Chapter Summaries

Roy rescued more than four hundred starving Half-Elf Miners from an unfinished escape tunnel in the Third Mine, while the Dark Moon Elf Warriors captured most of the Gray Dwarf Bandits and found the Dark Moon Elf miners. The Gray Dwarf Chieftain remained barricaded in a mushroom-growing tunnel, and Roy ordered guards posted until there was time to clear it.

• Roy found Half-Elf Miners near death at the top of an unfinished escape tunnel and revived several with diluted Tree of Life Sap.
• Roy led more than four hundred Half-Elf Miners out of the tunnel, learning that the dead had been buried in abandoned mine passages.
• Roy brought the Half-Elves to the shaft, where they received food, and learned that the Gray Dwarves had driven the Dark Moon Elves away from their territory.
• Timothy and Tennyson's warriors captured more than one hundred seventy Gray Dwarf Bandits and found over a hundred Dark Moon Elf miners.
• Timothy told Roy that the Gray Dwarf Chieftain and more than a dozen bandits had barricaded themselves behind rubble, so Roy ordered guards to prevent them from escaping through another tunnel.

Roy brought three Dwarf Blacksmiths out of the Third Mine to establish a Blacksmith Workshop and offered freed Half-Elf Miners the chance to keep working for wages. The mine’s new smithy began operating, though its first assignment was forging shackles for the Gray Dwarves.

• Captain Timothy told Roy that three Dwarf Blacksmiths had been found in the mine, and Roy offered them work at his mine in exchange for food, ale, and days off.
• The three Dwarf Blacksmiths accepted Roy’s offer, and he brought them out of the mine to build a workshop.
• Roy freed the Half-Elf Miners, and some chose to remain underground and asked whether they could earn wages.
• Roy registered the Dark Moon Elf Prisoners and assigned them to supervise the Gray Dwarves while providing them with improved living arrangements.
• The Dwarf Blacksmiths completed a simple furnace and began their first job: forging shackles sized for Gray Dwarves.

Roy managed the Third Mine’s operations, heard the Half-Elf miners discuss their wages and hopes of returning to work, and continued developing his Holy Light abilities. The Gray Dwarf Bandits tried to escape through a hidden tunnel, but a Dark Moon Elf Warrior caught one of them.

• Roy and Vitas discussed the difficulty of keeping the Gray Dwarf Bandits secure and the need to build up the mine’s defenses.
• Half-Elf miners at dinner talked about sending letters home and earning wages by mining Gemstone Mine ore.
• Roy practiced Holy Light and reflected on how Hammer of Judgment had proven powerful in battle.
• A Gray Dwarf Bandit emerged from a hidden tunnel to scout the guards and prepare the bandits’ escape.
• A Dark Moon Elf Warrior surprised the Gray Dwarf Bandit, bound him, and called a Half-Elf Warrior over to help.

Roy secured the Third Mine, arranged new guards and supervisors, and returned to the Second Mine as Leishande arrived with supplies. Leishande then surprised Roy by bringing Kaka with him.

• A Dark Moon Elf Warrior captured a Gray Dwarf trying to escape through a tunnel, and Roy sealed the passage after tossing in a burning Rune Plate.
• Roy ordered the Gray Dwarf miners divided into separate groups and arranged for Dark Moon Elves to take over mine supervision while Timothy and Tennyson formed an Assassin Squad.
• Roy helped Vitas establish a Half-Elf Guard Squad at the Third Mine, then returned to the cave-in site and resealed the tunnel without checking whether the Gray Dwarf Chieftain had survived.
• Leishande arrived at the Second Mine with food from Rampart Town and learned that supplies from Valley Camp had already eased the food shortage.
• Roy returned to the Second Mine, where Leishande greeted him and said he had brought an Elf kid; Kaka then appeared and embraced Roy.

Roy arranged for Leishande’s pack train to keep a monthly supply route between the Pagisto Plateau and Rampart Town, then discussed the plateau’s future with Kaka. After Mulin reported trouble with the Second Mine’s Gray Dwarves, Roy confronted them and announced that their liquor-for-ore trade was suspended.

