100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 513 - Progress

Lucien and Lilith journeyed back to Lootwell, arriving without any disruptions.

The instant teleportation array had functioned perfectly.

A quick scan of his surroundings was all Lucien needed before he released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

A broad smile instantly bloomed on his face.

Lilith took notice of his expression.

"So, it met your impossibly high standards?" she inquired.

Lucien turned to her, his satisfaction evident.

"It met enough of them that I’m comfortable being pleased."

A subtle smile touched Lilith's lips at his words.

They exited the chamber together, and as they proceeded, Lucien began detailing the recent advancements in Lootwell.

Lilith listened intently, her eyes gradually brightening with understanding.

By the time he concluded, her expression suggested a strong effort to maintain composure while her mind was already strategizing the initial improvements.

"This is quite engaging," she finally remarked.

Shortly after, they located Anvil-Horn.

The veteran master sensed their approach and turned, his demeanor visibly softening the moment his gaze fell upon his daughter standing beside Lucien.

He let out a slow exhale.

Then, he truly focused on her.

And he froze.

His eyes instantly became sharp and piercing.

Lilith's presence had undergone such a significant transformation that it was impossible to conceal from him. The seasoned master, with centuries of experience in discerning strength, foundations, and a person's hidden depth, recognized the change immediately.

"You..."

Lilith met his intense stare directly.

Any prior awkwardness had vanished.

She simply offered a single nod.

Anvil-Horn held her gaze for another moment, a mix of disbelief and grudging pride escaping him.

"You are nearing the Eternal Realm."

Lilith folded her arms casually.

"I've been rather occupied."

From anyone else, that statement might have sounded excessively conceited.

Coming from her, it carried an almost humble tone.

Anvil-Horn gave a slight shake of his head, clearly sensing that dwelling on the topic further might lead him to either demand every minute detail or burst into laughter from sheer astonishment.

Instead, he gave a curt, "Good."

Lilith responded with another small nod.

That was sufficient communication between them.

It wasn't a lack of warmth; it was a deep understanding.

The kind of connection that needed no further validation, as their affection had long surpassed the need for continuous affirmation.

Lilith then turned her attention toward the larger development area.

"When do I commence?"

Lucien looked at her, surprised.

"You aren't going to rest first?"

She gave him a direct, unwavering look.

"You brought me back to a half-finished masterpiece and expected me to take a nap?"

Lucien shifted his gaze slightly towards Anvil-Horn.

"Uncle, she inherited this trait from you."

"No," Anvil-Horn interjected immediately. "She has surpassed it."

Lucien chuckled.

And then, Lilith joined the endeavor as if she had never been away.

• • •

One week later, Lootwell underwent another transformation.

Once more.

The profound impact of Lilith's Law of Genesis Forging manifested with such extraordinary force that even Anvil-Horn found himself staring in open amazement multiple times.

Her contribution was far beyond mere usefulness.

She was an entire specialized division contained within a single person.

The districts that Lucien and Anvil-Horn had discreetly prepared for Tavian, Mirelle, Auren, the Lithrens, and the others already possessed their structural foundations and conceptual frameworks. However, under Lilith's influence, these concepts rapidly evolved into complete realities.

She moved through these unfinished districts as if a sovereign had been granted temporary dominion over ideal forms.

Walls that were structurally sound but crudely built were refined into elegant and precise constructions. Streets seamlessly aligned into their intended flow. Residences harmonized with the occupants they were designed to house. The boundaries of the districts transitioned smoothly, appearing as natural integrations rather than imposed designs. Echoes of ancient architectures were polished to transcend mere imitation.

Furthermore, because her new law didn't just shape but also actualized the hidden potential within the existing structures, the districts ultimately became perfected reflections rather than simple replicas.

Observing one district reach completion, Lucien's eyes shone with uncontainable brilliance.

That week, Lilith concluded the development of the districts intended to mirror the small worlds.

Once the work was finalized, Lucien promptly summoned Riri, Tavian, Mirelle, and Auren.

They arrived anticipating another administrative meeting or a status update.

Instead, Lucien simply guided them to the newly completed districts.

Initially, none of them uttered a word.

They walked at a leisurely pace.

They observed. They paused. They looked again.

