Translator-Rhapsodite
Editor- Koneko, Proofreader-adjective
On May 20th, Ji Dong and the others boarded the off-road vehicle that was arranged at Site 9 and headed towards the already fallen Site 7.
Apart from the five of them, there was also the Poseidon Team and a team of five called “Adversity Adventurers” from the Foundation, designated as Epsilon-8, as well as a technical group responsible for communication and support.
This group of twenty-two people was divided into different teams and each boarded four vehicles. Ji Dong and the others couldn’t find an opportunity to have an open conversation with the five members of the Poseidon Team. This delay lasted until May 21st.
At nine o’clock in the morning, the special forces arrived at a low mountain about ten kilometers away from Site 7.
“We can’t get any closer.”
The technical team found a flat and open area on the hilltop to set up camp and set up the communication and photography equipment.
“This is already the limit. If we get any closer, we will be affected by the [Queen Bee’s] power and unconsciously want to enter Site 7.”
As the logistics personnel explained, they began to distribute the equipment.
Each member of the special forces team received a long and short gun, along with ammunition. They were also provided with energy bars, drinking water, supplies, a head-mounted camera, and a communication device. Once activated, they could transmit real-time images and sounds back to the logistics base, capturing everything they saw and heard.
In addition to these supplies, the logistics team prepared a container specifically designed to cage the [Queen Bee].
It looked like a small thermos at first glance, but it was a cylindrical container called a cryogenic bottle.
“Just catch the [Queen Bee] and stuff it into the cryogenic bottle. Then, by twisting the button on the bottle’s body, the inside of the bottle will rapidly cool down to minus twenty-two degrees Celsius within three seconds, immediately putting the [Queen Bee] into hibernation.”
Once activated, each cryogenic bottle can maintain an ultra-low temperature for about eight hours, which is enough for them to leave Station 7 with the[Queen Bee] and return to the safe zone.
“Oh, and there’s this…”
One of the logistics personnel opened a plastic-wrapped leaden cipher box and took out black metal collars one by one.
“Mind-Blocking Collars.”
As he demonstrated how to wear the collar, he explained:
“They’re made of mind-blocking alloy and when worn around the neck, they effectively block the mental control effects of most SCP objects. However, there’s one condition—the maximum duration of continuous wear should not exceed six hours.”
Fan Hemian picked up a collar, unfastened the buckle, and began examining its overall structure. “Why can’t it exceed six hours?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Because mind-blocking alloy has side effects,” the logistics personnel replied.
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“Hahaha, don’t worry, don’t worry.”
The logistics personnel in the Foundation showed extra care towards Fan Hemian, the only beautiful girl in the team. Seeing her disgusted expression, he quickly reassured her, saying:
“We have conducted experiments using a large number of D-class personnel. With a collar made of 100 grams of mind-blocking alloy like this, as long as the contact time does not exceed six hours, it will not have any irreversible effects on the user’s mental and psychological state.”
He said, putting a collar around his neck and sincerely assuring, “Don’t worry, there won’t be any problems!”
The participants of the [Peach Blossom Spring] each took a collar and, after watching the Foundation’s Adversity Adventurers team put them on, fastened the collars around their necks.
Whether it was psychological or not, Ji Dong felt that after wearing this mind-blocking device, everything around him seemed to become quieter.
This feeling didn’t mean that his hearing had been affected.
He could still hear other people’s voices, with no change in volume. But Ji Dong somehow experienced a sense of meditation in the bustling city, feeling as if everything he saw, heard, and felt was veiled by a layer of mist, as if it had all become distant and unreal.
Until Ren Jianmo gently tugged at his hand, Ji Dong suddenly snapped out of that mysterious feeling.
“Alright, everyone, let’s make the most of our time and get ready to go!”
The staff urged them:
“You can drive there but remember not to get too close to the station. Also, make sure to keep track of time. Whether the mission is successful or not, you must return here within six hours.”
He turned around and pointed to several communication devices set up in front of the tents, then reminded them:
“Also, stay in touch with us at all times.”
The fifteen members of the three teams headed to their respective off-road vehicles.
Before they set off, the captain of the Poseidon Team suddenly stopped Ji Dong.
“Your mission should be the same as ours.”
The bearded man spoke abruptly.
Everyone, including the inexperienced members of the Adversity Adventurers, came to a halt and focused their gaze on the captain of the Poseidon Team and Ji Dong.
