Chapter 100: The Rulon Mining Method

As the sun rose, Ian led his subordinates with Romandor to the mine in Monne. As ordered the previous day, the entrance was half-closed, and the mine manager was talking to some soldiers.

“No! I left the ledger inside!”

“Really, you keep saying that, but it’s not possible.”

“Just a moment, okay? I’ll go in and get it quickly. Okay?”

“Lord Ian. Have you arrived?”

“Ah! Good morning.”

When Ian appeared, the soldiers lined up on either side and saluted. The mine manager also greeted Ian with a deep bow.

“Cut the formalities and follow me; I have some questions.”

“Yes, yes. Just say the word.”

The manager swallowed hard and followed behind. He felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning that morning. The mine was to be closed overnight, and the lord himself was entering the mine. Something extraordinary must have happened.

“Was there anything unusual in the mine?”

“What do you mean by unusual? I don’t quite understand… There was nothing special to report.”

“About 200 meters in, there’s a new vein. Didn’t you know?”

“A, a vein?”

The manager’s steps came to an abrupt halt. His reaction clearly showed he had no idea. When Ian turned and smiled, the manager turned pale and prostrated himself, shouting.

“I’m sorry!”

“…I didn’t mean to hear such words.”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Ian was sincere, but the manager couldn’t take it that way. If he knew about the new vein and didn’t report it, he could be suspected of secretly taking it. If he didn’t know, it would mean he was incompetent.

“Forgive me, but I had no idea about the new vein. If you’re referring to the area near the tunnel fork, miners pass through there several times a day. Since there was no mention of it, it seems no one noticed.”

No matter how he looked at it, Ian’s personal visit meant this wasn’t a simple matter.

As the manager pounded his head on the ground, Ian sighed and looked at Beric. Beric gently pushed the man’s foot to stop his self-harm.

Boom!

“Don’t do that. You’ll make a hole in your forehead.”

“…Yes?”

The manager’s forehead was already black with coal dust. Ian continued walking and spoke.

“I’m not here to blame you but to gather information. If no one in the mine knew, it must have appeared recently.”

“What kind of vein is it?”

Could it be gold? It’s unlikely to find such things in a coal mine. But the manager couldn’t help but feel hopeful as he watched Ian’s expression.

“Yes, I know. It’s something extraordinary.”

“Huh!”

The manager involuntarily gasped. A life-changing moment! If Ian didn’t hold him responsible for the vein, he would remain the manager. The discovery of new resources meant a significant share of the profits would fall to him.

“You know I’ll be away from the manor soon.”

“Yes. You’re going to receive your title, a cause for celebration. I’ll manage the mine without any issues while you’re away.”

“I appreciate that. So, I need to close the mine temporarily. I’ll continue to pay your salary, but I’ll give the miners half a year’s pay to settle them.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“It means indefinite temporary closure.”

Despite the morning, the mine’s interior was pitch black. The only light came from the lanterns they carried, and as they walked, a faint purple glow seemed to appear in the distance.

“What you see now must be kept secret. Can you do that? If you wish, you can leave now.”

The manager hesitated at Ian’s offer. It was a very good deal for him. With the mine closed, there would be less to manage, yet his salary would continue.

Drip.

When water dripped from the ceiling, the manager snapped to attention and bowed. His clear answer echoed through the mine.

“No matter what happens, I’ll keep my mouth shut!”

“I appreciate that.”

Moreover, if he left now, Ian might deal with him in ways he couldn’t imagine. He might be sent home or have his tongue cut out for even hearing this offer.

“Have you heard of mana stones?”

“Mana stones? No, I haven’t.”

“Surprising. I thought you’d know, working in a mine.”

“The news is slow here. Is it a newly discovered mineral?”

“Something like that. It’s probably more valuable than gold.”

Ian nodded toward the object, and the manager turned his gaze.

“No, what is that…?”

It’s hard to believe my eyes. Good heavens, what is that? I’ve never seen anything like it. A faintly glowing purple stone.

“No, is that a stone? What’s the corpse for?”

“It has many bubbles inside but is definitely solid. Ignore the corpse; in a way, we found it thanks to him.”

The corpse’s lower half was crushed, and its face was pale. The manager, after a moment of hesitation, got down to examine the rock for the start of the vein.

“Hand me the lantern.”

“Beric.”

“Yes, I’ll bring it.”

The manager carefully traced the start of the vein. Once he confirmed something, he rolled up his sleeve and took out a small hammer.

Clang! Clang!

“That won’t work. I tried everything with a sword, but it didn’t even scratch. I think we need to blow it up.”

“You’re suggesting blowing up the mine?”

“Maybe. Anyway, it’s impossible. Just use brute force.”

Despite Beric’s objections, the manager continued to hammer. However, it was more like tapping than striking with full force.

“I’m trying to break the rock that’s interlocked with the mana stone. It seems to be connected here, and there’s more moisture than in other areas.”

Clang!

Suddenly, a piece of rock broke off with a sharp sound. The manager prostrated himself, and Beric rushed over to look.

“What?”

“What is it? What is it?”

But the manager frowned, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t. Beric, annoyed, paced around but didn’t move.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s definitely coming from below. There was a lot of liquid of the same color. But when Lord Beric approached….”

“When I approached?”

“It solidified. It’s hard to dig deeper without breaking the interlocked rock.”

Ian and Romandor looked at Beric, who raised his hands in protest. It seemed as if the mana stone had solidified because of him.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Beric.”

“Really. I swear.”

“Try coming closer again.”

As soon as Ian spoke, Beric moved away from the manager.

“Is it still the same?”

“Yes, it’s the same.”

“Ian, do you know something?”

Romandor looked at Ian, clearly puzzled. It was rare for a layman to have such knowledge.

Even Derga, who had the mana stone brooch, probably only knew how to use it, not the detailed names, effects, or mechanisms of mana stones.

Ian felt he was getting a grasp.

“Mana stones basically react to mana.”

“React to mana?”

“Exactly. They respond to external mana, which is their basic function.”

Derga’s brooch was the same.

To replay the voice, special liquid was necessary, and the quality of the liquid determined the product’s grade based on the amount of mana used in its production.

“Seems like….”

“Seems like what?”

“It solidifies when external mana gets close. Beric, when you chased the knight yesterday, it solidified when you approached, right?”

“Yes. At first, I thought it was mud