And at Lily's place, she can determine some things through 'breathing'...
These people can't be considered living beings anymore.
There's more of a feeling that they're wrapped in a skin.
But...
Lily glanced at Robby beside her and said, "Is there anyone else without the cold disease?"
Robby nodded, "They're all down there, this is the first level, my home is on the third level, and there are many people there who aren't sick. But there are too many mine tunnels here, I don't know the way..."
When he escaped, he hid inside the iron ore cart, so he naturally couldn't remember the way up.
"Let's split into two teams, there shouldn't be Mother Steel here either..."
Lily said to Marika, "We'll each lead a team, take two routes, at least one team will find the way down, let's see what's at the end."
As for why not divide into more...
The mine tunnels are too many, and it's unfamiliar territory; nobody knows if unexpected events will occur if teams of ten go in.
These Demon Race members haven't fully matured, each of them will be Sage's elite soldier later on, losing them here would be too regrettable.
Grinding is grinding, but they can't be sent to die deliberately.
"No problem, I'll choose the right side." Marika nodded and led half the people to the right.
"Then I'll choose left."
Lily, with a team, chose a mine tunnel on the left and ventured inside.
Only Robby looked left and then right, eventually choosing the gentle black-haired big sister.
The golden-haired big sister was good too, but the pressure was too great, he wasn't used to it, so the black-haired big sister was gentler.
On the right, Marika led her team past the dark mine tunnel, always moving downward, but just then, she suddenly stopped and turned to look behind her.
"Lady Marika, is there a problem?" a demon asked.
"No..."
Marika shook her head, "I always feel someone is following us. Is it an illusion?"
She continued downward with her team, passing through the web-like second level.
This underground excavation, if the first level is a grand furnace specifically for tempering steel, the second level was previously dug mining tunnels, shaped like a spider web, continually extending outward in excavation.
After all, being called Iron Ore Island, its iron resources are very abundant.
As for the third level, it has become a collection of 'islands'; wherever mine tunnels reach, there is a piece of flat land, but surrounding them, there are bright red magma-like things.
That's iron turned into liquid, all appearing on the third level, dividing the flat lands.
Marika descended onto one of the islands...
"Wrong location."
She looked toward the distance, seeing a small flat land shining with white light, contrasting with all the buildings here.
Special, which represents that there is something.
"Go back and choose another path," Marika said.
"Heh heh heh, you can't go back."
A sinister voice sounded from above in the rock cave, and from the mine tunnel behind Marika, emotionless figures began to emerge.
Some people made Marika feel familiar, like she had seen them on the first level.
"Oh..."
Marika continued smiling, "Seems like the feeling wasn't wrong; they really did follow us."
She raised her head, looked at the densely packed rock cave above, and asked, "Who are you?"
"Heh heh heh, before asking others' names, it's polite to give your own name first. But it doesn't matter, I know you, 'Wet Crow' Marika, quite the outstanding woman..."
The voice chuckled lowly again, "I'm Gaurus, manager of the Columbus Company, the boss told me to capture you alive. Surrender, your numbers and mine, there's quite a big gap."
Those expressionless people stepped out one by one from the mine tunnels, surrounding Marika's troops, at least a thousand!