“Really, Master? But I don’t sense any danger here at all.”

“You’re not just annoyed with my chattering, are you?”

The raven’s voice echoed once more through Loren’s mind.

Loren offered no response to his psychic ability’s questioning.

He just gave a very subtle smile that vanished instantly, his expression turning completely serious.

“Master, did you just smile?”

“No.”

“We’re connected now—when you smile, it’s like I’m smiling too. I can feel it, Master.”

“Your imagination.”

“……” This time, it was the raven’s turn to fall silent.

Loren continued walking through the darkness for a while longer.

Although the mine tunnels had numerous branching paths, all seemingly bottomless.

Thanks to the continuous application of “Fortune” during this period.

Loren didn’t get “lost” nor encounter any mishaps.

Whenever he reached a fork in the tunnel, Loren would simply follow “Fortune’s” guidance and randomly choose a direction to proceed.

Back when he was at Third Rank, Loren could already rely on his psychic ability for navigation.

Now that Loren had reached Fourth Stage, such tasks were even simpler.

Relying on “Fortune” to choose his path felt as natural as breathing to the current Loren.

He didn’t even need to use branches for assistance anymore.

Every time he reached a crossroads, Loren could sense which direction felt more comfortable to him.

He just needed to follow his intuition.

If not for the mine’s overwhelming darkness, this place could almost pass as a unique scenic spot perfect for strolls.

Advancing in psychic ability didn’t just grant new powers.

Existing abilities also gradually strengthened with each advancement.

As Loren’s first acquired psychic ability—”Luck Manipulation.”

Its range had now expanded, and the “quality” of luck Loren could manipulate had improved significantly.

Fortune became more direct, while Misfortune grew more devastating.

It was beginning to develop an almost unreasonable edge to it.

“Master, as a human being, do you feel afraid in an environment like this?”

The raven’s slightly trembling voice interrupted Loren’s thoughts.

“You’re scared?”

“A little.”

“But you possess intelligence, don’t you?” Loren asked curiously.

“Isn’t it possible that it’s precisely because I possess intelligence that I feel fear?”

“Then your intelligence might not be sufficient enough, which is why you’re afraid.” Loren continued walking calmly.

“??” The raven expressed confusion within Loren’s mind.

Loren chuckled lightly but offered no explanation.

The raven fell quiet, pondering the question Loren had left for it.

Loren felt he might have discovered a method to keep the raven quiet.

The man and raven continued through the mine tunnels for some time.

During this quiet journey, the raven applied Fortune to Loren four consecutive times.

Even while wrestling with its own fears, the raven never forgot to periodically bestow “Fortune” upon Loren.

Finally, after countless fork selections.

As Loren rounded a corner, he spotted a glimmer of light from the next turn ahead.

Light meant people present.

Entering a mine tunnel emitting light.

Loren surveyed the tunnel’s interior.

Ancient torches burned on the walls, casting modest but sufficient illumination.

A prison guard leaned against the tunnel wall with closed eyes, either napping.

Or slacking off.

Due to the massive energy magnetic fields present within the spirit stone deposits.

Technological devices like surveillance equipment simply couldn’t function.

With no supervision available, the prison guards managing the mines could openly laze around without concern.

Loren’s soft footsteps didn’t disturb the guard lost in pleasant dreams.

It seems the outside commotion hasn’t reached the spirit stone mines, Loren thought.

The black-gold revolver materialized in Loren’s hand.

He raised it and fired a shot at the guard’s thigh.

“Bang!”

The bullet mercilessly shattered the guard’s leg.

“Ah!” Intense pain jolted the napping guard awake.

Missing one leg, the guard lost balance and collapsed onto the tunnel floor.

Loren approached the fallen guard.

Aiming the revolver at the guard’s head, he spoke coldly:

“Sir, tell me.”

“Where are the miners?”

The guard lay on the ground moaning in pain, unable to comprehend Loren’s question clearly.

Pain had stripped him of rational thought.

“What did you say?! Don’t kill me!”

“Sorry, you only get one chance.” Loren shrugged regretfully.

“Bang!”

The bullet ended the life of this lazy guard.

Loren calmly stepped over the headless guard’s corpse, continuing deeper into the tunnels.

With “Fortune” guiding his way, Loren felt little enthusiasm for asking directions.

He could ask, but it wasn’t necessary.

Soon.

After walking a few more minutes, Loren encountered more guards.

The two gunshots in the tunnel had clearly exposed Loren’s intrusion.

These guards had rushed toward the gunfire upon hearing it.

Loren detected approaching footsteps not far away.

He raised his hand and fired several shots.

These curving bullets navigated the winding tunnels, homing in on their targets.

“Don’t fight me in narrow terrain like this—it will only bring misfortune.”

The approaching guards all fell in the tunnels.

Without even laying eyes on Loren.

All had lost their precious heads.

As an experienced human anatomy artist—Mr. Loren.

He executed his artistry perfectly.

He was gradually understanding the raven’s statement that human brains weren’t necessarily a good thing.

After losing their brains, the guards naturally lost all their troubles, which certainly qualified as a positive outcome.

Undoubtedly.

Loren’s footsteps never faltered as he stepped over one headless corpse after another.

After navigating the winding tunnels, Loren’s view suddenly opened up.

An expansive underground space unfolded before him.

Within this underground mine.

Thousands of miners in prison uniforms currently sat on the ground eating their meals.

Lucky timing—it’s mealtime, so the miners are all gathered together, Loren thought, quite satisfied with his “Fortune.”

Loren observed the seated miners, each holding a piece of white bread and a water canteen.

Before each miner sat a metal meal basin.

To Loren’s surprise, these metal basins actually contained meat.

The meat in the basins emitted no steam, suggesting canned or preserved products, yet the situation remained surprising.

Interesting, it seems these miners enjoy unexpectedly decent meals, Loren mused. Is this to maintain the miners’ health levels?

Thereby extending each miner’s mining cycle?

After brief consideration, Loren understood.

Compared to valuable spirit stones, this bread and meat seemed insignificant.

While Loren observed the miners.

The thousands of miners also sat on the ground, secretly studying this uninvited guest.

These miners had all heard the gunshots echoing from the tunnels earlier.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep