Chapter 44: The Mining Area

The Aros mining area was mainly divided into four sectors: the mining area, the processing area, the storage area, and the living area.

Looking down from the high ground at the edge, the massive mining site resembled a sinkhole, like an abyss. A faint green glow shimmered at the bottom of the pit.

Heavy machinery densely packed across the open-pit mine bed worked tirelessly to extract ore.

To reach the mining area, one first had to pass through a heavily guarded checkpoint, followed by a long, winding mountain road.

As they approached the checkpoint, Lin Yuanyao ordered the convoy to slow down. She cautiously observed the surroundings and only signaled the team to proceed once she had confirmed that everything was in order.

Through the armored vehicle’s viewing window, Luo Yan noticed several concealed weapon terminals flanking both sides of the pass, all equipped with various attack systems, including heavy automatic machine guns.

Rows of black muzzles were hidden away, trained directly on the only route through the pass.

With assistance from her system, she could easily identify the gunfire coverage zones—virtually the entire ground was blanketed in overlapping firepower.

“Captain, you’re being a bit too careful,” Hansen said with a grin.

“Better safe than sorry,” Lin Yuanyao replied calmly.

She still hadn’t let down her guard.

However, her caution wasn’t directed at the mining area itself, but at the unknown threats lurking beyond it.

In truth, the checkpoint had been built at a commanding elevation and fortified heavily with both manpower and defensive structures. Breaching it from the front would be extraordinarily difficult.

If there were any problems, they were more likely to occur within—perhaps a natural disaster like a collapse. But since everything outside appeared orderly, there shouldn’t be any incidents within.

And yet… why had the road here been so quiet?

Normally, they would’ve encountered a few Corpse Hounds and spilled some blood, but this time they hadn’t seen a single one.
Something felt off, though she couldn’t pinpoint what.

Xiao Wang shook his head and said to Luo Yan, “That’s our captain for you. A high-level Awakener, yet still extremely cautious.”

Luo Yan smiled. “That just means you have a responsible and capable captain.”

Lin Yuanyao remained expressionless in response to Luo Yan’s compliment, but the rest of the team laughed heartily.

Luo Yan was beautiful and held the position of Senior Consultant. Her behavior so far hadn’t given anyone a reason to dislike her, so the cold attitudes toward her gradually softened.

“How long has it been since mutated beasts attacked the independent city of Neo Aonan?” Luo Yan suddenly asked.

Xiao Wang blinked, surprised by the question.

After thinking for a moment, he said, “If you’re talking about a large-scale beast tide, it’s been several months since the last one. As for sporadic mutated beasts, they’re rarely seen in the order zone these days. It’s probably because the city’s perimeter-clearing teams are deploying manpower more efficiently now…”

Lin Yuanyao, however, seemed to have a sudden realization.

A slight change flickered across her otherwise calm, elegant face.
She gave Luo Yan a penetrating look. “Consultant Luo, what are you thinking?”

Luo Yan shook her head. “I spent some time outside the city recently and didn’t see any signs of mutated beasts at all. Now that I think back on it, it strikes me as odd—so I thought I’d ask.”

“The wasteland area?”
“Probably,” Luo Yan replied, unsure.

She had passed out after fighting Mr. Z that day and had no idea how she’d been brought back to Neo Aonan. She could only deduce her location based on the terrain she remembered seeing.

Lin Yuanyao frowned slightly, clearly displeased with Luo Yan’s vague answer.
She explained, “Not all parts of the wasteland are inhabited by mutated beasts. Most of them are concentrated around the contamination zones.”

Luo Yan nodded.
That explanation was plausible, but based on her own observations, the situation didn’t seem so simple.

While entering the wasteland, she had already activated the system’s auxiliary functions and noticed a few abnormal environmental readings.
At the time, they were still far from the transport convoy, so she hadn’t thought much of it.

But after hearing Lin Yuanyao’s comment, she found herself revisiting those anomalies.

What could those abnormal readings have been?

As Luo Yan pondered this, she suddenly felt a faint sting in her blood vessels—sharper than a mosquito bite, but only just.
If her senses hadn’t been so sharp, she might’ve ignored it entirely.

Startled, she looked out the window and saw that the convoy had passed inspection and was slowly advancing into the heart of the mining area.

Only then did she realize:
“This must be the effect of high-concentration Odegaard substance…”

She instinctively glanced at her system panel:

[Level: Awakening]
[Next Stage: 0/500]
[Photon Count: 71]

She silently took note of the current time and photon count.

She was preparing to test a previous hypothesis:
Would exposure to a high-concentration Odegaard environment accelerate the natural accumulation of photons?

Xiao Wang looked over at Luo Yan in her sleek professional outfit and asked, “There’s a decent amount of energy radiation in the air from all the Odegaard ore. Are you sure you don’t need protective gear, Consultant Luo?”

When large amounts of Odegaard ore were concentrated, they gave off intense energy radiation.
Spending extended periods in the mining zone typically required protective suits—especially when venturing deep inside.

Luo Yan declined with a gentle smile. “No need. I’ll be fine.”

Xiao Wang nodded.
He had done his part by offering. The rest was up to her.

Lin Yuanyao, however, frowned. “If you’re not an Awakener, I highly recommend wearing it. It may be bulky and inconvenient, but your health comes first.”

“I really don’t need it.”

Luo Yan was in the middle of conducting a test.
Wearing a suit now would defeat the purpose, so she again declined the suggestion.

Lin Yuanyao said flatly, “Suit yourself.”

She didn’t believe for a second that Luo Yan was an Awakening-level ability user.
Someone who reached that level at such a young age had to have undergone rigorous elite training, yet Luo Yan showed no signs of it.

At most, she was probably an Aberrant-level ability user—slightly better physical condition than a normal person, but nothing impressive.
Staying in an environment saturated with Odegaard radiation without protection was reckless.

Lin Yuanyao couldn’t figure out her reasoning and chalked it up to “princess syndrome.”

A beautiful woman like her had likely been doted on all her life. That sort of upbringing often bred arrogance.
And for women like that, wearing bulky protective suits was an unbearable experience.

Still, her opinion of Luo Yan had changed somewhat from her initial impressions.

For one, she wasn’t as fragile as she’d assumed.
And more importantly, she was clearly thinking about the team’s safety.

She had to admit, Luo Yan’s questions had broadened her perspective.

Unfortunately… a hothouse flower was still a hothouse flower. Until she had weathered more storms, there would always be a gap between them.