In the end, Li Wei never figured out what was wrong with the Grim Reaper Doll. Whenever the Holy Maiden tried to touch it, it slapped her, even when Li Wei was controlling it.
Had it developed self-awareness?
But it didn't look like it.
And was this thing never going to come clean?
Li Wei finally put the Grim Reaper Doll away. Whatever came next could wait.
Afterward, Li Wei naturally reported the situation in Mithril Valley to the Queen, including the being sealed there. She raised no objections. The Empire already had far too many problems to let another god loose to stir things up, even a half-dead one.
The Queen was interested in mithril itself, especially after hearing Li Wei describe its properties. She promptly ordered its immediate incorporation into the Empire's ongoing military equipment reforms. As for the person now in charge of Mithril Valley... that was the Holy Maiden.
Indeed, this was one of the Holy Maiden's conditions. She had coveted Mithril Valley for ages, but back then it hadn't belonged to her, so all she could do was envy its owners. Now things were different, and she could finally have her wish. According to her, she intended to combine her doll-making technology with the Empire's mecha engineering to build a mithril doll army of her own.
Of course, the Holy Maiden would also teach the Empire's people how to use mithril. It was completely different from ordinary metals, after all, and somewhat troublesome to work with.
In fact, the Holy Maiden had already provided the Empire with one method of using mithril.
The immersion method.
According to the Holy Maiden, this had been one of Mithril Valley's methods of "generating outside revenue." Everyone had wanted mithril weapons, but those greedy old bastards in Mithril Valley