Even as the leader of the expedition fleet, the Great Knight Daos engaged it with all his might, one of the expedition ships was caught off guard and was attacked from below by a massive shadow, dragged directly into the sea.

At the departure, the fleet comprised three expedition ships and 500 crew members. By the time they reached their destination, only two ships with a total of 386 crew members remained.

Even after emergency repairs, the large circular scars on the ship's hull were still visible, a souvenir left by the Sea Monster's strong and formidable tentacles.

Yet in the eyes of the three leaders, all of this was worthwhile.

Having remained hidden from external detection throughout, after more than two arduous months of navigation, they finally arrived at the Silver Island marked on the nautical chart—Potosi!

"I've already seen the landmark, passing this crescent-shaped reef protruding above the sea.

Then adjust to the right by two compass points, probably after another 20 nautical miles we will truly enter the area of Potosi Island."

After the final adjustment of the course.

Without any incident occurring in between, they smoothly reached a fog-laden sea region two hours later.

Though the island hidden in the fog couldn't yet be seen, they knew that their destination was within close reach now.

"From this point forward, we can no longer proceed with large ships. Although the Netherlands Bank Group's expedition discovered this place earlier,

they also didn't have the time to find a channel within this fog-and-reef-laden area that allows maritime ships to pass smoothly.

So, we can only take longboats to land."

Having already committed the nautical chart to memory, Chief Navigator Locke timely reminded the two commanders as they reached the outer edge of the island chain.

Bang... bang... bang...

Longboats were deployed from both "expedition ships," sending fully armed advanced teams into the fog. The expedition commanders hadn't forgotten that according to the Bank Group's intelligence, there was a group of indigenous people who had taken refuge on this island.

If time allowed, these marines armed to the teeth didn't mind using their swords and guns to completely annex this island as Hilus territory!

The time passed quickly.

Most people, including three informed officers, landed on the island aside from the necessary personnel left behind. And... they easily discovered the dreamt-of silver mine!

Or rather, it was almost impossible not to find it.

"By the Eternal Flame! This place is nothing short of a Silver Mountain!"

Indeed, to their eyes, it was certainly a Silver Mountain.

Particularly in the best afternoon sunshine, climbing a high mountaintop, looking around.

The sunlight piercing through the mist cast many areas of the mountain in stark white, initially appearing like a lake, but upon closer inspection, they realized it was the silver mine they sought.

It even gave them the illusion that just peeling away the stone skin of the peak would reveal a full bed of silver ore beneath!

Both the few officers and the hundreds of soldiers were astounded by the sight in front of them.

Especially the informed officers.

They had come with orders from the King, initially thinking the Bank Group's exploration reports might have been exaggerated. Now it appeared their own imagination was limited, as a true Silver Mountain does indeed exist in this world!

After a simple investigation.

They confirmed that the chain consisted of five closely spaced islands, three of which had conical "Silver Mountains" on them!

Although the onboard scholar discerned these were still active volcanoes potentially set to erupt again in the future, that did not hinder them from commencing large-scale silver mining at this stage.

"Due to the confluence of warm and cold currents in the nearby sea, this area remains shrouded in fog all year, plus it's not on any major shipping route, and fish also don't gather nearby.

Though only a few hundred kilometers from the coastline, with New Continent development over a hundred years, this reef-surrounded Silver Island is entirely untouched land."

An experienced scholar, who participated in the extraction of several gold and silver mines in the southern New Continent, excitedly exclaimed:

"Large portions of the silver ore deposit are exposed, requiring no mining, merely picking them up! This is the largest scale silver mine I've seen, an infinite treasure granted to Hilus by the Eternal Flame!"

However, the ownership of this island lay not yet with them.

During their island exploration, they discovered the Atrean indigenous people who had fled here.

In a small village already surrounded by ravenous soldiers like wolves and tigers.

Men who attempted to resist had been beaten, and the shivering women, scared children, and despaired elders were gathered under a vividly colorful totem pillar at the village center.

"You have usurped our homeland and robbed us of our hunting grounds!

We have retreated to remote islands, yet why are you 'Golden-haired Demons' still not sparing us?"

The elderly man donned a feather headdress with a black eagle feather symbolizing his leader status, wielded a staff entwined with colorful ribbons, his face full of indignation, issuing a marrow-chilling indictment against these "Butchers" who invaded home time and again:

"We crossed the sea aboard skin boats. Just from the capsized skin boats alone, dozens of our clansmen perished, and now the children born here haven't even grown up yet!

Why? Why?

Oh God Wuhao, ruler of death, are you already eager to have your people accompany you in 'Mit' (the Atrean's underworld)? Oh Divine Spirit!"

He spoke in somewhat clumsy Atlantean, evidently mistaking them for the Atlanteans who originally drove them from their home, but these Hilus soldiers didn't bother to protest.

The Great Knight Daos waved dismissively, these words he had heard countless times in the central and southern parts of the continent, long ceasing to stir any emotions in his heart of stone.

Clang! Clang! Clang!...

The surrounding soldiers had already drawn their long swords from their waists and charged forward.

"Ah—"

"Damn Demon!"

"No—!"

Amidst a mix of horrified screams from the men, women, old, and young, the final survivors of this tribe quickly became history.

Before another soldier cut him down.

The elder, as the tribal chief, wept tears of blood, raising his staff to point at the leading Great Knight Daos, using his last breath to shout:

"I curse you in the name of the Draper tribe's ancestors' souls and the God of Death Wuhao!

Curse you Butchers, that not a single one of you shall live to return to your homeland!

I curse you...."

Clatter!

Bam—

Before he could finish his words, a young soldier had already severed his head, and his body toppled to the ground.

At the same time, the Great Knight slashed down the village's central totem pole featuring a black eagle and human face motif, turning back to sneer:

"You're foolish enough to curse a Great Knight?

And if every tribe cursed each time I slaughtered one, why would Hilus still rule this continent if curses worked?"

As usual, nothing happened, and no one paid the elder's curse any attention.

The burly Great Knight Daos turned to the soldiers scavenging for spoils:

"Send separate reports to the homeland and Fort Navedad in the New Continent about the authenticity of this Silver Island.

Immediately!

Meanwhile, we must establish a sufficiently sized camp as quickly as possible for subsequent Kingdom silver mining preparations.

From now on, act in pairs, and without my orders, have no contact with the outside world!"

"Understood, Sir!"

The soldiers responded in unison.

Then, they unceremoniously took over the aboriginals' dwellings and began to enthusiastically expand the camp.

However.

In less than half a day, even before sundown,

the crew aboard the outer ships reported two pieces of bad news to the commanders.

Firstly, they captured a spy from the Sak Empire. Though the man was captured, the released Seagull was not apprehended.

Secondly, in the far sea, three warships belonging to Atlant were approaching.

They couldn't understand why a meticulously planned covert operation ended up resembling a sieve leaking everywhere.

Even though the Great Knight Daos's ravenous gaze seemed to pierce like a knife, his expression was one of devouring rage as his plan seemed to unravel.

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