Chapter 107: Speech—Loyalty, Courage, and Change (31/75)

As one of the miners, Nidnia had long since grown familiar with the other miners in her team.

Compared to Willis, the newcomer, her words carried more empathy and a stronger power to incite.

What Willis didn’t expect, however, was that the other party also possessed a considerable talent for preaching.

“We live every day in this sunless mine, without light, without a future!”

“Whenever the sun rises, we come to this dark underground!”

“When the sun sets, we’re still here!”

“What accompanies us is only darkness, labor, pain, and death—forever!”

“Why!?”

“Aren’t we human?”

“Or are only they human?”

“No!”

“We are not livestock, nor tools to be humiliated and tormented at will!”

“We are human, the same as them!”

“Everything they enjoy is created by us! So we have the same right to enjoy it all!”

The more Nidnia spoke, the more impassioned and louder she became.

Terrence and the other two, though equally stirred, clenched their fists unconsciously as they watched Nidnia.

Yet at the same time, they nervously kept their eyes on the entrance of the cave.

If anyone heard Nidnia’s words at this moment, their entire group might be captured as rebels!

Those miners who were whipped to death on the square this morning could very well be their fate.

But it was precisely because they agreed with Nidnia’s words that they chose to rebel and escape in the first place.

Now, their hearts were once again stirred by her speech.

The three brothers, like the other miners, felt their blood boil.

That’s right!

Why must we be treated this way!?

Why did all their effort, even their lives, only buy glory and wealth for others!?

“Why!?”

These three words were like a resounding hammer, striking the very hearts of the miners.

With Nidnia’s speech, all the miners in Mine Number Four put down their tools and gathered around.

“That’s right! Why! We must take back what’s ours!”

“Our wages, our health, our future, our light!”

Watching this scene from the side, Willis didn’t speak or join in.

She only watched with relief.

For these humble people, it was not too late to awaken.

By the time the Overseers returned, nearly every miner’s eyes burned with flames.

Were they oxen, horses, livestock?

No!

They were not even worthy of that!

Under the daily scolding, whipping, deprivation, ridicule, and painful living conditions…

It wasn’t that they didn’t harbor hatred, or had never thought of resistance, nor lacked courage!

It was only that they feared the consequences, feared death…

More importantly, they were merely a pile of firewood.

As the hatred in their hearts grew, so did the firewood.

All that was needed was someone to ignite it, to lead them in breaking all their shackles!

And Nidnia’s actions today declared her intent to be the one to set that spark!

“Ma-master!”

At that moment, two miners suddenly stood up, their expressions agitated.

They ran toward the returning Overseers, shouting.

“Nidnia just now was…..”

Seeing this, all the miners gasped, terror in their eyes as they watched the two running toward the Overseers.

Traitors among them!

Everything happened so fast, no one could react, let alone stop it!

But, if they spoke out, everyone in their group except for the two informers would die!

At that critical instant, a cherry-pink flash streaked by.

Boom!

Thud!

A protruding rock from the mine ceiling was cut apart and crashed down.

One of the would-be informers was struck on the head and collapsed in a pool of blood.

Willis exchanged a glance with Victoria beside her, and the latter understood instantly.

“Master, it’s not safe here, let me escort you out quickly!”

Victoria rushed forward, pushing several Overseers out of the mine as more rocks fell from the ceiling.

“Get away from me, you filthy woman, you stink!”

The Overseers cursed as they ran.

Compared to the miners, they cherished their own lives far more.

With rocks suddenly falling, it indeed seemed like a collapse was imminent.

And that’s exactly how the No. 13 Mine Tunnel collapsed before!

Outside the mine, Victoria spoke, “Masters, the mine is unstable. Let’s wait until it’s safe before going back in!”

“Hmph! Filthy woman, do you think you need to tell me!?”

One Overseer snorted coldly.

“Why aren’t those idiots inside coming out? Do they want to die?”

Inside the mine, the other informer stared blankly at his companion’s crushed body, stunned and dazed.

“You want to inform? Are you even human?”

Nidnia led people over, surrounding him.

At that moment, the informer finally snapped out of his trance.

Just as he was about to scream, someone struck him from behind with a rock, knocking him to the ground.

Before he could shout, Terrence stomped on his mouth.

Then, the other miners picked up stones and smashed his head to pieces.

“Spit! Dog bastard, this is Heaven’s Retribution!”

The miners even thought the falling rock was the will of the heavens, that even the sky was helping them!

But at that moment, Nidnia pulled Willis over.

“Let me introduce you all—this is Little Wei. It was thanks to her action just now that we were spared.”

With the introduction, the miners realized the truth.

So this new female miner was actually a Mage!?

At that moment, some were excited, but even more were grateful!

If Willis hadn’t acted at the crucial moment, they’d have been finished!

With this, Willis’s reputation among the miners was firmly established.

With their gratitude, everything else became much easier.

“Thank you, Little Wei. If you hadn’t stopped those two, we’d all be branded Rebels now.”

Several miners, their eyes red, spoke with lingering fear.

“Who would’ve thought those two were so heartless? They deserve to be torn to pieces!”

Another miner said angrily.

“You’re actually a Mage?”

Borden, standing by, was surprised instead.

“Someone of such noble status—why would you be in this mine?”

At these words, Willis forced a bitter smile, her face showing pain and hatred.

“It’s all because of that hateful Willis! And Ushi City!”

Saying this, Willis recounted to the miners the same story she had told Nidnia.

Only, she omitted the part about her appearance being similar to Willis and her plan to deceive.

Such a lie was also a gamble for Willis.

Now that the traitors among the miners had been killed, she thought no one else would betray them.

So, in order to build a foundation of trust, Willis spoke without hesitation.

This nearly treasonous, insane plan left all the miners gasping for breath.

But after calming down, Borden took the lead.

“Now we’re all in the same boat. Let’s do it!”

“In any case, staying here is just endless darkness. I have nothing to lose. Even if I die, at least I die a hero!”

“Count me in!”

“Me too!”

The miners spoke up together.

Nidnia breathed a sigh of relief, and Willis showed a satisfied smile.

She had originally planned to persuade these miners and test their loyalty.

That would have taken quite a bit of time—

At least several days to fully win them over!

As for loyalty, that was even harder to measure.

But plans could never keep up with changes!

Nidnia’s speech was too effective, and the miners’ accumulated resentment was even greater than imagined.

Add in the two would-be informers…

Everything happened so fast, yet it perfectly resolved Willis’s worries!

Not only thanks to those two, but Willis had also underestimated their determination.

They might be dull, resigned to being trampled.

But once someone took the lead, the anger, resentment, and hatred inside them could instantly become courage!

Borden’s eyes flickered, his breathing quickened, his body trembled, and his mind raced.

And his next words left Willis even more shocked.