The Mine

Frieren pouted, her silver-white hair flicking slightly with the movement.

"The former guild master, Norm, was originally a minor nobleman exiled to the Northern Plateau. Through his investment, he eventually became a hero who brought the flow of goods to this barren land. Back then, he also provided a considerable amount of funds to the group of heroes who were then unknown, without specifying a repayment deadline."

Her emerald eyes glanced sideways at President Norm behind the table, her tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"I never expected his descendants to try and trick us. This is called... pulling the ladder away after someone has climbed onto the roof? Right, Lowell?"

Lowell immediately gave a thumbs up, a "perfectly correct" smile on his face.

"That's it! That's the move!"

Norm Master Norm smiled, his expression showing no embarrassment but rather quite composed.

"I'm so sorry, I've brought shame upon our ancestors."

He abruptly changed the subject, leaning slightly forward, his hands still clasped on the smooth mahogany table, his gaze sweeping over the group behind his glasses.

"But please listen to me. You four have all come here, so you should all have seen the current state of devastation on the Northern Plateau, right?"

Fern stood a little behind him, her pale purple eyes fixed on him, her voice steady.

Does it mean that goods are not circulating?

"Haha, yes." Norm Master Norm chuckled, a hint of self-deprecation in his smile. "I don't think anyone would want to eat that kind of hard, unpalatable bread. I've tried it myself, and I really disliked it."

He paused, the smile fading from his face, and his tone became flat.

"But since the situation on the Northern Plateau deteriorated, we have lost 30% of our army and caravans in our battles against the Demons. If the Norm Trading Company were a nation, it would probably be wiped out by now."

Lowell nodded.

"That's right. A normal army is likely to collapse if it loses more than one-tenth of its troops, and logistical support is an even bigger problem."

"You seem quite knowledgeable as well." President Norm glanced at Lowell, his smile returning, though less pronounced. "Yes, that's true. But we are a chamber of commerce. No matter what, with enough capital, we can rise again after any failure."

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over Frieren and Lowell in turn, his eyes becoming unusually earnest.

"From the bottom of my heart, I believe that your arrival is guided by the Goddess."

He reached into his desk drawer and took out a yellowed leather map, slowly unfolding it on the table. His fingertip pointed to an area marked in red ink on the edge of the map.

"This is a mine under development. If we find the right silver mine, we can definitely make a comeback and restore the supply of materials to this area."

He looked up and gazed at Frieren and Lowell again.

"If there were several of them, they should be able to find a silver mine quite easily."

Frieren crossed her arms, narrowed her emerald eyes, and stared at Norm Master Norm.

"I see. So you were planning to use that IOU to make us comply obediently?"

She tilted her head slightly.

"So, if we don't have money, you'll probably... threaten us into mining?"

Norm readily admitted it, his shoulders slouching almost imperceptibly, as if he had shed a layer of pretense.

"Haha... Indeed, that's what I was thinking. There's nothing I can do now that I've been found out."

He shrugged, his expression helpless, but his eyes were clear.

"After all, it would be difficult for me to get everyone's help without using some methods. But there's no other way now, so I have to be frank."

His voice lowered, his pace slowed, and each word was clear and forceful.

"If the trade network continues to collapse like this, many people will likely starve to death. I urge you all to intervene and save the people living on this land. Lady Frieren, Lady Lowell."

He stood up, placed his right hand on his chest, and gave a flawless bow.

"I assure you, the Norm Trading Company will prioritize trade supplies and will not put profit first. We will ensure that everyone in the Northern Plateau has enough to eat."

The room fell silent.

Frieren, Lowell, and Fern exchanged glances.

Then, Frieren sighed softly, her lips curving upwards in a smile that held a hint of helplessness and a sense of "I can't do anything with you."

"This is really difficult to deal with. What's this called... 'Moral Blackmail'?"

She shook her head, her silver hair swaying.

"Haha, that's why I don't like dealing with businessmen."

She looked at Norm, her clear, emerald eyes shining through.

"Actually, there's no need for that. Even if you didn't say it that way, it's still my duty to repay the old chairman's kindness."

Fern stood to her side and slightly behind. Upon hearing this, her pale purple eyes turned to her master, and she calmly exposed him.

"You clearly wanted to run away before..."

