Wildflowers bloomed across the hills in autumn.
At the end of the path stood an abandoned mining area.
But now, it was no longer abandoned. The discarded tools and loose stones once scattered around the entrance had all disappeared.
A gate had been built at the entrance to the mining area.
Down in the passageways, although the pockmarked stone walls remained unchanged, people now came and went constantly, long since shattering the mine's silence.
Upon reaching the first chamber, the space suddenly widened.
This space had not been excavated; it had originally existed underground. Dozens of thick stalagmites that had stood there had been entirely removed, leaving behind a broad expanse of open ground.
Moreover, it had clearly been purified by priests. The lingering aura of death here had vanished completely.
At this time, a large group of people were leveling and compacting the ground. The useless small mine tunnels on either side of the chamber had been sealed off and turned into rooms.
The rooms were first covered with a layer of soil to absorb the damp, chilling air, then paved over with stone.
The large rooms served as warehouses for future goods, while the smaller ones were shops or residences. Everything was in perfect order.
Romon nodded at this. The farther inward he went, the broader the passage became. Then, all of a sudden, his eyes lit up as a vast open area appeared before the two of them.
The large field of rubble had been completely cleared away, and the tall stone platform had vanished without a trace. Beneath it, a deep, secluded rift was now clearly visible.
"Lord!" At that moment, the steward overseeing the clearing stepped forward and bowed.
"How is the situation?" Romon asked.
"My lord, this open area can hold five hundred people.