The new workshop, working with Jarvis, was highly efficient. At this point, twelve brand-new Spider Slayer II models had already rolled off the assembly line.

But the Control Core slots in their heads were empty, like shells waiting for souls to inhabit them.

Allen stood before them with a slight frown. Without a Control Core, a Golem was just a pile of scrap metal.

’I only have a few Volcanic Fierce Ape souls left in my inventory. Once they’re gone, that’s it.’

"Are there any suitable sources of souls nearby?"

[According to intelligence from Gordon, the nearest source of high-quality souls is the Dream-Weaving Demon Spider, located in the Crystalized Forest.]

[However, the density of Magical Beasts in that area is extremely high, and the Dream-Weaving Demon Spider itself is at the peak strength of a Mid-Level Magical Beast. It is not recommended that you proceed there at this stage.]

Allen was silent for a few seconds.

’If I can’t beat them, I’ll just have to buy what I need.’

"Jarvis, connect me to my Master."

Jarvis was now networked with the personal terminal Allen had bought before setting out, allowing him to communicate with anyone on the plane directly from the workshop.

A screen of light illuminated, showing Mercer’s face. The background was a chaotic battlefield, with the glow of distant explosions.

"What is it?" Mercer’s voice was brief.

"Master, I need to purchase some items. I was also wondering if I could buy some blueprints for Golem production from you," Allen said, getting straight to the point.

Mercer didn’t mince words. "I’ll grant you access to the fortress’s internal market. Pick out what you need yourself. I’ll also send you my personal inventory list. Everything is priced in Magic Stones."

Seeing that Mercer was about to hang up, Allen hurriedly added, "The black-vein iron deposit near the workshop is about to be mined. I wanted to talk to you about the acquisition price."

Mercer’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"What’s the quality of the deposit?"

"It’s an open-pit mine with large reserves and medium-to-high purity."

Allen pulled up the prospecting data from the Mining Golem and transmitted it. "A single Golem is projected to have a monthly output of five hundred tons."

Mercer glanced at the data and nodded.

"For black-vein iron ore, the fortress’s acquisition price is 20 Low-Level Magic Stones per ton. Based on your deposit, each ton of ore can yield 600 kilograms of black-vein iron. I’ll buy the refined product at a rate of fifty Low-Level Magic Stones per ton."

"From now on, the prices for all resources you mine will be based on the fortress’s internal market rates. I’ll buy everything you produce, with no limit."

Hearing this, Allen quickly did the math. ’Excluding security and energy expenses, at the current efficiency of one Mining Golem, just selling the raw black-vein iron ore would bring in ten thousand Low-Level Magic Stones a month. Refining it would increase that income to fifteen thousand. And then I still have to give Master Mercer twenty percent of the profits.’

’It would be more cost-effective to buy a refinery. If I buy two more Mining Golems, I could aim for a monthly take-home of thirty thousand Low-Level Magic Stones.’

’That sounds like a lot, but in terms of building an army, it’s only enough for one PX-1 a month, or thirteen Spider Slayer IIs.’

’To make real money, I either need to add more Mining Golems or open more mines. But the Golems have costs and maintenance fees, and the refining equipment is expensive too. The initial investment shouldn’t be too big. I’ll wait until I’ve recovered some capital, then slowly add equipment to ramp up production.’

After speaking, Mercer cut the connection without waiting for Allen’s reply.

"Jarvis, connect to the fortress’s trade market."

[Verifying permissions... Verification successful. Synchronizing item list.]

A huge virtual shelf unfolded before Allen.

The densely packed categories had everything imaginable, from basic materials to advanced Alchemy Tools, from Magical Beast components to Witchcraft Scrolls.

Allen’s gaze swept over the dazzling array of goods as he mentally calculated his priorities.

’I’ll buy the defensive turrets first.’ These were a temporary, emergency measure.

He clicked open the "Defensive Installations" category, which contained more than a dozen different types of turrets.

There were anti-air models for flying units, area-denial models with wide coverage, and sniper models with extremely powerful single-target firepower.

Allen selected four "Standard Magic-guided Cannon Turrets" at 1,200 Low-Level Magic Stones each.

This model had a range of one thousand meters, a stable rate of fire, and low maintenance costs, making it ideal for guarding the mining area.

’Next, twelve Demon Spider souls and two hundred low-level Soul Crystals.’

That was another 1,800 stones spent.

Next, he opened Master Mercer’s personal list of goods.

The variety of Golems inside was a true eye-opener. There was even a Level 4 Golem for sale, but at a price of tens of millions of Low-Level Magic Stones per unit, the average Wizard couldn’t possibly afford one.

’And this surely isn’t even his best stuff,’ Allen thought, practically drooling with envy.

’I have to master the core technology, do my own research, and build them myself.’

’Time to place the order.’

’Mining Golem blueprints, 3,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.’

’A medium-sized refinery, capable of producing five thousand tons of magic-vein iron ingots monthly, 8,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.’

’Two Mining Golems, 6,000 Low-Level Magic Stones total.’