• Kaka arrived at the Second Mine after following Leishande’s pack train, and Roy asked Leishande to maintain a monthly trade route with Rampart Town.
• Leishande agreed to carry food and other supplies to the plateau and take its magic herbs and leather to Rampart Town before leaving to deliver food to the First Mine.
• Kaka praised Roy for helping the Half-Elves and offered to return with his griffin to scout for the Highland Headhunters after the Silver Pegasus Legion withdrew.
• Mulin told Roy that the Second Mine’s Gray Dwarves were delivering less spinel and had clashed with the Dark Moon Elf overseers, while military headquarters urged him to take over two more mines.
• Roy entered the mine with Mulin and Half-Elf and Dark Moon Elf Warriors, inspected the poor-quality ore, and told Dashel that he was suspending their trade.

Roy seized control of the Second Mine, captured the Gray Dwarves, and executed Elder Ampton for cheating him, then imposed strict work rules. He left the Gray Dwarves under new oversight by the Dark Moon Elf overseers.

• Roy had Dashel, Malanduo, and Maigedi captured, then led his forces through the trapped mine road and secured the bunker, where Elder Ampton and the Gray Dwarves surrendered.
• Timothy led the Dark Moon Elf Warriors and overseers in capturing nearly one hundred and sixty Gray Dwarves working in the Second Mine.
• Roy accused the Gray Dwarves of cheating him with inferior ore and waste rock, then ordered Elder Ampton's public execution.
• Tennyson killed a Gray Dwarf who rushed forward, and Timothy executed Elder Ampton as the other prisoners backed down.
• Roy ordered the Gray Dwarves to obey mine rules requiring ten hours of work each day, one rest day after six days, and a daily ore quota.
• Roy instructed the Dark Moon Elf overseers to divide the Gray Dwarves into three camps, provide their basic supplies, and monitor their assigned miners.

Roy prepared to take over two Mithril Mines in the Sudaso Mountains after Putejisi designed a dual-shaft elevator for Second Mine. He led three hundred Elf Warriors to the first mine and met Commander Blaize as the transfer began.

• Putejisi explained his dual-shaft elevator design to Roy, who planned to seek a spider-silk cable for its construction.
• Roy asked Kaka to join him in taking over two Mithril Mines, and Kaka agreed.
• Roy gathered weapons and armor and assembled a force of one hundred Dark Moon Elf Warriors and two hundred Half-Elf Warriors.
• Roy led the three hundred Elf Warriors for a week through the Sudaso Mountains until a Silver Pegasus captain directed them to the first Mithril Mine.
• Commander Blaize greeted Roy at the mine, and Roy presented the authorization document for the transfer.

Roy took over the Sudaso Mithril Mine from Commander Blaize and inspected its smelting workshop, supplies, and mine shaft. He freed the more than five hundred Half-Elf miners and offered them two weeks of food as they gathered outside the mine.

• Commander Blaize handed the mine over to Roy, explained its operations and stores, and warned him about possible Highland Headhunter attacks.
• Roy entered the mine shaft with Kaka and learned that the Half-Elf miners had been held there under a false promise that they could buy their freedom with mined mithril.
• Kaka told the miners that Roy had come to rescue them, and they abandoned their carts and rushed out of the mine.
• Roy gathered more than five hundred miners at the entrance, declared them free, and offered each person who wished to leave a travel pack with two weeks of food.

Roy freed the Half-Elf Miners at the Sudaso Mithril Mine, recruited fewer than fifty Half-Elf Warriors, and watched most of the freed workers leave. With mining halted and the mine’s guard force understaffed, he planned to ask the Legion for Gray Dwarf Miners.

