Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

Chapter 253: The Disappearing Students

As expected, Ge Rou entered the meeting room. Ling Feng stared at her and slowly stood up. "Secretary Ge, do you have good news for us?"

Ge Rou maintained her usual friendly smile. "I made an exception for you and reported the situation to the leader. He has permitted you to send people to investigate, but there’s a condition—no captain-level personnel are allowed to participate!"

The captains in the room exchanged dissatisfied glances. One of them voiced his concern, "If someone could pose a threat to Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, how can we send anyone less experienced?"

Ge Rou’s smile remained unfazed. "Liu Ziyang is just a soldier, and while Xie Huanhuan is a captain, her abilities are more suited for reconnaissance, not combat. All of you are West Hill Base’s most valuable combat power, and we can’t risk you needlessly. Sending regular soldiers to scout the situation is the most appropriate action."

Ling Feng, clearly impatient, responded, "Understood! I’ll send someone else."

Ge Rou nodded, adjusted her black-framed glasses, and left with an air of confidence.

The other captains began voicing their frustrations as soon as she was gone. Fang Zun, a wiry man, expressed his dissatisfaction. "Captain, it seems Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang ran into serious trouble. Can we just send regular soldiers?"

Ling Feng glanced at him and then frowned. "Fang Zun, you may have been born with natural abilities, but your current combat power isn’t necessarily much greater than our other brothers’. Even if they don’t have abilities, they’re still well-trained soldiers. Don’t underestimate them!"

Despite the captains’ dissatisfaction, Ling Feng contacted other team members to organize a mission. As the captains were no longer needed, Liang Yue, one of the newer members, felt relieved and slightly disappointed. Having been in the underground base for so long, she occasionally longed to go outside. More importantly, she hadn’t yet participated in a mission since joining the so-called ACE Special Forces.

Ling Feng left to arrange for regular team members to take on the mission while Liang Yue, carrying her Tang sword, prepared to head back to her quarters for some rest. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find Ye Ronghua, one of the other two women in the squad.

Ye Ronghua, unlike the others, was somewhat frail-looking and didn’t seem to have a military background. However, what struck Liang Yue the most was Ye Ronghua’s incredibly bright eyes, which always seemed to carry an intense, soul-piercing power.

With a smile, Ye Ronghua greeted Liang Yue, "Feeling a bit disappointed that you didn’t get a chance to go on a mission?"

Liang Yue smiled back. "Just a little."

Ye Ronghua shook her head. "There’s no need to rush or expect too much. When captains-level members are called into action, it usually means we’re dealing with a very serious problem."

Liang Yue shrugged. "But I’ve been here for so long and haven’t done anything. I can’t help but wonder what I can contribute to the base."

Ye Ronghua humorously explained, "We’re like H-weapons—never to be used, but must always be present. The world is more complicated than you might think. You’re still new here and don’t understand many things yet. You’ll come to realize it in time!"

She added, "For now, it’s more important to improve your abilities. Powers are gifts from the heavens; no one knows how much they can be developed."

Ye Ronghua’s words seemed to carry a deeper meaning, and Liang Yue felt she understood something, though Ye Ronghua didn’t elaborate further. With that, Ye Ronghua left, leaving behind an air of mystery. Her piercing gaze left Liang Yue feeling as though her soul had been momentarily ensnared.

Liang Yue shook her head, choosing not to dwell on these troublesome thoughts. She wasn’t particularly concerned about Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang since she had no deep connection with them, having only recently joined the team. She left the meeting room, heading back to the living quarters.

As Liang Yue unlocked her door, she caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. Startled, she turned to see a girl emerging from a room nearby, fresh from the shower.

"Meng Zixuan!" Liang Yue instinctively called out.

The girl turned, and upon seeing Liang Yue, she smiled brightly. "Teacher Liang! What a surprise to see you here!"

She ran over, her eyes shining with excitement. Liang Yue was just as surprised. Wasn’t Meng Zixuan supposed to be living and working in the Fourth Life Pod?

"What are you doing here?" Liang Yue asked, confused.

The Second Life Pod was a high-level area of West Hill Base, reserved only for Chen Xinian’s trusted aides and special talents like Liang Yue.

Meng Zixuan brushed back her hair and smiled mysteriously. "I have my special abilities."

"You’ve awakened powers too?" Liang Yue asked, her curiosity piqued.

Meng Zixuan’s smile turned even more enigmatic. She placed her hand on her chest, emphasizing her well-endowed figure. "In a way, you could say it’s a natural talent!"

Just then, Shen Moling, another former student of Liang Yue’s, heard the commotion and exited her room. Upon seeing Liang Yue, Shen Moling’s expression grew cold. "Teacher Liang."

Liang Yue was even more surprised. "Both of you are in the Second Life Pod? What about the other students?"

At this question, Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan’s expressions shifted subtly. They both averted their gaze, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter.

"Teacher Liang, we’re now part of the Second Life Pod. There’s no need to concern ourselves with those in the Fourth Life Pod," Meng Zixuan said with a trace of disdain in her voice. "People aren’t equal. Once we’re no longer on the same level, it’s impossible to interact as we did before."

Liang Yue stared at the two girls in shock, anger welling inside her. "How can you say that? They’re your classmates, your friends for so many years! How can you just forget them like that?"

Shen Moling looked up and sneered. "And you have the right to say that, Teacher Liang? Weren’t you the first to abandon us students?"​.

Author's Note