Nana's palms were still on the ground. A few seconds later, she raised her head and said in a steady voice, "The vibration came from underground."
Chen Hao, panting, squatted down, his arms resting on his knees. "Are you sure it's not a problem with your system? I clearly felt the ground didn't move just now."
“My sensor is working properly.” She withdrew her hand, her fingertips dusty with dirt. “The frequency is stable, once every 3.2 seconds, consistent with before.”
“The rock might have just cracked on its own.” He wiped the sweat from his face. “This place is so barren that even grass doesn’t bother to grow. What could possibly be here?”
“There’s a metallic reaction.” Nana opened her wrist screen and brought up the topographic map. A pale blue line stretched out from beneath their feet, pointing into the depths of the valley. “According to the geological database, this vibration pattern is common in the periodic displacement of shallow veins caused by weathering stress.”
"So you mean... there's a mine down there?"
"The probability is over 86%."
Chen Hao paused for a moment, then laughed out loud, "Wait, are you talking about one of those things we can take back to fix generators?"
“Titanium-iron alloy,” she said. “Its purity meets the requirements of the frame structure and can replace the original materials.”
He jumped to his feet, nearly slipping. "Why didn't you say so earlier! What are we dawdling about? Let's get digging!"
“We are not currently able to collect data,” Nana said, pointing ahead. “Signal interference has increased, and navigation accuracy has dropped to within seven meters. We need to relocate the epicenter.”
“Let’s go then.” He patted his pants. “We’ve come this far, we can’t go back empty-handed and tell Susan, ‘Sorry, sis, we only heard a sound from underground.’”
Nana didn't move, she just looked at him.
"What?" he frowned.
"Your heart rate is 142 and your respiratory rate is 37 breaths per minute. You are showing clear signs of dehydration."
“I know I’m useless.” He rolled his eyes. “But as long as I don’t die, that’s fine. If you really want me to stop, you’ll have to carry me back—oh no, wait, last time you almost shoved me into the ground when you helped me up.”
Nana turned and walked forward, "Go around the rocky area on the left. The sand layer is too soft and not suitable for carrying heavy loads."
They slowly advanced along the edge of the mountainside. The ground gradually changed from loose mud to exposed rock, which became much more stable underfoot. Chen Hao walked unsteadily, constantly complaining.
"How did this damn world become like this? Before, being late for work would get you docked pay, but now even escaping for your life doesn't earn you a wage." He gasped for breath. "If I could go back in time, I would definitely study hard and not be a bad student. At least I could get into geology, since I can still understand those gibberish characters on your screen now."
“That’s a spectral analysis graph,” Nana said. “It’s not gibberish.”
"They're all the same anyway, I don't understand them."
A narrow ravine appeared ahead, with steep stone walls on both sides and a narrow path winding downwards in the middle. The wind blew up from the valley floor, carrying a faint smell of rust.
"The taste is off." Chen Hao frowned.
“There are trace amounts of iron oxide particles in the air,” Nana said, scanning the area. “This indicates that there was once exposed metal on the ground that corroded.”
"That's a mine, isn't it?" His eyes lit up.
"Approaching the target area."
They walked down the ravine. The further they went, the darker the color of the rocks became, and some sections gleamed with a metallic sheen. Nana stopped and crouched down to brush the dust from between the rocks.
“Here,” she said.
Chen Hao leaned closer and saw a piece of black ore half-buried in the soil. Its surface was pitted, but regular geometric cuts could be seen.
"Is this really what we're looking for?"
"Yes." Nana gently pried off a corner with her tool and put it into her bag. "High-purity titanium-iron alloy, suitable for smelting and processing."
He plopped down on the ground. "Good heavens, at least it wasn't a wasted trip."
"Don't collect it yet," Nana suddenly whispered.
"What's wrong now?"
“There are traces here.” She pointed to a series of footprints next to the pile of ore. “Fresh, no more than six hours old.”
Chen Hao immediately shrank back, "Has someone been here?"
“More than one person.” She continued scanning. “Five different temporal characteristics, carrying heavy objects, and having stayed in the vicinity for a considerable period of time.”
"Will they turn back?"
"The possibility exists."
