Chapter 45: Odegaard Ore

The main task of the transport unit on this trip was to deliver the Odegaard ore from the storage area to the independent city of Neo Aonan.

So, after Luo Yan and the others passed inspection at the checkpoint and arrived at the mining area, they headed straight to the storage site. The group exited the vehicle.

What followed was negotiation, counting, transfers, and various other formalities. Luo Yan only watched briefly before losing interest.

She walked to the bulk storage area, where large quantities of unpackaged raw Odegaard ore were piled up.

“Am I allowed to touch it?” Luo Yan asked, eyeing the raw ore displayed on the rack.

Xiao Wang, who was in charge of security and introductions, nodded and said, “Yes, but we recommend that Consultant Luo wear gloves before handling it.”

This time, Luo Yan didn’t give him a hard time. She took the disposable nitrile gloves from his hand and put them on.

First, she picked up a light green piece of raw ore with snowflake-like patterns inside, then a dark green one with a crystalline texture.

She examined them each for a while, her brow slightly furrowed, as if lost in thought.

Noticing her expression, Xiao Wang smiled and said, “Has Consultant Luo noticed the difference between these two types of ore? Allow me to explain. Odegaard ore typically comes in three forms: crystal cluster ore, crystalline ore, and snowflake ore. In related studies, they are further classified by quality into three types: Type I, Type II, and Type III—ranked from highest to lowest.”

“Type I has the highest concentration of Odegaard substance, and Type III the lowest. In fact, you can easily tell by looking at their physical characteristics… The ore veins discovered near Neo Aonan so far, including the Aros Mining Area where we are now, are all Type II.”

Luo Yan nodded slightly.

When she had scanned the ores with the system earlier, she had discovered that not only did these two types differ drastically in quality, but their conversion efficiency after absorption was also completely different.

The Type III ore with snowflake patterns had only received an E-level rating—it would yield just two or three photons after absorption. Meanwhile, the crystalline ore, rated D-level or above, could produce about ten photons.

At first, she had found it hard to believe, but Xiao Wang’s explanation confirmed her findings.

“So the ore Lu Xiao Na gave me that day must have been a Type II crystalline ore.”

After thinking for a moment, Luo Yan asked, “Are there no Type I ore veins around Neo Aonan?”

Xiao Wang shook his head. “Unfortunately, none have been discovered yet. And even if there were, while it would definitely benefit the city’s development, it might not necessarily be a good thing…”

Luo Yan nodded. “That’s true…”

In her previous life, many nations had gone to war over oil resources they couldn’t defend.

In this life, the strategic importance of Odegaard ore far exceeded that of oil.

If a Type I ore vein were really discovered nearby, even assuming Neo Aonan had the strength to protect it, the fragile peace within the independent city would surely collapse.

Luo Yan guessed it would be a while before Lin Yuanyao was finished, so she left the storage area and headed to the excavation site.

This time, she didn’t ask Xiao Wang to accompany her—just told him to contact her via phone when the transport unit was ready.

At the excavation site, aside from the dense concentration of heavy machinery, a large number of miners were hard at work.

These miners weren’t just from the poorer communities in Neo Aonan but also included the surrounding migrant population—refugees from the settlements who couldn’t get permits to enter the city.

For them, the mining area had a separate recruitment process, different from the main city. As long as nothing concerning came up during screening, they were allowed to work in the mines.

Of course, the mine provided only basic protection.

The radiation risks were clearly communicated beforehand, and any resulting health issues were their own responsibility.

Moreover, due to the strategic and energy-sensitive nature of Odegaard ore, any ore mined could not be taken offsite.

As compensation, the mining company bought the ore at below-market prices—essentially exploiting them as cheap labor.

However, if someone were lucky enough to dig up a rare Type I ore from a Type II vein, the company would pay a substantial reward.

It was this hope that lured so many people here, like moths to a flame, chasing gold and dreams.

Although most workers had long grown numb to their daily grind, Luo Yan’s arrival still caused a stir at the site.

Many turned to look at her.

Women seen in this place were usually tanned and weather-beaten.

Who could be as fair and stunning as Luo Yan—let alone with her alluring figure?

Still, although many were tempted, no one dared approach her.

Only the foreman in charge of the site came over to speak, asking a few questions about her identity.

When he learned she was the new Senior Consultant for the Investigation Department, his heated gaze quickly cooled. Worry appeared in his eyes. If someone like her got hurt here, would he even keep his job?

Still, since she insisted, he reluctantly agreed—nervously. At the same time, he secretly signaled a few people to keep an eye on her from afar in case anything happened.

Wearing high heels, Luo Yan walked past several heavy machines and found a tunnel that wasn’t too crowded.

She brushed away the surface sand and began to search, mimicking the nearby miners.

But ultimately, she was different.

Not because her posture was more elegant or charming—but because what she could see in the mine went far beyond anyone else.

“As expected… While the scan function only works on one unit, pairing it with the warning system helps me quickly locate Odegaard ore hidden under the rocks.”

Thanks to the auxiliary system, the mine before her had been marked with various abnormal environmental parameters—most of which pointed to hidden ore deposits.

In a way, it was like using wallhacks in a game from her past life.

Although not 100% precise, it gave her a major advantage over ordinary miners.

Guided by the system, Luo Yan dug in an area showing abnormal parameters.

Sure enough, she uncovered a small amount of raw ore.

[Name: Raw Odegaard Ore]
[Quality: D-Class]
[Mass: 46g]
[Remarks: Raw ore of Odegaard ore. After processing, it can be used as an energy source or to extract Odegaard substance to shorten the time required for ability user evolution.]
[Reminder: After testing, the Odegaard substance contained in this raw ore can be directly absorbed with a conversion rate of 96%. After complete absorption, it is estimated that 3 photons can be obtained. Please choose whether to absorb now.]

Thanks to Xiao Wang’s explanation, Luo Yan now knew this was Type II ore.

It wasn’t a large piece, so while it was Type II, it couldn’t compare to the ore Lu Xiao Na had given her.

As she turned the freshly excavated ore in her hand, Luo Yan grew thoughtful.

“If the conditions are right, this mining area could become the best AFK farming spot for me to rapidly level up… But I still need to confirm—will absorbing raw ore directly cause any strange fluctuations? Also… with my identity, staying here for too long would definitely raise suspicion from both the mining authorities and the higher-ups. I need a convincing excuse prepared in advance.”

After watching the layout of the guard posts and patrol routes in the excavation site for a while, she estimated that Lin Yuanyao’s transport unit should be about to set off.

She didn’t linger any longer and returned to the storage area with the two pieces of raw ore in hand.