At the break of dawn the next day, Batman and Merkel quickly embarked on their mission. Batman had a readily available interviewee in mind – Hexagon. Although they didn't work in the same area, Batman had a way to find him.
Hexagon was working deep within the mine where carts for transporting ores powered by magic provided the connection to the outside world. These carts needed no manual operation and could navigate on their own. More importantly, for humans, the carts, filled with ores, were even larger than train carriages.
The extracted ores were brought to the side of the tracks in baskets. Both the petite demons and humans had to climb up scaffolding to pour the ores into the carts. Supervisors often patrolled the area, but they didn't care if anyone approached the mining carts.
At times, when a cart was filled to the brim and too heavy to move, the supervisor in charge of it would call a few workers to redistribute some ores into the next cart. For Batman, this presented an opportunity.
Batman discovered that there was a considerable gap between the railway track and the bottom of the cart. The bottom surface of the cart was also rough. Batman could sneak under the cart and hide there when ores were being transferred, following the cart deep into the mine.
What presented this opportunity was the fact that the current supervisor of the carts in this area was Shiller.
Having successfully executed his plan and hitched a ride underneath the cart, Batman realized why espionage work required not only broad infiltration but also deep infiltration.
In a department, having two undercover agents working together made many things easier, especially if one of them held a high position. If one such agent held a high rank and the others held different positions, everything would go as smoothly as a breeze.
When infiltration reaches this level, counter-espionage is nearly impossible.
Most times, the infiltrated party is not oblivious to the situation. However, at this point, cutting off the infiltrators would not only mean severing the tail, but the vitals along with it. Expelling spies could mean the end of the organization itself.
As the mining cart rumbled forward, Batman began to think about how to counter such a predicament. After much thought, he discovered that the only viable strategy was to shift power centers, effectively hollow out this department, and then use a false task to distract opponents before setting up operations elsewhere.
But achieving this would require significant nerve, long-term planning, and a continually alert mind.
Batman was just pondering upon this when the mining cart arrived at its destination, the deepest part of the mine where Hexagon worked. This was the extraction site of the essential metal ore, "Shadow Ore".
From his previous conversation with Hexagon, Batman knew that Shadow Ore was a unique mineral used primarily for forging cavalry armor. The hardness and toughness of this mineral were mediocre but what made it valuable was its property of being weightless like a shadow.
This was ideal for entire body armor of light cavalry and the inner lining of heavy cavalry. It could be melted with other metals to enhance their properties without increasing their weight.
However, the extraction of this mineral was relatively difficult because the presence of Shadow Ore guaranteed that of the Shadow Vines, a type of plant that entwines itself indiscriminately on the mineral and attacks any miner trying to extract it.
As for Hexagon, a sentient Shadow Vine himself, he needed to appease the non-sentient Shadow Vines as much as possible to allow miners to extract the ores.
As the time for appeasement and extraction was limited, the miners here were the most robust beings, tasked with extracting as much Shadow Ore as they could in the shortest possible time.
After getting off the cart, Batman immediately hid in a spot where the Shadow Ore had been wholly extracted. He leapt a few times onto the protruding parts of the rock layers, climbed the supports made of logs, and looked down on the mine from a high point.
He noted that the miners consisted mainly of three races. The most conspicuous were the Magma demons. They resembled the mythical Stone Giants, but their bodies bore molten-like marks when exerting power.
Each Magma Demon stood five to six meters tall, with enormous fists. When the Shadow Vines were appeased, they would dash forwards and smash the Shadow Ore with their fists several times before leaving the small demons to pick up the crushed ore.
In addition to the Magma demons, there were also the slightly smaller Red Giants, and the Mud Monsters capable of swallowing minerals.
Batman carefully observed their methods. He noticed that the Red Giants barely interacted with the other races. They were agile and had fingers to use tools, thus they didn't rely on other races.
However, to mine, the Magma demons heavily depended on the small demons to pick up their shattered pieces. Also, the Magma demons caused a considerable amount of sparks when smashing the ores, which could easily harm the Shadow Vines and small demons and even reach the Mud Monsters.
Batman observed the Shadow Vines and small demons shrieking and avoiding the extinguishing smoky arms or limbs from the burns. The Mud Monsters often grumbled dissatisfiedly, warning the Magma demons nearby to be careful.
Thinking back to Hexagon's complaints, Batman understood that the Magma demons shared a rocky relationship with almost all other races in the mine. These big guys were mighty, but they didn't appear to be smart and lacked attention to detail. Batman didn't have to think hard to come up with dozens of strategies against the Magma demons.
