Chapter 365 - 354: The Start of the Golem Business
Chapter 365: Chapter 354: The Start of the Golem Business
"Build a factory?"
Colin reacted quickly, but the scale of what Allen was proposing still stunned him for a moment.
"Not just a small workshop."
Allen leaned back in his chair. "I need a production base that can operate independently. The plan is to take on the full production capacity of our teaching-aid Golems and at least fifty percent of our war Golems."
Colin frowned slightly, waiting for Allen to continue.
"As an investigator for the Association, I can’t stay in Hub City long-term to oversee the production lines."
"In the future, if I get a B-rank or even an A-rank field mission, I could be gone for weeks, even months. If we rely solely on Cybertron Workshop for our supply, it would be fatal for a new brand if I were to lose contact or the supply chain were to break."
"Besides, Cybertron is my core military-industrial base and R&D center. Its computing power and high-tier production lines can’t be wasted on low-value-added mass production."
Colin nodded, his fingers already flying across his terminal as he checked rental information.
"The logic is sound."
Colin stared at the data stream that popped up. "The factory rental prices in Hub City’s industrial district are much lower than in the commercial district. For a standard workshop over a thousand square meters, the annual rent is between three and five thousand Mid-Level Magic Stones, and that includes a basic Magic Power supply and an interface for a cargo transport Array. Finding a site will be easy."
His fingers paused. He looked up, his expression turning grave.
"The problem isn’t the site, it’s the equipment." Colin pulled up a cost estimate and pushed it in front of Allen. "Based on five complete Golem production lines, we’d need alchemy furnaces, Rune-etching stations, assembly stations, testing platforms, warehouses for raw materials and finished products... A full setup would require an initial investment of at least eight to ten million Low-Level Magic Stones."
The office fell silent.
"Boss, our books..."
Colin hesitated before telling him the truth. "The teaching-aid business has just launched. First-quarter revenue was about 1.6 million Low-Level Magic Stones. After deducting labor, rent, travel, material procurement, and branch operating costs, our net profit is less than nine hundred thousand. The balance of our initial seed money..."
Allen didn’t look at the cost estimate.
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed Colin’s screen. Then, he tapped his terminal, and a new, densely packed list materialized between them as a blue screen of light.
"We don’t need to build everything from scratch." Allen already had a plan.
He pointed to the top of the screen. "Cybertron Workshop has two sets of light assembly equipment for teaching-aid Golems that I built myself. I’ll dismantle them and move them here directly. As for Rune-etching stations, I have three spares."
"We’ll need to purchase one new alchemy furnace. A medium-sized one will be enough, for about three hundred fifty thousand Low-Level Magic Stones."
Allen continued down the list. "As for testing equipment, we don’t need to buy it ready-made. I can build it on-site myself."
As Allen went through the list item by item, the tension in Colin’s shoulders gradually eased.
He understood. Allen had already run the numbers.
By transferring core equipment internally and building some parts himself, the total investment was drastically cut down to under six million Low-Level Magic Stones.
"The most critical issue is personnel." Allen’s finger slid to the bottom of the list.
Production Operators: Senior Alchemy Apprentices (4 to 6).
Production at the Cybertron Workshop relied on workshop servants controlled by Jarvis and scheduling from Allen’s sub-processes, making it extremely efficient.
But the new factory in Hub City wouldn’t be able to use Cybertron’s resources. They would have to hire Wizard operators.
"You and Vera will screen candidates from the New Western student network."
Allen set the standards. "Prioritize top students with good grades in Alchemy and practical experience. Remember, we don’t need exceptional talent. We need steady hands, people who follow instructions, and a strong sense of confidentiality."
He tapped the desk. "Sign them to five-year employment contracts. Offer a monthly salary at 1.5 times the market rate, plus a cultivation resource stipend. We’ll bind them to our war chariot with benefits and contracts."
"Understood. An assembly line doesn’t need geniuses, just skilled laborers." Colin quickly made a note.
Just as he was about to save the list, his gaze was suddenly drawn to the second-to-last item.
[Workshop Manager: First-level Alchemy Wizard (1)]
"A factory manager?" Colin looked up at Allen. "Are we hiring from the outside? It’s hard to guarantee the loyalty of an Alchemy Wizard at that level."
"We’re not hiring from the outside." Allen shook his head. "I have someone in mind."
"Victor recommended him."
He continued, "The Tieyan Clan has significant industrial assets in its own territory, involved in mining and Alchemy processing. When we worked together in the Molten Iron Mountain Range warzone, he hinted more than once that his uncle was interested in expanding their Golem procurement channels."
Allen opened his personal terminal and sent a contact to Colin.
"I’ve already spoken with a business representative from the Tieyan Clan."
Allen looked at Colin. "They’re very interested in Weisren Heavy Industry’s Golems. The Tieyan Clan has mines on six continents and needs a large, cost-effective defensive force."
