Yama Reborn-Chapter 412 - 409: [Return to Antarctica]

Chapter 409: Return to Antarctica

Where was Chen Xiaoguo supposed to find an octopus as big as a sports field?

He could fool others, but fooling the Octopus Monster... Neither in his past life nor in this one did Chen Nuo think anyone in the Underground World dared to attempt such a feat.

Moreover, the Octopus Monster wasn’t an idiot. It wouldn’t just release someone because of a single sentence from Chen Nuo.

The Octopus Monster gave Chen Nuo five days, the agreed-upon time.

After five days, if Chen Nuo really could hand over an octopus as big as a sports field, then the Octopus Monster would release the person.

Five days. Where could he find such a big octopus?

Others didn’t know, but Chen Nuo knew where such a large octopus could be found.

In his past life, Antarctica!

「」

After unlocking the memory seal within his consciousness, he obtained a memory fragment about a trip to Antarctica in his past life, which had featured such a giant octopus.

At sea, the giant octopus appeared. To be precise, the octopus and Seed appeared at the same time.

Then, after Seed personally killed the octopus, he briefly clashed with Chen Nuo and Lu Xixi.

Lu Xixi was defeated and thrown into the sea, while Chen Nuo received those words from Seed: "You are the Chosen One."

Of course, the subsequent minor incident was diving into the sea to rescue Lu Xixi, touching her butt, and then...

Well, the memory fragment did confirm the existence of such a colossal octopus in the waters around Antarctica.

Moreover, Chen Nuo’s sudden decision to contact the Octopus Monster directly marked a major change in his initial intention, which was purely to rescue Xicheng Xun!

The deaths of the three elders and the internal turmoil within the Octopus Monster’s organization made him realize that the timeline had already deviated significantly from his past life.

It all seemed very strange to him.

If there was only one variable causing the deviation in the timeline, it was him, the only person in the entire world.

But after returning to this timeline, everything he did had always been done cautiously, avoiding the Octopus Monster’s organization.

Chen Nuo carefully reviewed all his experiences and actions over the past two years. He wondered which flutter of his wings had caused a storm and led to the bloodshed within the mighty Octopus Monster’s organization.

His approach to making direct contact with the Octopus Monster wasn’t rash.

Although risky, it was for good reason.

Firstly, he received news from the Gray Cat: Competitors = many Seeds competing for the ultimate victory.

So, of the Seeds currently known on Earth, Seed (the character) was the most obvious.

Then, there was the one that ran out of the Antarctica base... that is, the Seed that deceived old Corot and went out into the world.

These two were known entities.

Right, and not to forget the Gray Cat itself, though it seemed quite useless.

Oh, and also, from the Electric General’s pursuit of Lu Xixi, combined with the message from the Gray Cat, there was a Seed that the Gray Cat mentioned as being very fearsome and brutal.

In total, the known Seeds: Three.

So, were there any hidden Seeds?

Chen Nuo believed there must be.

With how things had developed to this point, if the boss of the Octopus Monster wasn’t a Seed, Chen Nuo would be the first to disbelieve it.

Then, an interesting question arose:

One Seed corresponds to one Chosen One.

He was Seed’s Chosen One.

Lu Xixi was the Chosen One of the extremely brutal Seed mentioned by the Gray Cat.

As for the Seed that deceived Corot in Antarctica, who was its Chosen One?

And...

If the Octopus Monster was a Seed... then who was the Chosen One of the Octopus Monster?!

That was the first question.

The second question was even more interesting to Chen Nuo.

It was this: these Seeds, one by one, all seemed to like hiding in the shadows.

Seed did, the Octopus Monster did, the Seed that chose Lu Xixi did, and as for the Seed that deceived old Corot in Antarctica, that was the one Chen Nuo knew the least about.

Perhaps they harbored mutual wariness, or perhaps it was due to some special reasons.

According to the Gray Cat, these Seeds themselves are the most direct competitors in this contest!

But each and every one of them lived a life of seclusion, hidden away, silently watching everything from behind the scenes.

Why?

And...

On what basis?

「」

Wooden buildings are actually quite common in cold regions. This is because there are few metal ore deposits in polar regions. Even when they exist, mining is no easy feat due to the cold climate and hard geology. Consequently, metal building materials need to be transported from outside at a high cost.

Similarly, wood, in contrast to metal, conducts and dissipates heat much more slowly.

The thick solid wood walls were lined with a layer of composite material for thermal insulation. Combined with the heating equipment inside, the whole cabin was toasty warm.

This was a bar.

It was located on King George Island, not far from the Antarctic continent.

The business was doing very well. After years of operation, it had become the favorite gathering place for extreme outdoor sports enthusiasts from around the world who came to Antarctica for adventure.

It was said that the owner was a well-known adventurer within the circle and also the kind of person who wasn’t short of money.

After retiring due to age, he opened this bar here to entertain adventure enthusiasts from all over the world who came to Antarctica.

Being an insider and well-informed, the owner allowed many adventurers to register here to purchase needed equipment. The bar could also act as an intermediary, helping people find guides necessary for their explorations.

