"Well, since the cat is out of the bag, you guys can figure out how to crush a necklace. Until then, I'm gonna go see those explosives," Auran said as he walked away toward a few prisoners being closely watched by some officers. They were standing near a specific area of the mine that was filled not with tantagan, but with empty rocks. However, hidden among these rocks were some tantagan pieces—purer than the ones found in other places.
"Hey hey, stay away! This area isn't for mining with those little tools," one officer said as Auran approached.
"Huh? Then what am I supposed to use to mine these things?" Auran asked cluelessly, despite staring straight at the box of explosives placed behind the officer.
"Did this guy really just ask us that?"
"He looks like a new one. Should we mess with him a bit?" After a bit of chatting, the two officers seemed to enjoy Auran's clueless expression and called him closer.
"You wanna know what really digs through this area? Then take this," one officer said, handing Auran what looked like a mana blaster—but without a mana core to power it.
After that, the officers picked up a explosive—actually orb-shaped objects with a sticker on them signifying the level of explosiveness they contained.
Placing the orb-shaped object in the slot where the mana core was supposed to go, the officer aimed Auran's hand toward a giant rock.
"Here you go, now pull the trigger," he said, then ran a certain distance away from Auran.
"C'mon, pull the trigger!" shouted the other officer, who had already joined his partner at a safe distance.
"I thought he was a mindful one, but why did he walk into a silly trap like that?" Marian asked, confused about Auran's actions as she watched the scene unfold.
"C'mon, he must have his own reason. We should focus on figuring out what he told us to do," Henry replied, casually glancing at Auran before returning to planning how to crush a necklace with Nimuk, the fish-man.
Clink!
A clinking sound echoed, and the orb-shaped explosive detonated inside the mana blaster. But instead of causing a large area explosion, it directed all its explosive power in one direction—straight at the rock Auran had aimed at. The force released was so overwhelming that Auran was thrown back like a ragdoll, flying through the mine.
On his chaotic flight, he accidentally bumped into other explosives, and somehow one of them ended up in his hand. With the force from the mana blaster still affecting his body, Auran was launched out of the mine, flying a few feet into the air before finally crashing down on top of a criminal who had been walking nearby.
"What the hell?" exclaimed the criminal, grabbing Auran by the clothes and lifting him off the ground. But before anything more could happen, the man saw several officers running out from the mine toward his direction. Realizing that whatever was happening might be serious, and related to the man in his hand, the prisoner quickly tossed Auran aside and walked away.
"Haha, look at that dumbass, blasting the mana blaster without any safety device attached to his body."
"Man, it's been years since we had an idiot like this," another officer chuckled.
The two officers picked up the mana blaster from Auran's hand once they reached him, along with the explosive orb that had also ended up in his grip.
"Look at this—there's an explosive in his hand. If this were the past, this whole area would've turned to dust the moment he stepped out with it. But thanks to the new safety measures that prevent explosives from activating outside the mine, our job's gotten way easier."
To this, the other officer nodded.
"It's all thanks to the Grand Technicians and the five prodigies' brains."
With the mana blaster and the explosive orb in hand, the two officers walked away without a care for Auran, who lay on the ground. However, once they had gone back into the mine, Auran stood up and brushed the dust off his prison suit.
"A deactivating system in the explosives... Very cautious indeed."
Standing in front of the line, Auran eyed a corner where a device was installed into the outer layer of the mine wall, emitting a faint green light.
"Is this the one that deactivates the explosives once they're outside of the mine?"
Auran approached the device, but before he could examine it further, an officer shouted at him.
"Back off! That's not something you should be touching!"
The officer aimed a mana blaster at Auran, his words clearly threatening.
Auran calmly stepped back without resistance and walked back into the mine like the others.
"Well, I did what I had to do. Did you guys figure out a way?" Auran asked as he rejoined the others at work.
"I think we did," Henry said.
"Really? That's great! What is it?"
"We're not going to tell you just like that. You'll have to watch and see how we do it," said Marian, stopping her mining momentarily.
"Auran... I thought we were all equals in this group, but it seems like that's starting to change. What I want is not a one-man-led prison escape. Not that I'm saying I don't appreciate what you've done—but being dragged by just one person is a weakness in a group. So, this will be our chance—or me and the fishman's chance—to prove we're not just muscle, but that we have the brains to think and act too."
"What about Henry?" Auran asked as he looked at Henry. But before he answered, Auran smirked knowingly.
"No need. I already know he's a capable man. That said, good luck to you two for proving yourselves capable. But... just remember, I was the one who gave you that task in the first place," Auran added with a half-smile.
"Yes, and that's exactly why we're going to prove that we can do what you asked," said the fishman, nodding confidently.
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After the mining was done, all the prisoners were provided lunch. Just like before, the four of them gathered at a table together.
"Tomorrow, we'll be moved to Mining Section Two. And as newcomers, there's something you two should know," Marian said, looking at Auran and Henry with a serious tone.
"What? We're changing places every day?"
Auran and Henry, clearly confused, interrupted their eating to ask.
"No. Most things in the other sections are similar to Section One. But each section has an increasing number of prisoners. Also, Section One is significantly more peaceful and friendly toward newcomers compared to the others. Section Two—the one you two will go to tomorrow—is the worst place for newbies."