Chapter 363 - 352: Battlefield Advertisement
Chapter 363: Chapter 352: Battlefield Advertisement
The Great Library Plane, the mission center at the Association’s headquarters.
Unlike the quiet administrative hall, this place was bustling. Light screens constantly refreshed, and investigators came and went frequently. Some reeked of blood, others dragged sealed containers, and one person was even queuing to submit a report while emitting black fog.
It seemed the working environment of a Wizard was also full of life.
Allen walked up to Window No. 7. "Level 2 Investigator, EX-2071."
The gray-robed clerk behind the window looked up at him, their gaze lingering for a moment on the badge on Allen’s chest.
’The EX prefix, a rescue mission, just back from Plane 867.’
Once the information matched, the clerk’s attitude immediately became more professional.
"BR-0447, the search and rescue mission for the lost investigation team on the Wailing Icefield. Are you submitting the report?"
"Yes."
The report Allen submitted was rigorous and dry, strictly adhering to the Association’s field mission reporting procedures. It detailed the time of arrival and environmental parameters of Plane 867, the "Wailing Icefield"; the process of establishing contact with Field Investigation Team 114; and the record of encountering and engaging with the native "autonomous mechanical life forms" during the search and rescue operation.
The report assessed the threat level of the metallic life forms as "Level 2 - Swarm" and included their basic physical properties and behavioral patterns.
As for the deeper analysis of the "Magic Power Key Resonance Equation" and the "autonomous metal cores," or the concepts of "Matter Decomposition" and "Disassociation" that could overturn the entire field of material science, not a single character of it appeared in this public report.
Knowledge is power. And knowledge that has yet to be converted into an absolute bulwark is best kept completely secret.
[Mission Report BR-0447 submitted.]
[Mission evaluation in progress...]
The progress bar on the light screen pulsed for about five minutes before the final evaluation result popped up.
[Mission Evaluation: Excellent.]
[Comments: Rapid response, proper handling, zero additional casualties among target personnel.]
[Mission Reward Issued: 20,000 Mid-Level Magic Stones, 50 Credit Points.]
Allen’s personal terminal chimed softly as his account balance updated.
[Credit Points: 96.5]
He was one step closer to the 980 points needed to unlock the knowledge for his "short-term goals."
Allen turned and left without lingering in the mission center for another moment.
—
When he returned to Deep Blue Residence, the sea was awash in the light of dusk.
In the distance, luminous jellyfish floated up from the deep sea, their vast fields of faint blue light rising and falling with the tide like a slowly breathing city.
Allen stood on the third-floor terrace and watched for a moment.
After just one short field mission, he found himself missing this place.
The stable concentration of Magic Power.
The quiet Meditation Room and the mission system that refreshed on schedule.
And the extra-large portion of roasted Magical Beast ribs from the Association’s cafeteria basement.
People are always corrupted by their comfort zones, and Wizards are no exception.
Allen returned to his study. "DSeek, evaluate this mission."
[Tangible Gains: Net profit: 15,300 Mid-Level Magic Stones, 50 Credit Points.]
[Expense Summary: Full deployment of the Flying Golem unit. Total energy loss, ammunition, and consumables equivalent to approximately 4,700 Mid-Level Magic Stones. All were standard expenditures; no advanced materials such as crystallized weaponry were used.]
"Intangible gains."
[17 autonomous metal core samples, now in storage.]
[Magic Power Key Resonance Equation theoretical framework completion: 100%.]
[Matter Decomposition civilian application track: Preliminary verification complete. Disassociation Witchcraft track: Concept established.]
[Autonomous Metal Morphology tech tree: Unlocked.]
[Comprehensive Assessment: The long-term estimated value of this mission’s intangible gains conservatively exceeds 500,000 Mid-Level Magic Stones.]
[If Matter Decomposition is commercialized and penetrates the multi-plane battlefield salvage market, the cumulative profit ceiling within ten years is approximately—]
The number that popped up next made Allen raise an eyebrow slightly.
’Very good.’
The number was so large it even made DSeek seem a little reckless.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.
This mission had an extremely high return on investment. More importantly, the Association’s mission system gave him a legitimate and legal gateway to access unknown Planes, unknown samples, and unknown civilizations.
From this perspective, his sense of belonging to the Association had indeed increased considerably.
「Three days later.」
Inside the study, the terminal chimed softly.
[Internal Association Communication: New message. Source: BR-0447 survivor, First-level Wizard of the Elemental School, Glas Rhein.]
Allen opened it. It was not a thank-you letter.
[Respected Investigator Wesren:]
[I saw the flying combat Mechanical Bodies you used on Plane 867. They were eighteen-meter class, wielding long blades, and capable of high-speed aerial maneuvering and close-range killing strikes.]
[I would like to know if a commercial version of this model exists?]
[I am currently seeking an alternative for my clan’s territorial air patrol squadron. If it is for sale, please inform me of its basic parameters, maintenance cycle, and price range.]
After reading, a barely perceptible smile touched the corners of Allen’s lips.
’It’s starting.’
The best advertisement for a product was never a brochure, but letting the customer witness its performance on a real battlefield with their own eyes.
