Chapter 74 - LIKE A BANISHED IMMORTAL
Chapter 74 - LIKE A BANISHED IMMORTAL
The climate in Antarctica is unforgiving to humans. The cold winds are harsh and can cut through to the marrow, freezing every fluid in the body. For the foolish who venture into this unknown land chasing the thrill of nature, the low temperature often provides permanent refrigeration.
However, for about two months, everything changes.
Some of the ice forming this southern block of the globe recedes from the continent, flowing back into the oceans. This short period brings daylight for almost twenty four hours every day. And the temperature rises. Sure, no one feels warm, but the 10? Celsius or higher is a heaven-sent gift for the creatures of this land.
It is during this season that most danger-seeking adventurers attempt to conquer this land. These people do not have the special machinery or other resources afforded to the corporation which had managed to build an entire underground structure in this desert. However, many visit the edge of the end of the world and see penguins frolicking in the waters.
It was on one of these summer days that a quiet jet, which blended perfectly into the surroundings, flew over the oceans and onto the white continent. If any person or creature saw this large machine, they would assume that it was a trick of the light.
Inside this stealthy aircraft made using advanced and even futuristic technology was a group of tense men and women in warm white military wear. From outside, they looked like a motley crew of misfits in uniform.
However, these people were actually the finest soldiers that the most powerful nations of the world could spare. They had gone through intense training, fierce fights and life and death situations, and they had come out alive and stronger.
For these fine people, this mission was just like any other. The only difference was that they were on a strange continent working with soldiers from other countries. But once this mission, they would go back to their own nations and perhaps even meet each other as enemies.
Unfortunately, this undertaking was not simple for one man in the jet. He did not blend in with the battle-worn soldiers. This person had taken a seat close to the front of the aircraft, separate from the soldiers. However, this was not the reason he attracted the gazes of the seasoned military people.
His appearance did not seem suited for their line of work. If they could describe him, they would perhaps say that he looked like a banished immortal gracing the earth. However, his aura suppressed all of them. He was like a powerful emperor, wielding the power of the universe in his hands.
Some of the soldiers wanted to inquire more about him. Others felt disgruntled about this soft-looking man coming with them. However, they did not dare speak. The commander had instructed them to treat this handsome man with respect because they could not bear the burden if he was offended.
"We will be landing soon. Be ready to move out immediately." The rough voice of the commander spoke through the intercom.
The soldiers became even more solemn when they heard the message. They knew that this mission would probably not be as difficult as some of the ones that they had done in the past. However, they felt that they needed to be more reverent about it.
Though they were not given complete information, they knew their target. It was a lab funded by a powerful and dangerous international corporation. This establishment had been kidnapping people for years most likely for inhumane experiments.
They had targeted the homeless who did not have anyone to care for them. For these soldiers, this was a sore point because they knew that it was not uncommon for veterans to end up on the streets after tough wars and subsequent discharge. In the last two years, they had also taken numerous prisoners. It was this audacious move that had allowed the higher ups to find this illicit base.
The beautiful man in the jet did not seem to change when the commander announced their arrival. However, if one looked really close, they would notice that his body had tightened a little.
Slowly, the jet landed like a graceful butterfly on the ice. Even in summer, the area on which the lab was built remained a white desert.
The soldiers rose from their seats as soon as it was indicated that they could. They took out white helmets and strapped them on with incredible efficiency. The commander came out of the cockpit and unlocked their weapon cabinet and watched as each soldier took their firearms. Once this process was completed, he turned to the man who remained seated as if he did not care.
"Mr Zhong, you will be in the rear. You will be able to accomplish your purpose when the obstacles are cleared." The commander spoke in a respectful tone.
In truth, this middle-aged commander felt pain about this matter of this civilian coming with them. However, he had had no choice. His bosses had said that this man could not be offended or the country would be affected. Moreover, he must not be injured in any way.
When he had protested the issue and cited the dangers of the mission, he had been pulled aside. The major government boss had told him that this man was not only in control of most economical power in a certain country. He was also the powerful hacker who had worked with the international task force to find the base in Antarctica.
The most important point was that he believed that his wife was being held in that lab. If anything bad happened during this mission, the consequences would be too heavy.