Just as Magreta had said, Maxwell was in Antarctica.
A plane flew through the skies over ice-covered Antarctica.
Below it, a vast fissure in the ice stretched on for several kilometers.
After confirming the crevasse through the window, Maxwell frowned.
The fissure had grown far wider than before.
A short while later, the plane touched down on a runway beside the crevasse.
It was a temporary runway marked out with flags on the ice field, but on the Antarctic continent, that much was enough.
Thud.
Perhaps because the ice had grown thin, the impact on landing was not small.
The plane bounced once before coming back down, but it still managed to come safely to a stop on the runway.
As Maxwell was leaving the plane, the captain spoke to him.
“If the ice melts any further, I don’t think we’ll be able to land on this runway next time.”
At the captain’s words, Maxwell shook his head.
“This will be the last visit.”
Maxwell had come all the way here to confirm the results in person and shut down this research base.
No one would ever have reason to come to this base again.
After answering the captain, he put on a thick parka and stepped out of the plane.
It was warmer outside than he had expected.
It was still below freezing, but compared to the average summer temperature of this Antarctic plateau, it seemed to be about ten to twenty degrees higher.
Of course, this too was because of the fissure beside the runway.
As he got off the plane, a man with a bushy beard greeted him.
“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.”
He was Dr. Thomas Miller, the director of this research base.
Whether because of the Antarctic weather or because he was excited, his face was flushed red as he poured out words at Maxwell.
“The volume of gas being emitted is beyond anything we’ve studied so far. We need to inform people as quickly as possible. If this is left as it is, it will be terrible…”
Maxwell raised a hand and stopped him.
“First, let’s go inside, check the experimental results, and hear the full story properly. Would you call all the researchers who know about this? I think I’ll need to hear other opinions as well.”
“I can gather them right away. We restricted the number of researchers, so only three people know the figures and the situation.”
“Well done. Security is important in a matter like this.”
Watching the doctor hurry back toward the research building, Maxwell rubbed his chest with the hand that was not holding his bag.
The pistol tucked inside his coat felt uncomfortable.
A short while later, guided by the doctor, he entered the laboratory deeper inside the research facility.
There, a Black male researcher in his forties and a female researcher of about the same age were waiting.
They were all scientists who had been conducting research here under the sponsorship of the United States government.
Unlike Dr. Miller, who took off his thick outerwear, Maxwell greeted the researchers while still wearing his parka.
“It’s been a while.”
“It has. We didn’t expect someone from the Association to come instead of a government official.”
Maxwell answered the other researcher.
“That is how important this matter is.”
At his words, all the researchers nodded.
This research base had been created as a joint project between the United States government and a little-known environmental association.
It was a place that studied what effects abnormal temperatures had on Antarctica, and all of the base’s facilities, personnel, and equipment were provided by the United States government.
However, the direction of the base’s research had been designated by that association.
The reason they had studied the crevasse was also because of the Association’s instructions.
In truth, the so-called environmental association was an organization created by those in power who had learned of the coming destruction.
It was an organization meant to interfere in government affairs, just as it was doing now.
As the representative of that Association, Maxwell had continued to be involved in the operation of this base.
And this was not the only place he was involved with.
“Then, shall I hear why I flew all the way here?”
Once Maxwell sat down, Dr. Miller began the explanation on behalf of the others.
“As we already sent in the data, the amount of carbon dioxide currently being emitted from the crevasse is immense.”
When he gestured to another researcher, the female researcher brought up a graph on a large monitor.
The graph was shooting straight upward like a rocket.
Moreover, today’s date was on the far left, at the point where the graph began to soar.
“The amount of carbon dioxide being emitted right now is tremendous, but that is not the real problem. The greater problem is the carbon dioxide trapped beneath the ice.”
The screen changed.
This time, it showed a photograph of Antarctica viewed from space.
A photograph of Antarctica covered in cracks like a net.
“Look at this satellite image. Crevasses have spread like a net across the entire Antarctic continent. Everyone had been dismissing it as something caused by rising temperatures in Antarctica, but that wasn’t the case.”
“We and the government did not dismiss it.”
Maxwell added in the middle of his explanation.
“Ah, yes. It was you and the government who had us research it in the first place. In any case, those enormous crevasses now extend deep underground, all the way to the surface of the Antarctic continent.”
“So the carbon dioxide being emitted right now is coming from the Antarctic continent itself.”
At Maxwell’s words, the doctor nodded.
“That’s exactly right. Ah, of course, this isn’t the first time cracks have formed in the Antarctic continent. There were times in the past when temperatures were high as well.”
The doctor tapped the monitor and continued.
“But back then, there were no problems. Ah, there was the minor issue of the ecosystem changing because the temperature rose considerably. In any case, this time, the Antarctic continent is different from back then.”
The screen changed again.
This time, the Antarctic continent was shown beneath the sea.
“Originally, the Antarctic continent was under the ocean. That is why much of the continent is composed of carbonates. These carbonates are formed through the chemical bonding of carbon dioxide, water, and other elements…”
After the somewhat tedious explanation continued for a while, the screen changed.
The Antarctic continent appeared on the screen, buried beneath several kilometers of ice and boiling above magma.
“…Right now, these carbonates have been continuously deforming, buried under an enormous amount of ice above and affected by magma flowing beneath the continent. After a long time, they finally passed the inflection point.”
“So it was time for them to come bursting out.”
