"22 armed operatives are still in action," Xu Yang had already seized control over the internal cameras and sensors at the mining facility, "and two people are attempting external communication, but I've jammed their signals."
Signal jammers are commonplace, originally intended to restrict employees from using cell phones at work. Now, under Xu Yang's control, they were used to suppress the distress signals of the security staff.
Deep underground, communication is extremely inconvenient; even minor interference can result in significant disruption.
Matteo stood up from the vehicle, turned his head, and signaled to the mercenaries behind him with two tactical hand gestures. They understood instantly, grabbed their weapons, put on night-vision goggles, jumped out of the vehicle, and stormed into the mining facility.
Each of them had rehearsed their moves countless times, almost as if the layout of the mining facility was imprinted in their brains. They knew the structure by heart and could navigate to the most suitable combat positions with ease, even in complete darkness.
After the mercenaries entered the mining facility, gunshots rang out continually, accompanied by the desperate screams of the internal security personnel being killed.
Six mercenaries could easily overpower a much larger number of enemies, clearly indicating a disparity in combat training between the two sides.
Matteo remained motionless, like a statue, still wearing sunglasses, yet seeming to see everything around him clearly.
Bax put on a communicator, and ceaselessly reported the coordinates and positions of the surrounding enemies to the mercenaries, enabling them to shoot effortlessly and complete the clean-up operation.
The coordination was precise and effective. Before any survivors could report the situation, they were all eliminated.
"All clear," Bax nodded.
Matteo jumped down from the vehicle, strode into the mining facility, and the mercenaries who had executed the mission fell into formation behind him. They adopted a tactical arrangement, watching each other's backs, with flashlights mounted on their guns sweeping back and forth.
"Have you been with them for a long time?" Xu Yang asked Bax, trailing behind.
"Yes," Bax nodded, "on multiple missions. But as for Matteo... he was 'parachuted' in. I can't really say."
No wonder Matteo's attitude towards Bax was somewhat distant.
"Hacker Witch... what was your original ability?"
"You're so boring."
"We've got a ways to go together."
"Ink," Bax held out his right hand, a slight black trace seeping from his palm, "the most rubbish ability. The company kicked me out when I was seven, and while I was doing graffiti on the streets, the group found me and transformed me into what I am now, capable of high-intensity work."
"The transformation must have been tough, and they even suppressed your abilities."
"Still better than starving to death or scavenging with the risk of being raped. I really can't stand people like you, leaving a regular job to flee the company."
"How much do you make?"
"You're not allowed to ask about the share. It's against the rules. Ah, as if I'm jealous you could rake in tens of millions or billions..."
Passing through a perimeter wall, Xu Yang saw a colossal industrial mining machine, painted bright yellow. It stood like a slumbering monster in the center of the camp.
The surrounding defensive sentry posts were tall and sturdy, nearly merging with the rocks, situated high with a commanding view over the entire camp.
The corpses of the mining facility's security personnel lay scattered on the ground. The surrounding turrets and searchlights were silent and still. When the mercenaries looked up, they saw the ancient and hollow ceiling far above, more than a hundred feet away, which instilled a feeling of insignificance, as if they had entered the remains of a giant.
There was no room for relaxation.
Matteo gazed at the slain security personnel as if scanning them to ensure they were truly dead.
"Hurry up. If their supervisor does a hard remote reboot, we're finished," Bax, with his wealth of experience, knew the risks behind the technology.
"If that's the case, they could take notice at any moment," Matteo said.
Common sense would agree with Bax's thinking, Xu Yang thought. At the central control station, someone would surely notice the offline status of the mining equipment and immediately deploy the company's Quick Reaction Force to take control of the situation.
But now was different.
Xu Yang browsed through program logs and data streams within the Digital Mind. There was no communication, nor any evidence of upper-level authorities observing or managing.
That is to say, it was very possible that Kyoto Infinity hadn't noticed what was happening here at all.
"We still have time," Xu Yang said. "They lack vigilance."
"It's our opportunity... stay close," Matteo said.
A mercenary walked behind Xu Yang, following him, seemingly keeping an eye on him.
Xu Yang began to worry that the mercenaries might suddenly turn on him.
He used the Digital Mind to manipulate the power supply, restoring some electricity and activating the surrounding motion sensors, thermal scanners, and cameras, setting himself as a non-scan target. He then began monitoring every move of the mercenaries around him, feeding this data back to himself in real time.
If they tried to make a sudden move against him, Xu Yang would react before they could.
Extreme caution...
"There seems to be a minefield ahead. They checked the mines this morning," Xu Yang, reading through the security logs, caught a hint.
Some security equipment operated independently, beyond control from the network.
