That deep fatherly love was buried in the earth.
Slowly, it grew from the darkness, turning into a seed of vengeance.
Usually, it left no trace, almost undetectable.
But when a ray of light broke through, allowing Nidnia to see what lay deep within her own heart—
That seed began to grow wildly, like bamboo shoots after the rain.
It spread through her entire body.
Yet, when she calmed down, Nidnia had to face reality.
“Xiao Wei, are these your own thoughts? Or…?”
She looked at Terrence and the other two beside her, the meaning obvious.
Nidnia thought that the mastermind behind this Xiao Wei was Terrence, Feidi, and Andy.
Given their prior history of leading an escape and riot, it was understandable they’d come up with such a crazy plan.
But how could Terrence and the other two dare to take the blame?
Even if, for now, it was just talk of rebellion, if discovered, it wouldn’t matter whether they intended to act or not.
When the Imperial Army came to arrest people, they would be the first to face execution.
Besides, they still didn’t know what Willis meant, so taking responsibility was out of the question.
“Nidnia, you overestimate the three of us. Even if you gave us ten thousand more guts, we’d never dare think of something like this!”
Terrence explained.
Willis also laughed. “Don’t trouble them. It’s my idea.”
“But… have you thought about what happens if we fail? All of us might be implicated, and our families will suffer and die together!”
Nidnia clenched her fingers.
Her voice was low and cautious, yet carried a strange excitement.
To the point her words even trembled.
“Even if we somehow succeed! Kill the Imperial Princess and seize Ushi City… How long could we hold it with just us?”
“When the Imperial Army comes to exterminate us, all we can do is run!”
“Even if we cross the Amis Strait to escape the Empire’s clutches, we’re rebels—with nowhere to call home!”
At that time, they’d be like rats everyone wanted dead on the Vistoria Continent.
Once labeled rebels, not only would their own lives be forfeit, but their friends and descendants would be dragged down too!
Rebellion meant binding everyone related to you onto a wagon rolling straight into the abyss.
Of course, Willis understood this.
There were many miners in Ushi City, but not all dared rebel.
Though they’d grown strong through years of mining, they knew neither swordsmanship nor magic.
Without reinforcements, holding Ushi City would be nearly impossible.
In the end, all they could do was gather wealth and flee.
But that would depend on who led the rebellion.
Willis thought, if I rebel against myself, can it even be called rebellion?
Isn’t it up to me, the Lord of Ushi City, to decide!?
The real issue now was persuading the girl before her.
She would be the first step in controlling a vast number of miners!
“I’ve already considered these issues.”
Willis said confidently.
“Aside from the surrounding mines, the city guard within Ushi City itself only numbers around three thousand. Including private soldiers from each family, it’s no more than five thousand at most!”
“Even if there are quite a few swordsmen and mages among them, we can make up the difference with numbers and weapons.”
“As long as we choose the right moment, the chances of capturing Ushi City and killing the Imperial Princess are quite high.”
“Most importantly, we’re in the shadows, while they’re exposed in the light!”
“As the saying goes, open spears are easy to dodge, hidden arrows are hard to guard against. If we prepare well, the success rate of a surprise attack on Ushi City is over eighty percent!”
At that moment, Willis seemed to transform into a strategist, her plans laid out clearly in her mind!
“But there are still many overseers and soldiers in the mines outside Ushi City. Their numbers are high, so our first priority is to eliminate them!”
Easier said than done.
Nidnia snorted, clearly unimpressed by Willis’s plan.
“As for what happens if we succeed…”
Willis waved Terrence over, who walked over with a sullen expression.
“What is it?”
“Have you ever seen the Second Princess Willis?”
Willis asked.
“You want to mess with me…”
Terrence started, but when he met Willis’s cold gaze, he immediately turned his head.
“Hmph! I’ve seen her. What’s your point?”
Not only had he seen her, she was standing right in front of him!
Terrence felt he really couldn’t understand the behavior of this Imperial Princess—strange and illogical.
“Do you think I look like Willis?”
Willis’s question left Nidnia shocked.
“Wha… what!? You…”
Nidnia pointed at Willis in disbelief.
“Your appearance…”
Because by the time Nidnia arrived, Willis had already gone to Monsell, so she’d never seen her in person.
She turned to Terrence.
She stared at him intently, a crazy idea rising in her mind.
But aside from Nidnia, who was kept in the dark, the others all knew Willis’s true identity.
At this moment, they all silently cursed: this woman is a master at acting!
“The resemblance is over ninety percent—you could easily pass for the real thing!”
Terrence answered gruffly.
At that moment, Nidnia’s eyes widened.
“Uncle Terrence, are you serious!?”
“How could I joke about this!?”
Terrence wanted to say [the one in front of you is her!].
“When I first took her in, I was so shocked I almost killed her, thinking she was Willis herself.”
Which was the truth—he’d just made a mistake.
Nidnia had been shocked so many times today, she was almost numb.
But this was exactly the effect Willis wanted.
So, do you still want to ask me what I do at night?
And now, you’re stuck on my pirate ship!
“When I escaped from Ushi City, Willis wanted me dead—not just because of that officer…
But because my sister and I resembled her, so she had to kill me!”
“Willis! That vile woman! I will kill her!”
Beside her, Victoria was now immune to the Imperial Second Princess lying as easily as she breathed.
But hearing herself being cursed, she still felt odd inside.
Nidnia stood in a daze for a while, as the miners in the dormitory began to wake up and wash.
It was no longer a suitable place to talk.
“This matter must be strictly confidential. Xiao Wei, give me some time… I’ll give you an answer at noon.”
With that, Nidnia left.
Soon after, the entire mine came to life.
The sun rose at the horizon, and the miners dragged their exhausted bodies to the so-called cafeteria.
Half an hour later.
Willis stared at the contents of the battered bowl in front of her, which likely hadn’t been washed in a week, her stomach churning.
Bran, wild greens, and a few strips of protein.
Her family’s dog ate ten thousand times better than this!
Victoria beside her had no appetite either.
She even asked, “Is this really food?”
But if you didn’t eat, the overseers wouldn’t force it down your throat.
Refusing to eat wouldn’t lessen your workload.
And if you couldn’t manage, not only would you get no wages, you’d get whipped!
Soon, overseers from each mine arrived with the team captains, counted the workers, and led them out for another day’s labor.
Twenty minutes later, Willis, carrying an iron pickaxe, returned to the same mine as yesterday.
Clang, clang—the sound of metal echoed, mixed with the overseer’s curses and the crack of whips.
Here, only the dead could truly rest.
Ahead, Nidnia seemed absent-minded, her thoughts adrift.
As soon as they started, she, the team captain, got a fierce scolding.
Willis simply raised her hammer and brought it down.
She was now a miner.