Rust - Chapter 726



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RUST -726

Mr. Kim, who led the expedition, sent us several pieces of information.

Footage of the unusually high temperatures in the western United States, and the lush forests and lush fields that belied the high temperatures. Data from the Rocky Mountains observed from an airship gave us much to think about.

“75 degrees? Is it possible for the temperature to rise that high? It’s not even a desert, it’s near the Rocky Mountains.”

It was a temperature that was impossible according to common sense. Diana also reported the results of the calculations to Maru’s bewilderment.

[In the deserts and wilderness areas of the Southwest, temperatures often reach 50 degrees. Even in Death Valley, which is famous for its heat, the highest temperature was 55 to 57 degrees, so 70 to 75 degrees is clearly abnormally high.]

Temperatures of 50 to 55 degrees were also dangerous. However, temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees were beyond dangerous. This was because it was a temperature at which enzyme activities and hormone functions essential for life activities were destroyed.

Unless it’s a special plant like a cactus, or even a cactus, would it be able to survive in a summer with temperatures above 70 degrees?

“So does that mean that the forest and fields in the video aren’t normal plants?”

[The calculation results show that there is a high probability that the plant has mutated.]

Animals, bugs, and now even plants. Maybe the Earth we knew before has already disappeared.

[I think it would be better if it weren’t for that.]

“Thank goodness? What are you talking about?”

Ki-soon had a look of satisfaction on her face.

[Just think about it, all the trees and grass are finished. It would be a chain reaction of events, but it’s fortunate that they’re still alive and well instead of drying up.]

“······.”

When plants wither and die, the herbivores that feed on them die as well. Carnivores that eat the herbivores are also affected.

[You saw the moose and the buffalo. They had plenty of food, but they tried to lure the carnivores to attack the humans. If the western region is completely dried up and twisted, what will the herbivores living in that vast area do? And what will happen to the carnivores after that?]

They would go north or east. Right into Canada. If the tens of millions, maybe even hundreds of millions of animals that lived in and around the Rocky Mountains were to move north and east into Canada, it would literally be a disaster.

[If you think about it, it’s the same as stopping a chain reaction, so even if a mutation occurred, it should be considered a good mutation.]

Artificial intelligence Diana refuted Ki-sun’s claim that it was a good mutation.

[Based on data from three years ago, there was little change in the plants. However, based on the images sent by the current expedition, mutations are certain, leading to the conclusion that large-scale mutations have occurred in just two years, last year and this year. The calculation results show that such rapid mutations are very likely to be dangerous.]

Ki-sun laughed bitterly at the artificial intelligence Diana’s rebuttal.

Since last time? After Maru acknowledged the self-preservation rights of AI, AIs have been gradually reacting like humans.

PD and himself were concerned about such changes. Artificial intelligence should be artificial intelligence, and if it were to transition to artificial consciousness, there was a high possibility that problems would arise.

The results of the operation? What if AI starts manipulating it? For better or worse, it is dangerous for AI to resemble humans.

What is the most annoying thing on Earth?

What is the most unbelievable being?

Wasn’t it a merganser?

Artificial intelligence resembles such a human?

‘Ah, there is no disaster like this one.’

Ki-sun looked at the PD. As expected, his expression had become stiff from the moment the artificial intelligence Diana intervened. It seemed necessary to talk to the PD about this matter.

Ki-sun gathered her thoughts and opened her mouth.

[If we look closely, what is not dangerous? There are probably various problems, but shouldn’t we consider them and look at it from our perspective? Then, shouldn’t we see it as a good mutation in that it didn’t cause a chain reaction due to the scorched earth of the western region? If the plants didn’t naturally develop high-temperature tolerance, shouldn’t we have done it by causing genetic mutations?]

[Question 1. About things that are not dangerous···.]

Diana responded immediately, but Maru blocked Diana’s response. It wasn’t bad that AI Diana started participating voluntarily, but it wasn’t the time for Ki-sun and Diana to be discussing.

“That’s all for now. Whether it’s dangerous or not, further research is necessary. When Miss Kim returns, I’ll have you investigate the western region.”

[If you’re going to investigate, wouldn’t it be better to do it quickly?]

[The results of the operation indicate that investigation is required.]

What is this again?

Maru sighed softly.

“If a mutation has occurred, the herbivores that ate it would have changed, and the carnivores would have as well. It would be dangerous unless they send some elite troops. Right now, Detroit is powerless because Kim Yang and the Royal Guard are gone. The Holy Knights are all scattered and guarding the outer fortresses and villages.”

[Are you that busy?]

“If we’re talking about the ones with the most leeway, there’s Hee-yeon and the U+ clone unit that were sent to maintain security in Canada, as well as the capable ones. If security in Canada is stable, it would be good to send them to the west. What do you think, Governor?”

Let’s say you take it out of Canada, the situation will become quiet.

“And judging from the data the expedition sent back from across the Pacific, things don’t seem to be going well for that area from the start.”

‧

The expedition team, which had crossed the Pacific Ocean and reached the vicinity of Sakhalin and Hokkaido, had no choice but to stop there.

[The concentration of volcanic ash and dust is high.]

The assistant AI of Kim Yang’s private airship, the Black Drake, warned of danger. Not only was the radar out of order, but the air purification system was predicted to shut down due to fine dust and ultrafine dust.

It was Ms. Kim who agreed with the assistant AI’s words because she had experienced the horrors of a volcanic eruption when she escaped to Japan.

‘I brought a lot of filters, but with that concentration, I’ll have to change them every 10 to 20 minutes.’

If it was a short-term operation, then it would be okay, but it was crazy to go through that ash and dust. So, there were two options.

From your current location, head north, across the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, up to the vicinity of Oymyakon, and then west. After escaping the aftermath of the volcanic eruption, will you investigate the military that took control of the Manchurian region as one of the seven Chinese?

