Man With Super Medical Skill (Matthew)

Angus' expression tightened.

When people called a vein "waste," it usually meant there was only a thin layer of ore on the surface, and beneath that? Nothing but plain dirt.

If that was true, this vein wasn't worth a thing. Judging by the talk going around, it seemed like everyone believed it.

"Thanks for your help, everyone. Drop by sometime when you're free," Angus spoke politely, giving a slight bow before heading off with Matthew. Behind them, a few soldiers laughed.

"Man, Mr. Lopez has guts."noveldrama

"Yeah, compared to everyone else, he's a real character."

"Alright, let's not stick around too long."

"Keep your voices down-if anyone higher up hears us, we're toast."

As they walked through the area, Matthew's eyes swept over the land. Most of it had been dug up and overturned.

"Looks like they've put in some serious work trying to dig this place out. They've practically turned the ground inside out," he remarked quietly, motioning to the churned-up dirt.

Angus nodded and pointed toward a bottomless pit nearby. "Money does that to people, Matteo. See that hole over there? Some folks were dead set on finding copper ore there. They spent weeks digging-only to find nothing but dirt and rocks. If this vein is a dud, who knows when they'll get another chance."

They continued chatting as they walked, eventually spotting a crowd gathered ahead. The group was buzzing with conversation, and their voices carried over the scene.

As Angus and Matthew got closer, people turned to look. Some greeted them with friendly smiles, while others didn't bother hiding their cold or indifferent stares.

Not everyone liked Angus. Some respected his skill, but others couldn't stand him.

"Mr. Lopez, you're the expert here. Why don't you take a look?" one spoke.

Another chimed in, "We've been waiting for you-no one else can figure this out."

One added, "Yeah, Mr. Lopez, you're the top ore inspector in Ore Island. Don't disappoint us!"

A few comments came off as sarcastic, but Angus brushed them off and walked straight over to the ore protruding from the ground.

It was black iron, already sticking out in chunks, and looked massive. Instead of being impressed, Angus' face grew more serious.

Usually, ore veins were buried

deeper underground. Yet the iron ore

was scattered across the surface, with more protrusions stretching into the distance. Angus knew something wasn't right.

He crouched down and tapped the dry, compacted ground. He thought, This doesn't add up. Iron ore isn't supposed to stick out like this unless... it's a waste vein.

He frowned, his gaze sweeping over the scattered ore. They always look impressive at first-iron gleaming on the surface and promising so much. However, there's nothing when you dig a little deeper-just empty dirt.

"Mr. Lopez, what's the verdict? What do you think of this vein?" One asked eagerly.

Another added, "Yeah, come on, Mr. Lopez. Is this worth anything?"

Angus straightened up, his expression firm. "This is a waste-"

"Wait." Before Angus could finish, Matthew stepped forward, cutting him off.

His tall frame moved closer to the ore. He pressed his foot against the ground, testing it a few times before his eyes lit up with realization.

The Larson Family had passed down knowledge about changes in the earth's veins. Every century or so, the ground would shift and push ore up to the surface. This phenomenon also made the soil dry and compact but without cracks.

Matthew turned back to the group, his voice steady and confident. "Waste vein or not, we're taking this one."