In the hidden chamber, Aethercore Room.
After wandering around the empire for an entire week, he returned to the castle.
"Now, let's add the crystal credits," Maximus manipulated the tiny soul within the Aethercore and entered the code for the new currency.
Adding a new currency value was not that difficult.
After the new currency was integrated, he reprogrammed the entire system to align with the overall structure of the banking system.
"Hmm, done," Maximus nodded, satisfied with his work.
Looking at the outdated Aethercore, he sighted.
"I didn't notice that my AI program was too weak," Maximus muttered to himself.
Considering his experience in creating Wanderer, looking at the AI he had made earlier was akin to looking at a child's painting.
"Even the Colosseum runic program progress is very slow."
Previously, it had taken just over a week to create it from scratch, progressing from tier 1 to tier 6.
Now, over a year had passed, and only tier 7 was complete.
As for tier 8, even with ten years given, it might still remain unfinished.
"Sigh, it's really outdated."
Previously, he only had hundreds of millions of magic crystals.
So he can only settle with these tier 3 items.
Even the formation was only tier 3, not befitting his status as a core student.
Now he had over a billion magic crystals, but given that he couldn't go back personaly to the curse continent in a short time it was useless.
"Just wait until I acquire the teleportation quota," Maximus muttered.
A weeks later, the once-in-a-millennium auction would take place, featuring the sale of teleportation quotas.
After he bought the teleportation quota, maneuvering around his empire would be more easy.
"Time to return..." Seeing that everything was in order, he returned his consciousness to the Arcane Continent.
In the City of Arcana:
"It's truly comfortable to be on your own body," Maximus muttered in satisfaction.
Roaming around his empire for a week had been a new experience.
However, being within a puppet body was uncomfortable.
Noticing the absence of his wives and children, he left a note and made his way to the teleportation array in the city.
"Take me to Silverleaf Domain, Silverleaf Floating City."
"Of course, sir. Please wait a few minutes," the attendant said.
After a brief wait, Maximus finally stepped onto the teleportation array and was transported to Silverleaf Floating City.
"Huh, the mana here is quite thin."
Disregarding the shift in mana density, he swiftly arrived at his Jewel Crown Pavilion, a shop managed by his puppet slash fake teacher, Edward.
"Good day, host," Edward greeted him.
"Hmm, how is the shop?"
"It's running smoothly."
"With the shop's reputation, as long as the potions were added in inventory it will be quickly sold out."
"At present, the shop's profits exceed 500 million magic crystals, after deducting all the EGCC taxes and material expenses," Edward explained.
Although Maximus purchased the potions through the system, he still needed to disguise their source.
For the origin of the materials, he used the EGCC.
As for the source of the potion production, he attributed it to Edward.
"It's good. Any concerns?"
"Yes, many people are complaining that there are too few options available."
"Moreover, many individuals are interested in joining the shop."
"That's the matter. I'm here to discuss potion quantities."
"As for people joining the shop..." Maximus paused, pondering for a moment.
"However, there's the issue of shop confidentiality..." Edward was concerned that this might raise suspicions.
"In that case, we can sign a confidentiality and a lifetime contract."
"But who would be willing to join under such strict terms?" Edward inquired.
Wouldn't that be akin to enslaving themselves?
"It's good if they join; if not, that's fine too. It's not like we're lacking in personnel."
Maximus' intention for hiring these individuals was to avoid wasting the potion materials that were purchased as a disguise.
Additionally, it could help train these wild alchemists, forming a team of potion-producing alchemists for the future.
As mass-producing potions like in a factory was currently unattainable.
It required the cooperation of a tier 9 entity or a treasure.
After all, alchemy involved bending the laws, something low-tier beings couldn't accomplish.
"Then I will post these requirements and see if anyone joins."
"Hmm, that's a good idea."
"But before that, it's time to upgrade..."
"Upgrade? Me?" Edward asked, not expecting Maximus to consider upgrading him.
Upgrading a puppet was more expensive than purchasing a new one, so he couldn't help but be touched.
Though he was a puppet, he possessed self-awareness akin to a tier 9 treasure.