Deploying the Storm Falcon, Freedom Gundam, Hive mothership, and Peacekeepers in front of the six survivors was, of course, not done solely for the purpose of rescuing them.
"DSeek, look up the public information on Glas Rhein."
[Glas Rhein, First-level Elemental Wizard, from the Rhein family. A minor Wizard Clan whose territory is located on a mid-level Plane.]
[Clan Industries: Magic Plant Gardens, low-tier potion ingredients, two small-scale Magic Crystal mines, etc.]
[Risk Environment: Territory is subject to periodic harassment from Flying Magical Beasts. Ground defense pressure is low, but air patrol costs are high.]
[Current Armaments: Clan-trained combat Wizards, low-level Golems.]
[Annual Military Expenditure: Between 300,000 and 400,000 Mid-Level Magic Stones.]
[Client Rating: B-. Not a major client, but has a need for continuous procurement and maintenance.]
Allen scanned the information.
He wasn’t a big client, but as the first external military customer to proactively seek him out, his significance was greater than the order itself.
The terminal chimed again.
A second message arrived. Source: Silas.
The investigation team leader.
[Lord Wesren, on behalf of the "Gray Crows," I would like to inquire if the black heavy infantry Golems you deployed on Plane 867 are available for external purchase?]
[I’m referring to the four-meter class, heavily armored model with close-range suppression capabilities. We operate on high-intensity missions in fractured Planes year-round and are in urgent need of this kind of reliable partner that can hold the line and breach fortifications.]
[If they are for sale, please inform us of the minimum order quantity.]
Just as Allen was contemplating how to reply, his personal terminal sounded again.
Immediately after, a third message arrived at almost the same time.
The sender this time was not one of the survivors.
The internal Association identification showed the other party was a Second-level Wizard.
The wording was very tactful.
[Investigator Wesren, I heard that you utilized a Flying Golem cluster combat system in mission BR-0447. I have a long-standing interest in this field. If you are willing, we would like to explore the possibility of customized mechanical control systems in the form of an academic exchange.]
Three inquiries, three completely different areas of demand.
Air patrol units—corresponding to the "Storm Falcon" fighter or its simplified version.
Heavy ground units—corresponding to the mass-produced version of the "Peacekeeper."
High-end cluster combat systems—involving Cybertron’s most core military technology.
If this were an ordinary Alchemist, they would probably be ecstatic by now, eagerly starting to calculate the profits.
But Allen just watched the light screen quietly, his brain operating at high speed like the most precise computer.
Being greedy and hasty was not his style.
"DSeek, conduct a commercial feasibility assessment and draft a response plan."
[Assessment initiated.]
[Client 1 (Glas): Clear demand, stable ability to pay. Can be benchmarked against the ’Storm Falcon’ fighter technology. Estimated profit margin: 35%. Risk: Low. Recommendation: Engage proactively.]
[Client 2 (Silas): Demands a standardized Golem, a perfect match for the PX-1B model (mass-production version). Batch delivery is feasible. Profit margin: 28%. Risk: Extremely low. Recommendation: Prioritize as a benchmark client.]
[Client 3 (unnamed Second-level Wizard): Demand involves high-end customization and core military theory. High technological sensitivity. The drone cluster system involves Jarvis’s deployment logic, the Hive mothership’s command structure, and Cybertron’s datalink. Recommendation: Politely decline, or stall by citing ’immature technology.’]
Allen’s fingertips tapped gently on the armrest. DSeek’s analysis matched his own judgment perfectly.
He personally modified the two draft replies prepared by DSeek.
The replies sent to Glas and Silas were concise and professional. The letters began by thanking them for their trust, then attached a beautifully produced product overview.
The overview only contained exterior images of two Golem models, their basic performance parameters (such as flight speed, armor thickness, standard weapon loadouts, etc.), and a vague price range, with a final note stating, "Specific price to be negotiated in person."
The most crucial part was the signature on the reply.
It was no longer the cold Association investigator number "EX-2071," but a brand-new, gold-stamped insignia—
[Weisren Heavy Industry · Golem Division]
As for the third inquiry about cluster combat, Allen’s reply was only a single sentence.
"Thank you for your interest. The relevant technology is still in the experimental phase and we are not accepting commercial commissions at this time."
After sending the replies, Allen leaned back slowly in his chair. His gaze passed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of Deep Blue Residence, out toward the deep, serene blue of the sea.
In the water, countless phosphorescent jellyfish swam slowly like stars, forming a silent and magnificent sea of stars.
Within his mind, an even grander blueprint was slowly unfolding.
Penetrating the academy market with "educational armaments" to cultivate user habits was an overt strategy.
And now, it was time to activate the other line of approach.
Using his identity as an Association investigator to undertake high-difficulty, high-intensity missions.
To display the "products" of Weisren Heavy Industry to the entire Wizarding World on the most authentic battlefields.
Every mission would be a live product roadshow.
Every witness on the battlefield—whether rescued by him or surpassed by him—was a potential client, a walking billboard.
War would be the best touchstone for Weisren Heavy Industry, and also its most glamorous runway.
And he, Allen Wesren, was both the chief designer and the one and only ace salesman.