The text on the console screen didn't disappear; it remained lit.
Why have you come?
Chen Hao stared at the line of text for three minutes, tapped a few keys on the keyboard, then deleted them, finally typing only seven words: "In order to see further."
Press Enter.
The system paused briefly, as if reading the reply. Then, a flash of blue light appeared, and a new folder automatically appeared in the main database, named "Secondary Protocol Unlock: Path Suggestion".
Nana immediately went to the connection port and began downloading content. Her pupils blinked rapidly as data streamed internally. A few seconds later, she said, "The map has been updated. Twelve unrecorded heat sources have been detected, distributed along the western fault zone of the abyss."
Susan leaned closer to check the coordinates. "These locations are outside our previous exploration area, more than forty kilometers from the base."
“It’s a bit far,” Karl interjected from behind, “but do you think those heat sources might be another ruin? Or… residual signals from an energy core?”
No one answered. You never know. They had previously thought the deepest parts of the ocean were just desolate silence and rocks, but they found a diving suit that could operate on its own.
Chen Hao stood up and walked to the equipment rack. The newly assembled diving suit was still standing on the rack, the patterns on the chest plate occasionally flashing blue light, the rhythm steady, synchronized with the amber cube in the corner.
He reached out and touched the inside of the helmet. It was a little cooler than before, and there was a slight vibration on the surface, as if something inside was running a program.
“It’s not dead,” he said. “It’s waiting for us to be ready.”
“Then let’s not wait.” Susan opened her tablet and pulled up the supplies list. “We have seven oxygen tanks left, three fully charged backup power modules, and two thrusters in stock, but not enough power to go that far.”
“We don’t need the old one,” Nana’s voice came from behind. “I already have a new design.”
Everyone turned to look at her.
She held an electronic board in her hand, displaying a complex set of structural diagrams. The intersecting lines were arranged in a way that resembled light paths on the walls of ancient ruins, unlike modern engineering drawings.
"It was deduced from the energy conduction path on the back of the wetsuit," she said. "This pattern is not just for decoration; it guides water flow to create localized low-pressure areas, reducing drag. If this principle is applied to propulsion, it can improve efficiency."
“You mean… let it glide on its own?” Carl asked.
"Pretty much." Nana nodded. "I combined the design logic of ancient marine machinery in the knowledge base to create a small linear propulsion unit model. It can be embedded in the back guide slot of a diving suit and charged using ambient water flow, so there's no need to carry an extra battery."
"That sounds pretty far-fetched." Chen Hao stroked his chin. "Could you draw it out and let me see?"
Nana uploaded the blueprint to the main screen. A 3D projection popped up; it was a flat, elongated metal block with fine grooves on its surface, shaped like a fishbone.
"Is this the prototype?" Karl leaned closer. "It doesn't look very sturdy."
"The material uses a shape memory alloy with a carbon-titanium composite layer," she said. "It's lightweight and highly pressure-resistant. Simulation tests show that it maintains structural integrity even at a depth of 3,000 meters."
"And what about the noise?" Susan asked. "When the old-fashioned thrusters are turned on, all the predators in the entire ocean come looking for you."
“This is almost silent,” Nana said. “Because it’s not propelled by a propeller, but by releasing energy through micropulses to make the water flow in a specific direction. It’s like…giving it a gentle push.”
"Got it." Chen Hao chuckled. "Before, we swam by kicking our legs; now we've learned to ride the waves."
“To be precise,” Nana corrected, “it’s about conforming to the laws of fluidity.”
"Anyway, it's the same idea." He waved his hand. "Then hurry up and make this thing."
“The first prototype is already being printed,” she said. “It is expected to be completed in six hours.”
Chen Hao sat back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. The lab lights were a cold white, making him feel a little dazed. He rubbed his face, feeling a bit tired, but his mind was still quite clear.
“The next question is where to go,” he said. “Now that we have new guys, we can’t keep crawling along the old route. We’re going to the furthest point.”
"You mean the heat source marked 'E-7'?" Susan pulled out a map. "The terrain there is complex, and the sonar shows a lot of landslides, making navigation inaccurate."
“Line A is the closest.” Carl pointed to the screen. “It’s 30 kilometers straight through the geomagnetic storm zone. Although the magnetic field will interfere with communications, it’s a good opportunity to test the performance of the new thrusters in extreme environments.”
“Route B goes around the ecological zone,” Susan added. “There is frequent biological activity, but the geology is stable, making it suitable for collecting samples. Route C is the safest, but there’s nothing there, so going there would be a waste of time.”
"So which one to choose?" Chen Hao asked.
“We should test the equipment first,” Susan said. “Going directly into a high-risk area is too risky. If the thrusters fail midway and people get stuck, there won’t be enough time for rescue.”
