Unable to convince Eve, Maximus could only sigh.
Soon, once he had enough bargaining power, he planned to kidnap Eve to be his assistant.
If not, he could train the spirit goddesses of the Etherium Realm to assist him.
"Have you recorded the process of creating this production machine?"
"Yes, everything happening in the Space-Time Lab is being recorded in real time. Why?" Eve asked, thinking Maximus was worried about her master snooping on what he did during his seclusion.
"Then can the Production Factory reproduce this production machine from scratch?"
Maximus remembered that the Production Factory could create even a pseudo-ultimate treasure, if it had enough data and materials.
Thinking about having to create another million of these machines from scratch, Maximus immediately looked for shortcuts.
"It's impossible to recreate everything. Most of the process requires the power of the Absolute of Knowledge and the fine control of a Tier 12 professional."
Although the Production Factory could make almost anything, there were still limits.
Without the ability to independently control the Absolute of Knowledge and the refined skills of a peak tier 12 professional, recreating such a Production Machine was impossible.
"Isn't it just a pseudo ultimate treasure? You can't even do this?" Maximus muttered in disappointment.
"I'm sorry, the Space-Time Lab can't meet your request. However, if you want assistance, the lab can still create 99% of the parts for the production machine," Eve said proudly.
If not for various nuances the Space-Time Lab lacked, it could have built the entire machine from scratch.
"99%? Awesome! Seems you're still capable," Maximus muttered, already thinking about pocketing the entire Space-Time Lab for himself.
This architecture was simply too useful. Not only could it help him break limits and isolate the rules of the Aeon Plane, it could also enable mass production.
With the Space-Time Lab, his efficiency would increase at least a hundredfold.
"How long does it take to create a production machine for the Ring of Origin?"
"The Space-Time Lab can create 1,000 production machines at the same time. After calculation, each batch would take 1,300 years to finish."
If Maximus made them himself, it would take him decades just to create one.
It seemed the Space-Time Lab was more amazing than he had thought.
"Do you want to begin production?"
"Yes, start as soon as possible."
Maximus's goal was to produce a million of these production machines. Even with Eve's help, it would still take 1.3 million years to complete.
With the final touches that he had to personally work on, the total time would be around 1.5 million years.
"Then please provide the corresponding ultimate materials, origin energy, and strands of causality."
Suddenly, Maximus realized he still had to bear the cost.
A production machine for the Ring of Origin required hundreds of ultimate materials.
Fortunately, the ultimate treasures he earned from his share against the dark beast were no joke.
Taking 50% of each dark beast they killed, Maximus could earn at least one complete ultimate treasure per void outpost.
Counting up the Void Outposts currently fighting in the Dark Void Domain, Maximus could earn at least 30 ultimate treasures every day.
In a year, he could collect over 10,000 ultimate treasures!
That meant, to satisfy the production capacity of the Space-Time Lab, Maximus only needed a few dozen years' worth of income.
Thinking of this, Maximus couldn't help but smile.
It seemed the Dark Disaster was truly a blessing in disguise, an inexhaustible resource that could be harvested as long as one had the strength and means.
Taking out hundreds of thousands of ultimate treasures and countless strands of origin energy and causality, Maximus asked Eve to begin the work.
Meanwhile, taking his time, Maximus began to examine the Source of Law to see if his family had left any messages.
"Hmm? Lux wants to talk to me?"
Thinking his son wanted to discuss the development of the Virtual Realm, Maximus didn't think much of it.
Having just finished the Production Machine for the Ring of Origin, Maximus wasn't in a hurry to optimize the micro surveillance bots.
Considering a short break to visit his family and inspect the progress of Shadow Void Land, Maximus planned to leave the Space-Time Lab.
"Eve, take care of the place. I'll be gone for a couple thousand years."
"Just leave everything to me. You don't need to worry," Eve said, not caring whether Maximus left or not.
"Tsk, as cold as always..."
Leaving the Space-Time Lab, Maximus returned to the sub-void containing the Etherium Void Region.
Upon entering Shadow Void Land, he was greeted by a busy but bustling scene.
Although a trace of gloom lingered in the air from the ongoing battles with Dark Beasts, it was far less than it had been tens of thousands of years ago.
"Looks like Lux did a good job with the Virtual Realm."
Seeing people still able to smile while talking about their friends fighting on the front lines, Maximus smiled too.
"Huh? Is that you, Father?" Asha, her mouth full of food, quickly recognized him in disguise.
"Grandfather, it's really you!" Lila, his granddaughter, also noticed him right away.
"You two—what are you doing here?" Maximus asked, tenderness in his eyes.
"We're taking a break. Here, Father, try this—it's delicious!" Asha grinned, shoving the food into his mouth.
Tasting it, Maximus felt a deep warmth in his heart.
"Not bad. It's delicious."
"Try this, Grandfather! It's even better!" Not wanting to be outdone, Lila offered him a bite from her plate.
"Hmm." Maximus accepted it, visibly relaxing.
"It seems the food in Shadow Void Land is getting better and better."
Although still not comparable to what his wife, Erica, cooked, it was on par with what a peak Tier 11 gastronomist could prepare.
"It's because the Tower of Knowledge released more food-related inheritances. From lost recipes to rare ingredients, the culinary variety here has become much richer."
"I see." Remembering the data he had transferred from the Data Tower to the Source of Knowledge, Maximus nodded in understanding.
"Let's go. Enough food for now. Let's visit your mothers..."