After about two months of training and running-in, the joint exploration team was finally ready and officially set off.
Long before they arrived, the expedition team formed by adventurers had already arrived. Unlike the exploration team, the task of the exploration team was to build a camp and build a road. This camp would be very large and could accommodate three or four hundred people. Because it would not only be a camp for the exploration team, but also a simple smelting field. Once ore was found, preliminary smelting would be carried out to determine its exact quality and to estimate the value of the vein.
Moreover, if it was confirmed that the vein would be mined, this camp would also be a transit station connecting the mine and the outside world in the future. It would be a place similar to a processing plant and also a small fortress.
There was a saying on Earth, "If you want to get rich, build roads first." It was similar in this world. To do big things, roads must be built first. With convenient transportation, it would be much more convenient to transport people and goods.
Not to mention, if there was no road, the carriages could not come up, the tools needed for exploration and the furniture needed to build a small smelting factory, would they have to be carried on their shoulders?
How much manpower would that require! How much risk would they have to take!
Especially since the terrain here was relatively north, it was better now, but in the middle of winter, it was common for waist-deep snow to be common. If there was no road, the internal and external traffic would be directly cut off. If something were to go wrong at that time, no one would be able to help them even if they called for help.
Building roads was not only to facilitate the development of the mine, but also for their own safety.
In about two months, a simple road had been built. This road was really simple to the extreme. It was nothing more than uprooting the grass and trees on the road, moving away the stones, and slightly leveling it. This kind of road might be passable now, but there would be problems after a long time. Especially when it snowed in winter, when the snow melted in spring, it would definitely rot into a muddy mess.
But in any case, it could be used for now, and it was enough for the carriages to pass.
The future would be dealt with in the future.
Not long after the road was built, the exploration team came.
Because of the delay of two months, the weather was already very cold at this time, but the cold also had its advantages — when the weather was cold, all kinds of poisonous insects and snakes would hibernate, which was safer for exploration. As for the beasts and monsters who ignored the cold, they were still active even when the weather was hot anyway, so there was no difference.
The adventurers were not afraid of the cold, and neither were the explorers. In other words, compared to the less deadly cold, the venomous insects and snakes were more dangerous.
That was what the Ministry of Mining was thinking, so they deliberately delayed the exploration until winter.
Moreover, even if they wanted to hurry up, it would be inconvenient to carry out exploration before the roads and camps were built.
The explorers were not adventurers. They did not have strong enough bodies to fight a black bear, and they could not carry heavy supplies over the mountains. However, they needed to carry even more things than adventurers. Some people had calculated that, on average, a prospector would bring out at least 20 kilograms of various stones when they entered the mountain. In order to carry such a heavy load across mountains and rivers, they naturally needed a stable campsite. With a reliable base, they were able to carry out such high-intensity work.
Hoppes didn't think so much. He was only happy that the journey had ended.
"Phew … It's so cold today!" He exhaled a breath of white air and jumped off the carriage. Looking at the snow-covered mountain peaks, he couldn't help but say, "But the scenery is really beautiful!"
Indeed, there had been a heavy snowfall a few days ago. Now the mountains were all wrapped in silver clothes, looking pure white under the clear sun. There were no clouds in the sky, and the contrast between the blue sky and the pure white mountain peaks made one feel relaxed and happy.
These days, he had either been studying or traveling. When he looked up, he could only see roofs or carriages. In short, he hadn't seen the sun much. Now, he could finally relax. As the saying goes, one must first suppress one's desires. The carefree feeling at this moment was much better than usual.
If it wasn't for the fact that he had been repeatedly warned not to shout in the snow-covered mountains during this period of training, he would have really wanted to shout and express the joy in his heart.
Just then, he heard a loud roar coming from the side of a carriage behind him.
"Ah — Oh — Ah — Oh —"
Hoppes covered his face with his hands, unwilling to turn back.
Ruby, on the other hand, had already angrily rushed over. She grabbed a pig-headed man who was shouting loudly and ruthlessly punched him to the frozen ground.
"You stupid pig! Have you forgotten what we emphasized in class? Don't shout in the snow! "
The pig-headed man was really thick-skinned. It didn't matter if he was punched. Lying on the ground, he still said stubbornly, "I'm not a prospector."
"Even if you're not a prospector, you still have to abide by the rules! If you shout and cause an avalanche, the people who are exploring in the mountains will be in danger! "
"But everyone has just arrived. They haven't gone into the mountains to explore yet."
"There are other adventurers in the mountains!"
"What do other adventurers have to do with us?"
Ruby was so angry that his nose was crooked. He couldn't be bothered to talk nonsense with this scoundrel. He raised his fists and punched left and right, beating the guy until he howled like a ghost. In the end, the pig-headed man's face turned green and purple before he stopped.
"I'm not as reasonable as the teachers in school, and I don't know how to convince people with reason. I'm a boor." When he was done, he clenched his fists coldly, making cracking sounds. "A boor will only solve problems in a boor's way. Do you understand?"
The pig-headed man glared at him fiercely.
"Very good. The next time I hear you shout like this, I'll beat you with a stick!" Ruby turned a blind eye to the pig-headed man's ferocious gaze, turned around, and walked away.
In the two months of training, he, who was experienced, had gained the recognition of his teachers and classmates, and was elected as the team leader of the prospectors. As the team leader, he needed to lead the team to inspect the campsite and prepare many things. He didn't have time to waste here.
After he walked far away, Hoppes sighed and walked to the side of the pig-headed man who was still lying on the ground. A faint green light shone from his hand and fell on the pig-headed man's body.
"Fira, you clearly know Ruby's temper. Why did you still provoke him?" he said with a sigh. "What's the point of getting beaten up for no reason?"
"I'll … pay him back sooner or later …"
"You guys only had a little conflict back then. Do you have to always target him?"
"If there's a grudge … I'll definitely take revenge!"
"It's not that serious! Moreover, you're just a chef. How are you going to take revenge on him? "
"There'll be … a chance."
Under the healing effects of nature magic, the pig-headed man, Fira's injuries healed rapidly. In a short while, there were only faint scars left. He thanked Hoppes, got up, turned around, and left.
This chef Fira was a hothead. During the training, he and Ruby didn't see eye to eye for some reason. Then, the two of them quarreled and fought. Fira, of course, was no match for Ruby. After being beaten up, this guy bore a grudge and would provoke Ruby every now and then. He would get beaten up every time, but he never knew how to repent.
Hoppes had a gentle personality and knew some nature magic. Every time Fira was beaten up, he would heal him. Over time, his healing abilities had improved, and he could be considered to have become friends with Fira.
It was just that Fira had a more antisocial personality and was extremely stubborn. Hoppes had tried to persuade him several times, but to no avail. It was the same this time.
Hoppes couldn't help but sigh as he watched Fira and Ruby go about their own business.
I really don't know what the Ministry of Mines is thinking. Why must they let Fira participate in this exploration? It's a big taboo to not be of one mind!
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