While inspecting the area around the Salt Mine, Velin spotted many wild beasts, many of which were on the verge of evolving.
"We need to find time to clear them out. If these beasts grow stronger, they'll become a major problem." After killing several gray wolves, Velin wiped the blood from his Knight Longsword and muttered to himself.
On the third day at the Salt Mine, after seeing the first batch of rock salt excavated, the camp gradually began operating smoothly.
The camp's perimeter was made of wooden stakes driven into the ground, each one sharpened to keep wild beasts out.
Numerous traps had been placed near the wooden fence, both to prevent the Bandit Slaves from escaping and to block wild beasts from entering.
On the last day of June, Velin led a squad of soldiers and three carts of salt ore back along the road to Lake of Star Prayer.
After today, it would be the first day of a new month. He looked forward to what Guidance of Fate would tell him, hoping it could solve the problem of building the castle.
After returning to Lake of Star Prayer, Velin had the soldiers haul the salt ore into the warehouse for storage, then began inspecting the territory to check on the past few days' construction progress.
"My lord, I have some ideas and would like your permission." Seeing his lord arrive, Belder stepped forward, bowed to Velin, and spoke.
"Let's hear them." Watching the soldiers train diligently on the Training Ground, Velin nodded in satisfaction and replied to Belder.
"My lord, the number of Apprentice warriors in the unit has surpassed thirty, reaching thirty-seven. I would like to select twenty of them, equip them with iron armor, and train them by harsher methods to awaken their potential, allowing them to grow into a sharp sword in your hands."
"The twenty sets of iron armor in the warehouse are just gathering dust. Why not put them to use?" Velin patted Belder on the shoulder and left the Training Ground with a smile.
"Thank you, my lord."
Belder was extremely excited. His plan had succeeded.
Meanwhile, Velin understood Belder's intentions perfectly. Orlando was training a hundred children aged twelve or thirteen, cultivating a force centered around himself. Seeing this, Belder would naturally choose another direction in which to make a breakthrough and demonstrate his value.
Velin was more than happy to see this kind of healthy competition.
On the night of July 1, a pleasant voice sounded beside Velin's ear once more.
Fifteen kilometers east of Lake of Star Prayer, thirty meters underground, there was a small Mithril Ore deposit with reserves of two hundred tons.
"What? Mithril Ore?"
Upon hearing the news, Velin's eyes lit up. This was far more valuable than that Salt Mine.
Mithril was a rare material. Silver-white in appearance, it was stronger than steel yet extremely light, possessed excellent energy conductivity, and could break shields.
Adding a small amount of Mithril when forging a weapon could raise the weapon by one or two grades.
These two hundred tons of Mithril Ore could conservatively yield fifteen hundred kilograms of Mithril.
At current market prices, one gram of Mithril was worth four Gold Coins. This small Mithril Ore deposit was worth six million Gold Coins, equivalent to two years of tax revenue for the Ex Family.
Even so, it was hard currency—valuable, but unavailable on the market.
"We need to arrange for people to start digging as soon as possible, before someone else discovers it."
Taking out a map, Velin discovered that the location fifteen kilometers east of Lake of Praying Stars lay in a border region of a Baron Territory, only fifteen kilometers from the boundary.
He was still in the pioneering stage. According to the kingdom's laws, a Pioneer Knight's territory had no borders. In other words, if the other side discovered this place and sent troops to occupy it, they would bear no legal responsibility.
Although he had his family backing him, that was only because there had not yet been enough profit to make others take such risks.
With that in mind, Velin decided to mobilize manpower the next day and head fifteen kilometers away to excavate the Mithril Ore himself, personally overseeing the operation until it was complete.
After a night passed, as soon as dawn broke, Velin ordered Belder to leave two squads behind to protect Lake of Praying Stars, while the remaining one hundred and ten men followed him out.
Belder was quite puzzled by the order, but as a loyal knight, he did not ask for the reason. After leaving two squads under the command of two knights to maintain order and security in the territory, he led the rest of the troops after Velin.
After three hours, following the detailed map of the Yellow Stone Area provided earlier by his cousin Ake, Velin found the location.
"Belder, lead the men in building a camp first. We'll start mining tomorrow." Velin put away the map and instructed Belder beside him.
"Yes, my lord."
Belder was even more puzzled, but he accepted the order without the slightest hesitation.
With the efforts of one hundred and ten warriors, a defensive camp covering three hundred square meters was constructed.
That night, Velin summoned Belder alone into a tent and had the guards on watch withdraw ten meters away to keep watch.
"Belder, can I trust you?" Velin wore a grave expression as he stared at the knight his family had assigned to him and asked in a deep voice.
"My lord, as a knight who has sworn an oath to you, I am willing to die for you." Belder rose, straightened his clothes, and knelt on one knee with solemn seriousness.
Velin looked at Belder for a long time before speaking. "What I'm about to tell you cannot be known by a third person at this stage, apart from you and me."
"Please tell me, my lord." Belder answered without hesitation.
"Thirty meters beneath our feet lies a small Mithril Ore deposit, with reserves of three hundred tons."
Belder's face filled with shock. He asked in disbelief, "My lord, is that true?"
"Absolutely true." Velin nodded. "From now on, the excavation of the Mithril Ore will be entrusted to your troops."
"Rest assured, my lord. If a third person learns of the Mithril Ore deposit's existence, I am willing to offer you my head." Belder made the solemn declaration, giving Velin his assurance.
Most of the soldiers outside had come from serf and slave backgrounds. Although they were also learning to read at this stage, they knew nothing of a rare mineral like Mithril.
As long as the excavation remained secret, the soldiers would only think they were digging some kind of rare ore.
The next morning, feeling the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders, Belder divided his soldiers into three groups.
The first group consisted of thirty men, responsible for guarding the camp and scouting suspicious individuals.
The second group consisted of fifty men, responsible for excavating the Mithril Ore.
The third group consisted of thirty men, serving as the transport unit. They were responsible for hauling the Mithril Ore from the camp back to Lake of Praying Stars, then bringing supplies from Lake of Praying Stars. During their free time, they would join the second group in excavating the Mithril Ore.
Velin decided to oversee the operation personally, mainly taking charge of transportation.
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