The summer eventually ended, and then, slowly but surely, autumn came to replace it while our task remained the same. Due to the numerous tasks we had to complete, there was simply never enough time for everything to fit into one day. At least, I thought that was how it felt, and worst of it all, the time we did have had passed faster than I would have liked. One day, I woke up and most of the leaves of the trees had already fallen off, leaving only the evergreen trees standing as if nothing had happened... It was followed, everywhere on the continent, by how the air had grown sharp, becoming very much biting in the mornings, signaling that winter was upon us. The only positive aspect was that progress was made, not just in the Third Pass, but throughout the eastern continent.

From Horringar, which was almost unrecognizable from how we had found it, the Union's army continued to come and go, every day, every hour, day and night. They swept the region around the city clean first, scouring every nest we had mapped, and exterminated all living things that moved. Sadly, we never found more survivors... Still, every monster cluster we discovered became nothing more than another mark in the reports for resources. Those that were smaller nests were often destroyed by mixed troops, typically consisting of Avalonian infantry supported by soldiers from one of the Union members, and one or two artillery teams. Bigger infestations were stomped down by mechs, and they used the Khulmani riders to circle and drive the beasts into kill zones. It was a well-oiled, well-working machine that, honestly speaking, no longer needed my full attention. Even Gethian and Sarian commanders were accustomed to how it operated, utilizing artillery strikes and understanding the power of a mech. As for my remaining airships, they usually hovered high, spotting from the clouds and relaying positions to the ground troops, thereby organizing operations on a larger scale.

Which led me to consider something significant. I was getting very specific requests from the Union members, almost weekly, and I had to think about it, no longer able to just ignore the points they were making...

It started with how the monster cores were flowing in steadily now. Loads of them, in fact, were constantly carried back by the extermination squads, then stacked in Horringar's warehouses before being shipped by rail back to Avalon. Half went to storage, while the other half went to building more mechs. Every time I got a new report from the hangars at home, another mech was walking out from the factory. Materials were readily available... while what I was sorely missing were Knights.

Which leads me to the requests... The others wanted their own machines. They saw that I gave Mirian a handful of them before the battle... and it started an avalanche. First, it was the big ones, Geth and Sar, who, covertly, suggested that they would also be happy to pay for it. But later on, the medium-sized kingdoms were also asking if there was a possibility to buy one or two off my hands.

At least they were sensible enough not to ask for manufacturing rights, but just to buy the machines. So... I had to decide what to do. I didn't want cracks to form in the Union that I just established, so I was going to sell them some. But not for cheap, that's for sure. Of course, I wasn't going to ask for gold, but materials, influence, or even territory to establish my own little outposts in their countries, kind of like an embassy that belongs to the jurisdiction of Avalon. I need my fresh CIA outposts... So, I wasn't going to just... give them my machines.

Even then, there will be some differences. First and foremost, I instructed Merlin to ensure that the magic formations in them could self-destruct if they were to be fiddled with, aiming to get some of them reverse-engineered. I want it to be one hundred percent foolproof, even after all those security measures that we initially installed on them. Then, I also told him to bug them... Implement a spell that would allow us to see where they are at any given time if we want to check up on their status. But without notifying them about it... Safety first.

As for the mechanical parts, they would be bare-bones, and any additional weapons they want to add to the machine would always incur an extra cost. Or, they can equip the mechs themselves. Whichever they chose. I was becoming a used car salesman or just a criminal lawyer; I haven't decided yet. Anyway, I was going to make their wish come true... if they could or were willing to afford it. As for the training of their pilots, it would be up to the buyer; however, I would send Knights over to help teach them how to operate the machines. And, as a final stipulation, I would only sell them if they agreed that when winter comes, they are obligated to come to one of the three Passes and defend them. Dismissing that part would mean I would reclaim the machine, either in one piece or as scrap, at any time in the future.

As for our Avalon... I had a new idea stuck in my head while I was organizing how to sell more items to the Union members. With combustion engines becoming the norm for us, I was about to introduce two things:

The first was to design the very first car. And I was going to be a bit selfish about it because I always had a weird fascination with what the very first cars looked like in my old life. Those blocky aesthetics had some undeniable charm that I was always drawn to when I was learning history in school. Not to mention, they had colors... Yellow, red, blue, green, vibrant, and noticeable... Exactly what I need in my city. I wanted to see that. Therefore, the first models will be identical copies, but with some modernized features under the hood and updated standards, including some safety stuff. Not that people here would realize that they are modified as they... well... don't exist here.

