Chapter 848: Kamirate (2)

Kamirate, Third Mining Zone, Garrison Lounge.

Carlson fiercely crushed the empty energy drink can, irritably slamming it against the metal wall opposite him. With a "Clang!", the can bounced back and rolled onto the stained floor.

"Damn it!"

He let out a low growl, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the notification message on his personal terminal screen, feeling a surge of wicked fire rush straight to his crown.

【Fengqi Star Alliance Global Entertainment Service Notification: Respected user, due to the continuous interference of abnormal energy flows in the airspace surrounding Kamirate of the R-25 Resource Star, the signal transmission for the 40th Gladiator Channel is temporarily interrupted, with the recovery time to be determined. We express our deepest apologies for the inconvenience caused to your bet on the 【Xiuluo Holy Indigenous】 combination (bet amount: 351 Bode Coins). According to Article 7 of the emergency plan, this bet will be treated as void; your principal will not be refunded, but you will receive a "Star Alliance Entertainment" coupon with a face value of 50 Credit Points, valid for ten Standard Star Alliance Years. Thank you for your understanding and support.】

"Not refunded... coupon... fifty points... damn Standard Star Alliance Years!"

Carlson squeezed these words out from between his teeth almost one by one, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

351 Bode Coins!

That was how much allowance he had saved up!

He had been counting on those Xiuluo Holy Indigenous in the Gladiator Arena to win and earn him a huge profit, so he could have the next transport ship bring him some real good liquor and high-grade Xiaoyao Agent, instead of smoking this locally produced, choking, low-quality trash!

And the result? Signal interrupted? Energy flow interference? Who are they trying to fool!

He had even secretly eavesdropped on a few things using the military channel yesterday; it seemed like there was a huge mess over at Xiuluo Holy Land, and the Gladiator Arena system had been smashed!

These damn bureaucrats, they only know how to deceive!

At the thought of those 351 Bode Coins going down the drain, replaced by a useless coupon that he had to wait ten years for, Carlson felt a headache.

He needed to vent, immediately, right now.

Another soldier in the lounge glanced at him, seemingly wanting to say something, but seeing Carlson's man-eating expression, he wisely swallowed his words and lowered his head to continue fiddling with his own terminal.

Carlson stood up and grabbed the Energy Rifle leaning against the wall. The cold touch of the firearm slightly calmed the inner heat, but that wicked fire burned even more fiercely.

He needed to find some fun, or rather, find some soft persimmon to squeeze, so he could regain a sense of control and remind himself that on this damn dusty planet, he was still a "master."

He pushed open the airtight door of the lounge, and the dim yellow light and dry air smelling of rust rushed toward him.

He took a deep breath of this disgusting air, adjusted the strap of the rifle on his shoulder, and walked toward the entrance of the mine with an arrogant gait.

The dark purple Power Armor on his body reflected a dull luster in the dim light, forming a sharp contrast with the worn-out orange work clothes on the other miners.

The mining area was always filled with noise—the roar of machinery, the screeching of drills, the sound of rocks shattering, and that rustling wind.

But to Carlson, these sounds were like background white noise, which instead set off his presence.

Wherever he passed, those busy miners lowered their heads, quickened their pace, or simply turned away, not daring to meet his eyes.

This kind of fear and awe made his mood feel slightly better.

Yes, that's it.

A bunch of lowlifes, consumables.

Their value was not even worth one energy magazine for the Energy Rifle in his hand.

Their meaning for existence was to mine, then die like trash, and be replaced.

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Carlson's mouth.

Star Alliance law? Miner rights? On this slag planet far from the core star region, they, the garrison, were the law!

The higher-ups only cared about crystal production; as long as it didn't affect production, who cared if a few miners died?

He swayed his way to the vicinity of the entrance to the B Zone mine.

The environment here was even worse, the dust was so thick it was almost impossible to disperse, and the lighting was even sparser.

A few miners were pushing mine carts full of ore along the tracks with difficulty; seeing Carlson coming, they were all frozen in place with fear.

Carlson ignored them and scanned the tunnel.

His hearing caught the faint sound of conversation coming from a slightly wider shelter ahead, which seemed to be mixed with a trace of... rare, and to him, extremely annoying, relaxed laughter?

He lightened his steps and approached. Hiding behind a support pillar, he saw two miners.

One old and one young; the old one was called Ake, and the young one was Ake's newly taken foolish apprentice. Carlson could never remember the names of these consumables.

The two seemed to have just finished mining a relatively rich vein and were sitting on an ore box taking a short break, having taken off their crude breathing masks and holding water bottles to drink.