Under the workshop’s dome, the "Storm Falcon" with its seven-meter wingspan hovered silently. Its streamlined fuselage reflected the light, resembling a perfect work of murderous art.

A fanatic gleam shone in Allen’s eyes. He could already picture the magnificent scene of twelve Storm Falcons forming an aerial wolf pack, turning the sky into a no-fly zone.

"Jarvis, how long would it take to produce Storm Falcons at full capacity?"

[Simulating production sequence...]

Jarvis’s voice was as calm as ever, but the next moment, a financial statement composed of data unfolded before Allen. A line of red numbers hung at the very top.

[Current liquid assets: 36,500 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

[Funds required to form the "Twelve Storm Falcon Squadron": 195,600 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

[Conclusion: This plan cannot be executed with current production capacity and financial reserves. It is recommended that the commander adjusts strategic priorities or prepares to file for bankruptcy protection.]

"..."

The fanaticism on Allen’s face froze instantly, as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown on him.

"Bankruptcy protection? You even know about that?"

His mouth twitched. He waved away the glaring report. "I’m starting to think you’re mocking me."

The loftier the dream, the harsher the reality.

Right now, he was like a poor kid staring at a limited-edition figurine in a shop window, unable to reach his wallet.

’An air force is a money sink. Without a solid industrial base on the ground, it’s just a castle in the sky.’

Allen forced himself to calm down. The Mechanical Mind once again took the high ground of his intellect. He turned and walked toward the massive holographic tactical map projected in the center of the workshop.

"Jarvis, pull up all assets, liabilities, and production data. I need to replan."

On the map, the light representing the workshop was the core, from which two slender green lines extended, connecting to Black-Vein Iron Mine No. 1 and Red Copper Mine No. 2. These were his only lifelines at the moment.

"Where’s the problem?" Allen’s finger slid across the map.

[Analyzing...] Jarvis projected another chart beside him.

[Core bottleneck: Raw material extraction efficiency.]

[Current number of Mining Golems: 9]

[Converted monthly profit: Approximately 90,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

"Only ninety thousand a month?" Looking at the number, Allen felt a pang of distress. "At this rate, building the squadron of Storm Falcons would take over two months."

"If we dedicate all production to Mining Golems, how many would we need to build to maximize output? How long would it take to build and deploy them?"

[Based on the current production line efficiency, manufacturing 11 Mining Golems requires 5 days. Due to operational area limitations, a single mine can currently achieve maximum production efficiency with 10 Mining Golems.]

[At that point, net monthly profit will reach 200,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

Two hundred thousand.

This number finally brought some color back to Allen’s face. Although there was still a long way to go before he could build an air force, it at least gave him a glimmer of hope.

Allen took a deep breath, his eyes clear once more. ’Guess I’ll just have to be an honest mine boss for now.’

「Five days later」

In the roar of the workshop, eleven brand new Mining Golems rolled off the production line.

"Go! Dig up every last Magic Stone in those mines for me!"

At Allen’s command, this new force was rapidly deployed to the two mining areas.

The effect was immediate.

Jarvis’s reports broke records every day.

The two mines went into full production. The non-stop, day-and-night roar became the sweetest music in the wasteland.

After deducting necessary maintenance costs and his mentor’s share, the net monthly profit indeed soared to 200,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.

’Two hundred thousand a month...’

This figure would have been astronomical for an apprentice, but to him now, it was only enough to produce six PX-1s per month.

"Still so poor," Allen sighed. "But at least I have a bit of capital to expand the army now."

With a stable cash flow, Allen’s gaze once again fell upon the place that had been a thorn in his side—the Three-way Canyon.

That was the nest of the Crystal Shell Giant Scorpions, only sixty kilometers away from the workshop in a straight line. It was like a hostile neighbor standing at his doorstep with a knife, ready to charge in and wreck everything he owned at any moment.

’I will not suffer a threat so close to home.’

