The sharp hum of the helicopter blades sliced through the crisp morning air as Evan settled into the leather seat, eyes fixed on the vast wilderness sprawling beneath him. Below, the rugged Yukon landscape stretched in every direction rolling hills dotted with evergreen trees, winding rivers glinting like veins of silver, and rocky outcrops that promised hidden treasures deep beneath the earth.
In a few days, the annual Yukon mining auction would open, and Evan wasn't about to leave his future to chance.
At the Yukon Mining Office earlier that morning, Evan had signed the papers to secure mining rights for seven years, locking in claims on some basic parcels near the outskirts of the Kluane region. But the real prize was still up for grabs at the auction prime land rumoured to hold rich veins of gold and other precious minerals.
Now, aboard the helicopter, Evan's system flickered quietly on the screen mounted by the window, overlaying mineral density maps and geological data onto the landscape below.
"Look at this," Evan said, pointing to a cluster of golden highlights on the screen. "This ridge here, near the confluence of the Tanana and Kluane rivers. Could be exactly what we need."
The pilot, a grizzled local named Frank, chuckled. "That's been the talk of the town for years. Plenty have tried to stake their claim there, but the ground's tough. If you're serious about mining, you've got to be tougher."
Evan nodded, scanning the jagged outcrops and old mine shafts visible from the air. "That's why I'm here. I'm not just looking to stake claims I want to build something lasting."
As the helicopter banked eastward, Evan spotted clusters of weathered cabins remnants of the old gold rush days, many abandoned, some now home to hardy prospectors and miners eking out a living.
They circled over a broad riverbed shimmering with quartz deposits, and Evan's system pinged with increasing mineral concentration signals.
"Those quartz veins are a good sign," he said. "Usually gold's not far behind."
The pilot smiled wryly. "You've got the eye for it. Most city folks don't know what they're looking at."
Later that afternoon, back at the mining office, Evan reviewed his notes and talked with officials and local miners who shared tales of the land's challenges harsh winters, sudden floods, and the ever-present risk of rockslides.
"Mining up here isn't just about finding gold," one veteran miner told him. "It's about knowing the land, respecting it. You've got to be patient and smart. And maybe a little lucky."
Evan felt a spark of excitement. The stakes were high, but so were the rewards.
With the auction just days away, he began preparing his strategy, pinpointing the most promising claims based on his aerial survey and system's insights.
This was more than just a new venture it was the next step in his rise.
And Evan was ready.