Chapter 144: Tier 3 Magic Pattern Constructs, First Deputy

Chapter 144: Tier 3 Magic Pattern Constructs, First Deputy

In the bright workshop of the 2nd Base in Dark Lake City, Su Nan stood before his workbench, carefully finishing the last line of the intricate pattern. The special liquid, a fusion of gemstones and metals, was now completely used up.

The smooth, flat metal surface was now adorned with a complex network of mystical patterns that shimmered under the light, exuding an otherworldly charm.

"Done!"

Su Nan smiled and waved his hand. The pattern suddenly detached from the table, floating up and rapidly condensing into a small, egg-sized metallic sphere, which landed in his palm.

He examined it for a moment before walking to a shelf in the corner. The shelf already held hundreds of metallic spheres, neatly divided into three stacks.

Su Nan placed the new sphere in the smallest stack on the left.

For the past few months, he had been refining Magic Pattern Constructs. These metallic spheres were different tiers of Magic Pattern Constructs. Once infused with martial energy and activated, they would instantly spread throughout the body, enhancing its capabilities.

Magic Pattern Constructs were divided into five tiers:

- Tier 1 was the lowest, and Tier 5 was the highest.

- The higher the tier, the stronger the enhancement, but also the greater the strain on the body.

- To use a Magic Pattern Construct, one needed at least the strength of a Knight.

- A Tier 1 Magic Pattern Construct could enhance a Novice Knight's strength to that of a Peak Knight, almost reaching the level of a Grand Knight.

- A Tier 2 Magic Pattern Construct could only be used by Advanced Knights and above, and it could enhance an Advanced Knight's strength to that of a Novice Grand Knight.

- A Tier 3 Magic Pattern Construct required a Grand Knight to use and could enhance a Novice Grand Knight's strength to that of an Advanced Grand Knight.

- As for Tier 4 and Tier 5 Magic Pattern Constructs, only Legendary Knights could use them. Su Nan had not yet refined any of these.

All the Magic Pattern Constructs he had refined in recent times were between Tier 1 and Tier 3.

Notably, Magic Pattern Constructs also varied based on the type of enhancement they provided. The most common types were Agility, Strength, and Constitution.

- These three types could enhance overall physical attributes, including muscle strength, resilience, and reaction speed, but each had a specific focus.

- For example, an Agility-type Magic Pattern Construct would significantly enhance reaction speed and flexibility.

- Similarly, Strength and Constitution types would focus on muscle power and physical endurance, respectively.

In addition to these, there were also Flight, Elemental, and Unique types.

In essence, any characteristic found in a magical weapon could be transferred to a Magic Pattern Construct.

Some spell effects could also be integrated into Magic Pattern Constructs.

The higher the tier of a Magic Pattern Construct, the more characteristics it possessed.

- For instance, a single characteristic such as Agility, Strength, or Constitution was typically found in a Tier 1 Magic Pattern Construct.

- A Tier 2 Magic Pattern Construct would add one to two additional characteristics, such as Flight, Energy Focus (reducing martial energy consumption), or Elemental (adding a weak elemental damage).

- A Tier 3 Magic Pattern Construct would add two to three more characteristics on top of those in a Tier 2.

In other words, a Grand Knight equipped with a Tier 3 Magic Pattern Construct would be equivalent to wearing four to six Alchemical-grade magical items, making their combat power nearly on par with a Second-Year Wizard Apprentice!

However, the higher the tier, the higher the cost.

- A Tier 1 Magic Pattern Construct cost around 83 gold coins, which was nearly twice the cost of a Stone Golem.

- A Tier 2 Magic Pattern Construct cost around 280 gold coins.

- A Tier 3 Magic Pattern Construct cost nearly 650 gold coins.

"650 gold coins isn't too expensive."

"Twenty-five Stone Golems are needed to synthesize a single Advanced Grand Knight-level Stone Golem, costing around 1,100 gold coins. A Tier 3 Magic Pattern Construct, combined with a Novice Grand Knight, can produce an Advanced Grand Knight-level combatant, which is a better deal."

Human combatants with their own initiative were undoubtedly more useful than Stone Golems at the same level.

"The first graduating class of the Dragon Heart Knight Academy consists of 500 students. To fully equip them with Magic Pattern Constructs would cost around 41,000 gold coins."