He looked around; the valley was barren, offering no cover and no way out. "Should we retreat? Wait until they leave before coming back?"
“Evacuation would waste the physical and time resources already used up,” Nana said. “And there’s no guarantee they won’t occupy the area for a long time.”
"Then what do you suggest we do? Wait and see?"
“Observe.” She turned off the light on her wrist screen, and even the indicator light on her eyes dimmed. “Remain silent and wait for further information.”
Chen Hao leaned against a rock, his heart pounding as if it would burst from his chest. He dared not speak loudly, only muttering softly, "If these people come back, do you think they'll just throw rocks at us?"
"If they have tools, they are more likely to use metal implements."
"You really know how to comfort people."
Time passed slowly. The sun began to set, casting long shadows in the valley. Chen Hao's legs started to go numb, and his stomach rumbled.
“I’m hungry,” he said.
"Food reserves are insufficient; we advise patience."
"Can't you say something useful? Like, 'Just ten more minutes?'"
"I have no predictive ability."
"You just don't want to give me hope."
Just as he was about to change his position, Nana suddenly raised her hand to signal him not to move.
Footsteps could be heard in the distance.
It wasn't one person, it was a group of people.
Five figures emerged one after another from the slope on the other side of the valley. They were all wearing tattered protective suits, carrying homemade picks and shovels, and walking in unison, clearly veterans who often worked together.
They spotted the ore pile immediately.
The leader raised his hand, and the group immediately stopped. He squinted at the ore, then slowly scanned the surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the corner where Chen Hao was hiding.
The air suddenly tensed up.
Chen Hao held his breath and stealthily reached for the tool bag at his waist. Inside was only a rusty multi-tool, but he still gripped it.
Nana stood half a step behind him, leaning slightly forward, as if ready to block his way at any moment.
The group of people didn't approach or speak. They stood about fifteen meters away from the ore, five of them forming a semicircle, silently staring at the ground.
After about ten seconds, the leader took a step forward.
Chen Hao swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "What should we do? What if they try to rob us?"
Nana's voice was soft: "The odds of winning in a head-on confrontation are less than 37 percent."
"Stop using percentages! Speak like a normal person!"
"We can't beat them."
"Then run?"
"They have detected the anomaly, and fleeing will trigger a pursuit."
So all we can do is sit here and do nothing?
"Not necessarily." Nana slowly moved her backpack in front of her, covering the base markings on it. "We can try communicating."
"Communication?" Chen Hao's eyes widened. "Should I go up there and say, 'Hey buddy, do you want to give up this mine?'"
“You could ask, ‘Do you come here often?’” Nana said. “Probing their intentions and establishing a dialogue window.”
He gritted his teeth, "You're sending me to my death?"
"Your chances of surviving are still higher than 90%."
"You make it sound like you're talking about a lottery."
The group outside moved again. Two people went forward to inspect the ore, while the other three guarded the entrance, their eyes never leaving Chen Hao.
The leader suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly carried: "Who's there?"
Chen Hao froze.
Nana gently touched his back.
He knew he couldn't escape it.
He took a deep breath, stood up from behind the rock, and raised his hands, trying to make the movement look harmless.
"Don't get agitated." He took two steps forward, his voice trembling slightly. "We're just passing by, seeing if there's anything usable."
No one responded. Five pairs of eyes stared at him, like five knives at his throat.
The leader looked him up and down, then glanced at Nana behind him. "Where are you from?"
"Not far," Chen Hao chuckled dryly. "It's just over there, behind the mountain."
There's nothing there.
"That's why we came this way." He scratched his head. "What a coincidence, you're here to look for minerals too?"
The man didn't answer, but instead winked at someone next to him. That person immediately walked to the pile of ore and began hammering at the surface with a pickaxe.
"Hey!" Chen Hao stepped forward. "We were the ones who found it first."
"The principle of first-come, first-served does not apply here," the man said coldly. "Whoever can hold onto it will own it."
Chen Hao turned around and glanced at Nana.
She stood there, her eyes slightly flashing, calculating something.
He turned back, trying to steady himself. "What if we don't leave either?"
The five men gripped their tools tightly at the same time.
The wind whipped up the dust on the ground, blew it over the ore pile, and landed on Chen Hao's shoes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com