Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

At this moment, the view outside the window changes once again.

The deep black was replaced by a hazy white with a bluish-green fluorescent sheen.

The massive, jagged outline of the iceberg, resembling the skeleton of a prehistoric behemoth, was revealed under the searchlight. The submarine was cautiously approaching the bottom of one of the largest icebergs ever built.

The boundary between the iceberg and the sea is not as smooth as one might imagine, but rather riddled with deep cracks and huge ice holes.

The submarine slid precisely into one of the inconspicuous ice cave entrances, partially obscured by thick floating ice.

The interior of the ice cave was much wider and deeper than it appeared from the outside. The submarine moved silently through the winding ice tunnels like a fish for several minutes.

Under the light, the ice wall refracts a dreamy, mesmerizing blue light, and occasionally you can see the cracks caused by the immense pressure, like a natural mural.

This scene felt extremely unreal to Xiao Ce.

The feeling was like a dream. Finally, the submarine came to a stop in front of a smooth, mirror-like black alloy wall that gleamed with a metallic sheen. In the center of the wall, a circular connector covered with intricate energy patterns slowly glowed with blue light.

"Dock complete. Airlocks synchronized. Welcome to the 'Ark' outpost, Polaris Harbor." As the electronic voice announced this, the hatch on the inside of the living quarters leading to the bow slid open.

Xiao Ce swallowed hard; the situation here was completely different from what he had imagined.

It was even far beyond his imagination...

Xiao Dingshan stood up, straightened his robes, and glanced at Xiao Ce: "We've arrived, Xiao Ce. Get ready to welcome a new world..."

Xiao Dingshan led them directly out of the living quarters, through a narrow passage, and to the airtight compartment at the front of the submarine. With a slight depressurization sound, the heavy, round alloy door in front swung open...

A sudden blast of icy air, far colder than the inside of a submarine or even the Arctic wind, carrying a metallic and strange smell of disinfectant, rushed in!

Outside the door is a wide covered bridge, also made of cold silver alloy.

The covered bridge connects to a huge, brightly lit, semi-circular dock platform.

At the end of the platform is a massive, arched gate, tens of meters high and seemingly endless, also cast from heavy alloy!

The massive gate was tightly shut, its surface smooth as a mirror, with only a complex emblem in the center constantly scanning with blue light...

This is a star map pattern surrounded by ice rings, which is the symbol of Al-Qaeda!

What made Xiao Ce's pupils shrink even more was the scene on the platform.

This place isn't deserted...

Several submersibles of different sizes and shapes were moored in an orderly manner on the dock. Some looked like enlarged "Probe-7", while others were more rugged and menacing, covered with thick armor plates.

Personnel dressed in uniform silver-gray overalls with blue trim are busy at work: some are inspecting equipment, while others are operating robotic arms to load and unload sealed containers, the containers bearing the base's emblem and complex codes...

Another patrol of soldiers, fully armed, dressed in light but sleek white exoskeleton armor and carrying uniquely designed energy weapons, was marching in orderly steps along a fixed route.

Their movements were efficient and quiet, and they communicated with each other using simple gestures or helmet-mounted communication. The entire dock area was busy yet orderly, exuding a cold and efficient military-industrial atmosphere.

This place is a modern port built in the heart of an iceberg and hidden beneath millennia of ice!

Although its scale cannot compare with that of a large seaport, its technological content and functionality far surpass any human facility that Xiao Ce had ever seen before.

To be precise, these were ports far superior to those in the timeline before Xiao Ce arrived. Of course, there were also some very modern ports, but Xiao Ce had no access to them...

At this moment, this port, like a cold heart, continues to beat in the extreme cold of the polar region.

"Polaris Port, one of al-Qaeda's hubs connecting it to the outside world, is also the outermost barrier of the 'Ark'."

Xiao Dingshan's voice rang in Xiao Ce's ears, explaining, "We'll complete the identity verification here later, and then we'll take internal transportation to the core area! 'Ark' City."

After a brief moment of surprise, Xiao Ce was chilled to the bone and began to shiver.

