nycdaug Chapter 299 Lucia's Memories
Chapter 299 Lucia's Memories
Outside the temporary cordon along the coast, the public has been evacuated.
Horii took a deep breath and, according to the pre-arranged plan, remotely started an Enoden tram that was parked on the platform and made it sound its whistle.
"Waaaaah—!"
The long, slightly melancholic sound of the ship's horn echoed once again between the sea and the sky.
The sound traveled into the sea, as if it had triggered some invisible switch.
At first, the sea surface only showed unusual ripples, but soon the ripples turned into violent rolling! The calm seawater surged as if it were being boiled, and waves several meters high crashed against the embankment.
Under the tense gazes of everyone, a pair of enormous tentacles, with round protrusions at the tips and covered with delicate patterns, slowly and hesitantly emerged from the churning seawater! Next came an even larger body, a giant shell covered with beautiful spiral patterns and shimmering with a pearly luster, which rose to the surface, followed by a soft and huge head.
A giant sea snail, far larger than the previous cosmic snail and more ancient and majestic in form, was fully displayed before the Victory Team! Its huge eyes, like deep-sea gems, were gentle yet tinged with a hint of confusion as it surveyed the unfamiliar world around it.
"My God...it really is a snail!" Lina exclaimed as she looked at the giant beast shimmering with a dreamlike glow under the starlight, but her tone was more one of awe than fear.
Shinjo scratched his head, looking puzzled: "But...aren't snails afraid of water? How come this big guy lives in the sea?"
Upon hearing this, Horii immediately switched to science popularization mode, giving Shinjo a helpless glare: "Shinjo, you really need to brush up on your biology knowledge! There are many kinds of snails, some of which live on land, and of course, there are also 'sea snails' that are adapted to the marine environment!"
Your question is as absurd as asking 'Does Ultraman get cold?' Just then, Daigo pointed to the sky and shouted, 'Look! The commander is here!' The two Flying Swallow fighters descended and landed smoothly in the nearby open area.
The person who stepped off the Victory Flying Swallow No. 1 was none other than the deputy captain, Zong Fang.
The person who stepped off another aircraft, Victory Flying Swallow II, seemed somewhat unfamiliar to Daigo and the others.
He was a tall, gentle-looking young man wearing a TPC uniform, but his demeanor was slightly different from that of the combat personnel they usually encountered.
Vice Captain Munakata stepped forward and gave a brief introduction: "This is Mitsukuni Shizuma, an elite member of the intelligence agency."
The young man named Shizuma Mitsukuni immediately gave everyone a standard salute, then bowed slightly, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement, yet he tried hard to remain composed: "Greetings, seniors! I've long admired your names! As instructed by Senior Yoruaki, Victory Swallow II has been safely delivered to the scene. I have other intelligence missions to handle, so I must take my leave now!" With that, he bowed again, turned nimbly, and quickly departed.
As Daigo watched Shizuma Mitsukuni leave, a strange feeling welled up inside him, as if this person carried a familiar yet inexplicable aura.
The giant sea snail seemed unfamiliar and uneasy with its surroundings. It emitted a low, mournful sound, like a deep-sea horn, and its massive body swayed slightly, causing the surrounding seawater to ripple again.
But it did not show any obvious intention to attack; it just seemed to be searching for something with its huge eyes.
“It looks… confused, sad?” Lina said softly, guided by her woman’s intuition.
Horii adjusted the detector: "Life response is stable, energy readings are calm, and no aggressive biological fluctuations have been detected. It... seems to be truly non-hostile."
However, Shinjo gripped the Hyper gun tightly, his brow furrowed: "We can't let our guard down! After all, it's an unknown creature of such enormous size. If it gets out of control, the consequences will be unimaginable! We should follow the plan and launch a deterrent attack first to restrict its movements!"
Just as Xincheng raised his gun, aimed at the sea snail's tentacles, and prepared to fire.
Daigo raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Don't provoke the monster. Let's see if we can communicate with it using the general language translator."
Munakata: "Daigo is right. The Victory Flying Swallow No. 1 is equipped with a general language translator. Daigo and Shinjo, you will pilot the Victory Flying Swallow No. 1."
"Lina, Horii, and I piloted the Victory Flying Swallow II."
