Stoking the Fire

"Chirp chirp chirp~"

A familiar sound came from beneath the platform.

Liu Zheng opened his eyes and saw tens of thousands of Black Dumplings scurrying out from the hole beneath the platform, each holding a chunk of coal twice its own size atop its tiny arms.

These coal chunks were different from those in reality as well—jet-black and gleaming, smooth enough to reflect a person's image. They looked more like black gemstones than coal.

It was clear that these chunks of coal were extraordinarily heavy. The Black Dumplings were all crushed into lopsided shapes beneath the weight.

Yet they ran quite fast, like overloaded electric tricycles speeding down the road.

"Need a hand?"

Liu Zheng offered.

"No need. They can handle it."

Hachijo replied without looking back.

"Alright."

He shrugged and simply shifted onto his side, propping up his head with one hand as he watched the Black Dumplings haul coal.

Honestly, watching them move coal was strangely relaxing.

Though they emerged from the hole in a chaotic mess, they automatically adjusted their positions and spacing as they ran.

The individual lines gradually converged, and by the time they reached the base of Hachijo's platform, only two lines remained.

They resembled two black snakes with countless tails, or perhaps the pattern of some ritual.

"Click click click click click~"

Hachijo pulled a lever, and the conveyor belt on the platform began to move.

The Black Dumpling at the head of the line was the first to step onto the conveyor belt, with those behind it following close after.

There was no jostling for position, no crowding, and even their spacing was exactly the same.

These childish, amusing little creatures now behaved like a well-trained army.

When the Black Dumplings reached the feed port, the closed lid opened automatically.

A blazing