100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 506 - Plan Started

Lucien deemed the moment to be right.

The communication network had surpassed its infancy, growing beyond its status as a private marvel, a secret trick cherished only by those within Lootwell.

Should he intend to truly reshape the world, it was imperative that the world itself begin to interact with this creation.

Not all at once, however.

Their initial focus would be the Sareth Region.

It would serve as the crucible for testing, for stress-testing, and for observing reactions: who would embrace it, who would fear it, who would attempt to exploit it, who would try to pilfer it, and who would demonstrate the cunning to become a future obstacle.

Should these trials proceed successfully, the expansion would continue.

Lucien convened the pertinent individuals, reiterating the final strategic points.

The devices themselves were already fortified with multiple layers of protection.

The Crafting Division had evidently executed their duties with commendable skill.

Each device was engineered to recognize the imprinted owner’s mana signature upon initial setup. Once bound, it would remain unresponsive to any other user, barring authorized transfer rituals.

Any attempt to forcibly establish a connection would result in the device flatly refusing to activate. Should assailants attempt a deeper intrusion through hostile spiritual probes, the internal circuits would instantly lock down, active pathways would self-sever, and the most sensitive components would undergo layered erasure, preempting the extraction of any valuable data.

This constituted merely the primary defensive layer.

Adjacent to the outer casing, a deceptive shell array was strategically placed. This was designed to mislead rudimentary reverse-engineers, leading them to believe they had uncovered the core mechanism when, in reality, they had only penetrated a disposable facade.

Furthermore, a tampering marker was integrated deeper within the structure. Should the device's housing be opened improperly, it would not simply cease to function; it would record the intrusion methodology and transmit this information the next time it entered the proximity of an authorized signal node.

Yet, despite these extensive safeguards, Lucien was aware of the fundamental truth.

If sufficient demand arose for the imitation of the device, eventually, someone would succeed in replicating it.

That particular outcome could not be indefinitely averted.

What remained beyond replication, however, was its very essence.

The devices were not the true marvel.

The Origin Core was.

Without a correctly structured signal core, any other creations would amount to little more than elaborate paired-message artifacts or rudimentary relay tools.

Nevertheless, prior to the full-scale rollout following the Sareth initiative, the prevailing narrative required careful consideration.

Lucien understood, better than most, that the world did not readily accept mere tools.

It embraced the stories told about those tools.

If the initial narrative surrounding the devices was framed as, 'suspicious foreign objects that spy on you,' then resistance would proliferate far more rapidly than adoption. Conversely, if the initial story presented them as, 'exceptionally useful communication treasures that simplify trade, family connections, medical access, and emergency response,' then convenience itself would accomplish a substantial portion of the 'conquest' autonomously.

Therefore, Sareth would not be introduced to the devices as an incursion.

It would receive them as an opportunity.

This is precisely where Kael's role became crucial.

Lucien summoned him the following day.

Kael arrived promptly, his expression already alight with unmistakable anticipation.

Upon hearing Lucien's explanation of the plan, Kael's face radiated pure elation.

"So, I get to peddle a world-altering device," he exclaimed. "And in a significant region, no less."

Lucien offered a slight smile.

"That is a rather understated description of your undertaking, yes."

Kael let out a hearty laugh.

"Young Lord, I solemnly pledge to you, by the time I conclude my efforts, the people of Sareth will not merely desire these devices. They will feel a profound embarrassment recalling their lives before possessing them."

This was precisely the kind of affirmation Lucien had anticipated from him.

Kael had always possessed an innate affinity for commerce, akin to how some men were naturally drawn to warfare.

And now, he possessed the formidable power to back his ambitions.

He had attained the Ascendant Realm and successfully integrated with the Law of Space, a fusion that rendered him an even more formidable force in the realms of commerce than he had any inherent right to be.

A merchant who grasped the intricacies of distance was already a formidable competitor. A merchant who could operate with spatial instincts augmented by law became something akin to a smiling harbinger of catastrophe for their slower-witted rivals.

Lucien engaged in an extended discussion with Kael, meticulously planning for every conceivable contingency.

Strategies for dealing with a local power attempting to seize the merchandise; protocols for a sect endeavoring to forcibly test the devices; optimal pricing for initial market entry; effective methods for staging compelling demonstrations; techniques for preventing over-saturation in one area while ensuring adequate coverage in another; the appropriate timing for a strategic withdrawal; when a more aggressive approach might be warranted; identifying which contacts from Reaper and Eldran's established trade routes could be trusted; and which acquaintances required a polite facade while discreet preparations for departure were made.

