Chapter 237: Chapter 231: Stockpiling, Inventory, and Planning
With Mine 13 getting on track and the trial production of the three types of crystal weapons proceeding smoothly, Allen’s taut nerves finally eased a bit.
Lately, he had been like a tightly wound gear, engrossed in array deductions and weapons development, to the point where even his time for Meditation was severely compressed.
The continuous, high-intensity deductions and experiments had left his Spiritual Power at a low point, bringing his cultivation progress to a complete standstill.
No matter how strong the weapons, a Wizard’s own level was the foundation of everything.
Without sufficient Spiritual Power and Magic Power to support him, he wouldn’t be able to build a High-Level Golem even if he were given the blueprints.
"Truth needs cannons for its defense, but the one firing them can’t afford to fall behind either."
Allen sat in the command chair of the workshop’s central control room, rubbing the bridge of his throbbing nose as he called up his personal status screen.
[Cultivation Progress:]
[1. Fourth Core Matrix (Wizard Stage): 2/36]
[2. Fourth Mind Sub-thread (Wizard Stage): 2/15]
[3. Core Witchcraft (2/3)]
"I’ve fallen behind," Allen sighed softly.
The success of the crystal weapons had given him a new trump card.
He decided to slow his pace and gradually shift the focus of his work back toward his personal cultivation.
"Jarvis, modify the output distribution plan for Mine 13." Allen picked up the hot tea on the table and took a sip.
[Awaiting instructions.]
"Aside from the twenty percent share submitted to my mentor, take the remaining Seeds of Crystallization. Exchange half of them for Magic Stones through my mentor’s channels, and hold back the other half entirely."
Allen’s gaze was profound as he stared at the Crystal Stones on the holographic screen, which glowed with a captivating halo.
A strategic resource like the Seed of Crystallization was priceless in the Wizarding World, virtually impossible to find on the open market. He was currently under an advancement agreement, giving him exclusive control over the resources of an entire zone and allowing him to mine so unscrupulously. Once the twenty-year term was up and he left this plane, he might not be able to acquire materials of this grade even for ten times the price.
"One has to think long-term." Allen tapped his fingers on the desk. "With something this good, exchanging half for funds to maintain operations is enough. The rest? I’ll save it all to make bombs or keep it as a strategic reserve."
[Commander, the crystallized radiation has extremely high penetration and destructive properties. Conventional warehouses cannot provide long-term, safe storage,] Jarvis reminded him.
"Then we won’t build a conventional warehouse. We’ll just pile it up. It’s not like we have to worry about anyone stealing it."
Allen pulled up the subterranean structural map of Mine 13 and drew a circle underground, one kilometer away from the ore vein.
"Here. Dig down three hundred meters and build a temporary dump site."
"As for how to get these hot potatoes out of here later..." Allen narrowed his eyes. "We’ll worry about that after I advance to a Second-level Wizard or get my hands on some extra-large spatial storage equipment. For now, just dig and store."
[Instruction confirmed. Project codename: ’Crystal Palace.’ Marked as a long-term project.]
Having arranged the fate of the ore, Allen leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Jarvis, give me a full report on our current assets and military strength."
Light flowed across the holographic sand table, and a complete view of Zone 18 materialized in mid-air. The blue territory already occupied over sixty percent of the map.
[Asset Overview]
[Total Controlled Mines: 13. Includes a medium-sized black-veined iron mine, a Fire Element crystal cluster mine, and the newly operational medium-sized Seed of Crystallization vein.]
[Automation Rate of Main Workshop and Lava Lake Sub-Workshop: 96%. Fully automated production lines for basic components and low-level Golems have been achieved. The four volcanic Magic Power furnaces are operating stably, with Magic Power production and consumption roughly balanced.]
[Projected Gross Income This Month (including shipments from Mine 13): 1.32 million Low-Level Magic Stones]
[Projected Net Profit This Month (after deducting submitted shares and various maintenance costs): 1.03 million Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[Current Liquid Capital: 820,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.]
"A net monthly profit of over a million..." Allen looked at the figures, the corner of his mouth curling into a capitalist’s smile.
"And our military strength?" Allen asked.
[Compiling Military Statistics]
On the sand table, countless dense blue lights lit up, like a field of stars.
[The First, Second, and Third Golem Legions have all been restored to full strength.]
[Quick Response Force: 6 Freedom Gundams, 24 Storm Falcons.]
[Garrison Force: 23 standard mine garrison squads, stationed at various resource nodes, outposts, and workshops.]
[Production and Logistics Golems: 2 Pioneer Tunnelers, 15 Exploration Golems, 130 Mining Golems, 182 Fubao Series, 22 transport Floating Ships]
[Ammunition Depot: 30 first-batch Crystal Armor-Piercing Bullets, 10 Micro-Dust Bombs, 5 Crystal Bombs, 2,000 Red Lotus Type-1 Magic Missiles, and a total of 500 assorted aerial and bunker-buster bombs.]
