Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Three days prior, a fresh batch of minerals had been collected, barely a month after the last shipment. The tight schedule meant the mineral quota was insufficient, forcing the Proxy Overseer to rush the miners into overtime to meet the required volume.

The miners did the grueling work, but the Proxy Overseer, hounded by superiors and terrified of blame, hadn't slept a wink, his days consumed by anxiety.

Finally, after seeing the ship off, the Proxy Overseer looked forward to some restful nights and a period of ease. Just as he was reveling in this thought, news of another arriving ship sent a jolt through Nuo Sen. He immediately feared it was the previous vessel, returning to find fault, dissatisfied with the delivery.

When Nuo Sen arrived in his aircraft, his heart pounding, he realized this was not the ship he had just dispatched, but an unfamiliar one.

Nair Inan had expertly disguised the Harding Tribe’s ship, altering its exterior significantly to prevent any recognition.

Upon Nuo Sen’s arrival, Lu Cian remained inside the ship. Nair Inan and the others, posing as female attendants, stood outside.

Only when Nuo Sen emerged from his aircraft, poised to sternly warn them away, did Lu Cian leisurely descend from the ship.

The moment Nuo Sen caught a faint whiff of pheromones emanating from the other, his expression instantly shifted.

"Good day, esteemed sir. I am Nuo Sen, the Proxy Overseer of this planet. I had no idea such a distinguished guest was aboard. It is truly inexcusable to have kept you waiting. Please accept this humble token of my regard, and I beg you not to hold it against me."

Nuo Sen carefully presented a Star Card, which Lu Cian accepted without a change in expression.

He was well-acquainted with such displays.

It was customary in the Empire for individuals to offer money to male nobles upon meeting.

"I’m traveling and heard this planet has purple spar mines, so I came to take a look," Lu Cian said, tilting his chin slightly.

Nuo Sen wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief—sweat from his hurried arrival—and smiled, his eyes narrowing. "If you wish to see the raw ore, I shall fetch some for your immediate inspection."

Lu Cian shook his head. "I don’t just want to see the raw ore. I also wish to see what the mining site looks like."

Hearing this, Nuo Sen quickly interjected, "Sir, the purple spar mines are hardly a sight to behold. They are dusty, dirty, and there’s even a risk of cave-ins. It’s far too dangerous. For your safety, it’s best not to go."

Lu Cian glared at Nuo Sen. "What, are you telling me what to do?"

Nuo Sen shook his head frantically, his expression tinged with panic. He was merely a humble mining foreman and dared not offend a noble male.

"Sir, how could I ever presume to dictate to you? I am merely concerned for your safety!" Nuo Sen pulled out his handkerchief again, wiping away the cold sweat that had broken out on his forehead from fright.

Nuo Sen also wanted to subtly signal the female attendants beside the noble, urging them to persuade him to reconsider. However, Nuo Sen was too timid to even lift his head.

"Sir… perhaps you’d prefer to visit the exhibition hall instead? There, you’ll find the finest gemstones meticulously selected from all the planet’s mines. You might even discover something to your liking…"

Lu Cian raised an impatient eyebrow. "Why are you so verbose? I’ve made myself perfectly clear—just lead the way. Why do you insist on discussing irrelevant matters? Do you not understand plain speech?"

Lu Cian deliberately heightened his emotions, causing the pheromone diffuser on his chest to release a stronger scent.

Nuo Sen caught a whiff of the invigorating pheromones and instantly stiffened.

Normally, smelling pheromones would excite him, but males only lost control of their scent when their emotions were highly unstable.

Now, Nuo Sen had only one thought: he had angered a noble male. He was finished!

He truly wanted to burst into tears. Why had he spoken out of turn?

This was simply too much for him!

If the noble male was harmed, it would be the Proxy Overseer’s fault.

If the noble male was displeased, it was due to his poor hospitality.

If the noble male lost his temper, only he would bear the brunt…

Nuo Sen’s face crumpled in distress, almost collapsing to his knees to beg Lu Cian for mercy.

Fortunately, Lu Cian’s pheromones did not intensify further, nor did he order anyone to punish him, allowing Nuo Sen to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Sir… this way, please," Nuo Sen said, his voice tinged with a suppressed sob.

Lu Cian: "…"

Had he said something wrong? Why did this female look like he was on the verge of tears?

Lu Cian was utterly bewildered. Before, he’d had to painstakingly navigate interactions with females who were far more cunning.

But judging by this one’s demeanor, it seemed he didn’t need to be so cautious.

Indeed, Lu Cian didn’t need to be overly wary of Nuo Sen. This planet had many foremen, and the most outstanding among them was typically chosen as the Proxy Overseer.

However, being the overseer was no easy task.

Initially, several foremen had fiercely vied for the position, hoping to profit. Later, they discovered that dealing with the higher-ups was far more perilous than skimming profits!