A cold glint flashed in Allen’s eyes. ’Before, I didn’t have the strength, so I could only resort to dirty tricks like diverting the problem elsewhere. Soon... I’m going to wipe them out fair and square.’

He already had six Peacemakers. They were too ineffective against Crystal Shell Giant Scorpions, so there was no need to produce more.

Now that production at the two mines was on track, he had to properly plan the next phase of manufacturing and, while at it, reorganize his existing defensive forces and Golems.

"Jarvis, create a new organizational file."

"First, the defense systems. Both the mines and the workshop must be standardized."

[Defense organization plan established: Standard Mine Garrison.]

Allen dragged a string of data into the file:

"For each mine, start with a standard configuration of 20 Spider Slayer IIs as mobile infantry."

"And 500 ’Jumping Spider’ suicide Golems. I want the three-kilometer perimeter turned into a minefield. I want any lizard that wanders in to have its legs blown off."

"One PX-1 ’Peacemaker’ will be stationed in the center to act as a command node and sentinel."

"Two ’Inferno’ rocket launching platforms for long-range fire support."

"Plus 10 Mining Golems, 5 Blessed-level Servants, 1 Demon Eye, and one small transport ship for logistics."

"With this setup," Allen nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the simulation results, "it can hold out even against a small-scale raid by Crystal Shell Giant Scorpions until I arrive."

With his rear secured, it was time for the main event: the workshop’s defense and the main army.

The workshop was the heart; it had to be impregnable.

In a decisive move, Allen had all four defensive turrets from Mine No. 1 dismantled and transported back to the workshop. Combined with his existing stock, a total of eight Magic-guided Cannon turrets were arranged in a ring around the workshop, creating an impenetrable web of firepower.

Additionally, 30 Spider Slayers, 500 Jumping Spiders, two PX-1s, and 5 Demon Eyes would serve as the inner guard, defending the core area to the last.

"And finally..."

"The establishment of the First Golem Combat Legion."

This was the blade forged for offense.

"30 Spider Slayer IIs, as a reconnaissance and assault force."

"10 ’Infernos’. I want a single volley from them to be able to cover the entire canyon entrance."

"2 Peacemakers, as the heavy hitters for breaking through defenses."

"5 Demon Eyes, to provide a full map view."

"And..."

Allen paused, then added the silver icon as well. "...5 ’Storm Falcons’, to secure air superiority."

The plan was to launch long-range strikes with the Infernos and Storm Falcons first, hitting the enemy so hard they couldn’t organize an effective counterattack. Then, he would expand his territory and advance slowly.

With the organization established, all that remained was the tedious yet frenzied phase of massing units.

Currently, he had a total of six Peacemakers, fifty-two Spider Slayer IIs, 1,200 ’Jumping Spiders’, one Storm Falcon prototype, three Infernos, one small transport Floating Ship, and twenty Alchemy Servants (Blessed-series).

To fill the gaps in the garrisons and the First Legion, he still needed: 48 Spider Slayers, 11 Infernos, 4 Storm Falcons, 7 Demon Eyes, 3 Floating Ships, as well as ammunition and consumables.

Jarvis quickly produced a budget list:

[Spider Slayer II (48 units): 105,600 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

[Infernos and ammunition (11 units): 74,800 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

[Storm Falcons (4 units): 65,200 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

[Demon Eyes, Servants, Jumping Spiders, transport Floating Ships, etc.: 36,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

[Total budget: Approximately 281,000 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

’Converting all output into military power, factoring in production time and unexpected losses... this will take about two months.’

Looking at the number, Allen didn’t feel anxious as before. Instead, he felt calm.

Two months.

For Wizards who often spent years on research, it was but the blink of an eye.

But for this wasteland, it would be the final calm before the storm.

"Time to lay low and build up, then."

Allen took off his wizard robe, changed into work clothes, and walked toward the dedicated workbench for the production Control Core. "When you’re poor, you use tactical infiltration; when you’re rich, you just blow everything to hell. After I spend these two months charging up my ultimate, I’ll show those scorpions what justice from above really looks like."