Over the next month, Ning Busan encountered incidents of the dead coming back to life almost every day.
The first time he saw the twins come back to life, his emotions had been a wild roller coaster, but after seeing it so often, he became completely numb to it.
Resurrection had already become the norm here.
In fact, after they came back to life, their bodies were even healthier than before.
It was utterly ridiculous!
Ning Busan felt his evaluation period should be coming to an end, but Charles told him, “You’re coming with me outside the city tomorrow.”
Ning Busan asked warily, “Didn't you say before that we can't go to the outside world?”
“There's a mine outside the city, and it's my turn to lead the mining expedition this week,” Charles said. “Your evaluation isn't over yet, so you must come with me.”
“Is it a coal mine?”
“Yes. Coal is the lifeblood of the City of Steam. Without it, the steam engines cannot run, and the entire city will grind to a halt.”
Ning Busan asked, cutting straight to the point, “You aren't planning to make me mine coal for you for free, are you?”
Charles, who had indeed planned to pocket Ning Busan's contribution points and trick him into working for free: “...”
Ning Busan said bluntly, “I won't do any work without contribution points.”
“There are contribution points.”
“How many?”
“According to the treatment of an official citizen, three thousand contribution points for seven days.”
“Then we have no problem.”
The next day, Ning Busan followed Charles's squad out of the City of Steam. After walking for about an hour, they arrived at a vast, open mining area.
“We're here.” Charles stopped and pointed to an exposed seam of coal ahead. “We are only responsible for mining. Once we're done, another squad will handle the transportation.”
Ning Busan looked around and said, “Living in the City of Steam, the demand for coal must be massive. How long can this mine last?”
Charles smiled slightly and puffed out his chest. “With the protection of the Silver-Crowned God, our resources are inexhaustible.”
A strange look flashed in Ning Busan's eyes.
It seemed they didn't know yet that the Silver-Crowned God had already fallen.
At any rate, Ning Busan began his very first mining experience.
The pickaxe collided with the coal blocks, making dull thudding sounds. Coal dust splattered, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of coal ash.
Charles and his men were highly skilled. They mined with great enthusiasm, even humming little tunes as they worked.
In contrast, Ning Busan pretended to work hard while silently slacking off.
His conscience pricked him slightly, but not by much.
After all, who actually liked to work?
The only thing that left Ning Busan speechless was that there was a gaze constantly fixed on him in the mine.
Whenever he was about to pinpoint the source, the gaze would vanish.
There was no malice; it was purely for amusement.
The feeling that gaze gave him was far too familiar!
And that punchable behavior was also far too familiar!
Ning Busan was very curious. In a place where magic was not allowed to exist, what form would the undead take?
After all, the existence of the undead was unscientific to begin with.
When night fell, Ning Busan quietly slipped away from the mine.
This mine was on the edge of the City of Steam. If one walked further out, it was like walking in circles, and they would always end up back at the mine.
After trying many times, Ning Busan was still walking in circles.
It seemed Charles was telling the truth. No one could leave the City of Steam because there was simply no way out.
Ning Busan's lips twitched.
That feeling was back.
The feeling of being watched from the shadows.
Ning Busan heard footsteps coming from behind. Once the person drew close, he threw them over his shoulder, slamming them to the ground. “I'll teach you to play tricks all day—”
The next second, Ning Busan froze.
It was Charles.
Charles asked aggrievedly, “What are you doing?”
Ning Busan pulled him up. “Sorry, you suddenly appeared behind me and startled me.”
Charles stared at him for a moment and said in a low voice, “If you slack off again tomorrow, I will dock all of your contribution points.”
Ning Busan gave an embarrassed yet polite smile.
And here he thought he had successfully slacked off. It turned out he had been caught.
Seven days later.
Ning Busan stood beside the coal pile, looking utterly dead inside.
He had thought he would dominate everything, overcome countless dangers, pass numerous trials, and finally gain the recognition of the Crown of the Divine King.
Instead, magic couldn't be used here. To become an official citizen, not only did he have to work at the clinic, but he also had to mine coal for seven whole days, leaving him exhausted like a dog!
Seeing that Ning Busan had performed well over the past few days, Charles said mercifully, “Once we get back, I'll take you to the temple to see the shaman and make you an official citizen.”
“You're finally willing to let me pass the evaluation!” Ning Busan said through gritted teeth. “Well, thank you so much!”
Charles smiled. “You're welcome. It's the least I could do.”
Ning Busan rolled his eyes.
It was really exhausting talking to someone who couldn't understand sarcasm.
Charles's squad prepared to leave the mine and return to the City of Steam.
As they left, Ning Busan flipped the middle finger toward the mine.
You didn't show your face for seven whole days. You'd better have a good excuse!
...
The temple.
The last time he came to the temple, Ning Busan had been taken straight to the prison on the first basement floor. This was his second time here.
Charles led Ning Busan to the third floor, which was the shaman's residence.
The shaman was an old man with white hair and a white beard. Wearing a brass mask, he said solemnly, “By becoming a citizen of the City of Steam, the City of Steam shall become your home, and the Silver-Crowned God shall govern your destiny.”
“Are you truly willing?”
“Uh... yes.”
The shaman handed Ning Busan two identity cards.
The identity card was a symbol of citizenship in the City of Steam. It was engraved with the citizen's name and identification number, surrounded by patterns of gears and pipes.
Simply put, it was an ID card.
However, Ning Busan was somewhat puzzled. “Why are there two?”
“Follow me.”
The shaman led Ning Busan to a room on the second floor.
The room was filled with identity cards. Tied to strings, they hung down from the high ceiling, arranged in neat rows.
The shaman did not enter. Stopping at the doorway, he said to Ning Busan, “One identity card is to be hung in this room, and you will keep the other.”
Ning Busan understood.
It was a duplicate system, kept for archival purposes.
But for some reason, these hanging identity cards gave Ning Busan a bizarre feeling, even reminding him of memorial tablets.
Ning Busan rubbed the cold card in his palm, unable to sense even a shred of magic.
To be safe, he decided to keep both identity cards for himself.
Just as Ning Busan stepped out of the room, the shaman appeared silently behind him and asked coldly, “Is it hung?”
Ning Busan nodded calmly. “It's hung.”
“Good,” the shaman said meaningfully. “When the day of your death arrives, your soul will surely enter eternal rest.”
Ning Busan retorted, “I'm living quite well right now and have no desire to die.”
The shaman: “...”
The shaman showed him the door. “You may leave.”
However, Ning Busan didn't want to leave just like that.
“I heard that the bodies of citizens are sent to the temple to be laid to rest. May I take a look?” Ning Busan paused suspiciously for two seconds. “I mean, I want to experience what it's like after I die in advance.”
The shaman said flatly, “You are living quite well right now and have no desire to die.”
Ning Busan cleared his throat. “Suddenly, I do.”
The shaman fell silent for a long moment before saying, “On the second basement floor.”
Ning Busan went down to the second basement floor. It was a massive space constructed of bronze and dark iron, with a colossal furnace situated in the center.
The furnace's rim was cast from dark iron, and blue flames burned within.
Ning Busan watched from a distance, witnessing the body of a deceased citizen being pushed into the furnace. It vanished instantly, without even a wisp of smoke rising.
Was this cremation?
It looked incredibly eerie.
Rate on N.U.
