Chapter Fifty-Eight: Setting Out for the Terrorist Base

Once all preparations were completed, the enormous spaceship soared westward. Zhang Desen immediately recorded its radar trajectory. He quickly pinpointed the landing site of the great vessel and noted it down as well. Beside him, Li Longfang asked Zhang Desen, "Desen... What did they mean by their words? What do they want us to choose?"

Zhang Desen answered, "Isn't it clear? They demand humanity become their complete slaves."

Li Longfang exclaimed angrily, "How is that possible? Why should we be slaves to them, and not the other way around?"

Zhang Desen replied calmly, "Don't overthink it. What we need to do now is locate their base within half a month and destroy them. That's our task at this moment."

Li Longfang pressed, "Desen, what did they mean by 'the member' earlier?"

Zhang Desen replied, "Of course, they meant me. When I arrived, they attacked the multidimensional tunnel but didn't manage to eliminate me. Since then, they've been searching for me. Apparently, they see me as a threat."

Li Longfang grew anxious, "What should we do now? If they keep pressuring us, the locals might force you to 'turn yourself in' out of fear. Maybe..."

Zhang Desen interrupted, "Don't worry. When I appeared before everyone, I wasn't wearing this uniform. They assume the people here already know me and haven't provided additional information. As for the Dust Mage from before, he only saw me wearing night-vision goggles, never my full face. As long as I cover myself with local clothing when outside..."

Zhang Desen pointed to the various records, "Look at the data just now—was it clear enough? Could people recognize the member they're talking about? How would they tell? You even watched some videos of Qian Yanei; you know more than most. Compare the information. What do you think?"

Li Longfang nodded, "Understood. Let's set out as soon as possible tomorrow!"

...

The next morning, Zhang Desen, Li Longfang, and Zhao Chengming led their planned group to the designated location. Their main destination was Mount Diancang, following last night's radar trajectory, which showed the Terrans’ spaceship flying west. Zhang Desen intended to cross Yeti Peak and continue westward after that.

According to records from Zhang Desen’s original universe, Yeti Peak on Mount Diancang stands at 3,944 meters. Though he wasn’t sure how this universe’s Yeti Peak differed, at least the peaks here were snow-covered as well.

At the foot of Yeti Peak, there was a village. Zhang Desen planned to rest there and gather information, since the locals would know best about the area. However, halfway to the village, a deranged man ran toward Zhang Desen’s group, laughing wildly and shouting, "Ha ha... ha ha, gone. Ha ha... ha ha, gone. Ha ha ha ha..."

Seeing Zhang Desen and the others, he rushed before them, continuing to yell, "Ha ha... ha ha, gone. You're going too? Ha ha ha, they have company, ha ha ha, they have company, ha ha ha..."

A sense of foreboding crept into everyone’s hearts as they looked at the hunter-clad man. They all felt uneasy. Li Longfang cursed, "Damn it, bad luck on our first outing—running into a lunatic. Get rid of him!"

"Yes!" several retainers responded, stepping forward.

Zhang Desen raised his hand to halt them, "Wait!"

Li Longfang, seeing Zhang Desen intervene, said, "Desen... This madman is babbling nonsense. He brings bad luck. Let’s just send him away."

Zhang Desen replied, "No, he came from ahead, and his dress suggests he’s a hunter—not likely to be cowardly. Perhaps he encountered something and could tell us about it. Let’s bring him along. In places where he seems particularly fearful, we should be on high alert. Take care of him, and let’s move out."

But the madman grew even more frantic, shouting, "Don't go, don't go! There's thick fog. When the fog’s gone, they're gone, vanished. Don't go, don't go! Hurry back, hurry back!"

Hearing this, Zhang Desen addressed his group, "Take him with us and look after him. No matter what dangers lie ahead, we must push through. Forward!"

"Yes!" the retainers shouted in unison.

What had disappeared? What would Zhang Desen and his companions encounter next?

...

Meanwhile, in the Terrans’ mountain base in Yunnan, the highest commander, Goba Shauf, was discussing the situation with his chief of staff, Dadu Kull. Shauf began, "Excellent, this is my perfect opportunity."

