Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 831

"Uh... okay, since Mr. Lockhart, you think there's no problem," Caldwell was a little embarrassed that his little secret had been exposed, but fortunately he hadn't said it out loud.

The half-hour break passed quickly.

Before setting off, Professor Caldwell looked at Tierra, seemingly considering whether she could withstand such a rapid march.

"Mr. Lockhart, have you rested well?" Professor Caldwell asked cautiously.

“No problem, let’s go.” Tiera smiled, stood up, and slung her pack over her shoulder.

Upon hearing Tierra's reply, Professor Caldwell signaled for everyone to pack their gear and set off again, heading towards the oasis Tierra had mentioned.

The group regrouped and marched briskly across the gravel ground and sandy paths toward their destination.

They soon emerged from the rocky ground and stepped back onto the soft, dry sand, which resembled the ocean.

After walking for several more hours, it grew darker, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on every corner of the desert, dressing it in a golden coat, while the distant scenery gradually became clearer.

Sure enough, just as Tiera had said, a lush oasis appeared in their sight at the last moment before sunset. The verdant vegetation contrasted sharply with the surrounding withered yellow sand, like an emerald set in the desert.

"We've finally arrived," Professor Caldwell said with a sigh of relief and a smile to his team.

The group quickly made their way to the oasis and soon arrived at this vibrant place. This oasis was larger than the one they had encountered before, with springs flowing gently and forming several small pools, the edges of which were covered with all sorts of plants and flowers.

The air is filled with the scent of damp earth and flowers, making people feel comfortable and relaxed.

The team members quickly set up camp on the edge of the oasis.

Some team members set up tents, prepared dinner, and gathered some wood to start a fire.

Meanwhile, another group, including Tiera and Algnis, who was responsible for looking after him, went to the oasis's pools to test the water quality.

This is a very simple job. All you need to do is insert a water quality testing pen with an electronic screen into the water to find out how much of each metal ion is in the water.

If the content of various mineral elements is within the standard range, then it means that the water in this oasis is safe to drink.

They came for scientific research, not for a picnic, so in addition to water and food, they also needed to bring some testing instruments and sampling devices.

Therefore, apart from compressed energy bars and glucose, each person only prepared enough water for two or three days.

The remaining drinking water can be obtained from the already explored oases. The reason for not drawing water from the oasis just outside the tunnel is...
Firstly, they used almost no water at the time, and secondly...
Geological teams have determined that the water source in the initial oasis contained excessive levels of metals such as copper, iron, and calcium, making it unsuitable for drinking.

But now the water supply to this oasis is not a problem.

Although countless previous investigations have confirmed this, Professor Caldwell still needs to use instruments to check the water quality again to prevent geological changes in the George Ring from affecting the water quality and for the safety of each team member.

As for this kind of simple work
Handing it over to Tiera is certainly no problem.

Although Tierra is the financial backer of his team, based on their interactions over the day, Professor Caldwell could tell that Tierra was not the pampered type, so he hoped to have him take on some simple tasks.

Tierra was happy to do so.

In his previous life, he was a doctoral student. Although he ultimately failed to graduate, Tiera was still quite interested in this kind of scientific research.

He also wants others to feel like they are part of the team, not just an outsider providing financial support.

Accompanied by Algnis, Tiera completed the testing of all water sources, and the results showed that the water quality fully met drinking standards. This relieved everyone's anxiety about the water supply for the next few days.

Tierra reported the data to Professor Caldwell, who nodded in satisfaction and praised her generously.

“Mr. Lockhart, you’ve done an excellent job. Thank you for your efforts.” Professor Caldwell’s words were full of affirmation. “This ensures our water supply safety for the next few days. Honestly, have you never considered developing your career in scientific research? I believe you can achieve even greater success than your novels!”

“Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?” Tierra smiled somewhat awkwardly. He could sense Professor Caldwell’s eagerness to curry favor and secure more sponsorship, but…
But saying it like that is a bit too awkward, isn't it?
"Ahem. Are we camping here tonight?" Tierra coughed twice, then quickly changed the subject.

“Yes, Mr. Lockhart,” Professor Caldwell replied. “We’ll rest here for the night and depart at six o’clock each morning. We need to reach the Sunanri Oasis by noon tomorrow and, if possible, the Mattis Oasis by five o’clock in the afternoon.”

As he spoke, Professor Caldwell took out a paper map and pointed out the locations of the two oases he had mentioned to Tierra.

The oasis they are in now is called the Albert Oasis, named after the wilderness explorer Albert Kaiser, who first arrived there eight years ago.

The Sunanri Oasis was discovered by geologist Sunanri Ross. It is located 22 degrees south of west of their home, Albert Oasis, about 10 kilometers away. After arriving at the Sunanri Oasis, they would rest for a short time for an hour and then immediately set off, traveling about 7 kilometers in a south-southeast direction, trying to reach the Matisse Oasis before sunset.

Tomorrow's route is zigzag, and the two oases they plan to reach each day are not on a straight line.

The reason for choosing this route is that the straight-line distance between the Albert Oasis and the Matisse Oasis is relatively large, and the terrain is complex, mainly due to the constant changes in sand dunes and rock layers. Direct crossing may encounter unpredictable difficulties and dangers.

Therefore, they chose the Sunanli Oasis as a transit point. Taking an indirect route could ensure the safety of the team, while also making full use of the oasis as a point for resupply and rest.

After resting overnight at the Matisse Oasis, they only needed to walk for another half day to reach the edge of the central oasis in the George Ring.