The Game of Global Mining

Chapter 600 449: Players Create Chaos, Shadow Demon Devours

Zhou Qing immediately replied, "Archeology has always been a cultural activity released by the four beauties of the city. It involves many NPCs and casual players. It's logical, not abstract, right?"

Only then did Chun remember this matter, "It's better if there's evidence to rely on. But as for how the players will mess around when choosing goods, and what they'll come up with, I haven't really thought it through, so they'll have to play abstract on their own."

Zhou Qing asked, "Then what if they really find good stuff, or break something, and the NPCs demand compensation, what should we do?"

Chun sighed, "I haven't figured that out yet..."

Zhou Qing laughed, "Interesting, okay, then I'll notify Brother Long to make arrangements. But the players in China District of Silver City are considered experts, so they probably aren't that idle. So I have a suggestion, let's not rush in all at once. Send a few first, and then slowly spread some insider news about the discovery of valuable antiques. How does that sound?"

Chun laughed, "No wonder you're the leader. That works too, I'm not in a hurry, it can be orchestrated slowly."

Zhou Qing laughed, "Alright, then I'll ask Brother Long to arrange it. Speaking of insider news, there's another thing. Right now, the mine in Southern Canyon Village is flooded due to heavy rain. The NPCs in the village are preparing to establish a Pioneer Corps to venture inland to find new mines. Just now, there was insider news in the group that a player visited the more southern swamp jungle area during the public test, where there are very valuable mines. Our Xuewei Girl Corps developed in Jackal Wolf Village, and heard from the Jackal Wolf Tribe that there are indeed mines there, but the Gnolls are too scared to go. Brother Chun, what do you think?"

Swamp + jungle is like holy shit! But this concerns the development of Canyon Village; can't play abstract here, have to steer properly!

Chun asked, "What does Brother Long think?"

Zhou Qing sighed, "It's very conflicting! The advantage is, there's no NPC forces competing with us, and the swamp has water. Once we figure out how to create waterways, transporting mines could be resolved. The downside is, it's too dangerous, it's obviously a big pit!"

Chun had an idea, "How about sending a group to the Church to worship the Fishman God, asking the Fishman God for help? A god like that specializes in these terrains, right?"

Why go worship? I'll have Mei deliver a message to the Mermaid, and the Mermaid can instruct the Fishman God to handle it, solving the problem! The Mermaid could even come to Black Iron City personally to oversee the mining operation, then share a portion of the profits with her, increasing the Mermaid's prestige, so the Ten Lords won't cause trouble—multiple wins!

But we still have to do enough of the formalities, and once that is done, then contact the Mermaid. Can't say it now, or else if she's ambitious and impatient, it'll appear suspicious.

Zhou Qing was amazed, "Isn't the Fishman God the Guardian God of Northern Fishing Port Village? Controlled by Curry really, can it listen to us?"

Chun laughed, "Curry controlling who? I seriously doubt it!"

Zhou Qing laughed, "True enough! Alright, we'll arrange these two matters together!"

Chun felt he had a rough framework after ending the conversation with Zhou Qing, such as having Moss act as an antique collector, giving players tasks and all that. But the premise is, must be able to deal with the Mirror Demon?

Better ask Aileen. However, Chun also wasn't sure if there was a kind of high-tech Magic Mirror monitoring network here, or if once the Divine Artifact mirror is pulled out, it would be discovered immediately... in short, to be safe, don't ask here, wait until the players have made a mess here, disrupting the surveillance setup before considering it.

So it's better to return to the surface first, and look for the patients on Moore's list respectively: "Jenny the sorrowful weaver girl," "Hunter the disgruntled farmer," "Hemingway the obsessed fisherman," "Dalron the crazy pharmacist," "Van Gogh the abstract street painter."

Chun noticed these people's professions didn't seem like upper-class figures, nor were they mainstream mage groups, great, Merlin's current level could probably only involve tasks with these people. Otherwise, with mages everywhere here, even if one "mad mage" showed up, it would be like the Temperamental Priest in Silver City, wouldn't even consider it.

But the problem now is that it's daytime, these people might either be working or doing chores. If they suddenly got hypnotized and fell asleep, and the foreman came over and whipped them, that'd complicate matters.

Forget it, first find their locations and scout out the area.

The closest is Jenny the weaver girl at a suburban weaving factory. Chun had witnessed the high-tech assembly line at the Magic Weaving Factory of the Golden Divine Throne with Hua nailed to the Ugly Emperor. Here, it seemed similar to large machine assembly lines, but clearly not as advanced as the Golden Divine Throne.

But the location where Jenny works isn't in the factory; it's in a small adjacent workshop with a handloom! She appears about to cry, and has a certain charming demeanor—but wait, she's wearing a Mage Robe!? She's a mage, huh? This...

"Mina, do you have confidence?"

Mina said, "Somewhat, I'd really like to try. After all, I'm at High Tier now."

Chun sighed, "Don't try during work hours; she's already isolated. If she got caught sleeping and slacking, she'd be ruined."

