Darren: "What's wrong with being a smuggler, I'm going to use him heavily!"

Upgrading the pickaxe is imperative.

To mine this meteorite, Daeren also needs to upgrade his pickaxe.

He had no choice but to upgrade.

After level 40 of the mine, the ore becomes extremely hard, and a normal pickaxe struggles.

He planned to set aside materials and gold for upgrading to a Copper Pickaxe.

Daeren sold all Strawberries and gathered items below Silver Star quality.

"It's time to build a Barn."

With the experience of building the Silo, Daeren skillfully opened the construction panel, placed the materials, and chose a location.

Barn materials: 6000 gold, 300 wood, 150 stone.

Construction takes three days.

BANG!

He pressed the confirm button, and on the empty plot east of the Chicken Coop, a wooden construction platform appeared out of thin air.

Daeren checked the panel.

Gold vanished with a rustle, almost depleted.

"Gold scattered will return."

Daeren thought it through, not feeling the slightest bit of regret.

He had been struggling with whether to upgrade to a Big Chicken Coop first or build the Barn.

Chicken Coop -> Big Chicken Coop -> Deluxe Chicken Coop

The Big Chicken Coop is an expansion of the Chicken Coop, adding an Incubator.

Any egg placed in the Incubator will eventually hatch, with the time required varying depending on the egg type.

Daeren initially wondered if he could put Dragon Eggs into the Incubator.

Wouldn't that be an instant takeoff if they hatched?

However, that thought could only remain a thought.

In Stardew Valley, the Incubator that comes with the Big Chicken Coop can only hatch regular Eggs, Void Eggs (still Eggs), and Dinosaur Eggs (from lizards).

Even Ostrich Eggs require completing the museum collection quest on Ginger Island to obtain a special "Ostrich Egg Incubator."

Dragon Eggs, with their high life level, are leagues beyond ostriches.

The possibility of the Incubator attached to the Big Chicken Coop hatching Dragon Eggs is practically zero.

However, there was one possibility worth trying.

Daeren was conflicted about this.

But now it's fine.

Discovering that Sun Essence aids in hatching Dragon Eggs means he doesn't need to upgrade to a Big Chicken Coop and gamble on the Incubator hatching Dragon Eggs.

He will directly build the Barn and later purchase Cows.

Both the nutrient-rich milk and the cheese made from milk via the Cheese Press are very practical animal products.

Cows' contributions are essential for daily consumption and mining expeditions.

Noon.

King's Landing, Mud Gate.

Daeren arrived at the port and saw the repaired Royal ship.

"Your Highness, look, the hull and deck have been repaired perfectly, the sails replaced with new ones, and the ram polished. This ship is like new now."

Lord Owen said with pride.

Even he hadn't expected the ship to be repaired so excellently.

With its seventeen to eighteen-meter hull and unique design, crossing Blackwater Bay is effortless.

The appearance is indeed impressive.

Daeren nodded in acceptance, sighing, "My Lord, your talent is admirable."

"It's all for serving Your Highness."

Lord Owen snapped to attention, more loyal than any loyal subject.

With the ship ready, recruiting a captain and sailors is next.

Daeren asked, "My Lord, do you have any recommendations?"

"Yes, yes, Your Highness."

Lord Owen immediately launched into a garrulous introduction.

More than ten people, all sailors who had served the royal family, their character guaranteed.

Then, Lord Owen's eyes darted around: "Prince, I have one more person to recommend to you."

The deck of the royal ship bustled with activity, some checking for deficiencies, others moving supplies.

He waved towards the deck, immediately catching someone's attention.

Three minutes later.

Davos descended the wooden ladder from the deck to the docks, washing his hands in a bucket midway and carefully smoothing the creases in his clothes.

"Your Highness Prince," he said.

Daeren sized him up, seeing only nervousness and timidity in his ordinary face, no resentment of being arrested.

Lord Owen, ever perceptive, immediately chimed in: "Prince, this is Davos·Seaworth, the smuggler you caught last time."

"But don't let his humble origins fool you, he's a skilled sailor, adept at reading winds, repairing ships, and fishing."

In short, a rare talent.

"I'll question him."

Daeren smiled knowingly, aware of the deliberate flattery.

No wonder ancient monarchs loved to favor sycophants, he mused. Look at how they curry favor; what ruler wouldn't be swayed?

Lord Owen gave a sheepish grin.

Turning back to Davos, Daeren asked, "Davos, how have you been these past few days?"

"V...very well."

Davos was extremely nervous, struggling to organize his thoughts: "After being arrested, the Gold Cloaks didn't mistreat me. They even gave me the Onion Stew with Beef I was smuggling, and it tasted delicious."

"I didn't ask you about that," Daeren said.

Davos faltered, then continued, "This lord was very just and kind. He arranged for me to repair ships and paid me 10 Copper Stars a day."

As he spoke, his gaze flickered towards Lord Owen.

The latter straightened his back, feigning an air of impartiality and integrity.

Daeren suppressed a smile and said, "It seems you've had a good few days."

Glancing at Davos's face, he teased, "You've gotten fatter than when you were smuggling at sea."

Davos didn't dare to respond, his mind racing to decipher the true meaning behind the Prince's summons.

Having spent days repairing ships, he had already gathered information about recent events in King's Landing from other shipwrights.

The Prince before him was Daeren·Targaryen, the King's favorite son, who had recently taken up the post of Deputy Commander of the City Watch.

In just a few days, he had brought the City Guard under his control, not only purging the ranks internally but also launching a major crackdown on King's Landing's underworld.

He had simply run into bad luck, getting caught precisely when the Prince was on the hunt.

"Davos, since Lord Owen has recommended you to me, I am willing to give you an opportunity to showcase your talents."

Daeren suddenly spoke: "You see this ship."

"I intend to sail it to Dragonstone, and in the future, I may travel between The Wall and the Narrow Sea."

"Tell me, do you have the confidence to manage a large ship?"

At these words, Davos froze on the spot.

Did I hear that right?

Lord Owen was also taken aback, anxiously saying, "Prince, he's just a smuggler! You can value his talent and promote him, but you can't entrust a royal ship to his management!"

A smuggler of humble origins.

Who knew if he might sell off the royal ship behind Prince's back.

Davos heard this and felt as if a basin of cold water had been dumped over his head, leaving him powerless to refute.

What Lord Owen said was true.

In Westeros, where bloodline was paramount, origin represented everything.

And a smuggler was at the very bottom of the social hierarchy.

The recommender and the recommended had their own thoughts.

Daeren had already made up his mind, saying, "It's just managing a ship, not an army."

"But he's a smuggler!"

Lord Owen pleaded earnestly.

Daeren waved his hand, dismissing it lightly, "So what if he's a smuggler? My father still heavily relies on a eunuch as his Master of Whisperers."

"Ah... this..."

Lord Owen was rendered speechless.

The words were spoken carelessly, but Davos heard them with intent.

Davos, who had held no hope, heard these words and looked up in surprise, gazing at the young Prince's uninhibited demeanor, etching it deeply in his heart.