After observing the surroundings, Batman finally spotted Hexagon, who was shivering and hiding in a corner, amongst the Shadow Vines.
However, the Magma Demon he was partnered with had a particularly feeble brain. Each time it smashed the ore, a blaze takes flight, spewing countless fireballs, and sending the Shadow Vine and the Miniature Demons around it into a successive series of wails.
Observing this scene, Batman didn't rush down to rescue Hexagon. Instead, he lingered here a little while longer, mentally noting down the behavioral patterns of the various races. Then, he returned to his workstation with the resuming carts.
Waiting until nightfall, he returned to his living quarters to rest. Batman heard Hexagon's wails once again. However, before Batman had to suggest anything, Hexagon held out his scalded tentacles towards Batman and begged, "Human, quickly use your healing magic to help me; my feet are in severe pain!"
As Batman was treating Hexagon, he nonchalantly said, "That Magma Demon is bullying you again. Have you considered devising a solution?"
"What can I do? Those big guys are totally brainless. The Miniature Demons and I shouted at him a few times to get him to be careful, but he can't hear us. I think... he's out to get me…"
"What about the Miniature Demons?" Batman asked. He was a little confused. He came up with the name Miniature Demons for these smaller demons; why did Hexagon begin to call them by this name?
"Because they are Miniature Demons." Hexagon, while screaming in pain, replied, "They are short and small, and they are the easiest demons to bully in Hell. Naturally, they are called Miniature Demons."
Batman recalled and realized that they indeed were the smallest demons he had encountered at the mine. These Miniature Demons barely measured up to a meter in height. Their large heads and pointed ears wobbled whenever they moved. If it was not for the tail helping them maintain balance, they would fall over with a bit of extra speed when walking.
"Although these guys have a weak build, they are particularly fertile, hence their large number. They possess their own hierarchy within, which makes them easy to manage. Therefore, every mine keeps a large group of them for various jobs," Hexagon continued, while massaging his tentacles, "The stuff you eat is made by them."
Batman thought briefly, noted down this information, and said, "You have mentioned it yourself that the big guy has no brains. Isn't it really easy to handle him?".
Hexagon waved his tentacles and said, "Do you have a plan? You wily human! You do, right? You guys are so full of tricks, known in Hell for your intelligence and cunning. Only ancient demons and demon lords can compare with you…"
"Tomorrow, just do as I've instructed. Even if it doesn't teach him a lesson, it will surely allow you to switch partners," Batman promised.
After resuming work the next day, Batman took the mine cart in the same manner to the depths of the mines. He then hid in the upper part of the wooden prop. Sure enough, soon after, disruption erupted below.
"Oh my! What happened to these Shadow Vines? Why did they explode so suddenly? Quick, run! Run now!"
"God, where is Hexagon? Why isn't he working? Hurry up and soothe these Shadow Vines, oh, my bottom hurts!"
Batman peeked downwards and saw gigantic Shadow Vines erupting one after another, wildly swinging around the workers of various races.
The Magma Demons, despite being five to six meters tall, were no match for the Shadow Vines. Thousands of Shadow Vines engulfed nearly the entire mine tunnel, reminding Batman of the scene when All Things Green descended.
After a while, the supervisor arrived, and the chaos gradually subsided. Then Batman heard Hexagon's sobs of grievance:
"…That big oaf was being reckless. One fireball hit my head while I was putting out the fire. Next, he punched the Shadow Vines nearby. Sir, you know, those things can't stand irritation. They erupted immediately after the punch…"
"I wanted to soothe them, but that big brute was swinging his arms around and knocked me into the wall… Oh god, my legs! They hurt so much!"
"Don't believe me? Ask Ao Fei! And his children, they all work here!"
Before the supervisor could even speak, the Miniature Demons began to babble, "That's right! He is too abusive. He is the most brutal in the entire mine. Last time he almost pushed us into the magma!"
"Exactly, he is doing it intentionally. He fools around instead of working…"
The complaints grew more frequent. Seeing the chaos of the mine, the supervisor called for someone. After a while, a more robust supervisor walked in. He flicked his whip and harshly struck the Magma Demon's back.
It seemed as though the whip contained a magical effect. After striking the Magma Demon, it instantly erupted green poisonous smoke. The Magma Demon shrieked and was then driven out of the mine by those supervisors, his whereabouts unknown.
The supervisor coughed and declared, "I want no more troublemakers here. Now is a critical time, and the smeltery is waiting for ores. If we can't collect enough minerals in three days, I will throw all of you into the magma!"
Watching the supervisor's departing figure, Batman squinted, focusing on the whip in the supervisor's hand.