Chapter 119: Chapter 116: I’m a Factory Owner Now
[Soul Processing Technique].
A technique for transforming a "living being" into a controllable "component."
Viewing the soul as an information processor and behavioral controller—this was the mindset of a proper Wizard.
Having learned this Witchcraft, the first thing he thought of was upgrading his "Spider Slayer."
This second Core Witchcraft his ntor had taught him required the soul of a living creature as its raw material. According to his ntor, it was best to extract the soul while the creature was still alive. Extraction within ten minutes of death was also possible, but the results would be slightly inferior.
’If I could replace its core with one made from the soul of a true Magical Beast spider and upgrade its materials, its intelligence and combat abilities would definitely far surpass their current level.’
’The soul from that Shadow Demon Spider would have been the most suitable for a Control Core. Its abilities were a perfect match, and it would have required only minor calibration. It’s a sha I hadn’t learned this Witchcraft then; I wasted excellent materials for nothing.’
But the thought lasted only a mont before he dismissed it.
’Hunting a Magical Beast in the First Ring Belt just for an apprentice-level chanical Body would be too inefficient.’
More importantly, he and Victor were about to start designing and building their first true Golem, and that was the main event—a project that would determine the course of their future.
’Better to... design the Golem first.’
’Based on the final design, I can determine what kind of Control Core is needed, lock onto a target Magical Beast, plan the most efficient hunting route, and gather all the materials at once.’
’That is the optimal plan.’
Allen sprang from his bed, his train of thought suddenly clear.
Designing a Golem required a proper facility and equipnt. The tools in his dorm room were barely sufficient to process a piece of high-grade Magic tal, let alone build a war machine.
It was ti to get a real workshop.
He quickly washed up, changed into his Apprentice Robe, and headed straight for the academy’s administrative center.
The white spire of the administrative center was always bustling with people, apprentices hurrying to and fro with faces full of either anxiety or excitent.
Allen arrived on the second floor, the area responsible for facility rentals and resource allocation.
Unlike the stern, oppressive atmosphere of the Academic Affairs Office on the third floor, this place was more like a bustling bank lobby.
Allen waited in line for a while until it was his turn.
Behind the counter sat a male apprentice who looked quite proficient. He asked, "What can I do for you?"
"I’d like to rent a facility."
"What kind?"
The male apprentice gestured at a crystal panel in front of him and said, "Plantations, breeding grounds, Witchcraft practice grounds, surgical modification labs, ditation chambers, and all sorts of workshops. No matter the discipline, we have vacancies."
"There are different kinds of workshops?" Allen asked.
The male apprentice’s finger froze. He glanced at Allen in surprise.
"A newly promoted Advanced Apprentice?"
"Yes."
"Let
explain."
The male apprentice’s tone grew more courteous. After all, the workshops for the alchemy discipline were the most expensive facilities to rent.
"The academy offers five types of workshops for apprentices: Magic Potion workshops, Witchcraft Tool workshops, macro-construction workshops, large-scale Rune Array workshops, and Golem workshops. The equipnt inside each is different."
"I need a Golem workshop," Allen said.
The male apprentice deftly pulled up a list on the crystal panel.
"Golem workshop rentals have three annual tiers. Five hundred Magic Stones a year gets you a full set of basic equipnt, suitable for practice. One thousand Magic Stones gets you better equipnt that can support the entire manufacturing process of a Level 2 Golem. Two thousand Magic Stones gets you a large-scale Alchemy Machine and a Rune etcher. As long as your skills and materials are sufficient, building a Level 3 Golem won’t be a problem."
"By the way, the rent doesn’t include an allotnt of Magic Power. Running the heavy machinery on Magic Stones alone isn’t cost-effective."
"The two-thousand one,"
Allen started, "the equipnt in that one, is it the best available for rent in the apprentice district?"
The male apprentice froze for a second before nodding instinctively. "Of course. Anything above that would be the exclusive workshops only professors can apply for."
"I’ll take that one."
The smile on the male apprentice’s face beca even more enthusiastic.
"Excellent, sir! Please present your identification card, and I’ll process it for you right away!"
’This is a huge client! The commission I’ll get from handling this rental alone is enough to cover my living expenses for a month.’
Allen handed over his identification card. The male apprentice’s fingers flew across the crystal panel, and a mont later, a Magic Contract materialized before Allen.
"Workshop F-37, Zone F. One-year lease, cost two thousand Low-Tier Magic Stones. Confirm paynt?"
"Confirm."
Allen’s identification card flashed once, and the enormous sum was deducted.
With a flash from the identification card, the earnings from the mutual aid group, which had been in Allen’s account for less than two days, instantly evaporated.
But he didn’t care in the slightest.
’If money can’t be converted into power, it’s just a aningless string of numbers.’
"The procedure is complete. This is your workshop credential." The male apprentice respectfully handed over a tal card etched with Runes.
"May you succeed in creating a Level 3 Golem soon!"
Allen took the card and left at a brisk pace, his mind already flying to the "armory" that was now temporarily his.
The workshop district was on the outskirts of the academy, the air perpetually filled with the strange odor of slted tal and the pungent scent of various Magic Potions.
Rows of similarly styled buildings were situated here, from which the occasional muffled explosion or low thrum of machinery could be heard.
Following the instructions on the card, Allen found number 37 in Zone F.
It was a massive, block-like steel building, unadorned save for its windows.
The great door was shut tight, with only a sensor panel inscribed with complex Runes.
Allen pressed the tal card against it.
"Identity confird. Allen Wesren. Workshop F-37, opening with highest-level clearance."
The heavy doors slowly slid apart, revealing the vast space inside.
It was an enormous workshop with a ceiling at least ten ters high.
The interior was divided into several functional areas: an equipnt area, an assembly area, a materials area, a testing area, and an office area.
The floor was made of smooth, magic-resistant tal, and faint Runes were visible on the walls, capable of withstanding high temperatures and violent impacts.
In the equipnt area, a large-scale Alchemy Machine stood silently in a corner, flanked by various models of grinders, Rune etchers, and workbenches. There were also reaction vats and mixing vessels for preparing coatings, and the walls were covered with an assortnt of tools.
The assembly area had no scaffolding; instead, it was equipped with a floating platform and chanical assembly arms.
The materials and testing areas, on the other hand, were completely empty.
Allen walked in and closed the alloy doors.
He stood in the center of the spacious workshop, surveying the expensive machinery.
They were currently dormant, like slumbering steel behemoths waiting to be awakened by their master.
He could imagine that in the near future, this place would be filled with a constant roar, day and night, as chanical arms precisely assembled every component. In the end, Golems born for war would march out from here.
This was the stage of an Alchemy Wizard.
And it would also be his kingdom.
Suppressing his wandering thoughts, Allen walked to the control console in the rest area and placed his palm on it.
"Activate the Basic Power Supply Array."
HUMMM—
The entire workshop emitted a low hum of resonance. The Runes on the walls lit up one by one, and several Lighting Arrays bathed the space in light as bright as day.
The canvas was now laid out.
It was ti to draw the first draft for his masterpiece.
In Allen’s mind’s eye, concepts and design plans collided, combined, and evolved, just waiting for him to bring them to fruition.
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