100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 509 - Production

Moltsage was temporarily entrusted to the care of Seren and the Liberators by Lucien.

If his memories had been systematically erased, then perhaps the familiar would achieve what coercion could not. On occasion, the mind returns not when commanded, but when the surrounding world becomes sufficiently recognizable again.

For the present moment, that was the most prudent course of action.

Lucien shifted his focus and proceeded to the manufacturing sector dedicated to communication devices.

Upon entering, he was immediately struck by the palpable aura of organized dedication.

The area had already begun to transform into a self-contained domain.

In one designated zone, Eirene and Elk were engrossed, surrounded by preliminary sketches and holographic projections.

They were actively designing machinery.

Specifically, specialized production units were being conceptualized for each distinct phase of device manufacturing. One unit for shaping the casings. Another for inscribing intricate channels. A third for layering the imprint-threads. A fourth for securely seating the arrays. And a fifth for verifying calibration.

Lucien refrained from interrupting their work.

Elk’s gaze was narrowed, possessing the dangerous stillness of an individual who was currently advancing the future at a pace far exceeding what most people could emotionally process. Beside her, Eirene, with a calmer demeanor, continued to refine the internal logic of each blueprint, utilizing small, drifting points of green light. Her meticulous checks of tolerances and energy flow resembled a gardener tending to the health of plant roots.

A short distance away, Seren, Rurik, Morphy, and the crafting laborers were continuing the ongoing production by manual means.

Morphy had transformed into a veritable impediment to typical labor productivity.

The Mimic Slime had repeatedly divided its own form into functioning replicas, subsequently employing the Law of Reflection to astonishingly replicate the technical movements of Seren and Rurik. Multiple Morphys moved in unison across the floor, each occupying a different workstation, each performing its tasks devoid of fatigue, complaint, or confusion.

Lucien paused briefly to observe the scene.

Morphy, by itself, presented the appearance of an entire operational department.

In practical terms, it nearly constituted one.

Its cognitive capacity remained unyielding. Its coordination never faltered. It was, after all, a slime, and moreover, a slime that genuinely relished its work.

Then, his attention was drawn to the automatons.

Six bio-metal figures moved through the facility with flawless timing, engaged in tasks such as lifting substantial material crates, sorting completed components, transporting arrays to calibration lines, and detecting microscopic imperfections before they could be noticed by the human eye.

Rurik had evidently programmed them with specific sequences tailored for this location, and they executed their duties with such ruthless efficiency that the entire sector felt less like a workshop and more like a living, breathing factory.

A smile touched Lucien’s lips.

His period of inactivity was brief.

Initially, he utilized his Craft feature directly.

He supplied the requisite materials and initiated a large-scale fabrication order for one hundred thousand communication devices.

A progress bar materialized before him.

The system was functioning.

However, its speed was insufficient for his requirements.

Lucien observed the production rate for a moment, then emitted a soft snort.

He did not wait for the feature to complete its task.

Instead, he stepped onto the operational floor, observed the rhythm of the workers for a few breaths, and then joined them in earnest.

Split Body was activated.

Parallel Thoughts were deployed.

Cosmic magic followed.

He invoked Cosmic Convergence, summoning forth his past iterations. Hundreds of Luicens materialized on the work lines, each assuming a station, each moving with absolute synchronicity.

The manufacturing hall underwent an immediate transformation.

The workers paused for mere a heartbeat before resuming their tasks at an accelerated pace. The spectacle was too extraordinary to contemplate for extended periods. The production quota still demanded fulfillment.

Hundreds of Luicens operated as if embodying the very essence of efficiency. Their rhythmic cadence remained unbroken. Their coordination never wavered.

Even with tens of thousands of laborers already present, the added momentum fundamentally altered the atmosphere of the entire operation.

The production quota surged.

The accumulated stock rapidly increased.

Furthermore, because Lucien was not merely assisting in the assembly of the devices but would subsequently integrate them personally into the Origin Core network, every hour saved at this stage would yield amplified benefits later.

That particular aspect held significant importance.

He remained the primary proprietor and fundamental authority of the system.

If he personally handled the final binding stage, the network integration process would be substantially swifter and more seamless than allowing external parties to achieve it through brute-force methods.

Thus, he toiled.

And the hall transformed into a perfectly synchronized machine.

•••

By the following day, Elk presented the first substantial new batch, meticulously stored within appropriately prepared containment rings.

They were categorized according to their specifications.

The newly manufactured devices intended for civilian use were also now ready for distribution.

Every item had been packed with meticulous attention to detail.

Lucien dispatched a message to Kael without delay.

The subsequent sales phase was prepared.

Departure was scheduled for the subsequent day.

Condoriano and Saber sought an audience with Lucien not long thereafter.

Condoriano initiated the conversation.

"The second wave will prove more challenging."

Lucien arched an eyebrow.

"That sounds quite reassuring."

Saber, maintaining his characteristic brevity, simply stated, "The rumors have begun to circulate."

Their assessment was accurate.

The initial wave had sparked intense interest. The subsequent wave would ignite fierce competition, fueled by dwindling supplies.