Of course, most importantly, in Antarctica, where the cost of transporting supplies was exorbitant, any indulgence to satisfy one’s appetite was a luxury.

And here, being able to provide alcoholic drinks was the greatest luxury of all.

It was just a bit pricey.

A bottle of ordinary Budweiser beer here cost fifteen US dollars.

Considering the expensive transportation fees, this price was generally accepted.

Thirty hours after making the phone call to the Octopus Monster, Chen Nuo entered the bar.

It was open twenty-four hours.

When Chen Nuo came in, it was eleven o’clock local time in the evening.

More than ninety percent of the seats in the bar were still occupied—of course, the place wasn’t very large to begin with.

Having altered his appearance to look like a middle-aged Asian man around forty years old with yellow skin, black hair, and black eyes, Chen Nuo, clad in thick cold-weather gear, walked into the bar. Feeling the warm air hit him as he entered, he casually took off his coat, hung it on the wall, and then headed to the bar counter.

"Beer."

Chen Nuo put a US dollar bill on the counter.

The bartender behind the counter glanced at him, took the bill, and placed seven bottles of beer on the counter.

"Shouldn’t you give me six bottles of beer and return ten US dollars to me?"

"Seeing that you’re new here, the seventh bottle has a discount," the bartender said with a smile.

Chen Nuo also smiled. "How did you know..."

"I recognize everyone here; they’re all up here," the bartender said, pointing to his head.

Watching Chen Nuo twist open a bottle cap and take a sip of beer, the bartender smiled and walked away.

The bar was noisy—adventurous life in Antarctica didn’t offer many entertainment venues in the evening.

Anyone who liked this kind of adventurous sport, every single one of them, was the type who sought excitement in their lives and couldn’t sit still.

Otherwise, who the hell would come to such a place for adventure if they were well-fed and had nothing better to do?

They all had restless hearts.

Five or six people were gathered around a pool table, and someone was energetically smacking the jukebox in the corner, probably having had too much to drink. After being scolded twice by the stern-faced bartender, the drunkard turned around with a giggly smile, waved his hand, and obediently walked away.

Near the bar counter, two men who clearly seemed to be in the adventure business were drinking and discussing some deal. Chen Nuo overheard their conversation, which involved equipment, provisions, and the like.

The bartender patiently waited for Chen Nuo to finish a bottle of beer before coming over again. He stood behind the counter with a beaming smile as he sized Chen Nuo up.

"Is there anything else I can help you with? You’re a new face—first time in Antarctica?"

"Well, not really."

"Anyway, I haven’t seen you before. I’ve seen pretty much all the civilian adventure enthusiasts who like to come to Antarctica. Except for the official scientific research teams who don’t frequent my bar, the rest usually like to drink a few rounds here to vent some excess energy before they set out and after they return."

The bartender chatted casually and then said with a smile, "Let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you," Chen Nuo replied.

"I’m not only talking about drinks."

Chen Nuo laughed. "Like what? Can you actually find women here?"

As he said this, he shook his head. "Aside from the adventurers around here, one can’t even spot a female penguin, let alone women."

"If you want to see penguins, you could go to Saint Andrews," the bartender mentioned casually. He then continued, "But I guess you’re not interested in those little critters."

"As for women... well, your face isn’t bad, and you’ve got a sturdy build."

"Travel can be lonely, so I think if you’re sweet enough, there should be female adventurers willing to have a friendly match with you on the journey. There aren’t many women here tonight, but you can check out the table in the far back. A few individuals are seated there; they just came back from the South Pole and are celebrating the end of their adventure, having been drinking all night. The two ladies there are quite something, especially the redhead. You could give it a shot."

With that, the bartender gave a suggestive wink.

Chen Nuo shook his head. "I’m not interested in women."

"Uh... if it’s men, then..."

Chen Nuo’s expression suddenly became stiff. "No, I mean, I’m not here to find women tonight. Also, I’m not GAY."

Well, contrary to what many people might assume.

One might definitely think that in adventure circles—outdoors, extreme, dangerous, filled with adventure and male hormones...

But, actually... in adventure circles, the GAY community is much larger than one might imagine.

The same goes for polar adventure circles.

In his previous life, Chen Nuo had seen the news: a certain country’s Antarctic research team, because of the tedious and lonely life in the polar regions, had gone through thousands of condoms in a year.

And the key detail was: that research team was all male.

So he wasn’t surprised at the bartender’s words at all.

"I might need something else. Can you arrange it here?"

"Equipment, provisions, and excellent guides—I can contact them all here. But if you’re looking for large equipment, you may need to make a reservation and wait for some time," the bartender quickly replied with a smile. "What do you need? As for guides... you see that table in the back I just mentioned?"

"Didn’t I tell you they’re an adventure team that’s just returned from the polar region? Do you see the man with the gray sweater and the big beard?"

"His name is Charles, and next to him is his assistant, Ekter. They are one of the best guides I know."

"Professionally outstanding, reasonable in their fees, and their service attitude is very good."

The bartender felt his judgment was likely correct.

The newcomer before him was certainly not a member of any official research team.

Probably a private adventurer.

Hence, this referral business should be successful. Moreover, the timing for this referral was good.