After this string of purchases, Allen’s Magic Stone balance shrank at a visible rate.

"How much is left?"

[Current Balance: 181.6 Mid-Level Magic Stones.]

Allen frowned.

’This much money is nowhere near enough.’

’Whatever, this will have to do for now.’

He closed the trading interface and turned to look at the prototype "Jumping Spider."

He planned on making the Control Core for this thing himself.

’Use a Demon Spider soul? That would be too wasteful.’

’The Jumping Spider is designed to be disposable, so its cost must be kept to an absolute minimum.’

"Jarvis, pull up the design for a simplified Control Core."

[Plan generated. It is recommended to use the soul of a low-intelligence creature as the base, retaining only basic move, detect, and self-destruct commands. The cost per core can be kept under twenty Magic Stones.]

"And the source for the souls?"

[According to surveillance data from the Demon Eye, the pack of Rock Lizards spotted near the mining area yesterday is still active in a region five kilometers away.]

Allen looked at the small red dots on the tactical map representing the Rock Lizards.

"Alright. They’ll be our first targets."

He stood up and walked to the workshop’s main gate.

"Jarvis, mobilize sixteen Spider Slayers. Objective: eliminate all Rock Lizards in the workshop’s vicinity. Also, prepare to receive the supplies I ordered."

[Task confirmed.]

The main gate opened slowly.

Fifteen Spider Slayers equipped with Shadow Travel ability walked silently out of the workshop. Their figures blurred in the dim twilight before vanishing completely.

This level of combat didn’t require his personal command.

But Allen had to go with them to collect the souls.

This time, he didn’t bring the Peacemakers. The two behemoths were too conspicuous, and using them against small fry like Rock Lizards would be total overkill.

A hot wind swept across the wilderness, leaving strings of arthropod-like tracks on the ground.

Allen wore his Insight Glasses, and the tactical map clearly showed the location of the Rock Lizard pack.

’Two kilometers to the target.’

The Spider Slayers moved swiftly, weaving between the rocks with barely a sound.

Ten minutes later, Allen came to a halt in mid-air.

Ahead, a group of over thirty Rock Lizards was resting among a pile of rocks.

They weren’t large, and their grayish-brown carapaces held a dull sheen under the sun.

"Surround them."

The fifteen Spider Slayers quickly fanned out, encircling the pack of Rock Lizards.

Allen flew high above, observing the entire battlefield.

"Fire."

Beams of energy flashed to life as fifteen rays shot toward the Rock Lizards from different directions.

The Rock Lizards panicked and scattered, but their speed was no match for the Spider Slayers’ firing frequency.

One after another, the Rock Lizards fell, their scales pierced by the beams as they let out ear-splitting shrieks.

In less than three minutes.

all thirty-plus Rock Lizards had been killed, their corpses littering the valley.

Allen descended and crouched beside the corpse of a Rock Lizard.

"Dseek, is the Rock Lizard carapace of any value?" Now that he was away from the workshop, his old pal Dseek was online again.

[Analyzing... The biological materials from Rock Lizards are of low value, insufficient to offset storage and transportation costs.]

[Recommendation: Discard immediately.]

Allen nodded. "Then I’ll just harvest the souls."

He took out an empty Soul Container and began to perform the soul-stripping rite.

His invisible Spiritual Power entered the corpse, slowly drawing out the fragments of its residual soul.

These souls were extremely weak and offered almost no resistance.

An hour later, all thirty-something Rock Lizard souls had been collected.

’It’s not quite enough. I need more.’

He turned to leave, then suddenly stopped.

On the tactical map, another group of red dots had appeared at the edge of his vision.

’Delivering themselves right to my doorstep? Saves me the trouble of searching.’

Allen narrowed his eyes and zoomed in on the display.

It was another pack of Rock Lizards, this one larger, with about fifty of them.

’Looks like this area is their territory.’

Allen didn’t hesitate. "Continue the cleanup."

The Spider Slayers spread out again, and the light of energy beams flared once more.

It was another one-sided slaughter.

By the time the sun began to set, Allen had 186 crystals containing Rock Lizard souls in his possession.

Allen was in a good mood on the way back to the workshop.

The Rock Lizard souls were low-quality, but their sheer number was enough for him to create the most basic Mechanical Bodies.

Besides, this operation had also confirmed something.

The Spider Slayers were incredibly effective in combat. Against Low-Level Magical Beasts like these, it was an absolute steamroll.

By this time, all the purchased items had been received.

’Next up is production.’

’The mining site and fortifications need to be set up as soon as possible. The new Mining Golems have to be deployed right away.’

’Once the refinery equipment arrives, I’ll have to calibrate it myself.’

’I need to design new Golems to boost my combat power, and there are still those twelve Spider Slayers waiting for souls...’

’Time, Magic Stones, materials... I’m short on everything.’

Allen rubbed the bridge of his nose and turned towards the rest area.

"Jarvis, I’m going to get some sleep. Wake me if there’s an emergency."