"Yes!"
The group boarded two planes as assigned.
On the other side, at the natural disaster resettlement site.
According to the explicit instructions given by Lin Yeming in his capacity as "Special Advisor to the Department of External Life Negotiations," the core mission of Shizuma Mitsukuni's trip was to formally award photographer Hoshino a "TPC Special Contribution Medal" and a letter of thanks signed by Captain Iruma Megumi in a public setting with a certain number of media present.
This is not a simple commendation.
Lin Yeming's considerations were quite profound: First, to salvage their reputation. After the news that the GUTS team had "failed to find the monster" during their last mission was circulated on a small scale, Mr. Hoshino and his family, especially his son, A-Xiang, suffered unnecessary pressure and criticism.
This time, the TPC's high-ranking representative, Mitsukuni Shizuma, although young, represented the will of the intelligence agency and even higher levels. His personal public commendation was tantamount to officially vindicating Mr. Hoshino's "false report" incident and washing away the stigma of "lying" and "creating panic."
Secondly, it provides reassurance and sets an example. This high-profile commendation sends a clear message to the public: TPC highly values every citizen's report of unusual situations, and regardless of the final investigation results, this vigilance and timely reporting deserve encouragement and reward.
This aims to eliminate public concerns about remaining silent for fear of being blamed for "false alarms," and to truly extend TPC's defense network to the civilian population, creating a denser early warning network.
Although young, Shizuma Mitsukuni, as an elite member of the intelligence agency, deeply understood the tactical and strategic significance of Lin Yeming's move.
He straightened his crisp uniform, made sure the TPC badge on his chest was straight, and then strode confidently into the area that was temporarily serving as a disaster relief center.
Inside, some residents who had completed evacuation registration but had not yet returned home had gathered, along with several local media reporters who had rushed to the scene after hearing the news.
Mr. Hoshino and his son, A-Xiang, were also specially invited to the scene. The two of them had some unease and doubt on their faces, not understanding why they were called here separately.
Mitsukuni Shizuma walked to the makeshift podium, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Hoshino and his son, a solemn yet gentle smile on his face. He cleared his throat and spoke in a clear, strong voice, ensuring everyone present could hear him: "Mr. Hoshino, and fellow citizens, good afternoon."
I am Mitsukuni Shizuma from the TPC Intelligence Bureau.
Today, on behalf of the headquarters, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude and highest respect to Mr. Hoshino on behalf of the Director of TPC Far East Headquarters, the Victory Team, and Mr. Lin Yeming, Special Advisor of the External Life Negotiation Department. He specifically mentioned Lin Yeming's name to emphasize the level and special nature of this award. His words attracted everyone's attention.
The reporters' cameras immediately pointed at him and a somewhat bewildered Mr. Hoshino. Shizuma Mitsukuni solemnly took out a gleaming medal and a roll of gold-embossed certificate of appreciation from his briefcase.
"In the previous report on unusual events, Mr. Hoshino, with his professional sensitivity and strong sense of public responsibility, reported the suspicious situation to TPC at the first opportunity."
Although the immediate investigation failed to confirm the threat, the clues provided by Mr. Hoshino, and his subsequent persistence and vigilance, offered crucial initial direction and perspective for our subsequent understanding of a new and extremely covert potential threat.
He approached Hoshino, and amidst the stares and the clicks of camera shutters, pinned the medal to Hoshino's chest and presented him with a letter of appreciation. "This 'Special Contribution Medal,' and this letter of appreciation personally signed by Captain Megumi, are not only an award for Mr. Hoshino, but also a commitment from TPC to all citizens: We cherish and thank every partner who remains vigilant and willing to fight alongside us! Whatever you see or hear, if you sense anything unusual, please, please contact TPC immediately! Every report you make could be crucial in protecting our shared home!"
He turned to the media and the public, his voice even more impassioned: "TPC Victory Team, and the giants of light we rely on, their battles cannot be separated from the eyes and ears of every citizen! Mr. Hoshino is our role model!" Mr. Hoshino was so excited that he was a little flustered. He tightly held the medal and certificate of appreciation, and looking at his son, A-Xiang, in the audience with his bright eyes full of pride and even admiration, the grievances and pressure of the past few days instantly vanished, leaving only a heart full of warmth and excitement.
