72: Chapter 72 Welcome! This is the Cave Spider Theme Park.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and a thin layer of morning mist had yet to disperse, but the entrance to the mines of the Blackstone Mountains was already bustling with noise.

The cold air was mixed with the clanging of metal, the neighing of horses, and the low-voiced conversations of people, merging into a restless undercurrent.

Nobles and merchants who hadn't slept all night, sporting dark circles under their eyes and bringing their recruited guards and miners, packed this usually desolate valley until it was impassable.

They clutched the vouchers that had just gone into effect, greed and eagerness flickering in their eyes as if they could dig mountains of gold and silver out of that pitch-black entrance at any moment.

However, their enthusiasm was quickly dampened by a thick wall of people.

A squad of burly, muscular Orc warriors, clad in uniform black plate armor and wielding hideous battle-axes, blocked the mine entrance like a row of silent iron towers.

Branded on their breastplates was a simple yet powerful emblem—a crossed warhammer and pickaxe, the symbol of Levi's newly established 'Blackstone Heavy Industries'.

The Orc captain leading them had a hideous scar slashing from his forehead to his chin, and his gaze was fierce enough to make a hellhound run away with its tail between its legs.

He just stood there with his arms crossed, enough to make even the most elite mercenaries subconsciously slow their pace.

"Everyone, please line up!" A crisp, pleasant voice rang out, yet it carried an unquestionable sense of authority.

The crowd followed the sound and saw Evelyn standing on a temporary wooden platform.

Today, she had changed into a sharp outfit of leather armor, her fiery red hair tied in a high ponytail, holding a simple megaphone made of tin.

Behind her was a shack hastily built of wooden planks and tarps, with a brand-new sign hanging over the door that read in ornate script: 'Blackstone Territory Safety Production Supervision Department & Logistics Supply Station—Evelyn's Shop, Dedicated to Serving You.'

No matter how one looked at it, this style felt incredibly eerie.

"According to the 'Mining Area Development and Safety Responsibility Agreement' you all signed last night," Evelyn's voice spread through the valley via the megaphone, "Annex Three, Article Seventeen clearly states: To ensure the life safety of all personnel and reduce unforeseen risks within the mines, all personnel entering the mining area must mandatorily purchase and wear the 'Type I Miner Safety Suit' officially certified by 'Blackstone Heavy Industries'."

As she spoke, she clapped her hands.

Two Orc guards immediately brought out a wooden dummy dressed in the so-called 'safety suit'.

It was a set of equipment that looked extremely crude.

Armor pieced together from hardened leather with rough stitching still visible; a heavy iron helmet with pitifully narrow vision and a crude bracket welded on for a torch; and a pair of clunky, thick-soled boots that clattered with every step.

The entire set emitted a pungent smell of low-quality leather mixed with anti-rust oil.

"The price per set is only thirty silver coins," Evelyn said with a smile so sweet it was sickening. "Honest prices for all."

The crowd instantly erupted.

"Thirty silver coins? Why don't you just rob us!" a merchant shouted in anger. "I can buy a set of fine chainmail from the Royal Capital for that price!"

"Exactly! This piece of junk isn't even as good as a Goblin's leather armor!"

"This is forced consumption! It violates the principles of free trade!"

Facing the public indignation, Evelyn unhurriedly picked up the thick model contract and lightly tapped the megaphone.

"The agreement states it clearly in black and white, and you have all personally transcribed and signed to confirm it. These are the rules we mutually agreed upon, and rules are meant to be followed, aren't they?" Her words were gentle, but like a cold awl, they pierced through everyone's wishful thinking.

In a corner of the crowd, Echo's agent's face turned ashen.

The three assassins behind him were disguised as elite miners.

They wore specially-made dark soft leather armor—lightweight, tough, and expensive, far beyond the comparison of the pile of trash before them.

Making them switch to such encumbrances would reduce their mobility by at least thirty percent.

"We don't need it," the agent spoke coldly, trying to bluff his way through. "Our guards are well-equipped and capable of handling any danger."

Evelyn's gaze instantly locked onto him, a hint of charm flashing in her violet eyes that made the agent's heart flutter slightly.

Following that, she pulled a long list from the shop behind her and walked gracefully toward him.

"Sir, I've seen the registration information for your 'Peak Mining'," her voice became businesslike as her finger slid across the list. "Your equipment, whether it's the night-walking soft armor from 'Shadow Workshop' or the 'Poison Fang' daggers, has not undergone our 'Blackstone Heavy Industries Safety Certification'. According to Annex Four, Article Twenty-nine, entering the mining area with uncertified equipment means Blackstone Territory will not bear any compensation responsibility in the event of any casualties."

She paused, her red lips parting slightly to deliver the final blow: "Not only that, if blood, body fluids, or other biological tissues contaminate the mining environment due to illegal operations, posing a potential ecological risk to our precious mineral veins, we will collect a 'Mine Environmental Pollution Fee' of up to ten thousand gold coins from your organization. Oh, by the way, a copy of this collection notice will be simultaneously delivered to the Silvermoon City Merchant Association and Her Highness Princess Ella."

The bodies of the three assassins instantly stiffened.

These words were too vicious.

If they died, not only would it be for nothing, but they would also be saddled with a massive debt of ten thousand gold coins, which might even implicate the entire Shadow Guild.

They had no doubt that the woman in front of them and the lord behind her were absolutely capable of doing such a thing.

The agent's lips twitched a few times, but in the end, he couldn't say a single word.

