Free Web NovelChapter 151: Lunarisite Mine (4)
The guards led Shinon to a secluded spot a few meters away from the entrance of the mine. It was there that they stopped and removed the blindfold from his eyes.
Shinon blinked against the sudden light around the mine, his gaze shifting to take in his surroundings. Powerful floodlights lined the perimeter, casting a radiant glow over the surroundings.
"Remember our deal," the first guard interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. "No acting up. We’re allowing you this close because we expect you to keep your promise."
Shinon nodded, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. "I remember," he replied, his voice confident. "I won’t cause any trouble. Just lead the way."
The guards seemed satisfied with his response and motioned for him to follow. As they approached the mine’s entrance, a figure clad in a sturdy uniform stepped forward, a suspicious expression on their face.
"What’s going on here?" the mine guard, Carter, demanded, eyeing Shinon and the guards with curiosity and scepticism.
The first guard stepped forward, his voice steady. "We’re here on official business," he explained. "This man will be serving at the mine as a worker under our supervision."
Carter’s eyebrows furrowed, clearly unconvinced. "I haven’t received any orders about new workers," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
The second guard chimed in, his voice calm but persuasive. "It’s a recent development," he said. "High command wants to ensure the security of the mine, and this man has specialised skills that can be valuable to us."
"But for now, he’s just on a visit, nothing else." the first guard concluded.
"Is that so..."
Carter studied Shinon for a moment, his gaze sharp and analytical. Shinon met his eyes with a composed expression, confident in his abilities. After a brief pause, Carter reluctantly nodded, his scepticism easing slightly.
"Very well," he conceded, stepping aside to allow them passage. "But keep an eye on him. We can’t afford any trouble down here."
The guards nodded in agreement, their demeanour serious. They guided Shinon through the entrance, and as they ventured deeper into the mine, the air grew heavy with the scent of earth and minerals.
Shinon couldn’t help but be in awe of the sheer magnitude of the underground operation. The walls of the mine were adorned with glowing crystals, casting a ghostly light across the tunnels.
Miners bustled about, their tools clinking against the rocky walls as they diligently carried out their tasks.
As they passed by groups of workers, curious glances were thrown in Shinon’s direction. Some appeared intrigued by his presence, while others seemed indifferent, focused on their work.
But one thing was shared amongst the people. Most of them were sickly thin as if they had not been fed for days. Just watching them made Shinon go haywire, but he knew he couldn’t do anything there. Not for now.
Shinon maintained a calm composure, aware that his purpose was not to draw attention but to gather information and, hopefully, act on it soon.
The guards led Shinon to a designated area where he would begin his "work." It was a section of the mine that seemed less bustling, offering a degree of privacy.
Shinon took a moment to observe his surroundings, taking mental notes of the nearby miners’ layouts and activities. Carter, still sceptical, approached Shinon, his gaze fixed on him. freёwebnoѵel.com
"Remember, you’re here to work," he warned, his voice laced with caution. "We don’t want any trouble or disruptions."
Shinon nodded, his expression earnest. "I understand," he assured Carter. "I’ll keep to myself and focus on the assigned tasks. You won’t have any problems with me."
Carter’s eyes narrowed, searching for any hint of deception. Finding none, he finally relented, though a trace of wariness remained.
"Very well," he replied, his tone stern. "You’re under our watch, so don’t test our patience."
With that, Carter turned on his heel and strode away, his attention shifting back to his duties. The guards stayed close, watching Shinon, their presence a constant reminder of the boundaries he needed to respect.
"This is the deepest we can let you go as even we don’t have the authority to go any further," the first guard commented. "Just do what you must, and we’ll get going."
The second guard chimed in, "There’s no knowing what Carter will do once he finds out everything we said was a lie."
"Got it."
As Shinon and the two guards walked through the mine, their footsteps echoed in the dimly lit tunnels. The air was heavy with the scent of earth and the distant hum of machinery.
Shinon’s eyes scanned his surroundings, his senses heightened in search of any clue or anomaly that might reveal the mine’s true purpose.
As they rounded a corner, Shinon’s attention was drawn to a group of miners pushing a cart filled with silvery material. His curiosity piqued, he signalled to the guards to follow his lead.
They closed the distance with silent steps, blending in seamlessly with the workers.
Shinon’s eyes darted between the workers and the cart, calculating the best course of action. He knew he had to seize this opportunity to gather more information about the Lunarisite and its extraction process and maybe get some of the raw ore for himself.
Approaching the workers with a friendly smile, Shinon struck up a conversation. "Hey there, mind if I ask you a few questions about the Lunarisite? I’m curious about the whole extraction process."
The workers, taken aback by Shinon’s interest, exchanged glances but nodded in agreement. One of them, an old man with dirt-streaked cheeks, spoke up.
"Sure, we don’t mind... it’s not like we can refuse since you’re one of them," the man said, pointing at the guards with his head.
Shinon’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he leaned in slightly. "So, how does the extraction process work? I’ve heard it’s quite unique."
The workers exchanged amused glances, happy to share their knowledge. The burly man cleared his throat and began explaining.
"Well, the Lunarisite is embedded deep within the rock formations. We use specialised tools to break the rocks apart and retrieve the ore... nothing special there."
Shinon nodded, feigning interest while carefully observing his surroundings. Knowing that the workers had taken his bait, with a subtle wave of his hand, Shinon summoned a small portal, its shimmering edges hidden from view.
Carefully, he positioned it near the cart, ensuring it remained unnoticed by the workers. He extended his hand through the shadowy portal, fingers lightly grazing the silvery material.
As his hand passed through the portal, Shinon felt tingling as he touched the Lunarisite. He plucked a few pieces from the cart with practised precision, ensuring his movements were swift and undetectable.
Unaware of Shinon’s actions, the guards maintained their vigilant watch over the workers. They were utterly oblivious to the slight disturbance caused by Shinon’s portal manipulation.
"Ah, thank you. I was wondering if mining the ore was difficult," Shinon nodded. "Thank you for your time. Please be on your way now!"
Satisfied with his small yet significant acquisition, Shinon withdrew his hand, closing the portal behind him. The stolen Lunarisite pieces were safely concealed within his domain, hidden from prying eyes.