He kept saying, "Thank you... It's what I should do... Thank you TPC!" Ah Xiang squeezed next to his father, proudly puffing out his little chest, the shadow cast over him by his father's ridicule completely gone.
The surrounding crowd applauded enthusiastically, seeing that TPC was not aloof but truly valued and reciprocated the assistance from the citizens.
Mitsukuni Shizuma perfectly completed the task assigned to him by Yeming Lin. He not only comforted and rewarded a responsible citizen, but also cleverly used this opportunity to conduct a successful public relations campaign, strengthening the bond of trust between TPC and the public, and laying a more solid foundation of public support for dealing with more complex and unpredictable threats in the future.
After doing all this, he nodded to Hoshino and his son again, then quietly left, as calm and efficient as when he arrived, to carry out his next "intelligence mission".
However, this intelligence mission left him with some doubts.
However, he remained steadfast in his commitment to carrying it out.
Lucia stood at the window of her temporary residence, gazing at the enormous, snail-shaped beast on the beach that resembled a mountain range and radiated a soft glow. She was struck dumb, frozen in place.
Her shock didn't stem from the destructive oppression that monsters usually bring, but rather from an unbelievable sense of familiarity.
She turned around abruptly, grabbed Zara's arm (who was also staring in disbelief), and said in a trembling voice, "Zara! Look! Look at that... do you remember? That monster!"
Zara's eyes were fixed on the distant behemoth, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his face was filled with the same look of horror and reminiscence as Lucia's.
He nodded heavily, his voice dry but firm: "I remember! How could I not remember!" His gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, returning to those dark years when he was desperately fleeing in the universe.
"Isn't this the 'Star Wanderer' cosmic snail that we almost bumped into on our escape route back then?!"
Lucia's breathing became rapid, and that scene, buried deep in her memory and almost overshadowed by more tragic experiences that followed, resurfaced clearly.
That was after their home planet was destroyed by the Muzhen aliens. They were drifting aimlessly in the endless universe in a makeshift escape ship, evading their pursuers.
Just when they were on the verge of despair and their energy was about to run out, they stumbled into a strange star field.
Right in front of them, an unimaginably huge shadow silently floated in the sea of stars.
It's like a moving asteroid, no, much larger and more... alive than an asteroid.
The giant shell covered with ancient spiral patterns, and the slowly swaying organs that resembled the tentacles of a galaxy, were exactly the same as the giant beast that had appeared on the shore of Earth at this moment!
“Back then…back then, there were small frigates from the Muzhen aliens chasing us,” Lucia recalled, her voice still trembling with fear. “They were like mad dogs, relentlessly pursuing us, and they were about to enter our firing range…”
Zara interjected, her tone still carrying a lingering sense of disbelief: "But when they detected the energy reaction of that cosmic snail ahead... do you remember what they did?" Lucia took a deep breath: "They... they immediately stopped the pursuit! All the pursuing ships, as if they'd seen a ghost, frantically turned around and fled that star system at maximum speed! They didn't even dare to launch a symbolic attack!"
As young people watching from inside the lifeboat, they were completely unable to comprehend what was happening.
Why would the ferocious Muzhen aliens be so terrified of a seemingly slow and gentle behemoth, even daring not to cross the line?
Later, by sheer chance, they learned a few fragments of information from an ancient, wandering cosmic merchant. These cosmic snails are among the oldest life forms in the universe; they feed on some unknown energy, roam among the stars, and have near-eternal lifespans.
They are generally mild-mannered, not hostile to any civilization, but absolutely intolerant of invasion.
Their defensive capabilities are astonishing; it is said that the outer shell of an adult is strong enough to withstand energy impacts at the level of a star, and the energy they contain is unfathomable. The merchant said in a tone full of awe that in ancient cosmic legends, they are called "Guardians of the Starry Sky" or "Living Nebulae," and even some advanced cosmic civilizations treat them with great respect and would never provoke them.
"Even a predator like Mu Zhenxing wouldn't dare to provoke it easily... and now, it has actually appeared on Earth..."
"No, I must inform Ye Ming of this information!"
"We mustn't provoke this cosmic snail!"
"This cosmic snail is just a larva!"