Under Evelyn's all-knowing smile, he could only grit his teeth, count out shiny silver coins from his pouch, and exchange them for four sets of heavy, ridiculous 'miner's suits' for his top assassins.

Watching his three agile companions now waddling like ducks in iron buckets, the agent's heart was filled with humiliation.

With this 'example' leading the way, the others had nothing more to say and could only line up grumbling, holding their noses as they paid.

Evelyn's shop instantly became a booming business.

"Sir, I see you don't have many healers in your team," Evelyn said with a charming smile to a noble's steward. "The cave is not peaceful. Our 'Blackstone Special' Junior Healing Potion is only five silver coins a bottle; it can save lives at critical moments. This is a necessary investment in the lives of your subordinates!"

"And this pickaxe, a proud product of 'Blackstone Heavy Industries', uses Dwarven quenching techniques, increasing mining efficiency by thirty percent! Digging up Mithril a minute earlier means breaking even a minute earlier. Time is money, my friend!"

"You can't work on an empty stomach! Have a 'Blackstone Special' High-Calorie Roasted Meat Set! Guaranteed to make your miners as fierce as dragons and tigers! Only ten copper coins!"

With the double boost of her Succubus talent and modern marketing jargon, those originally optional supplies were framed as strategic materials concerning life and death or getting rich.

The nobles and merchants cursed Levi's greed in their hearts while involuntarily pulling out their coin pouches.

Just then, a shrill scream suddenly echoed from deep within the mine, piercing the noisy morning.

Everyone fell silent, looking toward the deep, dark entrance with suspicion and uncertainty.

A moment later, a mercenary wearing the newly purchased 'safety suit' came scrambling out.

His left arm was severed at the shoulder, blood staining half his body, and his face was filled with extreme terror.

"Spiders... Cave Demon Spiders! Huge spiders!" he screamed incoherently before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

This scene became the best advertisement for Evelyn's shop.

Those who were still hesitating just now instantly rushed toward the supply station like crazy.

"Potions! Give me ten healing potions!"

"Me too! Twenty bottles!"

The healing potions, which were previously slow-selling, doubled in price instantly yet were still snatched up.

Evelyn was incredibly busy, soothing the crowd with her words while silently counting the sound of gold coins entering the coffers in her heart.

Levi stood on the watchtower of the distant castle, taking in everything happening at the valley entrance through a monocular telescope.

The 'victim' just now was an Orc warrior he had arranged; the severed arm was a prosthetic and blood pack prepared long ago.

A little stage play was enough to let fear ferment, turning those low-quality goods he prepared into hard currency.

Watching the crowd fall into turmoil and hesitation due to fear and loss,

Levi unhurriedly walked down the watchtower and appeared at the mine entrance with a small, thin figure.

It was a Troglodyte with grayish-white skin from years of never seeing the sun, long and thin limbs, and a pair of huge eyes filled with cowardice and unease.

He wore ragged strips of cloth, with shackles on his hands and feet, and was being escorted by two Orc warriors, trembling all over.

"Everyone, be quiet," Levi's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly suppressed all the noise.

Everyone's gaze focused on him.

"I know what you are all worried about," Levi said with an expression of compassion. "The safety of my partners is always my top concern. To protect everyone, I interrogated a Troglodyte tribe scout who attempted to infiltrate my territory late last night and learned the general situation inside the mine. To show my sincerity, I have 'persuaded' Mr. Bolt here to serve as our guide."

He patted the Troglodyte's shoulder, making him flinch in fear.

Levi said to him in a gentle volume that only the two of them could hear: "Bolt, remember our agreement. Whether your clansmen can drink clean water depends on your performance."

The Troglodyte Bolt's body shook even harder, and he nodded in terror.

"Mr. Bolt is very familiar with the terrain here," Levi turned to the crowd and raised his voice. "With him leading the way, there is a 'high probability' of avoiding the main nest of the Demon Spiders and safely reaching your respective mining areas. Of course, as the Lord, I provide this guide service for free."

In the corner, Echo's agent took in this entire scene.

The cloak behind him moved slightly; clearly, the real Echo was observing nearby.

Free?

Coming from Levi's mouth, this word was less believable than a devil's contract.

What kind of trap was this now?

Echo's mind raced.

This Troglodyte was likely bait deliberately released by Levi.

He would lead most people to relatively safe open areas while leaving the real threats for factions like himself that Levi was particularly wary of.

But... this was also an opportunity.

Since he wanted to play tricks, he would beat him at his own game.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the agent pulled a small coin pouch from his robes and stuffed it into Bolt's trembling hand.

"Mr. Bolt," the agent's voice was very low, carrying a commanding tone that brooked no refusal. "We at 'Peak Mining' are in a hurry. Lead us through the fastest 'shortcut' to reach Area A-1. This is for your hard work."

Bolt clutched the heavy bag of gold coins, his huge eyes full of confusion and fear.

He subconsciously looked up at Levi, who was not far away.

Levi just stood there smiling, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

Under the agent's cold gaze, Bolt eventually tightened his fingers and clutched the coin pouch to his chest.

He hunched his body and, at an angle not easily noticed by Levi, gave a very quick nod to the agent.

"Follow me," Bolt made a hoarse, unpleasant sound, turned, and limped toward the mine.

Echo's agent immediately followed with the three assassins disguised as miners.

When they passed a fork in the road, Bolt did not choose the main path that looked wider and had obvious signs of passage. Instead, he unhesitatingly led Echo's team into a narrower, darker side path that emitted a damp, musty smell.

The darkness, like the throat of a giant beast, instantly swallowed their figures.