Interstellar Survival: Invasion

Chapter 61: Asteroidal Ice Pipe Roller Coaster

"What business? I never made any money in all the business I've done with you," Kado asked.

"Smuggle a group of aliens into Eternal," said Domo as he pointed at us.

"You're crazy! That is a capital crime! I still want to continue my little business here!" said Kado.

"Brother, many of the things you have done are against the law. Stop pretending to be all virtuous here. Also, I won't let you work for free," said Domo as he pointed at the diamond Old Du was carrying.

Kado's eyes lit up when he looked at the diamond. "The diamond will be mine if I help them enter Eternal?"

"Not even robbers are this greedy! You can get a quarter of the diamond. Also, you get to help convert my share into imperial coins," said Domo.

Then, Kado started making some rapid calculations. It would seem like every single Jido was a master at commerce. After a series of calculations, Kado reached out with his scrawny hand.

"Even though it is a loss to me, deal!" said Kado.

Everyone smiled.

"How many people do you have? What are your races?" Kado asked.

Old Du gave Kado a detailed explanation of their team composition. Apart from Dodo, who would remain in Fearless, everyone else would enter Eternal.

"The two Brightlings are going as well? That is too risky. If the imperial police discovers them, I am dead," complained Kado.

"You can disguise them into any form you want. A regular person won't be able to see through it," said Domo.

"No. No chance in hell. You are all fugitives, but there is still a way to explain your presence if caught. But I can't work with Brightlings," Kado insisted.

"We'll double the payment. Can you do it?" Zhang Xingxing asked.

"Um. About that," Kado started hesitating.

"This is too much! You're paying so much for a small job like this? What about my job before this? I had risked my life to be paid so little? This is too expensive. We're better off thinking of something else," said Domo.

"Deal! That's all!" Kado hurriedly answered as he hastily grabbed the diamond offered to him.

I saw Domo giving me a smug silent gesture with his eyes.

'This person is way too good at closing deals,' I thought to myself.

"I have an underpass business with the Liyates tonight. You can disguise yourself as Katars and come with us. Domo will be in charge of disguising you. I don't have the money to buy the materials," said Kado.

"What's an underpass business?" Zhang Xingxing asked.

"Probably a smuggling business," I said.

"Looks like your cooperation with the Liyates has been fruitful. You must have earned a decent amount. Why are you being stingy about the cost of disguising them?" complained Domo.

"That will be all. We'll return to Fearless and get ready for tonight," said Zhang Xingxing.

We returned to Fearless. Old Du told the rest of the team about the plan. Apart from Dodo, everyone would get to enter Eternal. Afterward, Old Du accompanied Domo to go buy the required materials for our disguises. Naturally, he was in charge of paying. Meanwhile, the rest of us checked our equipment and energy situation.

"Canyue, you and Bao'er will need to carry more diamonds on you tonight. I reckon we will be spending a lot more money on the planet," said Zhang Xingxing when Domo wasn't around.

I understood what she meant so I dragged Bao'er along as we acted on the command. After an hour, Domo and Old Du returned.

"Eternal is truly amazing. So long as you have money, you can buy anything you want!" said Domo joyfully.

"That fellow must have gone way over the budget with the excuse of buying materials," said Zhang Bao'er with a low voice.

"There is no doubting that. In fact, I'd find it weird if a Jido missed this chance to stuff his own pockets," I said.

With everything ready, it was time to put on our disguises. We all swallowed the blue pills Domo gave us. With Domo's help, we assumed the appearance of Katars. Katars were a race of people with red hair, yellow skin covered with black spots, and sturdy bodies. It was as though they were born to be warriors.

"Kado is making use of the Katars to transport the products of the Liyates. The two races have always been mortal enemies, so Kado must be doing this to cover his tracks," said Domo.

Planet Eternal took 48 hours to complete a rotation. When everyone was ready, we set off. The night side of the planet would be our destination for this operation.

"Dodo, protect the ship. Wait for us to get in touch with you," said Zhang Xingxing.

"Yes!" Dodo replied.

We followed Domo back to Kado's shop.

"Wow, such a big group. I should have charged you more for this!" said Kado with regret.

"All Jidos are money grubbers," mumbled Zhang Bao'er.

It was time to carry out our operation. We followed Kado into a massive hauler. The hauler was stocked full with goods. Apart from us, there were also about 20 sturdy Katar laborers in the hauler.

The massive hauler moved slowly, and the ship rapidly turned invisible and then flew toward the night side of the planet. After about an hour, we reached an area with massive pipes. The pipes were connected to numerous massive machines in space and extended all the way back to Planet Eternal itself.

"What are these?" I asked Domo softly.

"These are probably asteroidal ice reception installations," said Domo.

"Asteroidal ice reception installations? What do you mean?" Zhang Bao'er asked.

"Planet Eternal is a planet lacking in water. Around Betelgeuse, big asteroids are occasionally destroyed by Betelgeuse's powerful gravity and are scattered into pieces. Among the broken pieces, many ice chunks can be found," said Domo.

