CHAPTER 448: CHAPTER 416 UNEXPECTED GAINS

Mountain Eagle was fueled by anger, entering a highly tense state as he maneuvered through various shadows, diligently gathering evidence.

The whole laboratory, including researchers, armed personnel, and test subjects, housed over 300 people.

Yet, this was only the upper level; the mountain’s largest space harbored over a hundred training camps plus security personnel needed to control the ferocious Evil Beasts and maintain the smooth operation of power generation equipment.

When Mountain Eagle descended lower, he hadn’t anticipated that the mountain’s interior harbored geothermal resources, causing the temperature inside to be 5 to 8 degrees warmer than outside.

Simultaneously, a considerable amount of melted snow water flowed from above, descending through cracks and pooling on the ground at depressions, flowing into a hidden river directed towards a wetland marsh.

Assisted by Golden Cicada, Mountain Eagle moved effortlessly in the dimly lit areas, always adept at avoiding hazards and sidestepping potentially watched zones.

He toured the vast mountainous space, capturing abundant video evidence...

These seemingly robust beasts appeared oddly frail within their cages.

Rash genetic modifications without targeted training or pharmaceutical intervention caused these powerful Monsters to be severely unbalanced.

Their bodies couldn’t support the energy required by large muscle masses; their skeletons inadequately supported the reactionary forces from their robust strength, and internal organ vascular pressures were too high, making it difficult for them to sustain high-energy states.

Only due to the cave’s somewhat suitable temperature, they didn’t need to burn fat to power the frightening muscles; otherwise, they couldn’t last long.

Merely shifting positions, Mountain Eagle witnessed the morning’s Siberian Tiger, screaming in pain before succumbing to cardiac failure within its cage.

The tiger’s death drew the guards’ attention. Before they could investigate, Mountain Eagle hugged the shadowy walls and moved close to the entrance of the hidden river.

The supposed river entrance consisted of a hundred-square-meter water pond, the center harboring a large drain where melting ice water collected into the underground river.

Ultrasonic waves travel faster and further in water than in air; when Mountain Eagle directed Golden Cicada’s detection towards the bottom of the pond, soon a winding underground space appeared on his tactical glasses.

Comparing direction and altitude, Mountain Eagle quickly determined the hidden river led to the marsh on the West Side.

Initially, Mountain Eagle simply wanted to use the river’s noise and surrounding odd stones to conceal his movement while scouting the river course for a more secretive passage, aiding future access to this location.

Unexpectedly, he discovered an extensive amount of Gold at the bottom of the pond...

Not mere golden sand or Gold Mine, but a large pool of molten lava-like Gold.

Mountain Eagle could misidentify any metal, but never Gold.

Given the Sergeant System needed Gold with over 70% purity to activate sufficient equipment, Mountain Eagle had a natural acuity for the hues and essence of Gold.

The discovery of Gold incited an indescribable thrill, as memories of the women and children upstairs triggered intense emotional turmoil within him...

Now, the sudden appearance of Gold reminded Mountain Eagle not to forget his promise to that child.

For him, Gold represented power!

And the ultimate significance of power was to protect and defy the malice of this world!

Just as the Gold absorbed Mountain Eagle’s attention, a young child’s scream echoed from a short distance...

"Ah..."

A child in a pale blue hospital gown, with tousled hair, darted from the rear door of a cage holding a small wolf. Agilely avoiding several guards, the child was finally tripped by a sudden electric prod...

The high-voltage jolt elicited a painful scream from the child...

The impatient guard advanced, yanking the child up by his collar, only to be bitten forcefully on the wrist.

"Ah..."

The pained guard released his grip, swinging a harsh slap that left the child bloodied, tumbling to the side.

Seizing the electric prod again, the guard aimed for another strike...

But the child rolled on the ground, dodging the prod and leaping to a nearby cage, pushing open its bolt amid the horrified cries...

A weak cougar sprang from the open cage, instantly pouncing on the guard holding the electric prod, tearing open his throat amid the crowd’s alarmed shouts.

Blood spattered as the child screamed and ran toward the pond, either his scent more appealing or the guards’ firearms fearsome, the cougar pursued the child after killing the guard, powering its limbs toward him.

Watching the guards nearby raise their rifles, Mountain Eagle sighed, darted forward, scooping up the child, shielding him in his arms, crouching with his back as a shield against the deadly bullets.

The bulletproof capability of the Flexible Armor sufficed, but the impact still caused Mountain Eagle to momentarily lose balance.