The wooden railcar slid along the tracks into the depths of the mountain.
The wheels clattered over the seams, clunk, clunk, sinking deeper all the way.
Bai Zhu sat at the edge of the carriage, his left hand resting on his scabbard. The old man across from him kept his head lowered, his cane laid across his knees, looking perfectly proper.
The farther they went, the fewer water stains marked the cave walls.
At first, they could still smell the damp earth. After several bends, the rock walls became smooth, with mining lamps hanging along them. One stood every hundred meters, steady electric light glowing beneath each shade. Drainage ditches ran along both sides of the tracks, water flowing downward through the stone channels.
Milluki stared at the mining lamps for a long while, every fold of flesh on his face broadcasting his displeasure.
Bai Zhu turned to look at the old man.
"Wasn't NGL supposed to prohibit foreign metal and industrial goods?"
The old man raised his head, his tone flat.
"National policy prohibits outside pollution. The Underground City's tools, rails, and workshops are all maintained and used by local residents. They fall within reasonable limits."
Milluki couldn't hold it in and snorted through his nose.
He leaned toward Bai Zhu and lowered his voice.
"Making your own guns means they don't count as guns? What hypocrites."
Bai Zhu kicked him with the tip of his shoe.
"Keep it down. His ears aren't broken."
The old man acted as though he hadn't heard, still sitting upright.
Piyu recorded the spacing of the mining lamps and the rail specifications, her pen racing across the page.
Knov stood near the rear of the carriage, his hands still in his pockets. Gela Jiang had his surfboard strapped to his back and tried