"Ding!"
The elevator slowly descended downwards. At first it wasn’t imdiately noticeable, but as the depth continued to increase, Zarek could feel the concentration of mana increasing. With every breath, every single cell of his body seed to scream in delight, imnsely invigorated.
"Although it isn’t clear how mana first appeared in the world, according to recent research, most of the mana present in the atmosphere today originated from deep within the earth’s surface..." Zarek mused while waiting. The Goldfire mines were at least six kiloters below the surface. Even at the fastest speed, it was going to take so ti to reach there.
Zerin, who had been silent all this ti, couldn’t hold back but queried, "Master, where are we going...?"
Her voice, however, wasn’t loud, as if she was muttering to herself. It wasn’t the first ti she was asking this question, but Zarek had ignored her inquiry in the past, acting as if she didn’t exist. As such, she wasn’t expecting a response.
However, just then she heard a cold voice which caught her by surprise.
"We are here to see what is causing problems with the Goldfire Mine..."
Although he was saying these words, internally his focus was sothing else. Just before two years before the main story started, the production of this Goldfire Mine fell drastically. To keep it open, the Silversword family had to burn more money than it was earning. Finally, to cut off the losses, the mine was to be auctioned.
This would be the biggest blunder that the Silverswords made in their lifeti, as well as the reason when the second apocalypse ca two years later, they were almost pushed to the verge of extinction.
Just as he was thinking, with a ding sound, the gate of the elevator opened, revealing an eerie dark space radiating suffocating pressure, the only source of light being the two torches held in the hand of a middle-aged man.
Seeing this middle-aged man, Zarek nodded and said, "I have troubled Elder Zoey..."
Although he said those words, however, his tone was extrely even without any changes, his face indifferent.
The middle-aged man that he addressed as Mr. Zoey showed a wide smile and laughed out loud.
"No problem, it is what I’m supposed to do..."
While chatting about the recent happenings in the mine, he led Zarek deeper into the mine. The dim lanterns in his hand showed the path ahead.
When asked why the only source of light was this dim lantern, Zoey explained while chuckling, "The Goldfire present in this mine absorbs all the fire mana from the surroundings. Therefore, it is impossible for any flas to burn here, no matter how mighty it is. The energy inside it would be devoured by the Goldfire."
Hearing the explanation, the cold chilling temperature also made sense. Following usual logic, as Zarek descended, the temperature should have increased, but on the contrary, it fell by a large amount.
Listening to Zoey’s explanation, Zarek’s eyes continued to wander around. Other than Zoey, he noticed a couple of other figures wandering in the distance, the sa lanterns as Zoey also in their hands, illuminating an area of no further than a couple of ters ahead.
"Hmmm... There is definitely sothing wrong in this place..."
Zarek’s thoughts surged. In such an important mine, by this ti he should have seen at least a couple of hundred workers, but the number of workers could be counted on the fingers of his hand.
anwhile, on the surface, his expression remained calm as usual. From ti to ti, he echoed so words. Zoey continued:
"Yes, using the new drilling thod, the production had also reached an all-ti high. Current output is ten tons per month."
Zarek nodded as usual. Internally, however, he was frowning. He was now completely sure there was sothing wrong with Zoey as well. The way he was talking, as if a robot was reading a prewritten script.
Each and every one of his words was too perfect, not giving room to argue. Moreover, not just that—with a couple of people, how can the production be at its highest?
"Young master, your quarters are arranged in the north of the mining area. Please stay there for the night and don’t wander too far in the distance. It is extrely dangerous during this ti of the day."
As soon as Zoey walked so distance away, Zerin imdiately said in a subdued voice:
"Master, there is sothing wrong with this Zoey..." Her eyes were filled with disgust, as if she had stepped on a pile of shit.
Hearing her words, Zarek simply nodded and said, "I know. What we have to find out is exactly what is wrong with him..."
Hearing his response, Zerin beca even more excited and told him everything she felt.
"He radiates an aura similar to mine but far more stronger. He is more monster than human."
Hearing her words, Zarek fell deep into thought, not imdiately responding. "An aura similar to hers..."
"Could it be the mine is already taken over by the Faceless Demon...?"
Although it wasn’t clearly ntioned, one of the reasons that was revealed in the book was that the mine’s problem had sothing to do with Faceless Demons—cursed and sinister monsters born faceless but taking the appearance of the last person they killed. Not just appearance, but their abilities, powers, and everything else, perfectly mimicking everything.
According to the rumors, a high-level Faceless Demon could even copy other classes.
"A very terrifying ability..." Thinking up to this point, Zarek beca even more alert, not taking this threat any lightly. From next ti, he had to be incredibly cautious against Zoey and guard against any sudden attacks.
He had to assu Zoey was already replaced by a Faceless Demon—a very high-level one at that.
So might say Zarek was thinking way too much, but Zarek preferred it this way. It was better to be safe than sorry.
...
The living space arranged by Zoey was simple and similar to a one-bedroom apartnt back from Earth.
After carefully analyzing the situation, Zarek left to examine the current state of the mine’s Goldfire stones.
Zerin looked at the surroundings vigilantly, as if at all tis soone or sothing was watching them constantly.
"Master, this place is giving chills. You have to be very careful. Why don’t you summon Misery...?"
Although her suggestion sounded attractive, Zarek didn’t summon Misery. He was worried that the sudden appearance of the Miseries would make the Faceless Demons even more cautious. They might send sothing powerful to attack him.
On the surface, he was simply a first sequence awakener, not posing too much threat.
...
anwhile, sowhere in the distance, in the living quarters of the mine manager, a rather heavy conversation was taking place.
"First, the Silversword family suddenly canceled the auction, and now this so-called young master suddenly appeared. Could it be the old man Bloodbane had finally discovered sothing?"
As soon as these words ca out, another voice vehently denied, "No, it is impossible. We have been running this mine over a decade. Most of the Goldfire stones sent out are already infected by our mana. If that old codger could discover us, he would have discovered us long ago."
The other figures all fell silent. These words made sense.
The weapons infected by their mana had already spread all over the continent. If they wanted, they could make the weapons unusable.
Still, another couldn’t help but say:
"The young master is barely at the first sequence. Why don’t we finish him first?"
"No! You don’t know how much he is loved by his grandfather. If we did that, the old man would definitely discover us. We are already at the last stage of our plan and can’t afford to make any mistakes."
After that, no words were spoken. Silence once again fell.
...
anwhile, in so corner of the continent, inside a wooden hut surrounded by tall trees, an extrely handso young man with crimson hair and sword-like eyebrows gazed at the empty door with an uncertain face.
It had already been more than a week, and his big brother had yet to return from his trip.
If it was just that, the young man wouldn’t have gotten worried, but his big brother would never miss his birthday.
At this point, the dark-haired youth couldn’t help but make his way into his heart. "Sothing must have happened."
Arthur Dreamwalker waited for one more day before finally accepting sothing had happened to his brother.
The next day, he got ready and stord out, ready to search for his brother, and no one would be able to stop him.
While most of the world slept, a young man with determination all over his face walked out in search for his brother alone. Few knew this simple decision of the young man would change not just the world but everything forever.
...
anwhile, Zarek was moving out to examine the state of the Goldfire stones, unaware of the fact that Arthur had begun his journey.
If he knew about it, he definitely would have been shocked. "Wait, who pushed the story in advance? Wasn’t it two years later that Brian disappeared?"dfsf
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