The configuration of the streets, the arrangement of the homes, the environmental cadence, the familiar sense of shared design – all of it resonated on a level deeper than mere architecture.

These places had been crafted specifically for them.

Lucien watched the dawning realization spread across their faces before he finally spoke, "You no longer need to be solely representatives of the small worlds."

Tavian was the first to turn.

Mirelle instinctively raised her hands to cover her mouth.

Auren appeared as though he hadn't dared to blink.

Riri's eyes gleamed with emotion.

Lucien continued in a straightforward manner.

"You can now establish your lives here properly."

The ensuing silence was not empty; it was profoundly full.

The kind of arrival that stirs the very core of one's being, when a deeply desired outcome manifests so directly that the heart struggles to recalibrate itself.

At last, Mirelle breathed out, "You understood."

Lucien offered a soft smile.

"Your politeness in not stating it outright made it abundantly clear."

Auren let out a short, sharp laugh, though it held a tremor of something close to breaking.

Tavian remained silent for a moment before lowering his head, a sigh escaping him.

"We yearned for a place to belong."

Lucien nodded.

"I am aware."

That acknowledgment was sufficient.

The news rippled through their people with astonishing speed.

And then, the relocation commenced.

To Lucien's quiet amusement, the process unfolded with such alacrity that it suggested the people involved hadn't merely desired this move, but had been emotionally primed and packed for weeks.

Entire households shifted with an almost suspicious efficiency. Belongings were transferred seamlessly. Cherished objects, personal altars, scholarly implements, crafting stations, ancestral heirlooms, and the everyday clutter of domestic life flowed into the newly designated districts as naturally as water finding its old course.

It wasn't mere pandemonium.

It was overwhelming eagerness masquerading as logistical planning.

Observing this spectacle, Lucien found himself smiling on more than one occasion.

Good.

This was precisely the outcome he had strived for.

A home isn’t solidified by the construction of walls; it becomes tangible when people inhabit it with a profound sense of relief.

...

Once the relocation had stabilized enough for a moment's pause, Lucien posed the next critical inquiry to the three Liberators.

"If these smaller worlds are no longer required as primary residences," he stated, "can they be repurposed for alternative functions?"

None of them required prolonged deliberation.

Their collective answer was affirmative.

This decision stemmed not from a diminished affection for their originating worlds.

Rather, it was because these worlds could now serve as vital resources for a grander future, without erasing their foundational significance. They would continue to be recognized as places of origin – that aspect would remain unchanged. However, the concepts of origin and utility were no longer in eternal opposition.

Next, Lilith assumed stewardship of one of these worlds.

As was her nature.

She re-molded it with the same formidable decisiveness she had applied to the districts. This particular world, however, she refined not for habitation, but for the purposes of industry.

It was designated as a manufacturing world.

A realm engineered for assembly lines, machinery complexes, calibration laboratories, raw material processing facilities, and secure output channels shielded from external scrutiny.

By this juncture, the Crafting Division had also finalized the initial prototypes for the mass-production machinery.

Lucien personally oversaw their inspection.

Upon achieving his satisfaction, he cataloged them within his Craft feature and initiated their reproduction on a vast scale, ensuring calibrated perfection. Sequentially, and then in burgeoning waves, the newly manufactured machines began populating the meticulously re-engineered small world.

Thus, the manufacturing world was brought into existence.

And as its operations commenced, the production rate of communication devices escalated from impressive to utterly staggering.

Lilith and Eirene found themselves collaborating there on multiple occasions.

Their inherent rivalry had by no means faded.

If anything, it had become more refined, more nuanced.

They exchanged playful barbs, devoid of genuine animosity.

Eirene, for her part, appeared genuinely delighted by Lilith’s ascent to such an astonishing new level. Lilith, conversely, seemed personally irked whenever this approval became too evident, a reaction that only served to amuse Eirene further.

Lucien wisely chose to abstain from intervening between them.

That was not a conflict zone; it was a symbiotic ecosystem.

•••

Then, another dispatch arrived from Kael.

This particular message almost provoked a laugh from Lucien before he had even concluded reading it.

Ellen had given birth while in the midst of a critical mission.

It transpired that the caravan had been ambushed by adversaries foolish enough to challenge a merchant contingent protected by the formidable Morveth, Condoriano, and Saber.

