That evening, in a secluded alley in the Underworld.
"Mr. Bosang, I'd like to go over the details of the operation the day after tomorrow one more time." The middle-aged miner looked nervously at the old man opposite him. "You know, this is my first time doing anything like this."
"Don't put it that way, pal." The old man named Bosang patted the miner on the shoulder. "Who in the Great Mine doesn't know you're a whiz with explosives, Benny? Just think of that wall as a mountain. Plant the explosives, set them off, and then you can leave."
The miner called Benny couldn't help saying:
"But that's a wall of Kliperburg!"
"Shh, pal, keep your voice down!" Bosang glanced at the alley entrance. Only after confirming no one was there did he relax and continue, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You know how handsomely you'll be paid if this job succeeds! You don't want to spend your whole life blasting rocks in the mines, do you?"
Benny fell silent.
Blasters in the mines earned little, but faced an absurd amount of danger!
Those unscrupulous mine managers always used inferior explosives. The slightest mistake could cause an accident.
If what the old man had told him earlier was true, he really could earn more money than he could spend in a lifetime.
Provided they succeeded.
"Mr. Bosang, are you sure you've arranged everything up above?" Benny asked uneasily.
"Relax. I've already lined up plenty of capable hands. This operation can only succeed!" Bosang assured him.
"All right." Benny nodded, then hesitated. "Mr. Bosang, this is our first time working together. I need... need to see some good faith."
"Heh, you should've just said so! You sly bastard!" Grumbling, Bosang pulled a handful of Winter City Shields from his pocket and placed them in Benny's hand. "Go buy yourself a drink! Benny, I'm warning you, I'm a man with big plans. This little bit of money means nothing to me. But if you keep doing this, I'll consider taking you off the job. You know the Great Mine has no shortage of blasters."
His last remark carried a threat.
On the surface, it meant he could find someone to replace Benny at any time.
Beneath that, it meant Benny knew too many secrets. Even if he backed out, death would be his only way out!
Benny shrank back at those words.
"Yes, yes! I promise this is the last time!" Benny took the money and hurried out of the alley.
Bosang waited a while, then hid in the shadows and rubbed at his face before leisurely leaving through the other end of the alley.
He now looked like a young man, a delighted smile on his face beneath his sweeping blue bangs.
"What should I call you? Mr. Sampo, or Mr. Bosang?"
A familiar voice rang out beside the alley entrance, startling Sampo.
He turned to find Chu Mu leaning against the wall, his eyes still covered with black gauze. A gentle-looking young woman stood beside him.
"Holy crap, boss!" Sampo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still shaken. "You scared me to death! You nearly gave me a heart attack."
He looked at Natasha and asked:
"And who's this?"
"This is my teacher, Natasha," Chu Mu introduced her.
Then he turned to Natasha and introduced him:
"This is Sampo."
"So you're the boss lady!" Sampo immediately cried out with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Old Sampo here, at your service, boss lady!"
Natasha gave Chu Mu a puzzled look, her eyes seeming to ask:
Why are you associating with someone so shady?
Chu Mu shrugged and said:
"Teacher, Sampo's an old acquaintance of mine. His brain doesn't work too well-a mining machine hit him in the head when he was little-but he's actually quite entertaining."
"Hey, boss, wouldn't a mining machine hitting your head kill you? Those things weigh hundreds of tons!" Sampo couldn't help protesting.
He rubbed his chin.
"But I do agree with the second half. I really am quite entertaining. That's the best compliment you could give me. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Chu Mu nodded naturally.
Standing beside them, Natasha felt she couldn't quite fit into this atmosphere, so she said helplessly:
"You two talk. I'll take a look around over there."
Once Natasha had left, Chu Mu walked into the alley and said:
"Relax. Teacher Natasha didn't hear your conversation just now."
Chu Mu's hearing had become very sharp. Perhaps his body had strengthened his other senses to compensate for his deteriorating eyesight.
As a result, only Chu Mu had heard that exchange.
"Thank heavens!" Sampo couldn't help pressing his palms together in prayer. "Boss, you're a lifesaver!"
"You're really going to blow up Kliperburg?" Chu Mu asked in bewilderment. "How are you so bold?"
"It's not that I'm bold. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If I miss it, I might not get another even after decades, big brother!" Sampo said excitedly.
That "big brother" sent a shudder through Chu Mu, and he hurriedly said:
"Don't call me that. I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from hitting you."
"Got it, bro-no, boss!" Sampo hastily corrected himself.
Chu Mu looked thoughtful and asked:
"Are you in such a hurry to act because of what you told me last time? Is the Supreme Guardian coming to the Orphanage?"
"That's my boss!" Sampo gave him a thumbs-up. "Exactly. According to reliable information, the Supreme Guardian will leave Kliperburg at noon the day after tomorrow and take the Cable Car to the Orphanage in Rivet Town to personally choose her successor. Boss, I've got high hopes for you! I'm counting on you to bring me fame and fortune!"
"You're about to blow up Kliperburg, and you're still thinking about that?" Chu Mu couldn't help laughing. "Wouldn't robbing the place once give you enough money to spend?"
"Blowing up Kliperburg is mostly for kicks. I'd say the odds of success are fifty percent at best," Sampo said with a grin. "Besides, what good is money alone? Becoming the Guardian's favorite-that's what old Sampo's after!"
Chu Mu gave him a scornful look and said:
"You're blowing up the Guardian's house, and you still want to become her favorite? Do you really think that's possible?"
Sampo was utterly unconcerned and said with a smile:
"Mr. Bosang's the one blowing it up. What does that have to do with old Sampo?"
Chu Mu could only give his shamelessness a thumbs-up.
With the small talk out of the way, Chu Mu hadn't forgotten his real business, so he asked:
"By the way, was that information you said was worth nine hundred million Winter City Shields about the Supreme Guardian planning to seal off the passage between the upper and lower levels? Everyone in the Underworld has been talking about it lately."
"Yeah. I was going to keep it under wraps and make a fortune, but then someone leaked it during their power struggle at the top. The information I worked so hard to get became a worthless scrap of paper." Sampo looked thoroughly dejected. "Boss, please don't bring that up again. Just thinking about it breaks my heart."
Chu Mu simply asked:
"When will the passage be sealed?"
At that, Sampo dropped his exaggerated expression and said seriously:
"My guess is the evening after tomorrow. Once the Supreme Guardian has adopted her successor, she'll have no reason not to seal off the Underworld."
Chu Mu watched Sampo quietly and asked the most important question:
"Judging by how relaxed you are, you'll still have a way to get up there after it's sealed, right?"
"Huh?" Sampo's pupils abruptly contracted. Then he lowered his head and chuckled. "Boss, when have you ever known me to use legitimate channels? Even before the lockdown, that Cable Car wasn't open to me. As far as I'm concerned, it makes no difference whether they seal it or not!"
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear!" Only then did Chu Mu smile in relief.
Before you continue