UNDERGROUND SOVEREIGN

Chapter 7: The Blueprint for a Paradise

Chapter 7: The Blueprint for a Paradise

The air on Level 2 of the mine felt really different from the upper mine. It was warm and cozy like a resort. Han walked along the edge of the lower cavern overlooking his boots making clicking sounds on the new basalt flooring. Vance was with him holding a slate tablet and recording measurements while machines hummed in the background.

"Level 2 is huge, " Vance said, looking up at the ceiling fifty feet above them. "We have three square miles of space without needing big support pillars.. Building luxury suites and hot spring baths is not what my crew is used to. We build fortresses and mine shafts, not fancy resorts."

"You build the basics Vance " Han replied. "The System takes care of the rest." He brought up his master interface. Looked at the Level 2 layout screen.

Han saw a list of things he could build. He could make a core that used geothermal energy, a fake sun ceiling and fancy living quarters. Han chose all three options.

A low humming sound filled the cavern. The natural heat from the earth was used to make a core. Special lines under the floor carried a liquid-gold energy up to the ceiling. The ceiling of the cave changed, becoming smooth and shiny like glass. It glowed with a sunny light. The walls became elegant. Had private hot spring baths, insulated glass windows and special shielding.

Vance was amazed. "It looks like a garden, " he said. "Even better than a garden."

"It's protection, " Han said quietly. "When the surface gets really cold and rainy the nobles will want their comforts. They will pay a lot for them."

Then a young worker ran down the ramp panting. "Master Han! Chief Vance! There are people at the gates. It's not mercenaries this time. It's a group of merchant wagons from the capital."

Hans' eyes narrowed. "Who is leading them?" he asked.

"A woman named Sylvia, " the boy replied. "She says she was sent to inspect a trade operation.. She brought a lot of iron and grain."

Han gestured to Vance. "Keep the crew working on the lower generator grid. I'll handle our guests."

At the entrance a sharp-featured young woman in a dark blue coat stood beside a line of heavy transport wagons. She held a brass-bound ledger. I looked at the massive basalt archway that led into the mountain.

Sylvia had been a rising star in the Guild Administration Bureau.. She got in trouble when she found out about a big embezzlement scheme. On getting a promotion she was demoted and sent to inspect rural trade routes.

When she heard rumors about a laborer buying tons of construction materials she came to Sector 99 to investigate.

"Miss Sylvia " her driver whispered, "are you sure about this? The rumors say the guy running this place is really powerful."

"He didn't hurt anyone, " Sylvia corrected. "He just defended his property under the law. Whoever is managing this project knows the law better than the magistrate."

Han walked out into the afternoon air stopping ten feet from the wagons. "You're off your usual trade route Inspector " he said.

Sylvia stepped forward, opening her ledger. "Han, laborer and now the owner of Sector 99. I came to verify the origin of the gold used to buy this deed and to check the safety of this construction site."

Han didn't flinch. "My gold was cleared by the Royal Auction House. You're welcome to inspect the foundation yourself."

Sylvia was surprised by his compliance. She gestured to her drivers to stay back and walked past Han into the corridor.

As she looked around she was impressed. The air was warm and fresh, the walls were strong and the workers seemed happy and healthy. When she saw the sunlight, hot spring suites and geothermal power core on Level 2 she stopped dead in her tracks.

"This isn't mine, " Sylvia said, turning to Han. ". This isn't a vanity project. You're building a self-sustaining city that can house thousands of people for years without surface supplies."

"I am, " Han admitted.

"Why?" she asked. "The Paragon Guild is spending millions on a sky fortress. Everyone thinks the surface garrisons are the future."

"The sky fortress will fall in the hour of the Collapse " Han said flatly. "The surface won't be safe. Only the deep earth will hold. In less than three months this surface world will freeze and every guild master will be begging for a key to these rooms."

Sylvia looked at Han searching for any sign of madness.. She found only conviction. She looked back at the subterranean paradise.

"You have the construction down to a science " Sylvia noted. ". You don't have an administrative network. You don't have a check-in system or a legal framework to manage the refugees who will come here."

Han looked at her with a smile on his lips. "Is that an application, Inspector?"

Sylvia opened her ledger. Pulled out a silver pen. "My salary is ten gold pieces a week plus a permanent suite on Level 2.. I want full authority over tenant registration and rent enforcement."

Han held out his hand. "Welcome to the Haven, Sylvia. Rents due, on the first of every month starting after the world ends."