Chapter 1372 Franz Josef Land
After a week of sailing, Xiao Peng and his team finally arrived at their destination: Franz Josef Land.
The reason for the slow driving is that we have to be extra careful along the way.
Although it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the temperature here is only around zero degrees Celsius. Ice floes of varying sizes often drift across the sea. Although the Luna and Calypso were designed and built with polar operating conditions in mind, this is their first time entering the polar regions, so everyone is proceeding with caution.
Arriving at Franz Josef Land did not mean less danger, but rather more danger: they did not know the seabed topography here, and the amount of floating ice increased: the 191 islands in Franz Josef Land were basically covered by ice that never melted all year round.
"Nature is so magical!" Xiao Peng exclaimed while standing on the bow of the boat.
Kaxin handed Xiao Peng a cigarette and said, "Boss, have a smoke!"
Xiao Peng shook his head: "Smoking here? It's a shame to the good air here!"
"Boss!" Hua Chong ran out at this time: "The ice-covered island ahead is Alexander Land. It is nine nautical miles away from us now. But we can't get through here!"
"Can't get through?" Xiao Peng asked in confusion: "What's wrong? Oh, don't answer me!"
He already knew the answer: the entire sea ahead was surrounded by ice floes.
Albrecht had told him that the Russians had discovered the Natsi base on Alexandria Land and that the Natsi retreat had been carried out by submarine. Now Xiao Peng understood why—in such sea conditions, anything less than a standard icebreaker was impossible. Russia was at the forefront of global icebreaking technology! This was a result of their living environment.
"Hua Chong, stop moving forward!" Xiao Peng said, "Just stop here. Kasin, fly Miss Anna to Alexandria Land in a helicopter. Come back directly from there. Don't say anything, don't ask any questions! Anna, are you ready?"
Anna now came out wearing the fur coat Xiao Peng had given her: "Ready!"
Xiao Peng said, "Okay, I'll pick you up here in two weeks. Kaxin, come back directly after you go."
"Okay, boss!" Although Kasim didn't know what was going on, he nodded.
Anna and Xiao Peng hugged each other and then left with Kasim. Not long after, they saw the helicopter take off and leave.
Hua Chong blinked and suddenly said, "Boss, I understand. You took us on a saunter around the Baltic Sea just to bring Miss Anna here?"
Xiao Peng stretched lazily and said, "Who said that? We're here to get down to business! Go, tell them to turn around and head southeast for George Island! Don't worry on the way, just be careful to avoid the ice! Phew, I'm freezing! Have Old Liu make some hot and sour soup to warm me up!"
Seeing Xiao Peng return to the cabin, Hua Chong suddenly laughed and hurried back to the cockpit: "Old Chen, it's time to work!"
"Ah?" Everyone in the cockpit was stunned after hearing this.
Chen Cheng asked, "What do you mean?"
Hua Chong said, "The boss said, turn the boat around and head for George Island!"
"What's wrong with that?" Chen Cheng asked.
Hua Chong said angrily, "Old Chen, are you losing your mind? The boss came here for a purpose! He didn't come here just to see the scenery!"
Chen Cheng slapped his forehead and said, "Look at my brain! It's been so idle all this time that I can't think straight! I'll tell Ma Xiao to change our route right now."
Hua Chong said helplessly: "You really are out of your mind! Ka Xin hasn't come back yet!"
After hearing this, Chen Cheng said, "Isn't this exciting? What is Miss Anna doing in Alexandria Island? Why is she being so mysterious?"
Hua Chong said, "Anna is not an ordinary person. Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't say what you shouldn't say. Ka Xin even asked the boss to specifically remind you of this. How could you make such a mistake? You shouldn't be such a gossipy person."
Chen Cheng sighed and said, "With only two ships and so few people, why would we be so bored and gossipless at sea? Especially since we left the Netherlands, life has been so idle. If this continues, we'll all collapse!"
Old Liu, who was sitting nearby drinking tea, said, "Why are you idle? You guys have had quite a bit of work lately, practicing every day."
Chen Cheng said, "If there is no gain, there is no motivation to do the exercise."
Hua Chong said, "Old Liu, it's a good thing you're here. The boss asked you to make some hot and sour soup to warm you up!"
Old Liu grinned and said, "Okay, but the boss might get mad if I let him drink hot and sour soup."
"Ah? Why?" Hua Chong asked in confusion.
As if by magic, Old Liu pulled out a wooden stick from his bosom and tossed it to Hua Chong. "I've been stewing this for three days! What could be more refreshing than drinking mutton soup in the middle of winter? Old Zhu is stewing some on the Calypso, too. Now's the perfect time to enjoy it."
What he threw to Hua Chong was a pine stick. This was Lao Liu's 'little secret', which was to put the pine stick into the mutton soup when stewing it. This would make the mutton soup more fragrant and reduce the smell of mutton.
Hua Chong smiled and said, "Sure, it warms me up and gives me more energy to work! Is that enough? I'm not kidding, I can drink three big bowls in one meal!"
Old Liu said proudly, "Drink without worry. Don't underestimate me and Old Zhu. We've been dealing with you two big gluttons for a long time. I guarantee you'll have enough to eat!"
After hearing this, Hua Chong said unwillingly, "Old Liu, stop bragging, or we won't have enough to eat!"
Facts have proved that Lao Liu was not bragging. What he said, "I guarantee you will eat enough", also has another meaning, that is, "I will let you eat until you have enough".
For the next few days, the restaurants on both ships were filled with the smell of mutton, and everyone felt nauseous at the smell of mutton.
"Old Liu!" Hua Chong angrily rushed into the kitchen and confronted Old Liu: "Lamb again today?"
"Yes!" Old Liu said lightly.
Hua Chong protested, "How many meals of mutton have you eaten? Do you know that eating too much mutton can make you sleep poorly at night? I'm telling you, if this keeps up, the only thing left on the boat will be inflatable dolls!"
Old Liu said, "I'm old, I'm not as pretentious as you guys!"
Hua Chong said angrily: "Okay, then why does the boss get to eat special meals?"
"Because he is the boss!" The reason given by Lao Liu made Hua Chong unable to refute.
Hua Chong wanted to make a few more remarks, but at this moment he clearly felt the ship slowing down.
"Huh? Are we there yet?" Hua Chong was confused.
At this time, Xiao Peng's voice suddenly came from the cabin broadcast: "Brothers, everyone has eaten their fill for the next 30 minutes. We can't be so leisurely next time. We have to do something big!"
Everyone in the cabin who was still worried about the mutton cheered up after hearing this: "Hurrah!"
Xiao Peng in the cockpit heard the shout of "Ura".
"Everyone seems to be in high spirits." Xiao Peng nodded in satisfaction. "But why are you shouting 'Ura'?"
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