That initial confrontation concluded as anticipated.

However, even after the primary threat was neutralized almost instantaneously, the remaining attackers apparently joined in the fray purely for the exhilaration of battle. Kael’s report was remarkably unhelpful in distinguishing crucial facts from exuberant personal commentary, but Lucien managed to glean the essential sequence of events.

At some point during or immediately following the engagement, Ellen experienced abdominal discomfort.

Initially, she attributed it to the rigors of combat.

Then, with a horrifying sense of timing, she realized she was on the verge of childbirth.

It was at this moment that Maxim, typically a paragon of composure, discipline, and maddening rationality, experienced his first genuine moment of panic since arriving in the Great World.

Sylvia, however, seemed to have either anticipated this possibility or simply possessed a level of foresight that led her to meticulously prepare for such an eventuality in advance. She had taken the initiative to acquire midwifery skills prior to their journey.

Lucien had to pause his reading for a brief interval at this point, pressing his hand against his mouth to stifle a laugh.

Naturally, she would do such a thing.

The birth itself proceeded without complication. Ellen employed controlled magic to facilitate and ease the process, while Sylvia managed the practical aspects. The others maintained a secure perimeter. Edric, according to Kael’s exceptionally vivid account, erupted in such a hearty laugh upon the baby boy's eventual arrival that a surviving enemy corpse might have taken posthumous offense.

It was a scene of utter chaos, bewildering yet entirely characteristic of the individuals involved.

And ultimately, it concluded on a positive note.

A touch of magic and diligent care allowed Ellen to mend with surprising speed, enabling the caravan to resume its journey back without facing any significant peril.

Lucien set the dispatch aside, a look of amused helplessness on his face.

A new life had emerged into this world right in the midst of a trade expedition, safeguarded by ancient beasts and then endangered by bandits whose poor timing was only matched by their foolishness.

Somehow, this situation felt remarkably akin to the world he now governed.

More importantly, the civilian communication devices had been met with overwhelming enthusiasm.

These devices had transcended their status as mere luxury items to become highly sought-after tools.

Their accessibility was now universal.

Consequently, the world would no longer be segmented into distinct groups of 'those who could quickly coordinate' and 'those who could not.' The demand had now become widespread.

The sole remaining significant obstacle was that of supply.

Kael and his companions were due to return shortly, seeking further provisions.

Sareth's needs remained incompletely fulfilled. Not yet. Not until the production capacity could sustain widespread implementation.

•••

And then, at long last—

the automated systems began their operation.

Large-scale manufacturing commenced.

Countless production units followed meticulously planned routes across the industrial landscape, each assigned to a specific phase of the process.

A single day's output now reached into the tens of millions of devices.

Lucien observed the conclusion of the first complete industrial cycle, allowing the magnitude of this achievement to fully register within him.

They had successfully crossed yet another critical milestone.

The bottleneck was no longer dependent on manual dexterity.

Instead, it was reliant on the availability of raw materials.

As long as the inflow of raw resources did not falter, the production line could maintain its relentless pace.

This pivoted the focus toward procurement, setting the stage for the next significant challenge.

A far more constructive form of conflict than most others.

...

Meanwhile, Lilith resumed her activities.

There were still final adjustments to be made throughout Lootwell, and having witnessed the transformation the territory had undergone and understood its future potential, she tackled these remaining imperfections with an almost frightening level of zeal.

She harmonized the connections between various districts. Reinforced the overall structural integrity. Optimized the flow of energy through public areas. Perfected the functional design where rudimentary completion had previously sufficed.

With each passing day, Lootwell shed more of its residual roughness from its construction phase.

It now presented the appearance of a territory on the verge of awakening.

One evening, Lucien stood at the Stillness Palace, observing the completed sections.

The capital city. The various zones. The districts, which had been reborn from humble beginnings. The manufacturing sector, now operating discreetly. The expanding communication network. The Ascension Spire, alive with activity. The entranceways, thronged with aspiring individuals. The various courts, in session. The thoroughfares, bustling with purpose.

And for the very first time, the realization struck him not as a distant aspiration, but as an undeniable certainty.

Lootwell was approaching its readiness.

In a very short while—

it would be able to reveal itself to the world.