Kael absorbed information about the device with remarkable speed.

A salesperson ignorant of the product they are marketing is merely a charlatan with attractive packaging. Kael, in contrast, immediately began posing insightful questions concerning user interaction, interface usability, merchant concerns, and aspirational market positioning.

By the conclusion of their session, Lucien felt thoroughly assured.

"Depart tomorrow," he instructed.

Kael flashed a wide grin.

"I shall return with substantial profits, considerable influence, and likely, a few intriguing, albeit potentially dangerous, rumors."

"It is solely that final element which causes me concern."

Lucien released him and then summoned Elk. He instructed her to prepare the initial shipment.

Elk perceived this as a personal, significant undertaking.

Within the span of an hour, under her meticulous management, half of the Crafting Division was actively engaged. Matters such as packaging, the refinement of casings, distinctions in style based on class tiers, ergonomic grip design, aesthetically pleasing yet not ostentatious surface patterns, and secure transport containers were all suddenly prioritized.

This arrangement permitted Lucien to address another pressing issue concerning resources.

• • •

He entered the domain of his Divine Energy Core.

The ancient beasts confined within sensed his arrival long before he reached their enclosures. The moment they perceived his proximity, the ambient atmosphere underwent a palpable transformation.

This shift occurred not due to any words spoken—for he remained silent.

His silence unnerved them more profoundly.

Lucien had no inclination for lengthy discourse on this occasion.

He extended his divine sense across the cages, surveying the remaining occupants. A spirit of defiance still flickered in some. The more astute creatures had begun to contemplate their future prospects in light of his recent advancements, though their inherent pride prevented any verbal admission.

His attention fixated upon the Titan and the Behemoth.

The colors surrounding them remained unsettling.

Their expressions mirrored this disquiet.

They continued to fix him with murderous glares, as if their current state of captivity was no more than a fleeting inconvenience rather than an immutable reality.

Lucien approached their cages with unhurried steps.

The other imprisoned beasts observed in absolute quiet.

Halting before them, he posed the question for the final time:

"Are you absolutely certain you do not wish to forge a pact with me?"

The Behemoth lunged forward first. Its massive hand impacted the cage barrier with a fury so potent it seemed to warp the very air.

"A mere human dares to seek parity with me?"

The Titan's disdain was equally pronounced.

Their malevolent intent surged against him, utterly ineffectual.

Lucien merely offered a smile.

"I extended an opportunity to you."

Then, he made his move.

The pressure emanating from him as he advanced utterly transformed the environment. It was no longer the pressure of a gifted individual who had ascended with unnatural speed.

It was a sovereign dominance.

The kind that conveyed to ancient beings that they had long passed the point where defiance was synonymous with strength.

Even the other captive beasts felt this oppressive aura and swallowed reflexively.

Lucien directed his attention to the Titan first.

"If you refuse to be of use," he stated, "then you shall be utilized."

The Titan bellowed and attacked through the bars with its enchained limbs, channeling all its remaining animosity.

Lucien did not evade.

It was no longer a necessity.

He raised a hand, redirecting the explosive force with chilling precision. Concurrently, his full aura as the Unyielding Sovereign descended.

The Titan's eyes widened in alarm.

Next, Lucien activated his Structural Insight.

The world dissolved into a tapestry of interwoven strands.

With a single fluid motion, he was positioned above the Titan. His fingers located the critical junctions underlying its current physical integrity, causing the colossal body to convulse once before succumbing to induced unconsciousness.

A palpable chill permeated the confinement area.

Witnessing this, the Behemoth hesitated for the first time.

Lucien was already standing before its cage.

"Wait," the Behemoth implored.

Lucien's response was devoid of any warmth.

"Too late."

A moment later, this creature too fell into a deep slumber.

He subsequently shattered the cages, removed the restraints, and transmuted their materials into functional metal without any fanfare. Following this, he unceremoniously dragged both ancient beasts away, their plight observed by the other creatures in stark silence.

No words were required.

The lesson had been imparted with absolute clarity.

Remain obstinate, and become mere sustenance.

Render yourself useful, and perhaps retain your existence.

By the time Lucien departed that place, a significant number of the ancient beasts had already commenced a reassessment of their ingrained pride.

