Chapter 3620 1 Find out

Ye Chen had been on a research vessel once and knew that although it looked like a ship, the design redundancy of its various systems was probably more than that of two ships combined.

It's somewhat illogical for a ship like this to break down so suddenly.

Furthermore, the fact that the Japanese research team had begun using helicopters without informing their superiors and had even turned off their GPS made him feel uneasy. He felt that these people weren't trapped here, but rather deliberately wanted to stay for some purpose.

However, this motive is quite strange.

They are all research team members. If they really have any Antarctic research projects, they should be in charge of the newly arrived team members. Moreover, once the project is decided, they will definitely make all kinds of preparations before departure, including personnel, materials and equipment.

In that case, the research team members who had already spent the entire summer here and should have returned to Japan, as well as the crew members of the research vessel, would have no need to deliberately stay in Antarctica.

Moreover, not only did they stay, they also started their own little schemes in Antarctica. What was their purpose?

Aren't they afraid of being held accountable by the Chinese authorities?

What's even more outrageous is that flying helicopters in Antarctica during this season is extremely dangerous. They are all scientific research team members, not soldiers following orders. Why would they take such a big risk to do something in Antarctica that is not known to the authorities?

This makes even less sense.

Originally, Ye Chen could have ignored these matters, but with these Japanese research team members flying back and forth in helicopters, and even starting to fly over his head, he felt uneasy if he didn't figure out what they were up to.

Therefore, Ye Chen decided to first go to their stranded research vessel to see if there was anything unusual, or better yet, to find someone directly to ask and find out what they were doing.

Most importantly, we must ensure that their activities avoid the vicinity of the Nordic research station. Otherwise, if the Buddha's handprint appears in the sky again and is discovered by them and spread, it will be a real problem.

Ye Chen shared his concerns with Lin Wan'er, Yun Rugo, and Song Ruyu. They all felt that the Japanese expedition team was indeed acting strangely, and since Ye Chen's current cultivation relied on the changes of the aurora, the Japanese expedition team flying around was definitely a hidden danger.

So Lin Wan'er asked him, "Young Master, you asked Miss Ito for the coordinates of the research vessel, don't you plan to go to their research station first?"

Ye Chen shook his head and said, "No matter what they're up to, the research station is their core area. In comparison, the research vessels that can't be moved are definitely on the periphery. I think it's best to be cautious and start with the research vessels first."

Lin Wan'er said thoughtfully, "What you say makes sense, young master. It's always good to be cautious."

Yun Rugo then said, "Mr. Ye, let me go with you; it will be of some help to you."

Ye Chen politely declined, saying, "Miss Yun, Miss Song, you two should stay here to take care of Miss Lin. She has no cultivation, and if she encounters danger, she may not be able to protect herself. I will go alone and return in a day."

Lin Wan'er said, "Young master, you don't need to worry about me. I can stay in the research station and not go out even half a step. I don't think there will be any danger."

"No."

Ye Chen firmly refused, saying, "The environment here is special. If we really encounter danger, we won't be able to provide support in a short time. I can feel more at ease if Miss Yun and Miss Song stay and take care of things."

Seeing Ye Chen's firm attitude, Lin Wan'er nodded gently and said, "Then please be careful, young master."

Nanako quickly found the coordinates of the research vessel that had run aground for Ye Chen. It was about 300 kilometers away from Ye Chen's location. However, since the ship was stranded on the coastline at the end of summer, it was now possible to sail across the frozen sea.

Because the terrain of the frozen sea is relatively flat, the snowmobile can travel a little faster and can reach the destination in five hours.

However, snowmobiles are large and noisy, making them easy to spot, so Ye Chen decided to drive to a location 50 kilometers from his target first, and then switch to walking from there.

Soon, he drove a light snowmobile from the Nordic research station, speeding across the ice until he stopped and turned off the engine fifty kilometers from his target.

Ye Chen left the car behind and gathered invisible spiritual energy beneath his feet. Although the spiritual energy was not enough to make him levitate, it was enough to form a barrier between his feet and the ice surface. Then, he silently raced across the snow-covered ground at a speed no less than that of a snowmobile.

Meanwhile, the Japanese research vessel had been frozen over for nearly a month.

However, although the surroundings were freezing cold and the environment seemed extremely harsh, it was actually the most stable time for this ship, because it was completely frozen on the ice, like a huge ice structure, and could remain motionless no matter how strong the wind and snow were outside.

With ample reserves of marine diesel fuel, the generator set roared continuously, and the heat generated by the internal combustion engine made the entire cabin warm and comfortable.

At this moment, Wu Bolin's lackey, Matsushita Heikichi, was bored out of his mind in his captain's cabin.

When Wu Bolin left, he announced that he would become the new captain of the research vessel. Due to psychological suggestion, all the crew members on the ship, including the previous captain, treated him with utmost respect.

He was now thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being respected, and coupled with the boredom of being frozen here every day, he began to enjoy life on the ship.

Moreover, Wu Bolin's energy is currently focused on urging the expedition team to find the Gate of Ascension. Apart from having Matsushita Heikichi stand by here, no other orders have come in, so Matsushita Heikichi's days are even more leisurely.

The others on board had also gotten used to this idle state over the past few days. In this freezing weather, they didn't send anyone to keep watch; everyone stayed in their warm rooms, only routinely keeping the radar on.

However, the ship's radar could not detect any human-shaped targets, so no one expected that someone had already rapidly approached the research vessel.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Chen had arrived below the Japanese research vessel. Although the ship's side was at least ten meters above the ice, he simply used his legs to leap up from below the ship's side and landed lightly on the deck.

Since the ship no longer needed to sail, and there was no one in the cockpit, Ye Chen, finding no trace of anyone on the deck, immediately used his spiritual energy to search the entire interior of the ship.

Finding that almost all the crew members were in their own cabins, he focused his attention on the only person living in a single cabin.

That person was Matsushita Heikichi, who was sitting in his room with his legs crossed, listening to music.