Standing inside Distillation Plant #1, Alex saw the continuous heating element drawing energy from the mana battery stone that only held a maximum of 2000 mana. It was a completely pitiful amount, only possible due to multiple optimizations to the artificed structure even with the worst material she could use.

20 of 55 employees were tasked everyday to charge the mana battery to keep production going. The orange dragon, now named Greenie because how in the hell does an orange dragon exist, was tasked with filling a barrel of sulfuric acid every week. The barrel was lined with artificed etchings that disallowed any liquid from touching its inner linings, solving the corrosion issues.

Alex smiled. There weren't any stupid United Knights to stop her from cheating anymore. Everything was much easier. Economic world domination was in her grasp.

There was just one issue. Energy batteries. The production of ethanol and acetate both needed heating. The chemical reaction of heating to forward the reaction, using sulfuric acid as a catalyst, would also be required. That's three sources needing heating.

Back on Earth, heating was one of the easier use cases for using ether, especially during snow world rift raids, however, this world's Spirit Sign used mana as a default.

1 mana was equal to 10 ether units. At 2.7 ether units per second as input to an artificed heating element, it could sustain a boil for 10 seconds before the sustained heating dissipated.

The issue was that ether and mana were two separate resources that were inherently different. Essence was the only resource that could be converted down safely to ether at a rate of 10k ether per 1 essence. Unfortunately, that required a high-level spell to accomplish, and it would cost more to convert essence to get usable ether.

Since Spirit Sign only allowed the usage of mana, 1 mana would equal to 370C of instant heating for 10 seconds. However, 1 mana was completely spent regardless of the target heating temperature. Adjusting the heating element to 78C or 100C used up 1 mana regardless.

The simple equation 'Resource Access: Mana(1). Predefined_Function: Heat(temp: 78C, Mana)' now looked like an annoying sore thumb.

There were 246 ethers per second left in the current ambient area. The issue with that was that the rocks Alex used were about the same as using a chisel to write on a slab of stone. The material couldn't handle finely detailed complex equations to handle ether upstream conversion to mana.

Metal had the potential to replace the rock for artificing but was a poor storage unit for all types of mystical energy. It was better as the execution layer rather than the storage layer.

Then what about using metal to convert and then store in rocks? Due to the difference in material, there needs to be a material conversion array that would pass through the converted energy to two different entities. Constant charge and discharge would heat up the metal element. Without proper cooling, it had a high chance of exploding. A mana explosion, no less.

In the workplace where employees roamed around everywhere, that risk was too much of a liability. Next thing Alex knew, everyone would be asking for workers' compensation and draining her start-up runway. It was an unacceptable solution.

Exiting the distillation plant, Alex came to a conclusion. She needed to get her hands on Fraedium gems. If they were a mana container, and the material was truly a gem, it would be the most efficient way to store mana. A single pendant sized gem could host the upwards or downwards conversion of mana while allowing for more complex functions to be assigned to the object.

The remaining 246 ambient ether units per second needed to be used. A single Fraedium gem would allow solving current issues until more energy was required. Having a central energy plant for future mana structures was an integral part of the company.

"My Lady," Grey came up behind Alex just as she was heading back to the town hall.

"Huh?" Alex said.

"I've come to report an issue," Grey said.

"What is it this time?" Alex asked.

"Bandits from the northern camps have recently appeared in our borders and roads towards Dragus. They've created a blockade that's preventing food and supplies from arriving at our camp."

"Did you fix it?"

"No, My Lady. There are rumours that a squad of Dragus knights were set to subjugate the bandits near the roads."

"Then what does this have to do with me?" Alex asked.

"Squad leaders of Dragus knights are usually around 180 prowess and their members average at around 150 prowess. Should they attack our walls, none of our currently garrisoned units would be enough to stop them."

That was indeed a problem. Injuries would lead to lower productivity and delay the establishment of Star Cubs. Alex grinned. It was also an opportunity. Those idiot knights had Fraedium gems on their armours which could be repurposed. Each one had a gem on each joint and one on the chest, totalling 5 gems per knight.

"My Lady?" Grey asked.

"How many knights are in a Dragus squad?" Alex asked.

"It would usually be 10 knights per squad."

"And those northern and eastern bandit camps, what are their leaders like?"

