Chapter 641: Ghost Island

Ye Mo conjectured that it might be a Northern Sand base.

Han Zaixin continued, “A few months ago, a fast jet ski appeared near the Beaufort Sea with a dying man aboard. The jet ski passed a cruiser, and the man was rescued. The first thing he asked for, once able to move, was a computer. With it, he transmitted a massive amount of images and intelligence—research data from labs under Ice Helm Island. A group of scientists were researching various advanced weapons there. The intel he sent was only a fraction of the total, yet it was incredibly valuable. Shockingly, one image was of a flying saucer under construction—the Space Flower.”

Ye Mo understood that someone had escaped from Northern Sand and wanted to expose their activities to prevent further actions.

Han Zaixin said solemnly, “I believe you’ve deduced this, but it was a Northern Sand base, and that man was a defector. I don’t know how he escaped, but Northern Sand was indeed building world-threatening weapons at that base. Before he could finish transmitting the images, the cruiser was rammed and sank.”

“Rammed? Not attacked by a weapon?” Ye Mo asked in surprise.

Han Zaixin shook his head. “It was as if it struck a reef. A small number of the crew survived, but the defector, and the data he possessed, were lost.”

“But the transmitted data prompted many countries to seek the Space Flower and other weapons, right?” Ye Mo sneered.

Han Zaixin smiled bitterly. “Russia, the U.S., and Canada immediately dispatched ships. The Ice Helm Island base destroyed most of its facilities and transferred some key materials, but they ran out of time. Russian and U.S. ships soon attacked the island. The island was primarily a research facility, lacking military defenses. Resistance was quickly overcome. However, they found nothing but remnants of the Space Flower.”

“If they found nothing, why send people?” Ye Mo asked, bewildered.

Han Zaixin sighed. “Northern Sand didn't have time for a complete evacuation, and no one believed they would destroy such valuable research unless it was a last resort. They assumed the data’s custodian was hidden somewhere. More countries joined the effort, eventually agreeing each would send a special squad to the island. The agreement was that, barring radiation or human-extinction weapons, each country could keep what its squad found.”

“Did none of the special forces survive?” Ye Mo asked incredulously.

Han Zaixin nodded. “Not a single squad returned. More personnel were sent, but they also disappeared. With mounting disappearances, many countries withdrew. If it weren’t for the possibility of survivors, the island would likely have been destroyed.”

Ye Mo sensed something was amiss. First, how could Northern Sand allow another escape after Ye Xing’s? And this escapee brought substantial intelligence. Second, Ice Helm Island, while large, was an ice island—no forests, so how could people disappear so easily? Third, the formed alliance would at most propose an international team to search such a critical location. They wouldn't agree to a free-for-all. Importantly, disappearances began only after the elite squads were deployed.

“Who proposed sending in elite forces?” Ye Mo asked.

Han Zaixin looked at Ye Mo in shock. “When the elite forces started disappearing, suspicions arose, but the senator who made the proposal died suddenly.”

Ye Mo pondered. The squads sent would be elite. If it were a trap, why would Northern Sand want these elites? They weren't scientists.

Han Zaixin said, “While Northern Sand has abducted scientists, they’ve never targeted our special forces elites. Perhaps this isn’t related to Northern Sand? Something might have happened on the island.”

Ye Mo agreed, shaking his head. “You’re right. It would be pointless. Even if they could use them for training, or for assassinating Presi-”

Ye Mo stopped. What if they wanted to assassinate Ye Xing? Ye Xing’s value to Luo Yue was immense. Without him, Luo Yue might have lost the last battle.

But then, Ye Mo considered it might be overthinking. No one should know Ye Xing was with Luo Yue.

But what if Northern Sand did? Ye Mo knew his theory was far-fetched, but what if Northern Sand did this to kill Ye Xing?

At the last Luo Yue battle, Luo Yue dominated due to Ye Xing’s electronic interference machine. Would Northern Sand suspect Ye Xing had defected to Luo Yue?

Even if they wanted to assassinate Ye Xing, it wouldn't be easy. Random individuals couldn't approach Luo Yue's core region.

Unless Luo Yue suddenly collapsed, but that would require another war.

War?

Ye Mo considered the recent attacks on his businesses. If Northern Sand was behind it, war might be imminent. If Luo Yue fought multiple countries, even its strength would have limits.

A cold sweat broke out on Ye Mo's back. If his enemy meticulously planned this, they were incredibly calculating. Such people existed—Dongfang Xi, for instance—but they were rare.

All this to attack Ye Xing? Ye Mo shook his head. He was overthinking. No plan would rely on so many coincidences. Even if they wanted Ye Xing, they wouldn’t do all this.

Regardless, Ye Mo had to contact Xu Yuehua, Xu Ping, and Ye Xing.

Just as Ye Mo prepared to call Xu Yuehua, his phone rang.