Allen watched the real-time feed of the open-pit iron mine, already planning his next move.

"Jarvis, continue producing Spider Slayers. Also, help me design a small Mechanical Body."

[Please describe your requirements.]

"Something simple. Low cost, simple structure."

Allen’s finger sketched in the air. "The main body is just a container filled with alchemical explosives. Add four legs—it just needs to be able to run and jump. Once it detects an enemy, it rushes forward and self-destructs."

[Analyzing... Is your design concept to create a suicide-attack unit?]

"Exactly. To put it simply, it’s a landmine with legs."

Allen’s tone was calm. "Burying landmines is effective, but their coverage is limited, and there’s no guarantee the enemy will step on them. This thing can actively pursue targets, making it more flexible and useful."

[Design plan generating... Recommended name: "Jumping Spider" type self-destructing Golem. Excluding the Control Core, estimated unit cost is 80 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

"Generate a detailed design blueprint for now. I’ll make adjustments when I get back."

For his first trip out of the workshop, Allen planned to bring ten Spider Slayers, PX-0, one PX-1, the Mining Golem, and six Good Fortune Factory Servants. This lineup was enough to handle most emergencies.

Ten minutes later, the workshop’s main doors slowly opened.

Allen flew high overhead, invisible. Below him were the two towering Pacifist Golems, followed by ten Spider Slayers spread out in a fan formation. The Mining Golem and the six Good Fortune Factory Servants brought up the rear.

A hot wind from the wilderness rushed to meet him, carrying the stench of sulfur.

"Jarvis, report on the surrounding area."

[No high-risk targets detected within 30 kilometers.]

Only then did Allen feel relieved.

Even outside the workshop, as long as he wasn’t too far away, Allen could connect to Jarvis’s main system and command all his Golems.

This was possible because Jarvis was, in essence, a Control Core itself. The Control Cores of all Allen’s Golems were etched with a cluster-link incantation. Advanced applications of this incantation allowed for interconnectivity between Golems. Therefore, with Allen’s authorization, Jarvis could directly command all the Alchemy Servants in the workshop and any friendly units within the Demon Eye’s coverage area.

Dseek lacked a physical body and had to use the Insight Glasses to control Golems. Jarvis, by comparison, was far more convenient and possessed much greater processing power.

"Let’s set up the workshop’s defensive perimeter while we’re here."

Allen raised a hand, and the procession halted.

The Good Fortune Factory Servants sprang into action. They worked in perfect sync, one digging a hole while another buried a landmine.

Allen stood to the side, watching as the landmines were buried one by one, their surfaces covered with gravel and sand until almost no trace remained. They were part of his stockpile from the academy, and each one used was one less he had.

"Space them out more. We need wider coverage."

His voice transmitted to each Golem via a mental link, and they immediately adjusted their positions.

An hour later, a rudimentary minefield had taken shape.

Allen pulled up the tactical map and nodded in satisfaction at the dense cluster of red dots that now covered it.

’Now the workshop’s perimeter is much safer.’

He turned to look at the distant hills, which shimmered with a metallic sheen.

’The black-veined iron deposit is over there.’

The procession moved on.

The terrain grew more rugged, and the rocks underfoot began to show distinct metallic veins. The dark-red ore deposits reflected the blinding sunlight.

"We’re here."

Allen stopped. Before him lay a vast, open-pit mining area.

High-purity black-veined iron ore was visible right on the surface, requiring almost no deep excavation to be mined.

While the mineral itself wasn’t particularly valuable, its vast reserves made it perfect for constructing the metal frames of Level 1 and Level 2 Golems.

More importantly, he could sell it to his mentor in exchange for other resources.

Allen walked to the edge of the deposit, crouched down, and picked up a piece of ore to examine it.

The ore was grayish and covered in black veins. It was hard, with its Magic Conductivity being average at best.

"Let’s have the Mining Golem give it a try."

The towering Mining Golem stepped forward. It somewhat resembled Devastator from *Transformers*; instead of weapons, its arms were massive drills and mining implements. Its Control Core came pre-loaded with extensive mining knowledge, making the collection of this kind of surface ore the simplest of tasks.

