198: Chapter 198 Observe the situation calmly and get a full picture of the enemy.

With his mind made up, the last trace of restlessness in Ling Ye's eyes settled, turning into a deep, pool-like calm. He acted quickly, reinforcing his concealment one last time.

First, he covered and compacted all items that might emit odors (food scraps, sample zero body fluids, Mutant corpse wrappings) with more tarps and debris, sprinkling them with a large amount of dust.

Then, he used the waste engine oil he had found (which had a strong, pungent smell) to lightly sprinkle a thin layer around the perimeter of the safe zone, especially in the direction of the Canvas Area and the East Passage.

The pungent smell of the engine oil could effectively mask his own faint scent and that of the samples, interfering with Mutants that might rely on their sense of smell.

Next, he adjusted the sensitivity of his early warning devices, setting up more hidden tripwires and empty cans at several key entrances and ventilation shafts.

At the same time, he found a relatively high, well-concealed vantage point (on top of a pile of wooden crates, with cover) to serve as an observation post, allowing him to monitor the edge of the Canvas Area and the general situation at the East Passage entrance simultaneously.

Finally, he checked all his weapons and tools, ensuring they were within reach. He set his high-intensity flashlight to standby mode and placed it in the most accessible spot.

Then, he swallowed the last of his compressed rations, took a few sips of water, leaned against the cold wall, sat cross-legged, and entered a state of half-meditation, half-alertness—his consciousness was calm, but his "Energy Perception" acted like the most sensitive radar, covering the safe zone and the surrounding buffer zone to the maximum extent, while his ears caught any unusual sounds.

Time passed slowly in the extreme quiet and tension.

"Click-clack... click-clack..."

The dense friction sounds gradually approached the vicinity of the East Passage entrance. Ling Ye could clearly feel at least three or four cold sources of "presence" wandering and moving in that area.

They did not enter the passage immediately, appearing to gather at the entrance, rubbing against each other, and transmitting some kind of information (via vibration? pheromones?).

About ten minutes later, two of the "presence" sources began to slowly enter the East Passage, moving toward its depths. The rest remained near the entrance, as if standing guard.

They were indeed organized and had a division of labor! Were those entering the passage "scouts"? And those remaining behind, "sentries"?

Ling Ye's heart tightened slightly. This indicated that the intelligence and sociality of the Mutant group might be higher than he had anticipated. They were not blind, wandering beasts.

He waited patiently. The two "presences" that entered the passage were moving slowly, seemingly carefully investigating the situation inside. Their "click-clack" sounds gradually faded, but through "Energy Perception", Ling Ye could still vaguely track their positions.

About twenty minutes later, the two "presences" that had entered the passage began to return. They didn't seem to have found any particularly valuable targets in the passage (or perhaps they had, but didn't make a sound?), and after regrouping with the "sentries" at the entrance, the gathered cold aura began to move as a whole. However, they did not return to the Canvas Area nest, but instead moved along the east wall of the Warehouse, continuing northward toward the northeast corner of the Warehouse—the general direction of the generator room shaft and the ventilation duct access port—moving slowly!

Did they want to investigate that place?!

Ling Ye's gaze turned sharp! The generator room shaft was one of his reserved key escape routes! The ventilation duct was also an important maneuvering path! If these Mutants occupied or blocked them, he would lose one of his retreat paths, and his maneuvering space would be further compressed!

Moreover, there were fresh traces of his previous activities there (opening the cover, climbing, etc.)!

He had to observe closely!

He quietly adjusted the focus of his "Energy Perception", locking onto that moving cluster of cold aura.

The Mutant group moved to the northeast corner area. They seemed interested in the cover of the generator room shaft! Ling Ye could "hear"—no, "feel"—the "hissing" sound of carapaces and tentacles scraping against the metal cover, along with more frequent "click-clack" communication sounds.

Were they trying to open the cover? Or just investigating?

