“And now they are using helicopters on this scale. This servant has studied maps these past days and knows the rough locations of other stations. From the Japanese base it is at least three hundred kilometres. Their helicopter has not turned back but keeps going forward. One trip alone will burn enormous fuel. Are they courting disaster? Dozens of people without fuel for power and heating would mean lives lost, at the very least.”
Ye Chen agreed with her reasoning. “I shall ask someone to look into it. If the Japanese intend major activity here this winter, it could cause trouble for us.”
Lin Wan’er nodded. “Is the young master thinking of asking Miss Ito?”
“Yes.” Ye Chen smiled. “Nanako has considerable influence in Japan. Her people should be able to discover what Japan is planning.”
He ushered the three women back towards the station while dialling Nanako on the satellite phone.
When the call connected, Nanako’s voice held both surprise and delight. “Is Ye Chen-kun really calling me from Antarctica?”
“Yes,” Ye Chen said with a faint smile. “I am still beneath the Antarctic aurora, walking back.”
“How romantic.” Nanako sighed softly, then asked, “Has Ye Chen-kun called because there is something I can do?”
Ye Chen was direct. “Nanako, I would like you to investigate Japan’s largest-ever Antarctic expedition this time. Find out what they are really doing. If you can learn the details of their survey tasks, that would be even better.”
Nanako answered at once. “No problem, Ye Chen-kun. I shall have someone look into it immediately.”
The Ito family’s influence in Japan rivalled the Samsung family’s in Korea.
They wielded immense power not only in business and society but also had numerous informants across government departments, even within the cabinet.
Though the expedition was officially highly confidential, to the Ito family it was mere tissue paper. They could pierce it effortlessly.
Soon Nanako called back. “Ye Chen-kun, I have just had it checked. On the surface this is Japan’s grandest Antarctic expedition, but in reality it stems from a man-made mishap.”
“A man-made mishap?” Ye Chen asked. “Do you know the specifics?”
“Yes,” Nanako said. “A newly commissioned research vessel transported the winter team to Antarctica, planning to unload personnel and supplies before taking the summer team home. But while unloading, which took several days, the ship’s propulsion system suffered a fault that could not be repaired quickly. Now the vessel is frozen in, far beyond its ice-breaking capacity. Both crew and ship are stranded. To avoid scandal, they announced it as deliberate.”
Ye Chen’s frown deepened. “If personnel numbers have doubled and they are stranded, supplies and fuel must be stretched thin. How can they afford to fly helicopters so freely? Please ask again about the helicopter mission. The team should be reporting to authorities back home, surely?”
Nanako replied, “Please wait a moment, Ye Chen-kun. I shall inquire further about the helicopter.”
“Thank you, Nanako. Sorry to trouble you.”
After a short pause, Nanako rang back, her tone shocked. “Ye Chen-kun, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology states they have no record of any helicopter flights. If what you saw was indeed from the Japanese station, it means the team deliberately concealed the activity.”
Ye Chen grew even more puzzled.
First stranded personnel, then unreported helicopter use. Nothing about this seemed normal.
He asked Nanako, “The research vessel is icebound, is it not? Do you have its position coordinates? I want to go and take a look.”
