Fifteen days had passed since James and the others visited, and exactly thirty days had passed since the battle for the far northern coast. What concerned Cheng Yu most was still the same old question.
(Hey, System, how much steel are we producing now?)(๑・ˍ・)
"You ask every single day. Every single day! Don't you get tired of it?"→_→
(Why would I? Things change every day, after all.)(oﾟωﾟo)
"About fifty tons a day."→_→
(Mm, nice. About two tons more than yesterday. Keep it up. If we hit ten thousand tons a day, I'll fucking take off.)(ノ°ο°)ノ
"Assuming we have that much time to develop. Besides, I'd suggest we spend another two days developing, then go all out on troop production."→_→
Cheng Yu frowned.
(What do you mean?)(￢‸￢)
"Based on the information I gave Conductor and the others, their analysis puts the Deep Sea Empire's second offensive about ten days away. And it's bound to be considerably larger, with much better troops than last time."→_→
Cheng Yu asked, looking puzzled.
(Then why don't you seem all that concerned?)( ¬､¬)
"Heh, you've still got currency. If worse comes to worst, just exchange all your points for steel. With our current manufacturing capacity, we could field tens of millions of troops in a single day."(¬◡¬)✧
Cheng Yu curled his lip. This damned bootlicker was actually eyeing his currency. If things really came to that, though, he would have no choice. But his precious currency! ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3
(Let me see how much currency I've got left.)
Host: Cheng Yu (Black Iron Three-Star) Ability: Heart-Bewitching Spell (Black Iron Three-Star) Equipped title: "The Kid Watched by the Big Shot" (epic) Title: "The Kid Watched by the Big Shot" (epic). Ability effects: ... (click to expand) Equipment: none Achievement: King of the North (Bronze Five-Star) Currency: 690,000 Items held: Carbon-Based Virus (Black Iron Two-Star), Big Shot's Aura (epic) ×5, Source of Augmentation (Silver One-Star) Evaluation: You barely qualify as a weakling now. You may have relied on outside help, but black iron is still black iron (laughs). Keep working at it.
(Huh? My King of the North achievement hasn't been exchanged for currency?)
"No."
(Why didn't you exchange it for me? Do I have to tell you everything? You're not smart at all.)(¬д¬.)
"Didn't you say you really liked that achievement? I thought I'd leave it for you as a keepsake."╮(๑•́ ₃•̀๑)╭
(Fine, fine. Exchange it for me.)
Seeing the currency field change to 800,000, Cheng Yu paused, then said,
(That's quite a bit of money this time.)
"Mm, that achievement was actually a little above Bronze Five-Star, but not quite Silver One-Star, so I gave you an extra ten thousand."(¬◡¬)✧
(Mm, nice. Very nice.)(￣︶￣)
After thinking for a while, Cheng Yu asked,
(Roughly what rank would our 0-1 units be after one round of smelting?)
"About Black Iron One-Star, but thanks to the unique properties of machinery, their combat power is around Black Iron Three-Star."
Cheng Yu asked in surprise,
(A whole two stars higher? That's ridiculous!)╭(⊙o⊙)╮
"I told you, it's because of machinery's unique properties. Machines are pretty outrageous at lower ranks, but that advantage falls off at higher ranks. Remember that Epic Weapon, the God-Class Titan? Despite having the same epic rating, any individual humanoid epic could tear that Titan apart bare-handed."→_→
Cheng Yu nodded in understanding. It would be a little unreasonable if they stayed that outrageous even at higher ranks, though Big Sis and the others' civilization had been pretty unreasonable to begin with.
Besides, hadn't the System said before that five 0-1 units could pin him down and beat him senseless? Now, one would probably be enough. Sure, his combat power came from popping pills, but he was still a genuine Black Iron Three-Star, wasn't he?
After a moment's thought, Cheng Yu made his decision.
(System, exchange a hundred thousand currency for steel.)
"A hundred thousand? Don't go doing anything rash."( ﹁ ﹁ ) ~→
"First, bring our total troop count up to ten million. Put every melee unit through one round of smelting. This time, I want both quantity and quality. As for how to divide those ten million up, you and Conductor's group can decide."(ﾟ⊿ﾟ)ﾂ
"Sorry to rain on your parade, but that probably won't cover the configuration you're asking for."^_^|||
(Uh, then how many can we get?)(‧_‧?)
"About eight million. With what's left, we can also build one or two hundred Metal Converters."
(Fine, eight million it is. Make the exchange!)
"OK, ten million tons of steel received. Don't worry. With every military factory working at once, you'll have an army eight million strong by tonight."
In the Deep Sea Empire, the Merfolk Mage's memories had been searched and handed over to the Military Department to devise the next offensive.
The Merfolk King glanced at the plan before him, then at the aged Pure White Whale Man standing in front of him, and spoke softly.
"This is the plan you've come up with?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Merfolk King changed the subject.
"Old Jimmy, how long have you served as the Military Department's highest-ranking officer?"
The old whale man bowed.
"For as long as the Deep Sea Empire has existed."
The Merfolk King continued softly.
"It has been a long time. You were once hailed as the wisest man in the sea. That was why I chose you as the empire's minister of military affairs."
Then the Merfolk King shook his head.
"But I never expected you to present me with something like this."
The old whale man straightened and looked directly at the Merfolk King as he spoke softly.
"Then may I ask, Your Majesty, do you want victory, or the empire's dignity?"