Dadu Kull asked, "Sir, are you truly that confident? Shouldn't we double-check?"

Goba Shauf replied, "No need. What qualifications does Yuri Gotner have to be our supreme leader? For such an important matter, he sent that fool Kaba Dull to handle it. After months of fruitless effort, they couldn't catch the one who emerged from the temporal tunnel, only to find he ended up here."

Shauf continued excitedly, "We must capture him first. Not only will I apprehend that individual, but I'll also establish a ground resource supply base. Who's authority will rival mine then?"

Dadu Kull agreed, "Indeed. One spaceship isn't significant by itself, but the fact that it could travel such a distance to reach us demonstrates their capabilities. From scanning the memories of Tang Shijie, whom we captured earlier, they've only recently mastered this technology. Yet Tang Shijie has disappeared."

Dadu Kull grew excited, "However, if we capture them and use our technology to control them, then when we retake the surface world, we can use them as guides to conquer their world. Once their world falls, our power will be unprecedented, enabling us to conquer even more regions."

Goba Shauf declared, "Exactly. But all this should be accomplished by me. I am the master of everything. By the way, how are our comprehensive resource supplies?"

Dadu Kull reported, "We've dropped to 68% of our original supply, but the monthly decline is less than 1%. With increased collection efforts, recovery is likely. Compared to the headquarters zone at Binhai Base (near West Capital) with only 45% and a monthly decline of 3%, and the Grassland Base at 33% with a 4% monthly drop, we're much better off. Hence, Yuri Gotner's authority has suffered, while yours continues to rise."

Dadu Kull added excitedly, "Moreover, with news spreading that the one who emerged from the temporal tunnel is here, Gotner faces even more criticism for poor personnel choices, further strengthening our position. While the other two bases have been forced to temporarily halt surface development due to their own issues, we will capture that individual, successfully develop the surface domain, and secure resource supplies. No need for further discussion."

Goba Shauf promptly ordered, "Alright, issue orders for surveillance of the capital of the Southern Dian Kingdom. Within half a month, prepare the clones; if humanity resists, let the clones attack the city. To prevent technical errors, ensure all clones are armed only with cold weapons. In these two weeks, you must gradually steer public opinion in our favor. Also, halt specimen collection in the city during this period. Use all newly collected villagers and hunters as clones. Are the stone formations ready?"

Each order was met with Dadu Kull’s affirmation, "Yes." For the final command, Dadu Kull replied, "Everything is prepared. No issues whatsoever."

Goba Shauf was greatly pleased, "Good. Begin immediately!"

"Yes!!"

...

At the same time, Zhang Desen and his companions arrived at the village at the foot of Yeti Peak. Strangely, the village, which should have been lively, was deserted. The madman shouted, "Wow! No one's come back, not from the mountain, no one's come back!"

Seeing this, Zhang Desen immediately ordered Zhao Chengming to lead half the group to stand by outside, while the rest would enter the village with him and Li Longfang to investigate. The madman refused to enter, so Zhao Chengming was tasked with looking after him.

Inside the village, Zhang Desen and the others shouted loudly, but no one responded or emerged. When they entered the houses, they found pots still on stoves, some with unburned firewood and food still cooking. Clothes were strewn across the floors, suggesting people left in haste. Hunting tools lay on tables in hunters’ homes, while hunting dogs were still tied to trees—dead, with organs removed. Everything was eerily strange.

Before Zhang Desen and his group could ponder, a shout rang out. Recognizing the madman’s voice, Zhang Desen heard him yelling loudly, "The fog is coming, run! Run!"

Zhang Desen and his companions looked toward the mountain. Indeed, a mysterious fog was rolling down from above, moving rapidly toward the village. Startled, Zhang Desen ordered, "Everyone, evacuate the village immediately. Avoid the thick fog!"

At that moment, Dadu Kull was directing a group of Terrans operating instruments and piloting their vessels, smugly declaring, "Though we've paused specimen collection in the city, we can't refuse those delivered right to our door. Thank you!"

He shouted, "Set meteorological weapon power to maximum! Prepare the capture vessels! Quickly!"

"Yes!" the other Terrans replied loudly.