Apocalypse Architect: A Tower Defense LitRPG

Chapter 113: Acquisitions and Expansions

The mine owner was practically tripping over himself to lead the way, his eagerness palpable as he guided them toward the pit.

Jax couldn’t tell how much of the man’s sales pitch was hot air, but Hazel was a different story. Her sharp eyes scanned the operation, effortlessly piercing through the bluster to analyze the mine’s actual output capacity.

Lacking heavy industrial machinery, this operation relied on a crude hybrid of manual labor and small-scale mechanical assistance. A team of miners strained against a triangular cart, hauling ore from the depths of the earth before dumping it onto a growing mound of raw stone. Nearby, another group sorted through the debris by hand, tossing higher-quality chunks to one side while discarding the impurity-laden slag for secondary processing.

This was merely one of the smaller shafts under the owner’s control. Jax swept his gaze over the site; barely a dozen workers were present. If this was what the man considered a “major pit,” the bar was incredibly low.

Jax stepped up to the mouth of the mine. Instantly, a mechanical chime echoed in his mind.

[Scan Complete: Low-grade ore vein. Contains no Refined Iron or Stardust Stone.]

Jax suppressed a sigh and shook his head, signaling the owner to lead them to the next site.

Hazel, playing her part perfectly, kept the owner distracted with a barrage of technical questions. Through these interrogations, she built a mental map of the mineral composition across the owner’s entire portfolio. However, after touring every pit under the man’s name, she turned to Jax with a questioning look.

Jax gave a subtle, almost imperceptible shake of his head. Junk. All of it.

“Let’s move on to the next seller,” Jax said flatly.

Hazel nodded. Jax was the Chief; his word was law.

The trio moved on to the second mine owner, repeating the process. They inspected pit after pit, navigating the rugged terrain and dusty air. It wasn’t until they approached a neglected, semi-abandoned shaft that the System finally reacted.

As Jax stepped close to the overgrown entrance, the notification flashed:

[Discovery: Low-grade Refined Iron Ore!]

Jax’s internal radar pinged with interest. The pit looked like it hadn’t seen serious activity in months; rusted tools lay scattered in the dirt, and the owner seemed almost embarrassed to show it.

“The output here has dried up significantly,” the owner admitted, his tone laced with helplessness. “If you’re interested in this scrap heap, I can let it go for a low price.”

Hazel glanced at Jax, waiting for a cue. Jax remained stone-faced. He knew the game well: if he showed even a flicker of enthusiasm, the “low price” would vanish, replaced by a lion’s appetite for profit.

“Let’s look at the others,” Jax said dismissively, turning away.

Hazel understood immediately. She nodded and gestured for the owner to lead on.

Because the mines were operating at low capacity, the owner had plenty of time to give them a grand tour. Unfortunately, the rest of his holdings were worthless to Jax.

As they prepared to leave, Jax leaned in close to Hazel, his voice barely a whisper. “That third pit—the abandoned one. It has what we need. Note it down, but don’t bid yet.”

Hazel gave a microscopic nod. She pulled out her notebook, scribbling a coded reminder, before politely thanking the owner and guiding them toward the next prospect.

The day turned into a blur of dust, rock, and negotiation. They crisscrossed the mining district, inspecting nearly every independent operation available. It was exhausted work, but at the very last location, persistence paid off.

[Discovery: Stardust Stone Mine!]

Jax felt a surge of triumph but kept his expression bored. As they walked back to the car, he briefed Hazel on the strategy.

“Don’t buy those two mines today,” Jax instructed quietly. “Let them stew for a couple of days. Make them sweat. When you come back, drive the price into the ground.”

“Understood,” Hazel replied, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of the deal. “I’ll return in two days to close it.”

“Good. Also, you mentioned Victor finalized the agreements with the major families? If they’re starting the wall renovations, they’ll need power.” Jax reached into his storage space and retrieved a heavy pouch. “Here. I’ve got a few hundred Energy Shards on hand. Take two hundred and deliver them to Victor as the first batch.”

