Free Web NovelChapter 389: Chapter 389: Mining Area
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Over the next two days, the five-person squad split into two teams.
Chen Yuan took Lin Jue to conduct a field survey of Mining Site One. Xu Wuyi and Hong Nianyi were responsible for Mining Site Two, while You Sicheng remained in the cave to monitor the overall situation and analyze data.
Mining Site Two was located in a wide valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only a single winding dirt road leading out.
Xu Wuyi and Hong Nianyi hid in a rock crevice on the eastern ridge, observing the area below through a high-powered scope.
The mining site was larger than they had anticipated.
A dozen or so rugged excavators roared at the bottom of the pit, their treads grinding over rock and dirt with a piercing screech.
Conveyor belts transported the excavated ore to a central crude-sorting platform, where dozens of low-level Werewolf slaves were sorting and loading it.
The slaves were dressed in rags, their movements mechanical and their eyes numb. The overseeing Werewolf Warriors carried whips, occasionally lashing the slower slaves while cursing under their breath.
Crude shacks had been erected at the edge of the mining site, serving as quarters for the guards.
Eight War General Level Werewolf captains were scattered across four watchtowers, patrolling lazily.
"It matches the intel," Hong Nianyi said in a low voice. "Eight War Generals, thirty-two warriors, and about two hundred slaves. Twelve pieces of mining equipment, one crude-sorting platform, and eight transport vehicles."
Xu Wuyi’s gaze swept over the pile of ore in the center of the site, which had grown into a small mountain.
The ore was dark red with a metallic luster, and it emanated faint energy fluctuations under the dim sky.
It was "Crimson Star Iron Ore," a rare energy-conductive mineral and a core material for crafting High Tier Star Energy weapons and Rune Arrays.
"Our target for contamination is that pile of raw ore," Hong Nianyi said. "The ’Energy-Corroding Solvent’ Lin Jue prepared can penetrate the ore, destroy its crystalline structure, and reduce its energy conductivity by more than seventy percent. Even if the Celestial Wolf Civilization manages to refine it, they’ll only get an inferior product."
A destroyed mining site could be rebuilt, but contaminating the minerals was the only way to cause real losses for the Celestial Wolf Civilization.
This was the disadvantage of having an insufficient level of technology. If the roles were reversed and the Werewolf Race went to one of the Federation’s resource planes, they would be completely incapable of something like this.
Given the Celestial Wolf Civilization’s level of decontamination technology, the Federation could easily restore these minerals.
"When do we move?" Xu Wuyi asked.
"Four in the morning tomorrow," Hong Nianyi said, lowering the scope. "Chen Yuan’s site, Mining Site One, has a similar layout and guard deployment. Our two teams will move simultaneously. Infiltration, placement of the solvent, detonation, and withdrawal—the entire process must be completed within ten minutes."
"And head straight to the ambush point after detonation," Xu Wuyi added.
"Correct." Hong Nianyi nodded. "With two mining sites destroyed at the same time, the Werewolf Race will definitely think we have a large force. The Priest from the base will likely split their forces, sending one to check each site, or just send one person with more War Generals. Either way, it’s our opportunity."
The two observed for another half hour, memorizing patrol routes and schedules, before quietly retreating.
When they returned to the cave, Chen Yuan and Lin Jue were already back.
"Mining Site One confirmed. Seven War Generals, twenty-eight warriors, and about one hundred fifty slaves," Chen Yuan reported. "Nine pieces of mining equipment, a smaller crude-sorting platform, and the pile of raw ore is about half the size of the one at Site Two."
Lin Jue opened a briefcase and took out two metal canisters.
The canisters were matte black, their surfaces fitted with precision pressure valves and timers. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Energy-Corroding Solvent, in special pressurized canisters," she explained. "Each one holds twenty liters of solvent. Upon detonation, it will form an aerosol cloud covering a fifty-meter radius with a penetration depth of up to three meters. Once the ore comes into contact with the aerosol, its crystalline structure will gradually disintegrate over six hours."
She then took out ten fist-sized spheres. "Auxiliary detonation devices. Place them near key equipment at the site. When they go off, they’ll produce high-temperature flames and thick smoke to create chaos and cover our withdrawal."
You Sicheng took one of the spheres and examined it closely. "What’s the detonation delay?"
"The main solvent canisters have a three-minute delay, synchronized with the auxiliary devices," Lin Jue said. "We have three minutes to finish placement and get to a safe distance. The canister explosions aren’t powerful, but the aerosol spreads quickly, so you’ll need protection."
She handed each of them a simple filter mask. "The masks will filter out most of the solvent aerosol, but don’t stay exposed for long. Leave the contaminated area immediately after the mission is complete."
Hong Nianyi projected a deployment map for Mining Site Two onto the cave wall.
"Xu Wuyi, you’re responsible for the two eastern watchtowers and the nearby mining equipment. I’ll take the west side. The solvent canisters go in the center of the raw ore pile, and the auxiliary devices will cover the conveyor belts and the sorting platform."
She looked at Chen Yuan and Lin Jue. "What about your side?"
Chen Yuan pulled up a diagram of Mining Site One. "I’ll handle infiltration and placement, while Lin Jue provides support and monitoring from the perimeter. Her Heart Image, ’Precision Scale,’ can remotely control the detonation sequence to ensure synchronization."
"Good." Hong Nianyi scanned the group. "We move out at three in the morning tomorrow and act simultaneously at exactly four. After the mission is complete, head immediately to the ambush point—the ’Rift Valley’ area between Mining Sites One and Two. The coordinates have been sent to your terminals."
She paused, her gaze sharp. "Remember, you cannot be detected during placement. If you are, abandon the mission and withdraw immediately. Your personal safety is the top priority."
"Understood," the other four replied in unison.
...
Night deepened.
The third night on Celestial Wolf Four was even darker than the previous two.
Thick clouds obscured nearly all the starlight, with only scattered lights visible in the direction of the mining sites.
The five of them checked their gear and centered themselves.
Xu Wuyi wiped the tip of his Meteor Iron Long Spear. Dark golden Qi and Blood flowed along its shaft, faintly resonating with his Heart Image. He could feel the mountain trembling slightly in his sea of consciousness, his Golden Crow Illusion eager to spread its wings and fly.
It wasn’t nervousness, but anticipation.
He had lain low for three months, honing his skills for three months. It was finally time to draw his sword.
Hong Nianyi sat across from him, her long saber resting on her lap as her fingers gently caressed its sheath. Her eyes were calm, but Xu Wuyi could sense the sharp edge she kept hidden within, like a drawn bowstring.
Chen Yuan was meticulously inspecting the tools in his pack. Lin Jue performed a final calibration of the detonation devices, the blue light from the screen reflecting on her focused face.
You Sicheng leaned against the cave wall, his eyes closed in rest. The veteran’s expression was placid, as if what lay ahead wasn’t a life-or-death operation, but just another routine patrol.
2:50 AM.
Hong Nianyi opened her eyes and stood up. ƒrēewebnovel.com
"Let’s move out."
The five filed out, melting into the deep night.
...
Like two shadows, Xu Wuyi and Hong Nianyi moved swiftly through the hills.
Achieving Great Success in Heart Image not only increased their power but also refined their control over their bodies.
Their steps were light and swift, making almost no sound on the rocky soil as they suppressed their auras to the absolute minimum.
