It's so hard being a hero!

Sophia glanced back at the militiamen who were still in a daze.

"If you don't want to spend the night here, hurry up."

The militiamen then realized what was happening, quickly helped each other to their feet, and followed Sofia out.

The large group moved through the spiderweb-like passages towards the cave entrance.

Sofia walked at the front, holding a golden orb of light in her hand, illuminating the path ahead.

I could hear the militiamen talking in hushed tones behind me.

"That little girl, is she really the daughter of the Surott family?"

"I've seen her before; she's a rather quiet young girl. I never expected this..."

"Did you see that just now? She wasn't afraid of that giant spider at all, and she spoke like an adult."

"Not only is she not afraid, but that giant spider seems to listen to her quite a bit."

"Stop talking, stop talking, let's get out of here. I don't want to stay here for another second. I'm lucky to have escaped with my life this time."

Sophia's lips twitched involuntarily as she listened to the whispers behind her.

She knew that after today, she probably wouldn't be able to keep a low profile in Kyle City anymore.

But she didn't care anymore.

It's good that the person was rescued.

Surro walked behind Sophia, looking at her daughter's back with a complicated expression.

When did this daughter, whom he raised single-handedly, become so unfamiliar?

No, it's not unfamiliar.

It is powerful.

So powerful that even he, as the father, could only look up to him.

"Xiao Fei."

Suddenly, Sulot called out.

"Ok?"

Sofia didn't even turn her head.

"Have you become this amazing?"

Surroth knew that Sophia had been training with Frey, but he was still somewhat shocked.

His voice carried a hint of an indescribable emotion.

There was pride, confusion, and a slight sense of loss.

He felt like a failure because he, as a father, also had to protect his young daughter.

Sophia was silent for two seconds, then chuckled softly.

"It's alright."

Surott paused for a moment, then shook his head and smiled.

In that smile, there was more relief than confusion.

The group walked along the passage for about half an hour before finally seeing the light at the cave entrance.

The afternoon sun poured in through the cave entrance, casting a bright golden patch of light on the ground.

Sofia quickened her pace and was the first to emerge from the mine.

The glaring sunlight made her instinctively squint.

She stood at the entrance of the cave, took a deep breath of the fresh air outside, and then looked back at the mine shaft behind her.

One by one, figures emerged from the darkness, stumbling and staggering into the sunlight.

Some slumped on the ground, panting heavily; some hugged each other, crying and laughing; and some knelt on the ground, kissing the soil.

Sulot was the last one to come out.

He stood at the cave entrance, squinted to adjust to the change in light, and then turned to look at Sophia.

The sunlight shone on the silver-haired girl, making her seem to glow.

Surott stared at her for several seconds, then walked over and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"walk home."

Sofia's hair was all ruffled, but this time she didn't flinch.

"Well, Dad, you guys go back first. I still have some things to discuss with the knights."

Surott was taken aback, then looked at the rescue team approaching.

Chapter 37 Human Greed

Sophia stood at the entrance of the mine, watching Sulot and the militiamen help each other down the mountain.

She then turned to look at Harris and his group, who were walking briskly towards her.

Their faces showed obvious shock.

All thirty-odd people, not one missing, came out alive.

“Um, Miss Sophia.”

Harris stopped abruptly as he approached, his gaze lingering on Sophia for a moment before looking past her toward the mine entrance behind him.

"You rescued all those people?"

"Ah."

Sophia nodded without saying anything more.

Harris took a deep breath, his expression a complex mix of emotions.

He had already prepared for the worst; he would be lucky if he could find a few intact corpses when he led the team in that afternoon.

I didn't expect that everyone would be out before we even set off.

What exactly is going on inside this mine?

Harris pressed for an answer, her tone clearly urgent.

How did you rescue them?

Sophia immediately offered an explanation.

“There is indeed a spider monster's lair deep in the mine, and it's quite large, not the small lair you previously thought it was.”

She paused, then pointed towards Black Mountain.

"The entire underground mining area of ​​Black Mountain is almost entirely the territory of the Spider Kingdom."

Harris's expression changed upon hearing this.

The knights behind him exchanged glances, and one of them muttered something under his breath, but no one could hear him.

"The core area of ​​the Spider Kingdom is about 100 meters underground."

Sofia continued.

"There is a cave spider queen there, at least a silver-level monster, with high intelligence, and she can communicate with humans through mental means."

"Silver level?"

Harris's voice rose a few decibels.

He certainly knew what Silver level meant.

The strongest members of the knightly order he led were only high-ranking warriors.

Fortunately, they didn't go inside.

"Don't rush, let me finish."

Sophia raised her hand again to interrupt him.

"The Spider Queen said that she was willing to release the people on one condition: that they stop digging deeper underground and cease encroaching on her territory."

Harris frowned.

"Stop digging?"

His gaze swept over the densely packed mine entrances in Black Mountain, and a troubled expression appeared on his face.

“Miss Sophia, as you can see, the Black Mountain Mining Area is the most important economic pillar of Kyle City. The black iron ore produced here each month accounts for more than half of the entire Kyle City’s fiscal revenue.”

He paused, his tone becoming heavy.

"Stopping the digging is not something I can decide."

"I know."

Sophia nodded.

"So what I mean is, you should relay my words to the Earl verbatim, and how he decides is his business."

Harris was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"Okay, I'll pass on your message, but thank you this time."

Sophia waved her hand and walked down the mountain without looking back.

Harris stood there, watching the small, thin figure slowly walk away along the mountain path, remaining silent for a long time.

"Deputy Regiment Commander."

A young knight leaned closer from behind and asked in a low voice.

"Who is this little girl? She looks only twelve or thirteen years old, but she speaks and acts more maturely than us?"

"do not know."

Harris shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the shrinking figure.