Frieren froze, the tips of her ears turning almost imperceptibly red. She didn't turn around, but muttered something under her breath, a hint of embarrassment at being caught out.

"... Don't tell anyone."

Norm Master Norm, still bowing, smiled with relief upon hearing this and straightened up.

"So, you all agree?"

"Okay, please lead the way." Lowell crossed his arms, his tone casual. "Let's get this done quickly, we still need to get going."

The mine entrance had been initially cleared, revealing gray-black rock walls. Several tents were pitched in the open space, and some miners in work clothes were carrying equipment or resting by the campfire. When they saw the chairman personally leading his people over, they all stopped what they were doing and looked around curiously.

Norm Master Norm pointed to the largest rock face in front of them.

"Initial exploration suggests that the ore vein may be nearby, but its exact location and depth remain uncertain. We've tried digging in several areas, but they're all low-grade ore, not worth the investment."

Frieren walked to the rock wall and looked up at it.

Then, she took a few steps back.

Gently clap your hands together in front of your body, then put them together in prayer position.

There were no incantations recited, and no complicated opening gestures.

But the next second--

"Buzz!"

Centered on her, a soft and bright milky-white light rippled outwards, like ripples created by a pebble thrown into still water, instantly Swirl to a radius of tens of meters. The light was not dazzling, but it carried a pure sense of presence, enveloping her entirely.

Her long, silvery-white hair moved without wind, flowing backward with a faint halo at the ends. Her emerald eyes, illuminated by the light, resembled two serene jades. The hem of her white mage robe swayed gently.

Her feet left the ground, and she slowly floated up, hovering about two or three meters in mid-air.

Enveloped in a halo of light, suspended in front of the gray-black rock wall, he stood out conspicuously, even exuding a sense of tranquility that transcended the ordinary and was almost sacred.

The miners stared, mouths agape. Some dropped their tools with a soft clatter, but no one paid them any attention.

Frieren floated in the air, her eyes closed, seemingly sensing something intently. Light flowed steadily around her.

A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, extended a finger, and pointed to a spot on the left side of the rock wall that looked no different from its surroundings. Her voice came through the light, steady and clear.

"Over there. About thirty meters deep, trending slightly to the lower left, good reserves."

Norm Master Norm's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned around, forcefully waving his arm at the still-stunned foreman, his voice booming.

"Okay! Let's get started!"

The foreman snapped out of his daze, his face instantly glowing with excitement. He raised his voice and shouted at the surrounding miners:

"Did you all hear that?! Dig! Dig and dig and dig in that huge mine shaft!"

"Oh--!"

The miners erupted in enthusiastic response, grabbed their tools, and surged toward the location Frieren had indicated. The clanging of pickaxes against the rock face, their shouts, and the rising dust instantly shattered the silence of the valley.

Lowell crossed his arms, looked up at Frieren as she slowly descended, her light fading, and grinned broadly, clapping his hands vigorously.

"Not bad, not bad! Your Bluffing Magic are getting better and better!"

He gave two thumbs up, his eyes shining.

"Cool! Beautiful!"

Frieren landed lightly, the light completely receding, her silver hair once again flowing smoothly over her shoulders. She brushed off imaginary dust from her hands, her expression returning to its usual calm, and proudly puffed out her chest.

"Hmph~"

Fern walked to her side, his pale purple eyes calmly sweeping over the bustling miners before turning to his master, and whispering in a tone that said, "I knew it all along":

"I knew it... The 'Mineral Sensing' magic doesn't have any of these weird special effects..."

Frieren turned her face away, didn't reply, and pretended to study the moss on the rock wall next to her.

On the other side, Liletta glanced at the noisy miners, then looked down at the sword at her waist.

She walked silently over and stopped a little outside the crowd. Then, she drew her sword.

A flash of sword light.

"Clang!"

It wasn't an attack, but rather a flat strike with the sword, hitting a protrusion on the rock wall. Large chunks of rock crumbled down, revealing a more easily excavated layer below.

The actions were swift and efficient.

"I will help those in need..."

The bustling activity at the mine, like ripples created by a pebble thrown into calm water, continued to Swirl throughout this desolate mountain valley.

The wind, carrying the smell of dust and sweat, swept across hopeful faces.

In the distance, under the hazy sky of the Northern Plateau, newly mined ore glittered with a metallic sheen.