Friends

The Adventure Group traveled north for another two days before finally finding the Gaxi North Black Iron Mine.

The half- Half-Elf Warrior Half-Elf Warrior guarding the watchtower spotted the Adventure Group again and immediately signaled the Guard Squad to be on high alert.

The guide arrived at the city walls and, after asking several questions, learned that it was the Boss's friend who had found the place...

The Half-Elf Warrior quickly ran down the stairs to report the matter to Roy.

Roy was training a squad of Half-Elf Warrior in the yard.

Roy required the Half-Elf Warrior to be fully armed every day, wearing all their armor except when sleeping, so they could quickly adapt to the heavy metal armor.

Otherwise, once on the battlefield, they would be out of breath after just a few steps, and even the finest armor would be a burden.

Upon hearing that Moira, Sabrina, Woods, Tiffany, Blair had come directly from Castleton City, Roy immediately ordered the castle gates to be opened, and he personally came out to greet them.

A little over a month ago, Roy received a letter from Moira, informing him that the group would likely arrive at the Pagisto Plateau around this time.

I've been too busy lately, so I haven't been able to wait at the First Mine.

Roy hurriedly walked out of the castle gate and saw several friends riding horses coming from the Mountain Road...

He strode down the steps...

He came to Moira's side, reached out and took the reins of her horse, then held her hand and helped her down from the horse.

Moira looked well-behaved and quiet, her little face as red as an apple.

She hid behind Sabrina, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

Roy went up and hugged Sabrina, inhaling the faint scent of lavender on her. He then hugged Woods, Blair, Miss Tiffany, and the others before saying to everyone, "You've come at the right time. Since you're here, stay and help out for the next few days!"

After speaking, he led his friends into the castle hall, arranged rooms for them, and told them to rest for a while, have something to eat, and then catch up together.

Woods obviously didn't receive the same treatment. Roy took Woods directly to a hillside covered with fish-scale-shaped terraces, each built of stone. No crops were planted on these terraces, only some low shrubs.

Roy pulled Woods along and quickly walked to the hillside outside the castle.

Pointing to the cranberries, Roy said to Woods, "Woods, I want to plant some fruit trees here. You'll have to help me figure out a way."

Woods looked around, took a deep breath, and whispered to Roy, "I'll give it a try. This environment isn't suitable for growing fruit trees, so it might not work. These cranberries are not only cold-resistant, but they also taste good..."

"Woods, you can cultivate a few shorter fruit trees that are not only wind-resistant and cold-resistant, but also able to grow delicious apples. We can't have to bring all the apples in from outside..." Roy said.

He has great confidence in Woods.

"Roy, I am a druid, that's true, but I'm not a tree spirit, and I'm not used to carrying saplings with me when I travel."

Woods frowned and protested to Roy.

The journey from Castleton City to the Gaxi Mountain Range on the Pattington Pagisto Plateau takes at least twenty days.

Each semester at the Elf Academy lasts only two months. This means that if Sabrina and her friends want to go back to school after arriving at the Black Iron Mine in the Gaxi Mountain Range, they can only stay here for a week.

Along the way, in order to see Roy as soon as possible, everyone was practically sleeping outdoors in the open.

Arriving at the Black Iron Mine Castle, I can finally take a proper bath.

Moira stood by the full-length Bronze Mirror, surrounded by swirling steam, looking at her somewhat blurry reflection. She gently wiped away the water droplets that blocked her face, and a faint smile quietly bloomed on her beautiful, rosy face in the mirror.

Sabrina, wrapped in a towel, stood behind Moira and dried her hair.

Miss Tiffany is still soaking in the bathtub and refuses to get out; it's said she's going to sleep in this big bathtub tonight...

Wearing a long white dress, Moira couldn't wait to run out of the room.

Roy was sitting in the living room on the first floor, chatting with Klayr.

Woods was nowhere to be seen.

Moira reached the landing of the stairs, immediately slowed her pace, covered her chest with one hand, and tried to slow her breathing as she walked down the stairs step by step.

When Roy looked up at Moira, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Moira pursed her lips slightly, feeling a little smug.

Roy stood up and invited Moira to sit on the sofa opposite him, then asked with a smile, "Was the journey quite tiring?"

"Thankfully, I arrived here just when I was about to give up..."

Moira spoke very softly.