“But how do we know if it will work if we don’t test it in a real combat environment?” Karl retorted. “Don’t we always make adjustments as we go during dives? When are we ever 100% prepared?”
"Have you forgotten how you almost got crushed into a pancake last time?" Susan glanced at him. "Do you want to do it again?"
“That time it was because the seals were worn out,” Karl shrugged. “This time it’s different. We have new clothes, new thrusters, and a fortune-telling robot.”
“I’m not a fortune teller,” Nana said calmly. “I just analyze data.”
“In short,” Chen Hao interrupted, “we can’t decide which path to take now.”
He stood up, walked to the large screen, and displayed the three routes side by side. Route A was red, running straight into a deep-sea fault; route B was yellow, winding its way around a biologically active area; and route C was green, smooth but without any highlights.
“Let’s do a simulation first,” he said. “Let Nana run a virtual test to see the new thruster’s energy consumption, speed, and stability under different environments. We’ll talk about it after the results come out.”
“I can start right away,” Nana said.
“Then let’s get started,” Chen Hao decided. “Susan, you organize the risk assessment form, and Carl, keep an eye on the anomalies on the map. Maybe we can dig up some new clues.”
No one objected. Everyone returned to their posts.
Susan opened the spreadsheet and began entering parameters. She listed the threat types for each route: Route A mainly involved magnetic field interference and navigation deviation; Route B faced biological attacks and sudden ocean currents; Route C was generally safe, but had low scientific research value.
Carl then marked all the locations on the map where signal fluctuations had recently occurred. Some points were fleeting, like false alarms from the equipment, but others persisted, with a frequency similar to the blue light found in the ruins.
“These points,” he called out, “look very similar to the signal pattern of a diving suit. Does that mean there’s a similar device there?”
“Possibly,” Nana responded while running the simulation. “If these heat sources come from the same energy system, then there may be a linkage mechanism between them.”
"You mean..." Chen Hao slowly grinned, "If we find one, we can follow the clues and find many more?"
"Theoretically true."
“Then what are we waiting for?” He turned to the crowd. “Once the thrusters are ready, we’ll set off. Our objective is clear—to go to E-7 and see what’s hidden down there.”
"The premise is that the simulation results support it," Susan reminded. "Don't forget that last time you said 'I'll just go down and take a look,' and ended up being trapped for forty-eight hours."
“That time was an accident,” Chen Hao waved his hand. “This time is different; we are prepared.”
“You say you’re prepared now, but you just think it’s fun,” Karl said with a laugh, shaking his head. “Admit it, you just want to see if the new thrusters can make you fly in the water.”
“It can’t fly,” Nana suddenly said. “The maximum estimated speed is 4.7 meters per second, which is twice the speed of a human swimming at full speed. That doesn’t count as flying.”
"That's enough," Chen Hao said dismissively. "As long as I don't have to rely on my hands and feet to swim anymore."
The laboratory fell silent. Only the hum of the machines and the constantly changing data on the screens could be heard.
Nana's simulation program has started. In the scene, a miniature propeller model is placed into a virtual water flow environment. At first, it remains still, then the surface grooves begin to ripple, and the water flow gradually forms an orderly trajectory.
The speed is increasing slowly.
1.2 meters per second.
2.1 m/s.
3.0 m/s.
It eventually stabilized at 4.6 m/s, with an error range of ±0.1.
“The efficiency exceeded expectations,” she said. “Drag was reduced by 37 percent, and energy consumption was only one-fifth of that of conventional models.”
"Awesome." Carl whistled. "If this thing is really made, going into business will be as easy as clocking in at work."
"Assuming there are no malfunctions." Susan closed the tablet. "I still suggest testing it in shallow water first to confirm that all functions are working properly before venturing into the deep sea."
“Okay.” Chen Hao nodded. “Then let’s make a plan: the first prototype will be printed at nine o’clock tomorrow morning; basic testing will be conducted at ten o’clock; and the first underwater test will be carried out at a depth of two hundred meters at two o’clock in the afternoon.”
"Location?" Susan asked.
“South of the abandoned observation tower,” he said. “The water there is clear, there are no big fish, and it’s suitable for beginners.”
“Who wants to try?” Carl looked at him.
“Of course it’s me.” Chen Hao glared. “Who among you dares to wear that new outfit? It might not even recognize me, let alone you.”
“What if it doesn’t recognize you?” Carl laughed. “Then it’ll be stuck in the water, and we’ll have to fish you out.”
"No," Chen Hao said confidently. "It knows who I am."
After he finished speaking, he looked back at the diving suit on the support frame.
A blue light flashed inside the helmet.
It's like a response.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com