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"It’s a beautiful workplace," I say

"We all take pride in e do," Josiah says "Justus told me you have impressive skills, and he showed ins in here"

I nod Because I’m new, my job will be the easiest task of all--quick fixes and polishes for e The drones are steel-strong and complicated, and they often need repair thanks to the difficult nature of their task of extracting ore I can’t help but feel a little bit of interest in the drones

"Word spreads quickly," Josiah says in a low voice "Everyone here knows that you’re Oceana the Minister’s daughter, but I’ve asked them not to talk to you about her"

Of course It’s as Nevio insinuated yesterday in his office My o

Josiah pauses near another room full of well-lit workstations I see a heavy, round portal door at the opposite end "We call that the ocean room," he says "It’s where we do the more difficult repairs That door is where the drones co smells like salt This is one of the few places where Atlantia opens up, and we are very, very close to the ocean

I have to hide a set to the Above

I’ve never been so deep, or so close to the sea

"I can tell you’re itching to work in the ocean rooottenat the portal "Don’t worry You’ll move in there quickly if you’re as talented as you seem to be"

"Thank you," I say

Josiah’s expression grows serious "The ht now," he says "I need to tell you about the mines"

I wonder why We don’t actually work in the mines or see any of the metals harvested there That’s what the drones are for They’re programmed to take their payloads somewhere else, some other part of Atlantia They only report to this bay if they’re in need of repair

My face ins to speak ood I supposedly am at metalwork This always happens after people have heard me speak

"There are two kinds of mines out there," he says "There are the et the ore, and then there are the otherbombs--between the walls of Atlantia and the ocean floor where the drones work That’s how the drones get so beat-up"

"I assu," I say