"While that is expensive, it would result in 500 combatants with the strength of Peak Knights, nearly reaching the level of Grand Knights."

Su Nan estimated that if he used 41,000 gold coins to refine Dual-Blade Spiders (Peak Knight-level), he could only produce about 230, which is less than half the number of graduates from the Knight Academy.

Of course, this didn't account for the cost of training the students. If that were included, it might not be as cost-effective.

However, if Su Nan had to choose, he would still prefer 500 knights with their own initiative.

"First, let’s aim to get five hundred Tier 1 Magic Pattern Constructs."

Su Nan glanced at the pile of Magic Pattern Constructs on the right, which already numbered over two hundred, but he still needed about half that amount.

"In the future, Tier 1 Magic Pattern Constructs will definitely be in the highest demand. However, the difficulty of refining them is similar to that of magical weapons. Once I organize the relevant knowledge and add it to the base’s exchange list, I can have the apprentices in the base take on the task of refining them."

Su Nan stretched, then refined three more Magic Pattern Constructs before stopping and leaving the workshop.

Back in his study, Su Nan took out the financial reports from the past few months and carefully reviewed them.

Following the depletion of the previous four mines, three more had recently run dry. Now, the Star Alliance only had six mines left, and their monthly production had drastically decreased, severely impacting their profits.

Su Nan had initially planned to refine another Adamantine Golem, but the profits from the past few months, after deducting the costs of refining Magic Pattern Constructs, were almost negligible.

Ultimately, he needed to find more mines.

Especially silver mines, as he needed Mithril to refine Mithril Puppets.

"I wonder how the exploration missions are progressing?"

With that thought, Su Nan summoned two Golems and instructed them to bring Carolina and Red Widow to him.

The two women were likely within Dark Lake City, and they arrived shortly after.

"Master!"

Carolina and Red Widow bowed as they entered the room.

Su Nan nodded and sat down, casually asking, "What have you discovered during the exploration missions?"

Carolina stepped forward and replied, "Master, about 120 kilometers to the east, there is a vast swamp inhabited by thousands of Cave Toads and Oozes. I have already dispatched a team to clear them out, but it might take some time to resolve."

"About 150 kilometers to the north, the exploration team encountered several Mind Flayer tribes, including a number of Legendary Mind Flayers. I am currently working on a plan to deal with those tribes."

Mind Flayer tribes?

Su Nan’s eyes flickered.

In the underground world, Mind Flayers are considered mid-to-upper-tier creatures in the food chain.

These creatures are weak in close combat but are exceptionally skilled at casting illusions and enchanting other races to fight for them.

Knights and Grand Knights who have not mastered elemental powers are easily influenced by Mind Flayer illusions.

Facing multiple Mind Flayers at once is almost a death sentence.

In the underground world, Mind Flayers typically live in small groups.

They control servants and slaves, forming tribes.

Usually, a tribe will have one or more Legendary Mind Flayers.

From these Legendary Mind Flayers, there is a very small chance that a variant such as an Elder Brain, Overseer, Hive Mother, or Abyssal Mind Flayer will emerge.

These variants are extremely powerful, even more so than a typical Third-Year Wizard Apprentice.

They can integrate multiple Mind Flayer tribes, control more servants, and ultimately form a more powerful city-state.

In Su Nan’s memory, any city-state in the underground world dominated by Mind Flayers is ruled by a Mind Flayer variant.

"Dealing with just Mind Flayer tribes is manageable. Illusions and enchantments have no effect on puppets. Bring more Dual-Blade Spiders and clear out those Mind Flayers as soon as possible," Su Nan waved his hand and said.

"Yes, Master!" Carolina sighed in relief.

Since the start of the exploration missions, her team had not discovered any mines or other resource points. If Master had blamed her, she would have had no defense.

Fortunately, Master was understanding.

Su Nan paid no attention to Carolina’s change in demeanor and turned to Red Widow.

"How about your side?"

Red Widow smiled and said, "Thanks to Master’s good fortune, I found an iron mine to the west. We are currently surveying its reserves, but preliminary estimates suggest it is at least a medium-sized mine."

Su Nan was taken aback, then smiled. "Well done."

"It is my honor to serve Master."

Red Widow’s smile deepened, and she glanced at Carolina with a hint of smugness.

Carolina, seeing this, gritted her teeth in frustration.

Su Nan pretended not to notice the exchange and continued, "Anything else?"

