There was a group of people, 28 in total, locked in cages by the caravan of wagons. The people looked skinny and weak…clearly starved and imprisoned for a long period of time. Their eyes were dull and devoid of expression…they made no sound as the hunters approached.
The team quickly liberated them, Semi and Thalia healed their wounds while the rest of the team distributed to them water and food.
"Who are you? Where did you come from?" Jongsoo asked.
One man opened his mouth and pointed at his mouth with his fingers…his tongue had been cut-off. The other prisoners did the same…opened their mouths…all their tongues had been cut-off. The hunters were shocked and disgusted by the savagery they were seeing.
Thalia knelt by the man, placed her hand gently on his shoulder and observed intently his wound. The tongue had been severed months ago…maybe even years ago. Restoring a wound that old would require considerable concentration and mana.
!ALERT!
[MAIDEN'S DOMAIN Activated]
She felt her mana stretch out, wrapping around the prisoners…it enveloped them in a dazzling spectacle of lights.
[RESTORATION skill used]
The prisoners started to speak…at first bewildered to have their tongues restored…then shocked to hear their own voices again. Some cried, while others thanked the hunters repeatedly.
"I don't know for sure where everyone is from…the guards didn't allow us to try to communicate with each other…but I think most here are from different universes…all of us were taken prisoners and made to work as slaves," said a man.
After further discussion, the strike-team learned a few important clues. First, people from many universes were imprisoned and taken as slaves forced to work. Second, the magic beasts were digging and mining mana crystals. Third, the crystals were all taken to one central location.
"Thalia, can you use your special skill to see if there are more prisoners around here?" Jongsoo asked in a polite tone.
"Checking now…I see…I see 10, 11, 12…12 similar sites." Thalia answered.
The team was shocked to hear there were so many excavation sites spread throughout. Jongsoo asked more questions about the topology of the area, approximate location of the digging sites, and mob sizes.
"The mission parameters have changed," Jongsoo said, "rescuing people is our top priority now…after we rescue the prisoners, we can focus on clearing the dungeon."
To more effectively manage the rescue operation, the strike-team was split in three groups as follows:
Team A
Jongsoo Park, Matteo Smith, Miho and Thalia
Team B
Kihoon Son, Liam Williams, Gina, and Semi Han
Team C
Teo Johnson and Bora Lee
Team A would attack the eastern locations, Team B would attack the western locations, and Team C would set-up camp and guard the survivors. Later that night the teams were scheduled to regroup at the camp.
As the day came to an end and darkness started to cover the land, Team A and Team B returned with 62 additional survivors. Thalia and Semi Han treated them for injuries while the rest of the strike-team prepared for nightfall. Arrangements were made for guard duty, caring for the survivors, gathering food, water, and other needed supplies.
The next 7 days were similar, destroy excavation sites, liberate prisoners, regroup at the base, and move forward.
"Captain…I am concerned about our pace…our camp has grown to over 1,000 survivors. Many are too weak and vulnerable to move…at this rate we may end staying here for months." Kihooon said to Jongsoo.
"Yes, I know…but according to Thalia, there are only two excavation sites left…this one here is the largest…it will probably have the greatest resistance…and the one here…it's much smaller." Jongsoo said as he explained the day's mission to the strike-team.
"Captain…if its ok, Miho and I can take care of the little site…its small and we can handle it…besides I'm pretty sure the prisoners there are terran." Thalia said.
"Hmm…the prisoners would feel relieved seeing another terran come to their rescue…ok, here is the plan…Thalia and Miho will clear the small site while the rest of us clear the large site. We meet here before dark." Jongsoo said.
After some quick preparations, Thalia and Miho departed.
"Captain…I'm pretty sure they played us…I don't think there is a terran camp…" Kihooon said.
"Yeah, I know." Jongsoo replied, "but still, let's put our faith in them."