Everyone had assembled in the strategy room.
A huge oak table occupied the center of the room, with a sand table set upon it.
Made from mineral powders of different colors mixed with adhesive, it reproduced the entire terrain surrounding Minas Tirith Harbor.
Gray-white mountains, dark green marshes, brown plains.
Most striking was the bay, laid out in blue glass sand, with different colors marking the submerged reefs and the depths of the ocean trenches.
A scale model of Minas Tirith nestled among the rocky hills, its crowning White Tower fashioned from ivory.
"Everyone."
Veylin's voice brought the room to silence.
He took a black velvet bag from beneath the table, reached inside, and drew out a fist-sized crystal.
The crystal was deep red throughout, with a faint light flowing within.
"Primordial blood crystal," Baron Kru blurted out in surprise.
Veylin approached the sand table, picked up the ivory White Tower, and set the primordial blood crystal firmly in its place.
"Beneath this city lies a small primordial blood crystal vein."
Everyone from Dawn Territory stared, dumbfounded.
Although primordial blood crystal veins were not particularly rare, their mining rights were usually controlled by great nobles of count rank or higher.
As a result, the price of this highly versatile, high-energy material had always remained steep.
The nobles of Dawn Territory exchanged glances as realization dawned.
No wonder.
No wonder this emerging harbor city could afford magic-powered lifts. No wonder this marsh baron had such deep pockets and could sustain such an astonishing pace of construction.
So this was the foundation of his wealth.
They unconsciously straightened from their relaxed positions against their chair backs.
Their expressions grew more serious as they looked at Veylin.
Ignoring their reactions, Veylin picked up a pointer and began explaining the military situation.
"The Many-Armed