Chapter 1199: The Enormous Energy Underground! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”That incident was extremely strange. Those black-clothed men had never appeared before, and during our inspection afterward, we found that none of the Hyderabad ore had been taken. Moreover, even though many of those people were killed, when they retreated, they took all the corpses with them, not even leaving one behind. Even now, we have not been able to find out where they came from.”
”Oh?”
Wang Chong's brow furrowed as countless ideas emerged in his mind. He had a vague idea, but he could not determine what it was at this time.
Leaving the center of the outdoor mines, Ablonodan and Arloja brought Wang Chong to a simple and crude house, with walls of black sheet metal, floors of mud, and a blackened cot. A stench filled the room.
”Lord Marquis, the buildings of the mine are simple and crude, with no acceptable residences. We must inconvenience you by having you stay a few days in this place,” Ablonodan and Arloja apologetically said.
The environment and conditions of Sindhu were very poor, and most of the monks on the mountain practiced asceticism. A small house like this was already quite extravagant for them.
”That's fine. I'll take care of it myself.”
Once Ablonodan and Arloja were gone, Wang Chong made a gesture behind him. Clang! A moment later, several disciplined guards swiftly opened up a few boxes, removing metal boards which they thrust into the earth and began to put together.
In just a few moments, another simple house had taken shape on the top of the Hyderabad mountains. Various parts and screws were quickly joined together, and in less than five minutes, a clean and simple metal house had been erected. After another layer of metal boards was laid down to serve as a floor, the house was finished.
Zhang Shouzhi had made ample preparations before setting out. This specially-built modular house had been designed by him for Wang Chong to use.
Although he had not been able to meet the real Sindhu High Priest, signing a contract with Sindhu to gain full rights to the Hyderabad ore was still a major victory. Wang Chong ordered Xue Qianjun and Zhang Shouzhi to discuss the finer details of the contract with Ablonodan and Arloja.
In the You Period1, Zhang Shouzhi and Xue Qianjun finally returned from the mines.
”How was it?”
Wang Chong was seated in a room brightly lit by an oil lantern.
”We already found from our investigations during the day that the efficiency of the Sindhi is simply too low. In their circumstances, the production situation won't change for the next five to six years, perhaps even as long as ten-some years. If they continue with the same mining methods, we will be waiting a long time to get the things we want.”
Zhang Shouzhi had a look of regret on his face. They had only finished with a part of negotiations, but Zhang Shouzhi's greatest concern was still the tools.
”The tools of the Sindhi are simply too primitive. They completely rely on immense amounts of manpower to mine. This must be changed! I've already made adjustments to the mining tools based on the terrain and their circumstances. I've finished drawing the diagrams already and will send them back to Khorasan tomorrow. As long as we can get that equipment built, we can increase the efficiency of the mining by at least three times.”
Wang Chong nodded. There was nothing a determined person could not accomplish, and there was definitely a way to increase the production of the Hyderabad ore. This was also the primary reason he had brought Zhang Shouzhi with him.
”Mm. How is the contract for the Hyderabad ore going?”
”Following Lord Marquis's will, we paid a price of one hundred million taels of gold to directly buy ten years of Hyderabad ore production. This vast sum should be enough to resolve much of Sindhu's hunger problem.”
”Mm.”
Wang Chong nodded. With a ten-year monopoly on the Hyderabad mine, he could fully extract the Hyderabad ore and prepare himself for the coming calamity. As for the Sindhi… in the end, they would realize that they had made the most correct decision, and they would obtain far more than they had expected from this deal.
Wang Chong questioned the two on many other things, and by the time the conversation was over and Xue Qianjun and Zhang Shouzhi had withdrawn, the entirety of the Hyderabad Mountains had fallen into silence. In the end, even those Sindhi miners had gone to sleep.
Time slowly passed, and over the next three to four days, Wang Chong scoured the Hyderabad Mountains. He gradually gained an understanding of the natural treasures of Sindhu, but he saw neither hide nor hair of the true Sindhu High Priest. Wang Chong had searched across the entire mountain range, yet had still not found even a clue.
”Am I really not destined to meet him?”
Wang Chong stood on a rocky outcrop and stared at the curled-up behemoth that was the Hyderabad Mountains, extreme reluctance in his heart. Although he knew that finding the Sindhu High Priest would be extremely difficult, he was truly unwilling to go home like this.
Night began to set in, and a dark mist began to seethe over the mountains. This was a phenomenon unique to the Hyderabad Mountains, and it apparently had to do with the ore beneath it.
Wang Chong was depressed and dejected. He decided to go and search around the base of the mountains.
All was quiet here, and as Wang Chong wandered alone around the base of the mountains, he suddenly felt a strange sensation.
”Mm?” He arched a brow and stared at the nearby ground.
Keekee! The thing hidden underground didn't seem prepared to conceal itself, and excitedly called out as it emerged. A centipede monster suddenly rushed out of the roiling black mist and appeared in front of Wang Chong, its savage eyes gleaming brightly.