Apocalypse Architect: A Tower Defense LitRPG

Chapter 112: Heading to the Mining Area

Jax stared at the documents in his hand, a look of genuine astonishment crossing his face.

“Damn,” he muttered, flipping through the pages. “Two days. You managed to sort all this out in just two days? I didn’t realize you were this efficient.”

Hazel shot him a sharp, slightly displeased glare. “What is that supposed to mean? Are you implying my skill set is limited to being your personal assistant?”

Jax quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Not at all. You’re meant for the big leagues, Hazel. I wouldn’t waste your talent on administrative busywork forever. In fact, once we secure these resources, I’m planning to hand over the management of the entire mining sector to you.”

Hazel’s expression softened into a satisfied nod. She leaned over the table, pointing to a few circled names on the list. “This list contains the major mine owners in the region. We need to contact them individually. The problem is, most of them are puppet operations affiliated with the major families.”

Her finger slid to a separate column. “However, these few operate independently. We can deal with them directly without going through the family hierarchies. Their claims aren’t massive, but that works in our favor—they’re within our current purchasing power.”

Jax nodded, taking the paper to study it closer. The investigation was meticulous. Hazel hadn’t just listed names; she had detailed the estimated square footage of their deposits, extraction capacities, employee headcounts, family affiliations, and specific ore types.

“This is perfect,” Jax said, folding the list. “If the intel is solid, we move now.”

“Good,” Hazel said, straightening her posture. “I feel like I’ve got energy to burn. I want to get this done in one sweep. The off-road vehicle is a rental—cheap, but we have to cover the fuel. I assume you have the resources for that?”

A shadow of helplessness flickered in her eyes. Since escaping Redrock Bastion, she had sent a formal letter to The Sterling Syndicate severing all ties. She was, for all intents and purposes, a rogue agent now. Raven was in a similar boat, having been forced to flee the Awakened Guild to avoid becoming a lab rat.

“What about me?” Raven piped up, stepping forward as she saw Jax preparing to leave. “What’s my assignment?”

Jax looked at the young Awakened, scratching his head as he considered the logistics. “For now? You’re on intel and security. We need someone to hold down the fort back in The Sprawl. If we leave that villa empty, squatters or rival gangs will take it over before sunset. I’m leaving that place in your hands.”

Raven crossed her arms, pouting. “I am an Awakened, you know? And you’re using my cosmic powers for… house-sitting? Can’t I stay here with you? It’s way more interesting out here in the wasteland.”

Jax shook his head firmly. “We don’t need the extra manpower here right now. The mining operations will be Hazel’s domain, but The Sprawl is our eyes and ears. I need you gathering information, not just watching the door. It’s a vital role.”

Raven fell silent, weighing the logic. Finally, she nodded. Her current identity was too hot for casual wandering, so lurking in the shadows of The Sprawl to gather intel was a safer bet than standing in the open wind and sun of the wasteland.

She glanced up toward the top of the fortress, where smoke was rising from a cooking fire. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she leaned in close to Jax’s ear.

“By the way,” she whispered, “are you and that Miss Elena… shacking up?”

Jax’s expression went flat. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not ‘shacking up.’ We are surviving in the same fortified structure.”

“Wow,” Raven giggled. “Scandalous.”

Jax sighed, realizing there was no winning against Raven’s wild imagination. He waved her off. “Just wait here. I need to go up and brief the team before we roll out.”

Jax grabbed the climbing rope and ascended to the platform. He found Elena tending to the fire and quickly explained his departure.

Elena wiped her hands on her apron, looking down at Hazel and Raven waiting by the vehicle, then back at Jax with worry in her eyes. “If you leave, will we be safe here on our own?”

“You’ll be fine,” Jax assured her with a confident smile. “You have the Defense Towers, and Barney knows the activation protocols. Nothing gets close to this place without getting shredded. I’m just going to the mines to secure materials. We need them to build more towers.”

Elena nodded slowly, though her anxiety didn’t fully dissipate. “Okay. And what about them? What will they be doing?”

