Endless Debt Chapter 1474 - 53: Forge Pit Bottom (2)

"As for the Wasteland District, you can think of it as the Upper City District, where only many wealthy Imperfects can find a place, and it is also the only place where Imperfects can relax and entertain themselves."

Yolanda continued, "Here operates a shift system, with most of the workers getting a chance to visit the surface only a few days every month. But even then, the surface isn’t truly the surface."

Bologue recalled the cliffs surrounding the Land of Secrets, where the giant Umbrella Towers obscured the sky.

"Moreover, even so, many workers still can’t get a chance. They might have to wait several months or years before visiting the surface once."

As Yolanda narrated, Bologue gradually saw the entirety of the forge pit’s bottom.

Factories piled together like dominoes, connecting every link from mining to iron smelting, casting to finished products, like a winding dragon.

Large underground excavators worked on the veins, digging out iron ore, which was sent to the refining area via conveyor belts. During refining, the iron ore underwent a smelting process to form pig iron, which was then sent to the casting zone.

The casting zone is the most critical link in the assembly line. Pig iron is put into large smelting furnaces, heated and melted, then poured into molds to form various shapes of steel products.

The entire assembly line looks like a constantly rushing river, never stopping, with seamless connections between various links. And such rivers, numerous at the bottom of the forge pit, are densely packed, like roots extending from the Supreme Hub.

"Most of the workers live there, surrounding the edge of the forge pit, corresponding to the surface’s Wasteland District."

Yolanda pointed again to the dark edges, where one could vaguely see many low houses, with dim lights hanging over the narrow paths.

Palmer said softly, "Compared to workers, you all seem more like slaves."

"More or less... I’ve read many books; though I have never left the Land of Secrets, I have some understanding of the outside world," Yolanda said with a smile that conveyed despair. "To me, the whole world is a factory, and most people are slaves. As for the Land of Secrets where I live, it’s more like a miniature human world, making everything more acute."

Palmer wanted to say more, but Yolanda raised her hand to stop him, "Don’t talk about resistance; Impefects don’t stand a chance against Condensers."

She murmured, "My parents died in a riot. They seized the armory, thinking their Imperfect Ether perception would allow them to control those deadly Alchemy Armaments. But the Ancestral Council sent just one Negative Power User to suppress the riot easily."

Yolanda didn’t describe what happened to the rioters, but knowing Bologue and the supreme idea of Condensers, perhaps death was a somewhat beautiful outcome for those people.

The team fell silent again, advancing slowly in the quiet darkness.

Bologue also saw many huge drills penetrating the crust, creating a spectacular underground world with abundant mineral resources and a busy transportation network supporting them.

Upon approaching the core area, even in the high-altitude corridors, Bologue was surrounded by the heat and atmosphere filled with flying iron flakes. The air was filled with the scents of damp earth and burning steel, and the sounds of machinery’s roar, flames’ roar, and workers’ shouts filled his ears.

What came into view first were the tall smelting furnaces, like beasts in Hell devouring the life around them. In the furnaces, molten iron melted into liquid at high temperatures, then poured into molds to form various shapes of steel products.

Countless shadows rose and fell in the firelight.

"Bologue, hold on a second."

Olivia’s voice lingered by his ear. Without much hesitation, Bologue halted on the spot, and Palmer, following closely behind, bumped into Bologue’s back with a perplexed expression, as did Yolanda and Yannis, who turned back ahead.

"What’s wrong?" Yolanda asked.

Yannis remained silent, pulling out his firearm quietly and watching the surrounding darkness with vigilance.

Bologue stood in place as the shifting shadows clung to his back. Bologue felt someone scratching his spine with sharp nails.

The shadow beneath his feet began to wriggle, as Olivia emerged directly from Bologue’s shadow like a diver surfacing.

It wasn’t the first time he’d seen this, and Palmer acted as if it was a usual sight. But upon seeing Olivia’s scarlet pupils, Yolanda immediately tensed up, and Yannis reacted even more strongly, raising his gun to Olivia’s head. If not for Bologue raising his hand to block it, he might have instinctively pulled the trigger.

"Bologue..."

Yolanda looked at Bologue with complicated eyes. Even though she was an Imperfect who had never left the Land of Secrets, the characteristic mark of the Night Race allowed her to recognize Olivia’s identity at a glance.

"Calm down, this is Olivia, and she’s on our side," Bologue glanced at Olivia, "at least for now."

Olivia paid no mind to the others’ reactions as she leaned against the railing, looking down into the endless darkness, and then sniffed the air like a hunting dog.

"Bologue, I can smell it," Olivia said with a particularly solemn expression, "the scent of my kin’s blood."

"So, has the situation slid to the worst possible scenario?" Bologue muttered to himself, knowing exactly what this meant.

Recalling his secret talk with Ossana, Bologue asked Yolanda, "When did the massive disappearances of Imperfects start? And did they all disappear at the bottom of this forge pit?"

Seeing Bologue’s dedicated and serious demeanor, Yolanda was caught off guard. Even though she remained on alert, she cooperated and said, "Yes, from the bottom of the forge pit.

Initially, this didn’t catch our attention. After all, for Impefects like us, accidental deaths and disappearances are too common in this sunless place. But as more and more people vanished, we could only seek help from the Duke of Fantasies. She’s one of the few Condensers capable of helping us."

Bologue nodded lightly, signaling her to continue.

"The Duke of Fantasies couldn’t bring back good news. All relevant Condensers refused to answer our questions. Even under the Duke’s personal pressure, they gave nothing but ambiguous responses."

The outcome was expected for Bologue. The Fantasies family’s special status in the All Secrets Order meant their high status lacked strong power. Instead, they were coerced by the other three families, becoming another form of slaves.

Moreover, Ossana’s insistence on the Truth Faction meant she held little real power, which was also expected.

"What did they say?" Bologue asked.

"Some said these workers were transferred to some secret projects, personally orchestrated by the Ancestral Council, and no one could leave until the projects ended," Yolanda replied.

"They’re just making excuses to delay."

Suddenly, the silent Yannis spoke, his deep voice harboring anger, "Projects are measured in years. Who knows how long this secret project will last, and how many will survive by then."

Yannis, eyes red, continued, "Moreover, in their eyes, Impefects are not seen as human but merely a resource."

"Calm down, Yannis," Bologue comforted him and speculated, "Did your friend or family disappear too?"

Yannis tried to calm his breathing, then nodded with difficulty.

Bologue asked Yolanda again, "Regarding the disappearances, do you have any clues?"

"Yes," Yolanda paused, looking toward the distant foundation of the Supreme Hub, "What’s the matter, don’t you plan to raid the Supreme Hub anymore?"

"Just a change in priorities," Bologue shrugged, "I believe Deputy Director Holt wouldn’t fall that easily, not to mention if it indeed involves the Night Race, the situation’s nature has changed entirely."

"Changed into what?"

"Before, it was just an internal rebellion within the Rhine Alliance, but if it turns out the All Secrets Order is involved with the Night Race, then it becomes a human enemy."

Bologue impatiently urged, "Tell me what you know."