"Thank you for coming to see me. It makes me feel like there's still some hope for life here!" Roy said with a smile.

At that moment, Sabrina, wearing Beige Dress, also came downstairs.

"Roy, is there anything we can do?" Sabrina asked.

Roy thought about it seriously for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "Sabrina, you can teach these Half-Elf Warrior some Elementary Martial Arts. Some of Half-Elf Warrior still can't even hold a longsword properly."

"Okay," Sabrina replied.

Moira quickly asked Roy:

"And what about me, Roy? Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Roy thought for a moment before saying to Moira, "There's a very skilled Dark Moon Elf in the mine. I'll ask him to teach you some assassin's fighting techniques."

"..."

Moira blinked, initially not quite understanding what Roy had said.

Once she understood, she immediately stared wide-eyed at Roy.

Roy noticed that Moira's introverted personality had become much more outgoing since she met Miss Tiffany.

Roy smiled.

Just then, Timothy and Tennyson, the two Dark Moon Elf captains, returned from outside the mine with a squad of Dark Moon Elf and passed through the corridor next to the castle.

They led their Dark Moon Elf Warrior on daily patrols around Aidasi Mountain, looking for any trace of the Highland Headhunters.

Roy called out to Tennyson, who was about to walk over:

"Tennyson, wait a minute!"

Timothy waved to Tennyson, signaling him to come over, then led the other Dark Moon Elf through the corridor and left...

"Boss, what do you need me for?"

When Tennyson spoke, his face was completely expressionless, like a stone statue hidden in the shadows.

Roy was already used to Tennyson's attitude and said to him:

"I have a favor to ask you. Could you please teach Moira some real assassin combat techniques when you have some free time?"

Roy pointed at the sullen Half-Elf opposite him.

Tennyson looked up at Moira and nodded to Roy. "Then starting tomorrow morning, she can go out on duty with our Dark Moon Elf squad."

After saying that, without even checking if Moira was willing, he turned and left...

He was such a Dark Moon Elf, usually extremely taciturn, yet the most skilled among the Dark Moon Elf.

Moira had just arrived at the mine when Roy found her a tutor. Although she was somewhat unhappy, she didn't refuse...

She knew Roy meant well, but rather than learning those boring martial arts techniques, she preferred to follow Roy around and see his daily life.

Klayr asked Roy curiously, "Roy, how many mines do you operate now?"

Roy replied, "There are eight in total: three Spinel Mine, two Mithril Mine, and three Black Iron Mine. The Gemstone Mine and Mithril Mine are currently operating smoothly, but the three Black Iron Mine have all been shut down. One of the Mithril Mine is currently short of miners, and I'm planning to send the Gray Dwarf to the South Mithril Mine to mine after they finish their work here."

"So, it seems your studies will have to be put on hold for a while?" Klayr asked Roy.

Roy nodded somewhat helplessly and said, "The Silver Pegasus Legion suddenly withdrew from the Pattington Plane, leaving behind many of these mines without managers. I'm now firmly tied to this place."

"Since it's a commission from Earl Swynborne, we have to do this job well. I heard there might be a war going on here?"

"Yes, those Highland Headhunters were driven into the mountains in the north by the Silver Pegasus Warrior. Nobody knows when they will come out."

Woods caught up from behind and said to Roy, "Roy, I'll stay and help you."

"Okay!" Roy agreed without hesitation.

"We'll stay too..." Moira interjected.

She glanced somewhat embarrassedly at her older sister, Sabrina, wondering if she would be unhappy about making the decision for her without her consent...

Roy shook his head firmly. "No, you have to go to school."

"Hello..."

Roy stood up, reached over and picked up a thick woolen cloak from the wall, draped it over Moira, and put the hood over her head. He said to her, "Come on, while we still have some time, I'll show you around here!"

With a few friends coming to help at the Black Iron Mine, Roy's days became much easier.

Lately, he's been busy surveying the terrain, fortifying the Black Iron Mine Castle, training these half- Half-Elf Warrior aren't even rookies, and making some basic war preparations. He just can't stop.

Now that Sabrina was in charge of training the Half-Elf Warrior, and Woods and Klayr were helping to scout the surrounding terrain, things became much easier.

During his break, Roy would sit with a few friends and chat about things in Castleton City and the Elf Academy.