Now, external factions understood three crucial points:

The devices were indeed real. These devices held significant importance. And their availability was far from infinite.

Such a confluence of factors invariably made reckless individuals exceptionally dangerous.

Saber folded his arms, tilting his head slightly.

"The merchant boy will require more than merely one quiet catastrophe trailing in his wake."

This statement served as his offer to volunteer.

Lucien grasped his meaning immediately.

"With the two of you joining Uncle Tortoise, the caravan should be adequately protected."

Condoriano flashed a grin. Saber offered no verbal response, which in this context signaled his assent.

Lucien granted them his departure with his full backing.

He had already been contemplating the same strategy. While skilled guards were valuable, a layered defense presented a superior deterrent.

•••

Later that day, he paid a visit to Moltsage.

The outcome presented quite a surprise.

The young boy had adapted with an almost suspicious swiftness.

He was already engaged in training.

And it was far from gentle.

Astraea had found him.

Lucien should have anticipated this development.

She held a profound respect for strength, unwavering resolve, and those who dedicated themselves completely to a worthy cause, even at great personal cost.

Moltsage had exemplified these very qualities.

However, what Lucien witnessed appeared less like supervised recovery and more akin to exquisitely controlled hardship.

Astraea stood in the training field, the young Serpentile boy positioned before her. She meticulously corrected his posture as he endured relentless drills involving pressure application, balance destabilization, repeated tumbles, and strenuous recoveries, all executed at a tempo that would have compelled most adults to beg for cessation.

Moltsage uttered no complaints. Not a single one.

If anything, a look of dissatisfaction crossed his features whenever the intense session concluded.

Lucien observed them silently for some time.

Then, he let out a sigh.

Perhaps this rigorous approach was proving beneficial.

If nothing else, the tenacious, old-soul spirit within Moltsage had evidently withstood the memory loss.

•••

The following morning, the second caravan embarked on its journey.

Lucien nearly coughed up blood upon seeing who had joined the escort.

Sylvia and Edric had arrived together.

More than that, the pair had deliberately left Lucian behind in Lootwell.

That particular detail almost compelled Lucien to voice an unreasonable objection on principle.

Fortunately, Lucian himself displayed remarkable good sense, was increasingly engrossed in his studies, and currently too captivated by the Grand Archives and the novel skill-acquisition systems to truly yearn for his parents' presence. The communication devices also ensured he was not completely cut off.

Even so, the sight of Edric and Sylvia side-by-side transformed the departure lineup from a protected merchant contingent into something resembling a traveling honeymoon, albeit one that coincidentally featured high-value merchandise and formidable protectors.

Maxim and Ellen were also present. Kael, naturally, appeared overjoyed. Morveth stood like a silent harbinger of doom. Condoriano seemed amused. Saber bore the expression of a man already anticipating future adversaries.

Only then did a true sense of ease settle upon Lucien.

With these three ancient powers safeguarding the route, the departing group would not merely endure; they would project an imposing deterrent, a mobile warning to any entity foolish enough to contemplate subjugating the network through force.

He watched their progress until they were out of sight, then turned back towards his own territory.

•••

On that same day, the Crafting Division commenced the next significant phase of their operations.

This involved the construction of mass production machinery.

Lucien laid down one exceptionally clear directive before the work began.

"Create the prototype first."

He had no desire to see thousands of imperfect machines churned out due to excessive haste, only to result in wasted resources and the necessity for future revisions. His requirement was for a single, flawless prototype for each distinct production role. Only once these initial units were meticulously calibrated, validated, refined, and proven stable would he authorize their duplication through the Crafting process.

This was the correct sequence of operations.

Perfect the initial creation. Then, replicate that perfection.

All parties involved readily agreed with this approach.

And so, the industrious work commenced.

Machine frames. Articulated movement arms. Integrated runic insertion channels. Precision array engravers. Advanced pressure calibrators. Automated shell assembly spindles. Imprint-locking stations.

It was precisely the kind of intricate project that filled Rurik with an almost frightening level of delight.

Lucien departed, having ensured the foundational concept remained uncompromised. The future of large-scale manufacturing could temporarily wait until the core systems achieved a standard worthy of mass replication.

He then finally returned to the instant teleportation array.

This time, he dedicated his full attention to the task.

The day dissolved into a cascade of layered luminescence.

He meticulously constructed the primary array, piece by intricate piece, although the term "piece" felt inadequate once the Imprint Manifestation process was incorporated.

The sheer scale and complexity of the array rendered conventional manual construction inefficient. Consequently, he projected sections into existence, harmonized their lawful interdependencies, secured the directional anchors, and integrated the fundamental geometric structures with a level of precision no ordinary artisan could achieve within a century.

Even with such advanced techniques, the entire day was consumed by the endeavor.

Such was its profound intricacy.

By the time he completed his work, the chamber resonated with a palpable, yet dormant, energy. The central ring stood poised, awaiting activation. Beneath it, the surrounding concentric circles emitted a faint luminescence under the formation lights. The space itself felt less like a mere room and more like a profound promise, anticipating its destined destination.