It was the same beach, but more than a month had passed since their last visit. Since then, only researchers in cold-weather suits had come here, diligently monitoring every movement beneath the ice.
Most of those researchers had voluntarily become undead. They wore the suits only to keep their joints from freezing and hindering their movements.
With ordinary human bodies, they would have had to eat, sleep, and deal with all sorts of other distractions. To these scientists, who lived for their research, that was nothing but wasted time!
Over the past month, they had built a monitoring station on the coast. Thick steel pipes extended from its base, their other ends submerged in the seawater between the shore and the ice.
The Island Turtle and Jones had complained that the ice in that area kept the turtle from resting or even sleeping, and might eventually give it frostbite. Removing all the ice around the Seastone Coffin was impractical, so Loa had melted the solid ice pressed against the Island Turtle's shell, preventing direct contact.
It was still a little chilly, but well within what the Island Turtle could bear. The opening that reached down to the seabed also made it easier for the researchers to observe the box up close.
When Loa and the others arrived, the pipes were vibrating constantly, producing a rhythmic hum. Inside the Monitoring Station, ripples on the screen rose and fell with the vibrations like a heartbeat.
"We've confirmed that the vibrations are coming from inside the Seastone Box, Lord Caesar!"
As soon as they saw the group approach, someone handed Caesar a test report. Caesar carefully compared the figures, nodded, then solemnly offered it to Loa.
"Lord Loa—"
"Don't. I wouldn't understand it anyway." Loa stopped him. "Just tell me: can we bring