Delicious, won't you try it?

"Hmm?"

Adam also approached the map to observe and asked Shawn, "Sir, do you have any questions?"

"This mine had an accident fifty years ago." Shawn's brow furrowed, then he turned and hurried towards the equipment room, saying:

"You two, equip the pickup truck with a snowplow. I'll go get the company-issued gear. Prepare to depart!"

Andy, who had only half-put on his cold-weather gear, couldn't help but ask in confusion upon hearing they needed full gear:

"Sir, it's just bad signal due to the blizzard, there's no need..."

"Shut up." Shawn unlocked the door to the equipment room, glanced back at the two officers, and said sternly:

"We are the company's dispatched agents. We must be prepared for any eventuality as if it were an anomaly.

And you (pointing at Andy)!

If I hear another question from you, I won't hesitate to upload your performance review to the higher-ups. If you're demoted to D-class personnel...

You know what happens."

"Yes, Sir!" At this moment, Andy gave Shawn an extremely standard salute.

Shawn's gaze lingered on Andy for a few seconds before he approached the equipment room to gather the gear.

"Whew-" Andy let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright." Adam, now fully dressed in his cold-weather suit, patted Andy's shoulder with his fist and chuckled:

"You know the Sir's temper. Plus, the missing children case isn't a small matter. Don't take it lightly.

After the case is closed, I'll treat you to a night at the bar, how about it?"

"Thanks, buddy." Andy gave a wry smile. "You just joined the company and don't have much money yet. Let me treat you instead."

"Haha, it's all the same. Let's hurry and finish the Sir's mission."

"Okay."

Next, Adam and Andy worked together to install the snowplow onto the front of the police pickup truck.

As the vehicle was being prepared, Shawn also brought all the equipment to the car.

Afterward, Andy drove the vehicle, Shawn sat in the passenger seat, and Adam, being the youngest, was in the back.

Immediately, the three drove the pickup truck, equipped with a snowplow and snow tires, onto the road, maintaining a safe speed towards the abandoned mine.

Half an hour later;

Shawn looked at the GPS with a grim expression. After comparing it with the map, he took out his phone and dialed Umbrella's special agent line.

"Beep- beep-"

After only a few rings, the call was connected.

Operator: Hello, Agent. How may I assist you?

Shawn: Yes, I need a UBCS team for support. Coordinates are 54°54'23.6"N, 103°20'57.4"W.

Operator: Agent, are you certain you've discovered an anomaly?

Shawn: I'm not certain, but... my gut tells me I need support from high-level combat personnel.

Operator: (Silence for a moment) Agent, you know the disciplinary measures for requesting A-class personnel for containment without confirming an anomaly.

Have you... thought it through?

Shawn: (Voice firm) Yes.

Operator: Alright, confirming coordinates, 54°54'23.6"N, 103°20'57.4"W.

Your support request has been accepted. Estimated arrival at the coordinates is thirty minutes.

Agent, good luck.

Shawn: Thanks.

The call ended.

"..."

Silence fell within the vehicle, broken only by the howling wind and the occasional grating sound of the snowplow scraping the ground.

The pickup truck had long since left the small town and was driving down a path through the forest.

"Sir..."

Adam, in the back seat, couldn't help but ask, "It's just an abandoned mine. The children's phones might have run out of battery, that's why we can't reach them.

Is it really necessary to have UBCS come?"

"Right..." Andy, who had also intended to agree, quickly shut his mouth and focused on driving.

Shawn turned to glance at Adam and, after a pause, said calmly, "You are both still young. There are many legends you haven't learned about."

According to the stories my grandfather told, extremely high concentrations of tin were discovered on Blackwood Mountain, which was then seized and developed by a group of capitalists.

"And that mountain is a sacred mountain of the Native Americans, a forbidden area. Any act of blasphemy will be cursed."

Hearing this, Adam said in disbelief, "Blackwood Mountain? Isn't that the mountainous area where the mine is located?"

"Yes," Shawn nodded heavily and continued, "More than fifty years ago, during similarly rare blizzard conditions, this mine collapsed for no reason, killing thirty miners.

Only the bodies of eighteen miners were eventually recovered, and twelve are still missing to this day, but everyone knows the fate of those miners.

Afterward, the government, in order to cover up its various wrongdoings against the Native American indigenous people, downplayed the incident."

"Sir, you mean..." Adam couldn't help but become nervous.

"That's right," Shawn said with a serious expression.

"As an Agent of Umbrella, any case connected to legends must be treated as facing an anomalous phenomenon."

"Yes..."

"Sir." At this moment, Andy stopped the car and reminded everyone, "We... have arrived."

Looking forward through the car window, which had passable visibility.

At the front of the vehicle was the sealed entrance to the mine, and next to the mine was a derelict, two-story giant building.

It should have been the dormitory building where the original miners lived, and what made the three Agents in the car vigilant was...

The main entrance of the dormitory building was open.

Seeing this, Shawn took off his cold-weather gear and ordered, "Agents, change into combat gear."

"Yes, Sir!"

As Shawn gave the order, Andy and Adam also took off their cold-weather gear.

The three took out their equipment, put on bulletproof vests and inserted bulletproof plates, then put on tactical belts and equipped them with magazines and grenades.

They put on Fast helmets and holographic goggles, installed personal cameras, and so on.

Several minutes later;

"Clang-clang-" The sound of car doors opening and closing echoed across the open space.

The three Agents, who had already changed into their combat gear, advanced quickly towards the dormitory building in a staggered formation.

Arriving beside the main entrance, the three leaned against the right wall in sequence.

Shawn, in the lead, held his gun in his right hand and raised his left hand, signaling with a gesture.

Three, Two, One!

Shawn was the first to rush into the dormitory building, followed closely by Andy, while Adam remained in the outer hall at the back.

The perspective switched to what Shawn saw.

Inside the lobby, the ground was a mess, with many snowy footprints, indicating it was caused by extreme panic.

After confirming there were no visible enemies, Shawn used his headset to communicate in a low voice, "Clear, converge on me."

"Yes." (x2)

Once the team members gathered around him, Shawn ordered again, "Search the first floor first, report any situation to me."

"Yes." (x2)

Adam and Andy, having received the order, went together into the corridor extending from the lobby, checking room by room.

As for Shawn, he squatted down to carefully observe the footprints.

One set was very unusual...

Barefoot, and abnormally large in size.

And... handprints?

Before Shawn could think further, Andy's trembling voice came through the communication, "Sir... you should come and see."

?

Hearing the call, Shawn no longer dwelled on the ground but, guided by the position display on his glasses, rushed to the room where his team members were.

The situation that followed was enough to shock even this police chief.

"Delicious... delicious... Huh? Aren't you guys going to try some? It's very delicious..."