Danton's time was running out; he estimated that in about a week, or perhaps even sooner, the besieged garrison would have to resort to violent means of death.

  "We must find a way to ensure our own safety as soon as possible." Danton didn't feel any fear, not even his heart beating faster. If he couldn't even solve this kind of trouble, how could he be worthy of being the master of the Ancient Magic Book?

  Lying in her backpack, Holma was very satisfied with Tang Dun's performance. If he didn't even have this bit of courage and charisma, then he might as well roll back to Morning Mist Town and be a mailman for the rest of his life.

  The world of magic users is one where the strong prey on the weak.

  The squadron leader let his subordinates clean up the battlefield and ran towards the regimental commander's camp to report the news of Tangton's arrival as soon as possible.

  The townspeople of Lima gathered together and kept a distance of twenty meters from Tong Dun, fearing that they would be implicated as his accomplices.

  Ke Zhan sat on the ground, regretting his cowardly behavior earlier. He wanted to talk to Tang Dun, but was too afraid and couldn't open his mouth.

  Less than five minutes later, Tong Dun still hadn't figured out a solution when a mine manager rushed over.

  "From today on, you're all under my responsibility." The steward was teaching with a loud and arrogant tone, "Follow me quickly, don't look around, don't ask too many questions, just work honestly. One month later, you can leave and even receive a salary."

  The manager led the way, pointing out things to note as they made their way through the mine and headed towards the dormitory area.

  The open-pit black iron ore has been mined out, and the miners are working in the underground tunnels. The dull sound of iron hammers striking iron chisels is transmitted up through the dark tunnel.

  Some miners with sweat-drenched backs pushed single-wheeled carts loaded with ore out of the tunnel, to be transported to the smelting area.

  At the end of the line of sight, there is a factory area with tall chimneys standing upright and emitting thick black smoke.

  With stiff legs and feet, they walked like zombies, the entire mining area was shrouded in a grayish mist, and due to the large amount of mine dust floating around, it also emitted a pungent smell that irritated the nose.

  Sweat, bloodstains on the ground, and robust men formed the main tone of the mine site. Except for the guards' laughter and the sound of excavation, there was almost no other sound here.

  Every miner's face was etched with exhaustion, bitterness, and unspoken suffering. They didn't dare to slack off because even as free men, they had a daily quota of tasks. If they couldn't complete it, going hungry was the least of their worries - they would be beaten, and in severe cases, locked up in a small dark room or hung from a wooden stake to bake in the sun.

  At the entrance of the dormitory area, twenty high platforms were set up, with some miners hanging upside down on them. Their bodies were covered with lash marks and bloodstains, and they didn't even have the strength to wail.

  "Look, that's what happens when you can't dig up enough ore, so if you don't want to suffer, you'd better work hard."

  The pipe points to the high platform, this is the first warning for the miners.

  "Don't worry, we'll definitely work hard." The leader of the civilians, who was very experienced, took advantage of the opportunity when no one was paying attention and stuffed a few silver coins into the manager's pocket.

  Several villagers with smiling faces came over and secretly stared at the silver coins.

  "Still want money?" Ge Ce found that life in the dagger mine was not as simple as his father had said, no wonder when he came, his mother did not want to say anything.

  The miners who had sent the money let out a sigh of relief, while the other townspeople were as pale as death. They knew that if they couldn't get on the good side of the management, then the next step would be to arrange their dormitories, and they would definitely be made difficult. As long as you are thrown into a dormitory with many troublemakers and thugs, you will be bullied.

  "Doesn't anyone have any doubts?" The steward looked at Tang Dun, and this sentence was clearly meant for him to hear. Looking at his leather armor, the steward thought that he should be able to squeeze some benefits out of him.

  "This is already my third time coming to the mine." Tong Dun smiled, revealing a row of white teeth, with a sarcastic tone, he had already thought it through, even if he died, he would not let these people extort and blackmail him.

  "Good, it seems that this time a brave little guy has arrived." The manager's face twitched slightly, his tone full of threat, "I will definitely find you several considerate roommates to take good care of you."

  The dormitory area covers a wide area, consisting of nearly fifty high-rise buildings, all made of stone materials, with solid magic arrays attached, making them very sturdy. Even if they encounter landslides, they will not be easily destroyed.

  The bailiff led a group of people into Building No. 6, in order to facilitate management and prevent trouble, free miners from the same town had to be dispersed.

  "Put away your things, gather in the first floor hall three minutes later. Those who are late will not have dinner." The manager walked down the corridor, occasionally pointing to a dormitory and assigning miners to it.

  "Alright, kid, it's your turn, go on in!" The dorm manager stood in front of the door to room 8 on the third floor, his smile not quite reaching his eyes as he looked at Tang Don. "I think you can stay here for three days. Oh, and if you want to switch rooms, just let me know anytime."

