Chapter 175 - 174: I Have Self-Control
"That would be for the best," Maki snorted.
Zelir went over the final details one last time.
"The extermination mission starts tomorrow. We’ll gather at the gates of Black Stone Town at dawn, and then head to the No. 13 Mine Area on the outskirts together. Sound good?"
"No problem," Maki asked. "But how will we be splitting the pay?"
"We’ll split the payment based on each person’s contribution during the battle."
It was Marcus who spoke this time. "Don’t worry, it’ll be fair. Everyone will be satisfied with the outcome."
Hearing this, Maki studied Marcus for a moment, then nodded.
"I’ve heard of you. The Marcus Squad."
Maki’s gaze swept over each of them.
"You’ve only started making a name for yourselves in the last few months. And you’re one of the few squads that hasn’t had any turnover."
"You wouldn’t have stayed together this long if the split wasn’t fair."
"So... I’ll trust you," Maki said, extending his hand to Marcus.
"Pleasure working with you," Marcus said, shaking it.
"Pleasure working with you."
...
「Early the next morning.」
The sky had just begun to lighten as a thin layer of morning fog enveloped the silent Black Stone Town.
A four-wheeled carriage stood parked quietly by the roadside near the town gate.
"You’re pretty close with that young lady from the Alberti Clan, aren’t you? I had a feeling during the Monster Hunting."
Gray leaned against the carriage, popping the last piece of dark bread into his mouth.
"She even came to you with this commission personally. Has your relationship really progressed that far?"
"We’re good friends and we’ve helped each other out a lot. What’s there to be so surprised about?" Zelir shot Gray a sideways glance.
"Is that so..."
Gray smiled knowingly.
Marcus and Valles had already arrived. Only Maki was missing.
’Finally.’
Zelir sighed to himself. For once, he wasn’t the last person to show up.
But he didn’t have to wait long. A familiar figure soon appeared around a distant street corner.
It was Maki.
He was even more heavily armored today.
In addition to the Studded Leather Armor and Chain Armor Liner on his torso, he also wore a Skirt Armor, Leg Armor, and Knee Guards. Every vital spot was completely protected.
Marcus was also sporting new gear.
Ever since teaming up with Zelir, he’d been able to upgrade his equipment far more often.
A brand-new Composite Shield, fine Scale Armor, and a newly forged Battle Saber—coupled with his burly frame, he now looked every bit the formidable Middle Level Warrior.
Zelir had also prepared meticulously for this mission.
Despite having Defensive Magic, he still put on the Leather Armor he’d bought previously, just in case.
Inside his Storage Pouch, he still had the two bottles of Healing Potion and one bottle of Overclocking Potion from Instructor Manlin, as well as some Source Energy Crystal Stones.
Zelir wouldn’t hesitate to use them if anything unexpected happened during the fight.
Although the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm wasn’t as dangerous as a One-Eyed Giant, this was still the first time he would be facing a [Challenge]-rated Demon without any backup.
’There’s no room for error.’
"Morning, everyone," Maki said with a wave.
"’Morning."
"Sorry I’m a little late. I was expecting Gray to be even later."
Maki grinned at Gray. "Well, this is a rare sight. You actually made it to a morning meet-up without being hungover."
"I haven’t done that in a long time."
Gray’s cheek twitched. "Don’t assume I’m still the same guy I used to be, alright?"
"You quit drinking?" Maki asked, curious.
"No, but I have self-control. I don’t touch a drop the day before a mission," Gray shot back.
"Alright, save your energy. We’ve got a tough fight ahead of us today."
Marcus clapped his hands. "Let’s get your gear in the carriage. We’ll ride to the mine area."
The ride was silent inside the carriage.
As the carriage traveled on, the familiar scenery of the town and fields gradually began to change.
The fertile farmland on either side of the road gave way to vast tracts of clear-cut forest, leaving nothing but bare stumps.
The fresh scent of grass and trees was replaced by a stench of coal ash, sulfur, and rusted metal.
The earth turned a barren, reddish-brown from over-mining, and abandoned minecarts could occasionally be seen by the roadside.
Soon, the flat dirt road ended, and the terrain grew rugged.
Huge boulders and steep slopes made it impossible for the carriage to go any further.
The group gathered their gear, disembarked, and proceeded toward their destination on foot.
A bitter morning wind wailed as it swept through the mountain pass.
The scene here was a stark contrast to the vibrant town—it was utterly desolate.
The mine, which should have been bustling with activity and ringing with the sound of tools, was now eerily still and silent.
Huge ore-sifting frames stood like the skeletons of giants, completely deserted.
Only a few guards, tasked with sealing off the area, stood at the mine’s entrance ahead, blocking any unauthorized personnel from approaching.
Behind them, two towering cliffs rose up, their faces as sheer as if they had been carved by knife and axe.
The pass between them, which led to the No. 13 Mine Area, was fairly wide with a flat surface, broad enough for two carriages to pass through side-by-side.
"Halt."
The guards crossed their spears, blocking the squad’s path. "The mine area ahead has been sealed by the Alberti Clan. No one is permitted to enter."
"We are the Adventurer Squad invited by the Alberti Clan to exterminate the Demons in the caves."
Marcus presented his Adventurer’s Badge, and the others displayed their own badges as well.
Upon seeing the Silver Level Adventurer’s Badges and the Junior Mage Badge, the guards’ cold expressions softened considerably, and their tone grew respectful.
"I see. Sirs, please be careful. The Demon you’re after is very dangerous."
"Thank you for the warning." Zelir gave a slight nod.
The spears were retracted, and the squad was allowed to pass.
Once through the pass, the group entered a massive, ring-shaped valley.
This was the central hub of the entire mining area, surrounded on all sides by towering cliffs.
Craftsmen had chiseled switchback staircases into the cliff faces, winding their way upward.
Each major landing had various forks, creating a spiderweb of paths that led to different mine entrances set into the cliff faces.
Zelir did a quick count. Within his field of vision alone, he could see at least a dozen mine entrances.
The remnants of wooden tracks for transporting Ore still lay next to each entrance.
"Such a massive mine... and this is just one of them."
Maki mused aloud, looking all around.
"I’ve heard there are more than a dozen other mining areas just like this one... Can you even imagine the immense wealth this place generates every single day?"