“Hazel’s family ran mining operations, so she’s taking lead on that project,” Jax explained. “Raven is an Awakened, so she’s better suited for covert info gathering back in The Sprawl.”

Elena looked down at her hands, a wave of disappointment washing over her. “I feel like a burden. Everyone has a special role, and all I can do is cook.”

Seeing her dejection, Jax chuckled softly. “Well, if you really want, I can buy you a pickaxe and send you into the pits as a laborer?”

“Get lost!” Elena swatted at his arm, though a smile broke through. “I don’t want to be a laborer. Just… hurry up and find something useful for me to do. I hate wasting time.”

Jax grinned. He already had a plan. Once the base reached Tier 3, the Champion’s Altar would unlock. As the User, Jax couldn’t use the altar on himself, but he could use it to grant abilities to others. Elena was at the top of his list.

“Don’t rush it,” Jax said mysteriously. “Give it a little time. I’ll have an assignment for you soon enough, and you’ll be begging for a break.”

“Really?” Elena’s eyes lit up. “You aren’t just placating me?”

“Have I ever lied to you? I’m a ruthless Chief,” Jax joked, tapping his chest. “I love exploiting my workers. I wouldn’t let you sit idle for long.”

“Pfft, keep bragging. ‘Exploiting workers.’ You treat people better than any Guild Master out there.”

Jax laughed, gave her a few final instructions on base safety, and rappelled back down. He jumped into the driver’s seat of the rental, with Hazel and Raven piling in.

They drove south, away from the fortress and toward the jagged silhouette of the mountains.

The mining district was a harsh, industrial scar on the landscape south of The Sprawl. The mountains here were rich in resources, though the quality was generally considered second-tier compared to the pristine veins near Redrock Bastion. Because of this, the major families of Redrock ignored these claims, leaving them to be picked over by the scrappier factions and guilds of The Sprawl.

The deeper they drove, the worse the road became. The vehicle bounced violently over ruts and loose gravel. Long before they saw the mines, they heard them—a low, rhythmic rumbling echoing through the canyons.

“That’s heavy machinery,” Hazel noted over the noise of the engine. “Only the sites backed by Redrock families have that kind of gear. The locals? They’re mostly using pickaxes and sweat.”

Eventually, the road opened up into a dusty valley filled with makeshift camps. Tents were clustered together, marking the territories of various small-time mine owners.

Jax pulled the car up to the first significant camp. A large tent stood next to a rusted, heavy-duty shipping container secured with a massive padlock. A layer of grime coated everything. Just as they parked, the mine owner finished dumping a hopper of raw ore into the container, preparing it for transport to the refinery.

The owner wiped sweat from his brow and looked up. His eyes widened. A clean vehicle, a man with a confident stride, and two stunning women flanking him? In the wasteland, that screamed power.

He hurried over, wiping his hands on his trousers. “Welcome, welcome! What brings three distinguished guests to my humble patch? Buying ore? Or looking to inspect the pits?”

Jax remained silent, keeping his expression neutral. He glanced sideways at Hazel.

Hazel stepped forward immediately, slipping into her role with practiced ease. “Chief, let me handle this.”

She addressed Jax with deference, signaling to the owner that Jax was the heavy hitter, the decision-maker who didn’t deign to speak to low-level operators. The mine owner’s posture instantly straightened, his respect for Jax climbing several notches.

He scrambled to drag a few plastic chairs from a folding table, dusting them off frantically. “Please, sit, sit! How should I address the boss?”

“You can call him Mr. Jax,” Hazel said smoothly.

“Mr. Jax, right. Well, my operation here pulls mostly iron and copper, with trace amounts of precious metals. Are you looking to secure a shipment, or perhaps… acquisition?”

Hazel took the lead, her voice cool and professional. “We are interested in the infrastructure. We’d like to inspect your active pits. Show us exactly what you’re sitting on.”

The owner’s grin stretched ear to ear. A potential buyout. “Of course! Right this way, please follow me!”