Chapter 40: Deep Underground
The questions Lynn wanted to ask were mainly how these miners discovered the abandoned mine and how they got sick. Did they see any monsters in the mine, or a woman with red rashes and blisters all over her body, with rats running around?
Their answers were similar to what Brouver had told Lynn.
They discovered the abandoned mine while opening up a new mine.
Because they discovered the presence of orichalcum ore in the abandoned mine.
Brouver ordered them to continue mining.
Unfortunately, it didn't last long, and some people started to get sick.
But in the initial stage, it didn't attract much attention.
Until all the miners who entered the abandoned mine developed red rashes and blisters on their bodies.
Brouver realized that something was wrong.
It was at that time that they, the sick miners, were evacuated.
And after several twists and turns, they were finally placed here.
Brouver didn't completely abandon them here.
They were given three meals a day, and someone was sent to take care of them before.
However, the people who took care of them soon developed the same symptoms.
So, no one dared to enter here later.
As for what would happen to them if the situation continued to deteriorate, they didn't know.
Some people speculated that they might be killed and their bodies burned.
But some people would rather have it happen sooner than later, to end this living hell.
After asking all the questions, Lynn gave them all a checkup.
Soon, he discovered the problem.
These sick miners, every dwarf, had the power of a curse left on their bodies.
Ordinary people might not be able to sense it.
But in the eyes of a Witcher, it was very obvious.
He said to himself.
"Sure enough, this is not an ordinary plague, it's a curse."
"Brouver was right to lock them up here."
"If they weren't quarantined, the entire Mahakam would be infected before long."
"This is a curse, and even the most skilled apothecary can't do anything about it."
"It seems that to lift the curse on them, we can only eliminate the plague maiden in the abandoned mine."
...
After coming out of the quarantine area.
Lynn returned to the guest room.
Geralt didn't come back until evening.
Unfortunately, Geralt found nothing.
The abandoned mine had been sealed off and barricaded, and people were sent to guard it outside.
Since he was told that the abandoned mine could only be entered and not exited, Geralt didn't dare to enter rashly.
However, he learned from the dwarven soldiers patrolling outside that.
Those soldiers guarding the abandoned mine were not infected.
This coincided with Lynn's discovery.
It also confirmed Lynn's idea that "the disease is transmitted by a curse."
It seemed that only by entering the cursed area of the abandoned mine would they be entangled by the curse.
...
The next day.
He and Geralt went to visit Brouver again.
This time, the two finally gave a definite answer.
"Elder, after careful consideration, we are willing to accept your commission."
Brouver was naturally very happy.
Mahakam had been closed to the outside world for many years.
It was not easy for two Witchers to come to the mountain by accident. If they missed it, they didn't know when the next Witcher would come to the mountain.
"That's great, Master Witcher. It's really a wise choice. Don't worry, I promise to fulfill the rewards I promised yesterday."
"Of course we believe in the elder's reputation, but this commission is different from the past. The monsters to be dealt with are also extraordinary. Our strength alone is not enough, so we need your support."
Brouver was like a bucket of cold water poured on him.
Although he also had a hunch that the monsters in the abandoned mine were not easy to deal with.
But he didn't expect that even the two Witchers would say so.
So he agreed very readily: "Okay, masters, just say it."
Geralt took out a list of the materials he had listed yesterday.
Considering that the next battle would be a tough one, there was no room for sloppiness.
Therefore, all the auxiliary means of the Witchers needed to be used.
Such as sword oil, potions, and the most indispensable alchemy bombs.
All of the above can greatly improve the combat effectiveness of Witchers.
Unfortunately, because Witchers are generally poor, few Witchers can use these means in every hunt.
After all, this mission was to do business for the public, so it was reasonable to ask the public to reimburse them.
Perhaps Mahakam Mountain did not have all the materials Geralt needed, but they could gather as much as possible.
Anyway, the plague spirit was trapped in the abandoned mine and couldn't get out. They had plenty of time to prepare.
...
While waiting for Brouver's men to gather the materials needed to make sword oil, potions, and alchemy bombs, Istrad came to Carbon Mountain to find them.
His caravan had finished everything in Mahakam.
Now they were just waiting for the two of them.
Knowing that they needed some time to deal with the plague spirit in the abandoned mine, Istrad said that he would wait for them in Mahakam.
A few days later, the dwarves under Brouver finally brought the materials they needed.
So in the following time, Lynn and Geralt began to prepare sword oil, potions, and alchemy bombs.
After all this was done, Thor and a team of dwarven guards escorted them to the abandoned mine.
Under the violent dismantling of the dwarven guards, the barricades and wooden boards used to seal the abandoned mine were quickly removed.
A gust of cold wind suddenly blew out of the mine tunnel.
The cold air was overflowing.
Even the strongest dwarves couldn't help but shiver.
The dwarven guards all looked scared, and even Thor couldn't help but say awkwardly.
"The front is not a place we can go. We can only send you here."
"Good luck, Master Witcher."
...
The surface of the mine was uneven.
Every other section of the road was hung with an empty torch.
The road under their feet sloped gently downward at a not-so-steep angle.
This was still a normal mine. It would take two hours to go deep into the mine along this mine to reach the abandoned mine.
Lynn and Geralt walked along the mine for about ten minutes before entering a man-made cave.
On the stone wall in front, several bottomless tunnels were lined up in a row.
The two did not continue to move forward, but planned to take potions and apply sword oil in this cave to prepare for the next battle.
After all, this was still a safe area.
If they continued to move forward, it would be hard to say what they would encounter.
As Witchers, they should always be on guard against possible dangers.
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