Chapter 67: Trade 2

Old Wang, it's up to you.

Lin Yue said to Wang Gongtou beside him.

Don't worry, Little Lin!

Wang Gongtou held the blueprints, began gesturing at the Black Tortoise, and muttered explanations of the reinforcement plan.

Roar——

The Black Tortoise gave a low growl as a reply.

The next second.

Boom——

The entire mine pit's rock face began to violently tremble; countless rocks and soil were stripped and reshaped by an invisible force, and new defensive works rose from the ground at a visible speed!

Lei Shi and his subordinates were stunned beyond words by this miraculous sight before them.

However, while everyone's attention was caught by this 'miracle,' Lin Yue quietly gave Han Ya a glance beside him.

Han Ya immediately understood, nodded silently, slipped back behind the crowd, flashed her figure, and sneaked toward an inconspicuous mine tunnel entrance without drawing anyone's notice.

……

Inside the mine cave, it was dark and damp.

The air was filled with a damp moldy smell and the cold scent of stone; the uneven, pitted iron tracks underfoot made a faint 'click' with each step.

Han Ya's figure moved like a ghost merged with darkness, silently shuttling through the passageways.

She had not activated any lighting equipment; her night vision, honed over years in darkness, was enough to let her see everything around her.

But the deeper she went, the dimmer the light became, until she could not even see her own hand in front of her face.

Left with no choice, Han Ya turned on her tactical flashlight.

Where the beam reached, the rock walls were covered with pick marks from chiseling; some spots seeped water and were slick with wet moss.

Drip…… drip……

Water droplets fell from the rock ceiling, echoing in the dead silence of the mine tunnel, adding an eerie touch.

After walking about a kilometer, Han Ya's steps suddenly halted, and every hair on her body stood on end.

She held her breath and listened intently.

Exactly!

It's a crying sound!

And it's a woman's crying!

Her heart sank instantly to the bottom of the valley.

She immediately headed toward the direction of the sound, feeling her way cautiously.

Soon, she arrived at the end of the mine tunnel from which the crying came.

Here, there was a rock wall disguised to perfection.

Had she not heard that crying, she likely would have walked right up to it and noticed nothing unusual.

Han Ya examined it closely and soon found, beneath the wall, a stone of slightly different color that could move.

She pressed it with her hand.

Click……

Accompanied by a soft mechanical whir, the heavy rock wall slowly slid to one side, revealing a narrow side passage just wide enough for one person!

A foul stench instantly burst forth from the passage.

Han Ya immediately held her breath, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.

She knew she had found the right place.

Without the slightest hesitation, she darted inside.

At the end of the passage lay a huge natural cavern.

The sight inside the cavern caused even Han Ya, accustomed to life and death and cruelty, to have her pupils shrink to pinpoints in an instant, and an uncontainable fury surged straight to the crown of her head!

Inside the cavern, dozens of huge cages made of rough wood and wire stood!

Each cage was packed with people like sardines in a can!

They were all half-naked, emaciated, their bodies covered in whip wounds and injuries, with heavy shackles on their wrists and ankles.

Their eyes were empty and numb, filled with despair, no longer showing any trace of humanity.

The vast majority of them were women and children!

Seeing the flashlight's beam, these people not only failed to show joy at being rescued, but instead huddled in corners like frightened rabbits, trembling.

Just then, a lewd conversation drifted from a nearby corner.

Hehe, big brother, look at that new girl who just arrived—she's really pretty……

Damn it, keep your voice down! You wanna die? This batch of 'goods' the boss deliberately kept for future trade! If you dare touch them, the boss will skin you alive!

I… I was just saying… but big brother, why does the boss go to all this trouble—building defenses, gathering food—what's the point? We won't be staying here long; is it really worth all this effort?

You know nothing! Do you still want to live those days of not knowing if you'll see tomorrow? Since we seized this place, don't you feel our brothers' lives are much better than before? Besides, this is the boss's decision—do you want to defy the boss's orders?

No… no, how could I possibly defy the boss's orders! By the way, what about those people outside? Look at that showdown—they're not easy to mess with……

Get lost, who said we need to deal with them? Didn't you see the boss's attitude? We're just doing normal trade with them; no need to cause complications!

Hearing this, Han Ya roughly understood everything.

It turned out these people were not miners at all!

They were plunderers.

As the name suggests, they constantly loot others' resources and survive on them.

However, judging from their tone, these plunderers seem to be preparing to 'change professions'?

No matter what, she must immediately tell this news to Lin Yue!

However, just as she was about to retreat.

"Crack!"

A piece of broken stone under her foot was accidentally stepped on and cracked.

Although the sound wasn't loud, in this environment it sounded especially piercing!

"Who?!"

The two raiders in the corner instantly became alert, suddenly raising their homemade firearms and aiming them at the direction where Han Ya was hiding!

"Bang!"

In reply, a muffled gunshot rang out!

The gunshot echoed in the enclosed cavern, sounding exceptionally piercing.

The two raiders were startled, instinctively shrinking their necks.

Although it didn't hit them, this shot completely ignited their ferocity!

"Damn! They dare to fight back!"

"Pull the alarm! Quickly pull the alarm! Don't let her escape!"

One of the raiders roared, firing several shots wildly in the direction Han Ya fled while rushing to the side and violently pulling an iron chain hanging from the rock wall.

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A sharp, piercing metallic clatter suddenly reverberated throughout the entire underground nest!

"What's going on?!"

"It's the alarm! Someone has broken in!"

"Quick! Go check Area B3!"

At the same time, outside the mine pit.

Lei Shi, wearing a fawning smile as he watched Black Tortoise display its mighty power, also heard an urgent alarm from his waist-worn walkie-talkie.

The smile on his face instantly froze.

After hearing the report from the walkie-talkie, he slowly turned around and looked at Lin Yue, who stood not far away with his hands behind his back.

That face, originally bold and simple, had now become grim as water; no trace of a smile remained in his eyes, replaced instead by undisguised killing intent.

"Lord Lin, it seems your people don't quite understand the rules."

Lin Yue looked at him, his face still bearing that calm and light expression,

"Oh? Chief Lei, what do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean?"

Lei Shi let out a cold laugh and then fiercely waved his hand.

Behind him, dozens of sturdy men wielding homemade firearms suddenly rushed out from every corner, surrounding Lin Yue and his companions.

PS: New book, please urge updates and collect!