Ed hasn't decided on a name for the new castle yet, since the castle is still in the early stages and there's no need to rush.
That day, Ed was writing and drawing at the long table in the castle hall when he suddenly heard the voices of Andrew and others outside.
"My lord, we are back."
Ed quickly stood up to greet him.
After everyone was seated, Adelaide poured a glass of iced water for each person; she had already finished her honey flower tea.
"Andrew, tell me what's going on?"
"After we arrived, we observed them from the outside for a long time. They were indeed digging for stones, but they had moved to a different spot. There were many guards there, so we didn't dare get too close. However, during one of our observations, Sugi said that one of the miners looked a lot like one of his former lost companions."
Andrew looked at the cedar tree as he spoke, and the cedar tree, understanding, continued:
"Yes, my lord, this person does resemble a former companion from our village, but I'm not entirely sure, given how far apart we are. However, I saw another person and I was certain. I would recognize that person even if he were reduced to ashes. That person is a former servant of yours named Arthur. Even though we were far apart, I recognized him at a glance."
Shan Shu's eyes reddened again as she spoke. "It was this devil who drove everyone to desperation, who directed them to retreat into the mountains, who ruthlessly trampled on their lives."
Ed wanted to comfort him, but he didn't know how, so he decided to let him calm down on his own.
Shan Shu wiped his eyes, looked at everyone apologetically, and continued:
"I'm sorry, my lord. Later, I wanted to sneak in and find out what they were using these stones for. But the valley is very well guarded. There was no chance during the day. It would be a little better at night, but the miners all sleep together, so it would be difficult for me to find them. I was also afraid of being discovered by others."
"Yes, this is good enough for the cedar tree. We already know some very important information."
Ed has confirmed that these people are indeed mining on a large scale, and they are guarding it very closely. Does a gypsum mine need to be guarded so closely? Could this gypsum mine really have some special purpose here?
Why did they start digging again in a different location? Is the demand so high that they need to send people over to mine it?
Ed was lost in thought when the cedar tree's voice rang out again.
"No, my lord, I suddenly remembered that the people in our village can make some strange bird calls that no one else knows about, only we can. So I managed to meet him at night. He told me that they were indeed digging for that white stone at first, but then they realized they were digging for the wrong one. The stone they were digging for was just a little grayish-white and would reflect light in the sunlight, looking somewhat like iron."
"Cough cough cough," the cedar tree coughed, perhaps speaking too hastily.
"Fir Tree, have a drink of water and take a break," Ed gestured for him to drink some water and calm down.
Ed instantly understood what was said behind the cedar tree. They weren't actually looking for gypsum at all; the person in charge of mining must have made a mistake. They were probably looking for silver. Who knew that valley was such a treasure trove! It had both gypsum and silver mines.
"Fir Tree, what's the situation over in the valley?"
The cedar tree is much better after drinking some water.
"My lord, apart from the road being easier to travel on the other side of the valley, there are no villages around."
It seems their strength is not to be underestimated! They have dedicated people to find minerals, and they've organized so many people to guard and mine them.
"what to do?"