Mina laughed, "Master, this isn't isolation! I actually know something about clothes and fabrics. It's said the most exquisite dresses aren't made through factory assembly line production; they need handcrafted inspiration. The loom she's using seems to be from the Empire's noblewoman brand White Swan, suggesting she's at least a Master Tailor. People at this level, even sleeping, wouldn't have a supervisor dare to chastise them, right?"

Ah, true! Old Tie once mentioned that Sacred Artifacts can't be mass-produced; they require creative inspiration!

Speaking of which, gathering Essence of Dreams to assemble Divine Artifacts is pretty easy, probably because this essence is supposedly inspiration? If I gather enough related essence, maybe it would be akin to collecting inspiration to mass-produce Divine Artifacts?

Chun wasn't in a rush, "Let's check out the other people."

After all, having gained experience from matchmaking marriages in Silver City. First gather each person's situation, even if facing the worst situation is unsolvable, just match them up, make some friends, marry, and you could gain "Healing of Love."

The next target is further out, "Hunter the disgruntled farmer."

Since it's in the countryside, monitoring systems probably aren't there, right?

Chun decided to take this opportunity to take out the Magic Mirror and contact Aileen.

"Aileen, can you hear me?"

The hazy face of Aileen appeared in the mirror, her faint voice: "I hear it, ah, it's very blurry!"

Chun felt something was off: "Is it because it's too far away?"

Looking at the map, Gem City is literally halfway across the world from Bronze City, so the 5000 teleportation fee seems justified.

Aileen sighed: "Yes, who would've thought that once the distance exceeds a certain range, it blurs so quickly, and I've become a god now…"

Is this the so-called boundary diminishing effect? It also shows that the bunch of clone of the Mirror Spirit probably aren't real clones either.

Chun could only think positively: "Then, the Mirror Demon that was observing us from Gem City earlier might not be stronger than you. It probably couldn't see clearly either?"

Aileen sighed: "I'm a newly minted god, not necessarily stronger than some of the old folks."

Alright, let's talk business.

Chun said: "My goal is to find those surveillance mirror clone on the streets of Gem City. How should we deal with them?"

Aileen got excited: "I've told you before, the Shadow Demon and the Mirror Spirit are natural enemies! I devoured a Shadow Demon and even a Shadow Demon Lord; I have the power of the Shadow Demon! As long as I cover the opponent's magic mirror with shadows, they can't escape, and the back is pitch black, seeing and hearing nothing. Then I can continuously devour the Mirror Demon's power to grow!"

Holy shit, I didn't even think of this myself!

Chun's plan framework was officially set up! As for the consequences of killing a bunch of mirror demons? Who cares about the consequences; getting stronger comes first, and then just run into Moss's box!

Chun asked again: "Then at such a long distance, can dear transmit the power in time?"

"I'll try to transmit the Shadow Demon's power—"

After a while, Aileen indeed discovered the problem: "The transmission is indeed much slower! I didn't know earlier! Dear, find a safe place to hide first, and I'll slowly transmit the Shadow Demon's power over."

"Got it."

Chun was both crying and laughing. There's no way around it; Aileen is also self-taught and makes do with what she has. This is the cost of exploration, I suppose.

Fortunately, this is an open field in the countryside; there's nowhere safer than here.

But at this moment, Mina warned: "Be careful, there's a trap ahead!"

The Black Cat hurriedly braked, seeing a row of nearly invisible thin threads in the grass ahead, with several dead crows hanging from them.

So, the farm has arrived!

This time, the Black Cat cautiously jumped onto a big tree, ensuring there were no threads on it.

Then Chun, looking down from above, saw a large piece of farmland, with a field nearby full of huge pumpkins.

I have a fate with pumpkins! But in the Western fantasy world, pumpkins hold the same status as gourds in Chinese mythology, naturally carrying mystical attributes.

Then looking at the distant wheat fields, there were about a dozen strange scarecrows planting in the paddocks.

Chun was dumbfounded; where's the farmer? Instead, there's the arrangement of insidious traps and high-end scarecrows!

Then looking at the farmhouse akin to a countryside villa, under the porch of the front door, there was a middle-aged farmer drunkenly sleeping on a rocking chair, with a wooden guitar hanging in front of him. Beside the chair lay a ground full of empty wine bottles.

It's him! Holy shit, I was just worrying about how daytime makes hypnosis inconvenient, and here he is, delivered on a platter!

Once in a lifetime opportunity, better take him first!

Chun asked: "Mina, are you confident?"

Mina was a bit uncertain: "Stronger than the previous weaver. It's worth a try!"

Mei laughed: "I'll go first. Did you see the instrument in front of him? It indicates that he understands music, and the more he understands music, the better my hypnosis effect."

Mina agreed earnestly: "Lady Mei is right, that's a wooden guitar, a classical instrument, known for its gentle hypnotic sound quality."

Mei smiled: "Then it's even easier!"

Thus, Mei floated to his ear and hummed softly; before long, he completely relaxed, his arms dangled limply, swinging as if he were dropping dead.

Mina exclaimed happily: "He's sleeping even deeper now, I have more confidence!"