However, upon hearing Por's words about saving them, the slave laborers in the cell showed no joy, but rather a deep fear.
"What nonsense are you spouting?! Are you out of your mind?!"
"Shut up! They'll kill us!"
"If you want to die, then go ahead and die. Don't drag us down with you!"
Some cursed viciously, others retreated in terror, and some even grabbed a broken wooden bowl and threw it violently, shattering it in two on the ground in front of Por.
The way that person looked at them didn't seem like they were grasping at a straw, but rather like they were being dragged down to hell by an enemy.
Por stood frozen in place, a surge of intense confusion welling up inside him.
He meant well, even using his divine power to help heal the wounds, so why are these people so vehemently rejecting him?
"Enough!"
The old man gave a low growl and stood in front of Por, stunning all the slave laborers.
"I brought this guy in, and I guarantee he won't talk nonsense again. If anyone causes trouble and attracts the overseer, I'll be the first to throw him out!"
Thanks to the old man's prestige in the prison, the commotion gradually subsided.
But even in silence, hostility and resistance emanated undisguisedly from those gazes.
The old man pulled Por to the innermost corner of the cell, where a pile of hay lay, and reprimanded him in a low voice.
"You little brat—you dare say anything out of the blue, but don't blame them, these poor souls are terrified."
"Just last month, a newcomer secretly complained a few times, trying to escape, but he was overheard by the overseer, and those demons used iron hooks to pierce his limbs and hang him from the top of the mine."
"The screams lasted for two whole days and two nights, and those below listened to them for two whole days and two nights as well."
As he recalled the incident, the old man's face twitched involuntarily; even he had rarely witnessed such cruel punishment.
"This kind of thing happens every now and then to deter slave laborers from trying to escape. There's even a rule here that people report each other, and those who report truthfully get an extra half-day off."
"If I weren't still a respectable old man, you'd be in big trouble today!"
Por remained silent, unsure of what to say.
Should we blame the slave laborers?
Should he blame those figures who cowered away from his sight, and berate those whose wounds had healed but remained emaciated?
No, blame the foremen who treat human life like dirt, and blame the mayor of the Mining Town, Gore, who runs these bloody industries and turns people into monsters.
Por sighed deeply, "I understand—thank you for reminding me."
"Let's not talk about that. What was that you didn't finish saying outside? This information might be the key to getting you out of here."
He had already vaguely grasped some of the clues: Gore's smuggling, the appearance of foreign soldiers—but these fragments were not yet enough to piece together a complete intelligence report.
The old man did not answer immediately, but instead carefully looked Por up and down with his sharp eyes.
"That's possible, but I need you to answer one question truthfully first."
Por naturally nodded in agreement.
So, what is your relationship with the " Forest People "?
" Forest People?"
" Forest People, the legendary ancestors of insect tamers, each possesses incredible abilities."
"Compared to the insect tamers who still occasionally interact with the outside world, they are more mysterious and extreme. They eat insect eggs, wear clothes made of insect intestines, and live in the deepest part of the Sea of Corruption, which is completely inaccessible to outsiders."
Legend has it that Forest People use the sap of the Ohmu to heal travelers lost in the Sea of Corruption; that sap can cure all diseases, and its color is—a pure golden yellow.
Just like the power you just used—the old man didn't say it explicitly, but Por understood what he meant.
"Uh... I've really never heard of any Forest People. My power was bestowed upon me by the Divine Tree."
Unfortunately, Por genuinely had never heard of any Forest People and could only answer truthfully.
The old man stared at him for a long time before confirming that the naive young man, Por, might not actually be lying, and then sighed.
The boy in front of him was indeed unrelated to the Forest People, and he didn't know whether to feel disappointed or relieved.
Although I'm very curious about the Erdtree you mentioned, I'll answer your question first.
2
He gestured with his eyes for Por to look towards the area outside the prison bars, towards the tents where foreign soldiers were stationed.
"See those guys dressed in flashy clothes and wearing weird-looking armor?"
Por nodded; he had noticed it as soon as he came in.
"That's the regular army of the Dorok," the old man said, emphasizing each word. "That bastard Gore has long been in league with the Dorok Principalities to the south!"