At Maxwell’s words, the doctor nodded with a satisfied expression.
“That is correct. However, it was not actually time for them to be emitted like this yet. An ice age is supposed to arrive in a while, so if the ice had not melted this time, we would have had more than ten thousand years.”
In the end, it meant that if not for the abnormal temperatures, this would have erupted thousands or tens of thousands of years later.
It was regrettable, but now was not the time to lament it.
“So what is the situation? How much is being emitted, and how dangerous is it?”
At his words, the expressions of the doctor and the other researchers darkened.
“At this rate, in one year at most—and in the worst case, half a year—the Earth will be difficult for humans to live on.”
Maxwell’s expression also darkened. It was faster than he had expected.
Seeing Maxwell’s expression, the doctor quickly continued.
“That is why we must inform people quickly! We have to find some way. Whether it’s pioneering Mars, or using the ruins that supposedly lead to another planet discovered this time. And…”
Maxwell raised a hand and stopped the doctor.
“Are you certain no one else knows this?”
“Yes. That is the case, but…”
The doctor looked at Maxwell with a puzzled expression.
After hesitating for a moment, Maxwell opened his mouth again.
“In truth, you were not the only ones entrusted with this research. Nor were you the first to discover this fact.”
There was no way they would entrust confirmation of Earth’s destruction to only one place.
They had been receiving reports that carbon dioxide was flowing out of the crevasses from much earlier on.
“Of course, you are the first to present definite results that show the destruction of Earth and the remaining time in numerical terms. Before this, all we heard were things that would only create confusion.”
Others had also produced figures, but none had shown results as certain as these.
There had been no need for him to visit them personally, as he had done now.
At Maxwell’s words, the female researcher asked cautiously.
“We have never heard any such news.”
“Of course you haven’t. We blocked all of it.”
At Maxwell’s answer, the three people’s expressions hardened.
Maxwell once again stroked the part of his chest where the gun was.
“In truth, I am still considering it even now. Whether to dispose of you like the others, or to use another method.”
“What is that supposed to mean!”
“What do you think will happen if this news gets out? If word spreads that the Earth will end in a year at the latest.”
“That is…”
“Moreover, we have been seeking a way for at least part of humanity to survive. In such a situation, we cannot allow chaos to break out.”
“So you’re saying you’ll kill us!”
“Fortunately, I don’t intend to do that this time. The plan has changed. The number of survivors we can save has increased, so there is no longer any need to kill you as well.”
Instead of the gun inside his coat, he placed his bag on the table.
From inside the bag, Maxwell took out a short wand connected to a machine.
The scientists did not know it, but this wand was the artifact Deputy Director Samuel had used, a magic wand for secret oaths that enforced promises.
“The fact that you will live is also thanks to there being more black stones to spare. In the end, this too is thanks to one person. All of you, make a promise. Promise that you will keep the contents of your research secret.”
He spoke while indicating the wand.
“What happens if we don’t promise?”
When one of the researchers asked cautiously, he answered with an expressionless face.
“You will end up in the same position as the researchers at the other bases.”
At Maxwell’s words, all the researchers promised to keep the secret.
The artifact emitted light, and the researchers were startled to see that the promise was being forcibly upheld.
Leaving the astonished researchers in the laboratory, Maxwell stepped out into the hallway.
He immediately made a satellite phone call.
Since he had come here as the representative of the Association, he also needed to report to the United States government, which had collaborated with them.
A short while later, the other party answered the call.
—How did it go?
The voice that asked so abruptly was one any American would know.
He was the head of the United States government—the President.
“I confirmed it. The remaining time is at least six months to one year. Far shorter than expected.”
—We’ll have to hurry.
“Yes. I believe we must now execute all the plans we prepared.”
—Understood. And the person traveling with Magreta was called Mr. Hyun, wasn’t he?
“Yes. I heard he caused quite a stir in Paradise this time as well.”
—I heard that too. Please tell Magreta to take good care of him. It seems God has not abandoned humanity after all. To grant us a path even in a situation like this.
At the President’s excessive words, Maxwell tilted his head.
He had indeed brought back remarkable black stones, but not enough to be treated like that.
“He was a great help, but I’m not sure it’s to that extent.”
Remembering that Maxwell did not know about the “Wizard’s Flower,” the President immediately changed the subject.
—In the worst situation, humans want to grasp even at a single straw. Right now, that is how I feel.
At the President’s words, Maxwell nodded.
“I hope so as well.”
***
The plan Maxwell and the President had spoken of was executed immediately.
A few days later, hundreds of transport planes took to the skies from various U.S. military bases.
From countless ports, enormous ships sailed out to sea.
The transport planes were fully loaded with aerosols to be dispersed into the sky, while the enormous ships were packed with iron compounds to be scattered into the ocean.
All of them were meant to lower the Earth’s temperature.
Geoengineering techniques that could never have been carried out in ordinary times because no one knew how severe the side effects might be.
But now was not the time to weigh such things.
And so the Earth’s stratosphere was filled with aerosols, and iron compounds were poured into the sea.
The aerosols dispersed into the stratosphere blocked the sun.
Phytoplankton grown by the iron compounds began to fill the oceans.
The skies across the world slowly turned hazy, and green tides spread through the seas.
The Earth began to change.
The explosively increasing carbon dioxide and humanity’s geoengineering meant to stop it endlessly destroyed Earth’s environment.
The Beginning of Upheaval (3)