Setting Up Mining Outpost

The next day, Sam began gathering a group of volunteers who had time to stay outside the village for a few months to set up the mining outpost. He needed men there to begin establishing a system in which miners would collect ore, which would then be delivered to the village on a set day every week.

Any ore, but most importantly iron ore, would be an extremely important resource for the village. It would be a major component in upgrading this shabby village into a fully-fledged town.

Sam planned to reach the town level before the first group of people from Earth arrived to begin their villages. He knew it would be unlikely that they would meet due to his realization that he was quite far out from the usual starting zone for the average person. He didn't know if being reborn would change the spawn point.

"Gather around! I want to first check who is coming with me before we head out!" Sam said.

Sam looked around and saw two lumberjacks, two builders, four volunteering miners who were currently unemployed, and another person who would handle transport. They were all standing around him with a smile.

"You guys will probably be setting up camp and staying there for a long while. Even though the village is only a few hours away from the cave, I still want people to be there. I want to make sure no rogue bandit group or monsters ruin the process, got it?"

"Yes sir!"

"Alright, let's begin heading out!"

Sam and the group, all carrying their belongings on a horse cart built by the builders for the future transport of ores, began heading to the dungeon's entrance. It was a few hours away and the journey took the entire day. However, before night fell, they arrived and began setting up camp.

Tents were erected, and Sam asked the lumberjacks and builders to meet with him to plan what the outpost should look like and discuss the plan for the time being.

"Cut the trees that block the path to the village. When you do, build a rudimentary tower so that we have a lookout point for defense," Sam directed.

"Sir, do you want to make a road from here to the village?"

Sam nodded, "That's the plan. But first, baby steps. We need to build the outpost, and then I'll get a few extra men to start making a dirt road from here to the village."

"Alright, we will get on it first thing tomorrow!" they agreed.

..

The next day, the lumberjacks began cutting down the trees and the others followed Sam into the dungeon where he showed them what each floor of the dungeon has in terms of ores.

"There is an iron ore node here on the first floor, so we shall focus on this first until it is depleted. To the people here who volunteered, make sure you prioritize your safety first, the ore is important but not as important as you for the development of our home!"

The group smiled and felt cared for by Sam, which made them grateful for having such a benevolent leader.

"If you guys want to start working, grab a pickaxe and begin mining away! Builders, go make the storage building in the meantime so that we have a place to store the ores!"

"Yes sir!"

Sam smiled and grabbed a pickaxe himself which shocked the mining group who all tried to dissuade Sam from doing the work.

"Lord, don't worry we can handle it!"

"Yeah, you should rest Lord!"

Sam shook his head, "I am doing this to better myself, don't worry. I won't slow you down"

The group continued to argue against it, but Sam chuckled and mined away, slowly chipping at the iron ore on the wall.

Everyone sighed and mined alongside Sam, while the builders left and began planning amongst themselves on how to build the storage shed.

After a full day's work, the group stopped working and headed towards the camp where they would make dinner and talk amongst themselves.

[[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: You have gained Beginner Mining Proficiency!]]

'Hm? A pleasant surprise.'

Getting proficiency in this world isn't as easy as doing a single day's work, and those who are experts in any proficiency would be sought after by many different companies or kingdoms looking for specialists.

Sam doesn't know why, but his gaining these skills fast must be related to his rebirth, but he just can't figure out what or why.

Hell, he doesn't know who sent him back into the past, if it was just pure luck, or if he is meant to do something in this lifetime.

'No use thinking of it now, let us focus on the outpost first!'

Sam knew there was no use in dwelling on it all the time when there is pressing matters to focus on first.

He sat down on his chair and began eating his food while he wrote down on a plain piece of paper what his plans are for the future.

His next task is to visit this Thorn's Rest City and check what the city lord wants from him.

**

Meanwhile, in Thorn's Rest.

"Good evening, Alistar of Thorn's Rest."

"The Kingdom finally sent someone to help us I presume?" Alistar stood from his chair and reached his hands out for a handshake, only to be meant with nothing but a stare from the representative.

"No, I bring a message from the Kingdom in relation to your so-called 'issue'."

Alistar who heard the representative's words had his smile drop and he sat down with a sigh.

"Nothing to say? Then I shall continue. The Kingdom is concerned that you haven't been meeting your quota for the month, or should I say months, due to this kidnapping situation you have in the town."

"So you know about it but won't help? Why?"

"Let me finish. The Kingdom has brought a message stating that if you do not handle the situation on your own, and bring us our tax by the end of this month which is exactly in 30 days, then your title as City Lord shall be revoked, as per request by the King himself."