This is also why his type of puppet was the most expensive in the Myriad World Mall.
There was no need to worry about the danger of searching for world coordinates.
The gestation of his spirit would occur in the world he was initially bought into, making him more compatible with the world.
"That's right. Go ahead and transfer me the money you've earned in the past three months."
[+1,567,234,573 Low Magic Crystals]
Seeing the billion crystals transferred to him at once, a smile crept onto his face.
[Magic Crystal Points: 2,378,223,950]
"I'm truly wealthy," Maximus couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence at his wealth.
Prior to the trial, he had over a billion magic crystals.
Knowledge was inexpensive, so he still had a substantial amount after the trial.
Plus the 200 million magic crystal he just converted in his empire.
His wealth reached, over 2 billion.
"Now, let's begin," Maximus muttered.
He commenced the process of sifting through various materials required to upgrade a puppet to its utmost potential.
"Here, give it a try first."
"Let me know if it ceases to function."
Soon, the two of them collaborated, consuming a multitude of heaven-defying resources like it did not cost money.
After spending a billion magic crystals and unrelenting effort, Edward was finally upgraded from a tier 6 puppet to a low tier 7 puppet.
It had only cost 36 million magic crystals to buy Edward previously.
However, upgrading Edward to just low tier 7 already cost a billion.
If he wanted to upgrade Edward to top tier 7 puppet, it would probably cost 3-5 billion
But feeling Edward's strength and changes he nodded in satisfaction.
"I feel omnipotent..." Edward struggled to find words to describe his sensation, settling on this one.
Tier 7 was a fusion of spirit and body, and as a puppet, he felt like a genuine person, capable of commanding the world.
His exceptional control was such that he could maintain this state as if nothing had occurred.
Otherwise, his host, Maximus, would have been disintegrated by his mere presence.
"Uh, it's because of the domain I've gained."
"What does your domain do?" Maximus became curious.
Domains came in various types, contingent on one's foundation.
Some allowed control over every molecule within the domain, while others enabled the creation of something from nothing.
However, standing across from Edward, Maximus felt no alteration, piquing his curiosity.
"It's an absolute puppet domain..."
"In my domain, nothing can be concealed, your thoughts, your movements, your every blood vest..."
"With all this information, I can manipulate them like puppets, without them even knowing."
"That's astonishing..."
They delved further into Edward's changes and even demonstrated a few aspects.
"Now that your advancement is complete, it's talk about our potion business."
"Should we begin selling tier 6 potions?"
"No, it's a bit premature. We need a bit of buffer time."
"At present, tripling the amount of potion for sale should suffice."
"Furthermore, we can expand by adding tier 1 to tier 4 potions for greater variety."
"That sounds fine," Edward agreed.
Maximus then bought a multitude of potions ranging from tier 1 to tier 5, using all 300 million magic crystals.
As for the remaining billion that will be some use later.
"Here's the inventory. You can recruit people according to your preferences."
"Just make sure about their loyalty and the contract"
"I understand, host," Edward nodded respectfully.
"Hmmm, then I entrust everything to you..." With reassurance that all was in order, Maximus returned to the origin domain.
Origin Domain, City of Arcana.
As he was already a student of the institute, he could directly teleport to the City of Arcana.
Otherwise, he would have to take another teleportation array.
"I should make it just in time for the auction..." Maximus mused, glancing at the countdown for the auction.
[Origin Relic Pavilion:
Millennium Auction - 00d:10h:12m]
"Huh, I still have time," Maximus breathed a sigh of relief.
He hadn't anticipated that Edward's upgrade would take an entire week to complete, nearly causing him to miss the auction.
Arriving at the venue, he approached one of the managers.
"Hello, sir. How can I assist you?" A respectable man exuding the strength of a Tier 8 Mage greeted him.
While others might not have been aware of Maximus' promotion to a core student.
But as a top-tier guild, the Origin Relic Pavilion still knew a little.
"I'd like to participate in the auction."
"I see, please follow me." The man's eyes brightened with anticipation.
After they reached a room, Maximus took out an item he had bought in the system for a billion magic crystals.
"Here, I would like to auction this."
"This?! Could it be..."