Exploring Technology in a Wizard World

Night.

A deep night.

Richard left the mining site and returned to the Blue Lake Estate. Most areas of the mining site had quieted down.

Of course, in a few areas, many figures were still active, such as the factory at the foot of the mountain.

In the factory named "Fire Bomb Factory," "fire bombs" used for breaking down stone walls were being continuously produced. After production, crates of "fire bombs" were carefully transported to various corners of the mining site.

In the corners, many people were busy drilling holes, filling the delivered "fire bombs" in, preparing for the formal demolition work to follow.

Because the demolition work was highly dangerous and loud, it was conducted during the day. However, to maximize efficiency, the preparatory work for demolition began at night. This ensured that as soon as daylight came, mining could resume, maintaining the high-speed operation of the entire site rather than stalling at the first step.

"Clack, clack, clack!"

"Over there, over there!"

"Be careful! Be careful!"

"Measure the depth of hole number two!"

"Hole number five is not up to standard, it deviated from the previous spot, do it again!"

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm talking to you. Why are you just standing there like a piece of wood? You're new, right? Get to work! I'm telling you, you're earning several times the salary here, this isn't a game. Best to watch and learn more; do poorly, and I'll report to Captain Didak tomorrow to have you fired!"

All sorts of sounds continuously echoed, slowly dissipating into the night.

In the newly constructed camp, many miners squeezed onto beds, snoring loudly.

Captain Didak, whose name was called, had a private room due to his higher status. But after a day of exhaustion, he was also sound asleep, snoring louder than anyone else.

With the rise and fall of snores, the entire mining site possessed a unique serenity.

And at the edge of this specially serene mining site, an invisible silhouette appeared, sneaking towards the "Fire Bomb Factory." First carefully observing the "Fire Bomb Factory's" operations, then following the newly manufactured "fire bombs" leaving the factory, ascending the mountain...

This was Inspector Cheka, exploring the inner workings of the mining site.

What he didn't notice was that as he was leaving the "Fire Bomb Factory," the silhouette of the Witch Demon Elder Ah Fu appeared at the factory entrance.

The Witch Demon Elder Ah Fu stood close to the wall, as if he were part of it. Watching the oblivious Cheka leave, his eyes narrowed into slits as he muttered almost inaudibly, "Is he really from the Truth Society? Bold, indeed, investigating so openly.

Does he really think no one can see through his 'Soul Wander' technique? Fine, let him bask in his success. Once I figure out exactly what he's investigating, I'll catch him personally, give him a big surprise. This would also surprise that Little Devil, showing her how much more formidable I am than she imagined!"

After speaking, the Witch Demon Elder Ah Fu took a deep breath, his body becoming transparent, following Cheka up the mountain.

...

A small hill in the distance had a house standing on it.

Inside the house, Pandora sat slouched at the table, a few candles lit, illuminating transluently yet unable to stop her eyelids from battling sleep.

Pandora's eyes blankly stared at the spread-out exam scroll on the table, holding a quill in hand, yawning continuously.

Sleepy, very sleepy, extremely sleepy!

Initially, after a long nap, she shouldn't have felt so sleepy. But now, stumped by a problem for nearly half an hour, she just wanted to sleep it away.

No, she couldn't, not until she solved this problem!

She couldn't stay useless as before.

She had to solve this problem!

Pandora tried hard to convince herself, gripping the quill and directing it towards the scroll to write.

Just as the quill's tip touched the scroll's surface, sleep surged over her like a rising tide, instantly drowning her.

"Bang!"

Pandora's head hit the desk, the inked quill drawing a squiggly line across the scroll, finally collapsing with a "snap."

...

Outside the room.

The transparent figure of Cheka stopped in a clearing, watching as miners carrying "fire bombs" passed by, then proceeded to a new stone wall, beginning the burial process.

"Looks like these folks will be busy for quite some time; not sure exactly what they're doing." Cheka mused, frowning, as he surveyed the surroundings, looking for a new, more concealed spot to observe from.

Currently maintaining the "Soul Wander" state was safe but consuming mana significantly over long periods, posing a substantial burden. To better explore the mining site's core details, he needed a place to hide and recover his expended mana while continuing observations.

Thinking this, Cheka's gaze fixed on a lone house atop a small hill.

"Nice spot."

He thought, hesitating not, keeping his body in its transparent state and heading for the house.

...

Less than a minute after Cheka left, the Witch Demon Elder Ah Fu, maintaining a "Soul Wander" state, appeared in the spot where Cheka had been — to avoid detection, he had been intentionally keeping some distance from Cheka.

The Witch Demon Elder appeared, quickly surveying around, seeking Cheka's figure, but failing to find him, raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

Following this, he heard a "creak" not far away, as if a gust of wind had pushed a door open.

Huh?

Turning his head, the Witch Demon Elder saw the house on the small hill. His facial muscles twitched a few times, and his expression suddenly shifted to one of unease.

It's that!

...

"Creak!"

A sound, the door of the house opened and closed, a faint breeze swept inside, quickly shifting to reveal Cheka's figure.

After revealing himself, Cheka glanced around and saw Pandora slumped over the table, briefly stunned, his expression suddenly softened a bit.

He hadn't noticed any danger from Pandora, much like how the Witch Demon Elder Ah Fu first encountered Pandora, only taking her as an ordinary little girl.

To Cheka, Pandora even seemed a bit pitiful. Based on his guess, Pandora must have been waiting for a late-returning father or mother and eventually couldn't hold out and fell asleep at the table.

Gently shaking his head, Cheka chose not to approach Pandora, nor to disturb her pleasant dream.

Instead, he moved to the window, opening it, squinting towards the new stone wall being prepared for "fire bomb" placement, while he took out a bottle of purple potion from his pocket, sipping it slowly.

"Gulp, gulp..."

...