The ground shook as soon as Chen Hao's elbow touched the brick.
He immediately pulled back and lay motionless on the ground. The others froze as well.
"Don't move," he whispered. "I might have touched something."
Three seconds passed, and there was no further movement. The blue patterns on the wall, however, brightened slightly, flickering slowly like breathing.
Nana was the first to react. "The ion concentration in the air is rising," she said. "The system has been activated."
"What do you mean?" Carl asked.
"It means this place has started operating." Chen Hao propped himself up and sat up. "We need to hurry, or the oxygen might be turned off."
Susan glanced at her watch. "It's at 81% now, and it's still dropping."
"Then let's not dawdle." Chen Hao stood up, patted his pants, and said, "Let's go take a look over at the platform."
The four of them carefully moved forward. The ground was flat, and the gaps disappeared. The platform drew closer, and they could see clearly what was inside the transparent enclosure.
Three round discs, their surfaces gleaming with a metallic sheen, are placed in the center. Small squares, resembling batteries, are placed on either side. Behind them, a row of rolled-up metal strips are neatly stacked.
“These things…” Karl swallowed hard. “Could they really be treasure?”
“More valuable than treasure.” Chen Hao stared at the discs. “If we could understand them, our base wouldn’t have to worry about high pressure when we go to sea anymore.”
They stopped in front of the cover. The material was indistinguishable; it didn't look like glass or plastic. They tapped it; the sound was dull.
A line of text appeared above the cover: **Those who know, open it; those who have the strength, destroy it.**
"Here we go again," Susan frowned. "Last time it was about companions entering, and now it's about riddles?"
"Only those who know can open it." Chen Hao read it aloud. "Only those who know can open it?"
“Maybe I’ll need to enter a password,” Carl said.
“I’ve tried fingerprints, but it didn’t work,” Nana said. “I’ve also tried temperature, pressure, and light, but there’s no response.”
Chen Hao walked around the enclosure once, then suddenly stopped. "Wait," he said, "Last time it took four people to open the door. Do we still have to stand in line?"
He looked up at the edge of the cover and noticed palm-sized indentations in the four corners.
“Here, one for each of you.” He reached out and pressed his hand on a dent.
Susan, Carl, and Nana did the same. The four of them stood in a circle, their hands pressed against the edge of the cover.
I waited a few seconds, but there was no response.
"Is the order wrong?" Carl asked.
“It’s not about the order,” Nana said. “I did the last action just now. But the triggering condition might be ‘synchronization’.”
"So you're going to put them all up together?" Susan said.
"No," Chen Hao shook his head, "It only counts if the last person arrives."
He raised his hand. "Let's do it again. I'll say one, two, three, and everyone press down together."
The three nodded.
"one two three!"
All four hands fell at the same time.
The light inside the dome began to swirl, rotating like ripples on water. After a few soft chimes, the entire dome dissipated like mist.
"It's open!" Karl almost jumped up.
Chen Hao didn't rush to act; he looked inside first. "Wait, let's check for any other reactions."
They stared for ten seconds. The platform remained still, and the light patterns on the wall didn't change. Only the airflow quickened slightly.
“It should be safe now,” Susan said.
Chen Hao reached out and carefully picked up the round plate on the far right. It was a little cool to the touch and lighter than he had expected.
"How much data can this thing store?" he asked Nana.
Nana approached, her eyes flashing a blue light as she scanned the disc. "Preliminary analysis indicates an extremely high information density," she said. "The information includes a model of crustal movement, deep-sea pressure regulation technology, and an unknown energy conversion formula."
"What?" Chen Hao's eyes widened. "Explain yourself clearly."
"To put it simply," Nana said, looking at him, "if these technologies can be applied, our current diving suits can be upgraded three times."
"Damn it!" Karl slapped his thigh. "Does that mean we've become the saviors of technology?"
"Stop dreaming." Susan picked up a metal scroll. "Where are these scrolls?"
Nana glanced at it. "An anti-corrosion shape memory alloy," she said. "The writing system is consistent with the map fragments. The content is a record of the last civilization's migration."
"Migration?" Chen Hao asked. "Where to?"
