Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 92: [91] The Changing Battlefield

-Third-Person Perspective-

Inside one of the rooms in Lawrence Castle, Arkan, Rainer, and Kael sat around a long table that now served as a temporary meeting room for the government department. Since the region was still under development, administrative facilities were scarce, making the castle the central hub for governing operations.

Kael leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. His expression remained calm, but his sharp gaze reflected careful calculation.

"Progress is significant. The recruits have shown improvement in discipline and combat formations, but they still need time to reach the standard I want."

Arkan tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought.

"How much longer until you think they’re ready for actual combat?"

Kael let out a quiet scoff and met Arkan’s gaze directly.

"That depends on the difficulty of the battle you’re referring to. If it’s just bandits or common mercenaries, two more months should be enough. But if you want a force capable of standing against a larger military..." He paused briefly before exhaling. "At least a full year of intensive training."

Rainer, who had been reclining in his chair with a relaxed expression, finally spoke up.

"We don’t have the luxury of that much time. If Cecilia truly plans to make us scapegoats and drag Lawrence into conflict, we might only have a few months before something explodes."

Arkan rubbed his temples.

"That’s what concerns me. We’re racing against time."

Kael studied Arkan silently before finally speaking.

"You want to take action, don’t you?"

A small smirk formed on Arkan’s lips.

"Of course. I don’t intend to sit around and let them hit us first."

A brief silence followed before Rainer chuckled.

"That’s exactly the answer I expected from you."

Arkan took a sip of his now-cooling tea before glancing at Kael.

"Aside from our military progress, I also need to train them in another method of combat. You know what I mean, don’t you?"

Kael, who rarely showed much expression, let out a deep sigh.

"Yeah... Honestly, with the firearms you’ve introduced, the battlefield is going to change completely. The strategies that have been used on this continent for centuries will become obsolete within a few years."

Rainer raised an eyebrow.

"Does that mean we need to change our training approach?"

Kael nodded.

"Exactly. Battles in the future won’t rely on knight duels or traditional infantry formations. With weapons that can kill from a distance before an enemy can even get close, we need faster, more flexible units trained in modern tactics."

A subtle smile appeared on Arkan’s face.

"That’s why I want you to restructure the training curriculum—not just teaching them how to fight, but how to think in this new form of warfare."

Kael studied Arkan for a moment before giving a slow nod.

"I can redesign their training. But we still need more supplies. Gunpowder, bullets, a sufficient number of firearms... Are you sure we can produce them in time?"

Arkan leaned back in his chair, his expression unwavering.

"I have someone who can handle that."

Kael let out a small chuckle, his sharp eyes narrowing as if evaluating the man before him.

"Of course. I should have known better than to doubt you." There was a hint of satisfaction in his voice, as if he was enjoying how Arkan always found a way to shift the odds in his favor.

Arkan smirked.

"Good. But there’s one more thing we need to discuss."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

Arkan met his gaze with a serious expression.

"The expedition."

The room instantly fell silent.

Kael’s sharp eyes locked onto Arkan.

"An expedition? With these newly trained troops?"

Rainer, who had been observing, leaned back with his arms crossed. He had already guessed where this conversation was heading.

"You’re talking about that mine, aren’t you?"

Arkan nodded.

"Yes. We need to secure the location before others catch wind of it."

Kael sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"So you want to take an army that has only just learned to shoot and reorganize their combat formations... and throw them into an expedition that could be full of unknown dangers?"

Arkan met his gaze unwaveringly.

"Precisely. Because they’re newly trained, this is the perfect chance to test them."

Kael let out a dry laugh, though his expression remained skeptical.

"Hah... You really enjoy high-stakes gambles, don’t you?"

Arkan’s voice remained calm, yet firm.

"This isn’t gambling. It’s strategy."

Rainer, who had been watching the exchange, tapped his fingers against the table.

"So, are you really going to tell him about it?"

Arkan nodded without hesitation.

"Yes. He needs to know."

Kael’s eyes narrowed as he looked between them, irritation creeping into his tone.

"Hold on. What are you two talking about? Don’t make me feel like an outsider." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Rainer exchanged a glance with Arkan before chuckling.

"Relax. It’s just something big enough to make you want to rip your hair out in frustration."

Kael scoffed, folding his arms.

"I’m used to that. You two always give me headaches."

Arkan finally leaned forward, his fingers tapping the table rhythmically before speaking in a more serious tone.

"You know about Rune Stones, don’t you?"

Kael frowned, his expression turning sharp.

"Don’t insult me, Lord Arkan. Of course, I know. It’s a rare material used in high-tier magical artifacts. Its value surpasses gold and has even been the cause of wars."

Arkan smiled faintly.

"Good. Then you understand... The mine I’m referring to isn’t just an iron mine. It’s a Rune Stone mine."

Kael’s body stiffened.

Then

"WHAT?!"

Kael’s reaction was so loud that Rainer nearly laughed.

He stared at Arkan as if the man had just said something completely impossible.

