Chapter 146: The Underground Network

The underground network of Na'an City features numerous entrances, a legacy of the long-standing mining rights for the kry-crystal deposits found there. These mining rights are controlled by the government and the military, who in turn subcontract to other mining companies. Due to various interests, smaller companies have also secured minor shares of these rights, leading to an ever-increasing number of mine shafts.

Especially during periods of large-scale Zerg invasions, when the majority of high-end combat forces are deployed against the enemy and the consumption of kry-crystals spikes, the military and government tend to loosen their control over mining operations. Over countless years and generations of development, this has resulted in the current situation.

After years of tangled interests, the underground mining area of Na'an City has become chaotic. Fortunately, the military and government still retain control over the main mining zones, while the remaining auxiliary zones are held by various underground factions. These factions often have their own sponsors, meaning that even if the military and government wanted to reclaim all mining rights, such a motion would likely fail—not to mention the impossibility of deploying troops or police to clear them out.

David carried a pair of Grade 2 swords on his back and a Grade 2 military dagger on his calf. Beside him lay the transport case for his Land Lion exoskeleton armor and the storage case for his Grade 2 spear. Furness’s exoskeleton armor and warhammer were inside his hovercar. After retrieving his gear from David’s residence, they flew toward one of the underground entrances.

"Furness, what is this mission about?" David asked, looking at the scenery outside.

"A combatant named Graham got drunk at a bar and killed four people, including a government official—likely someone of a decent rank, which is why this mission was issued," Furness explained.

"How do we know Graham fled into the underground network?" David asked, puzzled.

"After killing four people, the only way out is the underground network, and that bar happens to have an entrance," Furness replied with a smile.

"How are we supposed to find him?" David continued. Given what Furness had said about the vastness of the network, finding a single person seemed like a daunting task.

"David, we aren't detectives. We’re just here to execute an arrest. The intelligence is provided by the government. Of course, if the target resists, we are authorized to kill them on the spot," Furness replied, chuckling.

*So, we’re basically hired muscle,* David thought to himself. Still, acting as the government's muscle meant standing on the side of justice. He felt a surge of excitement; with this underground network, he would have a steady source of souls for his Shadow Servant to absorb. While the idea of consuming the souls of the deceased sounded inherently evil, he reasoned that since those lives were already lost, recycling their souls was merely making use of waste.

"We're here!" Furness alerted him.

The hovercar slowed to a stop. David looked around at their surroundings; they were in the center of a small park.

"We should put on our exoskeleton armor while in the car. Once we go underground, the kry-crystal mining zone will interfere with all sorts of signals. Only the stronger signal transceivers in our armor will keep us connected," Furness said while opening his storage case to begin suiting up.

David followed suit, donning his Land Lion exoskeleton and assembling his Grade 2 spear. Furness glanced at the spear, which emitted a faint blue glow, and hesitated for a moment. He had intended to suggest that David wrap the spear in cloth to avoid drawing unwanted attention—Grade 2 weapons were considered top-tier by any combatant, and those in the underground network would jump at an easy chance to steal one. However, remembering David’s status as a Spear Master, he realized that making such a suggestion would be an insult to that title. In truth, had Furness asked, David would have complied without hesitation, as he didn't care much for the prestige of the title.

David noticed Furness’s gear: a set of Flowing Light exoskeleton armor and a Grade 2 warhammer. It was a luxurious setup.

"The Flowing Light armor is my own, but the government provided the warhammer. Once I’m no longer fit for active duty, I’ll have to return it," Furness said, patting his equipment with a laugh.

"They offer such good perks?" David’s eyes lit up.

"Only if you make enough contributions and complete enough missions. But you already have so many Grade 2 weapons—why would you need the government to provide more?" Furness asked.

"I’ve been practicing with heavy axes and great shields, so I might need them someday," David replied casually.

"David, don't tell me your proficiency with those has reached the Skilled level too?" Furness asked, rendered speechless. He had never seen someone with such a high aptitude for various weapons. Yet, in a Galactic Federation with trillions of people, geniuses were not unheard of, and he felt only envy, not malice.

"Something like that," David replied vaguely, choosing not to mention that his mastery of the heavy axe had actually reached the 78% Proficient level.

"Let’s head down," Furness said, pulling out a cloth weapon bag to cover his warhammer before slinging it over his back.

The moment they stepped out of the hovercar, the scanning system of David’s Land Lion armor detected several locks from the sky above, though they vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

"David, that was the Eye of War. Any combatant in an exoskeleton appearing on the surface is subject to its authorization check. Your credentials have been entered into the government database, and I’ve added you to the mission roster, so wearing your armor at the entrance is perfectly legal," Furness explained.

David reached a conclusion: it meant that no matter how powerful a combatant was in the underground, they were confined to the shadows. If they dared to surface, they would be met with the full force of the Eye of War. This effectively separated the common citizens from the combatants. It made sense; if a combatant like Graham could kill four people just from being drunk, the destruction would be far worse if they were roaming the surface in full armor. The Eye of War ensured the safety of the civilians and kept Na'an City's surface absolutely secure.

Furness operated a console, and a section of the ground parted to reveal an elevator leading downward. The two stepped inside, and it began to descend automatically.

"This is a government-restricted passage and a safe zone within the network. You can buy supplies or submit your mission targets here," Furness explained in detail.

David noticed that the scan range displayed on his Land Lion armor decreased significantly as they descended. He understood that this was the interference Furness had mentioned; it was severe. Knowing that his armor’s scanner was military-grade and powered by kry-crystals—making it dozens of times more powerful than standard equipment—he realized that ordinary scanners would be rendered almost entirely useless in this environment.

David opened the K2-type military electronic warfare module hidden on his arm and attempted to use its scanning function. The range was reduced to barely a meter. In this environment, to make the device work, he would have to be within a meter of his target, which made electronic warfare significantly more difficult. Still, he was relieved to find that his Shadow Servant remained unaffected, able to operate within a twenty-meter radius around him.