RUMBLE—

The drill whirred to life with a piercing screech as chunks of ore were broken off and piled to the side. Allen directed the Good Fortunes to help move them.

Allen stood nearby, calculating the Mining Golem’s efficiency as it repeated the motions of digging and hauling.

’One Mining Golem, not counting work like excavating the pit and setting up supports, can extract about 20 tons of ore per day.’

He frowned.

’This is too inefficient. And this is before refining. Without refining equipment, I won’t make much money just selling this ore.’

’To establish a truly stable resource supply chain, I’ll need at least five Mining Golems, maybe even more.’

’I’ll have to buy the Mining Golem design blueprints from my mentor to produce them myself. I’ll also need to purchase some refining equipment.’

Allen calculated mentally.

’Designing such a specialized Mining Golem requires knowledge that’s outside my expertise, and I don’t know the first thing about manufacturing refining equipment. Rather than waste time learning how to design them, it’s better to just buy the finished blueprints and build them myself.’

’But before that, I need to solve the security problem.’

Allen’s gaze swept over the surrounding terrain.

’The mining area is wide open and lacks natural barriers. If a Magical Beast attacks, the Mining Golems will be completely defenseless.’

"Jarvis, devise a temporary defensive plan."

[Plan generating... Initial recommendation: Deploy four sentry turrets around the mining area, supported by ten Spider Slayers on patrol. Simultaneously, assign two PX-1s as patrol guards within the mine.]

’Feasible. I’ll buy the turrets from my mentor at the same time. I can replace them later when I have a wider variety of units.’

Allen glanced at the sky. The sun was already beginning to set.

’I should head back first and contact my mentor.’

He turned to leave but stopped short.

A warning from the Demon Eye flashed across his Insight Glasses.

’Something is approaching.’

In the distance, a cloud of dust billowed up from the horizon.

The ten Spider Slayers immediately entered combat stance. Their articulated legs bent slightly, and the muzzles of their cannons flickered with the charging glow of energy beams.

PX-0 and PX-1 lumbered to the front, their Divine Punishment Main Cannons slowly powering up.

The dust cloud drew nearer.

Allen narrowed his eyes as the tactical map in his Insight Glasses zoomed in.

It was a swarm of small creatures, only about half a meter tall. They were covered in grayish-brown carapaces and were running quickly on short, thick limbs.

’Rock Lizards?’

Allen recognized the creatures.

They were the most common Low-Level Magical Beast in the Molten Iron Mountain Range, possessing only apprentice-level strength. They were timid and quick to flee from danger.

’About thirty of them. Not a threat.’

The Rock Lizards had clearly spotted Allen’s entourage as well. They stopped, stared warily in his direction, then wheeled around and fled.

’Smart move.’

Allen turned and led his forces back to the workshop.

「Night fell.」

The workshop was brightly lit, its machinery roaring ceaselessly.

Allen sat at the control console and pulled up the "Jumping Spider" blueprints Jarvis had generated.

The Golem’s design on the blueprint was simplicity itself.

It consisted of a square box, with the Magic Stone inside serving as both the explosive and the Energy Storage. It had four mechanical legs, a basic detection Rune Array, and an exceedingly simple Control Core.

’The cost control is excellent.’

Allen examined every detail, occasionally suggesting modifications.

"Lower the sensitivity of the detection Rune Array to avoid false positives."

[Modification complete. A new blueprint has been generated.]

"Begin a trial production run of one unit."

[Task received. Estimated time: thirty minutes.]

Allen leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

His mind was already racing, formulating the next steps of his plan.

The fortifications for the mining area, manufacturing the Mining Golems, testing the Jumping Spiders, and the Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion colony in the Three-way Canyon...

Every task required time, and every task required resources.

’Twenty years. It feels like a long time, but it also feels short.’

Allen opened his eyes and looked at the enormous tactical map before him.

Red territory still occupied the vast majority of it, while the blue dot representing his own domain was merely an insignificant speck.

’But that’s fine. I’ll take it one step at a time.’

’This is only the beginning.’