"The King or the First Prince?" Alistar stared at the representative, who looked unfazed.

"Don't act so surprised. You shouldn't have messed with the prince in the first place, it is all on you. Royalty isn't known for their kindness in this kingdom."

"…"

"You have 30 days to fix this situation, and to also bring the kingdom's rightful tax. See you then, Alistar!"

The representative not wasting time left the office with a loud shut of the door, leaving Alistar to slump on his chair.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

The door opened and Alistar's trusted advisor walked in and stood beside him with a worried look.

"Lord, what happened?"

"Kingdom doesn't want to help me, or should I say they want me to lose"

"How come?"

"First Prince."

"Oh, that bastard!" The advisor clenched his teeth in anger before turning to Alistar.

"So what's the plan?"

"I sent out messages to every adventurer with a title and name, but none answered the call other than this Sam kid, who I only just heard about for killing Mankirk. To be honest, I don't know if he could solve this."

"But it doesn't hurt to try right?"

"Right. Any leads on your end?"

The advisor took out his little notepad and read the notes he had gathered from his investigation.

"From what I gathered, which isn't much, I need permission to investigate the church."

"Hm? Oh no, don't tell me they are a part of it?"

"Not really, but some people working there might be."

Alistar scratched his head, "We don't have jurisdiction according to Kingdom law to investigate the Church. What am I going to do…"

"Just ask the adventurer that answers your summons to investigate it themselves without our support. This is just a lead, not a confirmed thing."

Alistar clicked his tongue, "If they come. That bastard prince probably sent word out to the adventurer guild to not accept my request probably. I set a high monetary reward, yet not a single person answered. It's fishy and annoying."

"Do you think… we should have married the young lady to him?"

"If Ania wanted to marry him, I'd accept. But she begged me, her father, not to go with it, so I did what any father should. That prince wants to act all good for the public but all of us nobles know what sort of perverted monster he is. I shall not send my daughter to such a man!"

Alistar slammed his fist on the desk, before sighing again and slouching on the chair in a defeated manner.

"If I don't sort this out in a month, the Kingdom will revoke my title as City Lord. My three generations of family serving this city will vanish because of this."

KNOCK!

"Alistar, it's Kale!"

"Open up!"

Soon, Kale who just arrived back in the city from Sam's village smiled at his old friend Alistar who had an embarrassing smile on his face.

"I met up with that Sam kid you wanted me to check."

"Oh? How's he?"

"Ambitious. I like the kid. He said he'll arrive in the city soon after he is done with whatever he is doing."

"Does he look strong?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know? I just talked about trade with his village."

Alistar shook his head, "That isn't good enough. But at least I know he is coming in the near future. Any news from the Forgotten Villages?"

"There are only two left now from what I witnessed. All the other villagers are outside your damn gates as refugees. Mankirk was left to run Amok for way too long. I know the kingdom doesn't know about the villages, but for the city to not help was a bad mistake."

"I couldn't do anything, the Kingdom's resources are theirs, not mine. I don't have that many men, or rather no powerful men strong enough to face that monster of a bandit. Luckily we had that Sam kid handle it, I heard he founded his little village from the ashes of another."

"Yeah, he looks like a great leader. The place is filled with people that respect him for his leadership, and I could even sense it from talking to him. He is a dude you should cultivate a relationship with, which is what I am doing with this spicy trade."

"Oh?"

"No, I won't tell you about the trade. I want to first know if it's true or not, but if it is, it is very beneficial for me."

"Alright, want a drink before you head to slee-"

BANG!

The door suddenly opens and three guards rush in while panting.

"Lord, Ania! She's missing!"

"WHAT?"

"We have searched the perimeter, but no one including her servants has seen her!"

"Call the alarm, shit! What if they took her!"

Alistar who was relaxed jumped up and rushed out of his office and began running around screaming his daughter's name.

"Ania! Ania!"

"That's futile Lord! We need to set up a search party and scour the city now!"

"Goddamn it! Get the whole damn army at the ready, I want this city searched!"

'Ania, please don't be with the kidnappers!'

…..

….

..

"Who are you people!" A young lady's voice screamed as she fought back against the people who took her from her quarters by force and threw her into a dark building outside.

"Help! Help!"

But no one could hear her screams, she was only met with cold stares before the door closed in and her being left in a dark room without a light source or a window.

"When are we ready for the ceremony?"

"We need more people, give it a month. We can't rush this, this is a quest given to us by the man himself."

"Yes, sir!"