Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste
Chapter 119: Underground Base

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Underground Base

The lift platform descended, and contrary to what everyone imagined, they hadn’t reached the surface of the Eagle’s Beak Cliff Base, but had arrived underground.

"Count, what’s going on? Why are we underground?" The royal envoy showed a curious expression and asked Perfikot.

"The Eagle’s Beak Cliff Base was built for the Arctic research project, intended to test how humans can survive in the extreme cold of the Arctic, so the main structures are buried underground, as are the streets." Perfikot explained to the group as she walked forward, pointing to a map hanging on the wall: "This is the plan of the Eagle’s Beak Cliff Base, and each intersection has a corresponding sign. If you get lost, just look at the signs.

My maid automaton will take you to the lodging area, where accommodations have been arranged for you. Later, please come to dine with me, envoy, as I need to discuss the matter of enfeoffment with you. Please excuse me for leaving now."

After speaking, Perfikot called over an automaton, and after directing her to guide the group to their lodgings, she turned and walked down a nearby passage, which had a sign labeled Alchemy Laboratory.

No one left in place dared say much, after all, Perfikot’s status was enough for her to treat all of them indifferently, and even the royal envoy didn’t find it wrong for a Count to treat him so.

Even though he was sent to confer Perfikot, his role was merely as a messenger, and the matter of enfeoffment wouldn’t change due to his dissatisfaction with Perfikot.

Or rather, if he messed up the matter, or caused Perfikot to have some displeasure toward him, he certainly wouldn’t face an outcome he hoped for.

So even though being left here seemed rude, everyone could only follow Perfikot’s instructions and follow the automaton she arranged to lead them to the residential area.

Along the way, everyone noticed that although the entire Eagle’s Beak Cliff Base was constructed underground, it wasn’t cramped.

Each passage wasn’t very high, but at least two meters, ensuring they wouldn’t feel low or oppressed while traversing.

The walls on either side showed orderly doors, presumably leading to the strange buildings visible on the surface.

At this moment, everyone understood why those buildings appeared so low; the reason was simple: they were constructed underground.

With this realization, many felt a certain anticipation, as none had ever experienced living underground before.

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If Perfikot knew they were curious about the feeling of living underground, she might think they were overthinking.

Because living underground isn’t particularly special, other than being quieter than living on the surface, it holds no distinction.

The earth surrounding the deep-buried buildings absorbs noise often ignored, and the cold dampness typically associated with living underground doesn’t occur due to good insulation and ventilation, making living underground at the Eagle’s Beak Cliff Base similar to living on the surface.

Instead, Perfikot was more concerned with how the arrival of these people would affect her and the entire plan.

"Beifa, take note, seven alchemists, five technicians divided between the steam turbine project and synthetic fiber project; two for the steam turbine, three for the synthetic fiber." During her previous conversations with the alchemists, Perfikot understood their situations well enough, hence she commenced planning their work allocation: "The other two ’Unified’ grade alchemists, have them lead two groups for work."

Although Perfikot earlier required each to submit a plan for improving the lift and promised to assign work based on their submissions, she already had a plan for how to utilize these alchemists.

The so-called allocation was merely deciding which would be assigned to particular projects.

Without understanding whether any possessed talents, in Perfikot’s eyes, these alchemists merely served as labor.

Of course, if someone among them proposed a brilliant idea or viewpoint in their submission that impressed her, Perfikot wouldn’t mind making an exception to promote or cultivate them, allowing them to become her true laboratory assistant.

However, during her previous conversations, Perfikot hadn’t sensed any possessing talents to change her mind, so she had no expectations in this regard.

Back in her laboratory, Perfikot threw herself into the sofa, simultaneously instructing Beifa to pour tea.

When having the construction company build the entire base, Perfikot didn’t forget to prepare a residence for herself, but as an alchemist, she was more accustomed to staying in the laboratory.

Just like at Brandelis Manor, her bedroom was located above the new laboratory.

Perfikot put great efforts into arranging this new laboratory, not only excavating a huge space using alchemy into Eagle’s Beak Cliff, with two underground floors and three above, but meticulously organizing each level’s space, planning to relocate the Brandelis Manor’s laboratory entirely.

Currently, however, she had only set up the first underground level as a laboratory and the second aboveground level was utilized by Beifa to organize materials acquired from the Eye of Omniscience, intending it as a future library.

As for the other three levels, Perfikot’s bedroom was situated on the third aboveground level, with the first aboveground level considered for a reception area, while the second underground level currently served as a warehouse, possibly expanding into a trial area in the future.

The building initially used as a temporary laboratory wasn’t demolished or abandoned, although Perfikot moved the lab equipment to the new laboratory, the building remains preserved, with the construction company currently using it as their temporary base.

Since exploration work was essentially complete, the exploration team had recently returned home, leaving only Perfikot’s guards and construction workers present.

After discussing with the project manager, Perfikot allowed the building to be borrowed as the construction company’s temporary office.

Currently, most rooms at the forward base serve residential or storage purposes, aside from Perfikot’s laboratory having no other uses.

However, as the plan progresses, scholars and researchers involved in the Arctic research will move here, changing the situation.