C3 Understood

"Cough, cough, cough, my fellow pilot," the old professor said to Egil as they sat in a snowmobile, his voice barely above a whisper. "What should we do?"

"..."

"Before we departed, the leader of the garden instructed me to consult you if we encountered any danger."

"…Leader of the garden? Which garden? A nursery?"

"Cough, cough, cough… Azure Dragon, the Azure Dragon Garden…"

"The premier institution. Forgive my oversight!" Egil feigned a dramatic lament.

"Cough, cough, cough, the disgrace!" The old professor's face turned crimson as he coughed.

"Since your leader was so insistent, Mr. Professor, please enlighten me. Why such a caution? What is the leadership at the garden concerned about?"

"Cough, cough, Willoughby, Willoughby University."

"Ah, the foremost university in Vrimen!" Egil sighed once more.

The old professor glanced cautiously at the front, where the Rapper was at the helm of their snowmobile. "Yes, they're likely the ones."

Egil smiled. "Isn't it said that scholarship knows no borders? That in the quest for truth, scholars worldwide unite, solely devoted to the betterment of all humanity?"

The old professor hung his head with a sigh. "Academic competition... it's a matter of national destiny."

Egil's smile faded. "I see."

Suddenly, the Rapper driving the snowmobile glanced back at them, and Egil and the old professor quickly resumed their silence.

The snowmobile began to tilt as it entered a spiraling descent.

After looping around more than a dozen times, they came to a halt in front of a large elevator, which, despite its size, could only fit one snowmobile at a time. Consequently, a queue of snowmobiles had formed.

Egil surveyed the vast space. This expansive Underground Base was a testament to Willoughby University's deep pockets. It was no surprise that they were the world's leading university, three centuries ahead of the rest. With Vrimen's privilege of issuing global currency, Willoughby University never had to fret over finances. That was their greatest stronghold.

The Azure Dragon Garden, as the contender, had a long road ahead. Perhaps this was why the professor and his team embarked on such a bold and reckless Arctic expedition.

Regrettably, their hasty dash into the Arctic had led to this predicament.

Reflecting on the screams and wails from the plane, Egil no longer found any humor in the situation. Instead, he felt a heavy sense of unease.

At last, it was Egil's turn to board the elevator with the snowmobile. As they descended, the soil layers zoomed by on either side of the elevator structure. The old professor sat up attentively, observing the passing earth and rattling off various geological terms. To Egil, it sounded like gibberish.

After about three minutes, the elevator jolted to a halt. The snowmobile's engine roared to life, and they exited the elevator. They entered a vast underground space, illuminated by bright lights, with figures in white coats moving about.

Egil leaned out of the snowmobile, marveling at the marble floors and ancient buildings that mirrored the layout of the Azure Dragon Garden above ground.

Pulling back, he noticed the old professor's lips quivering with excitement. "It all makes sense now, the true relics are underground! My research was correct!"

The professor burst into laughter. "The surface relic is just a replica of these streets! I was right all along... Hahaha."

Egil joined in with a laugh. "Now I get it, I understand too! Hahaha."

His laughter caused the old professor to pause awkwardly. "My dear pilot, what exactly do you understand?"

Egil's laughter was tinged with sarcasm. "I've realized why they've detained us."

"What reason?" the old professor asked urgently.

Egil remained silent as the snowmobile came to a stop in what appeared to be the plaza of the relic.

Once all the students had gathered in the plaza, a group approached with a box of bread and several boxes of water. Egil was the first to reach for the bread, hungrily taking a bite, and then he opened a bottle of water to quench his thirst.

The underground air was warm and slightly oppressive. Ivar loosened his collar, his mouth full of bread, and said, "Uh, professor, it seems we've walked into a trap. The Willoughby folks have outsmarted us."

The old professor, clutching only a bottle of water, sighed, "Indeed, we let our guard down."

Ivar exclaimed, "How could we have been negligent? It's their cunning that's to blame! They've known about this place for years and kept it secret, failing to report it to the international community!"

"Exactly!"

"Indeed, they lack any sense of international academic integrity!"

"Despicable Willoughby folks!"

The students were seething with righteous anger, while the old professor simply sighed.

Ivar rallied the group, "Listen up, everyone! They've lured us here for our research findings! Rest assured, Professor, we won't divulge any secrets!"

"Absolutely!"

"Anyone who leaks information is a betrayer!"

"A turncoat!"

The students' indignation continued unabated.

Egil couldn't suppress his laughter once more. "Pfft, haha!"

Annoyed, the students turned and glared at him.

"What's so funny?" Ivar demanded.

Egil finished his water with a gulp. "I'm laughing at the innocence of the students! Do you really think a mere conversation can keep a secret?"

With a dismissive gesture, Egil tossed the empty bottle aside. "Since when has anyone ever used their mouth as a tool for secrecy? Historically, mouths are better known for spilling secrets!"

One student, agitated, accused, "You're spouting nonsense! Perhaps you're the one looking to surrender!"

"No, that's not it," Ivar surprisingly interjected, defending Egil. "I, Ivar, assure you he won't surrender. With his limited academic background, he knows nothing about the ruins. He'd be of no use to Willoughby University!"

The students burst into laughter at Ivar's remark.

"Ivar! Watch your words!" The old professor intervened, then turned to Egil, "And you, our pilot friend, what is your surname?"

Egil replied, "Feng."

The professor addressed everyone, "The head of Azure Dragon Garden has informed me that Brother Feng is part of the Night Division, here to ensure our safety."

Egil's expression grew somber. "I'm just a retired soldier, not part of any special forces."

"Night Division!"

"Could it be the Azure Dragon?"

"Wow!"

Merely the mention of "Night Division" shifted the students' perceptions of Egil completely.

The female students' eyes sparkled as they began murmuring among themselves.

"Wow, no wonder he struts around with such arrogance."

"Exactly, the guys in the Night Division really have a unique flair."

"Look at that, he's got the build of an alpha. Sss, I'm salivating over here."

...

"Cough, cough." Egil's head was starting to feel a bit too big: "Regardless, when I said you were leaking secrets, I wasn't making a joke."

"Hmph, that's absurd," Ivar retorted, still defiant.

Egil challenged them, "You're all highly educated, top-notch students. Have you cracked the prisoner's dilemma yet?"

The students immediately went quiet.