Chapter 618 - 597: Harvest
Chapter 618: Chapter 597: Harvest
Twelve Magic Beacons simultaneously lit up with pale blue guiding beams. The port’s Defense Array circulated silently, automatically switching to "Allied Transit" mode.
Before long, the bow of the Ten Thousand Miles of Sunshine pierced through the Plane Crystal Wall. Its streamlined hull refracted a cold metallic luster under the sunlight within the Plane.
Closely following it were thirteen Floating Battleships of various designs. Some hulls still bore the scorched marks of artillery fire, while others were heavily modified in ways typical of Black Wizards. Yet, at this moment, they resembled a pack of defanged, vicious dogs. They followed silently behind the Ten Thousand Miles of Sunshine, drawn by an invisible Force Field as they slowly sailed into their reserved berths.
On the port’s docks, Colin nearly dropped the data pad in his hands. "One, two, three... thirteen ships? Just the shell of that large merchant vessel alone would be worth two hundred million if dismantled and sold for scrap!"
Vera pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, her pupils constricting slightly behind the lenses. Her brain instinctively began to rapidly calculate the total tonnage of these spoils, the recycling rate of their dismantled parts, and the labor costs required for repairs.
As the Ten Thousand Miles of Sunshine slowly docked, it was as if someone had pressed the pause button on the entire port. Thousands of busy native workers and merchant caravans from other Planes simultaneously stopped their work and looked up. Their gazes were filled with awe and fanaticism, as if they were looking up at a miracle.
Allen slowly flew out from the bridge. No guards followed behind him. No. 18 had been sent back to Cybertron for repairs in advance, but the massive shadows cast by these thirteen battleships over the port served as his most indisputable honor guard.
"Boss." Colin and Vera quickly stepped forward to greet him, their expressions filled with unconcealed shock.
Allen’s deep blue eyes swept over the two of them before finally settling on the port below, which had already begun to resume operations with a visibly massive increase in efficiency. He gave a slight nod. "The route has been cleared. Send down the notice that the Wesren merchant caravans can resume normal operations," he said flatly.
Inside the top-floor office of the Wesren Building.
Colin personally brewed a cup of the expensive Starlight Spring from the Elf Forest for Allen, even though he knew his boss’s current Golem body could only analyze its Magic Power composition and taste data through sensors.
"Boss, your trip this time..."
"No surprises and no dangers, with quite a bountiful harvest." Allen took the teacup and took a gentle sip. "Tastes good."
Colin and Vera looked at each other, their mouths twitching. They both knew that wiping out every Black Wizard faction in the latter half of the Gray Channel would obviously yield a bountiful harvest.
"By the way," Allen mentioned as if in passing, "have you heard of an organization called the Dark Star Market?"
"Dark Star Market?" Colin was taken aback for a moment before his expression turned grave. "I’ve heard of it. We’ve dealt with merchants from the Gray Channel over the years, so we’ve naturally picked up some information. Boss, why do you ask?"
"I had a minor encounter with them." Allen leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands. "Tell me everything you know in detail."
Colin organized his thoughts and said in a deep voice, "This organization is very mysterious. It’s not a fixed market, but a massive underground trading network spread across numerous Planes and Star Domains. Rumor has it that as long as you can afford the price, you can buy anything there—lost Witchcraft, forbidden knowledge, High-tier Wizard slaves, and even... the buying and selling of Planes.
"No one knows who is behind the Dark Star Market," he continued, lowering his voice. "But its strength is unquestionable. It’s rumored that not just Black Wizards, but many High-tier White Wizards are also secretly their major clients."
Allen listened quietly, deep in thought. He realized that the phantom wearing the pure white mask had spoken the truth. This was indeed a behemoth that he should avoid clashing with at this current stage.
"I understand." Allen did not reveal his encounter. He simply instructed calmly, "Pay closer attention to this organization and help me gather all the information you can access. Knowing oneself and one’s enemy never hurts."
"Yes, Boss."
Allen patted his shoulder and turned to walk toward the Cybertron Teleportation Array. "Thanks for your hard work, Colin. Spend the coming period getting the merchant caravans properly running again."
"Leave it to us."
Inside the Central Command Room of the Cybertron Fortress.
