Apocalypse: After Being Reborn, I Stocked Up on All Supplies
Chapter 453 - 449: New Sudden Situation

Chapter 453: Chapter 449: New Sudden Situation

"Nano-chips have been detected inside these mutated beetles." Zhang Yongliang said, placing the glass jar containing the mutant insect in front of Mo Jingsheng, "Captain, take a closer look at this bug."

Standing beside Mo Jingsheng, Li Haoyang stared at the chirping pest and furrowed his brow, "Doctor, is this jar secure?"

The others, having witnessed how these ferocious bugs could quickly devour a person down to bare bones, gasped audibly.

Zhang Yongliang adjusted the frame of his glasses and replied nonchalantly, "It’s absolutely secure!"

Mo Jingsheng reached out and took the jar, observing it as he asked, "What’s the function of the chip?"

"One is positioning, the other is detonation. However, due to satellite positioning being defunct at the moment, if the controller is not within effective range, both functions are rendered useless."

"Additionally, these bugs lack eyes but can live in amphibious environments. They have gills and lungs. Their fins resemble flying fish, their appendages are crab-like, their sharp teeth rival those of piranhas, and the suction cups on their chests resemble chameleons’. They seem like a haphazardly constructed new organism."

Everyone was stunned.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"

The insect in Mo Jingsheng’s hand continued its piercing cries.

"So, this type of bug was likely created by the SNP laboratory?"

Zhang Yongliang nodded, "Not entirely. They extracted some samples, but not all of the bugs were implanted with nano-chips. It seems this was modified a long time ago, and one batch of this type of bug has an extraordinary ability to reproduce. Later generations didn’t have the chips."

"Following the apocalypse, with the extinction of some species, many food chains have changed. These bugs likely fish during the day, but at night, are attracted to our lights.

As for why they continue attacking even after we turn the lights off might require further research to understand what triggers their aggression."

"Their sounds are produced by vibrations in their mouths and fins. You should analyze the sound frequency. If my guess is correct, these bugs can emit ultrasonic pulses resembling those of dolphins." Mo Jingsheng focused on the insect’s fins for a moment, then handed the jar back to Zhang Yongliang:

"Also, they don’t truly lack eyes; their vision has merely degraded."

"Dolphins?" Zhang Yongliang suddenly understood, "Captain, you’re impressive! Shall I go investigate now?"

Mo Jingsheng nodded slightly.

"As glaciers melt and life blooms again, some animals lose vision, but their sense of smell and touch becomes extremely sensitive..."

"..."

The group murmured amongst themselves, throwing awe-filled glances at Mo Jingsheng.

So young, yet so knowledgeable.

Intellect and prowess united!

Jiang Yan, somewhat confused, leaned close to Sun Ziqing and asked in a low voice, "Dolphins—what’s the connection?"

"Dolphins are exceptionally intelligent and unique animals. They use sonar and ultrasonic waves to sense and pinpoint prey. What the Captain mentioned—it’s likely that these bugs emit sounds similar to wave patterns that reach our hull.

Of course, it’s also possible that the wave disturbances generated by our ship during navigation clashed with the bugs’ pulse waves, provoking them to attack."

Halfway through explaining, a thought struck Sun Ziqing:

"I almost forgot—our vessel uses sonar to detect hidden structures and obstacles during its voyage. It’s highly likely that the sonar interfered with the bugs’ signals, triggering their aggression!"

Jiang Yan seemed to understand, but also didn’t.

Zhang Yongliang returned shortly.

The test results matched Mo Jingsheng’s prediction: the bugs could indeed emit ultrasonic pulses!

With results in hand, countermeasures were formulated.

Mo Jingsheng issued an order to activate the disruptor, allowing the vessel to continue its journey.

However, as the sonar was shut down, the ship’s speed temporarily decreased.

"Increase vigilance. Report immediately if any anomalies are detected."

"Additionally, the research team must exercise extreme caution during sampling moving forward."

"Understood!"

"Got it, Captain."

Close to midnight, the group dispersed.

Jiang Yan returned to her room, washed up quickly, and climbed into bed.

In the night, strange, jagged ice formations loomed distantly, flashing by.

Jiang Yan propped her chin on her hand, gazing out for a while before summoning a black sugar milk tea from Space and sipping leisurely.

Well, she’d just brushed her teeth.

Hua Bao also leaned by the window, its eyes spinning, "Mom, watching like this kinda feels like traveling to the Southern Pole, doesn’t it?"

Jiang Yan chuckled, "It does, a bit."

Before the apocalypse, a trip to the Southern Pole cost quite a bit—several tens of thousands.

She got up, rebrushed her teeth, and fell asleep again.

The following days passed uneventfully.

Mutant sharks and insect swarms occasionally appeared but were skillfully avoided.

The research team’s sampling and testing took place mostly during daylight hours.

Whenever Jiang Yan wasn’t studying or training, she stayed in Space, learning to grow rice.

In her free time, she continued using the holographic training pod purchased from an international arms dealer to practice marksmanship and combat skills.

Hua Bao sometimes joined her, the pair working in flawless tandem.

Before leaving the base, an agricultural professor had gifted Jiang Yan plenty of coconut coir bricks.

These coir bricks expand significantly when water is added, making them ideal for soilless cultivation.

She prepared some small flowerpots.

Adding water to the coir bricks to expand them, then mixing in some black soil from Space.

Finally, she sprinkled a few lettuce seeds over them and placed them on her balcony.

*

The next morning, Jiang Yan woke up, drew the curtains open, and froze.

Outside lay a world of white—ice floes and icebergs everywhere, reminiscent of what she’d seen upon first leaving East Mountain.

She felt puzzled since, logically, as time went on, temperatures were supposed to rise.

Furthermore, Rong City being a coastal city meant its proximity should have brought higher temperatures.

Evidently, post-apocalypse climate patterns couldn’t adhere to pre-apocalypse norms anymore.

After washing up and eating breakfast, she stepped out and spotted Song Qian on duty. "Brother Song, are the Captain and the Doctor up yet?"

Song Qian confirmed, "They’ve been up since before five."

Jiang Yan was surprised, "So early?"

"We’ve entered a densely packed ice zone. The Captain is leading the icebreaker ship to carve out a new navigation route."

Jiang Yan: "..."

During scientific expeditions to the Southern Pole, icebreaker ships were chosen due to their ability to break ice with their bows.

Unexpectedly, she found herself in such a situation.

"I’ll go up and see how the ice is broken—I’ve never seen it done before." Jiang Yan said, about to leave when Song Qian stopped her, "Jiang Yan, the icebreaker ship is now ahead of our vessel. Unless you deploy a drone, you won’t be able to see anything."

"True." Jiang Yan pursed her lips, "By the way, do you know where we are now?"

"One day away from reaching Rong City," Song Qian explained, "Icebreaking generally uses two methods: ramming and continuous impacting..."

His explanation was technical and somewhat dull, but Jiang Yan listened attentively.

"After that, do you feel less excited?" Song Qian asked, smiling at her.

"Hm." Jiang Yan nodded, "Thanks."

"Don’t mention it."

Soon, the icebreaker ship had carved out a navigable waterway.

The fleet continued its journey.

A day later, Jiang Yan, after finishing training, was about to return to her room when the intercom crackled.

"We’ll arrive at Rong City in one hour!"

"A sudden situation has arisen!"

"All core personnel of the Rong City squad, assemble in the meeting room!"