His own referrals had just completed a successful adventure and were celebrating. What resume could be more persuasive to a customer than a successful case right before their eyes?

No matter how much you tell a client about "how many successful adventures someone has had," it’s not as convincing as letting them witness a celebration of a successful adventure.

Many people in this world believe that success is something that continues.

Seeing that the chance of sealing this deal was high, the bartender believed his referral fee was as good as secure.

But Chen Nuo merely took a sip of his beer, his expression indecipherable.

The bartender didn’t show any sign of impatience either. Years in the business had exposed him to all kinds of different customers.

Especially Asian clients; these Asians tend to be more rational, not very impulsive, like comparing several options, and are better at negotiating prices and details.

Chen Nuo’s eyes continued to survey the small bar. Suddenly, a hint of interest flashed in his eyes.

He pointed lightly. "Over there..."

He was pointing toward the southwest corner of the bar, to the most secluded table.

Only one customer was sitting there.

It was a woman with short, slightly curled hair, wrapped in a gray sweater that accentuated her voluptuous figure.

Though she was leaning there, seemingly a bit drunk, the half of her face that was visible allowed Chen Nuo to recognize her.

When the bartender saw the direction Chen Nuo was pointing, he laughed, an understanding expression on his face, but shook his head and said, "Hey buddy, I get you."

"That’s Linda. Young, pretty, that figure... even an old man can’t help but go crazy for it."

"But I suggest you’d better not go looking for trouble."

"What do you mean?"

"She’s got a bad temper that’s best left alone. And... she’s very skilled."

"Don’t you find it strange? So many men here, but not a single one goes up to hit on her—despite her being so enticing, right?"

As he spoke, the bartender lowered his voice. "Because anyone daring enough to bother her ends up with her twisting their arm."

Without a change in his demeanor, Chen Nuo pulled out a banknote from his pocket and laid it on the table. "Tell me about her."

The bartender looked at the ten US Dollar bill on the table, unsurprised. Strangers attracted to the woman named Linda coming to him for information was an all-too-common occurrence, likely to earn him a small tip.

"I don’t know much; she doesn’t like to socialize much."

"All I know is that she seems to be from M Country and is very wealthy."

"She has already spent more than half a year here, venturing into the polar regions three times."

"The Charles and his assistant Ekter I just pointed out to you once provided her with guide services."

"However, that mission failed. According to Charles, that woman was a Madman; she didn’t listen to the guide’s commands during the adventurous journey and liked to cause trouble. But considering the money, Charles took her into the polar regions twice."

"But he absolutely refused to go a third time."

"Later, that woman found another one of my old friends to be her guide and went for a third time."

"After that, even my old friend no longer wanted to earn her money."

"What I actually can’t figure out is, they say that woman goes to the polar regions not for adventure but to look for someone. It could be a relative or a friend who disappeared during a previous adventure; she must be there to find them."

"Some are betting that the missing person is definitely her husband or lover, or someone of that sort."

Chen Nuo’s gaze immediately turned solemn.

"Alright, thank you."

Chen Nuo immediately got up and slowly walked over.

"I’d advise you not to ask for trouble," the bartender warned from behind him, then sighed helplessly and muttered to himself, "Another one seeking death..."

As Chen Nuo approached the table, when he was still three steps away, the woman, still leaning on the table without raising her head, coldly said, "Get lost."

Without a word, Chen Nuo slowly walked up and sat opposite the woman.

The woman raised her head, squinting. There was a hint of drunkenness in her gaze, but she clearly was not truly drunk. More than anything, there was a frigidness and hostility that kept others at arm’s length. "I told you, scram!"

Chen Nuo took a deep breath. "Selina... it’s me."

He spoke in Huaxia.

The woman was taken aback.

"South America, tropical rainforest."

"Huaxia, Jinling."

Chen Nuo mentioned a few keywords.

Selina’s eyes immediately widened as she scrutinized Chen Nuo from head to toe.

"Are you... Chen?"

"Mhm."

Chen Nuo nodded.

A peculiar light suddenly appeared in Selina’s eyes.

After all... the last time Selina saw Chen Nuo, it was in the underground glacier of the Antarctic continent.

This guy was still frozen and sealed within the glacier!

"You... you got out?" Selina blurted out.

Huh? That statement was kind of interesting.

Chen Nuo heard something different in her words but didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he asked calmly, "What are you doing here?"

"Nonsense! Of course it’s for Vanel!"

"What about you? Did you just get out of your predicament, or... did you come back to look for Vanel?"

Chen Nuo picked up on the key information.

Selina’s question implied *he* had "gotten out of his predicament."

And, looking for Vanel?

"Davarishi, him?"

"He’s disappeared! Been missing for over a year now!"

Chen Nuo: "..." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Taking a deep breath, Chen Nuo looked around and then slowly said, "This isn’t the place to talk. Do you... have a place to stay here?"

"I do."

"Let’s go."

Selina glanced around, nodded slowly, and then stood up.

Chen Nuo followed Selina towards the bar’s exit.

The bartender behind the counter, watching Chen Nuo and Selina leave together, almost popped his eyes out.

"...Could it be that chick digs Asian guys?"