Korax's Gift 2

After ten shells, nearly all living forces in the entire camp had been wiped out. The overseers only needed to go in and finish them off.

In truth, Korax had wronged those overseers. When the equipment had been brought out, the Tower garrison had already inspected it thoroughly. The rifling in the barrels, the hydraulic systems, every component had been maintained, and the ammunition had been checked as well. The Tower's army had never expected these overseers to possess such professional expertise.

"In that case, let's tamper with the shells." After a moment of thought, Korax made his decision.

Invisible Shadow Power transformed into a pitch-black hand and crept up the rear of a shell.

Shadow Power gripped the tail fins and twisted them clockwise dozens of times, quickly dismantling them. Korax carefully removed the Heavy Howitzer shell's High-Energy Detonator.

"Powerful, but not complicated." Korax smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the detonator in his hand, as thick as a child's arm.

Without a sound, Korax removed all the detonators using the same method. At the same time, he inscribed a Psychic Array onto the shells. Its effect was simple: it made people instinctively overlook the issues with the shells while alerting the Primarch that someone had tampered with them.

"Mission accomplished. Time to withdraw." Having achieved his goal, Korax began retreating.

If Agamemnon launched a surprise attack and the shells were loaded into the Heavy Howitzers, the expressions on those overseers' faces would surely be spectacular.

The three-and-a-half-ton monstrosities were not easy to pry open and retrieve the shells from. Given those overseers' capabilities, it was not that Korax looked down on them, but forget handling the situation—even if they did not wet themselves, it would prove they had nerves of steel.

The black shadow slipped away without a sound. Korax had completed his mission.

It was time to return to the camp and prepare to put a complete end to the miners' sunless lives.

"That really is detailed. With intelligence this comprehensive backing them up, no wonder Korax led the miners to crush the Tower's rule with such ease." Sandman looked at the enormous battle map hanging on the conference room wall.

The dense markings of routes and the numbers of overseers were so clear that it was practically like having wallhacks.

"Boss, the leaders from every camp have arrived. Lord Korax sent word that he is on his way back." Nekser reminded Sandman from beside him.

"Let everyone in. Korax will arrive on time." Sandman had never doubted the precision of a being as inhuman as a Primarch.

"Creeeak—" A long scraping sound echoed out, like a dry wooden axle turning, mixed with the rustling sound of stone against the ground. As the door was slowly pushed open, the heavy stone door swung wide with a ponderous weight.

The members of Shadow Kill led the main leaders from several camps into the conference room. The originally spacious room immediately became crowded.

"Everyone, sit down and rest for a while. Korax is already on his way." Seeing the travel-worn faces of the crowd, Sandman did not rush them. Instead, he had tea poured and food brought out to help them replenish their strength.

"Thank you, Chief Sandman." Giovanni did not stand on ceremony at all. He picked up the cup on the stone table and drained it in one gulp.

Gulp, gulp...

As the sounds of drinking rose, the others also picked up their cups and drank deeply.

"Ha... the conditions at Boss Sandman's place really are comfortable." After replenishing the energy their bodies had expended, everyone let out long sighs of relief.

No one present said much. The atmosphere in the conference room gradually grew grave, and a chilling air slowly settled over the room.

"Alright, everyone has rested enough. All we need to do now is give it one final push, and we can leave the past behind for good." Once Sandman saw that everyone had rested sufficiently, he got to the point.

"No more nonsense. Korax has already given you the detailed intelligence, and the Raven Guard is ready. The day after tomorrow, when the first bell rings, move out and eliminate every overseer along your camps' patrol routes.

Before the second bell rings, you must bring the captured equipment to the designated locations. Even if your legs break from running, even if you run yourselves to death, you must deliver it!"

"Korax, Shadow Kill, and I will infiltrate the Tower in advance. When the bell rings, we will strike at the same time. Leave everything outside to you." Sandman did not understand impassioned speeches. They already had detailed orders and intelligence support, so he went straight to assigning everyone's tasks.

Saviors Camp had taken on the toughest target. The forces led by Sandman and Korax would face the Tower's regular garrison troops, not the overseers outside who only knew how to intimidate people with whips.

Only by striking from within and without at the same time could they throw the Tower's command structure into chaos. Otherwise, no matter how well the miners outside performed, they would merely delay their own defeat.

"Comrades, this will be the most crucial battle in determining the fate of all our brothers and sisters from now on. If we succeed, Lycaeus will become our own home. None of us can bear the consequences of failure, but rest assured: no matter what happens, the boss, I, and everyone from Saviors Camp will lead the charge!" Korax's resolute voice came from the open doorway. This time, he had not silently appeared inside the conference room.

"Boss, everyone already knows what Korax said. We're risking our lives anyway. Rather than digging mines here until we die, we'd better fucking fight them! Everyone had that resolve from the very beginning." Arendi, commander of the Raven Guard, spoke to the two of them with an unwavering gaze.

As an old veteran who had followed Sandman the longest, and an outstanding commander who had directed special operations in Kiavahr's military, his words represented the feelings of the class that had been exiled from Kiavahr.

"Go ahead and do it. We do not have much medicine in reserve, but the logistics and medical departments will do everything they can to treat our wounded brothers and sisters." Ephrenia represented the stance of the miners who had been born and raised on Lycaeus.

These native-born miners had multiplied naturally over several centuries, and they were also the most miserable group. Some had never seen any scenery beyond Lycaeus in their entire lives. Their only companions were endless rocks to mine, cave-ins that could happen at any moment, and abuse from the overseers.

"We hope Lord Korax and Lord Sandman will honor our agreement. We will wash away our sins with blood!" Scar, whose face had barely a patch of intact skin left, represented the most vicious criminals of the western district. They would be the first suicide squad. As long as they won the honor of First Ascendant, everything from their past would be wiped clean.