Chapter 281: Act 48 – The Silver Mine (9) (First Update, Seeking Support, Still Requires Strong Efforts to Recover)
After releasing the Wind Elemental Spiders, Brendel immediately returned to the previous level. Hundreds of Wind Elemental Spiders were spreading upward along the mine shaft, and he knew that the panicked miners would soon relay the news to the surface.
There had been a similar incident before in the Schafflund mine, but the attackers then were monsters from the Hive Zone, resulting in significant personnel and property losses for the mine. This time, with a similar monster attack, the mine’s management, having experienced it once, could not afford to remain indifferent.
He didn’t return the way he came but chose another route; advancing through the pitch-black tunnel, his perception of level 20 allowed him to see clearly in the dim light, making the dark shaft appear as bright as day to Brendel. He leisurely traversed a mining passage that the Wind Elemental Spiders had passed through, here the workers had long fled in terror, leaving the area empty and silent with not a sound.
Brendel arrived at the elevator and activated the magic-powered device, which slowly ascended to take him to the upper level.
The next level led to the mineral transport passage to the surface. The ground here was laid with wooden tracks, and the space was higher, with sturdy wooden frames supporting the walls. However, under the torchlight, the area was still empty; most of the workers had already escaped.
Brendel stepped out of the elevator and soon found an inconspicuous mark on the rocky surface. He followed the mark and had just stepped around a corner when suddenly a shadow darted towards him from the left, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows.
The sharp wind from the sword stung Brendel’s cheek, but he reacted quickly, raising his hand to deflect the opponent’s sword hand. As he was about to counter-attack, he recognized the needle-shaped sword; he immediately grasped the opponent’s wrist with his left hand, forcing them to drop the sword—he heard a clatter as the sword fell to the ground, followed by a slight groan of pain—it was a woman’s voice.
“Lord…” Juliette finally recognized Brendel, the red-haired, blue-eyed female leader frowned while holding her wrist. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was you!”
She had always known that this lord was formidable, but she didn’t expect him to be this powerful!
Among the three major leaders, only Crenshia truly understood Brendel’s strength; the others had no clear experience from fighting him. Just now, Brendel had only needed to exert a little force to make the female leader feel as if she were completely restrained, her wrist feeling as if it might break.
Juliette rubbed her wrist, secretly astonished; although she also possessed silver-tier strength, she had been subdued instantly—was there really such a significant gap between gold and silver?
“Where are Xi and Medisa?” Brendel asked.
“They’re on the other side. Lord, why did you call us?”
“It’s a bit troublesome to lure the opponent out; we need to adjust our plan,” Brendel flicked out a gust of sword wind, sending the dropped dagger flying, which collided with the wall and bounced back into his hand. “I have a plan—I received a piece of information that there had been a severe accident in the Schafflund mine more than a decade ago when miners broke through a tunnel leading to Jotungrund, which resulted in a monster invasion—”
“Are you planning to use this method to lure him in?” Medisa’s voice came from behind Juliette. Brendel saw the Silver Elf princess and Xi coming from behind; they had heard the commotion.
The girl recognized the Wind Elemental Spiders that Brendel summoned and easily deduced the connection.
Brendel nodded, “That Chief of Security is named Kuran; he personally led the security team to drive the monsters back during the last accident. This time, he’s likely to recall the experience.”
“Is it suitable to engage here?” the red-haired girl swung her long ponytail, glancing up at the top of the mine shaft. “Aren’t you afraid of causing a collapse?”
“Quick in and out is fine.”
“Our opponent is at the gold mid-tier…”
“It is a bit tricky,” Brendel furrowed his brow; indeed, it was somewhat problematic. The opponent was not a novice but an experienced old swordsman who had entered the gold realm. “But there’s currently no better method.”
Suddenly, the three stopped their conversation as they heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the mine tunnel—chaotic yet calm, the sound was undoubtedly from patrolling soldiers of the security team. However, among the four, only Brendel, the one with the highest level, could hear a faint, almost imperceptible footfall hidden within the chaotic sounds.
Though the Elementalist level hadn’t granted him significant power increases, it had greatly enhanced Brendel’s perception. Although his absolute strength at the moment was only at the low gold level, his perception had already surpassed Kuran’s.
At the very least, it was above the mid-gold standard—
He immediately put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence, warning Medisa and Xi with his gaze—’The big fish is approaching.’
Though Juliette didn’t understand, she realized something must be happening after seeing the serious expressions on the faces of the others.
