That "river" had co alive.
Behind this simple description lay a terrifying possibility that sent chills down the spine.
The foreign spiritual energy Yan Xilou had left within him had not been suppressed by this oasis's cyclical field;
instead, it seed to have found so kind of catalyst, triggering an unknown reaction.
Was this good or bad?
Was the power of that "river" being assimilated and guided by this land?
Or would it turn the tables, transforming William's body into an eastern marshland?
No one knew the answer.
Julian and Ethan imdiately began frantically examining William, but their modern dical thods were of limited use against this spiritual conflict.
Just as the team descended into chaos due to the sudden situation, a chanical roar carrying the scent of industry approached from afar, shattering the natural tranquility this oasis had maintained for thousands of years.
"Chug-chug-chug-chug-chug!"
It was the familiar sound of a modified Daimler four-stroke internal combustion engine.
Lin Jie and Ethan instinctively exchanged a glance, both seeing gravity in the other's eyes.
They imdiately shielded the still-groaning-in-pain William and Julian, who was tending to him, behind them, then turned their gazes toward the direction of the sound—the border zone where the oasis t the desert.
Three massive steam-powered exploration vehicles, coated with thick anti-sand layers, were seen crushing through the strange plants within the cycle with terrifying efficiency, advancing toward the oasis's core area where they stood.
And on the bodies of those three armored vehicles, painted in white, was a familiar emblem.
An emblem composed of a gear and a cross, symbolizing order and discipline—the I.A.R.C. Munich Branch emblem.
"Is that... our people?" Julian said uncertainly, a trace of relief appearing on his face. "That's great! Reinforcents sent by headquarters?"
"No, that's not right."
Lin Jie's eyes turned cold.
He stared at the offensive weapons mounted atop those steam vehicles, and at those German investigators in gray uniforms who were disembarking one after another, their movents carrying a military air.
Their faces held none of the joy one should have upon encountering colleagues;
instead, there was only a possessive desire, as if they had discovered a "mineral vein."
"Their target... doesn't seem to be us," Lin Jie's voice was low, carrying a warning tone. "It's that!"
His gaze shifted to the enormous plant UMA behind them, still undergoing its life-and-death cycle.
Sure enough, after the exploration team of twelve German investigators disembarked, they completely ignored Lin Jie and his group of "uninvited guests."
They swiftly established a temporary circular defensive position in the oasis's core area with textbook tactical proficiency.
Imdiately after, a middle-aged man who appeared to be the leader stepped down from the central command vehicle.
He was roughly in his early forties, burly in stature with a resolute face, a neatly trimd beard on his chin, a monocle perched on the bridge of his nose, and sharp, arrogant blue eyes behind the lens.
On his epaulets, he wore three silver stripes.
A Third-Class Investigator!
One rank higher than William and Ethan, personnel who could serve as mid-to-high-level commanders in any branch.
"I am Heinrich Schneider, Captain of the Fourth Exploration Team, I.A.R.C. Munich Branch."
The middle-aged man introduced himself in an emotionless tone.
His gaze lingered on Lin Jie and the others for less than a second before indifferently shifting away.
Schneider had learned of the existence of Lin Jie's informal team through headquarters channels in advance but showed no interest in it whatsoever.
His entire attention was already captivated by the valuable living miracle before him.
"Grade-A spiritual anomaly signal source, possessing rare 'life cycle' and 'field generation' characteristics," he retrieved a notebook from his coat, observing and rapidly recording. "Energy fluctuations stable, no signs of active aggression. According to Article 73 of the 'UMA Threat Level Assessnt Manual,' preliminary assessnt: Town-class, possessing high containnt value."
His cold, scientifically rational assessnt made Julian's expression turn sowhat unpleasant.
"Captain Schneider!" He couldn't help but step forward, attempting to negotiate. "We are mbers of the London Branch under the European Affairs Departnt. This oasis was discovered by us first. We believe this UMA's ecosystem is very unique;
any containnt action could potentially..."
"The London Branch?"
Schneider finally looked at Julian properly for the first ti, his eyes behind the monocle revealing undisguised contempt.
"Ah, I rember now. That's the team that lost a Kingdom-class artifact in Egypt, correct?"
These sarcastic words made Julian's face flush bright red.
Ethan beside him was so angry he nearly drew his gun on the spot.
"I don't care which branch you're from," Schneider's tone was forceful and brooked no argunt. "Our Fourth Exploration Team received direct orders from Geneva Headquarters to track this powerful 'Grade-A spiritual anomaly signal.'"
"We have now confird the value of the signal source. According to Association Charter Article 210, 'Investigators responsible for a mission have the authority to conduct first-priority assessnt and containnt of any UMA discovered that possesses high research value and controllable threat level'!"
"Therefore," he issued an eviction order to Lin Jie and the others with a condescending attitude, "this area is now under the jurisdiction of our Munich Branch."
"Please, you guests, leave the exploration zone. Do not obstruct our official duties."
For a long ti, there had been profound ideological conflicts between the "Interventionist Faction," represented by the Munich Branch and composed of German elites, and other relatively moderate factions within the Association.