"I'll mark them." Bax's eye implants began to scan, clicking away, and 25 red dots lit up on the ground ahead, indicating the location of the smart mines.
"You're quite calm," Matteo glanced at Xu Yang, "I thought you'd be a bit flustered."
"The money is almost in hand," Xu Yang said, "why wouldn't I be careful?"
"That's the attitude I want to see... Think about it, Xu, the Witch is an endless treasure that will make all of us happy." Matteo led them to a downward slope and stopped, "… This is where the Ancient Witch lies."
Xu Yang saw a blurry light emanating from within; it wasn't produced by artificial technology, and he couldn't scan for any device information.
Matteo gave Bax a look, and Bax operated a small transmitter he carried, quickly sending out a message.
Xu Yang covertly intercepted the information flow; the message was summoning a large Shuttle Machine.
In just seven minutes, the Shuttle Machine would arrive at the scene automatically, aiding their evacuation.
The plan was indeed meticulous, and there must be a team outside waiting for them. They were close to success, I was just a temporary component in their plan, hoping to live to take the money.
"Let's go." Matteo rushed into the slope, and Xu Yang, urged by the mercenaries, followed suit.
The group descended approximately fifty meters, arriving at an ancient tomb chamber.
The entrance was already damaged, with tall and thick walls on all sides, painted with ancient, vivid colors and crude, simplistic lines, the content of which was indiscernible.
The tomb chamber was lit by constantly burning candelabras, a total of sixteen bronze candles, their flames flickering and illuminating the large ancient coffin in the center.
Above hung long bronze chains, suspending an ancient brazier, exuding a dizzying aroma, seemingly burning some sort of incense and herbs, the fuels reduced to ashes after centuries.
Except for Matteo, all the mercenaries put on oxygen masks to filter out the hallucinogenic gases in the air. Xu Yang also covered his nose and mouth, knowing that the gas was harmful and offered no benefits.
Whoever built this tomb wished for whatever was in the coffin to be sealed beneath the ground forever, lost in dreams and delusions.
After looking around, Xu Yang's gaze shifted to the coffin.
In an instant, he felt a chilling terror deep within.
It was human instinct, a defensive consciousness inherited from his genes, like being watched by tigers or lions, with adrenaline pumping, nerves on high alert, ready to fight or flee at any moment.
The thing sleeping in the coffin was far more terrifying than any beast.
"Gentlemen, we've made it," Matteo said as he stepped toward the ancient coffin, "A multimillion-dollar operation, the coordination of hundreds, after a series of sleepless nights, anxiety, panic, repeated reassurances and planning... we've finally found the key to Paradise."
The moment had finally arrived.
Xu Yang held his breath.
Matteo walked up to the ancient coffin.
"Should we open it?" one of the mercenaries asked.
"Logically, we should keep it intact, but... the container can't be moved." Matteo gauged the weight of the coffin.
Xu Yang noticed the bottom of the coffin was fused with the ground, inseparable, forcing Matteo to give up the idea of taking the coffin and instead, he pushed the lid with force.
As the lid moved, the flames in the candelabras flickered, as if in fear, as if in warning.
Now Xu Yang could vaguely make out the contents of the frescoes -- they were natural disasters, sacrifice, people suffering in fires, the annihilation of all things in glorious light.
However, his attention was no longer on the frescoes.
After Matteo fully opened the coffin, Xu Yang couldn't help but lean in for a closer look, and the mercenaries also put down their guns and unconsciously approached.
A Witch slept within the coffin.
She was exquisitely beautiful, with disheveled chestnut hair, her hands by her sides, dressed in a gorgeous dark red gown with golden sleeves embroidered with patterns, fringes, jewels, and gold wires at the hem – ornate and complex, elegant and dignified, possessing a magnificent quality that modern technology could never replicate. Like a painting, like an untouchable dream.
The coffin was filled with golden and silver ornaments and jewel-encrusted Holy Grails, each a priceless ancient treasure.
Upon close examination of the Witch's posture, Xu Yang noticed her chest rise and fall slightly, her nostrils flutter.
The Witch's face was lifelike, breathing in her sleep, as if she had been dreaming for a thousand years.
She was still alive.
"Take the target," Matteo commanded, and four mercenaries acted together, lifting the Witch out of the coffin and moving quickly to the exit.
In an age when one could easily change facial features, a beautiful appearance wasn't uncommon, yet Xu Yang could never forget the Witch's unique visage.
He held his breath, stepping back.
The moment the Ancient Witch was taken out of the tomb chamber, Xu Yang looked back to see all sixteen ancient candelabras go out at once, plunging the chamber into pure darkness, the brazier above ceasing to burn, leaving behind crimson embers.
They could only pretend they hadn't seen the scene.