"How long have you been working in the Binota Mine?" Zhang Heng then asked the waiter to bring two glasses of wine to the miners opposite him.
"I've been working in the Binota Mine for five years, but for two years, I changed my job to load and unload goods at the dock. It was a little easier than working in the mine, but the income was also lower. Two years later, I had my fourth daughter, and I needed more money. So, I went back to the mine," the older miner said. He then pointed to the younger miner beside him, "He is my nephew. He just joined us this year. He's a good boy. He never complains about his work."
"Well, when did you stop working this time?" Zhang Heng asked.
"About half a month ago," the old miner tried to recall.
"It was 16 days ago to be exact," his nephew added. "We went to the mine as usual in the morning, but the supervisor told us that there was an accident. The mine tunnel collapsed, and we couldn't start work until it was cleaned up. Everyone had to go home and wait for news."
"Did you go to the mine after the accident?"
The old miner and his nephew looked at each other. "We said that we could help clean up the mine. After all, we are paid every day, and there are many people waiting to eat at home. We don't know how long we will stop working, and we want to get back to work as soon as possible. However, the supervisor refused to let us in. Even if we said that we don't need to pay, he told us that the slaves could handle it. We don't have to worry about it. But now … we have stopped working for two weeks. During these two weeks, we can only do odd jobs to survive. If it weren't for the gold coins you gave us, we would have gone to borrow money."
"Did anything unusual happen before you stopped working? Or did anyone you've never seen go to the mine?" Zhang Heng leaned back and changed into a more comfortable position.
"Cobb's eldest son, Krasai. He doesn't like the mine or us, but a few days before the accident, he suddenly went to the mine to inspect it. We saw him chatting with the supervisor for a long time, avoiding everyone else. The night before the collapse, nothing happened in the mine tunnel. It didn't rain that night either. So, everyone was surprised by the collapse the next day," the old miner said.
"And then? Is there anything else worth noting?"
So far, what the old miner said only indirectly proved that the landslide in the Binota mine was indeed man-made. However, he did not provide any clues related to the mastermind behind it. If that was the case, Zhang Heng would have to visit Krasai or Cobb later.
The old miner shook his head. However, Zhang Heng noticed that the young miner had a look of hesitation on his face.
"If you don't have enough money, I can pay you another three gold coins," said Zhang Heng.
"Oh, no, you've misunderstood. You gave us two gold coins just to ask a question. We can't ask for more. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to bring trouble to the person who told me about this," the young miner said.
"Hmm?"
"I have a friend. She's a … servant of the Cobb family," the young miner stammered.
"Slaves?"
"Yes. In fact, she heard something a few days before the work stopped. She told me about it, but I didn't tell anyone else. I also told her not to tell anyone else."
"Don't worry. You can get my guarantee that we won't leak what you told us to anyone else, right?" Zhang Heng looked at Decius, and the latter immediately nodded with a serious look on his face.
"I've always been a tight-lipped person. I never speak nonsense."
"Well, I believe you." The young miner finally made up his mind and said, "A week before the accident, someone visited Cobb late at night. The two of them stayed in the study room for almost the whole night, plotting something. During that time, they called someone to pour them some water. It was at that time that my friend heard Cobb saying that this matter was too dangerous, and that they had to pay a higher price. The visitor replied that it would only delay the casting time of the bronze statues, and no one would know about it. After that, my friend went out."
"Did your friend see the visitor's face?" Zhang Heng raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, she told me about it. It's mainly because the person left a deep impression on her. She said that there was a red birthmark on the left side of the man's face. It looked like a ball of flame."
"Heh, that narrows down the scope," Zhang Heng said. "There won't be many people in Rome with red birthmarks on their faces, and there won't be many people who would dare to touch the bronze statues. I believe it won't be difficult to find out who it is." After that, he took out two gold coins and tossed them to the young miner. "Here's your reward. Don't reject it. You've done me a big favor, and this is what you deserve. I have nothing else to ask. You can go now.
The young miner took the money, thanked Zhang Heng again, and left the tavern with his uncle.
On the other side, Decius had a nervous and awkward smile on his face. He put down the glass in his hand uneasily and asked Zhang Heng, "We … Are we involved in something?"
"What do you think?" Zhang Heng asked rhetorically.
"I'm just a small fry. Why did this kind of thing happen to me?" Decius complained with a bitter face, "Why would someone target those bronze statues? What good would it do to delay the delivery of the bronze statues other than to get me into trouble? And these are the statues of His Majesty the Emperor. Who would dare to mess with His Majesty the Emperor? "
Zhang Heng was noncommittal. "It's too late to talk about this kind of thing now. If you don't want to take the blame, solve this matter with me. You heard what he said. You should know some people in the Senate, right? Do you know anyone with a red birthmark on their face? Or do you know anyone who has a red birthmark on their face?"
"There shouldn't be anyone in the Senate with a red birthmark on their face … As for my subordinates …" Decius frowned. "With my identity, the number of senators I can get in touch with is limited. However, I have a friend who is a lobbyist. He specializes in contacting all parties to pass or reject a certain proposal. He has basically met everyone. If the visitor with the red birthmark really exists, my friend should know who he works for."
"Very well, then let's visit your friend next," Zhang Heng said, finished the wine in the glass, and threw six copper coins on the table.
Decius breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that he could finally leave the southeast area. However, at the same time, he felt a little strange. It had been so long, and no one had come to cause trouble for them. Was this still the southeast city that once snatched Fabino's engagement ring and beat him up?
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