"Yes, Master."

Red Widow quickly added, "The exploration team also discovered a large Minotaur tribe to the south. The tribe has an estimated population of over five hundred. We have been trying to trade with them and have already exchanged some unrefined gold ore."

Su Nan’s interest was immediately piqued.

Unrefined gold ore suggested that the Minotaur tribe likely controlled a gold mine.

Minotaurs are not skilled in smelting. If the tribe doesn’t have any Dwarves, they wouldn’t be able to refine the gold ore and would have to trade it.

"More detailed information is still under investigation, but it's highly likely that they control a gold vein," Red Widow said with a smile.

"Very good," Su Nan replied with an approving smile. "If we confirm that the tribe really has a gold vein, mobilize our forces and take it over immediately!"

The combat strength of adult Minotaurs ranges from Novice Knights to Advanced Knights. A Minotaur tribe with a population of over five hundred is already a significant force in the underground world. Even with control of a gold vein, few would dare to challenge them.

But the Star Alliance was an exception. With its current strength, crushing a Minotaur tribe would be effortless.

"Yes, Master," Red Widow responded respectfully.

After discussing the exploration missions, Su Nan was about to dismiss them when he noticed Carolina suddenly presenting a letter with both hands.

"Master, there's a letter from Sheman."

Su Nan understood; it was likely about the new magical plant garden. However, upon opening the letter, he was somewhat surprised.

"A Darkland Lander?"

How could a creature unique to the underground world end up on the surface? Could there be an entrance to the underground world near Ryen City?

Seeing Su Nan deep in thought, Red Widow couldn't help but ask, "Master, what happened?"

Su Nan didn't answer directly but tossed the letter to them to read.

After reading it, both Red Widow and Carolina looked astonished.

"Send a team to Ryen City to bring back the Darkland Lander's corpse. Also, investigate where it came from. If there is indeed an entrance to the underground world, contact the local lord immediately to seal it and report back to me."

Su Nan didn't take long to think before issuing his orders.

If it were just a simple entrance to the underground world, he wouldn't be too concerned. After all, there were many unexplored areas around the Star Alliance, and he couldn't afford to split his resources to explore a second entrance.

However, if this entrance led to a region with Draconic creatures, that would be a different story.

Capturing a large number of Draconic creatures or finding high-tier Draconic creatures could help extract blood to accelerate the enhancement of the Hidden Dragon's bloodline.

That was what truly mattered to him.

"I didn't expect to find a lead on Draconic creatures so quickly. I hope this will yield some results," Su Nan thought to himself.

If there were indeed many Draconic creatures on the other side of the entrance, he would have to make a personal trip.

Having served under Su Nan for so long, both Carolina and Red Widow knew how important it was for their master to find Draconic creatures. They responded solemnly.

"Alright, you may go," Su Nan waved them off.

The two women bowed and left.

Leaving the study, Carolina quickened her pace, but she didn't get far before hearing the light footsteps of Red Widow catching up, a teasing smile on her face.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Rushing to deal with the swamp and the Mind Flayer tribes? Or planning to send a team to Ryen City immediately?"

Carolina replied expressionlessly, "Don't get too smug. This time, you just got lucky. The next time, who knows who will come out on top."

"The fact is, I'm already one step ahead of you," Red Widow said, lifting her finger to her lips and smiling. "One step ahead, and the rest will follow. By the time you resolve the swamp and Mind Flayer issues, I'll have found more veins."

Carolina's eyes twitched, and she glared at Red Widow but didn't respond, instead quickening her pace.

She had already fallen behind Red Widow in the mine exploration, and she couldn't afford to lose again in the investigation of the Darkland Lander. She had to find the source of the Darkland Lander before Red Widow did.

Red Widow didn't pursue further. As Carolina walked away, Red Widow's smile faded, and she gave a disdainful sneer.

She knew exactly what Carolina was planning—trying to gain the upper hand in the Darkland Lander investigation.

But she wouldn't give her that chance. This time, she would also be one step ahead.

The longer she served under Su Nan, the more she felt his strength. As long as Su Nan was around, the Star Alliance's power would continue to grow, and its territory would expand. Eventually, it would become the dominant force in the underground world.

And as long as she remained Su Nan's first deputy, when the Star Alliance became the underground world's ruler, she would also become a significant figure in the underground world!

The thought made her shiver with excitement.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end