"I don't know. The latter part is missing."
"It's okay." Chen Hao grinned. "Just these are enough to feed us for three years."
He put the disc into his backpack and took out a second one. At that moment, a slight vibration came from the ceiling of the hall, as if some machine had started up.
“The structure is becoming unstable,” Nana said. “I recommend evacuating as soon as possible.”
"Then let's hurry up," Chen Hao urged everyone. "Each person is responsible for one item, so let's collect them quickly."
Susan took two energy cores, wrapped them in insulating cloth, and stuffed them into her tool bag. Carl was in charge of filming, recording each item from a different angle.
Nana dealt with the most delicate part—the metal spools. She packed them one by one into shockproof bags, moving slowly, afraid of damaging them.
Chen Hao stood to the side watching, then suddenly asked, "Why do you think these things were left here?"
"What?"
“I mean,” he gestured around, “that something so important shouldn’t be hidden away, just left on the table for someone else to take?”
“Perhaps it was intentional to leave it behind,” Nana said. “Like a fragment of a map, it serves as a guide for those who come after.”
"So we were chosen?" Karl chuckled. "Then I'm not just a scientist, but the chosen one?"
"You're just a lucky fat guy at best." Chen Hao put away the last disc and zipped up his backpack.
“You’re not much better,” Carl retorted. “I almost wanted to record that moment when I got stuck while climbing the floor and send it to the base group.”
"Shut up." Chen Hao patted his stomach. "That's a tactical positioning, understand? It's to distribute the pressure from the trap."
"Oh right, you're a strategic meat shield." Karl shook his head with a smile.
After checking the oxygen gauge, Susan looked up and said, "There's still 76% oxygen left, enough for us to get out. But we can't delay any longer."
"Okay." Chen Hao looked around. "Is everything packed away?"
Nana nodded. "All movable artifacts have been sealed. Nothing has been missed."
Where's the cameraman?
“I’ll document the whole thing.” Carl patted his backpack. “I can edit it into a documentary when I get back. I’ve even thought of a title—We Stole an Ancient Civilization.”
“It would be more appropriate to call it ‘We Legally Took Lost Property’,” Susan said.
"I have to submit a report anyway." Chen Hao slung his bag over his shoulder. "Let the leaders write whatever they want."
He took one last look at the platform. The empty platform looked a bit desolate, but the blue light on the wall was still flashing, as if bidding him farewell.
“Let’s go,” he said. “We can still make it back in time for dinner.”
The four turned and walked towards the door. Their footsteps echoed in the hall. The platform behind them gradually darkened, and the light patterns slowly faded.
Chen Hao stopped in front of the stone gate.
"What's wrong?" Susan asked.
“It’s nothing,” he said. “I just feel… what we just did might be more important than I thought.”
“Of course it’s important,” Carl said. “Do you know how much an energy core can sell for?”
“I’m not talking about money,” Chen Hao said, looking at him. “I’m saying that these people are long gone, but what they left behind is still usable.”
"so what?"
“So,” Chen Hao smiled, “we might not just have gotten some scrap metal, but rather a new job.”
Nana suddenly stopped. "Signal fluctuation detected," she said, "coming from the direction of the high platform."
They turned around.
A faint light reappeared in the center of the previously darkened surface.
"Didn't you say you'd finished collecting them?" Karl's voice lowered.
“We’ve definitely finished collecting them.” Nana walked towards the platform. “But there… there’s something extra there.”
There lay a very small cube on the ground, semi-transparent, the color of amber.
No one noticed how it appeared.
Chen Hao squatted down to take a look. "This wasn't here before."
“The size is too small,” Nana said. “It was identified as a decoration or debris during the scan and was not included in the collection list.”
"And now?"
“Analyzing.” Nana’s eyes glowed blue again. “It has a micro-circuit structure inside… It belongs to the same system as the previous energy core, but its function is different.”
"What's it for?"
“It’s not certain yet.” She paused for a moment, “but it’s sending signals.”
"To whom should it be sent?"
“I don’t know.” Nana looked up. “But the frequency… is 3.7 Hz.”
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