Seeing Xiao Ce's reaction, Xiao Dingshan finally realized what was happening and said to Xiao Ce, "Xiao Ce, look at my brain... People like us aren't afraid of the cold, but you're just an ordinary person..."

As he spoke, Xiao Dingshan tried to take off his robe: "Take my clothes and wear them first. After we confirm our identities, they have special robes to keep warm..."

Xiao Ce wanted to refuse, but it was really too cold here. In no time, the exposed parts of his body had turned purple from the cold.

Xiao Ce looked at the robots, and it seemed that his body was not quite normal either.

It's at least minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius here...

After Xiao Ce took the clothes and put them on, he looked at the robots, including Xiao Dingshan, who was wearing the original owner Xiao Ce's face. Their bodies seemed to be less agile.

"Do these low temperatures also affect you robots...?"

Xiao Dingshan smiled and nodded at Xiao Ce: "It does have an impact... but it's alright, this robot is just a vessel for me... You'll be able to see me soon..."

As he spoke, Xiao Dingshan glanced in one direction and then said, "They're here..."

After hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, Xiao Ce looked in the direction Xiao Dingshan indicated.

A group of people, resembling patrol soldiers, walked briskly toward the covered bridge where they were.

These people were dressed identically in futuristic silver-gray clothing with blue trim, and each wore a smock and a silver-gray mask that seemed to change color.

Judging from their attire, the person leading them, who appeared to be a leader, was a woman.

As she approached, Xiao Dingshan greeted her with a smile.

"Director Nova, this is Xiao Dingshan. This is my patrol mech. I've been ordered to invite some distinguished guests over." Xiao Dingshan then turned to Xiao Ce and began to introduce him: "This is Mr. Xiao Ce, our distinguished guest..."

Upon hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, the woman's silver-gray mask was suddenly undone, revealing her face.

Behind the mask was a beautiful woman, seemingly of mixed Eastern and Western descent, very beautiful, but with a cold expression and no emotion whatsoever.

At this moment, her gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, locked directly on Xiao Ce, her right hand seemingly casually resting on a device resembling a gun holster at her waist, in a state of alert.

At this moment, the woman's voice nodded to Xiao Dingshan: "Mr. Xiao Dingshan, I am checking your access permissions... please wait!"

To Xiao Ce's surprise, these women were speaking the language of the Xiao Kingdom.

Xiao Dingshan nodded respectfully.

The woman was quick, and after a short while she said to Xiao Dingshan, "Mr. Xiao Dingshan, welcome back."

"Mr. Xiao Ce, welcome to the Creation Base."

Before Xiao Ce could answer, the woman spoke again through her mask.

Target person Xiao Ce, status assessment: high risk of exposure to low temperatures. Immediately implement emergency protective measures.

Her voice came through the mask, carrying a processed, emotionless, cold tone, clear and indifferent.

Just as Xiao Ce was in a daze, two strong base personnel dressed in the same silver-gray and blue-trimmed overalls immediately stepped forward.

They spoke little, their movements swift and professional, each unfolding an item that was only the size of a palm when folded, but resembled a silver soft armor when unfolded.

“Mr. Xiao Ce, please cooperate.” One of them said in a calm voice, while pressing the “soft armor” in his hand close to Xiao Ce’s body.

The silver soft armor seemed to have a life of its own. As soon as it touched Xiao Ce's clothes (along with Xiao Dingshan's robe), it spread out like mercury, instantly covering his entire body, leaving only his head exposed.

A warm current immediately spread from the point of contact, quickly dispelling the biting chill, as if one were standing in the warm spring sunshine.

Even more amazing is that this "clothing" is extremely thin and does not hinder movement at all. Its surface flows with a very faint, almost invisible energy glow, as if it is constantly regulating the temperature.

Xiao Ce couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh, his frozen body quickly warming up.

He noticed that the other two robots were also covered with the same silver "outer shell," the friction noise from their joints disappeared, and their movements became smooth again.

Even Xiao Dingshan's robot carrier was handed a smaller silver patch, which was placed on his neck joint, and the frost quickly melted away.

The warmth made Xiao Ce feel much more comfortable, so he said to the woman in front of him, "Captain Nova, thank you!"

