The arrival of the master appraisers made the atmosphere in the survey team even more tense.
Because several managers had loose lips, word had already spread that "that mithril mine might contain innate mithril." The price difference between innate mithril and acquired mithril was simply enormous. For the survey team, which stood to receive a share of the proceeds, the difference was between feasting on great hunks of meat and only getting a sip of broth.
If that vein of mithril truly was innate mithril, its total value would not be twenty thousand—two hundred thousand might not even cover it. Of course, cashing it in would be troublesome. They would need time to slowly build up the market, then sell it off in batches. It might take ten or even twenty years before all of it could be turned into money. But no matter what, they would get their share sooner or later. Even if they could not receive it while alive, they could leave it to their descendants as an inheritance after death. With the Northwest Republic backing them, no one could dream of cheating them out of the money they deserved.
Thus, everyone desperately hoped that vein of mithril was innate mithril. Just thinking of the benefits they might receive made even Hops' heart race and his breathing quicken. Only Dudu, that filthy rich man who did not lack money, was utterly unconcerned. He even had the leisure to mock everyone, saying things like, "Don't take money so seriously."
But this was not a matter of taking it seriously or not. That was a lot of money! If it were laid out before them in gold coins, it really would be very heavy!
That was how Hops replied at the time, drawing hearty laughter from everyone.
Amid that