Chapter 120 Scientific Expedition Team 1: Recording Names
So this is a copy of the US version.
Watching Max frantically taking photos and posting them on social media, you quietly reflect.
Looking at it this way, although you've found yourself in a place far removed from modern civilization the moment you open your eyes, as long as you have internet access, it's not too bad for you.
I'll have to find my phone and search for some information when I get back.
Over there, Becca and the Asian-looking girl named Mina had just half-dragged, half-carried Carlos to a tree and settled him down. Not far away, the leaves parted, and a middle-aged man and another man with dark skin, a scar on his cheek, and who didn't look like a student stood steadily one after the other among the wet leaves.
The former was wearing a dark gray trench coat, his trousers were wet and muddy, he was carrying a medical kit, and his face was expressionless.
She didn't ask what was going on, her eyes looked somewhat fierce, and after scanning everyone, she simply called out to Becca in a deep voice, "Help."
As she spoke, she squatted down and opened the medical kit.
Becca looked up and found you, giving you a wink. You immediately came over, squatted down to the side, and asked humbly and eagerly, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Cut open his trouser leg." Hearing this, the newcomer didn't even look up. "Be careful not to cut your skin."
You took the scissors; your hand was very steady.
You don't know how to treat wounds, and you're a little unsure where to start with these crumpled clothes covered in mud and blood.
But you know now is not the time to say "not really".
Becca had already pinned Carlos's injured leg down. Never mind, you picked up the fabric and slowly cut along the seam of the trousers, revealing the badly injured flesh underneath—swollen, abrasions, and bloody flesh separating from the skin.
This is the first time you've seen a wound of this magnitude up close.
You resist the urge to turn your head away. You know that someone "with wilderness survival skills" won't feel uncomfortable at the sight of a minor wound.
You naturally wipe the scissors clean and set them aside, then Becca takes over and holds Carlos down. Then you hear the middle-aged man say, "Becca, eh uh dan."
It's another word you don't recognize.
Watching Becca's actions with concern, even though you still don't recognize the words on the medicine bottle she handed you, you can guess the meaning of the words by looking at the color and the way the middle-aged man took out the cotton ball soaked in the medicine and wiped Carlos's leg.
You silently memorize not only geology-related words, but also medical device vocabulary to learn.
I repeated "Iodine solution" to myself a few more times. Okay, I've got it.
You were probably quietly memorizing vocabulary words, looking exceptionally focused, when the middle-aged man glanced at you. He didn't smile, but his tone softened somewhat: "Not bad. I heard from Becca that you're quick-witted, clean-cut, and very eager to learn. You're in charge of information recording, right?"
“Yes, ma’am,” you replied immediately.
"Madam?" She chuckled at your formal address, and the gloom that had hung over her since Carlos's accident dissipated slightly. "'Professor' will suffice."
"Okay, Professor."
"However, I didn't expect that as an undergraduate, you would have such courage and initiative, even though you were just following along to process some data." Her voice was neither loud nor soft; one second she was praising you, and the next second her face turned stern. "But from now on, without my instructions, you are not allowed to go down steep slopes or into water."
You lowered your head and replied, "Understood."
She continued to treat the wound, first using pliers to remove a small piece of thorn embedded in the skin, then slowly applying iodine. Carlos was sweating profusely from the pain and wanted to cry out loudly, but under the professor's gaze, he didn't even dare to groan.
“The rock fissures in this area are unstable, I’ve mentioned that repeatedly in the briefing,” she said while cleaning her wound. “Who gave you permission to cross the boundary?”
“I just…” Carlos’s mouth was dry, his lips trembled, and his voice was so low it was almost inaudible, “I was a little excited, so I got up early…and took a few steps to see if there were any interesting geological features…”
“You’re not in the geology team,” the professor said without looking up. “You’re in charge of vegetation cover records.”
Carlos lowered his eyes.
Becca whispered to you, "Our Professor Shia is usually very easygoing. But this is really serious. Be careful not to upset her. She was specifically targeted by the NSF this year, and she's especially worried about something going wrong this time."
You nodded, secretly noting down the abbreviation of what sounded like the name of some association.
These are all things you need to investigate when you get back.
The professor finished bandaging the wound. During this time, two more women and a man appeared. You later observed and remembered their names:
One of the girls is a very fit, tall, white woman named Tony, and the other is a slightly smaller woman with a darker natural skin tone named Dora. The man is a middle-aged man dressed casually. He is not a student member of your team, but a driver who also handles logistics—Freddy.
Becca, with her blond hair, seems to be close to the professor; Mina, with her Asian features; Carlos, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, who looks like he's had a tan; and Max, tall and thin with blond hair.
With so many people suddenly appearing, you maintain your expression while frantically trying to connect each person's face and name in your mind.
Please, don't let any more members pop up! You're really afraid you'll be "taken away" because you mistook someone for someone else.
It seemed that all the members had finally arrived, and the others who were already there had also gathered around.
The professor stood up, his tone calm yet authoritative, and said, "Now I will reiterate the field rules for this summer's scientific expedition. Everyone listen up—"
"First, entry into any unmarked area is prohibited without prior instruction, especially the southwest slope and the southern forest valley."
"Second, no unauthorized contact with local residents is allowed, especially villagers and safari hunters; all cultural exchanges must be assessed by the local guide, Ramon."
