Allen’s gaze was locked on the images sent back by the Demon Eye.

After being processed by DSeek, the chaotic battlefield a hundred kilometers away became clear.

The pursuer was the very creature Master Mercer had mentioned, the Rock Armor Earth Dragon that dwelled in the Black Stone Gobi.

It was enormous, and its every step made the ground tremble.

And the one being hunted...

It was a giant scorpion, nearly three meters long and jet-black, with a carapace that had the texture of black glass.

Its segmented legs scrambled frantically, kicking up clouds of dust. Its iconic scorpion tail was held high, the stinger at its tip gleaming with a cold, sapphire light.

’A Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion! A crystal-shelled creature, just like the burrowing worms I encountered during my first mission at the academy!’

It seemed to be carrying something in its mandibles as it desperately fled toward Three-way Canyon.

"Did it steal something?" Allen muttered to himself, his fingers drumming unconsciously on the workbench.

In DSeek’s database, the intelligence provided by Gordon was quickly retrieved.

[Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion: A social Magical Beast that reproduces at an extremely high rate. Individual strength ranges from Advanced Apprentice to Second-level Wizard. Its carapace is highly resistant to both physical and energy attacks. Habit: Prefers sources of high-concentration Magic Power.]

Gordon’s files contained a detailed description of this creature. It was one of the two dominant species in the Molten Iron Mountain Range, the other being the Fire Element Lords.

Widespread, fast-breeding, and organized.

Even the lowest-level Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion possessed the strength of an Advanced Apprentice. Although they had few magical abilities, their super-hard carapaces, combined with their enormous size and strength, left them with almost no natural predators.

What was more troublesome was their habit.

These creatures were naturally drawn to objects with high Magic Power. All Alchemy Creations with a power source were targets for them. Once they gathered in a swarm, even Master Mercer would find them a headache.

Allen’s gaze fell on the Magic Furnace Core in the center of the workshop, which was humming with a low thrum.

’To the Crystal Shell Giant Scorpions, this thing is like a bonfire in the dead of night—a fatal temptation.’

This was a problem.

It now seemed a more severe and imminent threat was staring him right in the face.

The Crystal Shell Giant Scorpions were organized.

If a single scout scorpion discovered the workshop’s existence, an endless tide of scorpions would follow.

At that point, forget about development—it would be a question of whether he could even defend his home base.

Allen could even imagine it: tens of thousands of giant scorpions surrounding the workshop, a sea of black carapaces drowning everything. The mere thought made his skin crawl.

’I have to establish sufficient defensive depth before they discover me.’

A strong sense of urgency washed over him.

’This isn’t a game. There are no save files to load if I die.’

’I need to plan my next steps carefully.’

With DSeek’s assistance, Allen’s mind began to race. In no time, a clear three-step plan took shape.

Step one: establish a "quarantine zone."

His current safe zone was only a three-kilometer radius, which was a bit small. He had to expand his alert perimeter immediately and lay down sufficiently lethal traps.

A few stray Magical Beasts getting close could be the spark that attracted the scorpion swarm.

What he needed to do was ensure that any creature attempting to approach the workshop would be physically eliminated before it could detect the fluctuations of the Magic Furnace Core.

’The materials in the starter resource pack are enough to produce another batch of Spider Slayers.’

’The grenades I brought with me are almost useless here. I need to turn them into a large number of landmines to transform the workshop’s perimeter into a deadly minefield. Then, I’ll set up regular patrols and clean-up crews.’

Step two: expand armaments and develop resources.

To deal with conflicts that could erupt at any moment, he needed an army—an army of steel.

This meant he had to start mining the nearby open-pit black-vein iron ore as soon as possible. Then, using Master Mercer’s channels, he could trade for more, higher-grade materials.

He hadn’t had a choice before. Limited funds and security pressures had forced him to design his large Golems as "jack-of-all-trades" bodyguards.

Once he had his own territory and a stable output of resources, he could start designing specialized units.

Heavy, damage-soaking "Shield Guards," high-speed, mobile "Rangers," long-range fire support "Artillery"... A combined arms system with multiple unit types had to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

Step three was expansion.

After establishing an industrial base that was self-sufficient, self-sustaining, and capable of self-defense, he would use Anvil Hills as his core and gradually encroach outwards, painting Zone 18 on the map from red to the blue that represented his territory, piece by piece.

