The aircraft descended slowly through thick clouds.
Below them stretched an endless sea of green.
The Amazon rainforest.
From above, it looked peaceful.
Beautiful.
But Li Wen knew the truth.
Places like this swallowed people.
Whole expeditions had disappeared in these forests.
The aircraft landed on a narrow dirt runway carved into the jungle.
Warm, humid air rushed inside as the door opened.
Arun stepped out first and immediately wiped sweat from his forehead.
"This place feels like a furnace."
Albert walked down the steps calmly.
"Welcome to Brazil."
Li Wen looked toward the endless forest.
"So this is where the coordinates lead."
Albert nodded.
"Yes."
Arun glanced at him.
"You seem prepared for this."
Albert smiled slightly.
"My friend, I always prepare."
Li Wen crossed her arms.
"How many friends do you actually have helping you with this expedition?"
Albert laughed softly.
"Many."
He gestured toward the nearby equipment trucks parked beside the runway.
"Doctors."
"Engineers."
"Logistics teams."
"Machinery operators."
He looked toward Mark.
"And security."
Mark nodded.
"My previous team is already here."
As if on cue, a man approached from the edge of the runway.
He wore a wide hat, jungle boots, and carried a rifle casually over his shoulder.
The man smiled when he saw Albert.
He spoke in Spanish.
"Señor Albert. Bienvenido otra vez a Brasil."
(Mr. Albert. Welcome back to Brazil.)
Albert replied in Spanish easily.
"Gracias, amigo. ¿Todo está preparado?"
(Thank you, my friend. Is everything ready?)
The man nodded.
"Sí. Pero la selva no es amable con los visitantes."
(Yes. But the jungle is not kind to visitors.)
Albert turned to the others.
"This is Mateo Carvalho."
"He knows this region better than anyone."
Mateo nodded toward the group.
"Mucho gusto."
(Nice to meet you.)
They began loading equipment into several rugged jungle vehicles.
As the convoy moved deeper into the rainforest, the sky slowly disappeared behind thick tree canopies.
The jungle grew darker.
Denser.
Alive with distant animal sounds.
Mateo spoke again in Spanish while driving.
"Aquí no solo hay animales. También hay narcos."
(There are not only animals here. There are also narcos.)
Albert nodded calmly.
"I know."
Mateo continued.
"Este lugar tiene un nombre."
(This place has a name.)
He looked toward the forest around them.
"Infierno Verde."
(Green Hell.)
Li Wen leaned forward slightly.
"Green Hell?"
Mateo nodded.
"Muchos hombres entran aquí… pero pocos regresan."
(Many men enter here… but few return.)
Mark checked his weapon quietly.
"We'll manage."
The convoy finally stopped near a narrow jungle trail.
The vehicles could go no further.
From here—
they would walk.
Mateo pointed toward the thick forest ahead.
"El lugar que buscan está allí."
(The place you're looking for is that way.)
Albert nodded.
"Then let's begin."
They moved slowly through the jungle.
Thick vines hung from ancient trees.
The air smelled of wet soil and decay.
Then Mateo suddenly stopped.
He raised his hand.
Everyone froze.
Mateo stared at something in the distance.
His voice lowered.
"Señor Albert…"
Albert stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Mateo pointed toward a clearing ahead.
Through the trees—
a massive stone structure was partially visible beneath centuries of vines and moss.
Not Brazilian.
Not tribal.
Ancient.
Albert whispered quietly.
"Well…"
"It seems our mysterious architect…"
"…visited the Amazon too."