  Dangton pushed open the door, and a pungent smell of sweat and foot odor wafted out, almost knocking him off his feet.

  The dormitory is not large, and with six double-decker beds, it almost occupies all the space, making the dormitory even more cramped.

  The bed was covered with dirty clothes, and the two tables were also piled high with miscellaneous items and food scraps.

  Dangton walked towards the cabinet placed in the corner, opened one of its doors, made sure no one was using it, and put his backpack inside.

  "Homa, is it okay if I put you here?" Tanton took out the iron lock, which was actually useless and just a psychological comfort.

  "Don't mind me, you should hurry up and think of a way to get out of this miner's life. Are you really going to waste another month digging for ore underground?" Holma was extremely disgusted with the current environment, unfortunately there was no other way, fortunately it was a demonic tome that didn't have a sense of smell or else she would have been suffocated to death.

  "You take care of yourself, I'll go first." Tong Dun locked up the cabinet and rushed to the first floor hall.

  "Stay close, don't fall behind." The person in charge arranged the dormitories and after everyone gathered, led them to the warehouse district.

  "Line up, one by one, no pushing." In front of a large warehouse, the townspeople were handed a set of linen miner's uniforms.

  "Wow, they're even giving away clothes!" He found that he hadn't paid for it, and Ge Ce showed a smile for the first time. Although it was a miner's uniform, it was much better than what he had on him, and it was new too.

  From young to old, Ge Ce never had a new set of clothes, all were made from his father's old clothes that were altered and sewn smaller.

  After registering his name, Tandon received a thumb-sized iron plate with peeling paint, but the number 8295 was still visible.

  This is the calling card, for the next month, this will be Tanton's new handle.

  Kazuki was startled again. There were some stubborn bloodstains on his nameplate that couldn't be wiped off, apparently its previous owner had encountered some big trouble.

  The miners hung their number plates around their necks, took the mining tools they had received, and followed the leader to the mine.

  Entering the mine, less than twenty meters in, it was completely dark all around. Everyone lit their oil lamps and continued forward in the dim yellow light.

  "Already working as soon as you arrive?"

  Ge Ce couldn't help but mutter a sentence under his breath, his eyes darting back and forth, his expression tense.

  The cave was only two meters high and three meters wide, supported by some logs. The feeling of oppression and suffocation came rushing in like a tide.

  Ge Ce felt like he was walking into the stomach of a monster.

  "Nonsense! Are you here on a tour?" The caretaker grumbled and grumbled, he hated entering the mine the most.

  The sound of mining is getting clearer, and some human voices can be heard, but basically they are all scolding and cursing.

  Fifteen minutes later, the crowd arrived at a transfer station in the mine, about the size of a basketball court, where ore was piled up, loaded onto cars and transported away.

  Ge Ce noticed that there were also tunnels opened on the walls of the mine, continuing to dig and excavate downwards, only they were narrower.

  These worm-like tunnels can't be passed through by a single wheelbarrow, and can only be carried on the backs of miners with baskets to transport the excavated ore.

  "Kuk, come over, new miners have arrived, arrange for them." The foreman had just shouted, when the miner's head on the blanket in the corner suddenly sprang up and jumped up, running over with a smile.

  "Manager, you've come down yourself? Just have someone call me and I'll go pick up these miners." Cook bowed his head and bent his knees, despite being a muscular man, he had already lowered his waist in front of the short and stout manager.

  "You think I don't want to slack off? The newly appointed supervisor is watching too closely, and I don't want to lose this job." The manager muttered, pointing at the eight miners who had just bribed him, "Those guys are not bad."

  The miners who were named secretly rejoiced. Although they all engaged in mining, the types of work they were responsible for and even the mines they worked in were different, so the amount of labor they put out was also different.

  "Understood." Cook nodded, glanced at the miners and pondered how much he could squeeze out of them. Just being nice wouldn't cut it; in the mine, he was the boss.

  The foreman took a few steps and suddenly turned around, pointing at Tang Don, "Right, this kid is very arrogant, teach him the rules of the mine."

  "No problem, you can go." Cook waited until the servant left, and the flattering smile on his face immediately disappeared, replaced by a fierce look.

  "I'm the law here, and anyone who causes trouble will be asking for it." Cook lectured the new miners, walking up to Dutton and eyeing his leather armor with a hint of greed. "Who told you to wear that? Take it off, put on miner's clothes."

  "This is my third time in the mine, so don't try to scare me with some non-existent rules." Danton wasn't having it, he had already offended both the management and the head of the security team, what was a mere foreman going to do to him?

  "Hurrah! Listen up, everyone! A troublemaker has arrived!" Cook shouted, and the surrounding miners burst into knowing laughter.

  This is to put pressure on Downton to make him understand that everyone in this mine listens to him.