The factory has now taken proper form, and in some parts, forges that have yet to be put under a roof began working to smelt the ores dug from the quarry into proper ingots. Antikythera liked the progress Hana was making with the pce. With someone as tireless as her constructing the factory using heavy machines for days on end, it didn't take long for the start of a building to be built.

  It was nothing but a foundation for now, with metal walls whose inner linings and supporting beams were exposed to the elements, but it was functional. Forges didn't need anything but themselves to turn ores into ingots, and a hole in the floor lined with cy could just be used as a mold. No need for anything fancy.

  Hana appreciated efficiency, and Antikythera liked that trait. It was why, out of the three women who controlled the hospital, she was the one he pced in charge of construction duty. Her skill set matched the task perfectly, but her mind was also much more suited to designing a dedicated production pnt than anyone else.

  Antikythera approached the entrance of the factory—a gaping space between framed walls, unfinished like the rest of the factory at this point, but Antikythera had already seen the finished product through a data packet—and inspected the space within. Dozens of forges were built within the walls, spewing smoke and tainting the air bck. On the floor were molds for various types of ingots. He had already expected this, but regardless, Antikythera felt gd that Hana used the limited area to its fullest.

  Somewhere on a ptform moving around the half-finished walls stood Hana. The girl had stopped using the heavy vehicles and was currently inspecting the construction with a critical eye and dozens of modur drones. She was checking her work—though unnecessary—because there was a chance that she might have been wrong in her calcutions for the additional parts of the factory.

  "Hana."

  The Automaton stopped what she was doing and turned her gaze downward. She addressed Antikythera while using her modur drones for further inspection. The orb-shaped machines flew in the air and scanned the walls while Hana lowered her ptform to greet the floor guardian.

  "I have constructed 28% of the first factory," Hana informed him. She handed Antikythera a sheet of paper, which the floor guardian read hastily. He sent a data packet with the paper's contents to Sakai. "Should we follow the standards of the locals, the forges are producing quality ores, and they will be able to fetch us tens of thousands in gold should we sell them."

  "I don't want to ruin the local economy," though, perhaps the Baharuth Empire would be interested in purchasing a few hundred pounds worth of ingots? They had the finances for it, to be sure. "I'll consider the request," Antikythera corrected himself. "For now, send me a data packet detailing the products that will come from the second, third, and fourth floors."

  Antikythera soon felt the compressed data enter his data centers. He gave Hana a curt nod. "Keep up the good work. Lord Ainz would be pleased to know that Nazarick now has a functional steel industry ready to serve the tomb's purposes."

  Hana beamed at that. "I am happy to work in service to the Supreme One."

  Antikythera would have smiled if he had the capacity to. But since he couldn't, he simply nodded in appreciation of the decration. "So am I. Work hard, Hana." Antikythera began making his way out. He opened a [Gate] leading to Nazarick. "I will inform Albedo of this new development."

  He was gone before Hana could make a proper reply.

  The hallways of the 12th floor greeted him, and a quick turn of his head led him to spot the door to the Overseer's office. He knocked on it and waited. Upon entering, he told Albedo the good news. "We now have a steel industry. Ingots of high-quality steel are ready to be delivered to any location at your request."

  "That is wonderful news." Albedo put down the report she was reading and listlessly eyed Antikythera. "I assume that the rate of production for the ingots will be able to meet Nazarick's demands?"

  "And more," Antikythera assured. "Quarries are being set up in the nd surrounding the factory, and drones are working tirelessly to mine thousands upon thousands of tons of ore to be turned into ingots."

  "Hm, I see. And is there a report on the factory's production?" the succubus asked. When she noticed that Antikythera did not have anything on hand, she raised an eyebrow. "I take it Sakai is still gathering the relevant data together?"

  "Yes, I've sent her everything we have on the factory as well as more of my results regarding the upper limits of a human's talent, so expect a report on everything once she is finished cataloging it all."

  "I will. And, Antikythera? Have you found an upper limit to a talent's application? I understand that influencing the mortal's power and gathering data on that would have to wait until she becomes an adventurer, but I am curious—how far can a talent boost someone's power output?"

  Albedo's gaze turned serious, and Antikythera shared her concern on the matter. This was a serious issue that could potentially threaten Nazarick itself if left alone.

  "I have found none as of present," Antikythera expined. "The girl's talent is quite versatile, and though her body is so weak she cannot express even 10% of her tent potential, this does not change the fact that the girl has this potential to begin with."

  "Perhaps this is why Lord Ainz told you to protect her. She could be a useful asset, assuming she gets attached to you, no? Her future descendants are no doubt capable of inheriting this talent of hers as well," Albedo thoughtfully replied. "We stick ourselves in her favor, and we might just have a puppet faction 200 years from now."

  "Interesting thought process." Antikythera had to admit, it did have its own benefits to have a bunch of puppet vassals should the time come that Nazarick hides again. "Has Lord Ainz's pn reached so far into the future?"

  "Naturally," Albedo preened.

  Antikythera slowed his perception of time, considered the implications of such a thing, and nodded. It made sense. Lord Ainz's intellect dwarfed his, Albedo's, and Demiurge's combined, so it was only normal for him to be able to pn so far ahead.

  "Have you considered potential candidates to whom we can sell?" Antikythera shifted the topic back to the factory. "Hana is producing quite a lot of ingots, and it is best we start to make alliances with the locals for ease of access to their resources as well as to gain their trust. You have seen Demiurge's pns to create a persona, yes?"

  "Mhmm." Albedo picked up a stack of papers and read through them. "He has been very thorough with this. He pns on staging multiple attacks over the course of the upcoming months and making a reputation for himself as a dangerous demon lord."

  "I pn to create my own as well. We would be a neutral party willing to sell weapons of war to anyone, as long as they have the means to pay for it. Contractually, financially, or physically speaking, everything could be purchased with the right amount of compensation."

  Antikythera could see the gears turning in Albedo's head, and she smiled.

  "I know what you are doing. I'll allow it. Do you need to submit a report to me?"

  "Hm, perhaps I will send you the finances and trading data we have gathered, but nothing else. To start, however, I do believe it is necessary for me to submit papers simir to business permits. Call it a legal documentation of sorts," Antikythera answered. He didn't need any permission to start this, as Albedo had already allowed him to do it, but he deemed it best to make it official.

  "I will be waiting for them, then," Albedo nodded. "Back to our previous topic—you asked for people we can sell materials to? How about Re-Estize? Renner needs her independence within the court of her father, and a connection to you should give her voice more weight."

  "I will contact Demiurge, and we will begin the process of selling metals to the kingdom," Antikythera bowed. "I need to take my leave."

  "Of course. Take care, Antikythera."

  After one st goodbye, the Automaton left the office.