"You’re joking, right?"

Arkan shook his head, maintaining his usual calm demeanor.

"No. We discovered it a few days ago. And the amount... is far greater than I expected."

Kael ran a hand over his face, trying to process the information.

"So, you’re telling me that this small territory, which has only recently risen from ruin... has a Rune Stone mine? And you expected me to react any differently?"

Rainer smirked.

"I knew you’d react like this."

Kael let out a long sigh and fixed Arkan with a calculating gaze.

"Alright... What’s your plan?"

Arkan leaned back in his chair, a small smile forming on his lips.

"What else? We monopolize the mine for the benefit of our territory, of course."

Kael tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing Arkan as if weighing his options.

"So, you want to keep its existence a secret?"

"For now, yes," Arkan answered smoothly. "If word gets out, every kingdom and empire will sink their claws into our land. I’m not strong enough yet to fend off attacks from all sides. But if we can keep it hidden long enough... we can build the foundation we need to face them when the time comes."

Kael scoffed, crossing his arms.

"In other words, you want to buy time. Let the territory grow before the vultures come knocking."

Rainer chuckled beside him.

"You’re starting to understand how his mind works."

Kael shook his head slowly.

"I’m not against it, but I’m also not a fan of plans with too many risks." His eyes sharpened. "How do you intend to keep this mine hidden?"

Arkan tapped his fingers against the table, his eyes gleaming as if he had already thought this through.

"That’s the interesting part. I want to hear your thoughts on this, Sir Kael. If you were in charge of securing it, how would you keep this mine a secret?"

Kael fell silent for a moment before letting out a dry chuckle.

"Hah... You really know how to make people work for you, Lord Arkan."

He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly before exhaling deeply.

"If you want to keep the mine hidden... we have to do it right from the start."

Kael opened his eyes, now filled with the sharpness of a seasoned strategist.

"We can’t just rely on tight security or restricted access. That would only raise suspicion. Instead, we need to create the illusion that this mine is nothing more than an ordinary iron mine."

He began tapping his fingers against the table, as if arranging chess pieces in his mind.

"First, we ensure the distribution routes remain identical to other mines. That means continuing to export materials—but only common iron and stone. The real Rune Stones will be filtered out and stored in a secure location unknown to outsiders."

Arkan nodded thoughtfully.

"And what about the workers? We need a lot of manpower, but the more people know, the greater the risk of a leak."

Kael snorted.

"Exactly. That’s why we need to control information strictly. The workers must be recruited from within our territory—people we can trust or at least keep under control. We can offer higher wages as an incentive, but more importantly, we need to establish a highly structured work system. No one should see the full picture."

Rainer raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

Kael held up a finger.

"We divide the workers into separate groups, each with a specific task. One group only digs. One group only transports materials. Another group refines them. None of them should know they’re handling something more valuable than common iron."

Arkan’s grin widened, his eyes shining with admiration.

"So we create a fragmented work system. That way, only a handful of trusted people will understand the mine’s true value."

Kael nodded.

"Exactly. And those individuals must be carefully selected. The mine’s chief overseer must be someone we can completely trust. Someone who understands the importance of secrecy."

Arkan stroked his chin, considering his options.

"Gunnar might be a good choice. He’s not only an expert in metallurgy but also someone who isn’t easily influenced by outside forces."

Kael shrugged.

"That could work, as long as he knows how to manage the workers effectively."

Rainer crossed his arms.

"And what about security? If someone gets suspicious, we can’t rely solely on the troops we have now."

Kael chuckled.

"That’s the best part. We won’t station a large military force near the mine."

Arkan frowned.

"What? Wouldn’t that be dangerous?"

"Not if we play a psychological game," Kael replied casually.

"If you station too many guards in one place, you’re inviting attention. People will start asking, ’Why is this area so heavily protected?’ But if you only place a handful of guards, outsiders will assume it’s just a standard mining operation. Nothing special, nothing worth investigating."

Rainer let out a low whistle.

"So you want to make people think the mine is worthless?"

Kael smirked.

"More precisely, I want them to see this mine as just another ordinary site. Nothing valuable, nothing worth suspecting. We make them believe there’s no reason to care."

Arkan slowly nodded, then grinned.

"I like the way you think, Sir Kael."

Kael grinned back.

"Of course. I’ve survived this long not just because of strength, but because of common sense."

Arkan tapped the table rhythmically, summarizing their plan.

"So, we do three things: First, we control the flow of information within the mine using a fragmented work system. Second, we maintain the illusion that it’s just an ordinary iron mine by continuing normal distribution. Third, we keep security low-key, ensuring that outsiders see nothing out of the ordinary."

Kael nodded in satisfaction.

"Exactly, Lord Arkan. This way, we can delay outside interference as long as possible. And by the time they finally realize what’s happening... we’ll already be far stronger than they expected."

Arkan leaned back, letting the weight of their plan settle in.

He could already see the bigger picture—now, all that was left was execution.

A small smile played on his lips.

"Then let’s get started."