"The dive has ceased as the target has been identified."
"A large area of unknown objects has been detected ahead."
The synthesized electronic voice rang out at just the right moment, attracting everyone's attention.
The waterjet propulsion system began to reverse, and the exploration vessel's forward speed rapidly decreased.
Hope frowned as she looked at the porthole directly in front of her.
Outside the porthole, illuminated by the main searchlight, a thick "wall" appeared before him.
The "wall" is pyramid-shaped and stands silently in the dark, deep ocean of liquid ammonia.
Under the spotlight, it gleamed with a deep brown metallic sheen, almost identical in color to the armor on the giant fish.
“This is…” Hope murmured softly, “a star gold vein?”
Star Gold is the name given by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to this recently discovered alloy.
The origin of the name is also very simple.
Alloys formed inside ice giants are called star gold.
Looking at the scratches and impact marks at the very top of the "wall," Hope could even imagine what had happened there—giant fish using all their strength to keep ramming this huge "wall," and "weaving" the falling debris into armor to "wear" on themselves.
only……
Do those newly hatched giant fish also have the power to shake this enormous star gold vein?
If that's true, just how incredibly strong must these giant fish be?!
Hope suppressed her doubts and turned to look at the holographic projection beside her.
There are high-definition images captured by cameras over there.
The camera slowly pans down, and the spotlight's beam also moves downwards.
The dark brown "wall" gradually widened and thickened until it became a huge shadow that disappeared into the endless ocean of liquid ammonia.
"This is simply..." Hansent's exclamation came from the side, "It's like a huge mountain range!"
As Hope watched the sonar device slowly trace the massive pyramid-shaped mineral vein, he nodded excitedly.
"I'm rich!"
"This mineral vein is sufficient to meet humanity's current needs!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Hansent realized, "Holy crap?! How many contribution points and credits does that translate to?!"
"We're rich! We're rich!"
"Ahem!" Perhaps having overheard their conversation, Lü Yongchang coughed lightly. "Just a reminder to you both, this exploration mission..."
"There probably won't be many credit points as a reward."
Hansent: "..."
Hope: "..."
Oh no, I almost forgot about that.
This was not a mineral vein discovered by the two of them alone.
Strictly speaking, they were essentially employees, and at most they could only share some wages.
"However, you have quite a few contribution points." Perhaps noticing the sudden drop in their spirits, Lü Yongchang chuckled and casually added, "Supplementary clause, of course, that depends on how well you complete your mission."
Hope's spirits lifted immediately.
Compared to credit points, contribution value is undoubtedly more important.
He turned and met Hansent's gaze.
Thinking of the large amount of contribution points they were about to receive, a burning flame seemed to ignite in their eyes.
Slay gods if they stand in your way, slay fish if they stand in your way!
At this moment, it seemed that nothing could stop the powerful beliefs in their hearts.
Until three seconds later.
...
Just as Hope was preparing to steer the exploration ship closer to the Star Gold vein, a distant orange-red ring of light rapidly approached—the giant fish was getting closer.
The exploration vessel immediately stopped its approach to the Star Gold vein.
The giant fish swung its powerful tail and slowly approached the exploration vessel.
It floats in the scorching liquid ammonia seawater, quietly "watching" its "companion" in front of it.
Under the searchlight, it opened and closed like the mouth of an abyss, swallowing and spitting out liquid ammonia and seawater while emitting wave after wave of ultrasonic waves.
"Does it mean we should stay away from it?"
Hope looked at the words in the translation program, glanced at the star gold mine not far away, and frowned: "What exactly does it want to do?"
"They spent so much time bringing us here, and now they want us to leave."
"This...isn't this just pure emotional toying?!"
At that moment, a sense of resentment welled up in Hope's heart.
"Professor, is the second-generation [Poseidon] equipped with a weapon system?" Hansent, who was standing to the side, stared intently at the dark brown vein in the distance and muttered to himself.
Lu Yongchang, who was on Dawn Star: "..."
"cough!"
"Compared to the first generation, the second generation is indeed equipped with some low-powered weapons and equipment..." Lu Yongchang changed the subject, "However, I do not recommend that you use them."
"Leaving aside the fact that the extremely high pressure and temperature here might affect the weapon system's effectiveness, don't forget that there are more than a dozen of its subordinates overhead."
Hansent fell silent.
A few seconds later.
“I think we should do as it says.” Hope wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, pulled the control lever, and slowly steered the exploration vessel backward. “You agree, don’t you, Hansent?”
“Yes, yes, yes…” Hansent nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice.
He definitely didn't want to experience the feeling of ejecting from the cockpit again!
Lu Yongchang's somber voice came through the speaker again: "Although we cannot use weapons, we can use ultrasonic waves to drive them away."
Hope's eyes lit up slightly: "Professor, you should have said so earlier..."
“But I suggest we see what it’s trying to do first,” Lü Yongchang interrupted Hope. “The reason… is quite simple.”
"We are also unsure whether the expulsion function of ultrasound will work."
Hope and Hansent: "..."
...
Under the watchful eye of the giant fish leader, the exploration vessel slowly retreated.
Until a kilometer away.
The giant fish started moving again.
Under the watchful eyes of the main searchlight and camera, it quickly swam away into the distance.
Looking at the scene before them, Hope and Hansent looked puzzled.
But the next moment, the giant fish deftly changed its swimming direction, accelerating towards the Star Gold Mine pulse!
"No way..." Hope had a vague idea forming in his mind.
As the giant fish and the star gold mine drew closer, he instinctively held his breath.
Boom!!!
The giant fish crashed violently into the top of the pyramid-shaped star gold vein.
A tremendous sound traveled along the liquid ammonia seawater.
The power of this impact could be seen from the violently shaking liquid ammonia seawater around it.
A small gap appeared at the top of the Star Gold Vein.
At the same time, large amounts of fine debris were ejected from the vein.
The resistance provided by the liquid ammonia seawater caused the debris to slow down rapidly and sink slowly to the seabed.
The giant fish changed direction and quickly swam towards the tiny fragments of star gold ore. At the same time, its large mouth opened and closed, sending wave after wave of ultrasonic signals to its "partner".
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