Story Reader / Main Story / 23 Wintry Shackles / Story
Not as grand as one would imagine, nor does it have any unnecessary decorations. The building just sits quietly in the mountains like a black rock.
Is this the "North Asian Research Institute of Life Science and Evolution"?
After taking off his eye mask, the male researcher exclaims as he looks at the fortress that blends in perfectly with the surroundings.
It is already early spring, but the dark soil is still covered by a thin layer of melting snow.
Apart from the fortress built into the rocks, no sight of human civilization could be found nearby.
Still, fully armed patrolling guards can be seen between the steel structure.
How unimpressive.
Hah, I think that fits us well.
A well-mannered man walks out from an exit nearby.
I heard of this practice called "stone gambling". People would spend millions to buy mineral rocks that could possibly contain jadeite inside.
Once a deal is agreed upon, the seller would cut the stone open. A high-grade jadeite may immediately earn the buyer a huge fortune, but many only end up with an ordinary rock with nothing.
The gamblers are betting their vision and luck on the stones.
But to us, we have no clue how many more attempts it will take for the research to be successful, or whether it will be successful at all. We don't know whether we will get any results before we run out of funds...
That's no different from stone gambling, don't you think?
Before getting a real result, our efforts are but unimpressive stones. Who will care about them other than the buyers?
Of course, we would still make contributions to science by eliminating the wrong answers.
But to us, we'll just become other people's stepping stone.
The man says with a self-mocking laugh.
Were you sacked by the department? Or did your entire team run out of funds and get disbanded?
That's a very sharp question. Don't say that to your colleagues.
The researcher gives a resigned look after hearing the man's straightforward comment.
But I am not a researcher here. Strictly speaking, I'm just a businessman who came here to hand over something.
I have heard of your name, Mr. Godwin. It's a great shame that those boring fools can't appreciate your bold experiments.
...
Rest assured that you will get all the support you want. Hope we will meet again.
The man quickly walks into the helicopter that Godwin just left. Its blades send snow flying, hitting Godwin's face.
Feeling the chill, he wraps himself closer with the coat.
So cold...
After billions of years of evolution, humans have finally climbed to the top of the food chain.
The Earth is like a comfortable cradle, protecting humans with its atmosphere.
However...
This shelter is also an umbilical cord that humans cannot lose. It firmly chains their civilization to the Earth.
Extreme environments, mutated germs... Even the slightest deviation from comfortable temperature would make the fragile human body rapidly deteriorate.
Not to mention the deadly radiation, low temperature and lack of oxygen in space. Mankind's longing for the universe cannot make it less harsh to themselves.
That is why they have spent a great amount of resources to improve the life support systems in space.
Humans are not sending themselves to outer space. They are bringing the Earth's ecosystem there.
That is nothing but an extension of the umbilical cord.
Without a vessel vast like the Earth, without infinite energy, where could this cord reach?
Perhaps humans will never find the next comfort zone before exhausting all their resources.
To humans, this is like a deadly winter that they will never be able to survive through.
But this time, they will attempt to change themselves and cut off the cord.
So they can get through the "deadly winter" in the universe.
This is also why he signed that suspiciously long contract and came here.
Because in this place, humans will have a chance to step onto another ladder of evolution again after tens of thousands of years.
Only that this time they get to decide where it leads.
Clang...
As the black steel doors open, the sound of a rotating shaft brings Godwin back to reality.
Of course, before those great visions come true, both Godwin and the covert investors have a more obvious purpose.
Project Winter is like a well-nurtured giant tree. The higher it reaches toward the sky, the deeper its roots have to extend into the darkness underground.
No matter what it takes, they want to take control of time, the ultimate resource of the universe.
Godwin casts one last glance at the snowy mountains, then turns back and steps into the dark passage.
Two uninvited guests have come to the silent fortress.
Here we are.
The tortuous mountain paths did not slow them down at all. Soon, the entire Fort Winter has appeared before the two of them.
Lucia and Alpha approached the building. To their surprise, no alarm was sounded.
It's too quiet here. What happened?
We'll find out after we get in.
The surveillance cameras are still following them as they move, suggesting that this place is not deserted.
Instead, it is just silently observing the actors on the stage.
Alpha looks up at the massive gate in front. While the fort is not actively shutting them out, it does not seem to welcome their arrival either.
It seems this gate can only be opened from inside.
Lucia came to a conclusion after investigating briefly.
For a large research facility like this, there should be other emergency exits. Let's search elsewhere.
There's no need.
The gate is thicker than the length of your blade. It's impossible to cut it open.
...That's not what I meant.
Alpha touches the security device with her fingertip. Red electric current flows through the device. Soon, the gate opens, revealing a deep, dark passage.
Leading the way, she walks across the storm and enters the building.