Hazel took the pouch, securing it in her bag.

They drove back north, leaving the rugged mining district for the chaotic bustle of The Sprawl. Jax didn’t stop at their old apartment; instead, he drove straight to the city’s core.

They pulled up to a standalone villa.

It was a stark contrast to their previous life. The property featured a manicured lawn, a spacious parking lot, and privacy hedges. The house itself was a three-story structure situated in the most affluent sector of The Sprawl—a zone typically reserved for the upper echelons of major guilds.

Unlike Redrock Bastion, The Sprawl didn’t have physical walls separating the rich from the poor, but the invisible lines were just as rigid. Less than a month ago, Jax and his team had been squeezing into a cramped rental in the slums, the cheapest housing money could buy. Now, they were standing in front of a mansion.

“Hard to believe we’ve come this far in such a short time,” Jax mused, looking up at the façade. “Let’s take a look inside.”

Raven unlocked the front door, and they stepped into the cool, sterile air of the foyer. A professional cleaning crew had already swept through, leaving behind the faint scent of disinfectant and polish.

The floors were paved with marble—standard quality for the wealthy, but luxury compared to concrete. It wasn’t on the level of the aristocratic manors in Redrock Bastion, but it was spacious, clean, and comfortable.

The ground floor housed a cavernous living room, a modern kitchen, and a reception hall for guests. The second and third floors were dedicated to private living quarters.

Jax toured the rooms, selecting a large suite on the second floor for himself. He noted the layout, planning to assign rooms to the rest of the team. Originally, he had considered buying separate properties to spread their footprint, but the lack of technology in this world made that impractical. Aside from Redrock Bastion, which had signal towers, The Sprawl relied on snail mail. A centralized headquarters was essential for rapid decision-making.

Satisfied, Jax pocketed a set of keys.

“This will do,” he said.

The drive back to Sector 33 was smooth. Jax had his own vehicle now, a luxury that made the long commute bearable. By the time he arrived, night had fallen, and his team had already repelled the first wave of insectoids.

Exhausted but content, Jax gathered everyone for dinner. When he broke the news about the villa, the room erupted. The team was ecstatic, firing off questions about when they could move in and fighting over who would get which room.

Two days later, Hazel drove back to Sector 33.

One look at her beaming face told Jax everything he needed to know.

“Done,” Hazel announced, stepping out of the car. “I’ve acquired both mines. They’re ours. Oh, and this…” She handed him a heavy package. “This is our first real paycheck.”

Jax blinked, confused. “Payment? We haven’t even started digging yet.”

“It’s from Victor,” Hazel explained. “The wall renovation project is moving fast. The families signed the contracts, and the moment I delivered that batch of Energy Shards, they started the machinery. This is the advance payment: 3,000 Tier 2 Cores.”

“Damn,” Jax sighed, impressed. “That was fast. Logistics really is a goldmine.”

He opened the package, counting out a thousand cores for his own reserves, then handed the remaining two thousand back to Hazel.

“Keep this as your operating capital,” Jax said. “We need to get those mines running immediately. What do you need to get started?”

Hazel did a quick mental calculation. “Heavy industrial mining rigs are too expensive for us right now. We’ll have to rely on manual labor for the extraction. I can buy some small-scale equipment to help, but the bulk of the work will be pickaxes and shovels. How many workers should I look for?”

Jax didn’t answer immediately. instead, he directed a query inward.

System, regarding the extraction of Stardust Stone and Refined Iron… do I need specialized units, or will standard labor suffice? Can the efficiency be boosted?

[User, miners are interchangeable. Standard labor is compatible with these resources.]

Jax nodded, satisfied.

“Alright,” Jax said, turning back to Hazel. “Go to the labor market. Recruit a hundred men. And Hazel—make sure you pick the honest ones.”