War raged, and smoke rose once more.
Ninety-five percent of the mining industry within the Safe Zone was concentrated in one particular area of the Origin God Mountain Range in the west. The Wang, Xie, Yu, and Huan families, in turn, controlled ninety-five percent of the mining industry in that area.
It was fair to say that they held a complete monopoly over the Safe Zone's mineral resources.
The Zhao Family had to buy iron ore from them to construct buildings, and the United Government had to buy gold, silver, and copper ore from them to mint coins. Those were only the minor sources of income.
Their greatest profits came from the various mutated minerals that had appeared only after the apocalypse.
Flame iron dust, blue radiant stone, black copper crystal, yellow-silver ore, and the like were all important materials for various God-Hunting Artifacts.
The four great families understood the value of a steady, lasting income, so they did not price these mutated minerals too high. But these minerals were the most cost-effective materials for making ordinary low-tier armor and weapons. Every major faction bought them in enormous quantities, adding up to an astronomical sum.
The Four Great Mining Families raked in money, and every one of them was filthy rich.
Once they had money, they naturally sought every possible way to keep it. After the apocalypse, there was only one way to protect their wealth-having enough muscle.
Thus, they paid handsome salaries to hire large numbers of powerful Sequence Ability Users, while sparing no resources in nurturing talent within their own families.
The four powerful families joined forces, working together to secure their monopoly. They had forged the entire western Safe Zone into a solid bloc, with timing, terrain, and unity all in their favor.
As long as the