Primitive Man

Chapter 202: Dangerous Gamble

After a few hours of rest and monitoring, the grogginess that had clouded Garnt and the two girls began to dissipate. The effects of whatever strange occurrence had taken place seemed to wear off, leaving them bewildered but back to their normal selves.

Garnt, now sitting up and looking around, couldn't help but feel a bit disoriented. "What in the world just happened?"

Gundo, still wearing a concerned expression, approached them. "We're not entirely sure. Something affected all of you differently than the others. But for now, you seem fine. Any headaches, nausea, or anything unusual?"

The two girls shook their heads, and Garnt, rubbing his temples, asked, "What happened to the others that followed me?"

When Garnt asked that question, Gundo stayed silent which had more context than any words.

"Don't tell me-" Realizing what happened, Garnt also quickly went silent as he realized that the people who followed him were already dead. He couldn't help but feel responsible for their deaths knowing he might have underestimated the threat of the unknown.

Gundo sighed, her worry still apparent. "We need to figure this out, but there's something else. The forest is not in good shape. Most of the wild animals seem to have been drawn to whatever caused this, and it's affecting our hunting. We need to find a solution quickly."

She then furrowed his brow, realizing the gravity of the situation. "We can't just ignore this. What's the source of all this trouble?"

Garnt hesitated for a moment before revealing, "Do you remember about the meteor that fell? It seems to be the epicentre of all this chaos. I don't know how or why, but it's causing disturbances in the environment."

Garnt, remembering Eva's advice, decided it was time to consult someone who had knowledge about these things. He closed his eyes, focusing on his connection with Eva. "Eva, what's happening? Can you tell me about the meteor? How did it manage to do all this?"

Eva's usual tone was absent as she sounded both happy and sad simultaneously. She might have found the things she had been searching for, but at the same time, that very discovery caused pain to her precious host, whom she had come to love and value.

[Garnt, that stone is not ordinary. It has a unique energy signature, and it is emitting waves that affect living beings. That's exactly why I asked you to make these gas masks to prevent any effect. It is a highly reactive substance and we experienced the same thing when we first found it.]

Eva told him about the scientific side of the material, and what it could be used for. She didn't care about hiding anything, as Garnt already knew how and why she was searching for this rare material, which is considered to be the wish-fulfilling stone.

[It is not fantasy Garnt. This is pure science. The wildlife is being drawn to it, and it's disrupting the natural balance of the forest. We need to find a way to neutralize its effects.]

Garnt, with a determined expression, opened his eyes. "How are we going to do that, Eva? Are we going to make gas masks for every villager because I can't bring that thing to this village, or should I just keep it there? How do you even activate the meteor to achieve your goal of going back and changing things?"

Garnt asked so many questions. He wanted to know what would happen to him once she achieved her goal and what would happen to their relationship. Would he ever meet her again? He wasn't selfish enough to ask her to remain with him for the rest of his life, but at the same time, he had come to love this woman a little too much, and the thought of letting her go felt like heartbreak to him.

[With the advent of the steam engine, powered by burning coal, industries were able to thrive. But coal had its limitations. It was dirty, inefficient, and couldn't keep up with the growing demands of a rapidly industrializing world.]

The images shifted to showcase the challenges faced by societies at that time - pollution, overdependence on coal, and the struggle to meet the energy demands of expanding industries.

[Here's where crude oil steps in and changes everything," Eva continued. "People figured out that by refining crude oil, they could produce various valuable products, such as kerosene for lighting, lubricants for machinery, and most importantly, gasoline for internal combustion engines.]

A new set of images emerged, depicting the rise of automobiles, aeroplanes, and an interconnected world fueled by the power of oil.

[Garnt, the Industrial Revolution was a time of unparalleled progress, and crude oil played a pivotal role in that transformation. Suddenly, we had a more efficient, versatile, and powerful source of energy. It revolutionized transportation, making it faster and more accessible. It powered industries, allowing for mass production and economic growth.]

Garnt, captivated by the vivid display before him, absorbed the information with growing interest.

[But that's not all, the by-products of crude oil refining, such as plastics and synthetic materials, became integral to modern life. From packaging to medical devices, from clothing to electronics, our world is shaped by the versatility of crude oil-derived products.]

The images concluded with scenes of a modern city, bustling with life, illuminated by electric lights, and connected by a web of transportation systems.

[So, Garnt, you understand right? You're going to acquire the liquid that will revolutionize your life. With this, we are going to advance our goal.]

Eva concluded with a sigh, calming herself down as she realized that it might be too much for Garnt. However, when she saw his excited and curious face, she knew it was all worth it. After all, she could easily spend the day happily, just seeing her beloved host—or, at this point, her beloved friend—smiling happily.

"I understand, Eva. But how are we going to find this crude oil? The blueprints say some words I can't understand. Sedimentary Basins, Shale Formation, Sandstone Reservoirs, Arctic Regions, Offshore Deposits. What are these things?"

Eva chuckled at his words because she knew those were some words too heavy for Garnt.

[Basically, we can find them in many places, and one of those special places is the seabed. It looks like we might have to confront Baktou sooner than we thought because we need our harbour back if we want to advance. We can't waste time building a new harbour since it would take at least a year or two.]

Garnt quickly realized what she was trying to imply.

"So it is time to confront him then? I expected this, but I never thought the situation would force me to fight him like this. It doesn't matter because I'm ready to do what I have to do. Bring it on, Eva. I'm going to reclaim my land and possibly..." Garnt paused for a moment.

[...]

"Possibly, I will kill that traitor," Garnt muttered, showing his conviction. However, he knew, first of all, he had to recover from the damage that happened to his body.