• Roy offered the Half-Elf Miners wages and meals if they stayed, but most chose to take travel bags and leave; the Gray Dwarves were stopped from joining them and sent back to work.
• Walker organized the distribution of travel bags, and Half-Elf Warriors from Saint Anna Mountain told the freed miners about the Mine Guard and the Resistance Army.
• Roy recruited fewer than fifty Half-Elf Warriors, then shut the mine gates after the last miners departed.
• Kaka worried that releasing everyone would leave the mine unable to operate or defend itself, but Roy said the Seventeenth Silver Pegasus Legion’s mission was to restore the Half-Elves’ freedom.
• Roy ordered Walker to watch the Gray Dwarves overnight and explained that fear of nearby Highland Headhunters and collective punishment had discouraged escape.
• Roy told Kaka he would report the labor shortage to his superiors and request Gray Dwarves for the mine.

Roy took charge of the Sudasornan Mithril Mine, guarded the Mine Owner’s family while they awaited transport, and tried to keep the mine running by requesting Gray Dwarf prisoners. After Gray Dwarves attempted to escape, Roy arrived at the furnace courtyard, where five captives hung in chains and everyone waited for him to act.

• Roy inspected the manor and ordered Kaka to guard the stairwell so the Mine Owner’s family could not approach his quarters.
• Roy wrote to military headquarters requesting Gray Dwarf prisoners to keep the mine’s furnaces operating.
• A Dark Moon Elf woman asked Roy to let the Mine Owner’s family stay, and Roy agreed only until the Logistics Regiment’s pack train arrived.
• Kaka woke Roy to report that several Gray Dwarves had tried to escape and Captain Timothy had discovered them.
• Roy reached the rear courtyard, where Half-Elf Warriors surrounded the gathered Gray Dwarves and five captives hung beside the still-burning furnace.

Roy crushed a Gray Dwarf revolt at the Sudasornan Mithril Mine and warned the miners to keep the furnace running, while Kaka struggled with the killings. The next morning, Roy worried about the mine’s dwindling workforce and supplies, then agreed to speak with a Half-Elf girl from the Sitney Mine Owners family after she showed she understood the accounts.

• Roy used the Hammer of Punishment to stop Gray Dwarves from charging, and Dark Moon Elf Warriors killed the five captives and two Night Smelting Team foremen.
• Roy warned the Gray Dwarves that he would replace them with prisoners of war if the furnace stopped, then explained to Kaka that Gray Dwarf abuse had caused Half-Elf miners to starve and die in a buried escape tunnel.
• Roy reviewed the mine’s accounts and worried that mining had halted, the remaining Gray Dwarves could barely run the smelting workshop, and the Magic Crystal Stones would last only a month.
• A Half-Elf girl approached Roy after her mother urged her to seek a way to avoid trial over alleged Elf Slave trafficking.
• The girl remarked that smelting the existing ore into Mithril Ingots would take about two months, revealing her familiarity with the mine’s accounts.
• Roy invited the girl to sit and talk, and offered to help if the Elven Guards had troubled her.

Roy assessed the South Mithril Mine’s poor profits, appointed Qian Ning to manage its furnace and Kaka to watch over the mine, then traveled to take over the North Mithril Mine. He secured half of its Mithril Ingots from Commander Ke Leiwen and brought the total number of Elf Warriors guarding his mines to one thousand.

• Roy learned from Qian Ning that the South Mithril Mine’s old furnace produced only five Mithril Ingots a day and barely covered its expenses, then offered her a job managing the furnace workshop.
• Roy left one hundred Half-Elf Warriors at the South Mithril Mine, put Kaka in charge of watching the mine and warehouse, and warned him to retreat if Highland Headhunters attacked.
• Roy led his warriors to the North Mithril Mine and began inspecting its supplies with Commander Ke Leiwen, refusing to let his own warriors enter during the handover.
• Roy demanded the North Mithril Mine’s Mithril Ingots and the departure of the Mine Owners’ family members, then threatened to bypass the mine if Ke Leiwen refused.
• Roy agreed to take half the Mithril Ingots after Ke Leiwen said his Guard Regiment would withdraw that night, completing the takeover and bringing his mine guard forces to one thousand Elf Warriors.