…
Kuran, of course, did not enter the mine alone. His claim of a solo exploration was merely a saying; the mine was large and complex, and this swordsman could not keep track of everything by himself.
He brought a small team of ten men with him.
However, strangely, after he entered the mine, the spiders mentioned in the reports seemed to have vanished; he and his men patrolled the first and second levels but found no trace of the rumored monsters.
Kuran couldn’t help but feel puzzled and almost believed someone had deliberately spread rumors, but the missing squad that had gone down served as a reminder to him—something was amiss.
Upon reaching the third level, Kuran noticed the mine was eerily empty, the miners had long fled upward, turning this place into a silent, desolate world.
For the first time, this swordsman sensed that something was unusual.
They proceeded along the laid wooden tracks, and the Schafflund silver mine had become a maze at this level. The soldiers had to walk while checking the maps. At this moment, Kuran caught a hint of conversation up ahead—
He dared not confirm, immediately ordering his men to disperse and maintain vigilance, but upon reaching the source of the sound, he and his subordinates were momentarily stunned.
There was a woman.
To be precise, it was a silver-haired, silver-eyed young girl, with pointed ears.
The soldiers could recognize that she was an elf, but Kuran, being of knightly origin, had learned etiquette from a great noble family and had read some books on geography and history.
The old man recognized at a glance that this was the legendary Silver Elf.
He rubbed his eyes, nearly thinking he had developed presbyopia or was seeing things. Silver Elves had long disappeared from the surface of the earth hundreds of years ago, with any mention of them in books prefaced by the word legend, yet before him stood living proof of that legend.
However, surprise aside, Kuran did not let his guard down; he sensed a slight movement behind him—a swordmaster immediately turned back, noticing two more people emerging from behind him.
One was a young man dressed in the common gray and white leather armor of adventurers, with several long swords at his waist—he was momentarily startled by the sight of the young man—why did this guy carry so many swords? What kind of style was this?
However, Kuran then noticed a mercenary girl wielding a halberd following closely behind the young man.
The old swordsman abruptly connected the dots; he had lost interest in questioning the issue of the Silver Elf and instead started to piece together the entire situation—these people were obviously here for him!
But he did not ask the foolish question, “Who are you?” Raising an eyebrow, he immediately stated, “How much did Jala pay you?”
Brendel was taken aback.
“Who is that?” Xi echoed back in confusion.
“Hmph,” Kuran unsheathed his longsword. “Since you’re not from my old rival, then you must be the earl’s enemies! Either way, come prepare to die!”
With that command, the soldiers drew their swords. At this moment, although Kuran was old with a head full of white hair, he appeared dignified, seemingly unyielding as ever in his youthful vigor!
Count Rendener had thirteen knights he trusted the most, among whom Baderon and Sean were the strongest, but the veteran who had participated in the ten-year war was Kuran alone, and this elder’s strength was certainly within the top five.
Rumors had it that this old swordsman had gained his gold power thirty years ago and had stabilized at mid-tier strength!
Thinking of this, Brendel slightly tightened his grip and drew his longsword from its sheath.
Meanwhile, Juliette, who had been keeping her distance, watched this scene with another thought in mind; she looked at Brendel.
Though Kuran gained his gold power thirty years ago, back then, he was already a middle-aged man over fifty, and now he was merely at the mid-gold level, while comparing him to this young lord—indeed, humans were quite different from monsters.
She thought.
Kuran had still been somewhat dismissive upon seeing Brendel draw his sword. He thought, who sent these three wet-behind-the-ears children to trouble him? But when he saw the young man’s aura surge, the surrounding air grew cold, and frost began to spread outward from beneath him, his eyelids jumped—
Elemental manifestation, gold strength—such a young golden swordsman?
But the old swordsman’s astonishment didn’t end there; he immediately noticed the arcs of electricity dancing on Xi’s halberd and arms, and the layer of milky-white spiritual power forming around Medisa, sending waves of alarm through him.
Three opponents had entered the gold realm!
But who would be so generous as to send three geniuses here to go against him? Such a young-looking people, barely in their twenties, had already stepped into the gold realm; anyone would draw attention to them and not toss them here as assassins!
Kuran instinctively took a step back, but this step was not meant to show weakness. Surrounded by gold-tier enemies, even he had to consider how to protect himself.
…
(PS: My illness that will die without support has shown some improvement, but to fully recover, I still rely on everyone’s continued support.) (To be continued, for more updates on the story, please log in, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)