Grey's face turned serious. "The eastern bandit camp houses the most cunning leader of all four camps in Hadstead Mountain. Due to their close vicinity to the Church of Frae, they masquerade themselves as part of the church while also donating to the church through their highway toll collection."

"What about the northern bandits?"

"Much like our camp, they house a brute of a leader who was once a knight of a fallen queendom. He cares not for gold and only trades in food or water. His men are of the same lineage and thinking. They only live for those 2 things and care not for currency."

"A fallen queendom?" Alex asked.

Clearing his throat, Grey spoke with a hoarse voice. "Yes, My Lady. There was a queendom that the king of Dragus took over by the east sealine that borders Pandor. The surviving knights scattered, some became bandits, some swore allegience to other kingdoms."

"Are you one of them?"

Grey didn't respond.

Of course he wouldn't. Denying would be a lie. Answering honestly would show Alex his ugly past. Yet the non-answer was already confirmation. And bandits only stealing food and water? That was unheard of.

There was a catch. Why would they be blocking the road, preventing even their own camp from receiving their own supplies?

This matter presented another hiring opportunity while also giving her the perfect justification to do a hostile takeover of other company assets (steal their vaults). These new hires would be put on security as well. Theft and enforcement were issues that needed to be solved now rather than in the future, as noted by Kromer's ridiculous efforts.

"Don't answer that," she said.

His past didn't matter as long as he worked for her. There were more important matters at hand. Creating a pre-fabricated design for the new fraedium gems she was about to acquire.

"You're dismissed." Turning around, Alex walked back to the town hall, entering the door and disappearing from the square.

Grey stayed where he was, unable to move at not knowing what to say to the Lady. Anything he said would've been disloyalty to her as well as to the person he once called 'Brother'.

Sir Rand was one of the knights who allowed him to escape Dragus' purge of their queendom. The man did not steal gold nor women from passersby, unlike the fat pig of a leader they had here. He only stole what they needed to live, food and water.

Would the Lady purge Sir Rand and his troupe of knights turned bandits? They'd committed a crime against the Lady for creating a blockade. But for what reason?

Grey did not know what could be going on in Sir Rand's mind, but he could understand not wanting Dragus to have easy trade or passageway to Lyra. Should the Lady trust his words enough, maybe he could sway her opinion and fortify the position to block Dragus. The sealine venture to Lyra would force merchants, adventurers, and civilians.

These thoughts of his were also dangerous. Did he still hold a semblance of loyalty to his queendom?

Coldness seeped into Grey's skin as the hairs on his neck all stood up. Should the Lady hear his thoughts, his head would've rolled before he could even blink. Or worse. He would've been turned into a paste of meat.

No matter how strong his former commander knight had gotten, it would never reach the toes of the Lady. All he could do now was pray for the goddess of fortune to smile at Sir Rand's direction.

Through storms we ride, my dear old friend.

☕︎ ☼ ☕︎ ☽ ☕︎

At the northern Hadstead peak sat the cold grey bandit camp. Rand had taken it over after the fall of their queendom, Stormbringer. He told the queen every day that to hold against the storm, they must train more soldiers and reinforce the walls.

Bless her soul for listening to his nagging. She did her best, but it was too late. The lecherous king of Dragus had gone on to declare war first for the rejection of the betrothal.

A king proposing marriage to a princess was already one of the highest insults posed by him. Even more so to use that as justification for war.

As the walls fell, the buildings burned, and the civilians were slain one by one, the queen had told his squads to run, protect the civilians, and live for themselves instead of wasting their lives for her pitiful domain.

She ordered them to leave her and live another day. In the end, an order was an order. Even as the tears of men fell, they ran away to the Hadstead mountains. While they watched the buildings fall, the men that followed him all promised: the storm will come again. Next time, towards Dragus' doorsteps.

"Men..." Rand said.

All eyes turned to him, 23 of the best knights of the queendom right in front of him. He had the highest prowess at 210 while the rest of the knights in front of him averaged at 180. They all stood by the roadside of the southern road of Hadstead mountain.

Merchants and adventurers turned away at seeing their forms. Carriages stopped, and one of his men told them to head back for their own safety.

The spy they hired told them that a single squad was to subjugate the bandits, starting at high noon. Blood would paint this very dirt path once the battle started.