"The empire utilizes these installations to pull in the ice chunks and increase the planet's water deposit?" I asked.

"Yes. That's exactly it. Your Planet Blue probably got its water deposit through this method during the period of antiquity," said Domo.

While we were speaking, the hauler stopped, and the door opened. We all leaped off the hauler. The hauler floated above a platform of average size. This was most likely a maintenance platform for these tubes. Under Kado's command, two Katars lifted a cover that was of the exact same color as the pipe and revealed an entrance about three meters wide.

"Here we are. Get busy," said Kado.

The Katar laborers started unloading from the hauler before starting their smuggling operation through the pipe.

"This fellow is truly courageous. He is actually using the asteroidal ice pipe as a smuggling route," said Domo.

"He is basically risking his life just for money," said Zhang Bao'er.

"Kado, what if a piece of asteroidal ice was to slide down the pipe while we're in there?" asked Domo.

"Don't worry. The opening of this tube has been blocked," said Kado.

Everyone was relieved. With Old Du taking the lead, we followed the Katars into the tube. Inside, the tube was also about three meters wide. Because no ice had passed through the tube for a long time, it felt dry inside. Scratch marks could be seen on the wall, likely left behind a long time ago when the ice chunks were still traversing this tube.

We advanced slowly, and after about a thousand meters, a loud rumble rang out before us. We continued forward when the space ahead of us suddenly lit up. We had arrived within an even larger tube. Looking out one of the openings, we could see a raging torrent of frosty water about 100 meters below us, coursing through a different tube. About a hundred meters ahead of us was another opening leading to somewhere deeper. Between the two openings was a hanging bridge about half a meter wide.

One Katar took the lead and walked onto the bridge with a massive case on his back. The raging torrent of water below us caused the entire bridge to shake, making this a dangerous endeavor.

"This is way too scary. No wonder nobody considers this as one of the routes into the planet," said Zhang Bao'er.

Zhang Xingxing nodded at me before saying, "Everyone, watch your steps. Turn on your suit's balance system. Go in pairs and advance steadily," commanded Zhang Xingxing.

I followed the command and stepped onto the hanging bridge with Amethyst in tow. It was loud on the bridge, and the wind was fierce. A chunk of ice whistled by in the pipe below me, knocking loudly against the tube as it passed.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened. After over 10 minutes, we successfully crossed the hanging bridge and entered a different small pipe. Everyone continued onward for about an hour before we arrived at a bright empty space.

"We're entering the high-speed tunnel soon. Everyone, remember to not move around needlessly in your cart. The cart will move by itself. If you move rashly and cause your car to flip, nobody will be able to help you. Also, there will be no refund in the event of an accident," said Kado.

"High-speed tunnel? What do you mean?" Zhang Bao'er asked.

"You'll see," replied Kado.

We reached the opening, and a rather complicated space appeared before us. We were standing atop a high platform. A tube extended from the platform, and below the platform was a complicated labyrinth of tubes. I could see that these tubes were connected to even more tunnels deep below.

"You may start installing the carts," said Kado to the Katar laborers.

The Katars opened one of the cases and took out several smaller cases. Each case had a button on it. When the button was pressed, the case would turn into a small four-wheeled cart.

The Katars then arranged the cart on the pipe and hooked the wheels onto the pipe. One then leaped onto the cart and fastened himself to the cart with a belt. Afterward, the Katar nodded at Kado. The Katar standing beside him gave the cart a light push, and the cart whistled down the pipe like a roller coaster, traversing the complicated pathway of pipes below us. I watched the cart traverse the winding tube rapidly before it entered the tunnel deep below.

"We can get the goods moving," said Kado to the other Katars.

The laborers started placing their goods on the carts. After strapping the goods to the carts, they pushed the carts down the tube. One after another, the carriages whistled down.

"This is way too scary. I have acrophobia. I'm not going," said Zhang Bao'er.

"You paid for this. Even if you don't go, there will be no refund," said Domo with a sneer.

"You stupid dwarf. Do you want to get beaten up?" said Zhang Bao'er.

As usual, Old Du calmed Zhang Bao'er. After about two hours, they were done transporting all their goods. It was finally our turn to board the carts. Old Du took the lead and leaped onto one of the carts. After he settled down, a Katar pushed the cart down the pipe.

After seeing Old Du enter the tunnel safely, Zhang Bao'er gestured to me that we could start getting on the carts. Thus, we got on the carts one after another, including the constantly grumbling Zhang Bao'er.

When Zhang Bao'er was pushed down the pipe, he wailed like a pig being slaughtered. His shout was deafening, and I could see Domo shaking his head beside me at the sight of that. Eventually, only Domo, Kado, two Katars, and I were left.

Kado gave Domo a bundle and said, "The imperial coins you want are here. I won't be of help for what you're doing next. Take care."

"Watch out for the Gandos. Tighten your security," reminded Domo.

Then, with a push by the Katar, Domo's cart whistled down the pipe. I was the last of the group to board a cart. After I nodded at Kado, I felt a force come behind me, and my cart shot down the pipe.