Exploring Technology in a Wizard World

Chapter 117: Chapter 116 The Prince Who Bullies Others by Flaunting His Power
 

“Clang clang clang,” the sound of hammering rose in the mining camp, where miners labored vigorously, while several overseers watched maliciously from the side, ready to mercilessly whip anyone who slacked off.

Old Marlon, dripping with sweat, knocked off a chunk of iron ore and struggled to carry it aside. If he moved too slowly, he immediately received a lash.

“Crack!”

Old Marlon turned his head to see an overseer, cursing and barking, named Ross, shouting, “Old Marlon, can’t you move any faster? If everyone worked like you, this mining camp would’ve shut down long ago!”

Old Marlon glanced at him but ignored the comment. He had been working here for many years and was one of the most senior miners. He wasn’t afraid of the overseers; he did as much work as he was paid for.

With a “thud,” he dumped the ore onto the pile and, without looking at Ross, turned and went back to the wall of the mine to continue mining in silence.

Ross felt slighted but dared not vent his anger. He understood that he was just a lowly overseer, supervising miners, not slaves, and he had little real power. If he truly angered the miners and caused them to strike, he’d be the first to be fired by the mine owner.

Mine Owner Oreke wasn’t a fool; he was a shrewd businessman and knew who the real money-making tools were. The whole mining camp could function without anyone except the miners.

Ross glared coldly at Old Marlon and swung his whip threateningly before turning to look elsewhere.

Suddenly, Ross’s eyebrows shot up as he saw dust rising on the road outside the mining camp, followed by the “clip-clop, clip-clop” of a large group of cavalry galloping toward them.

What’s this?

Ross was stunned. As the cavalry approached, he saw their full armor and his legs weakened, almost causing him to fall over.

Could it be… could they be here to seize the mining camp?

Soon, Ross saw among the many soldiers a young noble dressed extravagantly and realized that the soldiers were merely there to protect him.

But why would a noble come to a place like the mining camp?

Ross didn’t understand, but he wisely ran toward the two-story wooden building in the distance, at the center of the mining camp, to call for Mine Owner Oreke.

In Ross’s view, since a noble had arrived, it would be best to let the mine owner, who was also a noble of some sort, although he had forgotten what rank, deal with the situation.

Thinking this, Ross rushed into the two-story wooden building and into the bedroom.

A fire blazed in the bedroom’s fireplace, the room sweltering with heat, and two gray-haired bodies were rolling about on the large wooden bed.

A woman moaned continuously, while a man grunted like a boar.

“Grunt… grunt…”

Ross froze.

The man on the bed also realized something was wrong, stopped his movements, and turned his head toward the door to shout at Ross, “Get out!”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Ross scrambled out but then remembered something, turned his head back and said, “Ore… Lord Oreke, someone’s come, seems to be a high-ranking noble…”

“Get out!” shouted Lord Oreke, who was in the middle of an intimate moment, “No matter what noble, tell them to get out!”

“Uh, yes, yes, yes… I’m telling them to get out right now…”

…

Winter, mining camp.

Desolation, an oppressive silence.

In the vast mining area, the “ding ding dang dang” sound of striking had stopped. Numerous miners had ceased their work and looked in unison toward one side.

Not far from them, on an open space, stood a fully armed cavalry unit, shielding two young men who appeared to be nobles. One was lavishly adorned, while the other seemed comparatively plain.

And in front of the troop stood the mine’s owner—Oreke.

The mine owner, who was usually insufferable before the miners, was now trembling, his face burning from a whip strike. He still forced a smile, craning his neck, which had grown sore, but he continued to grin and said to one of the men amidst the cavalry, “It is the Prince… Welcome to my mining area.”

At the same time, Oreke cursed the overseer Ross in his heart, considering him as dumb as a pig.

“Hmm, welcoming me?” Prince Gelo, with a cold expression, spoke, “Just now, your subordinate was conveying your words, telling me to ‘get lost,’ quite bold of you!”

Oreke trembled all over at this, nearly collapsing to the ground. Over forty years old, although not overweight, his body was on the decline. He was already weak after strenuous exercise early in the morning, and having rushed over from the second floor of the wooden building after hearing Ross’s second message, he was completely out of breath and felt limp all over.

However, Oreke still managed not to fall over. Hearing Prince Gelo’s words, he quickly explained, “Prince… Prince Gelo, it’s all my fault. I failed to make myself clear to that damned subordinate. I only wanted him to leave, how dare I tell the Prince to leave. I can’t welcome you quickly enough.”

“Oh, you recognize me?” Prince Gelo’s eyes flashed as he inquired. Previously, when he sent the overseer to pass the message, he only revealed his identity as a Prince, without mentioning his name.

“Your humble servant… recognizes Prince Gelo.” Oreke said with a swollen face, trying to bridge a connection, “I saw Prince Gelo once at the ennoblement ceremony.”

“At the ennoblement ceremony?” Prince Gelo was taken aback, asking, “So, you are a noble? What rank?”

“Indeed, I am a noble,” Oreke said, feigning a smile, “My rank is that of the lowest… a Lord.”

“A Lord? Where is your estate? How large?”

“Your servant… has no estates…” Oreke said with slight embarrassment, “Only this mining area.”

“Heh.” Prince Gelo understood and spoke, “Then I guess, you bought your title of ‘Lord,’ didn’t you?”

“Well… well…” Oreke laughed awkwardly yet politely, “Indeed… I did.”

“No wonder.” Prince Gelo spoke, then with an implicit threat, “Then Oreke, you should know the laws of the Jade Kingdom, right? Titles are the property of the Royal Family, granted based on contributions to the Royal Family, but they can also be revoked at any time.”

“This…”

With a “thump,” Oreke truly fell to the ground this time, kneeling and kowtowing in a panic, “Prince… Prince Gelo, your servant is truly wrong, I accidentally offended you, please don’t strip me of my title. Other than that, whatever punishment you decree, I accept fully.”

“Heh, at least you know your place.” Prince Gelo said, nodding with some satisfaction, feeling that his intimidation had been effective.

Turning his head to glance at Richard beside him, Prince Gelo then addressed Oreke, “Well, I won’t be too harsh on you. Beside me is Lord Richard, and he has some needs in your mine. He will propose some matters shortly; you must do your utmost to satisfy him, understand?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Oreke nodded repeatedly, struggling to stand up while eyeing Richard beside Prince Gelo, filled with bewilderment.

In fact, from the moment he had seen Richard, he had been puzzled. He was quite familiar with the upper-class nobles and members of the Royal Family of the Jade Kingdom. Maybe those nobles and Royal Family members didn’t recognize him, but he could effortlessly name and describe every one of them, which was a basic skill for any small noble.

Yet Richard, standing by the Prince, was someone he had never met, certainly not a part of the nobility or the Royal Family of the Jade Kingdom. And still, it seemed that Prince Gelo was treating him with great respect.

This truly baffled him.

Richard, unaware of Oreke’s thoughts, dismounted, utilized the spell “Wind Light Spirit” to lighten his descent, landing without a sound, and quickly approached Oreke.

Although Prince Gelo’s previous behavior certainly fit the stereotype of a spoiled, bully young noble, Richard didn’t resist it because this was exactly what he needed. Such an attitude would allow him to easily achieve some goals.

Otherwise, coming by himself would have inevitably led to lengthy discussions with this mine owner called Oreke, and perhaps even obstinate resistance. Using force might have subdued the man, but it would have been troublesome. After all, he was only in search of the raw materials for making Cobalt Blue Glass.

Given these circumstances…