"What!" Even Por couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.
"You mean, Gore originally planned to join forces with the Dorok to overthrow the Pejite Kingdom?"
The nations of the Sea of Corruption are nominally vassal states of Tolmekia, but in reality, they are hostile to the Dorok.
While countries often turn a blind eye to the caravans of the Dorok that cross the vast Sea of Corruption, secretly stationing Dorok soldiers there is a completely different matter!
"Most likely, and the current tragedy in Pejite is also related to them."
"In your story, Tolmekia only played a role in exacerbating the chaos; there's absolutely no conclusive evidence that they were personally involved, right?"
"Moreover, the first to incorporate insect tamers into their army were the Dorok. As for Imperial equipment, the Pejite factories have tons of that stuff; it's a favorite commodity for smugglers like Gore!"
Bo realized that the old man in front of him, who called himself an "explorer," was probably not a simple person, but now was not the time to delve into that.
He suddenly remembered something that happened to be related to the old man's analysis.
"By the way, we saw the Dorok's spaceship when we first arrived here. Could it be related to these Dorok soldiers?"
" The Dorok's boat?" The old man frowned, thinking quickly.
The Dorok's airship is not fast, but its advantages are its large carrying capacity and rapid vertical take-off and landing capabilities. If there is only one, its combat capability is very weak.
The old man traced lines on the felt cloth, vaguely realizing he had overlooked something important.
Now that Pejite is no longer able to govern the Mining Town, the purpose of Gore and the Dorok continuing their cooperation is----
"Kid, I remember you said it's mid-October now, so the annual Joint Gathering has already started?" He suddenly paused and looked at Por, his breathing becoming rapid.
"Yes." Por nodded in confirmation.
Who came this year? Were there any important figures?
"The major chambers of commerce, and representatives from other countries, must all be here?" Por recalled what he had seen and heard at the market.
"Where is Pejite?" the old man pressed, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Has Pejite sent anyone?"
" Asbel of Pejite has arrived, along with Commerce Minister Haideng. Why are you asking about this—"
The old man's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He grabbed Por's arm. "Damn it! Gore is trying to harm His Highness the Prince!"
"Huh? Grandpa, you must be joking. How dare a run-down place like Mining Town provoke Pejite?"
Even though Gore possessed considerable wealth, the military strength of the two sides was simply unequal. Just the equipment he saw in the exhibition hall a couple of days ago was enough to take this place down.
"It's not a direct confrontation as you think, it's a hostage situation, a hostage situation!" The old man spoke rapidly; he had to make Por understand the seriousness of the situation in the shortest amount of time.
"You think the only thing restricting Gore's smuggling business is the already defunct Pejite royal family? No! The biggest obstacle is Pejite!"
" The Pejite royal family, especially the Commercial Federation headed by Haideng, has been cracking down on the illegal smuggling of industrial goods and arms in recent years, cutting off the livelihoods of many, including Gore."
"These merchants have long harbored a deep hatred for Pejite. If Gore can unite them and control the sole heir to the throne Asbel, he can use the power of the Dorok to seize Pejite from within."
"At that time, the two largest industrial city-states will become their money bags!"
"I bet the rebels in Pejite City also captured members of the Pejite royal family, right?"
Por was startled; the old man's guess was correct.
If it weren't for the Yupa, Prince Lucian of Pejite would have been captured long ago.
"Boy, I know you're capable of escaping on your own. I beg you, you must find a way to warn Prince Asbel and make him leave the Mining Town immediately! This concerns the future of millions in Pejite, I really—I'm begging you!"
After saying this, the old man tried to kneel down, but Por held him firmly.
Por took a deep breath, digesting this astonishing information.
"Old man, you don't need to worry. I've already warned His Highness the Prince."
The old man was taken aback, then his face showed a mocking anger. "What nonsense are you talking about, brat? You've been with me ever since you were arrested, what are you using to warn me?"
Instead of panicking at the old man's anger, Por smiled.
He tapped his temple with his index finger and raised his eyebrows.
"I'm not lying, I have special communication skills."
"The intelligence that needed to be sent out has already been sent out."