“We don’t beat around the bush.”
The bearded man’s eyes gleamed as he succinctly said,
“May the best person win. What do you think?”
“Alright.”
Ji Dong looked directly into his eyes and nodded slowly, “We think the same way.”
The bearded man glanced at Ji Dong, observing his youthful face and curly hair, and couldn’t help but feel a hint of disdain. “Alright, we’ll keep our word. Just don’t blame us if we don’t leave anything for you.”
With that, he didn’t waste any more time with Ji Dong and turned to his team, waving his hand. “Let’s go!”
———————
As usual, Mo Tiangen was responsible for driving the off-road vehicle.
Their destination was the western entrance of Site 7.
“Our top priority is to secure two SCP items from the Beta containment center.”
Inside the vehicle, sister Fan reiterated their action plan:
“In any case, we must swiftly get our hands on SCP 266, the [Goblet of Dionysus], and SCP 808, the [Dragon-Binding Rope], without any delay.”’
This was the plan they had carefully devised based on the catalog and map.
These two items were located in the Beta containment center, which was relatively close to the western entrance. These objects were just harmless little things—once they get their hands on them, they’ll have completed two-thirds of the [Peach Blossom Spring]’s mission.
Thinking about this, everyone felt uplifted and energized.
When there was a clear goal and action plan, people always seem to have more motivation. Even if they were about to enter a dangerous place filled with puppet bees and monster-infested dens, they didn’t feel fear or confusion.
Ji Dong reached out and held Ren Jianmo’s hand, encouraging the others:
“Come on, we can clear this level!”
Mo Tiangen and Fan Hemian nodded in agreement.
“Wait a moment.”
But it was at this moment that Ren Jianmo suddenly spoke up:
“There’s something I must tell you all.”
Ji Dong, Fan Hemian and Fan Luming all turned their heads in surprise, even Mo Tiangen glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Dong tightened his grip on Ren Jianmo’s hand.
Ren Jianmo looked back at him and said slowly, “My ability, it’s no longer working.”
Everyone: “!!?”
Fan Luming exclaimed in shock, “What do you mean?”
Ren Jianmo pointed to his neck and said, “After wearing this collar, my ability stopped working.”
He turned his head to look at Ji Dong and demonstrated his situation.
Sure enough, Ji Dong saw Ren Jianmo’s right eye change from pitch-black to a light amber color, just like before when he used his ability. But even though Ji Xiao’niao waited and waited, there was no “sound” that came into his mind.
Ji Dong: “…”
An eerie silence fell over the car.
After about half a minute, Sister Fan sighed deeply and said, “I didn’t expect the mind-blocking device to have this issue…”
She frustratedly punched the seat, “Now, in Site 7, we can’t rely on Mr. Ren’s ability.”
Besides the formidable opponents at Site 7, they also had those five mysterious participants.
The two teams were competing for a limited number of SCP items and they needed to secure and bring them out of Station 7 to complete the [Peach Blossom Spring]’s mission.
If there was a real showdown between the two teams, facing human opponents, there was no ability more convenient and useful than Ren Jianmo’s power.
Originally, he could simply make the opponent lose their fighting ability with just eye contact, giving the team a significant advantage effortlessly.
However, now that the mind-blocking device was in play, Ren Jianmo’s ability was completely ineffective. If they encountered the Poseidon team while trying to secure an item, Ji Dong and the others had no choice but to rely on brute force.
“Don’t worry,” Ji Dong reassured, holding Ren Jianmo’s hand. “Since that’s the case, let’s adjust our plan on the fly.”
He turned to the rest of the team and said,
“Before understanding the opponent’s combat power, let’s try to avoid direct conflict with Group B… Once we have the [Goblet of Dionysus] and the [Dragon-Binding Rop], we can head to Alpha Station to get the uncontaminated herbicide for SCP 1003.”
Everyone agreed without any objections and took the opportunity to discuss the details of their operation.
Ren Jianmo remained silent, gazing out the window.
He knew that this was another deliberate [Film] arranged for him as part of the [Peach Blossom Spring] mission.
Here, his ability, [God Said ‘Let There Be Light] could not be used, effectively disabling at least half of his combat power and losing the ability to protect his comrades.
“Exactly,” Ren Jianmo smirked, his lips curling slightly as he chuckled coldly.
——Some ‘people’ don’t want him to continue living and have been trying to find ways to kill him…