"Certain temperature protective suit for sub-zero environments, basic model."

Seeing Xiao Ce's surprised expression, Supervisor Nova offered a brief explanation, his tone devoid of warmth. "The Starport's temperature is consistently below -35°C, which is standard protection. The temperature in Ark City will be even lower later. Come with me to the lounge for necessary physiological monitoring and purification procedures."

Or, as Nova's supervisor turned to Xiao Dingshan, he said, "Mr. Xiao Dingshan, you can simultaneously upload the carrier data and link the entity's consciousness, and then your entity will be unlocked."

Xiao Dingshan nodded in agreement, then said to Xiao Ce, "Xiao Ce, you can stay with Captain Nova. Don't worry, everything will be fine..."

Seeing this, Xiao Ce smiled awkwardly and then nodded.

At this moment, Xiao Ce was somewhat amused and exasperated. He was certain everything was alright... but if something had happened, there was nothing he could do, even though he had a complete understanding of the situation...

However, even this so-called basic model of clothing already boasts a level of technology that is far ahead of its time...

After Xiao Ce arrived, he simply accepted his fate and made the best of it.

Moreover, Xiao Ce didn't know why, but he was actually quite excited at this moment.

This excitement comes from the unknown.

At that moment, after Nova finished speaking, she turned and walked away...

The attack was steady and rapid, without any intention of stopping or waiting. The two base personnel assisting them followed closely behind, like silent shadows.

Xiao Ce was quite impressed by what he saw. He was not only amazed by the technology that was beyond his imagination, but he also felt the efficiency, rigor, and even ruthlessness that was ingrained in the organization.

He glanced at the Xiao Dingshan robot carrier beside him, who nodded slightly at him, conveying a reassuring look, before following Nova's steps.

The end of the covered bridge no longer connects to a cold dock, but to an entrance to an alloy passageway embedded in the ice wall.

The heavy, airtight door slid open silently, and a warm, dry air, carrying a faint scent of ozone and cleaning agents, rushed out, a stark contrast to the chill of the Star Harbor.

Upon entering the passageway, the light becomes soft and even. The walls are smooth, silvery-white metal, and the floor is made of a slightly elastic composite material with excellent sound insulation, instantly shutting out the mechanical noise of the Starport.

The passageway is flanked by neatly arranged, closed alloy doors, each bearing only a simple number and function label.

Nova led them to a door marked "Visitor Purification Rest Area 07". The door slid open automatically, revealing a simply furnished room of about twenty square meters. In the center were two comfortable floating chairs, with display screens and control panels embedded in the walls on either side.

One wall is made of a single piece of transparent material, similar to a display screen, currently showing a magnificent holographic image of polar glaciers.

In one corner of the room, several sleek, unidentified instruments emitting a soft white light stood quietly, ready to be used.

"Mr. Xiao Ce, please have a seat. The built-in sensors in your protective suit will perform a basic vital sign scan. Please place your hands on the sensor area of ​​the armrest of the seat for environmental microbial purification. The process will take about three minutes and will be painless."

Nova stood at the door, showing no intention of entering, but simply instructed in a flat tone, "After the purification is complete, someone will take you to the core area of ​​Ark City."

Xiao Ce sat down as instructed.

The suspended seat automatically adjusts its angle to perfectly conform to his body's curves. Soft blue light illuminates the armrest sensor area, enveloping his hands resting on it.

A slight tingling sensation came over him, and at the same time he felt an extremely subtle fluctuation sweeping across his body inside the protective suit, but he felt no discomfort.

The screen on the wall displayed his real-time heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and other basic data, all of which were normal.

Three minutes passed quickly, the blue light on the armrest went out, and the screen displayed "Purification complete".

The protective suits seemed to have completed some kind of self-cleaning process simultaneously, their surface flashing with a faint energy glow. The two guards who had been standing at the door entered, one of them extending a mechanical arm to hand over a simple, palm-sized, silver device resembling a tablet computer—though calling it a mobile phone would be more accurate...

"Mr. Xiao Ce, this is the 'Ice Ring' information terminal. Temporary visitor privileges have been activated. Please keep it safe..."