If they were careful and didn’t take too much, they could still survive. But failing to meet the required mineral quotas meant a death sentence!

Thus, after several Proxy Overseers met their demise, no foreman desired the position. Nuo Sen, being the most unassuming and easiest to manipulate, naturally inherited the role.

The higher-ups, having witnessed the deaths of several Proxy Overseers, appointed a timid and compliant individual to the position. Though they held him in low regard, they kept him due to his diligent work ethic.

The other foremen, observing Nuo Sen’s prolonged survival, felt no envy nor any desire to replace him. After all, every time Nuo Sen nervously arranged shipments, he visibly thinned from the stress.

Such significant weight loss surely indicated terrible hardships. Even if they had ambitions, seeing Nuo Sen’s miserable state deterred them from pursuing such thoughts.

After years as Proxy Overseer, Nuo Sen remained submissive and timid—he had grown accustomed to it.

Nuo Sen led the way, ushering the group into his aircraft. He set the automatic flight path, and the aircraft headed towards the purple spar mines.

Although the planet was rich in mineral resources, Lu Cian, looking out the window, saw no widespread ore or dust. Instead, the area appeared quite developed, with numerous tall buildings and a thriving population.

Some of the residents were voluntary miners. Lu Cian speculated that those below were likely miners’ families, or individuals like Nuo Sen, as well as merchants.

Lu Cian asked Nuo Sen, "Are there miners’ families among those below?"

Nuo Sen nodded. "Yes, sir. Since a large amount of mining is required, many miners are needed."

"To ensure these miners can continue their work, they also need rest. Miners who come here stay for extended periods. Except for convicted criminals, other miners bring their families to live with them."

Lu Cian nodded and continued, "So, Mr. Nuo Sen, your family must be here too."

Nuo Sen replied, "Yes, sir. My father came to this planet with me."

His father had once been a female soldier, retired due to injury. Later, through his military merits, he obtained a gamete from the Gamete Institute and fathered Nuo Sen.

Nuo Sen had been on this planet for several years. At first, he had dreamed of making his mark, gaining his superiors' notice, and leaving sooner.

But after being ostracized by the other foremen and living in constant fear of failing to meet quotas, he regretted involving his father. If he had known the situation, he wouldn’t have listened to his father and brought him along.

Wiping his sweat, Nuo Sen hoped this noble male would be easier to serve than the higher-ups and that nothing would go wrong under his watch.

"Your Excellency, besides mineral resources, our planet actually has many interesting places that are far more appealing than the mines. And raw ore straight from the ground isn’t much to look at—processed amethyst is truly beautiful..." Nuo Sen once again attempted to persuade Lu Cian to change his mind.

Lu Cian gave him a faintly amused look. "Is that so?"

Nuo Sen broke into a cold sweat again. "Y-yes..."

Lu Cian chuckled. "Don’t worry, Mr. Nuo Sen. With this many bodyguards around, there won’t be any danger."

"And even if something were to happen to me, that would be the fault of my guards, not Mr. Nuo Sen."

Nuo Sen exhaled in relief—then immediately stiffened. "Your Excellency, that’s not what I meant..."

Nuo Sen was on the verge of tears. He truly was concerned for His Excellency’s safety, but he wasn’t trying to shift blame—he just wasn’t good with words!

Fine, less talk, fewer mistakes. Better to stay quiet.

After a while, Lu Cian spoke again. "Mr. Nuo Sen, why aren’t you saying anything?"

Nuo Sen: "..." This was impossible!

Nuo Sen plastered on a smile. "Your Excellency, the purple spar mine is just ahead. I was just considering which tunnel we should begin our tour from."

Lu Cian said, "I’d like to see how the miners work..."

Nuo Sen went pale. "Your Excellency, the mines are dark and confined—they’re truly no place for someone of your esteemed status!"

Though their safety measures were excellent and collapses had never occurred, it was better to be safe than sorry. What if a rock came loose and struck His Excellency?!

Nuo Sen subtly glanced at the strong-looking female attendants seated around His Excellency. They all seemed physically and mentally capable—they would surely protect His Excellency the moment anything happened. But what if His Excellency was startled?!

Mental trauma was far more severe than physical injury!

Nuo Sen panicked, but Lu Cian remained unhurried. "Why the panic? I never said I was going inside."

Nuo Sen held his breath until he heard this, then finally relaxed. "Then what does Your Excellency mean?"

Lu Cian replied calmly, "There must be surveillance in the mines, right? I’ll just check the feed from out here."

Nuo Sen: "..." So that was it. He’d completely forgotten about the surveillance.

Wait—if they could just watch the footage, why did His Excellency even come to the mine?

Was watching it live that much better?

Nuo Sen didn’t understand the peculiar preferences of these noble figures. But as long as His Excellency didn’t enter the mine, he was off the hook.