I really enjoy how the author handles the many different powers and items. the classic capture and escaping theme was well written and enjoyable nothing seemed forced or unnatural.

It was foreshadoed that he will choose the second option. Why are his children so important that a second class state decided to comment on them while briefing for a negotiation? Then cut to flashback about God pilots and genetic aptitude. but there is a possibility he chooses option 3 and engineers his own method. I think he won't go with this option because he doesn't want to be like the compact as stated in the chapter. I personally would go with the first one but having your own garden of God pilots can be almost as good.

If it's not a grand work mech yet, it stll has the god body nodes. So with time it will level up. I think a grand work is unprecedented in the universe and still a theory. I assume a few star designers might have made a couple throughout the centuries but it's not public knowledge.

The whole time he was just acting crazy, maybe a small part of him did become unhinged. I was convinced he was a mad scientist, what an enjoyable twist. I did have a problem for the longest time that he became seemingly more civil out of nowhere with no reason. Now it makes sense. Good writing.

That is what I was thinking as well. But I wonder what design spirit it would be? I do think any spirit that gets stronger with more attention will definitely compliment the original B-man design spirit.