As Allen took his seat, a massive holographic projection instantly lit up. Jarvis had already projected the compiled final financial report in front of him in the most intuitive form of a data waterfall. The dense stream of data resembled a precise, giant net, clearly weaving together every bit of resource consumption and income over the past month.
"The final financial report for the Gray Channel Great Purge operation has been compiled," Jarvis reported. "Expenditures: Ammunition consumption for all combat units, energy replenishment, replacement of battle-damaged Golems, repair labor, and materials total two billion, eight hundred and thirty-four million Low-Level Magic Stones."
Allen showed no reaction; this number was within his estimates.
"Income," Jarvis continued.
"One: Thirteen captured Floating Battleships. Six of these can be directly integrated into the fleet, while three require major repairs. Their comprehensive valuation is one billion, nine hundred million Low-Level Magic Stones.
"Two: Various supplies captured from the enemy fleet and stronghold bases. This covers Necromantic Materials, Magic Potion Ingredients, munitions, rare minerals, Alchemy Materials, and Magic Stone Cash Reserves. The estimated total is nine billion, one hundred and twenty million Low-Level Magic Stones.
"Three: High-tier Undead, Blood and Flesh Puppet Bases, and usable servant containments. Total: seven hundred and eighty million Low-Level Magic Stones.
"Four: Battlefield soul recovery. The approximately two hundred and sixty thousand saleable souls recovered by Thanatos are valued at about one billion, six hundred million Low-Level Magic Stones.
"Five—"
Jarvis’s tone remained unchanged, but the weight of the data suddenly grew heavier.
"Dawn Star Level Souls, totaling four. All of them possess at least one proven Law. This portion is classified as a strategic rare resource and is temporarily excluded from regular Magic Stone valuation."
In the center of the screen, six clusters of soul light sealed within containers were lined up in sequence, with detailed information labeled beside each one.
"Bone Eater Ragnar—[Law of Destruction - Third Stage], [Law of Evil Poison - Second Stage].
"Cold Abyss Els—[Frost Law - Third Stage], [Curse Law - First Stage].
"Thousand Faces Leader—[Phantom Law - First Stage], [Storm Law - Third Stage].
"Giant Rock Brotherhood Leader—[Gravity Law - Third Stage].
"Adding the previously stored souls of Skeleton Duke and Blood-handed Sara, there are currently six extractable Law Crystals in total."
The final aggregated numbers lit up at the very top of the holographic screen, flashing with a dazzling light.
[Total Spoil Valuation: Twelve Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty Million Low-Level Magic Stones (Excluding Dawn Star Level Souls)]
[Current Available Account Funds: Ten Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety Million Low-Level Magic Stones]
Allen leaned back in his chair, his gaze slowly sweeping over that number. A month ago, his liquid funds were less than three hundred million, not even enough to cover the manufacturing cost of a single Level 4 Golem. He had been so poor that he had to rely on meticulous budgeting just to get by. But now, his savings had finally broken past the ten-billion mark once again.
Yet, his expression showed no excitement; instead, his eyes grew even deeper and colder.
"Jarvis, this purge taught me a lesson. The biggest takeaway wasn’t Ragnar’s troublesome Destruction Law."
Jarvis did not reply. It knew this was not a request for opinions, but a strategic review.
"It was that uninvited guest from the Dark Star Market," Allen continued. To be able to bypass all the defense systems of the Ten Thousand Miles of Sunshine, directly cast a mental projection into the bridge, and even forcibly drag him into the collective sea of the subconscious—such methods belonged to at least the Morning Star Peak, perhaps even higher. And that person was merely a "representative" sent out to deliver a message.
The warning from the Dark Star Market acted like a thorn in his side, causing his mind, which had slightly relaxed due to the victory, to tense up once more. In the face of such a behemoth lurking beneath the surface, pure numbers of wealth and the stacking of conventional legions could not bring a sense of security. Only top-tier combat power—irreplaceable, decisive top-tier combat power—was the foundation for his survival and standing.
Allen’s consciousness slowly sank into the killing machine standing quietly in its exclusive hangar—No. 18, with its perfect form radiating a deadly aesthetic. In his mind, a breathtaking scene was already being sketched out. When those Spiritual Remains Steel Fists, capable of tearing apart anything, were infused with a layer of the [Destruction] Law that could disintegrate all matter at a rule level...
His eyes held nothing but the focus and fanaticism of someone about to snap the two most perfect puzzle pieces together.