Chapter 27: Silver Mine
The moment Rhodes stepped into the forest, his vision flickered.
A familiar interface surfaced before his eyes—calm, cold, and absolute.
[A mixed silver-copper ore vein has been detected.]
[Display marker?]
Rhodes' heartbeat skipped.
Silver.
Not iron. Not stone.
Silver.
Money.
Power.
Leverage.
"…Show it," he murmured inwardly.
In an instant, a faint blue marker appeared within his perception—hovering like a distant star in the darkness of the forest.
290 meters.
Front-right direction.
Rhodes exhaled slowly, suppressing the surge of excitement rising in his chest.
So close.
"My lord… what have you discovered?"
Renn's voice pulled him back.
Rhodes shook his head lightly, expression returning to calm.
"Nothing urgent."
He crouched down and began collecting the scattered arrows as if nothing had happened.
The silver mine wouldn't run.
But in the mountains at night?
That could get them killed.
They returned to camp without incident.
The rabbits Alyra brought back were already cleaned and skewered over the fire. Fat dripped into the flames, crackling softly as the meat turned golden brown.
Simple food.
Salt.
A pinch of chili.
Nothing more.
Yet after a long day, it tasted better than any feast.
Still—
Seven men.
Two rabbits.
Not enough.
Gunther chewed quietly, then reached for dry rations without complaint.
No one spoke much that night.
But Rhodes slept well.
At first light, they moved.
No hesitation.
No detours.
Rhodes led the way this time—not by sight, but by instinct… and the silent pull of that blue marker.
The terrain grew steeper as they advanced.
Soon, a narrow valley appeared ahead.
At the bottom—
A dying stream.
Water trickled weakly through moss-covered stone, pooling in shallow depressions before disappearing into cracks in the earth.
Rhodes paused.
"This way."
Under the pretense of washing up, he motioned for Durant to follow and descended the slope.
The air grew colder near the water.
Then—
A flicker.
A faint, silvery glint beneath the surface.
Rhodes' eyes sharpened.
He stepped into the stream without hesitation, ignoring the biting cold, and reached down.
His fingers closed around a stone.
Smooth.
Heavy.
When he lifted it—
A dull silver sheen caught the light.
"Take a look."
He tossed it to Durant.
Durant caught it, glanced down—
And froze.
"…This is…"
His voice dropped.
"…silver ore?"
Rhodes didn't answer.
He simply tilted his chin toward the shallow pool ahead.
There—
Beneath the water.
Hidden between rocks—
A faint glow.
Barely visible.
But unmistakable.
Durant's breath hitched.
"…This is a silver vein."
Not a question.
A realization.
A fact.
Money.
Pure money.
Without hesitation, Durant moved.
He grabbed a nearby rock and shoved it into the crevice, blocking the small opening beneath the water.
The glow vanished.
Hidden again.
Only then did he step back.
A beat passed.
Then he spoke quickly, lowering his head.
"My lord… I acted without permission."
Rhodes looked at him.
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"You did exactly what I would have done."
Durant looked up, surprised.
Rhodes stepped forward and rested a hand briefly on his shoulder.
"Even if you made a mistake, I wouldn't blame you."
A pause.
"Because I trust you."
Durant's expression tightened.
Then he bowed deeply.
"…Thank you, my lord."
But the moment passed quickly.
Durant straightened, his tone turning serious.
"My lord… once this mine is developed…"
"…others will come."
Rhodes nodded.
Of course they would.
This wasn't the Tulip family's secure territory.
This was the Northern Wasteland.
Lawless.
Hungry.
Violent.
Silver didn't just bring wealth.
It invited war.
"I know," Rhodes said calmly.
Durant's eyes sharpened.
"…Then we need soldiers."
"More than we have now."
Rhodes didn't deny it.
But instead of rushing—
He spoke slowly.
"We'll build it step by step."
"Food first."
"Then men."
"Then steel."
His gaze drifted briefly toward the mountains beyond.
"And only then… silver."
They marked the location carefully.
No obvious signs.
No traces.
Then climbed back up.
The next two days passed in steady exploration.
The mountains forced detours.
The forests tested endurance.
But the results were worth it.
Another iron vein.
This one is smaller than the first but still valuable.
And then—
Something unexpected.
"Smoke."
Alyra's voice came softly from ahead.
Everyone stopped.
Through the trees—
Faint.
Rising into the sky.
Rhodes' eyes narrowed.
"A dwelling?"
Renn nodded. "Looks like it."
Hope flickered.
A place to rest.
Perhaps even people.
They moved quickly.
Down the slope.
Through the trees.
The wooden structures came into view—
Three cabins.
A small yard.
Smoke rising from the central house.
Life.
"Alyra," Renn said quietly. "Check—"
"ROAR!"
The sound exploded through the clearing.
Deafening.
Violent.
Everyone froze.
"…Black bear," Renn breathed.
Then—
A scream.
Human.
From inside the yard.
Rhodes' expression changed instantly.
"Move!"
They rushed forward.
Through the open gate.
And what they saw—
Stopped them for a fraction of a second.
A massive black bear.
Pinning a man beneath it.
Tearing into him.
Blood everywhere.
The man didn't even have the strength to scream anymore.
From the house—
A woman ran out, clutching a hoe.
"No—!"
She charged.
Desperate.
Futile.
The bear swiped.
She flew back—
Struck the ground hard.
Didn't get up.
Rage exploded in Rhodes' chest.
"Kill it!"
Before he finished speaking—
Thwack!
Renn's arrow struck first.
Deep into the bear's back.
"ROAR!"
The beast turned—
Just in time—
Thud!
Alyra's arrow buried itself in its neck.
But it didn't fall.
It charged.
Straight toward them.
Gunther stepped forward—
But—
"I'll do it."
Rhodes' voice cut through everything.
Cold.
Sharp.
Final.
He stepped forward.
Alone.
Steel greatsword in hand.
The aura of the Dragon Slayer surged—
Heavy.
Oppressive.
For a split second—
The bear hesitated.
Instinct.
Fear.
Too late.
Rhodes moved.
One step.
Then—
He leapt.
"Die!"
The blade fell.
A single, clean strike.
Pfft—!
The bear's head separated from its body.
Flew.
Then hit the ground.
The corpse collapsed with a heavy crash.
Silence followed.
Durant moved immediately.
Checked the man.
Then stopped.
Shook his head.
Gone.
Alyra knelt beside the woman.
Blood pooled beneath her head.
She looked up slowly.
"…She won't make it."
Rhodes stood still.
Breathing hard.
Then—
Anger surged again.
He drove his greatsword into the bear's skull.
Hard.
"Damn beast…"
The earlier excitement—
The silver.
The discovery—
All gone.
Replaced by something heavier.
Something colder.
"Your Excellency…"
Durant stepped closer.
Concern in his voice.
"Are you alright?"
Rhodes didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the two bodies.
The broken home.
The silence that followed violence.
Then—
He exhaled slowly.
"…No."
A pause.
Then—
"We were too late."
The forest stood still around them.
And for the first time since setting out—
Victory felt… hollow.
End of Chapter 27
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