While Maximus was creating the production machine, the Etherium Void Region was undergoing massive changes.
With the Virtual Realm now connected to the dark void domain, the powerhouses on the frontlines no longer felt alone.
Able to reach anyone with just a thought, they felt the dark world light up.
They were no longer fighting in the unknown, but in a well-lit space, like training in a familiar room.
Although it was still draining as the dark energy slowly corroded their origin, it wasn't as despairing as before.
Furthermore, with the Virtual Realm always connected to them, their will and origin could be pulled back when they faced a threat of death.
Rebuilding a body was expensive, but it was better than dying in the mouth of a dark beast.
Without the fear of death, their efficiency in killing dark beasts skyrocketed.
Of course, behind this hope and glamor, sacrifices were always made.
In the Shadow Void Land, Lux was having a meeting with the managers of the Virtual Realm.
"The cost of deploying the Virtual Realm in the dark void domain is too high. We should start charging the users!" The managers of the Virtual Realm suggested with pain in their eyes.
Connecting the Virtual Realm to a place filled with dark energy and dark beasts was expensive.
To send virtual signals and link every user, countless strands of causality were being spent.
Even though the Shadowcrest family shouldered 90% of the burden, the remaining 10% was still enough to bring them down.
After all, they weren't as wealthy as the Shadowcrest family, who could have as many strands of causality as they wanted.
"It's useless. How much can those powerhouses even pay?" Lux muttered, rolling his eyes.
It wasn't that he didn't want to charge for the service; it just wouldn't be enough to cover the cost.
As for charging more, it would go against his father's orders.
Their goal was to improve efficiency, not make money. Raising prices would lower user engagement and reduce overall effectiveness.
Hearing Lux's words, the Virtual Realm manager felt like crying.
If this continued, the reserve energy of the Virtual Realm would run out.
Even if Overlord Elvian didn't care, they did.
That energy was the source of their yearly resources. Losing it would cut off their training supply. Just thinking about it made their bodies ache.
"Then, can you shoulder all the energy the Virtual Realm needs?"
If the Shadowcrest family insisted, they should cover more of the cost.
"Hah! That's even more impossible." Lux was generous, but he was also a bit petty.
He hadn't forgotten how these geezers had made things difficult for him when he was building his business empire in the Virtual Realm.
Now that he was in the position, it was his turn to squeeze more value out of them.
"Then how can we continue ? Does Majesty Lux have an alternative solution?"
Knowing they couldn't convince Lux, all they could do now was hope for another way.
"This is easy. Since the cost is high, lower the cost!"
"Lower the cost? How?" one of the managers replied, thinking Lux had to be joking.
Everyone knew lowering the Virtual Realm's energy consumption would help. The problem was how to lower it.
"Have you thought of building a Virtual Signal Relay?" Lux asked with a smile, giving them a moment to think.
"Virtual Signal Relay? It might be doable… but where would we place them? Who's going to protect them?" they asked, one after another.
A Virtual Signal Relay was a device that amplified signal strength over great distances.
Usually, it was only used in forbidden zones where natural laws were unstable or deficient.
The problem wasn't just the cost, it was also the device fragility. Even a weak energy fluctuation could jam it, making it useless.
Using a Virtual Signal Relay in the dark void domain sounded far-fetched.
"Isn't there the Void Outpost? What more protection do you need?" Lux rolled his eyes, seeing they were still stuck in their old thinking.
"Void Outpost?! That's right! The Void Outpost!"
They slapped their foreheads in frustration. How could they forget the Void Outposts, a stronghold strong enough to one-shot a Tier 12 dark beast?
With that kind of protection, there was nothing to worry about.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?! We could've saved countless strands of causality," one of the managers muttered in complaint.
If they'd known, they would've already built relays at each Void Outpost.
With over a hundred of them spread throughout the dark void domain, their energy costs could've been cut in half.
"I just thought of it. After all, I'm a busy man. I've got a lot on my plate."
Of course, he'd thought of it long ago. But wanting a bit of payback, he'd let them bleed money first.
Anyway, the strands of causality from his father were more than enough for him to spend freely.
Unable to argue, the managers could only begin planning how to efficiently deploy relays at every Void Outpost.
Once the plan was in place, they turned to Lux for further instructions.
Initially, they'd complained about the high transmission costs of the Virtual Realm. Now that the problem was solved, they couldn't wait to get away from this greedy bastard.
"There's one last thing before you go. I want you to spread the Virtual Mall System to every dimension in the Aeon Plane."
"All dimensions? That's impossible. We don't have the resources to deploy that many systems!"
The Virtual Mall System was a peripheral product of the Virtual Realm.
Each one was divided into a Main System and multiple Subsystems.
For a dimension to access the Virtual Realm, it needed at least one Main System.
Given the endless number of dimensions in the Aeon Plane, it wouldn't be enough even if the Virtual Realm were emptied out.
"Tsk. It's just money. The Shadowcrest family will cover it."
"Huh? Are you serious?"
"Of course. And to thank you for your hard work, for every Main System you deploy to a new dimension, I'll give you a generous bonus."
"Awesome! The Shadowcrest family is mighty!"
"From now on, we're your loyal subordinates!"
"Just say the word, we'll go through fire and water for you!"
"Tsk. Enough! Get out of here and get to work. If I catch you slacking, I'll tell Lennox to cut your salary."
"Yes, yes, we're going now…"