Chapter 2229 In-depth Investigation
Fang Heng watched as the members of the psychic team prepared to evacuate and asked, "Captain Shi, is the operation ending here?"
"Yeah."
Shi Yanwu nodded and said, "The purpose of training the team has been achieved. Moreover, this was just a probing action against the tree spirit tribe. We"ve obtained some clues, and after returning, the Federation will launch a detailed investigation into the white frost ore. I believe we"ll discover something soon."
On the other side of the communicator, Minister Ray"s voice came, "Dr. Fang, if the ore is crucial to the tree spirit tribe, they may return after getting wind of our investigation. This could lead to a large-scale conflict. It"s not safe here. I"ll have the psychic team escort you back to the research inst.i.tute."
"No hurry, Minister Ray. I think it"s a bit slow to go back and investigate. The tree spirit tribe that fled into the primeval forest hasn"t gone far. I suggest a deeper investigation."
What?
A deeper investigation?
There was a moment of silence in the remote command room at this suggestion.
Another voice from a tactical advisor came over the communication channel, "Dr. Fang, are you sure you can locate the exact position of the tree spirit tribe"s retreat?"
"Yes, I have a special method of tracking."
People in the command room looked at each other.
The operation had been successful at this stage.
But if they could expand their gains...
Undoubtedly, pursuing the fleeing tree spirit tribe for further reconnaissance.
If there was a chance to catch them all at once, why not?
At least they might find the hiding place of the Wood tribe.
However, it also carried great risks.
After a moment"s thought, Minister Ray said, "I understand, Dr. Fang. Please wait a moment. This is a major issue, and we need some time to discuss it."
"I"ll go and have a look first. You can discuss."
With that, Fang Heng picked up a few pieces of white frost ore and stuffed them into his backpack. He left the Federation team to clean up and evacuated ahead.
Whether or not the Federation would partic.i.p.ate, he was determined to go and see for himself.
It concerned the nurturing of the sacred tree.
If the tree spirit tribe really had a way to trigger the energy inside the white frost stone for the sacred tree...
Abe Akaya couldn"t be left out!
Besides, there was also a side mission to investigate the Wood tribe.
It was worth the risk.
Go and see!
"Report to the command post, Dr. Fang is going alone to investigate. We can"t stop him."
Once again, there was silence in the command post.
Fang Heng and they were merely in a cooperative relationship.
No one could stop him.
Ji Haiting nodded. "Dr. Fang is strong, and he"s always careful. If he encounters trouble, he won"t force his hand. I believe he"ll be fine."
Still not entirely rea.s.sured, Minister Ray directly opened Shi Yanwu"s communication and ordered, "Shi Yanwu, follow him, ensure Dr. Fang"s safety, maintain contact with the command post at all times, and the half-mechanical squad will also partic.i.p.ate in the follow-up mission."
"Understood!"
...
After leaving the town, Fang Heng continued to track the location of the tree spirit tribe. Along the way, he kept his Federation communicator open, allowing the Federation to keep track of him.
After half an hour of pursuit, he was about to enter the primeval forest area. Fang Heng realized that several marked Wood tribe individuals had been in the primeval forest for some time. They weren"t far from here. It seemed that the area was a gathering point for the Wood tribe.
"Sizzle, sizzle..."
After a burst of static from the communicator, Mo Jiawei"s voice came through, "Mr. Fang, we"ve got feedback on the investigation of the white frost ore. Let"s talk offline."
"Alright."
Fang Heng stopped in place and activated a blood-red magic array beneath his feet, going offline.
As soon as he went offline, Mo Jiawei"s personal phone call came in.
"Mr. Fang, I just had a look at the footage of the white frost ore from Starfish Company. They said it"s a rather special ore called Energy White Crystal. If successfully extracted, it"s very valuable."
"It"s somewhat similar to the universe crystal, providing a large amount of energy. But it"s even rarer than the universe crystal because it contains a small amount of spatial strength. So, its market price is higher."
"But its applicability isn"t as strong as the universe crystal, and its demand isn"t as widespread. Generally, it"s very effective when used as energy supply in large spatial element magic arrays."
Mo Jiawei flipped through his notebook and continued, "Also, Lu Yanlong mentioned that Starfish Company"s professional team a.n.a.lyzed it. The energy value contained in this ore is very, very low. It"s cla.s.sified as a very inferior ore. Even their professional mining companies like Starfish Company can"t refine a perfect Energy White Crystal from several tons of similar ore."
"But since we"ve found this kind of ore in this world, it means there"s probably another branch of mining areas in the world. They are willing to cooperate in collecting the ore, and the cooperation terms are the same as before, a 20-80 split, with us getting 80% and them 20%."
Fang Heng thought for a moment and shook his head, "Let"s forget about the cooperation. Tell them to decline. We don"t have the time for that now. We"ll talk about it if we have the chance in the future."
"Alright, no problem."
Fang Heng ended the call and didn"t immediately go back online to the game. Instead, he lowered his head and pondered.
Something felt off.
Needed for large spatial element magic arrays?
Did he guess wrong?
Wasn"t this thing supposed to provide energy to the sacred tree?
...
Fang Heng went online again, and it was still dark outside.
Through his headset, the voice from the command post came again, "Dr. Fang? Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you."
"The Federation has decided to launch follow-up pursuit actions against the Wood tribe. The various action groups are on their way, please keep your communication open, and we will link your location through positioning."
"Alright, the Wood tribe hasn"t ventured deep into the primeval forest, so we"ll catch up soon."
Fang Heng temporarily disconnected the communication and relied on his perception to track as he stepped into the primeval forest.
After another half hour of fast pursuit, Fang Heng could sense that he was getting closer to the location of the reporter.
Huh?
Suddenly, Fang Heng"s heart raced as a warning surged.
"Swish! Swish!!!"
Several spear-like wooden spikes shot out continuously from the dense forest ahead!
Not good!
There"s an ambush!
Fang Heng immediately tried to dodge to the side, but before the wooden spikes reached his body, they exploded one after another in the air!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"
Fang Heng couldn"t dodge in time and was immediately engulfed by the exploding shockwaves!
The shattered fragments of the wooden spikes exploded again and again!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!
Seeing Fang Heng being engulfed by the explosions, the Wood tribe guards hiding in the dense forest quickly gathered towards the explosion point.