Roy took control of the North Mithril Mine, freed its Half-Elf Miners, and let them choose whether to leave or work for wages. After most stayed to keep the mine running at a loss, Roy met the imprisoned Mine Owner Harold and learned he had a family of seventy or eighty people.

• Commander Ke Leiwen left the North Mithril Mine in haste, leaving Roy ten thousand Mithril Ingots and taking all the Elf Biscuits.
• Roy inspected the mine and found its efficient furnace, tracks, and equipment, but realized freeing all the miners would halt production without more ore.
• Roy freed the Half-Elf Miners and warned them about dangers on the road; 138 left immediately while nearly 200 chose to stay as paid miners.
• Roy calculated that wages and furnace fuel consumed all the mine's daily Mithril output, leaving it operating at a loss.
• Roy met Mine Owner Harold, who introduced the seventy or eighty members of his family held under house arrest in the castle.

Roy questioned Mine Owner Harold about the North Mithril Mine and learned how it was run, while Harold accepted that he would face trial for his role in slave trading. Their conversation led Roy to realize that Padesto City’s nobles, including Lord Alvis, had secretly backed the plateau mines and profited from the Half-Elf slave trade.

• Roy told Mine Owner Harold he could promise him no favors, and Harold admitted responsibility for slave trading and exploiting Half-Elf miners while asking Roy to mention it in his report.
• Harold offered mining expertise instead of pressing Roy to help him, explaining the furnace, ore reserves, production costs, and how expanding capacity could keep the mine profitable.
• Harold told Roy that the mine’s private army had disbanded when the Silver Pegasus Warriors arrived and that many of its soldiers had fled Padesto City after Lord Alvis was arrested.
• Harold explained that the mine had earned steady profits, though the blockade had left its mithril ingots unsold, and Roy recognized how much he had learned about managing it.
• Roy realized that Padesto City’s nobles had supported the mine owners, that Lord Alvis had profited from the plateau mines and slave trade, and that his land purchase had displaced the Half-Elves later sent to the mines.

Mine Owner Harold watched Roy run the North Mithril Mine as freed Half-Elf Miners increased production and began planning for lives beyond the mine. Harold and his family remained under guard, awaiting judgment and hoping to negotiate their freedom.

• Mine Owner Harold watched Roy direct the Half-Elf Miners, whose wages and freedom made them more productive than when they had been enslaved.
• The Half-Elf Miners filled the smelting workshop's needs and built up a stockpile of mithril ore, while some decided to stay long enough to contact their families.
• The Gray Dwarf Miners learned they would receive a rest day every six days, though they remained confined to the mine.
• Mine Owner Harold's sons hoped to trade the mine for their family's freedom through Earl Swynborne, while other relatives anxiously considered escape or tried to approach Roy.
• Mine Owner Harold reflected on how he had lost the mine and hoped Roy's report would contain nothing unfavorable about him.

Roy’s convenience store and barbershop brought the North Mithril Mine’s Half-Elves and Gray Dwarves into a new wage-and-mining routine, boosting ore production. Commander Berkeley then told Roy that the Silver Pegasus Legion had mostly withdrawn from the Pattington Plane, leaving Roy to face the mines’ defense with fewer soldiers.

• Roy opened the 7-ELEVEn convenience store and barbershop at the North Mithril Mine, where Half-Elves began spending their Kole wages.
• Gray Dwarves learned they could earn Kole by mining extra ore and trading carts to Half-Elves, then used the money to buy ale, food, and beard trims.
• The Gray Dwarves began mining on their rotating rest days, and enthusiasm for mining at the North Mithril Mine surged.
• Commander Berkeley arrived with supplies and told Roy that the Silver Pegasus Legion’s main force had returned to the Elf Continent because Gray Dwarf pirates threatened the Empress Ivini Islands.
• Berkeley said Valley Camp had ordered Roy to take over three Black Iron Mines, while Roy worried about the mines’ defenses after the Legion’s withdrawal.