He paused for a second before dropping a number.
"If the price is right, their initial purchase order could be for over three thousand units. If we can make this deal happen, he’ll introduce me to a suitable candidate for factory manager."
Colin’s breath hitched.
’Three thousand units! Even if they were all low-end models, that’s a staggering order worth nearly ten million Low-Level Magic Stones. If this deal goes through, Weisren Heavy Industry’s Golem business will be well and truly established.’
"Don’t get too excited." Allen threw cold water on his excitement. "It’s just an expression of interest."
Colin forcibly suppressed his elation. "What are their conditions?"
"They want to see a live demonstration and a reliability test report first. And they’re demanding a delivery window of no more than forty-five days for the first batch of three hundred units."
’Forty-five days to deliver three hundred units.’
’With the Cybertron Workshop’s production capacity, that would be easy.’
’But based on the projected capacity of the new factory in Hub City, even if everything went smoothly, monthly output would only be between eighty and one hundred units.’
"So the first order will have to be filled by Cybertron."
Allen made his decision. "But the Hub City factory must have its production lines up and running before the next order comes in. That’s a hard deadline. No room for negotiation."
"I get it." Colin took a deep breath. "We use the Tieyan Clan’s order to fund the Hub City factory. Victor’s man becomes the factory manager, serving as technical advisor, supervisor, and a bargaining chip to bind us more deeply with the Tieyan Clan."
Allen nodded slightly.
Then, Allen brought up the third item on his agenda, and this one made Colin sit bolt upright.
"The Golem division. It’s time to spin it off from the New Western framework. In addition to the Tieyan Clan, I’ve also received an order from the Association."
Colin’s stylus hovered over his terminal.
"Selling the teaching-aid Golem line under the New Western Education Group’s name makes sense. They’re essentially educational equipment." Allen drew a line on the light screen, splitting the existing business sector in two.
"But not the war Golems." Allen pointed to the right side. "The Storm Falcon, the Purgatory, the Hive mothership—especially the high-end Golems. Selling these things under an education company’s name is absurd and bad for our brand positioning."
He looked at Colin, his gaze sharp. "New Western is gentle and friendly, a place people pay to learn. Although it’s a division of Weisren Heavy Industry, it primarily operates under the New Western name."
"Weisren Heavy Industry is cold, professional, a company people pay to save their lives. All its business must constantly emphasize the corporate brand. These two images must never be mixed in the future."
Colin was silent for a few seconds, then nodded heavily.
He had to admit he’d recently been treating the armaments business as an "add-on" to the educational products, since they were all sold under the New Western banner.
But Allen’s logic was spot-on: ambiguous positioning is brand suicide.
"The two divisions will share production capacity, logistics, and financial systems," Allen decided. "But from now on, their brand identities and sales channels will be separate. Weisren Heavy Industry will deal directly with the Association, powerful clans, Mercenary Corps, and miscellaneous military procurement."
"Understood. I’ll separate the two lines completely." Colin quickly took a note.
With business concluded,
Allen stood up, leaving a Memory Crystal Stone on the table that contained the equipment blueprints.
"Before I leave, there are two things I need you to stay on top of."
"First, you and Vera can start looking for a factory space in the Hub City industrial district. It needs to have at least two cargo transport Array interfaces."
"Second, start getting quotes for the externally sourced parts on the equipment list. But don’t rush to place any orders. Send the list to me for final approval."
"No problem." Colin picked up the Crystal Stone.
Allen walked to the office door and put his hand on the handle, then paused.
He looked back, his tone much more level.
"Oh, right. One more thing."
Colin looked up.
"I’m planning to add another new business division to Weisren Heavy Industry," Allen said, looking at him.
"What kind of business?" Colin asked instinctively.
"The technology isn’t mature enough yet," Allen said dismissively. "We can talk specifics next time I’m here. For now, you and Vera just focus on the task at hand."
With that, Allen pushed the door open and headed down the stairs.
Colin opened his mouth, but in the end, just smiled and shook his head, swallowing the retort that Allen was being mysterious again.
’He knew Allen all too well.’
’When Allen said, "We’ll talk later," it meant he already had an incredibly detailed blueprint in his mind. He had probably even finished the risk assessment and was just waiting for the perfect moment to make his move.’
After the door closed, silence fell over the office once more.
Colin sat alone at his desk. He took a sip from his now-lukewarm teacup, then picked up his terminal and opened a blank document.
His fingers flew, typing out the title: [Hub City Production Base - Site Selection Proposal].
Outside the window, twilight was deepening over Hub City.
The artificial daylight gradually dimmed as streetlights flickered on, one after another. Wizards, apprentices, and merchants of other races from hundreds of nearby planes bustled through the central plaza, converging into a roaring river of light.
No one noticed that in an unassuming two-story building in the city’s bustling commercial district, a vast machine named "Weisren Heavy Industry" was quietly beginning to run at full speed.