After the Dwarf King explained his plan to the young minister in precise detail and clarified the names of the people who would assist him in carrying it out, he ended the meeting with a firm gesture indicating that the discussion was over. The minister bowed deeply in respect, then turned and left the royal hall with steady steps, while its massive doors slowly closed behind him, their sound echoing throughout the place.
The king remained standing for a few moments, watching the closed door, then let out a light sigh carrying a hint of relief. He began to think carefully about his decision and asked himself whether he had chosen the right person for such a sensitive task, but he soon smiled with confidence when he recalled the minister's way of thinking and his deep analysis of events. The king realized that he had not merely gained a new minister, but a sharp mind capable of seeing beyond appearances—something rare even within his royal council.
The king sat upon his ancient stone throne and began to think about the future of the dwarves and what awaited them beyond the borders of their kingdoms, in the vast world of the continent of Mira. He knew that the dwarves were no longer able to content themselves with hiding in their mountains and mines; ambitions were increasing, and the other races were watching them closely, waiting for any opportunity to seize their wealth.
After the royal meeting ended, the ministers began executing the king's orders without hesitation. As soon as the news reached the messengers and envoys coming from other kingdoms, a state of confusion spread among them. They had come to the dwarven capital intending to pressure the dwarves, to extract as many benefits as possible, and to learn whether the rumors about the new metals were true or not. But they never expected the firm response they received, nor the strict manner in which the dwarven representatives spoke, accompanied by a clear threat not to sell any artifacts or magical weapons under any pretext.
Some envoys tried to protest this behavior, but the news of the recent theft, the spread of guards in every corner of the royal city, and their sharp, suspicious looks instilled fear in their hearts. They quickly realized that the city was heading toward a strict curfew within a few days, and that their presence there was no longer welcome. They understood the unspoken message: the dwarves would not allow anyone to take anything from them without their full consent.
With this realization, most of the envoys began to leave, returning to their lands and kingdoms. As for those who hesitated or tried to stay, they faced harsh treatment from the guards, and even from the servants, until they too were forced to leave. Thus, the corridors of the royal palace were emptied of foreign faces, and the city gradually returned to complete dwarven control.
When news of what the dwarves had done reached the kings and princes of the other races on the continent, they realized that the dwarves had no intention of sharing those new metals with anyone. The warning was clear: if the rumors continued to spread, the number of weapons and artifacts sold to the rest of the kingdoms would be reduced. Many rulers wanted to know the true importance of those metals and why the dwarves surrounded them with so much secrecy, but they did not dare to act openly, fearing that the dwarves would carry out their threats and cut off their vital supplies.
After a period of relative calm on the continent of Mira, and after the initial rumors subsided, a new rumor appeared—stranger and more dangerous—that turned everything upside down. It spread among the people that the newly discovered metals, extracted from dwarven lands, had been stolen. This news astonished kings and rulers, but this time they did not send official envoys; instead, they preferred to secretly send their spies into dwarven territory to learn what had really happened behind the stone walls.
A few days before this new rumor spread, the young minister appointed by the king to supervise the metals was conducting his routine inspection. He moved between the mines and the guards, observing details with a vigilant eye, aware that every step and every glance could be part of the great trap planned by the Dwarf King. The real battle had not yet begun, but it was approaching silently.
While doing so, he encountered the commander of the guard responsible for protecting the new metal and its extraction sites. As soon as the commander saw the minister, he hurried toward him enthusiastically, bowed respectfully, and said:
— How are you today, Minister?
The minister smiled calmly, showing his familiarity with such encounters, and replied:
— As usual, Commander. Tell me, how is the extraction of the new metal going? Are things proceeding well?
As soon as the minister finished his question, an awkward smile appeared on the commander's face, as if he did not know where to begin. Then he said hesitantly:
— In truth… so far we have not been able to extract even a single piece since this morning.
The minister suddenly stopped walking, his eyes widening in surprise. He quickly turned and began moving forward at a fast pace, while the commander hurried after him. The minister said sharply as he walked:
— Have you spoken with the supervisor responsible for the mines and extraction?
The commander answered as he kept pace, worry evident on his face:
— Yes, my lord, I have spoken with him. Even he does not know the reason. He told me it might take a few hours to discover what the problem is.
When the minister heard this, he increased his speed, as if a dangerous thought had begun to form in his mind. After a few minutes, they reached the site where the supervisor was standing, surrounded by a large number of dwarves—miners and engineers—and it was clear that they were discussing something with concern.
The minister stepped forward directly and interrupted them in a firm voice:
— What is happening here, Supervisor? Have you determined the reason why you have not found the metal?
The supervisor looked at the workers around him and gestured clearly for them to leave and return to their work. After they moved away, he turned to the minister and said in a low voice filled with confusion:
— We tried digging in all directions, my lord, and at different depths, but we found no new trace of the metal. I believe that the new metal was an extremely rare raw ore, and it has been completely exhausted from this site.
The minister felt a slight shock, but he did not show it on his face. He lowered his head slightly and began thinking quickly about what needed to be done. After a few moments of silence, he raised his gaze and asked:
— How much of the new metal have we collected so far?
The supervisor answered immediately:
— Ten large wagons, my lord, all filled with what we extracted over the past days.
The minister looked at the guard commander and then at the supervisor and said in a firm tone that allowed no argument:
— Listen carefully. This news must never spread. You both know that there are those spying on us and watching our every move. We must use this time to build a tight trap.
He paused briefly, then continued in a lower, more serious voice:
— They must believe that we are still searching for the metal and extracting it from this site. They must think that these ten wagons are only the beginning. We cannot afford to lose them, and any danger to them must be removed immediately.
At that point, the guard commander said, having understood the intent:
— Do you want us, my lord, to divert the spies' attention away from the wagons and move them to a safe place, while keeping them busy watching this site? That way we ensure the safety of the metal and capture them when we are ready?
The minister smiled faintly and nodded in agreement:
— Exactly, Commander. That is precisely what I want.
The supervisor looked at the minister with clear astonishment, realizing at that moment the extent of his cunning and depth of thought. He then understood why the king had chosen this young minister, despite his recent appointment, to oversee the most important resource in the kingdom.
The supervisor smiled confidently and said:
— Do not worry, my lord. The workers in this mine are loyal and devoted, and they will never leak any news to the outside. You can be at ease on that front.