Chapter 823: Chapter 359: The Secret of Pine Tree Coal Mine (2)
Thomas said from the side:
"Yes, many of those who went to protest were imprisoned, and those who remained mingled with other workers to join some sort of election movement."
Raventon prompted from the side: "The Charter Movement."
Thomas said: "Yes, the Charter Movement. They even had me deliver a letter before."
"After the protest, Pine Tree Mine Village often faced harassment, so everyone temporarily moved away from the village, planning to return once the mine reopened."
While speaking, the carriage had already arrived near the mine village.
Pine Tree Coal Mine is the largest coal mine in Stilan, employing over three thousand miners, with its annual output making up 0.3% of the country’s total production.
The three thousand coal miners and their families mostly live in Pine Tree Mine Village.
The town-sized village now only has scattered lights, surrounded by dead silence.
If you’re looking for help from the village temporarily, you might not find the right person.
The carriage stopped a thousand meters away from Pine Tree Mine. Although there was an explosion, only part of the mine tunnel was destroyed.
The Grimland Police Hall feared the crazed miners might demolish the rest, so they sealed Pine Tree Coal Mine protectively.
Further ahead, you’d encounter the police guarding the coal mine blockade.
The carriage halted, and Raventon told Thomas about their purpose: investigating the Pine Tree Coal Mine explosion.
Raventon offered Thomas two options: one, help them find out the truth of the explosion, and two, stay inside the carriage, as if nothing happened tonight.
Upon hearing about investigating the Pine Tree Coal Mine explosion, Thomas was initially shocked but quickly composed himself.
He nervously rubbed his hands and asked:
"Honored sir and miss, I’m willing to help you. I do actually know some things, but I’m not sure what exactly you’re looking to investigate."
Wu Chang and Raventon glanced at each other. They could tell from Thomas’s reaction that this guy actually knew some inside information about the coal mine explosion.
They had called on Thomas initially just to have an additional underground guide when entering the mine tunnel. If Thomas could provide crucial information, it would be a pleasant surprise.
Wu Chang gave Raventon a look, signaling him to continue with his plan.
Raventon paused for a moment and said:
"Thomas, do you know where the mine owner’s office is?"
Thomas nodded: "I know, I can take you there!"
The four of them quietly sneaked towards the mine area.
Wu Chang, relying on his strong inspiration, easily led the group to find the loophole in the blockade, slipping into the mine’s office area.
As they passed a dozing policeman, Raventon quietly moved over, and without any visible movement, he removed a large bunch of keys from the policeman’s waist.
No sound was made during the process, nor did the half-asleep policeman notice anything unusual.
His actions were smooth like flowing water, his techniques covert and steady, demonstrating to Thomas what excellent theft skills truly were.
Thomas’s eyes sparkled with admiration, while Wu Chang looked on bizarrely, silently thinking this guy must have some side business.
Returning to the group, Raventon said in a whispering voice to Wu Chang:
"Don’t look at me with the suspect’s eyes; this is simply the necessary skills for detective investigation."
Following Thomas’s guidance, the four quickly arrived at an unobtrusive office door.
Raventon took out a steel wire from inside his hat, skillfully inserted it into the lock hole, feeling the internal structure.
Then he glanced at the bunch of keys and picked one out.
He pushed the key into the lock hole, gave it a gentle twist, and the office door opened in response.
"This is also a detective’s essential skill." He opened the office door and gestured for them to enter.
Entering the office, Wu Chang said: "It’s my first time knowing that detective is a profession of wrongdoing."
Raventon surveyed the surroundings and said: "That shows you don’t understand detectives enough."
Wu Chang asked: "Will understanding bring a change of view?"
Raventon shrugged, "No, I mean if you understood detectives enough, you wouldn’t make that comment just now."
In the Steam Phantom Dungeon, information can only be handwritten in a paper ledger.
To safely keep the ledger, it’s usually stored in the place the mine owner considers the safest.
Raventon knocked around the office and soon found a secret compartment in the cabinet against the wall.
He opened the secret compartment to reveal a heavy safe inside.
He took out a small tool kit from his pocket and said: "Hold on, it will take some time to open it."
Wu Chang shook his head, came to the safe, and asked: "Is it an ordinary safe?"
Raventon nodded: "It’s a regular safe, without any extraordinary technology."
"But this type of safe is quite tricky, it contains hidden explosives inside, and if forced open, it will trigger mechanisms leading to damage of inside materials."
Wu Chang said: "I never said I couldn’t open regular locks."
Raventon looked at Wu Chang, surprised, and pushed the tool kit forward, asking:
"You mean you’re skilled at opening safes? I heard over in the New World, where gold is abundant, safes are made exceptionally sturdy, but I remember you worked a legitimate business there."
Wu Chang didn’t reach for the tool kit but instead pretended to pray:
"Almighty Eternal Pure Light, your loyal follower is faced with difficulty and needs your divine intervention to help open the safe door before me."
The Tree of Miracles had already taken root in the slums, allowing the ability of the Tree of Miracles to be activated without taking out its physical form.
