Chapter 226: Expanding the Workshop
Just as Joric's processing core was parallel-processing data streams from city management, blueprints for the Dimension Teleporter structure, and strategic deductions for the future, the heavy blast doors of the workshop emitted a low hiss and slid smoothly open to both sides.
Ignis, her tall figure encased in dark red armor, stepped into the workshop. Her metal feet collided with the floor, producing a rhythmic and heavy clanking sound that broke the silence of the workshop, which had previously consisted only of the hum of equipment.
She had just completed patrol and deterrence missions in the last few areas of Night City marked as "unstable." Based on battlefield efficiency logic, her processing core naturally generated a query regarding the current priority of resource allocation.
She stopped precisely a few meters behind Joric and grounded the Arc Lance in her hand at her side. The metal struck the ground with a crisp, short ring—a gesture of the highest respect.
"Lord Sage," Ignis's synthesized female voice rang out, direct yet respectful. "Organized resistance on the surface of the city has been largely liquidated. The operational parameters of the 'Administrator' system you designated are normal, and it is taking over basic municipal functions."
She paused slightly, her optical lenses flickering a bit as she raised her core question: "However, according to battlefield scans and preliminary data analysis, the technological level of the indigenous civilization on this planet has only just touched upon interstellar travel. Their social structure has significant defects, and overall operational efficiency is low.
"Does continuously investing your precious computing resources and time into the micromanagement of such a backward world conform to the highest efficiency standards of the current phase?"
Her question was not a challenge to authority but stemmed from the instinctive duty of a Skitarii Marshal—to ensure that power was used in the direction of greatest strategic value.
In her view, the direct, immediate strategic value of this world seemed nearly exhausted.
Joric's massive metal body did not turn, nor did it make even the slightest micro-adjustment, as if he had long foreseen her arrival and her question.
His steady synthesized voice echoed in the workshop, responding to his subordinate's confusion: "Your assessment is based on immediate battlefield efficacy and tactical value, Ignis. This judgment itself aligns with your functional logic and is not in error."
He paused briefly, seemingly retrieving a more complex data chain, then continued: "However, our operational logic needs to be evaluated within a more macroscopic strategic framework and the dimension of knowledge accumulation.
"The value of this place is far from as... superficial as it appears."
He pulled up a data projection. A social structure model of Night City and a cross-sectional diagram of a typical Hive World city hovered side-by-side in the air.
"Observe the structural commonalities," Joric's synthesized voice analyzed steadily. "Fundamentally, they are both massive, hierarchically complex human habitation systems, differing only in the degree of manifested disorder and inefficiency."
The projection clearly showed that lines representing resource flow encountered significant obstruction and waste in both models.
"The core value of using this place as an experimental ground lies in verifying a management model capable of optimizing such mega-structures at the lowest cost. The problem of resource waste in Hive Cities is far more severe. If the effectiveness of this system can be proven here, its future application to Hive Cities will significantly enhance the Imperium's overall resource utilization efficiency."
The projection switched to a structural cross-section of a Hive City's lower levels, where several areas were highlighted.
"Control over these structures has a dual significance," Joric continued to explain. "Improving operational efficiency is only one part; more importantly, only by establishing effective management can systematic exploration of these structures be conducted."
The cursor flickered over unknown regions deep within the Hive City. "These areas likely bury ancient technological heritage. The management experience accumulated here will directly serve future archaeological work on similar structures."
He concluded, maintaining his consistent calm tone: "Therefore, the current investment is a complete strategy. We are verifying methods to improve efficiency while simultaneously building the necessary capabilities for future archaeological excavations.
"This relatively primitive environment before us provides a perfect low-cost platform for learning and verification."
Ignis's processor quickly comprehended the logic at this strategic level. She nodded slightly. "Understood. The Secutarii will ensure the stability of the experimental environment."
Under Joric's explicit instructions, Kei Arasaka, acting as the Administrator, efficiently mobilized Night City's resource reserves.
Massive amounts of construction materials, energy facilities, precision machining equipment, and preliminarily screened engineering personnel were transported continuously to the outskirts of the Badlands via heavy transport convoys.
This once-temporary stronghold began to transform into a fully functional, structurally sound formal experimental facility according to the blueprints set by Joric.
The original rough workshop structures were dismantled or reinforced one by one. Sturdier alloy frames rose from the ground, and internal spaces were partitioned and isolated according to Adeptus Mechanicus laboratory standards.
At the same time, engineering teams began excavating downward, expanding the underground space to accommodate more sensitive or dangerous experimental projects, as well as growing data storage and energy needs.
The entire area turned into a massive construction site. The roar of heavy machinery, the piercing noise of metal cutting, and rising dust filled every inch of the air.
In such an environment, continuous precision research and complex calculations were obviously impossible to conduct.
Excessive vibration, dust, and electromagnetic interference posed a potential threat to precision equipment like the Dimension Teleporter.
Joric made a decisive decision. He entrusted the core research data, some key equipment, and the data cubes sealing Alt and the Enterprise to the strict guard of twenty Secutarii Hoplites from the second batch of arrivals.
These silent warriors would ensure the absolute safety of these important assets during the expansion.
After arrangements were made, Joric, carrying the Dimension Teleporter in a safely encapsulated state, set off for Night City under the close protection of Ignis and her direct squad.
On one hand, he needed an undisturbed environment to continue the next steps of optimization and up-scaling design for the teleporter.
On the other hand, regarding this city which had existed only in his gaming memories before his crossover to the Warhammer universe, Joric indeed retained a trace of curiosity born from those past recollections.
His previous visits had been purpose-driven and hasty, leaving him no opportunity to meticulously observe the actual operational details of this "living experimental field" now under his control.
Taking advantage of this interval during the construction, he decided to conduct a systematic field observation of Night City, personally verifying the actual effects of the "Administrator" system in its initial operation phase and collecting first-hand environmental data.
Upon learning that Joric was returning to Night City, Maine's squad, Mower, Valerie, Jackie, as well as David and his mother Gloria, all expressed a desire to return together.
They had been forced to stay in the Badlands previously to seek refuge or because they were attached to Joric. Now that Night City had at least superficially restored order and was under Joric's absolute control, they naturally hoped to return to a more familiar environment.
Maine's squad needed to handle some past personal affairs; Valerie and Jackie longed to feel the city's atmosphere again; and David hoped to settle his mother in a better convalescent environment for her recovery.
Joric did not stop them.
In his cognition, the behavioral patterns and activities of these individuals associated with him could themselves become part of the social observation data.
The group boarded several modified, sturdy vehicles and, under the escort of the Secutarii squad, drove toward the mega-structure city that was still shrouded in neon lights but whose internal operational logic had quietly changed.
(End of Chapter)