At the same moment that the Uptown was engulfed in gunfire and the castle was engulfed in war, deep in the Arctic ice plains of Brevis, on a silent snowfield, four figures were slowly moving forward.
The howling wind whipped up ice shards, which crackled and popped against the Power Armour.
Visibility was less than ten meters; as far as the eye could see, all was an endless expanse of pale white.
Dominic walked on the far left of the group, wearing a thick polar combat suit with a dark cloak over it.
The sapphire ring on his right middle finger emitted a constant coolness, completely concealing any trace of his Psychic Power.
Two Sisters of Silence walked on either side of them, their faces hidden by hoods.
As Blanks, their perception of Psychic Power fluctuations far surpasses that of ordinary people, making them the best detectives.
Walking at the very center of the group was a burly Tech-Priest.
His lower body has been replaced with a snow-specific tracked motorized base, while his upper body is covered with various detection probes and sensors.
The optical lens, flashing a dark red light, was constantly scanning the surrounding geology and residual energy.
Apart from the Tech-Priest, the others rode on three enormous, six-legged beasts.
This strange beast has a robust body and is extremely adaptable, able to traverse various terrains quickly, and is more suited to complex ice crack terrain than ordinary snowmobiles.
This was their third hour deep inside the ice field.
The third anonymous letter only indicated the coordinates of an Arctic ice field, saying that it held the greatest secret of the Brevis Ice Plain and the secrets of that important figure.
Dominic initially didn't believe it.
However, the information in the first two letters came true one by one. The truth about the Plague Cleansing Cult and the existence of Genestealer proved that the writer of the letters did indeed know some inside information.
Coupled with his lingering suspicions about Lynn's background, a young, impoverished nobleman suddenly possessed immense power.
The methods used to quell the Orks and reclaim the spoils were Dorito and complex, and it's clear that things weren't simple at all.
As if by some strange twist of fate, he arrived.
"How much further?" Dominic asked in a low voice, his voice cutting through the howling wind.
The nun at the front stopped, raised her hand, and gestured: three kilometers ahead lies a bowl-shaped valley.
Her sign language was quick and precise.
Dominic nodded, signaling the group to continue.
The deeper you go, the lower the temperature gets.
Although it's all Arctic ice fields, the cold in this area is noticeably more intense; even the breath exhaled instantly condenses into ice shards, rustling against the cloak.
Even more unusual was the presence of human presence.
Along the way, they encountered hunting parties of glacial savages or temporary camps of scavengers every few kilometers.
However, as one approaches this valley, not a single trace of life can be seen.
It's as if all life is deliberately avoiding this place, treating this valley as a forbidden zone that cannot be entered.
Something's not right.
Another nun suddenly stopped and made a warning sign.
She knelt on one knee, her gloved fingers gently brushing across the snow.
His brows furrowed tightly behind the optical lenses, and the untouchable force field at his fingertips subtly spread, sensing the residual energy traces in the air.
She quickly looked up and gestured rapidly at Dominic:
[There was a large-scale Psychic Power outburst here.]
It is very strong, with an energy level close to that of an alpha-level Psychic Power shock.
The traces have been deliberately removed, done very cleanly, but they haven't completely disappeared.
The incident occurred no more than a year ago, approximately six months ago.
Dominic's pupils constricted slightly.
Six months ago.
It was precisely the time when Kerry von arrived in Brevis and made a name for himself in the Battle of the Forbidden Wall.
He clenched his fists instinctively.
Something must have happened here.
And this matter may have something to do with Kerry von.
"Father," Dominic turned to the Tech-Priest beside him, his voice low, "Can you detect it?"
The Tech-Priest didn't speak, but the tracks slowly turned, leading him to the entrance of the valley.
All the probes on his body extended and pierced deep beneath the ice.
A large number of reconnaissance robots were released to explore the surrounding area.
Various testing instruments started up simultaneously, and the data stream on the screen refreshed rapidly.
A full hour passed before he stopped, his synthesized voice unusually solemn:
"Major General, the test results are abnormal."
"The ice structure in the central area of the valley was completely destroyed, and vitrification crystallization occurred in the deeper geological layers."
"This phenomenon was not caused by a conventional explosion, nor by a Melta weapon."
"It was a high-intensity energy impact."
"And..."
The Tech-Priest's optical lens turned towards the depths of the valley, flashing red light.
"Faint traces of non-human genetic material were detected beneath the ice."
"Database comparison failed, extensive comparisons required..."
Dominic stood at the entrance to the valley, facing the biting cold wind, looking out at the snow-capped peaks deep within the bowl-shaped valley.
Non-human genetic residue.
A massive energy burst, the traces of which were deliberately erased.
What exactly happened here six months ago?