The Weight of a World

(The results still aren't out, and the system has already restricted off-campus access. Ridiculous.)

"I found Chernobog's Core City on the Northwest Icefield of Ursus. At first, I never imagined they would simply abandon the Sarcophagus out there on the icefield..."

Bai Ye stopped fooling around and began talking about the Sarcophagus.

"That is perfectly normal. I had already shut down the entire Sarcophagus, and all the scientists capable of operating it had been purged. Now, without an energy supply, the entire Core City was nothing more than a massive chunk of scrap metal. Naturally, it would be abandoned."

No surprise appeared on Dr. Kal'tsit's face.

"Mm, you're right. Everything that could be removed from the Core City had been taken away. It was like a meaty bone licked completely clean, without even a shred of meat left behind."

Recalling what he had seen in the Core City, Bai Ye agreed with Dr. Kal'tsit's explanation.

"There are too many abandoned mobile cities like that in the Northwest Wasteland. That was why they chose to move the Core City there as well, erase all traces, and ensure that no one would ever learn the Sarcophagus's secret."

Dr. Kal'tsit nodded, signaling Bai Ye to continue.

"The Sarcophagus had been sealed very securely. Beyond the layers of protective walls already there, the Ursus people had added numerous seals and even built it a large outer shell from special materials."

The Sarcophagus had truly become a "stone coffin."

"But none of that could stop you, Bai Ye, could it?" Dr. Kal'tsit said.

"Mm... I went straight inside, then somehow activated the Sarcophagus."

After saying that, Bai Ye looked up at Dr. Kal'tsit. Sure enough, surprise appeared on her face.

"You could operate the control panel?" Dr. Kal'tsit rarely displayed her emotions so directly.

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