Mine

In a world with professionals, strange and bizarre helmets were nothing unusual.

Helmets with horns on top, long bird feathers stuck into them, even helmets made from animal skulls.

But a helmet made entirely into a sphere seemed to be a first.

"Let me see it," Cavina said.

"Take off the helmet."

Skeleton Rogue 'Bartholomew' removed his helmet and handed it over. Wu Heng then passed it to Cavina.

Beneath the helmet was not a bare skull, but another layer of Bandit Headgear.

Only the hollow eye sockets revealed his identity as a skeleton.

Cavina began examining the helmet, while Wu Heng looked at Ortluk beside him and asked quietly, "Captain, where are we headed?"

Captain Ortluk was a burly man in full metal armor. Sitting in his seat, he took up the space of two people.

His gaze swept over the Blackstone Town guards opposite them as he continued, "Blackstone Town received a report that everyone in Mining Village has vanished. The investigators sent there also stopped sending word. Neither the people nor the information came back."

Damn, that didn't sound very safe.

"So our mission is to investigate that village?"

"Investigating the village is the guards' task. Our task is to confirm whether the Mine Owner is in any danger. He is an important member of the association. After that, we will assist the guards in investigating Mining Village."

Two tasks, but really one task.

First, confirm whether the Mine Owner was still alive. If he was dead, collect the body. If he was alive, ask whether he had been affected.

Second, assist the Blackstone City guards in investigating Mining Village.

Assisting was not the main mission, but if danger arose, fighting would be unavoidable.

Wu Heng nodded to show that he understood.

Cavina leaned closer and whispered, "The one leading them is Blackstone City's Lord Commander Plamon, a Level 11 warrior. The curly-haired man sitting in the third seat is an investigator."

Following her words, he looked toward the seats ahead.

Lord Commander Plamon was a stern-looking man with a powerful build. His exposed arms were probably as thick as someone's thigh, and a longsword rested beside him.

As for that Curly-haired Investigator, he had slightly dark skin and short brown curly hair.

It looked like a head full of Instant Noodles.

The rest were all dressed as city guards.

Two carried shields and wore swords at their waists. Two had only One-Handed Swords, but they also carried crossbows.

The captain said from the side, "The mission isn't difficult. Follow the procedure, finish it, and return safely."

"Alright."

Cavina lazily leaned back, crossing her long beautiful legs. She nudged him with her arm again. "Tell me, how did you choose to become a Necromancer?"

"Uh... by chance. I felt that Necromancers were mages too."

That afternoon.

The Investigation Team arrived at an estate.

Mine Owner Archido received this suddenly arrived group in a side hall.

Archido was a middle-aged man of average height, dressed quite well.

After some brief pleasantries, Lord Commander Plamon got straight to the point. "We received word that there have been large-scale disappearances in Mining Village. Do you have any leads?"

Archido rubbed his brow and said quietly, "I've been troubled over this as well. There were originally more than two hundred miners in the village, but they suddenly disappeared. Not a single one remained."

"When did you discover that the people in the village were gone?" Plamon continued.

"At the start of the month. I remember it clearly. That was the day the ore was due to be delivered. When the convoy arrived, they found the village empty, without a single person. I'll have to pay a huge sum in compensation." Archido's face was filled with worry.

"Before us, did any other Investigation Teams come here?" Plamon narrowed his eyes and stared at him.

Archido lowered his head. "They did. It was a team of three. They asked roughly the same questions, then left. Did something happen?"

"Do you have any other information? Tell us everything you know."

Archido clasped his hands on the long table before him, lowered his head in thought for a moment, then said, "I had the guards inspect the village. The supplies inside, even their valuables, were all still there. It can be confirmed that they didn't leave, and there were no signs of fighting."

"How far is Mining Village from here?"

"Not far. Half a day on horseback..."

The two exchanged questions and answers, verifying the details.

The Curly-haired Investigator stood nearby, recording the conversation with pen and paper.

But it was clear that this Mine Owner did not know much either. He only knew that all the miners in the village had vanished. He wanted a result as soon as possible, so it would not delay him from making money.

He also failed to provide any useful information about the previous Investigation Team that had gone missing.

"Alright, I understand. Prepare horses and a carriage for us," Plamon said as he rose.

The Mine Owner immediately said, "I had a Dinner Party prepared. Rest for the night, and tomorrow morning I'll have someone take you there."

"No need. Prepare the carriage."

Archido did not insist further and instructed his subordinates to prepare horses and a carriage.

The Investigation Team boarded the carriage and headed toward Mining Village.

After leaving the estate, four mounted horses escorted the carriage as they followed the map toward Mining Village.

Even their food and drink were taken care of inside the carriage.

It seemed Plamon intended to get a result today.

After a bumpy journey, the sky had already entered dusk.

"Lord Commander, a village can be seen up ahead," a guard's voice came from outside the carriage.

"Mm. Approach the village."

The carriage continued onward. When it felt as though they were about to reach the village, violent jolting began.

Outside came a guard's startled shout. "The horses are out of control..."

"Damn it, what's going on?!"

"The horses have gone mad! Jump down!"

Pulling aside the carriage curtain, they saw the mounted guards crash directly into the trees by the roadside.

Bang! Bang!

The dull impacts sounded like sandbags being struck.

The guard driving the carriage was also doing his utmost to control the horses pulling it.

But it was clearly having little effect. The carriage grew faster and faster, and the jolting turned into violent swaying from side to side.

"Jump!" Ortluk said.

However, before anyone could make their next move—

The carriage charged straight into the village, smashed through the obstacles in the road, and rammed headfirst into the wall of a house.

The carriage overturned in an open space.

Bang!

Captain Ortluk kicked open the Car Door now at the top. Several people and one skeleton crawled out of the carriage.

After shaking their heads to clear their minds—

The horses pulling the carriage had already been killed in the collision. Brains and blood covered the ground, and their necks had been twisted into grotesque shapes by the tremendous impact.

"Lord Commander!"

Outside the village, the guards who had fallen from their horses entered with weapons in hand.

No one was missing, but two of them limped as they walked, clearly injured.

After regrouping, they began drinking potions.

The Main Gate of the village was already open, and there was not a soul inside.

The entire village was empty and silent.

It was like a village abandoned long ago.

"People!" Cavina said.

Everyone followed her gaze and saw a large mass of figures standing in a dim corner.

Everyone froze.

Both the report and the Mine Owner's information had said the population was missing.

So why were there people here?

Had they been drawn over by the crash?

"Who are you? Come out..." a guard shouted.

Tap, tap, tap!

As his words fell, the figures in the darkness began to approach.

Stepping out of the shadows were twisted faces, like patients driven mad.

Then they charged at the group with claws raised.

"Lord Commander, the information was wrong. They seem to have lost their minds," a guard said quietly.

The Lord Commander remained calm and cold, his expression unchanged. "Stop them from getting close."

"Yes!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!

Crossbow Bolts flew out, piercing the legs of the charging enemies.

Many figures fell to the ground.

"They're villagers from here, but their behavior resembles Undead Species," the investigator said.

Undead Species?

The Lord Commander's gaze swept toward Wu Heng at the side.

"Let one through!" the Lord Commander ordered.

The guards opened a path, and a crazed miner instantly broke through the line of defense and lunged toward the rear.

As he rushed close, the Lord Commander grabbed the miner by the neck with one hand.

He lifted him into the air by force.

No matter how madly he struggled, he could not break free from the other man's grip.

"Necromancer, come take a look."

He spoke to Wu Heng behind him.