Chapter 52

Chapter 52

He fell into a long silence before responding with a stupid expression, "Yes?"

Instead of answering Jerome, Iona turned to Leroy.

Leroy calmly accepted Iona's gaze and said.

Sometimes silence is better than a hundred words.

I havent said anything yet.

"Aren't you criticizing me with your expression? I went through the trouble of finding someone trustworthy, but your reaction is disappointing."

After successfully acquiring ownership of the land, Iona and Leroy were preparing to resume mining operations in earnest.

In fact, Leroy had to handle most of the external affairs because Iona, who was surrounded by people on alert, was in a position where it was easier to use someone else.

Moreover, he was already in a state of managing the territory and various businesses as a landlord, and had established a wide network of trust.

So Iona also trusted him and asked him to find someone, but...

'He brought someone without even telling us where they will be working.'

Aside from his willingness to follow Iona's plan, he seemed to have a fairly objective idea of how this would look in the eyes of others.

'Well, proving success is my role.'

Thinking so, Iona looked back at Jerome with a worried face.

Even if it was work done under someone else's name, if given the choice between a place with good and bad profitability, most people would choose the former because the treatment of workers could vary depending on how much profit they bring in.

And the silver mines in Siam were rumored to be ugly in the industry.

Jerome was already sweating with the thought that he had made a hasty decision blinded by greed.

Ioana placed the box she had prepared on the table with a loud thud and said.

Open it.

Jerome hesitated to accept it and alternated his gaze between Iona and the box.

As Iona urged him on, he finally reached out his hand to take it.

When Jerome checked inside the box, his eyes widened slightly and he said.

"This Isnt it silver ore?

"Yes. Can you explain to us how to extract silver from it?"

He couldn't understand why Iona made such a request, but Jerome recited the smelting method step by step as instructed.

"First, we crush the silver ore using a crusher to make it into powder. After heating it at a high temperature, it becomes ash, from which we can extract the silver."

"It seems difficult to produce high-purity silver."

"However, silver is naturally mixed with other minerals, so it is difficult to produce high-purity silver."

Since regretting it now would be useless, Jerome tried to show a diligent attitude, even if it was belated.

"Yes, if it's possible to refine it as you mentioned... Perhaps the production volume may exceed your imagination. Moreover, if it's lead, it can be easily obtained. The exact investment cost should be properly calculated on-site..."

When can we leave?

"We can leave now if you want. I'll gather workers and go up to the mine as quickly as possible."

"No, let's go up slowly."

At Iona's words, Jerome said haha and smiled exaggeratedly.

He seemed to think that Iona had even joked with him.

However, Iona just stared blankly at him with her expressionless face.

Finally, Jerome's mouth drooped back to its original position.

He asked with a hesitant expression.

"... ....Are you being serious?"

It was a demanding request that made it feel like he was eager to mine silver right away.

Iona felt a sigh escape internally.

'It was because of this.'

Iona asked with a serious face.

Do you know why the silver mines in the Siam Mountains were once called the Mine of Death?

Jerome could not answer.

On the other hand, Iona, who posed the question, naturally knew the answer. Startled by Jerome's silence, she spoke up confidently.

"It's because prospectors climbed the mountain in a dream of getting rich quick."

It was because of human greed.

"The commonality among the miners who died at the time was that they complained of dizziness and fatigue. Even the strong miners who were good at using their strength on the ground couldn't handle the mountain. However, people assumed that they were simply tired from the steep mountain path... Even the miners themselves began mining without proper rest. And within a short time, some died from exhaustion, lasting only a day or two, while others barely made it a week before dying."

"Did... ...Did an epidemic break out or something?"

Perhaps feeling uneasy, Jerome finally showed a fearful expression.

It was a fact that he had forgotten about due to his obsession with the new refining method. The fact that silver mine was a notorious place that had produced countless deaths.

At that moment, Leroy, who had been keeping silent, intervened.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

[ TN: Sorry for the late update I was binge-watching a K-drama and forget to edit the latest chapter Sorry . I will try to be more responsible in the future. And Join Patreon to support the translation and to read 5 chapters ahead of the /YourNoona

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