Rand continued, "does anyone here regret becoming bandits?"

"We do not regret!" everyone said simultaneously. "We follow the queen in death!"

"Did the queen do that much for all of you?" Rand chuckled once.

"We gave our life to the queen. That was our oath," Loid said.

"But?"

"We cannot rest until Reinglas' head is presented on the queen's tomb."

"A single squad, averaging around the prowess of 165, is set to subjugate the bandit camps. Our brethren, Administrative Knight Sir Grey, is about to be attacked at the southern bandit camp," Rand looked each one in their eyes. "We defend our own, do we not?!"

Their eyes grew stern. Fierceness lit up in each of their expressions.

"Do we need a history lesson on Sir Grey, men?!"

"Sir Rand, we do not!"

"So then what are we doing on this road?!"

"To do our jobs!"

"And what job is that?!"

"To protect our kind!"

"Even if we die?!"

"Then at least we tried!"

"Will we die?!"

"NO. WE SHALL SLAY!" everyone shouted.

The rolling of a carriage moving up the steep gravelly mountain path could be heard. Rand turned towards the direction from where it came, noticing the large carriage pulled by two horses.

"Halt, traveller. Please turn back before you get hurt," Rand told the driver.

"I'm sorry, boss. Can't really do that. Need to get this up to the southern bandit camp."

"Leave now!" Rand shouted. "Do not force my hand!"

It was for this man's safety. Should he let this man go to where he intends, if that was true, then he too would die at the hands of the Dragus knights. Meaningless blood would once again paint his own hands.

"But, boss, the camp is about to run out of-"

Rand drew his sword.

"Ok ok ok! Relax, boss. I'm going, I'm going."

The carriage turned around, slowly moving back down the steep slope. For a while, the men and Rand watched the carriage go. Soon enough, it was gone from view, leaving just a cloud of dust behind its trail.

"Sir..." Loid said. "The large pig stays at the southern camp. Wouldn't the camp have a chance of resistance?"

"Do not mention the pig. He'd run away at any sign of danger," Rand said. There was also no point in recruiting the pigs that lived in the southern camp. Undisciplined forces would nuisance them during the fight.

Footsteps from behind suddenly came from behind them. Turning around, Sir Rand's breathing momentarily stopped at the figure that had just arrived.

A woman whose beauty captivated him. She had a small figure with small shoulders that made her look as frail as if a slight breeze would push her over. Her unblemished white skin glowed in the afternoon sun, contrasted only by her red cross earring that glittered under the light.

She wore an outfit that Rand wasn't familiar with. The clothes she wore contoured her body as the skirt stopped just before it met her knees.

It was between a dress yet also not a dress, with colours that didn't stand out yet gave off an elegance that could only be matched by master tailors. The fabric she wore seemed to radiate a sheen that only the finest of materials possessed.

It was odd that she didn't have any guards, nor weapons, nor any travel pack, even though she came from the northern path of the mountain.

Did she travel from Lyra? That would explain her beauty and elegance. That kingdom had one of the highest economic activities throughout the continent, even rivaling that of Pandor.

Was she a secret warrior of the kingdom?

The possibility couldn't be thrown away.

In the world of Nulfrae, looks can be deceiving. A person of high prowess could easily look the same if she were wearing her casual clothes.

Putting on his status glasses, it showed him her prowess.

She possessed a mere prowess of 20, the level of just an average untrained adult man. Stronger than the average woman, however, still not stronger than the Dragus knights that were inbound.

"So," the woman said. "About my cart."

"Young miss, please go back to Lyra for your own safety," Rand said. "Have you a horse?"

"Look, buddy. I just wanna know where the cart went," the woman said.

Rand suddenly felt the heaviness of the oncoming Dragus knights. Snapping right around to the low ground, he saw the clouds of dust from the march.

The report said that only one squad was to arrive at the southern bandit camp for subjugation. But his eyes told him otherwise. In front of them was more than just one squad. There were five squads, totalling 55 men.

The spy betrayed them.

From his status glasses that were currently on, each of the Dragus knights had at least a prowess of 160. The highest was at 192.

In total, Rand's men, on average, were stronger than theirs. Including him, there were 24 of them. The difference in prowess was about 20 points, give or take 10. That was a meagre advantage. The enemy troops were more than double their side. They’d get picked off if they just run.

