Chapter 41: You Three-Number Idiot!

Inside the large mining area—

"Why are you attacking the miners? Aren't we all companions?" a vagrant shouted.

Opposite him stood three armed and aggressive-looking vagrants.

For the sake of clarity, let's call them Vagrant A, Vagrant B, and Vagrant Three-Number.

"Pfft! Who said they are our companions? Didn't you see them trying to keep that huge vein hidden?" Vagrant A responded agitatedly.

Vagrant Three-Number: "Exactly, exactly."

"Such a large vein could feed so many people, yet they tried to hog it all. It's outrageous," Vagrant B said angrily.

Vagrant Three-Number: "Exactly, exactly."

The vagrant looked at the three in disbelief: "When you lost your homes, it was the mining team here that took you in, gave you work, and fed you. How can you be so ungrateful!"

Vagrant Three-Number: "Exactly, exactly."

Vagrant B sneered: "Hmph, you make me even angrier by bringing that up... The miners have always looked down on us and excluded us. I've never enjoyed mining here!"

Vagrant Three-Number: "Enjoyed it!"

"Alright, enough chit-chat. Are you joining us..." Vagrant A raised his weapon menacingly, "or do you want to fall here, hmm?"

The vagrant took two nervous steps back: "W-what are you doing? Aren't we all vagrants?"

"You're right, but traitors are harder to forgive than enemies..." Vagrant B chuckled sinisterly.

Just then, an ice arrow flew over, hitting Vagrant B.

Crack—

He was instantly frozen into an ice sculpture, becoming a new attraction in the mining area.

Then, a long spear swept across, hitting Vagrant A in the abdomen, causing him to pass out from the pain.

Finally, there was Vagrant Three-Number, who had been given a name and speaking lines by the great author, but only used them for mindless repetition.

Whoosh—

The sound of something breaking through the air.

A baseball bat struck Three-Number, sending him flying—a perfect home run.

"You're out," Stelle said, putting away the bat.

"Hey, are you okay?" Seele walked up to the still-shaken vagrant and asked.

Behind Seele, besides Dan Heng and the group, were many Wildfire fighters, all there to quell the chaos.

"Phew... I'm fine, really, thank you so much. You saved my life," the vagrant patted his chest and exhaled deeply.

He angrily kicked the frozen Vagrant B and cursed: "These scumbags, always bullying others because of their numbers. They've disgraced us vagrants. They can only be cocky for now, but once Lady Bronya and Lord Gu Tang arrive with their troops, these scoundrels will..."

Dan Heng: "Hmm?"

March 7th: "Hmm?"

Stelle: "Hmm?"

They recognized a familiar name.

Dan Heng rushed over: "The Lord Gu Tang you mentioned... where is he?"

The vagrant, intimidated by Dan Heng's sharp gaze, pointed in a direction: "If I remember correctly, they should be coming from that direction..."

Whoosh—

The three immediately dashed off, creating a gust that blew the vagrant's clothes.

"...What's with them?" The vagrant looked at Seele in confusion.

Seele patted his shoulder: "Alright, you're done here. Go find a safe place to stay."

A Wildfire officer walked up to Seele and asked: "Seele, what about us?"

"Hmph... we should follow them. It's not wise to split up now, and I'm also curious about the person they've been looking for," Seele said, leading the Wildfire fighters to follow Dan Heng and the others.

-------------------------

Over the past few days, Stelle had imagined many times what it would be like to reunite with Gu Tang.

Would he be injured? Locked up? Or struggling alone to resolve the Stellaron crisis...

But the scene before her was beyond Stelle's imagination.

A group of vagrants was carrying a palanquin.

Yes, a palanquin, like the ones used by ancient emperors.

The palanquin looked very crude, seemingly cobbled together from scrap and old parts.

Gu Tang was sitting on the palanquin, eating nuts, being carried forward by the vagrants.

Bang!

Bronya fired her gun directly.

The bullet hit the palanquin's connection, causing the whole thing to collapse with a clatter.

Gu Tang fell to the ground.

"What are you doing?! Do you really think you're an emperor now?" Bronya shouted angrily.

Then she turned to the vagrants: "And you guys, why did you actually carry him?!"

The vagrants spread their hands: "Lord Gu Tang said he was too exhausted from last night to walk today. We thought it made sense, so we..."

"And you believed that?" Bronya looked at them incredulously.

A vagrant whispered to Bronya: "Lady Bronya, you were really loud last night; the whole camp could hear..."

"....." Bronya was momentarily speechless.

Gu Tang got up, dusting off the dirt.

Then he saw Dan Heng and the others in the distance.

"Hey, you all look well," he greeted, raising his hand.

Stelle rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Thank goodness... you're okay..." Stelle said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Of course, that's a given," Gu Tang patted her back.

Then he hugged March 7th.

"Hmph, you bastard, you had us all worried. You better make it up to me," March 7th said, her tone unusually gentle.

"I'm the best at making it up to people in the whole universe," Gu Tang responded.

Then it was Dan Heng's turn.

"I always believed you'd be alright, bro," Dan Heng said, giving him a firm pat on the back.

"Hmph, when have I ever let you guys down?" Gu Tang smiled slightly.

Then it was Bronya's turn.

"Hmph... despite being a scientist, your muscles are quite firm," Bronya said curiously, touching his back.

"Not everyone is as chubby as you," Gu Tang remarked.

Bronya pinched the flesh on Gu Tang's waist hard.

Then it was Seele's turn.

"Huh, do I get a hug too?" Seele asked, confused.

"Well, you're here, aren't you?" Gu Tang instinctively patted her back.

Unexpectedly, his hand touched a smooth, silky patch of skin.

Why wear a backless outfit in the dusty underground? Gu Tang wondered.