The "Interventionist Faction" championed efficiency, discipline, and "anthropocentrism."
In their view, all UMAs were divided into only two types.
One, threats that must be eliminated.
The other, resources that could be exploited, studied, and locked in cages.
They could neither understand nor tolerate any form of observation or coexistence.
In their eyes, the appeasent behavior displayed by Lin Jie's team at Loch Ness and the Black Forest was a kind of weak, womanly softness.
"What if... we don't leave?"
Lin Jie's voice rang out from behind Julian and Ethan.
He took a step forward, standing in distant opposition to that arrogant, prejudiced German captain.
Schneider's blue eyes narrowed slightly. For the first ti, he began seriously examining this seemingly ordinary Eastern youth before him.
"Young man," his voice took on a warning tone. "I know of you, Lin Jie. Your performance in the Alps and the town of Oberamrgau was indeed impressive."
"But you must understand, that was rely cleverness."
"In the face of power and order, any opportunistic tactics are aningless."
"I will say this one last ti," his tone turned icy, carrying a threat. "Leave this place."
"Otherwise, I will have the authority to place you under temporary ard detention on charges of 'obstructing a high-level Association mission'!"
The mont his words fell!
The eleven German investigators behind him raised their Lebel rifles in unison.
Over a dozen black muzzles aid at Lin Jie's team.
Both sides belonged to I.A.R.C.;
theoretically, direct ard conflict shouldn't occur.
But Schneider was engaging in blatant intimidation through force.
He knew the other side had one core combatant severely injured, plus two "non-combatants," leaving only Ethan as a slightly troubleso opponent.
On his side, he had twelve fully ard elites.
The outco of this confrontation had been clear from the very beginning.
Both Julian and Ethan's faces showed anger mixed with helplessness.
What Schneider said was right;
in the face of such a disparity in strength, any argunt seed pale.
Lin Jie's face showed no fear. He shook his head.
"Captain Schneider, I recall we fought side by side with the Munich Branch in the Alps not long ago."
"Supervisor Klaus Weber lost an arm in that battle, and we also paid a heavy price. Is the friendship built on blood and sacrifice worth so little in your eyes?"
"Or rather," Lin Jie's tone suddenly turned sharp, "does Supervisor Weber know about your style of stabbing allies in the back?"
He attempted to use the na of Klaus Weber, Munich's "Iron Face," to suppress this equally iron-blooded colleague from Munich.
But when Schneider heard the na "Klaus Weber," his eyes behind the monocle showed not reverence, but a flash of disdain.
"Klaus?" He sneered.
"Mr. Lin, it seems you don't yet understand the internal dynamics of our Munich Branch very well."
"Klaus is indeed a warrior worthy of respect, but he is also an old fossil whose mind, apart from honor, can hold nothing else!"
"His individualistic, heroic fighting style, still stuck in the age of knights, has long been unable to keep up with this new era about to be dominated by electricity and science!"
"Klaus and I have never been on the sa path." Schneider's words carried absolute confidence in his own philosophy. "I believe in efficiency, in results, in how to exchange the smallest cost for the Association's greatest benefit!"
"And this UMA before us," his gaze turned fervently toward that enormous, research-worthy plant symbiont, "it is the benefit itself!"
Hearing this, Lin Jie prepared to abandon communication, considering whether to resort to force for a forced expulsion.
But Schneider suddenly shifted his tone.
Looking at Lin Jie, he said, "However, there is one thing for which I must thank you in my personal capacity."
He paused, his voice growing sowhat low.
"My brother's remains... were the ones you brought back from the glaciers of the Alps."
"I heard from Klaus that you risked being assimilated by the Petrification Worm, personally bringing back those brothers who had turned to stone, piece by piece, allowing them to return to their holand whole."
"For this," he lowered his head slightly toward Lin Jie, "I, Heinrich Schneider, owe you a favor."
This sudden turn of events stunned Lin Jie.
Heinrich?
That na...
Lin Jie rembered!
Back in the Alps, the leader of that completely annihilated "Glacier Eye" team was also nad Heinrich!
So they were brothers!
"However,"
Schneider quickly straightened up again.
His blue eyes regained the cold, resolute deanor of a soldier.
"A favor is personal."
"Association matters are official business."
"I will not hand over this UMA, which concerns the future of Munich Branch's biotechnology direction, simply because you buried my brother."
"That is my principle."
Having said this, Schneider wasted no more words, giving a sharp wave to his subordinates behind him.
"Prepare to deploy the spiritual suppression stakes!"
This declaration of "separating public and private matters" to the point of callousness made Lin Jie abandon any illusion of a peaceful resolution.
"Captain Schneider," his tone likewise turned icy. "I will warn you one last ti: take your n and leave this place imdiately."
"Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."
"Consequences?" A look of seeing an idiot appeared on Schneider's face.
He couldn't even be bothered with another verbal warning, rely looking at this ignorant Eastern youth before him with pitying eyes.
As if saying: With just you few wounded stragglers?
Yet, just as his hand was about to give the order for forced detention, a tremor originating from the entire earth suddenly rose up beneath their feet!
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