Chapter 542 - 275: Mithril (Part 3)

Baron’s words were interrupted by hurried footsteps before he could finish.

A burly figure rushed onto the balcony.

The newcomer was Brando from the Hammer family, who had been very enthusiastic at the banquet earlier.

But now his face was full of anxiety and panic.

"Baron Rod, please save me!"

Brando immediately knelt on the ground as he arrived.

His voice trembled as he spoke:

"My son was taken by a bizarre old man, and my Silver Moon Mine has been occupied!"

Brando’s eyes shone with tearful brightness, and his whole body shook uncontrollably.

Luo De frowned slightly, not immediately responding, but carefully observing Brando’s demeanor.

After exchanging a glance with Vivian, Luo De helped Brando up and asked,

"What exactly happened."

Luo De’s voice was steady, "Explain the whole process in detail."

"Just last week in the afternoon, my son was patrolling the mines when a strange old man suddenly broke into my Silver Moon Mine."

Brando choked with emotion as he said, "The soldiers valiantly resisted but couldn’t fight back at all; they were all knocked out by that old man."

"When I got the news, I immediately sent my most elite knights to rescue."

His voice grew more urgent,

"But those men couldn’t enter the mine at all; there’s some mysterious force guarding it, and my men get lost as soon as they get close."

"Some even fell into a coma, only waking up hours after being carried back."

"I sent three batches of people consecutively afterward, experiencing the same thing, completely helpless!"

Brando wiped sweat from his forehead, his voice filled with despair.

Spell barrier? Illusion array?

Luo De couldn’t help but think inwardly.

But he didn’t make a fuss, continuing to question, "Why didn’t you seek help from the Earl of the Red Griffin but came to me."

"I, I meant no offense to Lord Earl, it’s just..."

Brando glanced timidly at Vivian, then said softly:

"This isn’t ordinary plundering, that old man must be some mysterious spellcaster."

"Baron Rod, you managed to deal with someone as bizarre and mysterious as Susanna, surely you can handle this threat!"

Brando’s tone was full of sincerity.

Luo De remained silent, tapping his fingers against the railing, analyzing the various possibilities of this sudden event in his mind.

An elderly spellcaster suddenly kidnapped Brando’s son and then hid in the mine?

Luo De felt his mind in turmoil.

"How old is your son?"

Luo De asked, "Is the old man male or female? Has anything happened recently at the mine?"

"Just turned nineteen, freshly adult, and his forged sword is very beautiful!"

Brando said, "The soldiers didn’t see clearly whether the old man was male or female, the mine..."

Brando’s eyes showed some hesitation, he looked around to confirm no one was there before saying softly through gritted teeth,

"A miner dug up a piece of silvery-white ore, brighter than refined silver, very hard yet lighter than wood!"

"I suspect it’s the legendary mithril..."

Brando’s words made Luo De’s eyes noticeably brighten.

Mithril is a magic metal, more valuable than gold.

Corrosion-resistant, never rusts, much harder than regular steel, yet extremely ductile.

Can be forged into chain armor softer than silk but with defensive power surpassing heavy plate armor, it’s an unimaginable metal.

More importantly, it has excellent magic affinity, suitable for making magic wands, magic jewelry, rune engraving bases, and more.

If it’s mithril, then it makes more sense that a spellcaster would be attracted.

Luo De calmed his surprised heart, nodded slightly,

"Did the spellcaster ask you for mithril?"

"No, he hasn’t given me any message."

Brando’s face was full of frustration, "I don’t even know if my son is still alive!"

"That’s a bit odd..."

After hearing this, Luo De couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

The motive of this elderly spellcaster became even more elusive.

"Maybe if you wait a little longer, this spellcaster will let you ransom your son with mithril?"

"I can’t wait any longer, Baron!"

Brando’s face was filled with pain, he said anxiously, "I only have this one son, and his forging talent surpasses everyone in the family!"

"I need to think about it."

Luo De comforted, "Rest assured, Baron Brando, if your son is alive now, he should still be alive after two more days."

"Baron Rod, I’m truly helpless, only you can help me..."

Brando knelt down again, "I beg you to save my son, I’m willing to pay any price, even that piece of mithril and half of the Hammer family’s wealth!"

"I still need to think about it."

The conditions Brando offered were indeed tempting, but Luo De still didn’t agree immediately.

"Tomorrow morning, bring me a detailed map of the mine and all related information."

"I’ll carefully study them before giving you an answer."

Luo De’s response made Brando feel a bit more at ease.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Brando bowed repeatedly.

"I’ll go back to prepare the documents right away, and deliver them at dawn tomorrow."

After Brando left, the balcony regained its tranquility.

"Could this be a trap?"

Vivian turned her head to analyze, "Brando acted so calmly at the banquet, and now suddenly comes to say he encountered such a situation."

"Isn’t it a bit too abrupt?"

"You’re becoming more thoughtful."

Luo De pinched Vivian’s nose, smiled, and said, "This kind of incident should cause quite a stir; whether it’s a trap, the Night Language Association can find out."

"What I’m more curious about now."

"If it’s true, what exactly does this spellcaster want."