"Yo, anyone there?" the woman said, her voice unheard by Rand.

"Loid, take the young miss and bring her to safety," he said.

"But Sir Rand, I wish to die with you!" Loid shouted.

"That is an order, Loid."

Loid clenched his fist within his gauntlets. Reluctantly moving towards the woman, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled. At least he tried. The woman didn't budge at all.

"Loid, do not anger me. Please," Rand said.

"Sir Rand, I am not angering you. She does not want to move," Loid said.

"You're ruining my blazer," the woman said.

"Young miss, please just come with me. I shall escort you to safety!"

"No thanks. I'll watch."

The Dragus knights arrived just a couple of metres away from them. All of their knights had equipped a gem seated in the joints of their armour and one in the chest.

Dragus had equipped their knights with the best items they had. Or maybe that was just the standard knight equipment for their kingdom.

Compared to the Stormbringer knights, all they had were one gem on each of their chest plates. Its whole purpose was to lighten their equipment, not strengthen it. One good strike to their chest by those enchanted swords would've ripped apart their armour.

The prowess advantage was completely removed due to the equipment quality disparity. In the end, it was always Dragus that won. Evil always somehow managed to win in Nulfrae. The corrupt nobles of Pandor, the fat slob of Dragus, the greed of Lyra's king; all of them went unpunished.

Was this how the world was designed? Does the face of justice not smile at the faces of the victims?

"Men..."

"Yes, Sir Rand..."

"Are we all prepared to die?"

"Yes, Sir Rand! We are all prepared!"

"But Sir Rand, what about the young miss?"

A laugh came from the Dragus knights. The one in the lead took off his helmet, showing his flowing blond hair and slender yet sharp jawline that made Rand just want to deform it. His name was Theodore.

"Sir Rand, as a sign of respect, I shall let you deal with your frail lady. Send her back to the house. Let her wait on the bed for me."

"You wanna repeat that, asshole?" the woman said.

Turning back to the woman who was still in Loid's grasp, it looked like she was resisting him hard. If Loid pulled too hard, he might injure her frail body. He'd have to beg her to leave before she got hurt.

Kneeling on one knee, he looked at her eye to eye. "Young miss, please leave this battlefield. It will soon turn into a pool of blood."

"So?" the woman asked.

"You may get hurt. I wish to not see that happen."

"Who's going to get hurt?"

"You, young miss. I understand the kingdom of Lyra is a pacifist nation, but those Dragus bastards over there would not care," Rand said.

"Hey Rand. If she doesn't want to go, just let her be. Easier for me after you die anyway."

Rand looked into the eyes of the young woman. She looked like she wasn't going anywhere, and moving her anywhere forcefully would just hurt her. "Very well, young miss. Should you be hurt, please do not blame me for your own peril."

"Sure. Whatever."

Rand stood back up and turned to face the knights of Dragus. "MEN! FORMATION!"

The Stormbringer knights (plus Loid) all stood in a line to block the Dragus knights from advancing. Closing his eyes, Rand prayed one last time.

My Queen. I apologize for this shall be my last stand. I cannot give you the head of Reinglas. Instead, we give our lives to your dear administrative knight, Sir Grey. All of us are prepared to die with honour. Please forgive this foolish commander for my own selfishness.

Opening his eyes once more, Rand shouted, "Charge!"

However, before any of them could charge, the flash of lightning lit up the vicinity, and with it came a thunderous roar that shook the trees and gravel around them.

It was as if the sky was mad at his own prayer. Looking up above, there were no storm clouds, just bright blue skies. Turning his head down again to look at the Dragus Knights, their leader, Theodore, was missing his head.

Blood dripped down from the leader knight's armour. One of the Dragus knights poked at the still-standing body. None of them could believe their eyes. It was as if the heavens punished Theodore, relieving him of his head.

A slight acidic smoke wafted through the air. It came from the young woman. Slowly turning his head, Rand saw something in her hand: a golden wand-like thing, etched with dizzying patterns and sculpted with beautiful florals. Smoke came out from what looked like its tip.

"Young miss?" Rand asked.

"Duck," the young woman said. Her killing intent flooded Rand's nerves. With that word alone, he reflexively knelt down on his knees and covered his own head.

