Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of a pickaxe striking stone echoed rhythmically, precise as if made by a pair of expert hands. Yet when one looked toward the source of the noise, they couldn't help but feel it strange.
Two newcomers entering the mine for the first time today couldn't take their eyes off a certain man. That man was peculiar.
His body was firm and steady as he ceaselessly mined the ore, but his eyes were covered with a strip of black cloth, making him look like a blind man.
"Jack, look at that. How can a blind guy work that accurately? I feel like I couldn't even do better than him," Ron's eyes widened, his finger trembling as he pointed at the man.
Jack couldn't help but knit his brows, studying the man carefully. No matter how he looked at it, the movements were nothing like those of a blind person.
"So strange. The lighting in this mine is poor, yet with his eyes covered he can actually see? Could he be someone important?" Jack frowned, his face full of doubt.
Since the world was thrown into chaos by the war of the gods, countless bizarre things had occurred. But he was just an ordinary man, never having much contact with those matters.
Ron fixed his gaze on the man. His clothes were old and ragged, his body bore no sign of any special status.
"Hmph, what's the big deal? Turns out he's just a lowborn who doesn't even have the qualifications to enter the Outer Area. Why bother paying him any attention? His wages aren't even a fraction of ours. A man without citizenship has nothing special about him." Ron curled his lips, disdain written plain on his face.
Hearing that, Jack's eyes toward the man also lost their curiosity and shifted to contempt.
Though they were all miners, the benefits between those with citizenship and those without were entirely different.
At that moment, an older miner who had worked there for years walked up to the two newcomers, his attitude far from friendly.
"What makes you two rookies think you're any better than him to look down on him? That kid Frydam really is blind, but his work efficiency is among the best in this entire mine.
The fact that he doesn't have citizenship is truly unfortunate. After all, the government simply doesn't have the ability to care for too many disabled people in times as hard as these." He sighed, his eyes tinged with regret.
Working together for many years, though not close, he still held a certain respect for this diligent man.
Ron and Jack lowered their heads under the scolding, their faces shifting quickly from pale to flushed red. Their eyes trembled, hatred burning as if it might ignite into flame.
Frydam, in the middle of mining, suddenly paused for a beat. He didn't turn his head toward them, only let out a quiet sigh.
Aside from the occasional doctor who treated him, he had never told anyone in all these years that he could sense the world.
Ten years ago, he had accidentally awakened this special ability. From then on, the life of a blind orphan like him became far less difficult.
This ability, besides allowing him to perceive the objects around him, carried another function: the ability to sense malice.
Anyone or any creature harboring malice strong enough to attack him, he could feel it. That was why he sighed, for he already knew that by the end of the day Jack and Ron would certainly assault him.
'Sigh, they're clearly healthy mans with sound arms and legs. Why do they enjoy bullying a blind man?' Frydam thought, though his heart held not the slightest trace of fear.
They were merely two ordinary people. Compared to him, a miner with years of hardened labor, their strength was nothing to be afraid of.
…
At the end of the workday, the miners left one after another. The old miner walked up to Frydam and patted his shoulder.
"Be careful of those two rookies. I saw they had a very poor attitude toward you."
"Thanks." Frydam smiled and nodded in response.
With that, the old miner waved his hand and left. Of course, he wouldn't invite trouble by standing in the way of Jack and Ron. Simply warning Frydam was already an act of kindness.
"Well, it seems that old man's attitude toward me isn't so bad. In any case, this matter has nothing to do with him." Frydam murmured, the corner of his lips slightly curved.
His senses easily picked up the two dangerous streams of malice sneaking after him.
The mine was far from the residential area. Frydam had to make his way to the parking lot, then cross the forest to return home.
This was an area within the mist. Though relatively safe, monster attacks still often occurred once night fell.
The work of mining here was in truth a job with high risk to one's life. Most others did it for money, but many, like Frydam, had no choice since they were not official citizens.
'Still haven't made a move? Are they planning to wait until I leave the mine?' Frydam thought, while his hands switched the vehicle to autopilot and he drove straight home.
Jack and Ron quickly accelerated after him, splitting to block Frydam from both sides. Their vehicles had sharp metal bars mounted along the sides.
"Surprised, bastard? Because of trash like you, we were the ones scolded. Get ready to pay the price." Ron grinned viciously, his eyes flashing with arrogant superiority.
The two closed in on Frydam, and when they saw his vehicle was running on autopilot, their scorn only grew.
If someone were at the wheel, they might have dodged, but a cheap AI could never manage it.
Sparks flared against both sides of Frydam's vehicle as they rammed, the smiles on Ron and Jack's faces growing more and more unrestrained.
"Ha ha ha, this is the price for daring to mock me!" Jack laughed madly, his eyes filled with disdain as he steered his vehicle closer still.
The corner of Frydam's mouth curved slightly. He had no interest in responding to such dull people. Planting his hands on the seat, he flipped his body up and kicked both of their detestable faces.
Crash!
Jack and Ron didn't even have time to scream before they were struck senseless, their vehicles spinning out of control and smashing straight into a roadside tree.
Blood streamed from their heads, and their legs were badly mangled, twisting their faces in agony.
"You bastard, we'll never forgive you!" the two of them roared in fury.
Frydam didn't spare them a single glance. The corner of his lips curved faintly as he continued on his way home.