, we’ll kill them. There’s nothing to fear. You’re not alone anymore.”

In an instant, those terrifying voices were blocked by an invisible barrier. Lance’s words echoed in Oliver’s mind, and his breathing miraculously calmed.

On the grassland planet, a golden lion cub licked its wounds alone. Fireworks bloomed on the golden rooftop. It knew the knightly little bear, the long-nosed guard, and the cabbage maid were with it.

It still had friends. It wasn’t alone.

Zhan Pingchuan was about to say something playful to cheer up his friend, but as his gaze swept across the cable chain, suddenly—

There were two people on the empty, snow-covered cable car!

The two of them, unaware of being watched, climbed a ladder and stuffed something on top of the cable car, then skillfully adjusted some electronic equipment.

One of them said, “This black cable gold—”

The words were abruptly cut off. The two vanished from the cable car, as if the scene had been inserted and deleted in an instant.

The whole thing happened in just a few seconds. The cable car was frosted over, doors and windows shut tight, the handles thick with snow, not a trace of anyone having been there.

Zhan Pingchuan felt a chill run down his spine.

##

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