Commander Berkeley withdrew the Silver Pegasus Legion’s supplies from the Pagisto Plateau while helping Roy secure provisions, Gray Dwarf prisoners, and authorization to form a Half-Elf Guard Squad. After the legion departed, Roy prepared to take over three Black Iron Mines before their defenders abandoned them.

• Commander Berkeley gave Roy a special pass and supply voucher so Leishande could buy and transport food and other goods from Padesto City.
• Commander Berkeley agreed to provide Roy with one thousand Gray Dwarf prisoners and warned him to train a Guard Squad against the returning Highland Headhunters.
• Commander Berkeley gave Roy military authorization to form a Half-Elf Guard Squad and advised him to document its transactions.
• Commander Berkeley’s pack train left for the Doroggy Wasteland, taking Mine Owner Harold and his family toward Padesto City for trial and investigation.
• Roy prepared to take over three Black Iron Mines within five days, while the Silver Pegasus Legion’s main force and then its infantry withdrew from the Pagisto Plateau.

Roy hurried across the Gaxi Mountain Range to take control of its three Black Iron Mines before their Half-Elf miners scattered. After securing the southern and central mines, he reached the northern mine just before dark and rushed in to take over.

• Roy led one hundred Half-Elf Warriors and one hundred Dark Moon Elf Warriors from the North Mithril Mine toward the Gaxi Mountain Range.
• Roy reached the Gaxi South Black Iron Mine, took over its castle, and conscripted its Half-Elf Miners into the Half-Elf Guard Squad.
• Roy led his force to the Central Gaxic Black Iron Mine and quickly took control of it.
• Roy pushed his exhausted war horse onward with Holy Light Power and reached the Gaxi North Black Iron Mine before nightfall.
• Roy learned that the Silver Moon Elf commander was distributing supplies to the Half-Elf Miners, then rushed into the castle to take over the mine.

Roy took over Gaxi North Black Iron Mine, invited the freed Half-Elves to join the fight against the Highland Headhunters, and began turning the three mines into a defensive force. After building up the Mine Guard Squads, he returned to Sudasornan Mithril Mine and asked Kaka for help.

• Roy received the keys from Commander Brad as the Silver Moon Elf Guard Regiment withdrew, then announced that he would manage the mine.
• Roy warned the Half-Elves that the Highland Headhunters would return and invited them to stay and resist, while offering those who left a chance to study a map of the mountain routes.
• A total of 206 Half-Elves chose to remain at Gaxi North Black Iron Mine, and Roy organized the mines to suspend operations at two sites while Gray Dwarves reinforced their walls.
• After more than a week, the three mines had nearly eight hundred Half-Elf Warriors in their Mine Guard Squads, training with bows and spears to defend the walls.
• Roy returned to Sudasornan Mithril Mine, praised Qian Ning Sitney’s management, and told her he needed to take Kaka away before asking Kaka for help.

Roy arranged for Kaka to bring griffins to the Pagisto Plateau to watch for Highland Headhunters while Roy prepared the mines and Half-Elf guards for a possible attack. At the Second Mine, Mulin met Moira and Sabrina, who had come looking for Roy, and directed them toward the Black Iron Mine.

• Roy asked Kaka to take his griffins to the Pagisto Plateau to monitor the Highland Headhunters, and Kaka left that night with Little Eugene, planning to bring Langbo along.
• Roy asked Qian Ning to oversee the North Mithril Mine while he stayed at the Black Iron Mine, and she spoke about her father’s guilt and fear over operating the mines.
• Roy inspected the Spinel Mines, found the Second Mine well managed by Mulin, and returned to the Black Iron Mine to train its Half-Elf guards.
• Mulin drove the Second Mine’s Half-Elf Warriors through intense training as she prepared them for the Highland Slavers’ advance.
• Moira arrived at the Second Mine with Sabrina and others, asked Mulin about Roy, and learned he was at the Black Iron Mine in the Gaxi Mountain Range.