Chapter 245: Guide Insect.
At the foot of the mountain where the trading zone usually formed by several ships was absent, as expected by Jié Jié based on his observations along the way within a certain timeframe.
Though no trading zone appeared, beneath the waterfall between two mountains stood a waterwheel of modest size. It was connected to a turning wheel atop the mountain via several chains to transfer power.
On the slope lay a few wooden planks not yet installed onto the central chain to serve as a cable car.
These facilities were rudimentary but represented the hard work of the pioneers.
Looks like the second phase team hasn’t arrived yet? Woke up pretty quick myself.
He was moving about in Smoky Snow Weasel form, deliberately avoiding all humanoid energy sources he sensed on the path, reaching the mid-mountain point.
Familiar sight, the stiff Ailu Cat with a broad back facing away from Jié Jié.
After years apart, Chef Lady Ailu Cat seemed to have gained some weight.
Jié Jié leaped off the table, tracing a white arc before landing on her shoulder.
The round-faced Ailu Cat turned her head and, upon seeing the Smoky Snow Weasel on her shoulder, twitched.
“Meow~”
Meanwhile, down the mountain, a burly figure gripped the iron chain with strong arms and jumped onto the Starship using the upward-turning chain as a makeshift cable car.
“I know it’s convenient to use the chain as a cable car, but there are risks with this makeshift waterwheel, I’ve warned you many times.”
Sensing the shipboard shake, the Commander spoke without looking back.
“But it’s very convenient.”
The person who had arrived was naturally the Team Leader of the Investigation Corps. After years, though not showing many more wrinkles, his demeanor had grown increasingly seasoned.
“Sigh, any new discoveries? We just witnessed the Water Ancient Dragon.”
“Hmm? Perhaps I should hurry too.”
The Team Leader shrugged, seemingly disbelieving.
But when the Commander turned around, hands crossed over his chest, flashing a confident smile, he suddenly became uncertain and looked toward the Scholar nearby for help.
The little old Dragon Person nodded, causing a look of intense disappointment to show on the face of the Blond Man.
The Commander enjoyed this despair for a moment before lightly coughing:
“Cough, I won’t tease you anymore, but it’s amusing; the Water Ancient Dragon was caught by the Master Swordsman while fishing.”
“Where was the fishing spot?”
The Team Leader pretended to inquire for more details.
“At the seaside, but we’ve never encountered it before. I think it’s just a coincidence. You should tell me what you investigated this time.”
“The usual, Thief Dragons, Thief Dragons everywhere. We cleared out a batch, and then there’s our old acquaintance—”
Mentioning the familiar figure, the Commander visibly anticipated something.
“Savage Jaw Dragon.”
The Commander frowned.
Results from investigations around here haven’t progressed for quite some time.
The abnormal Spiny Dragon and the abnormal Slaying Dragon disappeared like chasing after the Smoky Snow Weasel, and after their departure, the coast of the New Continent seemed to return to normal.
Savage Jaw Dragons, Poison Demon Birds, occasionally Thunder Wolf Dragons and other monsters’ footprints can be found, but the Spiny Dragon itself and its tracks have not been seen since.
“What about small creatures?”
“Detour Rabbits, Proto-Birds, dragonflies, grasshoppers… various insects, but no Smoky Snow Weasels.”
So far, all outgoing Investigators have failed to find traces of the Smoky Snow Weasel.
Not only the one that accompanied them is missing, but also the distribution and population of the Smoky Snow Weasel species have never been discovered, as if there are none on the New Continent.
“By the way, the Guide Insects you trained are quite useful, but I always feel the ones brought back aren’t the same batch.”
The Team Leader took a Guide Insect lamp from his waist and placed it on the table, unstrapping the collection bag on his back and placing it beside his feet.
Greenish light points flew out of the Guide Insect lamp, and so did those from another lamp placed on the table by the Commander. The two swarms of Guide Insects seemed to be interacting.
“They seem to share information from their explorations just like us. This is a good thing; as long as we carry them, wild Guide Insects can also be effectively utilized.”
Watching the intertwining Guide Insects, the Commander’s tone carried a sigh.
As the initiator of the Guide Insect research project, he had invested much emotion into these little bugs.
“But even so, haven’t we found any clues?”
“Unfortunately, no. It’s possible the scent of the lure ball is too different from the Smoky Snow Weasel for the Guide Insects.”
Another item was taken out by the Team Leader. It was the lure ball concocted by the Head Chef according to the Smoky Snow Weasel’s scent.
“Alright, by the way, if the Guide Insects turn blue, please observe them more carefully.”
“When approaching the activity range of the Water Ancient Dragon, the Guide Insects briefly transformed into blue. This is a special reaction.”
“Got it.”
The Team Leader nodded, and the two proceeded to exchange information regarding the base operations.
“Leader has returned too?”
An Investigator rushing up from below interrupted them, excited.
“Too?”
The Commander was confused but also hopeful.
Whether it’s his friends or wilderness masters, it’s all good news.
“Haha, that’s what I was going to say next—Smoky Snow Weasel has returned!”
“Surprising.”
“Confusing.”
The Commander’s eyebrows twitched, suspecting the Team Leader had lied earlier.
But it was only suspicion. If it was a lie for surprise, it wouldn’t make sense to chat for half a day and then let another investigator reveal the answer.
“Let’s go. Aren’t you eager to see it again?”
“Not at all!”
The Commander protested, but his steps followed the Team Leader honestly. Hearing the Investigator’s soft chuckle beside him, he glared angrily.
The Investigator stopped laughing.
This time, the Commander followed the Team Leader onto the chain cable car and jumped off together at the mid-mountain point.
As they approached the cave, their pace quickened, surpassing the Team Leader until they saw a white towel… resting on the edge of a bowl being used by a Helper Cat standing on a chair to clean the table.
Breath paused in surprise.
Approaching slightly closer, breath paused again in annoyance.
The former was due to joy, the latter due to irritation.
Because it was just a white towel…
But soon, the Investigator caught up, looking confused at the table.
“Eh? I just saw it eating here.”
“Meow meow meow~”
The Chef pointed to one side, the living area of the Ailu Cats.
“Huff!”
The Commander exhaled deeply, walking into the living area of the Ailu Cats and looking at a nest among a row that had remained unoccupied.
The Smoky Snow Weasel lying stretched out opened its eyes, locking gazes with the two blocking the entrance.
A few Guide Insects naturally flew out of the Guide Insect lamp, dancing between them and the Smoky Snow Weasel, flickering faintly.
Oh no.
246
