Number One Dungeon Supplier

"Like I said, we have segregated the profit and expenses the way we did for individual worlds." Claire started her opening argument.

"That does not make sense. Obviously, there would be some worlds that would be earning more than the other. Besides, you are also helping the store and the company by investing through black market stocks, right? The last I saw those numbers. They seemed fine."

"Yes. They were fine until THIS EVENING." Claire focused on the last two words and her eyes looked as if they were going to pop out from all the anger within her. "What the hell did you do that cause our expenses to increase not by two fold but nearly by 10,000%!??" Claire exclaimed.

"Not to mention, the numbers are increasing by the second and it is not stopping at all!" Claire opened her System window and showed the uptick of expenses going up with every second. With some of the seconds having exponential expenses that boggled the mind for even the accountant.

That was where Jin realised that the System was indeed preparing for the Mecha World Universe as planned and those ticking numbers were undoubtedly the operating expenses of Atopia's unadulterated production of items for the Mecha Universe War.

"Even the System stated that this was one portion of the expenses that I am not allowed to touch or observe because it will take more than just a quantum computer technology to view the numbers, let alone attempt to account for them."

"Erm…yeah. I understand where the System was coming from." Jin was relunctunt to answer because he knew what was happening and even if he tried to explain, Claire would not understand, let alone try to comprehend. It was right for the System to state that it would handle that account just so that Claire would not explode from seeing the numbers. "I guess you got to work harder to get more funds?"

Claire was speechless when she heard Jin's words. Unreasonable was not something the Sub System Accountant would use especially when she had handled the finances in the millions but this was just another level of absurd.

"You know what, either you explain to me what the hell is ever increasing expense or I will seriously quit. No matter what Grandma Yuan would try to convince me, I would rather have the System strip me of the powers vested in me and had memory loss for these encounters. Because, I have never see anything that eat money at that kind of rate." Claire demanded. Yun sighed as she shook her head, knowing that if Jin explain any more, their accountant could literally tear the current dungeon instance that they were in with her bare hands because of the rage in her.

Claire stood at the forefront of the chaos, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "As I mentioned earlier, we have meticulously segregated the profits and expenses for each individual world," she asserted, attempting to maintain her composure. The numbers on her screen glowed ominously, reflecting the turmoil unfolding in her mind. Jin, her partner in the operation, leaned back, skepticism etched across his face.

"That doesn't add up, Claire. It's evident that certain worlds are generating significantly higher revenues than others. And let's not forget, you've been investing in those black market stocks on the side, right? The last time I checked, those figures looked pretty stable."

Claire's frustration bubbled to the surface. "Stable? They were stable until THIS EVENING!" Her voice rose sharply, eyes wide with disbelief. The anger that coursed through her was palpable, a force that seemed to radiate from her very being.

"What on earth did you do to cause our expenses to skyrocket by nearly 10,000%?" she demanded, incredulity lacing her words. Jin felt the weight of her gaze, heat rising in his cheeks. "And don't forget, the numbers are still climbing!" Claire exclaimed, her fingers deftly navigating her System window to display the live data.

Jin watched as the figures danced upward with a relentless pace, some seconds seeing expenses soar to levels that defied logic. They were astronomical, even for a company operating in their unique worlds. In that moment, Jin's understanding deepened. The System was indeed in the throes of preparing for the impending Mecha World Universe, just as they had planned.

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The incessantly rising figures were the operating expenses for Atopia's extensive production capabilities, aimed at fuelling the forthcoming Mecha Universe War. It was a truth that weighed heavily on him—one he knew Claire wouldn't easily digest. "The System has flagged this account, indicating that I'm not authorized to touch or even view these expenses," Jin finally confessed, his voice low."It seems that it would require technology beyond even a quantum computer to comprehend the scale of those figures, let alone account for them."

Claire's expression shifted from anger to disbelief, her brows knitting together. "I get where the System is coming from, but this is absurd," she admitted reluctantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You realize this isn't just about numbers anymore—this is about sanity." Jin scratched the back of his head, unsure of how to proceed. "I guess you just need to work a bit harder to find more funding, right?" he suggested, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. The moment the words left his lips, he could feel the weight of Claire's incredulous stare.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," she replied, her voice rising again. "I've managed finances in the millions before, Jin, but this… this is an entirely different beast!" She inhaled sharply, clearly at her wit's end.

