Gonna Make Some Golems
Cardio Abatus was seething with rage. True to his status as the idol of high society, he greeted the female students from the academy—who flocked to him drawn by his wealth, position, and good looks—with a gentle smile and soft words. But Prince Gilford could tell that inside, Cardio was beyond furious; he was overflowing with murderous intent.
'It's because of Prince Rial.'
The news of Eisen's return had just come in, and mere minutes later... A few days earlier, Prince Rial had visited the academy. He'd chatted amiably with Cardio before quickly diving into business talk.
—"The Chimera you sent last time was truly appreciated, my friend!"
—"But it seems our kingdom's military is eyeing the Cyclops. The Chimera has excellent autonomy as a weapon, but they say accidents are predictable."
—"So I went to the baron and proposed a deal, and he took it positively—said he'd sell them a bit cheaper? Well, now this is awkward..."
—"Hahaha. Half price? I can't refuse a friend's generosity. In return, I'll buy a lot. Of course. I hammered it home that Chimeras are more efficient in the desert."
Cardio had laughed along with the prince's boisterous words—his massive, muscular frame and flowing golden hair adding to the flair—but inwardly, he'd been burning with anger. The cause went without saying: Eisen and the Cyclops.
Competition at home was already tilting toward the Cyclops. He'd supplied Chimeras to Gandharva Kingdom, a long-time trading partner, to boost his reputation and find a breakthrough. But suddenly, they were planning to deploy Cyclops there too.
Even the Abatus family admitted that a head-on clash in performance and efficiency was tough. They'd been improving steadily while relying on years of built-up connections to check the Cyclops' dominance. But the first button had been half-sewn when it suddenly came undone.
With no choice, Cardio had resolved to take a massive loss and offer the Chimeras at half price. And in the meantime, word came that the prince had made contact with Eisen.
'He said they'd only discussed business last time and this was their first official meeting. Is that true?'
For some reason, it felt like his initial visit had been a lie, but Cardio couldn't call it outright fraud. The man was a prince of a nation. Accusing him of lying would be the greater breach of etiquette.
If he claimed it was true, without solid evidence or witnesses to probe further, it had to be taken at face value. And even if it was a lie, Cardio was already in Prince Rial's game. Word was spreading that Eisen's side was buzzing too, so he was clearly in the game as well.
At this point, the details didn't matter. The Phoenix County had experience operating both simultaneously, and now the stage was set for Chimera and golem to compete head-to-head on military performance.
And it was a perfectly laid stage.
'The academy's pilgrimage schedule in a month.'
It was a trip to the Saras Church holy site in the desert before the year changed—to confess sins for the year and welcome the new one at the academy, starting fresh. Honestly, it felt like an event with a contrived meaning. But what mattered was that most academy students and professors would visit Gandharva Kingdom.
The academy, dominated by nobles, was a microcosm of Vespia Kingdom. And Gandharva in the desert was a hub of countless trade routes, frequented even by major empire caravans. Countless nobles and people from across the continent would witness the clash of these two military weapons.
The stage was too grand, too tantalizing. Prince Rial had orchestrated a setup where both sides had to step up.
'He dares to betray me—that's how it must feel.'
Cardio couldn't miss Prince Rial's attitude: long-time friendship, yet eyeing the Cyclops too. But being on the defensive, he couldn't push back hard. A trusted client turning neutral was infuriating in itself.
No one was oblivious to the Abatus family, Cardio included, churning with inner turmoil.
'This showdown will be the decisive factor.'
Even for a small kingdom compared to the empire, the endorsement of a prince buying in bulk carried huge weight. It could halt Cyclops' expansion—or topple Abatus entirely.
'How will it play out?'
Prince Gilford's face shadowed slightly as he glanced toward Prince Rial's lodging—timed to the academy pilgrimage—and the direction of Eisen's workshop.
For now, at least, Eisen had succeeded in gouging a hefty profit from Prince Rial.
"He's being a real punk."
"You must be pretty pissed."
Eisen nodded vigorously at Noel's words. The prince had shaken things up everywhere to force them onto his stage. Eisen had wanted to refuse, but rejection meant political burial for the golems. So he'd been compelled to accept.
No reason to think kindly of the guy who'd engineered that.
On the flip side, the man had a knack for infuriating people that effectively.
"In the end, Abatus and I are dancing to that prince's tune."
He didn't know Abatus' exact straits, but given the logic the prince wielded—and Chimera's shrinking foothold in the kingdom—neither side could opt out of that stage. If Abatus succeeded, they'd face interference again, so they had to block it.
In a way, he'd shrewdly targeted their power dynamics.
"Not someone I like... but I kinda wish Prince Gilford would learn from him a bit..."
Erika's rude remark drew only averted eyes from Noel; even she couldn't scold her. Compared to the prince dragged by Abatus and helpless against them, Rial—who'd pulled both into his pace—had his merits.
"Still, not someone to get close to."
Rich and favorable to Cyclops, sure—but hard to trust. He'd admitted his own country might poison deals anytime. And despite boasting ties to Cardio, his moves screamed cutting losses. As a trade partner, maybe; as an ally, doubtful.
"His attitude suggests he has palace approval, but we should confirm once more."
"That's key, but there's more to think about..."
Gandharva was in the desert, definitively. Deserts posed mobility issues for golems.
"Fine on solid ground, but no guarantees on sand."
They'd moved flawlessly so far because Vespia's terrain—plains and bedrock—suited them. A desert was different; adjustments were needed.
"Sand doesn't always mean sinking, so maybe no big issue."
"Sandstorms or other factors, though."
And this was the first time, but eventually—whether selling abroad or golems going overseas—terrain adaptation was inevitable.
"Perfect chance to develop countermeasures for Cyclops and all golems against local environments. No downside."
It was just pulling forward something postponed. Reframed that way, it even felt like a good thing.
"For someone pissed at the prince, you're gearing up fast."
"If we're competing anyway, let's win decisively."
Eisen answered Mina honestly. Better to crush it thoroughly. The opponent was Abatus, after all—no giving them ammo with a half-assed loss.
"They underestimate us plenty, but Chimeras fuse creatures, so they can adapt to desert lifeforms easily."
Mechanical golems needed human tweaks. No prior data meant collecting on-site and iterating through trial and error.
A ton of work. He'd need more hands solo.
So.
"Might as well scale this up properly. Turn it into a big project with a team."
With such a grand stage set, why not spread golem fever through the academy? Focused on R&D.
"Is that okay?"
"More than okay."
It was inevitable someday. Knowledge monopoly or leaks were risks, sure.
"Solo thinking hits limits eventually."
Someone better might exist out there. But without preparation, they'd never appear.
Time to sow those seeds.
"Project name?"
"Golden... nah, none yet. Goal: smooth golem traversal in special terrains like deserts."
"...You're only mentioning Cyclops mobility?"
Noel caught the implication in his words. Mina asked quietly.
"Using this as an excuse to make a new golem?"
"Yep."
Why not make a new one while at it? Eisen was gonna build golems.
Mina sighed. But soon grinned fiercely.
"Can't just throw money without a rough goal."
Classic patron. No free rides.
But the answer was set.
"Simple. Low hover over ground. Ignores terrain for travel."
For fast ground speed, that design. And he didn't doubt it'd work.
"Like Noel."
"Pardon?"
Noel responded late, then got it. Finally, an excuse to research Noel-style electromagnetic levitation.