It was a palm-sized piece of silver-white metal, its surface smooth as a mirror and reflecting a cold luster.

It wasn't the dull gray-white of ordinary silver ore, but a near-transparent silvery brightness, as if moonlight had solidified into a solid form.

Lin Feng picked up the Mithril and weighed it in his hand. It was very heavy, much heavier than iron.

A cold sensation came from his fingertips, but after holding it for a while, a hint of warmth seeped out from deep within the metal, as if something were slumbering inside.

"Beautiful," Lin Feng said sincerely.

Tian Zheng grinned, revealing a missing front tooth: "Lord Lin, this quality is even better than what I saw in Zhenyue City back in the day."

The miners gathered around, their eyes lighting up as they looked at the pieces of silver-white metal. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Someone swallowed hard, someone whispered, "How much is this worth?" and another rubbed their hands, a silly grin ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) plastered across their face.

"We succeeded!"

"We smelted it!"

"Look, Lord, this luster—I haven't seen such a beautiful metal in all my forty years!"

Lin Feng set the Mithril down and turned to face the crowd.

Every face, streaked with black and white, was covered in smiles.

A young miner held a piece of Mithril in his hands, turning it over and over to look at it.

He muttered, "This is even brighter than my wife's silver bracelet."

"Extra rations tonight," Lin Feng said. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard him.

The miners froze for a moment, then erupted into earth-shattering cheers.

"Long live the Lord!"

"We have meat to eat!"

"I want wine!"

"Wine and meat until you're full!" Lin Feng added.

The cheering grew even louder. Some began to clap, some punched each other's shoulders, and the young miner holding the Mithril almost dropped his treasure.

Tian Zheng stood nearby, laughing and scolding them to be careful not to drop the Mithril, but he was smiling too, his face crinkling with joy.

Standing among the crowd, Lin Feng watched the grinning faces, and the corners of his mouth curled up as well.

He turned to Tian Zheng: "Thank you for your hard work."

Tian Zheng shook his head: "Lord, I've been smelting my whole life, but I've never smelted ore that was so easy to work with.

This Mithril, it wanted to come out on its own."

Lin Feng smiled and said nothing more.

After the crowd dispersed, he personally watched as the thirty units of Mithril were moved, ingot by ingot, into the North Slope Village warehouse.

The warehouse wasn't large, but the door lock was brand new, and only he and Zhang Ping had a key.

The Mithril was stacked neatly on the shelves, its silver-white luster exceptionally prominent in the dim warehouse.

He took one last look, closed the door, and turned to walk out of the village.

Lin Feng strode back toward Beacon Fire Town, his steps light.

...

Two more days passed.

Early on the third morning, Lin Feng was handling territory affairs in the Council Hall.

Several documents were spread out on the table: tax reports from Qingmu County, mineral production lists from Heiyan Town, and the Mithril mining progress from North Slope Village.

He flipped through them one by one, circling key figures with his pen.

Qingmu County's taxes this month had increased by ten percent compared to the last; Liu Ming was indeed capable.

Heiyan Town's iron ore production was rising steadily, with smelted iron ingots filling nearly half a warehouse.

North Slope Village's Mithril Mine consistently produced thirty units of raw ore daily. The smelting furnace operated once every three days, yielding thirty units of pure Mithril each time.

There were already sixty units stored in the warehouse.

Lin Feng put away the documents, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his brow.

The Copper Ingots and Tin Ingots should be arriving in the next few days.

Just as he was thinking this, hurried footsteps came from the doorway. Zhang Ping ran in, his face flushed with excitement.

His voice was several notches higher than usual: "Lord! The Zhenyue City transport team has arrived; they're only two li away!"

Lin Feng stood up abruptly and strode out of the Council Hall.

The sight outside the West Gate made him pause slightly.

A massive convoy was slowly approaching. Leading the way were sixty large wagons pulled by sturdy Pack Beasts. The wheels were wide, their axles reinforced with thick iron bands, making a dull thudding sound as they rolled over the dirt road.

Each wagon was piled high, covered with waterproof tarps and secured tightly with ropes.

To the sides and rear of the convoy were armed personnel marching in formation.