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As for the second thing, that was for our army. The march had shown me that terrain remains the biggest hurdle, primarily for the supply lines. I was thinking of introducing some kind of anti-gravity measures to our vehicles. We possess the magic for it, the technology, and the resources. Of course, I wasn't going to make hovertanks or something like that... That would consume too much CC that could be used to supply the artillery and refill the cannons on our airships. However, I was going to equip our machines with a function that would allow them to activate it if they encountered difficult terrain, thereby overcoming any obstacles they faced. Kind of like... a hybrid.

Whatever I was selling off to the others, in case the bare-bone mechs, I had to replace it with something new, to keep Avalon at the forefront. At least, selling cars after introducing them would be cheaper for everybody, and maybe they will want it more than going into debt for a mech. We will see!

Leaning back in my chair aboard the Camelot, still thinking about it, I slowly turned my head as I looked out the window, down at the Third Pass and the barrier being worked on.

My fortress was now going from wall to wall, the first layer finished before the snowfall. In the end, it became indeed forty meters from ground to the top, mostly taller than the average beasts that usually try to come through... hopefully. As for length, it was almost a kilometer long, sealing off the wide corridor of this bastardly place while multiple watchtowers were still being worked on. We placed them at every hundred-meter intervals, and we'd already stationed a few hundred troops inside the skeleton of the fortress. Lastly, the artillery pieces were being affixed to the completed towers, while at other places, they were simply positioned along the top, facing towards the beasts' side. As for the remaining defenses, for now, my Camelot was staying here, while the other Airships would retreat to the other two Passes for the winter.

I just hoped we still have some time before the snow arrives... And that it won't cause trouble behind my back, mainly, in Khulman.

I didn't trust them... From my point of view, that country was giving the impression of being stable, but it was not at all. Haaah... In the end, the girls' eldest brother did become Khan, and I had already met him once. My personal opinion? I don't like him.

When Tula-Khan Altan had been crowned as the 100th Son of Toobu, his title, especially the 'son' part, was the most hollow of them all. Yes, he was the eldest son, raised for the role since birth. He also had the look: tall, sharp-eyed, like a hawk, with the kind of deep, throaty voice that tried to command the room even when he was only asking for tea. Brr. I hated it... It made him feel entitled. Not to mention, in our meeting, he formally announced that Khulman would withdraw its army. He said that they'd lost too much, and that they needed to rebuild, reforge, retake their footing. He made it sound both dramatic and pragmatic. Sensible... Though... I could see the cracks.

But I didn't bring it up, because I wasn't going to argue.

Altan was calm on the surface, but his eyes kept darting, just a fraction too often, especially when the subject of his father came up. His hands twitched every time I mentioned Jila or any of her sisters... And I didn't need my twins' gifts to know there were chieftains back home, probably undermining his rule, still talking about the girl who should be sitting where he is now, as she was the one who summoned the Gauntlets. Some of them probably still wanted her to come to Khulman... Even after her speech.

There was nothing to do about it. And they can do nothing but dream about bringing the girl away from Avalon! Hah! They would have to go through this grandpa first for that!

Yeah... Grandpa. It still made me cringe whenever I thought about it. Fuck... Am I getting that old?!

I got the message from Lancelot only a day ago… It was directed at me and sent in secret, so only three people knew about it. Currently, that is: Jila, Lancy, and me. But that would have to change soon, because I will need to involve my wives in this soon enough. As for the message, it was brief:

"Father... Jila is pregnant. Already! I don't even know how... What should I do?"

What should he do? The boy was asking me? Hah! The answer was obvious... If you don't use protection, kiddo, then take responsibility. Damn... No red hair and already knocking up girls... At least he is not like me, huh? I would lie if I didn't say I was proud. I was! But then, I remembered that it means I am a grandfather now.

Ew.

Anyway... First, there will need to be a proper wedding. No more half-measures, no more battlefield declarations, or Jila calling him her hubby until the whole army started repeating it... They needed to stand in Avalon, before the banners, on the big square, with the people watching, and make it official. No way of slinking away from it. I am not going to make a big deal out of it, haha! Second, there had to be an official announcement. You don't just sit on something like this... a new generation was already on the way, while I was still sitting on the 'throne.' It will be the best propaganda for discussing unions, alliances, and the continuation of Avalon.

I am already expecting that Yuri will explode with laughter when she hears the news... I think she will gloat about this forever, until we turn to dust and proclaim every day that her son is the strongest among the rest. Heh... Well, kids, I am not involving myself in that debate! As the dad, I am going to remain impartial and ignore it.

It will be a good little event, as for the most part, the world was still on fire, quite literally, thanks to us still exterminating the monster nests. Aaaand the Guardian's corpse was still burning like a cursed lighthouse months after its death.

Maybe I should turn its corpse into some kind of generator for the Third Pass... I will need to think about it more to see if that is possible.

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