As the sun climbed above the horizon, Arin and his family emerged from the forest and made their way toward the village. The settlement had undergone a few improvements during their absence, although the most noticeable change was that the streets were no longer quite as muddy as before. However, that was largely because it had not rained for two days rather than because the workers had accomplished much, despite their efforts to lay stones and construct proper roads. There was still plenty of work to be done before the village could be considered a suitable place for the miners to live. Nevertheless, the changes suggested that Luckes and Alex had at least begun addressing some of the settlement's most obvious problems.
"Good morning," Arin greeted them as he entered the office and found Luckes and Alex eating breakfast in the same room where they had first met. Both men looked considerably more relaxed than they had during their previous conversation, although their expressions differed in ways that immediately caught his attention. Alex was busy cutting apart a sausage, apparently more interested in finishing his breakfast than making a formal greeting out of the occasion. Luckes, on the other hand, looked unusually cheerful, as though he had been waiting for something important to happen. Arin returned their greetings before finding a comfortable place to stand, curious about what had changed since their last meeting.
"Good morning. How was the forest over the last two days?" Alex asked, continuing to work on his breakfast while waiting for an answer. His question was reasonable, considering that Arin and his relatives had disappeared into the woodland after identifying the problem with the water supply. The representatives of the Great Houses had spent the intervening period dealing with the mine and the village, leaving them little opportunity to investigate the forest themselves. Arin, meanwhile, had been free to cultivate and examine the unusual environment without worrying about administrative responsibilities. It would be interesting to hear whether their efforts had produced any meaningful results.
"Quite good, and I hope you have all had a productive time as well," Arin replied before turning his attention to a different matter. "However, I believe the American elections should have been completed by now. Do either of you know who won?" His question was motivated by genuine curiosity, since the political situation in the United States had been particularly unstable and the outcome could have consequences far beyond the country's borders. He had been away from the village for two days, but that was more than enough time for important developments to occur elsewhere in the world. Given how much governments were struggling to adapt to the changes brought about by mana, he was interested in learning whether the Americans had managed to establish a more stable administration.
"I have no idea," Luckes answered, looking almost amused by the question. "We have not heard any news. He seemed remarkably unconcerned about the lack of information, which only made Arin more curious about his cheerful mood. Normally, a person waiting to leave an unpleasant settlement would have been impatient or irritated, especially after spending several days dealing with incompetent officials and an angry workforce. Luckes, however, appeared to have a specific reason to be pleased, and Arin suspected that the explanation had little to do with the American election. He turned toward the man, waiting for him to reveal what had improved his mood so considerably.
"Well, that is sad, but why are you so happy today?" Arin asked, looking directly at Luckes. He had learned that the representative of the Great Houses was not someone who concealed his opinions particularly well, especially when he was frustrated with a situation. Seeing him in such a good mood after everything that had happened at the mine was therefore unusual enough to warrant a question. Arin briefly considered whether the water problem had been resolved more quickly than expected, but he doubted that alone would make Luckes look so relieved. Whatever the reason, it was evidently something he had been anticipating for quite some time.
"That is because today is the day the village receives its supplies," Luckes explained, his smile widening as he finally revealed the reason for his happiness. The settlement depended almost entirely on the mine for its economic activity, leaving it with little capacity to produce its own food or manufacture the materials needed for daily life. Consequently, nearly everything the inhabitants required had to be brought in from elsewhere, making the arrival of supply ships an essential part of the village's survival. Although the System marketplace offered an alternative, purchasing everything through it would be considerably more expensive than buying goods from the nearest city. The village therefore relied on its established shipping connections to obtain affordable supplies and keep the mining operation running.
Every seven days, a small fleet of ships arrived to exchange the mana stones extracted from the mine for food, medicine, and other necessary materials. This arrangement allowed the settlement to continue operating despite its isolation and lack of local production, while also providing a predictable schedule for the transport of valuable resources. The ships carried supplies into the village and returned with mana stones, creating a regular trade route that benefited both the miners and the merchants involved. Without that system, the village would have struggled to obtain even the most basic necessities, particularly during periods when the mining operation was disrupted. For Luckes, however, the arrival of the fleet meant something much more personal than a simple exchange of goods.
"Yes, and it means I can finally leave today and take that waste of space back to Brussels," Luckes continued, clearly delighted by the prospect. "He can stand trial there, where the rest of Europe will be able to see what happens to someone who abuses his position like that." He glanced toward the former mine overseer, who remained confined in his cage in the corner of the room, and his expression hardened for a moment. Luckes had spent enough time dealing with the man's incompetence to have developed a strong dislike for him, and he was eager to hand the matter over to the proper authorities. The thought of leaving the village behind while ensuring that the former manager faced justice was enough to make the entire morning considerably better.
"Yes, and if the patriarch's calculations are correct, a delegation from the Ravelino family should arrive at approximately the same time," Alex added, his expression remaining neutral. Unlike Luckes, he did not have the luxury of treating the arrival of the ships as the end of his responsibilities, because his assignment required him to oversee the operation until it was properly established. He had been sent to ensure that the mine could function efficiently and that the necessary improvements were carried out, which meant he could not leave simply because the immediate crisis had passed. The Ravelino delegation would bring additional expertise, but its arrival would not automatically relieve him of his duties. He would remain until the operation reached the point where his superiors considered it safe to assign him elsewhere.
Although Alex was not particularly expressive about his situation, he was not unhappy with the assignment itself. Being selected to oversee such an operation suggested that his family considered it important enough to entrust to someone capable of remaining impartial and following instructions. The mine had attracted the attention of several powerful families, and its future production capacity could have considerable consequences for their collective interests. Placing someone neutral in charge of overseeing the entire process helped ensure that no single faction could quietly direct the operation to its own advantage. Alex therefore regarded the assignment as an opportunity to earn merit within his family, even if the village itself was hardly an appealing place to spend his time.
"Well, whatever makes you happy," Arin replied, shrugging as he looked toward the shadowy figure lying inside the cage. "Personally, I would have taken him into the woods and let the forest settle the matter, but everyone has their own preferences." His tone remained casual, although the suggestion made it clear that he had little sympathy for the former overseer. From Arin's perspective, the man had not merely made an administrative mistake; his decisions had disrupted the forest and created problems for everyone who depended on the mine. Still, he understood that Luckes wanted to take him to Brussels and have him prosecuted, so he had no intention of interfering with that plan. As long as the man was removed from the operation, Arin was content to leave the punishment to others.