Monopolizing the Blue Iron Mine

"If I don't leave the boss room, the chests stick around for three hours, right?"

Three hours until the chests vanished. If he could craft the keys within that time, he could open not just one, but all three. Vulcan immediately set up his forge, anvil, and other crafting tools in the boss room. Blue iron ore—the main ingredient—was scattered everywhere, so there was no reason to hesitate. He dove straight into key production.

Crafting the treasure chest keys wasn't tough. They were just Uncommon grade, and even though the shape varied each time, he just had to replicate the existing ones exactly as Dragon Eye showed him. Piece of cake. Thirty minutes per key, one hour total, and he had two in hand.

Whether it was worth the investment? He'd find out once he cracked the chests open. But Vulcan figured even junk loot wouldn't matter. Proving this trick worked was value enough. Sure, he was in a low-level dungeon now, but levels would climb, and higher dungeons awaited. Their chests wouldn't drop the same trash as here. He'd heard tales of Unique items from 300-level dungeons plenty of times—expectations were sky-high.

Heart pounding, Vulcan slotted a key into the first chest.

'Please...'

Click. He turned it gently, feeling a dull resistance. Then the lock sprang free, and the lid yawned open.

"Yes!!"

The crafted key worked. He quickly checked the others—no vanishing act. Click, click. Shifting to the next, he unlocked the rest with ease, each chest welcoming its new owner.

"Heh heh heh heh heh!!!"

No risk of them disappearing now. Vulcan flung the lids wide, eyes gleaming over the spoils.

"Oh yeah?"

A few junk items mixed in, but two caught his eye. As Dragon Eye revealed, both Rare grade.

The Essence of Vampirism was a famous material for adding lifesteal to items. Players could drink it for personal buffs, turning into a "vampire" state with lifesteal on all attacks until death—but reputation tanked instantly, so few did. Smearing it on weapons for temporary HP drain was the norm.

"A consumable buff item? Jackpot."

The Crude Bat Statue only boosted Agility by 3—a meh fixed value—but holdable buffs were premium. No equip slot needed; just inventory space for permanent stats. Stackable across types, they sold hot regardless of potency. Shame no percentage or bigger bumps, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Satisfied, he pocketed it—then spotted something odd.

A hidden option label.

"Hidden option?"

Vulcan had never heard the term. Weren't all item effects visible on pickup? Yet here it was.

"This for real?"

- Ahem! Well... Memory's fuzzy from hunger. One chocolate cake might jog it...

Stunned, Vulcan glared at Tud, who shamelessly demanded cake. He obliged—easy enough to pull one out—but that gluttonous dragon soured his mood.

"No shit."

Dripping the essence into the statue's open maw triggered instant change. It absorbed like food, eyes glowing red.

Name changed too. Same base stats, but now +1% lifesteal on all attacks when held. Tiny? Sure, but scales with attack power. Stacks with gear lifesteal? Game-changer.

"Hidden options, huh. Feels like I'm an appraiser now. Heh heh heh!"

The discovery thrilled him. More items like this out there? Uncover types and conditions, flip 'em enhanced—easy money. No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guaranteed cash.

"Can't do that yet."

Slimy grin interrupted by the mine dev alert. No rushing it. Why start now when he could farm more Vampiric Bat Statues? Collect a stockpile first. Hell, skip dev entirely, camp the boss room, sell 'em off.

'Blue iron ore? Buy it or mine scraps between hunts.'

A holdable lifesteal buffer? Prime seller bait. Auctions for pricey ore if needed—he could spot veins and mine faster thanks to high Dexterity anyway.

Drop rate unknown, but gutting the golden goose? Nah. Vulcan hunkered down in the boss room. Field dungeons respawned after time, no reset grind like instances.

"Damn it. Figures."

Two days of Fire Bat loops, and he finally quit. Zero essences or statues after the first haul. Beginner's luck must've been insane.

- Quit screwing around and head back, you punk!!

"Sigh. Fine, coming!"

Still scored misc loot and piled blue iron. No regrets. Tud's nagging? Probably cake shortage. Vulcan restocked en route, cleared Giant Bats out, reported to the Rezina lord for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mine dev.

"Craft while waiting?"

Mine dev wasn't his job—NPC knights, soldiers, laborers handled it post-setup. He prepped his station near Scream Cave entrance. Mine away slowly; dash in for more ore when done.

- Seriously, you gonna make that? Munch. Gulp.

"Huh? Yeah? Spill after you finish eating?"

- Hmph. Waste of time on kindling skewers.

Tud nitpicked pre-craft. Recipe tweaks? Fine for a Gloria Saga vet like Vulcan—slight changes okay if form held. Options varied anyway: "Knight's Longsword of Strength," etc. Why not optimize?

'Quality bumps rewards.'

Not flat pay—higher grade, bigger buyout promised. He listened.

- Ahem. Thirsty... Next, that chocolate drink...

"Ten cups."

- Ten on whose dime...?

"Rare per ten. Unique twenty!"

- Get forging already.

Chocolate compromise unlocked Tud's know-how. Keep longsword shape, max blue iron's mana content/conduction. Melt with monster bones for mana infusion; quench in mana herb potion brew. No specific bone? Giant Bat scraps worked. Mid-quench, grind stabilizing Shari tree flowers onto hot blade—flames absorbed power into iron.

"Whoa..."

Vulcan gawked at the finished Blue Knight's Longswords. Prep-heavy, extra quenches for material infusion, timing fails scrapped a few—but results dazzled. Local knights topped ~level 100; these fit perfectly. Modest attack, but mana boost and skill damage amp? Solid. Plus craft achievement: fame and stats up. No repeats stacking, but easy rarity unlock? Win.

The final Red Knight's Longsword synergized with the nine blues—a commander blade. Too low-level for the high-level lord, but perfect for a captain: group buffs for blue wielders. Handy.

"How much for these? Heh heh heh heh heh!"

Delivery buzzed him up. But no rush to the castle—delivery day had a day left. Faster possible, but Uncommons wouldn't cut it. Mental fatigue from crafting? Triple hunt focus drain. No assembly-line grind.

"Phew. Still, grab what's mine."

Early delivery fine, but mine dev locked others out. His solo window. Dev reward coming, but finishing his quest might yank entry. "Suck the honey dry while it flows." Pure mine monopoly. Miners? Tunnel prep only. Veins glowed to him—his playground.

Vulcan chilled excitement, mined frantically: max speed, max yield, every second. Swords done—all blue iron his.

"You made all these yourself? The aura's no joke—beyond expectations. Splendid!"

Full term served, Vulcan returned to town. Delivered nine Blue Knight's Longswords and one Red Knight's Longsword to Rezina lord, eyes sparkling at the beaming noble's praise, awaiting payout.