In order to increase the output of crystals, the Ark government contracted the mining rights of the Leviathan's Skeleton to eight consortiums with the strongest comprehensive strength. The eight permanent bases located in the Leviathan's Skeleton were built by these eight large consortiums.

When the remains of Leviathan were first discovered, this place was classified as an extremely dangerous Class A ruins... However, with the exploration of the advance team and subsequent groups of ruins hunters, people discovered that the remains of this prehistoric-level behemoth posed almost no danger. Apart from the complex, maze-like tunnels inside the remains, the only creatures that could pose a threat to humans were the indigenous creatures living on the remains of Leviathan.

But for some reason, most of the indigenous creatures living on the remains of the giant beasts are weak and low-level creatures. The largest of them are just things like "carrion hydras" or "ghost-faced rats". You don't even need to use a gun to deal with these creatures - as long as you have a long-handled shovel that is sharp enough, a middle-aged man who has received basic combat training can take out three to five "ghost-faced rats" on his own.

However, this situation almost never happens - these low-level creatures living on the skeleton of Leviathan will not actively attack humans, and are extremely afraid of light. It is very difficult to see them in human activity areas, let alone be attacked.

A scholar once published a special paper on this. He believed that the reason why there were no high-level predators around the skeleton of Leviathan was entirely due to the residual power of this ancient beast that had been dead for many years. Although it was only a skeleton, the fear engraved deep in its genes would still drive those advanced creatures to stay away from this place.

"This is strange... Leviathan has been mining for so many years, and it seems that there has never been a case of miners going missing before?" Ke Lan read the content of the commission again and scratched his head in confusion.

"It has happened, but later we found out it was done by several other miners. Personal grudges, murder and dumping of bodies... this kind of plot is perfectly normal." Lao Gou said.

"What happened to those miners who killed people?" Ke Lan asked.

"The principal offender will be shot directly, and the accomplices will be exiled... But to be honest, if I were one of those accomplices, I would rather be shot directly." The old dog curled his lips.

"how?"

"As soon as those exiled guys were driven out of the base, they ran into an exile slave-hunting convoy... Their fate was much more miserable than that of the main culprit who was shot."

"Right near the base? The exiles were chasing and arresting people? Didn't the people guarding the base open fire on those exiles?" Ke Lan was a little curious.

"Normally, the exiles would not dare to approach the mining base, but that was a special case... The base's managers deliberately allowed them to capture the exiled miners in order to set an example."

"So that's how it is... But I don't think this disappearance is murder." Ke Lan paused and continued, "There are 28 miners missing, and they disappeared in batches over a two-month period. Not to mention the bodies, there are no clues such as bloodstains, clothing fragments, or signs of fighting. Unless the perpetrator is an expert at erasing traces, it is impossible for him to kill 28 miners in a row without revealing a single flaw."

"You're talking nonsense," Lao Gou picked his nose, "How could a master like that assassinate miners? That's too embarrassing... Besides, what's the point of killing miners? This kind of job doesn't require any skills, and anyone can do it."

Liao Zilang also nodded and said, "If the competitors wanted to slow down the mining progress of the Soma Consortium, they should have destroyed the mining equipment as well... But from the photos sent back from the scene, the equipment is basically intact, only the people are missing."

"It's impossible that these twenty-eight people were carried away by a group of ghost-faced rats, right?" Layton finally recovered and came over with his legs clasped together.

"If things were that simple, it wouldn't be our turn to make the money." Ke Lan took a last look at the photos in the attachment and turned off her phone.

"But I always feel that this girl is finding various excuses to give you money - so should we accept this commission or not?" Lao Gou looked at Ke Lan.

"Take it, why not? Why refuse the money that's delivered to your door?" Ke Lan checked the time. "At worst, just treat it as a government-funded trip. All expenses can be reimbursed anyway."

"Okay, then let's call the doctor, Asano Akira and the Mongolian guy. There are seven of us in total. This vote is nearly 50 million. If we pool a little more money, we can almost buy a second-hand 'Amran-class' transport plane." Lao Gou said, clapping his hands.

"What about things over here? Is it okay for us to just leave like this?" Layton pointed to the blockade line not far away.

"It's not a big problem." Ke Lan lowered her voice and said, "They can handle this matter. There's no need for us to intervene."

"Maginot told you?" Old Dog was the first to react. "The military actually knew about the Seed of Corrosion a long time ago, right?"

"Yes." Ke Lan nodded, "They should have mastered the method to deal with the seeds of erosion."

After all, they had dealt with this extremely strange monster as early as when the Security Bureau headquarters was attacked.

…

Ke Lan and the others first returned to the North Eighth District, and then took another car back to the clinic. As expected, Asano Akira and the others also received a commission request from the Soma Group. Although Ivan, who did not participate in the last operation, was no longer on the invitation list, her girlfriend Natasha could give her place to Ivan - with someone like Ke Lan who holds the title of "special consultant", this level of personnel changes can be approved without even an application.

"The departure time is set for a week later. Since we need to pass through several habitats of flying creatures on the way, we will not take a transport plane. Instead, we will go by land and travel with the Soma Group's convoy that is transporting supplies. There should be no problem with that, right?" Ke Lan looked at everyone.

"One week is enough for me to complete the modification and debugging of the new prosthesis. This time, I want all the important parts to be replaced with the ones with the strongest anti-magnetic properties." Layton said. He still remembers what happened on the transport plane.

"I should be about the same." Zhuo Ligetu said to Ke Lan through a remote video call. Due to the use of more advanced LCL fluid and medical cabin, the time required for regeneration of severed limbs has been greatly shortened - I have to say, money is really a good thing.

"I'm fine." Asano Akira sat on the chair, holding the knife and nodded.

Although he has become very familiar with everyone, he still maintains his taciturn personality - but everyone knows that they can rest assured and leave their backs to this swordsman who doesn't like to talk.

"I have transferred all the money I earned to my father's account." Liao Zilang punched Ke Lan's shoulder with his fist. "If the boss is willing to believe you, then I believe you too."