Fortunately, when Ling Ye left previously, he had left the cover slightly ajar rather than completely sealed, but he had used debris to create simple camouflage and a wedge. From the surface, it wasn't easily noticeable. Moreover, the cover itself was heavy and had no handle, making it difficult to pry open from the outside.

The Mutants fussed for a moment and seemed unable to open the cover, but they clearly confirmed that "something was there". They began to search the surrounding area more carefully, the sounds of their short legs and tentacles scraping the ground becoming more dense.

Ling Ye's heart was in his throat. If they discovered the traces he left when climbing into the ventilation duct access port, or if they followed the scent to find the access port...

Just then, perhaps because the search was fruitless, or perhaps because they had received other information (a summons from the nest?), the cold "presence" cluster, after wandering in the northeast corner area for a few more minutes, actually began to retreat slowly as a whole toward the Canvas Area nest!

Had they given up? Or were they temporarily retreating, preparing to bring more "hands" next time or adopt other methods?

Ling Ye dared not relax and continued to monitor them closely. The Mutant group retreated to the edge of the Canvas Area, and the cold aura became relatively concentrated and stable again, but the alert level was clearly higher than before. He could feel that at least two or three "presence" sources remained at the edge of the Canvas Area, not going deep into the nest, as if standing guard.

And in the area where the "scout" previously killed by Ling Ye was, it seemed that some individuals had gone to investigate (Ling Ye had cleaned up the main traces, but perhaps some scent remained), but they also returned quickly.

Everything returned to a more tense, more vigilant calm.

Ling Ye slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. The worst-case scenario (an immediate full-scale conflict or his retreat path being cut off) had not occurred. But the situation had clearly deteriorated.

Intelligence Update: Sociality: The Mutant group possesses preliminary social division of labor (scouting, guarding, possibly individuals remaining in the nest), and their intelligence level is not low.

Activity Pattern: After losing individuals, they expand their alert and search range, demonstrating strong territorial awareness and a tendency for retaliation/investigation.

Targets: Sensitive to metal structures (covers), vibration sources, and potential heat/scent sources, they will conduct systematic investigations.

Threat Assessment: Transitioned from passively lurking hunters to actively patrolling, somewhat organized territorial defenders. Threat Rank: High Risk+.

Impact on self: Increased risk of the safe zone being exposed; the key escape route (generator room shaft) has been marked; the plan for long-term lurking and slow recovery is under serious challenge.

Situation Analysis: "Peaceful coexistence" with the Mutant group is no longer possible. The other side has clearly regarded the entire Warehouse (or at least most of it) as its territory and reacts to any "intrusion" and "loss". Continuing to hide passively will only give them more time to investigate and surround him; it is only a matter of time before they discover him.

He must take action before they launch the next wave of potentially more powerful and organized searches/attacks.

But a direct assault on the nest, given that it is their home turf, their unknown numbers, and the presence of "sentries" for warning, has slim chances of success.

Then, the remaining choices seem to be only... utilizing the "window period" after the Mutant group has just finished their investigation and their attention might be relaxed, along with their "interest" in the generator room shaft area, to execute a carefully planned, target-oriented "tactical operation".

Either completely eliminate the threat (extremely difficult). Or, create a strike sufficient to severely damage or paralyze their group's operational capability for a long time, then use the chaos to reinforce defenses or execute a backup evacuation plan.

Or... there is another more risky, but perhaps multi-beneficial idea: Use the East Passage and the Mutant group's behavioral patterns to "guide" or "trap" them in a certain place? For example, that "dangerous area" (strange sounds) marked on the map near the East Passage? Drive the tiger to swallow the wolf?

Ling Ye's brain worked at high speed, combining existing information, the environment, and resources, conceiving a strike that might break the deadlock.

He looked at the few Mutant carapace fragments in his hand, looked at the small vial containing bone spur venom, looked at the high-intensity flashlight, and looked at the East Passage and "dangerous area" markings on the blueprint...

A bold, crazy, but seemingly feasible rough plan gradually took shape in his mind.