Multiple flashes of lightning lit up the surroundings in quick succession. Each lightning caused an immediate roar of thunder. For the first time in his life, Rand was scared of dying a meaningless death.

Whoever this young woman was, she was no mere mortal. To be able to call upon the power of lightning and thunder at will this fast without angering the skies, it was as if the goddess descended and laid down terrifying justice in front of them.

It was no wonder the goddess of justice never showed her face. When she did, the world shook. The world bent at her will. And in the 55th strike of lightning, the goddess stopped.

Looking up from his crouch, all 55 Dragus knights were missing their heads. Blood painted the dirt path, all flowing back down the slope of the mountain. None of them were spared.

Was his squad next?

Turning around slowly and prostrating himself to her, he said, "If you are the goddess of justice, please take my life and spare my men."

A blue outline formed on Rand's body, forcing him to kneel on his right knee, turn his head up, and put his left fist on the ground.

Was this all just a joke to her? Forcing him to kneel as if she were his queen?!

"Tell me, Randy boy. Do you know Grey?"

"Y-yes, goddess. I know of him."

"Is your enemy the fat pig of Dragus?"

"Yes!" Rand shouted. "My wish is to kill the pig."

"And if I were to give you the chance for his head..." the young woman smiled. Her eyes became sharp enough to cut him. The smirk her lips formed was like a predator looking at her prey. "Would you... do everything I say?"

"Does the goddess leave me with a choice?"

"Well shit, you're right about that. Do you have a choice?"

Rand didn't answer. The goddess in front of him was testing him. If he said anything that wasn't to her liking, would his own head blow off just like the pitiful Dragus knights?

For even just jesting about bedding her, they died a meaningless death.

"I don't care whether you fight for your dead queen. As long as you fight for me, I'll let you slay that fat old bastard and put his head on your former queen's tomb. How's that sound?"

"That sounds amazing, goddess!" Loid shouted, now kneeling on his right knee as well.

Loid had answered for him, and the eyes of the goddess looked amused. They were her playthings... or maybe she was giving them the choice that they craved. Justice.

"The gods do not just give. I wish to know the price for this opportunity," Rand said calmly.

The moment he said that, he noticed the slight insanity flash in her eyes. The wicked smile of a cunning fox goddess. Perhaps she already knew all his answers and his motivations. Hiding anything else was just a fool's errand.

"The price is... do everything I say. Fetch, carry, break, and kill when I tell you to. You will be the enforcers of the Path. And all you need to do is..." A pristine sheet of white paper appeared in her hand, extended to him along with a pen. "Read this and sign."

Was there a need to read the paper when she already knew all the outcomes?

There wasn't.

So Rand's hand went directly to the pen and signed the paper without reading.

My queen. Justice has finally smiled at us. Even if we sell our souls to this terrifying goddess, we shall keep our promise on putting Reinglas' head on your tomb.

"Stand up," the young woman said.

Rand stood up along with the other Stormbringer knights.

"My name is Alex Grace, but you lot will call me 'My Lady' from now on. Understood?!"

"Yes, My lady! Understood!" Rand and the others shouted.

"All of you will be hired to be under the Operations department as security personnel led by Grey. Once you report back to the southern bandit camp, the rest of you lot will sign the contract, understood?!"

"Yes, My lady! We shall sign the contract!" Everyone except Rand shouted.

"Randy! Lead your men, now!"

"Yes, my Lady!" Rand put one hand on his chest as a salute and then ran forward. His men followed him, not looking back at the bloody field that the dirt path had become.

Alex looked at the gems, smiling. Each body had 5 fraedium gems each while also having 'high quality armour' by this backwater dump's standards.

Extending her hand, all of the gems in the joints and chest plates floated towards her, entering her space storage. In one snap of her fingers, the remaining organic material inside the armour burnt to ash. Another snap blew away that very ash. Extending her hand once more, the sets of armour all floated to her, dematerializing into the space storage one by one.

Fraedium gem secured along with security personnel. At least she got to watch something interesting, like a historical drama of honour and values.

Apart from that, Alex didn't really care nor want to know too much about her employees. Knowing too much about her own employees was technically an H.R violation. A big no-no.

However, one unfortunate truth from this was that these idiots probably didn't have anything in their northern bandit camp vault. They were truly idiots that had too much honour in them.