"The tunnel is deeper than I thought," Aldred said as he sat on the sofa, staring at the map on the table.
The map on the table changed the moment the soldiers in the tunnel mapped the tunnel. So whenever they add something on their own map, it would show on Saphira's map.
With this, they could see how deep the tunnel was immediately, and with Aldred's ability to see whatever the golems see, and Stella's magic mirror, their surveillance capability was unmatched.
Of course they could tell the Diamond Ranks to do that, but that would bring the enemy's Diamond Rank as well.
It was like using a nuclear bomb. If he used one, the enemy would use one as well.
They could threaten to use it, and aimed it at the enemy, but that was all.
"Anyway, what are we going to do about the civilians?" Stella asked.
The golems met a lot of civilians in the tunnel who were blocking they way. Some of them died because of the cross-fire, but he had sent some golems to guide them out of the tunnel.
"We will bring them to Phoenix's territory where they can live in safety," Saphira said.
"Did you see the chain on their neck?" Aldred said. "They're treated like slaves. Look at their frail body."
Mira was especially sad when she saw that. She could feel the pain in their eyes.
"We will feed them food and give them warm baths when they reach the surface," Saphira said. "We'll build them a home and give them a new life."
"You're willing to do that?" Aldred asked.
"We have a lot of money to spare, Aldred. Our income is more than a trilion per month. Spending some money on these pitiful people is not only fine, but necessary."
Mira smiled. "Thank you."
…
As the golems went deeper into the tunnels, they were immediately shrouded by deep darkness. The tunnel became wider and taller, and there were even a few glowing moss and plants here and there, but it was so dark that no one would realized if their eyes were open or not.
The golems had no problem with that however.
"What is this?" Saphira frowned as she stared at the magic mirror. "Wait a minute. This is not the tunnel anymore. It's a natural cave. And it seems to be inhospitable for people below Gold Rank. Even a new Gold Rank will experience severe pain and possibly die after a few hours of staying here."
"Is this the real reason why they dug a tunnel?" Aldred asked.
"It could be."
At this moment, numerous red grasshoppers appeared and swarmed at the golems.
"Grasshoppers? Why are they inside a tunnel?"
"Those are not ordinary grasshoppers. They are very poisonous. A Gold Rank would feel an extreme burning sensation when touched by them. If they are swarmed by that many grasshoppers, they will be burned from the inside out."
"In that case, I will tell my golem to eliminate them all."
The gunner golems in the cave stepped forward and they activated their jet flame spell all at once. More than a hundred gunner golem spat out a tongue of flame like a flamethrower from their arms.
The grasshoppers that entered the flame immediately burnt to a crisp before they dropped to the ground.
They quickly rushed forward after cleaning the insects, and after a few minutes, they saw a group of soldiers running away.
"It's them! Quick attack them!"
Aldred willed his golem to become even faster.
Tomkin who saw the golems were on his tail was angered.
"You!" He pointed at a bunch of men. "Distract them!"
The men were terrified, but they obeyed his order nonetheless. They pulled their swords out with trembling legs, and charged at the golems.
But their bodies were torn to shreds a few seconds later by a barrage of fire bullets.
"You!" Tomkin pointed. "Stall them!"
"Sir, I don't want to die."
"Do it or I will kill you myself!"
"No, Sir. I will not."
Tomkin brandished his sword and cut the man's head off.
"Now who wants to disobey me?!"
The soldiers were terrified and they turned back to face the golems, they all died in less than a second.
A bunch of soldiers looked at each other, and nodded. They pulled their swords, and attacked Tomkin.
"I am sorry, Sir Tomkin, but all of us want to live."
"You think you can kill me?" Tomkin activated his life force, and slashed out, sending a wave of flickering light that cut the traitors in half.
"I am stronger than all of you combined, so don't even think of betraying me!"
The soldiers erased the thought of betraying their leaders, and prayed that it wouldn't be them who will be chosen to stall the golems.
Tomkin kept on pointing at his men and sent them to stall the golems. Their sacrifice did nothing. The golems were still as fast as ever, and they were unstoppable.
After a few hours, all of his men had died, and he was left alone.
He bit his lips in anger, and that was when golems came out of the tunnels in front of him.
He was surrounded from all sides.
"Surrender now, and we will spare you," Aldred's voice came out of the golems. He was told that this man was the leader of the Urban Management Division. Capturing him was important because he had a lot of information with him.
Tomkin didn't show fear or hopelessness, instead, it was rage.
He had never been put in this situation before, and he couldn't take it that someone surrounded him with golems.
Raising his sword, he glared at the golems. "Show yourselves, bastard! If you're not a coward then fight me face to face! Only a fool would hide behind their golems!"
Aldred scratched his head. "If you want to bait me to fight you one on one, you better come up with something better than that."
"I will fuck your mom!"
Aldred's eyes turned deep black. "How dare you talk about my mom! If death is what you want, then I will shove it down to your throat!"