They all wore standard-issue leather armor, with long sabers at their waists and heavy crossbows on their backs, their steps perfectly synchronized.

In the sunlight, the copper studs on the leather armor gleamed, and the strings of the heavy crossbows were pulled taut.

There were at least five hundred of them.

At the very front of the convoy, a burly man riding a tall Pack Beast was looking toward them.

He wore a half-body iron breastplate and had an old scar stretching from his left eyebrow to his right cheek, but his gaze was steady and didn't seem sinister.

Captain of the Zhenyue City Third Transport Team—Zhou Meng.

Lin Feng went to meet them. Seeing him, Zhou Meng quickly jumped down from his Pack Beast with agile movements.

He stood before Lin Feng, looked him up and down, and then cupped his fists, his voice booming: "Lord Lin, we meet again!"

During their last meeting, although Zhou Meng had been polite, there was a certain reserve in that politeness that said, "I am from Zhenyue City."

This time was different. He bowed lower, held his cupped fists higher, and his tone held a newfound, heartfelt solemnity.

"Congratulations to Lord Lin on promoting to county-level," Zhou Meng said sincerely. "An eighteen-year-old county-level lord—the very first in Great Xia.

Everyone in Zhenyue City is saying that Lord Lin's future is limitless."

Lin Feng smiled and returned the gesture: "Captain Zhou is too kind. You've had a long journey."

"It was no trouble at all." Zhou Meng waved his hand and gestured to the convoy behind him.

"Three thousand Copper Ingots, three thousand Tin Ingots. This was a task personally assigned by Director Chen, so we wouldn't dare be careless.

We pushed ourselves the whole way, fearing we might delay Lord Lin's important business."

Lin Feng glanced at the long convoy—sixty large wagons, each loaded to capacity.

The wheels pressed deep ruts into the dirt road, and the hooves of the Pack Beasts sank into the mud.

This batch of supplies would be enough for him.

"I trust Captain Zhou's reputation," Lin Feng said. "Come into the town to rest and have some hot water."

Zhou Meng shook his head with a smile, but his tone was firm: "No, no, Lord Lin is too kind.

We have to head back and report; we must leave as soon as the handover is complete."

Lin Feng didn't press him and turned to Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping was already waiting at the city gate with five hundred young men, all pushing handcarts and holding ropes, eager to get started.

"Begin the handover," Lin Feng said.

Zhou Meng waved his hand, and the convoy began unloading.

Zhang Ping led the men forward, moving the crates onto the handcarts one by one.

The Copper Ingots and Tin Ingots were packed in wooden crates with seals affixed to them.

Zhang Ping opened a few crates to inspect them and nodded to Lin Feng.

The Copper Ingots were a bright reddish color with no impurities on the surface;

The Tin Ingots were as silver-white as snow and pure in texture. All of it was top-quality goods.

Lin Feng stood to the side, watching the crates being moved from the wagons and pushed through the city gate cart by cart.

He felt increasingly at ease.

With this batch of copper and tin, the Great Qin Elite Camp could be expanded.

Combined with the output from the Mithril Mine, Beacon Fire Town's military equipment would be secured.

The handover was quick. Zhang Ping was efficient, and the five hundred men worked hard; in less than half an hour, the sixty wagons were empty.

Zhang Ping had the quantities tallied, and after confirming everything was correct, Lin Feng signed the handover form.

"Lord Lin, then we shall take our leave," Zhou Meng said, mounting his Pack Beast and cupping his fists.

Lin Feng nodded: "Safe travels. Take care on the road."

He paused, then added: "If you pass through Qingmu County and need any supplies, feel free to find Liu Ming. Just tell him I sent you."

A flash of surprise crossed Zhou Meng's eyes, and he smiled, cupping his fists: "Thank you, Lord Lin! With those words from you, we can rest easy."

He waved his hand, and the five hundred armed personnel re-formed their ranks, escorting the empty convoy as it slowly turned around.

The Pack Beasts flicked their tails, their hooves making a splashing sound as they stepped on the muddy ground.

The convoy moved further away, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Lin Feng stood at the city gate, watching the group disappear at the end of the road before turning to enter the town.