Chapter 146: Unearthing Corpses

Three days into the construction, the sounds of advanced machinery and the subtle shimmer of AMFS drones were the constant companions of Richard and Lina. They stood at the command and monitoring station, a sleek console glowing with holographic schematics of the expanding subterranean complex. Richard watched the progress, a cup of synthetic coffee in his hand, a sense of accomplishment slowly building.

Suddenly, a sharp, insistent alert pierced the calm. A small red warning icon flashed on Lina's vision, originating from one of the deep-bore AMFS drones. Her eyes, usually impassive, narrowed fractionally.

"Sir," Lina stated, her voice devoid of inflection, yet with an undertone that immediately caught Richard's attention. "An anomaly. One of the deep excavation drones, at approximately 3000 feet below the surface of the main hole, has stumbled upon a cavernous opening. It's... unusually large."