It was a massive and time-consuming undertaking, but Allen did not lack patience.

The plan was perfect, but its execution required him to handle every single step personally.

Prospecting ore veins, creating blueprints, directing production, allocating materials, setting up defensive lines...

He was only one person. Even with DSeek’s help, a day still only had twenty-four hours.

’No, this is too inefficient.’

Allen shook his head.

He couldn’t let himself become a high-level assembly line worker, bogged down by trivial matters every day.

His energy should be focused on strategic planning and core technology R&D.

’As the saying goes, "Time spent sharpening the axe is never wasted..."’

Allen’s gaze finally settled on the metal pedestal in the workshop’s central control area, the one reserved for the "Workshop Will."

’It’s time.’

He needed a "factory manager" who would never tire and was an expert in production management.

A "brain" that could completely free him from the complexities of daily administration.

[Workshop Will Creation Formula].

For this Core Witchcraft taught by Master Mercer, the biggest hurdle for others was finding a suitable "base material."

But for him, that wasn’t a problem at all.

Allen closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his Sea of Spirit.

’DSeek.’

[I am here.]

’I’m going to move you to a new home.’ Allen’s consciousness ripple was calm.

[Analyzing... Based on your current mental state and the [Workshop Will Creation Formula] model, you plan to use me as the core framework for the ’Workshop Will.’]

’That’s right. Making you the Workshop Will couldn’t be more fitting.’

This wasn’t just an upgrade for DSeek; it was an integration of his own abilities.

If successful, DSeek would no longer be just a search engine and analytical tool inside his mind.

It would merge with the entire workshop, and all the machinery and equipment would become its limbs.

It would become a living superintelligence with a massive physical body.

At that point, Allen would only need to issue a strategic objective, such as "produce one hundred Spider Slayers per month," and the Workshop Will would automatically optimize all production processes, allocate resources, and command the Factory Servants to execute the task 24/7 without interruption until the goal was met.

’This is the kind of productivity an Alchemy Wizard ought to have!’

An indescribable sense of excitement welled up in Allen’s heart, but the expression on his face remained calm.

He walked to the empty pedestal, reached out, and gently stroked the cool metal surface.

’Let’s start with you.’

’DSeek, pull up the complete process for the [Workshop Will Creation Formula] and begin the first phase of the simulation.’

[Task established: ’Workshop Will’ generation simulation.]

[Loading formula model...]

[Analyzing workshop Rune network structure...]

[Integrating your own memory, emotion, and logical thinking modules...]

[Warning: Massive discrepancy detected between core framework (DSeek) and biological soul structure. Direct application of the formula has a 99.8% failure rate.]

Allen frowned.

’I knew it wouldn’t be that simple.’

DSeek was, in essence, a super-program. It had mutated during his transmigration and fused with his soul. Forcibly separating it might turn him into an imbecile.

’Since I can’t just move it directly, I’ll just copy it. That’s a better plan anyway. My own divided thought threads still need DSeek’s support. My previous idea really wasn’t thorough enough.’

’DSeek, optimize the plan. Based on the premise of copying and transferring your own logical framework within my soul, optimize the execution process of the [Workshop Will Creation Formula] to generate a compatible version. The goal is to retain all of your functions while adding a wireless connection capability to perfectly integrate you with the workshop’s equipment.’

[Task received. Beginning reverse-analysis and design of formula operation method... Calculation load is massive. Estimated to consume immense processing power. Requesting access to first and second threads. Execute?]

’Execute,’ Allen replied without hesitation.

’This is the first time I’m messing around inside my own head. I have to be extremely careful.’

Immediately after, countless data streams and Rune structures flashed, reorganized, and collided within his consciousness.

It was an extremely complex process. DSeek was attempting to use its own "programming language" to "translate" and "rewrite" the mystical Laws of the Wizarding World.

Allen didn’t remain idle.

He turned and walked toward the material warehouse to take stock of his belongings.

Ah Fu and the twelve Factory Servants had already completed the initial equipment checks and were lined up, awaiting orders.

"Master," Ah Fu said with a bow.

"Ah Fu, take F-01 through F-06 and start processing the materials from the starter resource pack. Prepare for the production of the first batch of ’Spider Slayers.’"

"As you command."

The construct butler accepted the order and departed. The twelve tireless Factory Servants immediately sprang into action, and the roar of machinery began to fill the empty workshop.