The members of the Communion soon saw the so-called mine.
It was an enormous spherical structure, at least several hundred meters in diameter. Even the ships moored beside the mine looked much smaller.
Everyone crowded around the portholes in shock, looking at the immense mine.
"Out of the cabins, out! The Duke is about to disembark!"
The Machine Priest's cold voice rang out unceremoniously, driving them all out of the cabins and into the seawater.
Allen gave everyone a meaningful look, and the Believers took the hint, pretending to have slight headaches.
Outside the ship, everything was in chaos as several overseers shouted for people to form orderly lines.
Allen took the opportunity to look around.
He noticed many ships floating not far from the mine, with thin lines stretching into it. He could not tell whether they were ropes or chains.
"Those are mining barges. The minerals from the mine are loaded aboard there, then hauled to the Dock before being shipped back to the Empire together."
Allen turned, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Old Henry?"
It was indeed Old Henry, whom he had seen on deck earlier. Aboard the ship, he had looked somewhat strange and distorted, but here in the sea, he seemed much more natural.
His whole body had become more agile. Those scars and growths looked perfectly at home in the sea, like those of a fish.
"Why did you get off the ship too?"
"To work at the mine, of course."
Allen was even more surprised. "I remember you only rotated out of there recently? Besides, in your current condition, shouldn't you be getting some proper rest?"
Old Henry really was in poor condition.
The corruption had already gone too far. Even Allen felt that he was drifting further and further from being human.