Wace exhaustedly left the workshop as he made some agreements with Veda.


    Unfortunately, even though Veda had sessfully integrated itself with mana, that took five long decades before it was made. It was also limited to a unique form of connection. Establishing awork to the whole continent took another three decades of its time toplete.


    In short, it was impossible for Avalon to drastically increase its potential like Veda in a short time.


    But that was enough, Wace was already satisfied with what Avalon can do.


    Whatever it couldck, this Veda can justpensate.


    Anyway, Avalon will now be able topletely focus its full processing power to VR Pod production, building Mech Frames, building Spaceship, and Mass Driver.


    For intelligence gathering, he can just ask Veda for assistance as he remembered their conversation.


    [ Can you avoid making this continent a battlefield? ]


    ''Avoid this continent? Where do you want the battle to take ce? In ocean? Wait...''


    He quickly realized its intention.


    "That''s too difficult..."


    Wace answered as he was sure that Veda wanted the Empire to be intercepted in the outer space.


    ''Veda was nning not to let the Empirend here? That''s wishful thinking... We don''t have decades to count... We don''t have time to create enough spacecraft that could contend against their number outside... We have to utilize the power of all the magicians on this so we can have a better chance...''


    Wace was against the idea of confronting them in the field they specialized in.


    It seems that Veda wanted to protect something here but it was still not willing to tell. He can only guess.


    In the end, Wace agreed to create a small spaceship fleet with the superior A.I.''s help that could somehow redirect the attention of the Empire to this. Of course, all the expenses will be handled by Veda while the production will be handled by Wace.


    The fleet wasn''t topletely rout the enemies but a form of assurance.


    He learned that Veda was supposedly an A.I. used for medical practices. It doesn''t have blueprints of spaceships and other technology aside from things rted to medicine. It was already an impressive feat for it to create such argework after it managed to integrate with mana.


    It was also unaware whether the Prince was still alive or perished in an unknown ce.


    Apparently, for a citizen of the Empire, living for about 200 years wasmon much more for a Prince that was fully supported by various drugs and modifications since birth.


    It wouldn''t surprise Wace if the man survives for four or five hundred more years.


    They discussed a lot of things about their cooperation as it took them five hours to have a concrete n.


    ***


    On the next day, Wace received manymunications from various steel and manufacturingpanies about some work offers.


    Of course, it was offered by Veda. The otherpany''s aim was to create some parts of the machines, mech, and spaceship he needed. The work will be divided and Wace''s job was to create the main parts and assemble all the parts created by variouspanies. To check their qualities, he also has to ensure that Avalon monitors their work ethics.


    But because this happened too fast he let them standby for now as he was nning to purchase the whole mountain first so he can use the ce as the main production area.


    His factory at Cove City won''t be able to handle such arge influx of materials.


    ''Should I contact her now? But she might think that I''m rushing her... No, I can just ask normally... Oh wait, maybe I should contact Clyne first.''


    Only a few days had passed when he made a request. He knows that it will take some time but Wace wanted to get an update now so he called Clyne to ask about his senior apprentice.


    "Miss Lacus? She left already. She hasn''t returned to the manor ever since you took your Iron Knight. But... I heard that she went to meet someone associated with Mavis n... Right, she also mentioned to me that awyer from our Manor will be helping you with your ns to purchase a plot ofnd or so."


    Wace was surprised to hear Clyne''s words on the other line.


    "Wait... Mavis n?"


    "Yes... She said that she''ll need to speak to a Mage Doctor of the n..."


    This revtion made Wace confused.


    ''Was my requirement too high? Don''t we have a Mage Doctor at the Manor?''


    Wace felt that it was better to ask Clyne who manages the Cloud Hawk Manor.


    "Ahh... A Mage Doctor in our Manor? We do have a few... But the two outstanding Mage Doctor working with Sir ine hase together with him at the Northern Continent..."


    Clyne answered as he also exined that the current Mage Doctor they have was probably judged by Lacus not to bepetent enough for the requirements they were looking for.


    "Is that so? Thank you for confirming..."


    "Mhm... As for thewyer I''m saying, he will be contacting you in the next few days. I heard that he was already aware of the details so he might be investigating at the moment..."


    "I see, thank you, sir Clyne. Please send my regards to senior Lacus once she returned."


    Wace ended the conversation as he decided to wait for a few more days.


    But in the end, he was contacted by a different person on the next day.


    "Yes! It has been a while... Do you still remember me?"


    "Drake?"


    "That''s right! We already have the money with us. I would like to meet with you and discuss our deal. Are you free?"


    "Yeah!"


    They quickly made arrangements as Wace took his time to instruct Avalon in preparing the different types of energy he needed for his Astral Core Formtion.


    Wace used his Void Phase to arrive at their meeting ce. It was the same vige near the ruins they explored before.


    ''Oh... Did they use their money to improve the vige? This ce looks much better...''


    Wace thought as Drake''s squad probably felt guilty about causing trouble when the ruins copsed and caused damage to the surrounding area. He remembers that part of the farnd was destroyed due to that...


    Soon, he was noticed by Marsha, one of Drake''s subordinates, and was also living in this vige. She quickly invited him to her house where everyone was waiting.


    "Oh... Everyone has a different aura now, huh..."


    He couldn''t help butment after seeing them. Their clothes have changed from mercenary clothes to formal ones. Drake was now wearing a suit and the others were also looking neat and clean. The females even wear dresses now.


    It waspletely different from Wace''s first impression of them. Aside from that, they are no longer carrying their swords or other weapons on their back.


    "You''re already here?!"


    "Haha... I told you, didn''t I? I''m free at the moment." Wace chuckled as he didn''t exin how he got here fast.


    Drake invited Wace to have a drink as they talk of random things before getting to the point.


    "So... Tell me about the ce you wanted to buy..."


    Wace asked after getting a chance.


    "Right... Do you know the Seed Holdings?"


    Drake said as he rxed on his seat.


    "Yes... They''re thepany dealing with Memory Crystals production. What about it?"


    "Mhmm... Thend we wanted to buy was now being eyed by thispany... It''s our fault."


    There seems to be more trouble than he expected.


    Soon, Drake exined their situation. Their squad wanted to purchase a plot ofnd that was previously filled with powerful Mana Beasts.


    Because the ce has a small ore vein before, the beasts have to be subjugated before the people can operate.


    After that, it only took them about three years to empty the ore vein and the ce was supposedly abandoned until Drake''s group nned to acquire thend.


    "What do they wanted? Do they own thend?" Wace asked.


    "Well, thend was still owned by the government... The Seed Holdings were just contractors working on that ce before... Now, the ce should''ve been abandoned for five years."


    Wace still doesn''t get the situation so he waited for them to get to the point.


    "The ce was perfect for us to establish a stronghold but thepany wanted it for themselves telling that there could be hidden treasures formed after five years of abandoning thend... That ce is rich with Mana but not to the point that the government would desire it... There''s a lot of better ces but that one was the only one that we can reach with our status... No, we even needed your help... Sigh~ We just want to be stronger but this..."


    Drake said emotionally. They seem to have a backstory but Wace didn''t ask more.


    "Alright... I''m also about to meet awyer working with my master. I''ll ask for their help." Wace answered as he returned home. He will try to do his best to help since he promised this in exchange for getting the fragment of the Cube and the Zen Coins.


    He rested for a while to prepare himself at forming his Astral Core.