[Standard Combat Roster Total: 760 Spider Slayer Mk. IIs, 106 Purgatories, 39 Pacifists, 99 Demon Eye Mk. II flying fortresses, 60 Storm Falcons, 32 Demon Eye Mk. IIIs, 11,500 Jumping Spiders]
[Total Value: 12,170,150 Low-Level Magic Stones]
Twelve million, one hundred and seventy thousand!
Allen’s gaze swept over the dense blue dots representing friendly units on the simulation sand table, and a powerful sense of security washed over him.
"But it’s still not enough." Allen’s eyes turned cold.
During a communication with his mentor, Mercer, a few days ago, the information hinted at between the lines had left Allen with a sense of unease.
More importantly, although the Black Wizard attack from two years ago had been forcefully suppressed by his mentor, the mastermind behind it had yet to surface.
Once news of the crystallized ore leaked, this zone—originally considered a "backwater"—could attract many more greedy eyes.
"Peace is only temporary." Allen stood up and walked to the sand table. "Those Black Wizards, who only destroy and never create, will be back sooner or later. Before they show their faces again, I must possess the power to crush everything."
"Build! Keep building!"
"The construction plan for the Fourth Golem Legion is to be put on the immediate agenda."
"Also, continue producing crystal weapons."
[Instructions recorded. Production lines are reallocating priorities.]
Allen’s gaze moved across the sand table, finally locking onto a dark red area in the northwest of the map.
The Black Stone Gobi.
’The main objective of territorial expansion should also be advanced.’
After the annihilation of the Dream-Weaving Demon Spider colony, the only tough nuts left to crack in Zone 18 were the Rock Armor Earth Dragons of the Black Stone Gobi, the Fire Element Lord of the Lava Lake, and that strange Silent Abyss.
"Pull up the intel on the Black Stone Gobi."
[Loading...]
On the light screen, an image of a colossal beast appeared, its body as large as a small hill. It was covered in thick, dark-yellow rock armor, and with every step it took, the ground trembled slightly.
[Target: Rock Armor Earth Dragon population.]
[Current Number: Approximately 120.]
[Characteristics: Solitary, extremely territorial, possesses exceptionally high physical defense and magic resistance, skilled in wielding earth Elemental Magic Power.]
[Average Individual Magic Power Fluctuation: 1,500-2,500.]
[Strongest Leader: Peak Magic Power fluctuation of 5,700, a cliff-like lead over the others. Assessed as possessing the combat power of a peak Second-level Wizard.]
Allen stared at the beast, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. ’The strongest one in this population is a bit overpowered.’
"Solitary. That’s their greatest weakness."
If one hundred and twenty Rock Armor Earth Dragons charged together, even Allen’s three Golem Legions would be crushed into a pile of scrap metal. But since they preferred to live apart, they were nothing but living targets.
"Before, their rock-like magical armor was a huge problem. Even the Red Lotus Magic Missiles weren’t very effective against it. Only the Freedom Gundams could handle them," Allen sneered. "But now..."
"The Crystal Armor-Piercing Bullets are a death knell tailor-made for them."
One shot from an armor-piercing bullet, and no matter how thick your rock armor is, it’ll instantly turn into brittle glass. The subsequent kinetic explosion will blast you into a shower of fragments.
"Relay my orders." Allen placed his hands on the control console, his gaze cold. "Split the First and Second Golem Legions into ten hunting squads. Equip each squad with five ’Purgatory’ mechs armed with Crystal Armor-Piercing Bullets and supported by Storm Falcons."
"Employ ’wolf pack’ tactics. Enter the outskirts of the Black Stone Gobi and pick off the lone Rock Armor Earth Dragons one by one."
"I’m not looking for speed, I’m looking for zero combat losses. I want to use these big brutes to test the real-world combat data of our new weapons."
[Running tactical simulation... Estimated kill probability against average individuals is 96%.]
"As for the leader with a Magic Power fluctuation of 5,700..." Allen stroked his chin.
’The power of a peak Second-level opponent is not something that can be overwhelmed with sheer numbers.’
"We won’t touch it for now. We’ll slowly clip its wings, turn it into a general with no army."
"Once I have the ’big bomb’ ready, I’ll assemble all six Freedom Gundams and go meet it myself."
Allen glanced at the calendar.
It was already his sixth year in this world.
"Jarvis, establish a medium-term strategic objective."
"Objective: Within the next two years, completely eradicate all Magical Beast populations in Zone 18. I want it so that across these eighty thousand square kilometers of land, nothing besides my Golems dares to breathe too loudly."
[Strategic objective established. Countdown: 730 days.]
Deep within the workshop, massive machinery roared to life. Countless mechanical servants toiled on the assembly lines, weaving a cold and violent tapestry of crimson Magic Steel and azure Runes.
The war machine rumbled forward once more, crushing all in its path.
