If factories were Castel's core, then ore was the foundation that kept those factories running.
Losing the mines would have been a disaster for Castel—something utterly unacceptable. Or at least, that was how it should have been.
But with the Banshees helping Theus, things became more complicated.
He had indeed lost every mining area, but he had not lost the underground tunnel network.
The Banshees expanded the mine tunnels overnight, and Castel now possessed a vast underground mining complex.
With the Banshees' help, mining efficiency had not fallen—it had miraculously increased.
This was also a reflection of Castel's overall situation. Although the front lines across the island kept retreating, its industrial capacity and war potential were both rising rapidly.
Theus had already begun recruiting the fourth batch of Faithguard Army soldiers. A great many people signed up. The shadow of war hung over Castel, yet the people remained confident.
They were trapped on this small island with no way back, but that had united them as never before. External pressure could bridge internal conflicts, and the islanders had never been so united.
Some were fishermen from the Masha Archipelago, some were refugees from Tis, some came from the Empire, and some from the Northern Territory. But at this moment, they were all Castelians.
When everyone strove toward the same goal, a sense of belonging naturally emerged. When their blood was spilled upon this land, their souls took root here as well.
The Banshees had fully integrated into this place. People no longer merely accepted their presence; they regarded them as part of Castel.
War was the tempering of iron and fire, and Castel was gradually being forged into a sharp sword gleaming with cold light.
"We've lost a huge amount of territory, but the people are still here, the industrial