Chapter 80: Mining Captain—Nidnia?

The mine where Terrence and the other two were previously located was a large vein on the outskirts of Ushi City.

The entire mountain was an abnormal black color, hence the name Heishan Mine.

It mainly produced copper, iron, and sulfur ore.

Beside it was also a small Natural Crystal Mine.

This kind of crystal was formed by water-attributed Magic condensing naturally in the world, but the yield was low, so most miners here focused on digging copper and iron.

“Stop! What are you doing!?”

At the entrance of the mine, there was a gate responsible for registering those coming and going.

The mined and roughly processed ore would also be transported out from this gate by Cart.

Looking up from the foot of the mountain, one could see the entire area surrounded by a continuous wall.

The mine was vast, and the wall enclosed it completely.

One reason was for security; the other was to prevent miners from escaping.

Every hundred meters along the wall stood a small watchtower, each manned by a Soldier on duty.

Beyond the gate, there were rows of buildings.

Some were shabby, some refined.

It was clear these were residences for people of different ranks.

Beside the houses was a large open space, where Carts waited to be loaded.

Under the illumination of Magic, people still worked through the night.

Machines operated nearby, crushing the ore.

Then, manual labor would sort and load the material onto Carts.

The process of smelting the ore into iron ingots was handled by specialized Workshops in Ushi City, so the mine didn’t process it further.

When a Soldier came to interrogate them, Willis signaled Terrence with her eyes.

Though reluctant, he forced a smile and went over.

“Sir, sir! We’re from the west, attacked by bandits on the way, lost everything, and haven’t eaten for days.”

“I heard Heishan Mine was hiring miners, so I brought my family here hoping for a meal.”

As he spoke, Terrence began explaining to the questioning Soldier.

“These two are my brothers, and these two ugly girls are the daughters of lowborns. I hope you’ll be merciful, sir.”

“Your Highness, he’s getting revenge!”

Victoria muttered to Willis.

Willis pursed her lips but said nothing.

Seeing them whispering, the Soldier suddenly shouted, “You two, what are you whispering about!? Raise your heads and let me have a good look!”

At his words, Willis and Victoria stood closer together.

A sour stench wafted over, and the Soldier saw their faces covered in grime.

Forget about fantasizing; just looking almost made him vomit.

“Get lost! You stink! Stay away from me! Thought you were some good goods, ptooey!”

Spitting, the Soldier looked at the three men again.

After a round of questions, he seemed to remember something in the darkness.

“Wait a minute, why do you three look familiar? Weren’t you the three miners who led an escape a while back?”

“What were your names again, I forgot! Speak! Are you those runaway spies!?”

Waving his steel blade menacingly, the Soldier glared.

Terrence hurriedly smiled.

“Sir! There are plenty of people who look alike in this world. Maybe your eyes are playing tricks.”

“Look at us, thin and starving, just needing work. Please be lenient!”

As he spoke, Terrence slipped a Silver Coin from Willis to the Soldier.

The Soldier’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Haha! Must’ve been my mistake!”

He dropped the matter.

“Report your names and hometowns, register, then come with me to Team Four!”

“Ah! Thank you! Thank you!”

Terrence nodded and bowed repeatedly.

The names were obviously fake, as were the addresses.

Willis and the other two didn’t even bother inventing new names, simply going with [Xiao Wei] and [Xiao Wei].

Before long, the five of them were allowed inside.

Walking on the rough, gravelly ground, Willis felt extremely uncomfortable.

Along the way, she saw Overseers with vicious faces, whipping the miners to keep them working.

The Carts’ wheels creaked, and the miners had the lifeless look of the utterly exhausted.

Terrence and the other two simmered with anger but could only follow the Soldier back to their long-lost, decrepit dormitory.

“This will be your dormitory from now on. Take a good look. I’ll go inform the Team Four Leader.”

After the Soldier left, Willis entered the so-called dormitory and immediately frowned.

The rundown buildings seen outside were indeed the miners’ quarters, filled with haphazardly made tables and chairs.

There were no beds, only tattered blankets spread on the floor.

The torn and worn bedding showed that many slept here at night.

Willis looked up again.

The ceiling was full of holes, with oil lamps hanging on the walls, casting faint yellow light.

If it rained, water would definitely leak in.

Beside the house was the toilet.

Willis hadn’t even entered before the stench made her cough.

Inside, a few partitions marked off spaces, about twenty pits in total.

The toilet provided little cover—rain would drench anyone inside.

“Your Highness.”

Victoria looked at the nearly uncleaned, filth-filled latrine, her eye twitching.

“Maybe we should…”

“No!”

Willis waved her hand.

“I came here to understand the miners’ conditions. How could I leave so easily?”

“But…”

Victoria hesitated.

“You don’t have to come to a place like this yourself, do you? Even if you wanted to investigate incognito…”

Willis smiled.

“How can I expect others to work for me, to acknowledge me as the high and mighty Lord, if I haven’t endured their suffering myself?”

“Besides, Victoria, Ushi City isn’t so simple…”

“If we want to stabilize ourselves in these turbulent undercurrents, nothing can go wrong with these mines!”

“No subordinates, no trustworthy officials, only these honest miners are the foundation of my future!”

“They’re also a force capable of sweeping through and devouring all of Ushi City.”

Victoria didn’t understand what Willis was thinking.

But when the Team Four Leader returned, Victoria’s frown deepened.

“A woman?”

A girl of about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in a miner’s simple gear, was brought over by the Soldier.

“Nidnia, these are the new additions to Team Four. Assign them properly, and don’t let them slack off!”

The Soldier barked, kicking the girl.

She took it silently, and the Soldier left, cursing.

“Damn, such a pretty girl, what a waste…”

At the same time, Willis’s Real Eye activated on its own.

[Detected a faint trace of Dark Magic. There is a False Appearance on this girl.]

False Appearance?

It was the first time Willis had heard the term.

Along the way, everyone Willis had seen was ordinary.

A few guards and Overseers knew some body techniques or swordsmanship.

But this girl—apparently the team leader—was actually a Magic user?

Interesting…

The girl called Nidnia had water-blue, shoulder-length hair and a tall, well-proportioned figure. Even with her face streaked with mine dust, her beauty was evident.

Her neck was delicate, but the fingers exposed by her worn gloves were covered in calluses.

Yet she was a true beauty.

Willis found it curious. Why did the Soldier say ‘what a waste’ about a woman like this?

Hadn’t she been bullied by men in the mine?

Questions filled her mind, but Nidnia didn’t look at her, instead staring at Terrence and the other two.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Uncle… Uncle Terrence!? Is it really you!?”