Several Columbia soldiers bore injuries of varying severity. Columbia's camp tents were specially made to withstand all kinds of terrain and climates, so they should not have been crushed by snow and wind.
Besides, Magellan had spent so long conducting expeditions in the snowfields that she had seen buildings collapse under heavy snowfall before. The ruins before her had definitely not been destroyed by wind and snow. It looked more like some external force had forcibly knocked them down, and several areas of damage were clearly unnatural.
"We can't stay here. Fall back."
A deep, hoarse voice came from behind Magellan. Its owner sounded extremely weak. She turned around and looked at Tin Man, who stood behind her with everything below his neck hidden beneath his cloak.
"Mr. Tin Man, are we really retreating? There are still three expedition teams that haven't returned."
Magellan respected this special supervisor sent by Columbia. At first, she had worried that someone willful and ignorant of the hardships of expeditions might be sent over. Unexpectedly, Tin Man not only understood their difficulties, but was also a decent person. He was a good superior.
"They aren't coming back."
Tin Man shook his head. The wind made his heavy cloak sway gently, always creating the illusion that everything below his neck was empty.
"From this day onward, this place no longer belongs to humanity."
After speaking those cryptic words, Tin Man gave Magellan a slight bow.
"Thank you for your assistance, Miss Magellan."
"?"
Magellan could not make sense of what Tin Man was saying. She did not even know what had happened. Why was he thanking her?
Tin Man offered no further explanation. He simply arranged for everyone to pack up quickly and retreat to Camp Two, dozens of kilometers away. No one besides him