• • •

From there, he proceeded directly to the uppermost levels of the Ascension Spire.

His tasks awaited him.

The newly acquired sources of power were integrated with meticulous care.

The unconscious Titan. The slumbering Behemoth. And from the obsidian cubes retrieved from the Covenant-Breaker, three Void entities comparable in power to the Abyss-Eyed Devourer. These beings were far too inimical to be subdued peacefully and too aberrant to be left at liberty, but rendered unconscious and properly secured, they served a singular, perfect purpose.

To fuel the dungeon.

In total, five new dungeon power sources were introduced into the system.

Lucien smiled as he performed these actions.

This quantity was sufficient.

Not yet adequate for Celestial-level floors, but enough to facilitate the opening of the intermediate layers and significantly elevate the standard of training.

The dungeon cores sourced from the lesser worlds continued to provide him with considerable adaptability. The capacity to define species, configure environmental themes, reconstruct behavioral patterns, and engineer ecological pressures—with ample fuel, he could construct far beyond the current configurations.

And so, he proceeded.

By the time his work was concluded, the Ascension Spire had undergone yet another transformation.

New intermediate floors were unveiled.

New environments were brought into existence.

Lucien continued to prohibit his summoned pets from entering these new areas.

Their presence could potentially disrupt the delicate balance of resources.

• • •

The subsequent day witnessed the opening of the intermediate levels.

Lootwell became a vortex of exhilaration.

Residents thronged into the Spire with a fervor typically associated with either immense fortune or meticulously planned self-annihilation. The initial accounts poured in: the monsters were more formidable, exhibiting greater intelligence and superior adaptation. The very environment had been mobilized to oppose them.

A chorus of complaints soon followed, much to Lucien's satisfaction.

The crux of the grievances remained consistent:

The upper echelons of the Spire were still inaccessible.

This outcome signified the dungeon's successful progression.

Shortly thereafter, the moment arrived for Kael's departure.

He was not venturing forth alone.

A contingent of former Verdant Veil associates, who had forged a sufficient camaraderie with him, readily volunteered to accompany his journey. Edric, Maxim, and Ellen were all determined to set out with Kael.

Lucien fixed Edric with a prolonged gaze.

"Uncle Ed, did Aunt Sylvia and Lucian truly give their blessing for this?"

Edric let out a chuckle, executed a slightly ostentatious display of strength, and responded with unvarnished confidence,

"I convinced them."

Lucien harbored doubts that Edric's definition of 'persuaded' aligned with the conventional understanding.

Nevertheless, Edric continued in high spirits.

"Your Aunt Sylvia is now engrossed in acquiring new skills, and Lucian spends virtually all his time within the Grand Archives. Both possess the communication devices. Should any issue arise, we will connect."

That particular detail held a measure of truth.

Lucien held no desire to confine his subordinates within a safety so absolute as to become a form of confinement. While he wished for their survival, he also valued their autonomy.

Maxim and Ellen displayed an equally fervent desire.

Their aspiration was to explore, to witness, to engage in commerce, and to test their mettle in the world beyond the confines of their established domain.

Consequently, Lucien acquiesced to their wishes.

His attention then shifted to Morveth.

The ancient creature observed the departing party momentarily before turning its gaze toward Lucien.

"Uncle Tortoise, the stewardship of responsibility falls to you now," Lucien clarified. "Should unforeseen circumstances transpire, do not hesitate to intervene. If any pose a threat to them, serve as a potent reminder that Lootwell's envoys do not traverse the wilds without protection."

A subtle yet menacing smile graced Morveth's features.

"That is a duty I shall gladly undertake."

Lucien offered a single, deliberate nod.

He then watched as the group finally took their leave, following the meticulously prepared routes devised by Reaper and Eldran.

Kael led the vanguard, already engaged in animated discussions as if financial gain possessed sentience. Edric's laughter echoed. Maxim and Ellen remained vigilant, their eyes alight with keen awareness. Morveth trailed behind them, a silent harbinger of potential calamity held in careful restraint.

Lucien remained stationary, observing until they had vanished from his immediate field of vision.

With that, he redirected his steps back towards Lootwell.

The network had commenced its outward expansion. The dungeon's scope had enlarged. The creatures were beginning to comprehend fear. The territory was approaching a critical juncture where its latent power would become increasingly challenging to conceal indefinitely.

And in the midst of all these developments—

a smile found its way to his lips.