Ryan had already decided to intercept the stash of Crystal Boundary Stones that 099 and his team were secretly mining. Not only did he plan to take the stones, but he also intended to leak the information early to prevent the greed of those at the base and save the lives of the dozen miners who would otherwise die in vain.
However, the mere value of two million dollars in Crystal Boundary stones was not enough. Ryan calculated carefully and decided to act in twenty-five days. He would let these veteran miners work for him for a while. When the time comes, he'll carry out his 'good deeds' without giving these veteran miners any chance to 'thank' him.
Leaving the drones to continue surveillance, Ryan piloted his aircraft through the depths of the G46 pit, carefully inspecting the area. Mining was a job with its own tricks.
Ryan, like many newcomers, had once driven his mining aircraft aimlessly, hoping for luck. At the end of the day, he would often run out of energy without finding any ore, and the maintenance of the drill would cost him even more.
His learning ability was strong. He concluded that to mine effectively, one must first learn to examine the soil, analyze the rock structure, and dig where there were signs of ore, increasing the success rate and minimizing energy consumption.
By mastering the art of extracting ore with minimal cost, he could not only complete the daily tasks assigned by the base but also earn extra allowances from other newcomers. In a month, he could save up to eight or ten thousand, ranking him among the top miners.
So, although the pilot of the 3377 mining aircraft was a newcomer, his mining experience was no less than that of the veteran miners 099 and his team.
Ryan decided not to disturb the veteran miners excavating the Crystal Boundary Stones for now. He needed to complete his daily tasks first—TerraCore Group miners were paid daily, and they used the money to buy nutritious meals and maintain their mining aircraft. To become wealthy, he had to start by earning small amounts.
Ryan quickly got into the zone, leveraging his professional skills and experience as a seasoned miner. Using Astra's analysis and his own experience, he searched the rock layers inside the pit, occasionally extending the multifunctional drill to make marks on the rock, observing its density and texture.
"Astra, mark this spot. The outer wall is tough, and there's an echo inside. This is a typical ore cavity," Ryan identified a target.
"Shall we start digging?" Astra asked.
Ryan shook his head. "No rush. First, analyze the rock structure to ensure the support won't be compromised."
He knew the stability of the G46 pit was already poor and would be completely buried in a month, becoming an abandoned mine. So, he was extra cautious. Astra complied, and soon the results came in. The area wouldn't affect the rock structure's support as long as the damage didn't exceed a hundred meters in depth and area.
Ryan decisively operated the multifunctional drill to start digging. The mining aircraft vibrated slightly, the conical drill spinning at high speed, churning out rock powder. The drill's temperature on the operation platform quickly rose. Ryan smiled with satisfaction.
It was indeed an ore cavity.
An experienced miner had once told him that besides theoretical knowledge, many details in the actual work environment could reveal whether there were ores in the rock layers.
Any environment that generates ore is unique and usually very tough. When the drill encounters tougher rock, it works harder, and the drill's temperature rises slightly faster than when drilling ordinary rock.
Ordinary people might not notice or summarize this, but those who paid attention could turn this into valuable knowledge, using it to gradually widen the gap between themselves and others.
After drilling for a while, the multifunctional drill paused for water cooling maintenance. A few minutes later, it resumed. The mining aircraft's energy consumption continued to drop; Astra continuously monitored the rock structure and internal conditions.
After about forty-five minutes, the drill seemed to hit something. Ryan calmly began to grind and cut around the opening, slowly revealing the true situation inside…
A whole piece of black ore, about two meters in diameter. Astra reported joyfully, "This is H4-grade Scale Iron ore, used for making the hulls of H4 and below spacecraft. Though not highly valuable, it's substantial in size. This piece alone is worth at least three thousand."
Three thousand dollars, equivalent to half a month's salary for an ordinary miner. However, thinking about the thirty million worth of Crystal Boundary stones, Ryan felt no particular excitement over the Scale Iron. But as his first gain since his rebirth, it was a good start.
Ryan smiled as he broke the ore into pieces and stored them in the mining aircraft's storage compartment, securing his earnings.
At that moment, a video call came in. Astra alerted, "It's Jane."
Ryan was taken aback. He had heard of her—a sweet-looking girl from his school, close friends with Aeloria. The two seemed to be best friends, and Jane had later joined the Earth Space Force, rising to the rank of battalion commander, a remarkable achievement.
No need to ask, Ryan knew Aeloria must have noticed his absence from her birthday celebration and urged her friend to inquire.
Checking the time, it was already 9:30 AM. He had been busy all morning and hadn't sent Aeloria birthday wishes or a gift, likely leaving her puzzled and curious.
Though he didn't want to deal with Aeloria anymore, the call was from Jane… he had to show some respect.
Answering the call, the screen showed the base headquarters' background, and a girl with bangs and big eyes stared at Ryan.
"Ryan, where are you? Do you know what day it is? We're all waiting for you to celebrate Aeloria's birthday. Everyone's here," Jane said, surprised to see Ryan in the cockpit.
"I'm not going to Aeloria's birthday. I've fallen behind on my work because of tutoring her. I'm almost broke. Consider the tutoring sessions my birthday gift to her. From today, I need to focus on earning money," Ryan replied.
"Ryan, what's wrong? Are you and Aeloria having a fight?" Jane sensed something was off.
Ryan smiled slightly. "Aeloria and I are just classmates, but the rumors are getting out of hand. Some classmates even called to ask if we're dating. It's crazy! Do you think we could be together?"
Jane fell silent. As Aeloria's best friend, she knew Aeloria's high standards and refined lifestyle, making it impossible for her to settle with an ordinary, poor guy.
Then Ryan replied: "How could I ever abandon the quest to conquer the vast universe for something as trivial as a "vase"?"
Hearing this, Jane was silent.