The dark-skinned man stepped forward: "The rainforest has a complex terrain and a dangerous environment. You students are all very intelligent future elites, so you must know how to protect yourselves. Only then can the professor and I guarantee your safety." He spoke with a slight accent, and you recognized him immediately—Xiyu.
—A local guide who speaks selenium, are you in Southern America?
No, really? A rainforest of flax? Your vision goes black. You can only hope that this "expedition team," comprised of the idiot Carlos, the oddball Max, and "you"—who doesn't sound like a professional either—is just a "university summer camp" where students are exploring relatively freely along a relatively safe route.
As you brood here alone, Professor Shia nodded to the guide and continued:
"Third, all recording activities must be authorized by permission. Taking photos or disseminating them to social media platforms without authorization is prohibited. Academic achievements are part of collaborative projects and must not be published without authorization."
Max's expression froze, and he hid his phone. Then he turned to you awkwardly, his eyes wide open, as if afraid you would tell on him.
You just nodded to him to indicate that you wouldn't tell anyone, don't worry.
"Fourth, emergency situations must be reported first, and injuries other than basic bandaging must not be treated without authorization."
She paused, staring at Carlos: "You've violated at least three rules."
"This is only our first day officially entering the rainforest."
Carlos's lips twitched, but he didn't dare to speak.
The woman, who had been like a highly efficient steel machine since her appearance, sighed deeply and patted Carlos on the shoulder: "You are a student in our field. Don't let yourself be kicked out before we even begin our journey."
Carlos nodded vigorously.
Looking at these, you do notice something different.
Having gone through four instances, you've summarized some impressions of the professors and teachers in those instances: Compared to the teachers in your Flower Kingdom in the real world, they always maintain a sense of distance and irresponsibility with students, as if saying "take it or leave it." Their demeanor is more like they seem kinder and less concerned about whether you've done your job well, only caring whether you've found enjoyment in your studies while maintaining your physical and mental health.
You can't say that all professors are like that, but most of the ones you've experienced are like that.
Professor Shia, however, is different. Beneath her standard, somewhat aloof, pale face, when facing you students, she is very—
push.
— It's like she's pushing you, forcing you to move forward, and she doesn't shy away from this attitude at all, openly displaying her attitude of observation and evaluation.
What does this mean? We cannot draw a conclusion yet.
Seeing that everyone was listening obediently, Professor Shia's expression softened: "In that case, today's schedule will have to be changed."
She clapped her hands, and Ramon understood. He raised his arm and led you all into the bushes behind.
"Come on, explorers, let me show you these plants."
Carlos lay half-reclined on the rain shelter, with Becca and Freddy staying behind to take care of him.
Undoubtedly, Becca is not a student like you; she is most likely a professor's assistant or something similar.
You just thought about it for a moment, then immediately caught up with the group.
You walk in the middle, deliberately getting close to Mina.
You're thinking that this position is neither leading nor isolated, but right in the middle, which is very safe; and since you and this girl are both of Asian descent, you might be able to get closer to her and get some information from her.
Unexpectedly, your approach triggered a silent protest from Mina.
She glared at you several times, and seeing that you had no intention of moving away, she had no choice but to move away herself, clearly unwilling to travel with you.
Okay. You shrug and take your good spot.
Ramon walked at the front, his steps steady, a curved knife in his hand. As he walked, he gave a brief introduction in the Ying language.
His speech was fluent, but his accent was heavy, and his sentences contained various plant names that sounded like they came from the language of selenium, making it even more difficult for you to understand him.
“We need to find a tree called ‘Kachikamo,’ whose sap can relieve pain. Its accompanying vines are very strong and can be used to make rope.”
You're using your brain in several parts, memorizing words, finding your way, and observing your companions.
You notice that Dora, who is walking on the side, hasn't said a word.
She seemed uninterested in the guide's explanations, instead occasionally squatting down to observe the water stains left on the ground.
They weren't there to learn how to find plants, but rather to identify a "path".
Regardless, her behavior appeared very professional. Even if you don't really know what "professional" means...
About ten minutes later, Ramon stopped in front of a sturdy tree with a grayish-brown bark and a whole circle of dark green vines wrapped around its branches.
“This is Kachikamo. Be careful not to break the root—we’re taking the top part. You kids, do you know how to use this knife?” Lamo laughed, raising the large curved knife that always hung at his waist.
Tall Tony was the first to raise his hand: "I'll try."
She took the scimitar, casually weighed it in her hand to find the most comfortable grip, and then decisively brought it down, a section of vine falling into her hand.
I picked it up and swung it around; it really did look like a leather whip, with a springy feel.
You click your tongue in amazement, only to be pushed by someone.
It was Max again. This guy wasn't doing it on purpose; he was just so engrossed in taking out his phone that he took several photos without the professor's gaze.
You're standing a little too far away from Max.
Dora then tried to cut as well, but seemed to have some difficulty. Her scimitar got stuck in the vine fibers, and when she pulled hard, she almost swung the knife away.
Professor Shia laughed heartily and guided Dora step by step on how to find the weakest part of the vine and how to hold the knife.
You've written all of this down, and before it's even your turn, you're already pretending to be holding a knife and cutting vines.
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Author's Note: Hehe (Tiger is in a hurry to go out, will continue writing another chapter when I get home tonight, love it ^ ^)
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