Today is the third time Eric has led the Guard Team's archer squad to that valley. The first time was to dig for Gypsum Mine, the second time was to deliver a letter, and this time he's going to check if the lord's letter has been taken.
A few days ago, the lord had asked him about it, told him the gist of the last letter, and given him some clothes, copper dragon coins, flax gloves for mining, and several newly made iron kettles.
These were all for exchanging for black stones, and he was also given a letter. The lord was worried that someone might have already seen the letter and acted on its contents, and they hadn't brought any items for the exchange.
Eric's archer squad is no longer entirely composed of archers; it now includes other personnel. It's more like a small unit under a larger army.
" Captain Eric, I heard our new food is delicious. Have you tried it?" Eric's teammate asked curiously. The food was still centrally managed and hadn't been distributed to individuals yet. So everyone had only heard that the new food was very good, and they were all quite excited.
"Hehe, I haven't tried it either. We'll find out next lunch, won't we? Don't worry."
Actually Savory Biscuit Eric had tried it; the lord had given it to him, and it definitely tasted much better than black bread. He'd heard it could be preserved for a long time, but he hadn't verified that yet.
"Alright! Captain Eric, when shall we have lunch?"
"Didn't we just come from the Peace Hotel? We've only just gotten back on the ship." Eric looked at the team member with a questioning expression.
"Hehe!" The team member quickly laughed and ran away.
After several days of sailing, Eric's fleet approached the valley once again.
" Captain Eric, look! It seems like the way we're going is blocked by rocks." The team member at the bow of the ship was the first to notice the difference from before.
Upon hearing the shouts, Eric rushed to the bow of the boat and saw that the flat ground where he had previously come up to the valley was piled up with the black stones he had brought back last time.
"Haha, very good. Let's hurry and get ashore, and move all those stones onto the boat." Eric was delighted. It seemed someone had seen the lord's letter and had done as the lord had instructed.
"Okay, Captain Eric, but what do we need these stones for?"
"Don't ask me, I don't know either. You can ask the lord yourself later."
"Hehe! Okay, Captain Eric."
Soon all the boats were docked at the shore, and the team members began to carry the black stones onto the boats.
Before long, all the stones on the flat ground were moved away. Although it looked like a large pile, none of the ships that came this time were actually fully loaded.
Eric glanced at the partially empty black stones. The lord had said that a lot of these stones would be useful. He wasn't sure if this was a lot, but in his mind, it was already more than enough.
"You guys come here and move these things to that house in the valley," Eric said, and then headed up the mountain first.
The situation in the valley was the same as when he last left; no one was digging for the silver ore. He went straight to the luxurious work sheds and placed the lord's letter on the table.
"I wonder if the owner who brought these black stones is the lord who used to mine them?"
Eric muttered to himself, "It looks like no one has been mining in this valley for a while. Oh well, the mission is complete, and it's not wise to stay here any longer. I should go back and ask the lord what he thinks."