Or should we continue down the outskirts of the volcano’s aftermath from our current location and head straight for Tokyo? Should we start tracking from the secret research lab we raided with Maru before?

The assistant AI discouraged the search of Tokyo.

[Searching Tokyo is practically impossible.]

“why?”

[The calculation results show that Tokyo was hit with at least 20cm of volcanic ash, and up to an unknown amount.]

“Isn’t it okay if it’s around 20cm?”

[It’s not just the accumulated volcanic ash that’s the problem. If the volcanic activity continues, the calculations show that the new armor and the exosuit’s air purification system won’t be able to withstand it.]

“Huh-”

It wasn’t chaos when I crossed the sea in a yacht, so of course it couldn’t be okay.

But, aren’t the new armor and exosuits essentially the same as spacesuits?

Then, wouldn’t it be more effective to go in with a light oxygen tank rather than carrying around a filter and changing it when it gets clogged with volcanic ash and dust?

[···There are fewer oxygen tanks for underwater combat.]

“That’s why we need to solve that. There’s a makeshift workshop. What’s the point of messing with that? Just mark the coordinates of the nearby naval base.”

Sakhalin in Russia and Hokkaido in Japan are the two islands, so there must be a naval base there. If you talk to them a little (IYAGI), they will hand it over to you.

‘If there are any supplies left at the naval base…’

Yeah, that’s definitely possible.

“And what if we modify the airship as well? What should we do about the engine part…”

[Impossible. The ash and dust are so fine that they cannot completely protect the engine. Even though the Black Drake can ascend close to the stratosphere, the ash and dust are also spread into the stratosphere.]

Kim Yang’s eyes became strange at the opposition of the assistant AI.

“Okay. Whether it’s a Russian naval base or a Japanese Self-Defense Forces naval base, just mark the coordinates. I’ll decide after seeing if there are any additional supplies.”

[Coordinates of the Russian naval base in Sakhalin. Due to volcanic ash and dust, the Black Drake can approach within 95 km.]

“Prepare the submarine. The guards will go with it.”

[Both radar and laser communications are impossible due to volcanic ash and dust.]

“Okay. Get the submarine ready.”

[···Black Drake is descending. Waves are less than 1m, and the sea surface is calm. Submarine lift standby complete.]

Kim Yang and his bodyguards boarded a submarine and sailed toward the Russian naval base in Sakhalin.

‧

Bang—

Bang—

The submarine, which had downgraded its technology to match reality after reaching the singularity, moved forward while making a strange noise.

‘What is this, a volcano just erupted?’

Miss Kim frowned while looking at the monitor.

The scenery outside the periscope was filled with gray. Even in broad daylight, the volcanic ash and dust were so thick that it was dark, creating a gloomy atmosphere.

As we got closer to the island, we saw dead fish and floating rocks. It looked more like a swamp or a mud pit than a sea.

Bang—-

Bang—bang—

Buzz-buzz buzz buzz-

Before we knew it, the submarine had approached the Russian naval base and rose to the surface with a loud noise.

[The motor is wrong.]

There was a lot of floating debris and debris floating around in the sea. The team armed with core armor took their place in the boat first.

[Check the boat.]

[Check oxygen level.]

[No abnormalities in each aircraft.]

As it was a nuclear-core vessel, it had high output and could naturally be equipped with thicker armor, so it was a position prepared for any eventuality.

[advance.]

At Kim Yang’s command, the advanced armor equipped with a nuclear core began to row hard. It would have been nice to be able to reach the naval base dock by submarine, but that was difficult.

There was a lot of floating debris, and for some reason, mines had been spread around the naval base area.

[Mine detection ahead.]

The sea looks like this, it’s a mine.

Since I was rowing a rubber boat without a motor anyway, there was no way the mine would activate, but there was no need to take the risk.

[Move to the side.]

[ancient.]

The Russian naval base we arrived at after avoiding several mines was a mess. As we entered the building through volcanic ash that was almost 30cm thick, the dust that had settled on the ground rose up.

[Four Pillars of Destiny. Formation-D]

The guards formed a natural formation.

[No abnormality in proximity communication.]

[Motion detector is operating normally.]

[Communication with the submarine has been lost.]

It couldn’t be helped. Even a laser communicator wouldn’t be able to penetrate the volcanic ash and dust.

[Alpha Team in the operations control room. Bravo checks the weapons depot, Charlie checks the supply depot.]

[ancient.]

[Search the rest while keeping a close eye on the four pillars. Carry out.]

[practice.]

And soon after, bloodstains were found here and there in the naval base. The dark red marks spattered on the floor and walls were clearly bloodstains.

According to expert(?) Kim Yang, the marks scattered on the base floor and walls were not marks made by a firearm.

‘It’s not a gun, it’s not a knife.’

To shed blood like this

‘ax?’

Crushing it with a hammer, a sledgehammer, or a saw. Either way, it was hard to see it as normal.

Kkeuyung. Kkeuyung.

Bullet shells rolling around at Kim Yang’s feet as he moved carefully. Looking at the 7.62mm and 14.7mm shells, it looked like he had fired a ton of shots.

‘Dotan?’

The marks on the walls, ceiling, and floor were definitely bullet marks. Swipe – I swept the floor once, and the crumpled and broken bullets appeared in the thick layer of dust.

[Flamethrower on standby.]

It means that we fought something that bullets couldn’t reach. Kim Yang immediately gave the order.

[20mm Vulcan cannon forward.]

Kim Yang’s gaze turned to the bloodstains visible between the thick layers of dust. He didn’t know what they were, but they were long, continuous marks. Traces of the body being dragged.

[advance.]

Kim Yang and his guards walked down a long corridor into the darkness.