"Listen, either you explain what's driving these skyrocketing expenses, or I might seriously consider quitting," Claire warned, her determination unwavering. "No amount of persuasion from Grandma Yuan will sway me. I'm ready to let the System strip me of my powers and memories if it means I don't have to witness this madness anymore. I've never seen anything devour funds at this rate before!"

Yun, a silent observer, sighed in resignation. She could see the storm brewing inside Claire, knowing the agitation was nearing its peak. If Jin continued to hold back the truth, Claire could very well unleash her fury in a way that would dwarf even the most powerful adversaries they faced in their dungeons.

As the tension hung thick in the air, Jin leaned against the cold stone wall of the dungeon instances, contemplating the weight of the choices before him. He had always prided himself on being a strategic thinker, but the current situation felt like a precarious balancing act, teetering dangerously close to chaos.

Claire was right; the financial strain of their operations was becoming untenable. He understood the stakes all too well—if they were to continue with their plans for invasion, he needed to devise a strategy that not only mitigated their expenses but also ensured that the group's ambitions didn't spiral out of control.

"Let me talk to her," Yun finally said, breaking the silence that had settled around them. "But she is not wrong. We can't expect her to bear the financial burden alone." Meanwhile, she brought Claire into another dungeon instance.

Jin paused, gathering his thoughts. "I guess we either come up with a plan to help with the expenses, or we have to reconsider our approach to the invasion. On hindsight, this isn't a sustainable model in the long term… Maybe we should just use the Dungeon Dimension Summoning skill instead."

The System, an omnipresent force in their operations, interjected with a clinical observation. "The dimension summoning skill you possess might still adhere to the laws of cause and effect but such events cannot be recorded until it is observable to us. The real question is how significant the butterfly effect could possibly happen as a result of your actions." The System's voice, devoid of emotion, highlighted a crucial point while simultaneously showing expenses had slowed down, indicating that something had shifted while they were engaged in this heated debate.

"Did you do something? What's the status of the automated factories? Is there any problems with it that caused the expenses to slow down so quickly?" he asked, urgency edging his tone.

"Ten seconds ago, Atopia produced enough mechas and armaments to mount an attack on five worlds within the Mecha Universe," came the prompt reply from the System. "Currently, however, most of the finished goods is in storage. Processes are being revised, and production is being slowed until the issue with the finance department is resolved."

Jin furrowed his brow, pondering the implications. "If we invade these five worlds now, what can we expect to plunder from them?"

"In terms of resources and valuable salvage, it would only sustain less than a day of consistent production," the System replied matter-of-factly. Jin felt an unsettling twist in his stomach; the situation was proving to be more complex than he initially anticipated.

The Dungeon Supplier had presumed that finances wouldn't pose an issue, yet the stark reality was that money wastage was not a viable strategy. One of the challenges stemmed from the fact that time operated differently in Atopia compared to Jin's home world. He had always believed that costs could be trimmed to the bare minimum without compromising quality due to the System's reputation being a cheapskate loomed large over his assumptions.

"So, yeah. What if I used my dimension skill to attack instead?" Jin mused aloud, grappling with the possibilities. "Could we potentially earn more than we lose?"

"The System suggests several routes to consider. However, in the realm of warfare, it's more prudent to act as a merchant of war for both sides rather than merely positioning yourself as the villain," the System advised.

"One can be villainous while still generating profit. This aligns with your initial intentions for the Southern Kingdom Alliance—introduce chaos, then swoop in as the saviour. But instead of being a hero, consider being an independent arms dealer who supplies the necessary goods."

Jin sighed, a wave of realization washing over him. "Ah… perhaps I have forgotten how to blend my roles as king and businessman."

"Not quite," the System responded. "Running a kingdom is akin to managing a vast multinational corporation. The key difference lies in the incentives and punishments at play. Besides, Ress and the other kingdoms have grown more united. They are already collaborating with the automated factories to streamline production. It's surprising no one has initiated an insurgency given the indoctrination they've received."

"More like brainwashing, you mean. Heh!" Jin scoffed, rolling his eyes. He recognized that the System was unwavering in its commitment to him, willing to manipulate circumstances to achieve its goals.

Moments later, Claire returned with Yun, her face still flushed with frustration. But the lack of fire in her eyes indicated she was now going to be receptive to Jin's proposals. As Jin prepared to lay out a strategy, he felt the gravity of their situation settle over him. They stood at a crossroad as their finance lead do not wish to give any proper approval until a thorough explanation had been given to her and that she deemed it as a worthy investment for the Dungeon Supplier to carry forth his operations.

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