I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 186

The bird that had suffered this sudden calamity flapped its wings as it fell. After finally managing to right itself, it crashed straight into the window of a building.

Smack!

An ugly bloodstain was left on the window.

“Oh no, I’ve interfered with history again.”

Mo Ling quickly flew toward the window, wanting to see what impact he had actually caused.

But when he reached the window, he saw three people inside the room looking at each other in bewilderment.

The captain, the doctor, and young Old Xu.

It was the same again.

Both affected and not affected.

This strange feeling appeared in Mo Ling’s heart once more, and he quickly controlled the Cube to pull away.

That sense of predestined helplessness began erupting from within his heart again.

Urged by that strange feeling, Mo Ling controlled the Cube to rise high into the sky.

This seemed to be some kind of protective mechanism of history that would make all those who interfered with history feel an indescribable sense of avoidance, forcing them to stay away and no longer influence the course of history.

Who could have thought that littering would have such consequences?

“Old Xu’s fate has been changed by my actions twice.”

Mo Ling felt increasingly guilty.

This time the impact was even greater, perhaps it was his actions that created a rift between Old Xu and the other investigation team members.

“It’s the same feeling again.”

Before long, Mo Ling floated above a clear water pool.

Seeing this scene, Mo Ling quickly guessed what period this probably was.

Looking at this somewhat familiar water pool, he immediately recognized this was the fountain during its quiet period.

This also made Mo Ling more certain of his guess, “Humans haven’t discovered the oasis yet.”

At this time, the water pool hadn’t been artificially protected, there were no guardrails around it, no paved roads. Beside the water pool was just a patch of mud.

“Is this before Oasis City was established?”

Even those old sheet metal buildings from before weren’t visible—only patches of barren grassland.

Looking around, it was all desolate and uninhabited.

Mo Ling floated in the area for a while but didn’t discover any traces of humans. This was just an empty space in an oasis, utterly ordinary.

Perhaps even before humans had discovered the oasis.

“What era is this again?”

However, Mo Ling had never considered from beginning to end that the can he threw could actually hit a bird from the past.

“Can’t stay here long, my actions have too great an impact on history.” Thinking this, Mo Ling found a nearby curved rainbow light and flew toward it.

After passing through the flickering rainbow light, the intense sense of avoidance in Mo Ling’s heart finally lessened slightly.

However, just then, a group of figures burst into Mo Ling’s field of vision.

It was an investigation team wrapped up completely, their entire bodies covered in sand and grit, appearing dusty yellow all over.

Most had weary faces beneath their clothing, and they moved listlessly.

Not only that, but there were many wounded with bloodstains who, after simple bandaging, stumbled along with the group, clearly medical conditions were very poor.

Some people even lay on stretchers, carried by other team members.

The investigation team’s equipment also appeared very old and cumbersome, with high wear rates, you could tell at a glance they had endured countless hardships to get here.

“Captain, there’s a water source ahead! It might be fresh water.”

“Good, let’s go take a look and see if we can set up camp. This should be an oasis—we can use it as a temporary base.”

The young man in the lead was excited and quickly called for the team members to move forward.

These team members looked like they hadn’t had water for a long time—their lips were dry. They hurriedly rushed to the water pool and tentatively cupped some water.

“Captain! It’s fresh water!”

Like sweet rain after a long drought, this excited shout awakened everyone’s vitality.

“First test whether this water is safe to drink!” The captain couldn’t help but lick his own lips, but ultimately suppressed his desire.

“The testing equipment is broken, Captain,” said a team member wearing glasses. “It was damaged when we were hit by the sandstorm earlier.”

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

In the Abyss, you couldn’t touch anything unknown—this was the investigation team’s rule.

Especially water that would go into your stomach.

The investigation team had previously encountered parasites in water, water with special toxicity, and even creatures disguised as water that would replace all the water in the human body, slowly transforming humans into their slaves.

Not to mention this suddenly appearing oasis and this perfectly convenient water source, it was as if someone had deliberately placed it here.

These seemingly ordinary things in the Abyss could turn into potential hidden dangers in the blink of an eye.

These silent and invisible threats were more terrifying than visible dangers.

Seeing that no one was speaking, the glasses-wearing team member said quietly, “Captain, this isn’t the time to worry about whether we can drink it. Survival is what matters, but I have a suggestion.”

“Speak,” the captain looked at him and said seriously.

“We could first have a few of the wounded drink some, and if they don’t have any problems within a certain time after drinking, then we…”

“Enough!” A young man stepped forward and angrily rebuked, “You’re gambling with our comrades!”

This person who spoke up for justice was young Old Xu.

After being confronted like this, the glasses-wearing team member had nothing to say.

The captain also shook his head, “Let’s find another way.”

However, at this moment, a young wounded person on a stretcher raised his hand, “Those who agree to let the wounded drink water first, raise your hands.”

In an instant, all the wounded raised their hands in unison.

And all the uninjured team members silently watched this scene—no one raised their hand.

“Captain, all the wounded agree. Pick a few people to drink the water, count me as one.” Although the voice of the person lying on the stretcher was weak, his words were incredibly firm.

This person was the middle-aged officer Mo Ling had seen before.

He was still young now, but that unquestionable tone was exactly the same as his many years later.

The captain looked at the young officer with a complex expression.

Everyone thought the captain would agree with the flow, but his choice surprised everyone.

“Vetoed.”

“All investigation team members, those opposed are the majority.”

“All team members who still have mobility, spread out later. Those without Relics search for familiar plants in the oasis and collect their juices. Those with Relics team up to hunt animals. Some others stay behind to set up tents…”

“Do as I say.”

Hearing the captain’s words, the team members were first stunned, then all breathed a sigh of relief and scattered with their equipment.

Only the wounded were left frozen in place.

“Why?” the young officer on the stretcher asked in confusion.

“Because I’m the captain.”

The captain walked to the young officer’s stretcher and gently patted his shoulder…