According to reliable information, there were still many surviving miners in the shafts of the Tanatzk Great Mine.
Although it was unclear if they were still actively mining, the high noble Campbell had already lined his pockets to the point of overflowing over the years.
There was also intelligence stating that most of the miners had contracted an unknown disease. They lived year-round in dark, damp environments, never having enough to eat or wear.
Setting aside occupational diseases, it was practically impossible for one’s body and mind not to fall ill after working in such an environment for years on end.
The three girls headed toward the Tanatzk Great Mine today, acting as “sneaky” as cats. They changed into slightly dirty miner clothes prepared by Aunt Rachel and put on camouflage masks. Now, to any observer, they looked like three gold miners!
Please follow safety work procedures — remember to wear your work hat when going down the shaft, or your wages will be docked!
The heavy oak mine door was pushed open by the accompanying scout squad, who were also disguised as miners. The creaking sound echoed through the empty cavern.
As soon as they entered the mine shaft, a scent mixed with damp earth and metallic veins hit them. It carried the unique chill of the underground. Airlis felt that it was similar to the feeling of walking into an air-raid shelter in her previous life.
Everyone held torches wrapped in a mixture of tree sap and sulfur. The flames flickered in the damp underground air, and the light shone on the glowing ore walls, causing the shadows in the shaft to shift between light and dark.
As they ventured deeper, everyone became cautious. The environment ahead was still unclear, and the further they went, the more they needed to maintain the utmost vigilance.
The road ahead became rugged and difficult to traverse. Airlis reflected the light of her torch onto the minecart tracks ahead, only to find that the path leading to the third floor was blocked by many minecarts and scattered large chunks of ore.
Only a passage just wide enough for an adult’s body was visible in the corner.
The members of the scout squad took the lead, and the people behind them prepared to pass through one by one.
“Who’s there!” the lead squad member suddenly shouted.
“Misters, I… I’m not a bad person. My father is still down there. Please, go save him…” A boy about eight years old appeared. Behind him stood several exceptionally wary adult miners.
“Is it a rescue team… You don’t really look like one. There shouldn’t be any new miners reporting for duty lately,” one of the adult miners stated.
“Take us to see your suffering compatriots. Everyone, do not be afraid; I am a Priest sent to help.” Airlis stepped forward. Unable to bear seeing these miners suffer, she immediately channeled her mana and activated light healing magic.
**[DISEASE DISPELLATION]**, **[ADVANCED RAPID HEAL]**!
A warm, pure white light emanated from the miners. It was as if they had truly seen an angel descend, with the light radiating from the halo around Airlis. Their illnesses were cleared instantly, and their feelings of weakness and discomfort vanished completely.
The little boy was momentarily stunned. He stared at Airlis, whose disguise had failed due to the massive output of mana, revealing her silver hair and divine markings.
“It’s… it’s the sister from the divine race! The divine race has come back to save us in our time of suffering! Praise Goddess Phibylia!” The little boy pressed his hands together, and the miners behind him followed suit, beginning to pray fervently.
“Great lady of the divine race, please save us! So many people have caught a strange disease, and our food is running low!”
“The miners here were targeted by Sean’s Witch-Hunting Group and the Campbell mercenaries. We blocked the road here to resist them and prevent more of our compatriots from being captured.” As soon as the lead miner finished speaking, he quickly added, “They are doing something terrible.”
“Roughly how many survivors are still safe here?” Sophia asked bluntly.
“430 people. It was 475 before… More than forty people have already passed away because of the strange disease…” The lead miner showed a look of grief. Then, he gritted his teeth and roared with indignation. “It’s all because Campbell brought that Bishop! They are conducting some kind of experiment underground! Many miners contracted the strange disease because of those experiments!”
“Mister, can you roughly describe what kind of experiments they were?” Nino asked her own question, coordinating with her two sisters to investigate.
“I haven’t observed those experiments up close, and many people said it’s best not to approach. Most of the miners who got close to those eerie magic circles and unusual rituals developed mental problems. They died one after another within no more than three days…”
The boy nearby couldn’t help but speak up. Hearing the facts stated by the lead miner, he cried out with tears in his eyes, “It’s those bad people! They… they killed the uncles and aunts!!”
Airlis rested her chin on her hand and began to think.
‘Much of the previous intelligence pointed to the depths of the Tanatzk Great Mine. The letter from the Resistance leader last time also explicitly mentioned traces of necromancy here.’
‘Sister Ann joined us this morning. As soon as she arrived, she sensed a very disgusting aura—one she could smell even from the Resistance headquarters.’
Angelica’s intuition wouldn’t be wrong. The natural weakness of the Red Dragon race was necromancy and dark-attribute magic.
She could smell things she loathed to the extreme even from a great distance. After all, necromancy was her lifelong enemy…
The miners who approached the eerie magic circles or participated in the rituals were likely used as sacrifices. As for the others who contracted the strange disease, their life energy had been gnawed away to varying degrees. Their mental states were already on the verge of collapse…
It seemed the situation was indeed far from optimistic. They had to save these people first.
“Nino! You’re the best at drawing teleportation circles. Move quickly and find a way to transfer all 430 people here to the Resistance headquarters,” Airlis said after thinking quickly, reaching the best solution for the moment.
“Okay, Sister Airlis. This will take about 1 hour. Why don’t you have the scout squad explore the surroundings to gather more intelligence?” Nino replied with a smile, sharing her thoughts.
“Mhm, let’s go with Nino’s plan. Scout squad, assemble and execute the mission immediately!” Grand Commander Airlis waved her hand, and the scouts vanished in an instant.
1 hour later, Nino had finished setting up the teleportation circle. The familiar light turned from dim to dazzling, and numerous runes flickered on the ground. Afterward, all the miners were rescued and sent to the Resistance headquarters.
However, the little boy did not enter the magic circle to be teleported with them.
***
The little boy walked out of the mine shaft alone, and several of the Pope’s secret guards immediately gathered around him!
“Lord Altair, Lord Tyron has reached the Resistance headquarters as planned. What should we do next?” one of the guards asked, bowing respectfully.
“The fish has taken the bait. I didn’t expect that I would still have to step in. Don’t be in a hurry; the real show is yet to come. Lay a long line to catch a big fish…”
The little boy showed a creepy smile that didn’t belong to his age at all, making one’s skin crawl.
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