Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 229: Rune Factory

Chapter 229: Rune Factory

Vlad was surprised to see such a massive statue, especially as he noticed it was made out of pure gold. Although it did not have much value in the new world, it was still a precious metal associated with power and wealth, so such a massive statue was bound to draw gazes.

"Overlord?" Even though it was impressive and he should feel flattered, Vlad did not understand the goal of such an opulent display.

As if knowing the thoughts crossing his mind, the sage voice of Overlord reached Vlad through the A.I. Chip. "The Xaos Tower is the core of Xaos City. Many people come here as a form of pilgrimage, and it is important to elevate your figure in their hearts. Your name must rise to legend and myth if we want it to be strong enough to rule a kingdom that extends beyond continents."

Once more, Vlad could not help but nod and accept that when it came to kingdom building, Overlord was much more capable. While Vlad made plans to enhance the power of his warriors, the A.I. Chip Clone generated schemes to make his name echo in the hearts of people with such strength that it could inspire respect and loyalty even on the other side of the world.

"Jormungandr, Freya, go and look around if you wish. I will do the same. If anything important arises, I will call you." Vlad was eager to carry on with his demon soul’s project, but upon seeing the bustling metropolis that was Xaos City, he could not contain the desire to explore it.

The small yellow cat and the viking princess smiled as they heard those words. They were eager to investigate the city, so they nodded to Vlad before jumping off the demon summon and moving into the streets.

Vlad guided the demon summon to the ground and stored it in the parchment before moving across the city as well. He had yet to revert to his normal appearance and kept the disguise he used in the Azarin Empire, so he did not draw too many gazes and was able to calmly look around.

The Silent Wind Military Base had truly ceased to exist, as Xaos City was simply too different. Not only was it larger, with more buildings, and greater defenses, but there were stores that sold normal merchandise, and a flash of surprise appeared in Vlad’s eyes as he saw a gaming area.

While those places were common in the past, after the apocalypse they should have ceased to exist as people simply did not have time for leisure. However, Vlad knew that was a wrong mindset, as people were not machines and they needed to release stress from time to time.

Vlad went into one of the gaming areas and saw several adults and children. The games were not overly complicated but very fun. Yet, as he analyzed them further, a strange smile appeared on his face. "These are not simple games, right Overlord?"

"Answering, Prime Master. All these games are designed to assess various abilities such as mental endurance, decision-making under pressure, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking. I use the collected data to identify individuals with potential in governance and military fields." Overlord’s archaic voice echoed in Vlad’s mind, revealing the true purpose behind the games. They were not just a distraction but also a method to discover talented individuals.

Vlad nodded before continuing to walk across Xaos City’s Inner Ring until he finally reached the Rune Factory. There were no guards around, and they were not needed as Overlord had absolute control over the defenses of the Inner Ring and could eliminate any intruder.

As Vlad reached the gates, they opened, allowing him to step inside. The interior was a hive of activity, with rows of people sitting one meter apart. The factory had a highly organized system with one production line dedicated to preparing materials and five others focused on engraving.

Each engraver wielded a runic pen, most likely crafted recently in the Alchemy Factory. The workers followed instructions displayed on magical screens, which showed the precise symbols they needed to engrave on the demon skin. This task required immense focus and precision, yet the workers displayed a high level of proficiency, indicating they had adapted well to the process.

Each person contributed a small part of the rune, and by the time the demon skin reached the end of the assembly line, the rune was fully completed. Vlad analyzed the runes and was impressed by their quality. Although they were about 75% as effective as those created by a typical Runemaster, the sheer volume produced daily was staggering.

However, a deep frown suddenly formed on his face as he noticed that almost all the workers in the Rune Factory were children. "Overlord, what is the meaning of this?" He made sure not to jump to conclusions, but a flash of rage appeared in his heart.

For Vlad, there was no better way for a civilization to be judged than by the way they treated their children. They should be taught and protected, and even in an apocalyptic world, they had the right to a childhood, even if it was brief, rather than being packed into a factory.

"Children are the best workers for the Rune Factory, Prime Master. This serves as training for them to become full-fledged Runemasters in the future. Their minds are more adaptable to patterns and new information compared to adults, and their dexterity is still developing, giving them a much higher potential for precision work. This makes them more efficient for the intricate tasks required in rune crafting, and as we advance, their skill will keep improving, reaching a level normal adults could not compare." Overlord provided a clear explanation for why he had chosen children over adults for the Rune Factory, and there was no real argument against it in terms of efficiency. However, the A.I. Chip Clone understood that there were other factors to consider and continued.