Phi-Fic Chapter 1290
Chapter 1290
Suddenly, Zhou Shuwan noticed something unusual.
"Oh no!" She opened her eyes abruptly, her voice urgent. "Quick, pack up all the equipment! We have to hide immediately! They've noticed something's wrong!"
Qi Mingyu and Mu Mu's expressions changed drastically. Without the slightest hesitation, they immediately pressed the power off button on the device.
The humming of the acoustic inducer stopped instantly, and the temperature of the seawater heater began to drop slowly.
Zhou Shuwan instantly retracted the three acoustic wave induction devices and one seawater heating device into her spatial storage, and then sent them back to the alloy cabinet in the semi-submersible base at an extremely fast speed.
The whole process took only a few seconds.
Once the equipment was returned to its original position, the arrangement inside the alloy cabinet was exactly the same as before.
The only difference might be that the equipment casing still carries a trace of residual heat from recent use, but this heat will quickly dissipate in the warm environment inside the base.
Almost at the same time that Zhou Shuwan completed this series of actions, several tall figures suddenly rushed into the research area of the semi-submersible base.
Leading the group was a burly officer in a black combat uniform, with rank insignia on his shoulders. His sharp, eagle-like eyes swept across the entire research area.
"Has the equipment been tampered with?!" the officer demanded sharply in English.
The two researchers who remained behind were startled by the sudden intrusion, their faces filled with astonishment and displeasure.
One of the young researchers, wearing glasses, frowned and stood up: "What do you mean? How can you just barge into the research area? The equipment is all properly stored in the cabinets, and no one has touched it."
"Enough with the nonsense!" The officer didn't waste any words with them. He pushed aside the researchers blocking his way, strode to the alloy cabinet, scanned the numbers on the equipment, and checked them one by one.
These devices are very valuable assets to the base, so they are all numbered and stored in the research area under the management of designated personnel.
The soldiers behind him also dispersed, carefully inspecting every corner of the research area, their weapons already loaded, ready to deal with any emergencies.
After verifying the serial numbers, the officer frowned deeply, his tone becoming even more somber: "The serial numbers are all there, but an abnormal low-frequency sound wave was detected in the coral area, which is exactly the same frequency emitted by our 'coral guide'!"
Coral slime is a core resource for the base's management and control; there can be absolutely no mishaps!
“Impossible!” another blond researcher immediately retorted excitedly, pointing to the equipment in the alloy cabinet and speaking rapidly in English to defend himself.
“These ‘deep-sea heaters’ and ‘coral guides’ are all managed by designated personnel, and each one is numbered. We’ve been on duty here the whole time, and no one has come near the cabinets!”
Both sides stuck to their own versions of events, and the argument grew louder and louder, with the speakers speaking at a rapid pace, like machine guns, interweaving various technical terms and accusatory remarks.
Although Zhou Shuwan's English level was quite good, she had many classmates of foreign nationality at school and could communicate with them in English on a daily basis.
But she couldn't understand the heated argument that was filled with obscure jargon.
We could only manage to glean some key information, albeit with difficulty.
The officers detected unusual acoustic activity in the coral reef area and suspected that someone had stolen equipment to illegally collect mucus.
It turns out they also have instruments that can monitor sound waves.
No wonder the coral reef area here is so important, yet such a large base hasn't sent anyone to guard it.
It seems that with instruments to monitor sound waves, all that's left is patrolling.
"Forget about all that!" The officer, clearly impatient with further argument, immediately ordered, "Dispatch seven reconnaissance submarines immediately to conduct a full search of the area within a ten-kilometer radius of the coral reef region. Find the intruders! Once a target is spotted, issue a warning first; if they resist, open fire!"
"Yes!" the soldiers replied in unison, then turned and quickly left the research area.
Meanwhile, Qi Mingyu had already started the submarine and was heading away from the coral reef area at top speed.
The submarine darted swiftly across the seabed, dodging potential reefs and turbulent currents.
Zhou Shuwan opened her eyes, her expression very serious: "They sent a submarine to search for us. We have to leave here immediately!"
They could have hidden in the nearby waters, but doing so would have been too risky given that the other side already suspected an intrusion.
Zhou Shuwan also agreed that they needed to get away as soon as possible.
It takes more than twenty minutes to get from the semi-submersible base to the coral reef area.
That was enough time for them to escape.
Mu Mu reminded her, "Sister, the temperature of the seawater..."
"Correct!"
The seawater temperature in the Coral Polyps area remained above 40 degrees Celsius for a full three hours.
As soon as the other party arrives at the location, they can almost immediately detect that something is wrong without even checking.
Fortunately, Zhou Shuwan and the others were traveling towards the giant sea cliff, where the temperature was already relatively low.
Zhou Shuwan closed his eyes.
At this moment, her space is like a temporary transit hub.
Large amounts of cold seawater are continuously drawn into the space and then silently injected into the coral reef area.
This resulted in some minor eddy fluctuations in the waters around both sides.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhou Shuwan's forehead, and her face turned slightly pale.
This long-distance, large-scale transfer of seawater was extremely taxing on her mental health.
Qi Mingyu was focused on piloting the submarine, but in the midst of his busy schedule, he glanced at Zhou Shuwan.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.
The situation was critical, and they could not afford to take any chances.
The longer they are discovered, the safer they will be!
Time passed second by second, each second feeling like walking on a knife's edge.
The submarine had reached its maximum speed, its engine emitting a deep roar, leaving a white trail in the seabed.
Zhou Shuwan continued to utilize the space's storage function.
The cold seawater, like a rushing stream, continuously flows into the coral reef area, where it mixes and dilutes with the hot seawater.
The water, originally in the forties (Celsius) range, visibly cooled as a large amount of cold seawater was injected. Thirty degrees Celsius, twenty-five degrees Celsius…
Gradually, the water temperature in the coral reef area became consistent with the temperature of the surrounding sea area.
Only a little residual heat remains, which will soon be completely swallowed up by the vast ocean.
"Alright." Zhou Shuwan suddenly opened her eyes, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "The water temperature has dropped. Even if they arrive, they won't find any obvious traces."
After saying that, she leaned back in her chair, breathing softly. The excessive exertion she had just experienced made her feel dizzy.
Qi Mingyu and Mu Mu were both piloting the submarine and couldn't do anything more.
"Wanwan, how are you feeling?" Qi Mingyu asked anxiously.
"It's alright! I'll recover after a rest. We still need to hurry up and leave."
The other side deployed seven reconnaissance submarines.
Although the flaw in the water temperature has been patched up, the other side is likely to expand the search area, so we must hurry and get away from this dangerous area.