Leaning back against his throne, the Merfolk King said quietly,
"I want both."
The old whale man narrowed his eyes slightly.
"In that case, this plan is indeed somewhat inadequate. Add another three times the original force-no! Five times! That will be enough to achieve the outcome Your Majesty desires."
The Merfolk King watched the old whale man with an unchanged expression, seemingly waiting for his explanation.
The old whale man said,
"Based on the intelligence Your Majesty has given us, the enemy's terrifying strength lies in their ability to eliminate opponents from extreme distances using all manner of Long-Range Magitech Weapons.
Although they also have some powerful troops for close combat, according to the intelligence from the last battle, those troops are too scarce to pose much of a problem.
Thus, we surmise that, as long as we can engage them at close quarters, we may be able to eliminate them.
The only uncertainty is whether what they used to wipe out the Second Elder and the others at the end was magic or some kind of Magitech Weapon, so..."
At this point, the old whale man looked at the Merfolk King and continued slowly.
"To test this conjecture, we need more troops. After all, troops are the one thing our Deep Sea Empire never lacks. Wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?"
The Merfolk King rested his hand on the throne, tapping his fingers lightly against the armrest, then smiled.
"Indeed. Troops are the one thing we never lack. Your plan is approved, Old Jimmy."
The old whale man bowed.
"It is my honor to relieve Your Majesty's burdens."
Not long after the old whale man left, the Naga Queen approached the throne and asked the Merfolk King,
"Then who will serve as supreme commander this time?"
The Merfolk King pondered for a long while before saying,
"I'll go myself."
The Naga Queen was a little surprised.
"You're going yourself?"
The Merfolk King nodded.
"Yes. I'll take the opportunity to see just what sort of person he is. Besides, I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling. Going myself will give me better control over the situation."
The Naga Queen nodded in agreement.
The main keep of Twilight Fortress.
"Uncle, it's been a while."
Ryan offered his respects to a young man who appeared close to his own age. The man was Kadrian, and he was not particularly fond of this nephew, talented though Ryan was.
His nephew was brainless. He was petty, yet kept imagining he had a gift for politics. Put plainly, he had no self-awareness.
As the idol of the entire Black Forest Family, Kadrian had many younger relatives who admired him and aspired to his current status. But Kadrian believed people should understand themselves clearly and not waste time on things they had no talent for.
Ryan was no exception. Though talented, he was always doing stupid things. More than once, Kadrian had told him, both indirectly and outright, to settle down and serve as one of the family's reserves of fighting strength rather than stirring up trouble everywhere.
Unfortunately, Ryan had never listened. Still, the boy did call him uncle, and Kadrian could hardly respond to his warmth with a cold shoulder.
So he smiled and said,
"Well, Ryan, what brings you here this time?"
Ryan smiled.
"I'm about to graduate, aren't I? I need some Travel Experience, and I've chosen to do it in the Northern Borderlands."
Kadrian nodded.
"Good choice. The Northern Borderlands are allied with us now, so there shouldn't be any danger. Remember, safety comes first in everything."
Ryan looked somewhat surprised.
"We've allied with the Northern Borderlands? With that man who calls himself a god's apostle?"
Kadrian nodded.
"Yuri Constantine, Grand Inquisitor of the Mechanicus Inquisition."
Ryan frowned.
"Doesn't he claim to be the apostle of some God of Primordial Darkness?"
Kadrian explained,
"He says the God of Primordial Darkness is also the God of Mechanics. He holds both positions."
Ryan murmured,
"The God of Mechanics? What god is that? What a strange name."
Kadrian continued,
"In any case, remember: when you're traveling, don't stir up unnecessary trouble, but don't be afraid of it either. Out there, you no longer represent only yourself, but the Black Forest Family."
Ryan nodded.
"I will, Uncle. I won't bring shame on the Black Forest Family's name."
Kadrian nodded. After offering Kadrian his respects, Ryan withdrew.
Watching Ryan leave, Kadrian felt a trace of unease rise within him for some reason.
Inside Steel Main City.
Sitting on a sofa, Yog said softly,
"The show is about to begin. The signpost for the path of making an enemy of the world has appeared. So, what will you choose?"
Miss Puppet also asked softly,
"Even Your Divinity doesn't know what His Highness will choose?"
Yog spread his hands with an amused laugh.
"The unknown is what makes a play most entertaining. You're as boring as ever."
Though the black dog lay on the floor, he had pricked up his ears to listen to their conversation. Then his ears drooped again. He had no power left now and could not sense the great Abyssal Will.
But ever since this man had effortlessly abducted him right in front of the great Abyssal Will, declaring that he was compensation for the great Abyssal Will's offense,
He had known this man was absolutely terrifying-so terrifying that even the great and "invincible" Abyssal Will was "wary" of him. But he had to endure this humiliation and help the great Abyssal Will gather intelligence on this man.
(O great Abyssal Will, I, the Demon Lord Grete Magnus, swear upon my true name that I shall forever be your faithful servant. I will bring you intelligence on this "great enemy." I ask only that the great Abyssal Will watch over me...)
(All for the Abyss!)
But, Your Divinity? Was this man a deity? Could an ordinary deity stand against the great Abyssal Will? When had someone like him appeared?
Grete could not make sense of it, no matter how hard he thought.
Achoo!
Meanwhile, Cheng Yu, asleep in his bedroom in the main city, could not help sneezing.
Before you continue