Chapter 140 - 115: Build a Cafeteria for Them
"The two species must be fighting by now," Shire said to the Ant Queen with a smile. "This should relieve some of the pressure on you."
"Thank you, goblin." The Ant Queen’s antennae touched Shire’s cheek, her voice tinged with joy.
"Once the Giant Spiders and Giant Bees get a taste of each other, they might just add one another to their menu," Shire said, reaching out to touch the Ant Queen’s antennae.
"You are very interesting." The Ant Queen shook her head, looking at the busy Worker Ants around them. "I’ve recovered a little of my strength."
"That honey candy was good, right?" Shire said with a smile. The honey candy was partly for his party’s rations, but he had also planned to use it as bait for the ants.
"It was very good. Better and sweeter than the flowers the other goblins used to trade," the Ant Queen said. It was clear the honey candy had a good effect on her.
"I have plenty more of this honey candy. I can provide it to you," Shire said. He then took another small piece from his backpack and offered it to the Ant Queen.
"What do you need, goblin?" the Ant Queen asked, eyeing the honey candy in his hand. "Right now, I can only offer ’white soft-softs.’ I don’t know when our colony will perish, so I can’t say how long this trade with you can last."
"Don’t worry. This is just the first step—cultivating their eating habits. I have other steps planned later. I’ll even try to open a cafeteria for them," Shire said, handing the honey candy to a nearby Worker Ant. "Trust me, in the future, those two species will be much less of a threat to you. I’ll find a way to deal with them for good."
"So you don’t need to be so sad. Rest well and prepare to birth your colony’s next Ant Queen." He watched the Worker Ant feed the honey candy to the Ant Queen. "As for what I want, it’s simple. I don’t need ’white soft-softs.’ I just want to make a contract with you so I can hire your children to work for my people in the long term."
"Work for your people?" the Ant Queen repeated Shire’s request. It was likely the first time in her life she had ever heard such a term for a trade.
"That’s right. Help us transport goods, dig tunnels... and if possible, I’d like to hire some Soldier Ants as well." Shire smiled and spread his hands. "As you know, we goblins are small. We can’t compare to the strength of your children. That’s why I hope we can cooperate. I’ll provide you with large amounts of honey candy to help your children grow strong and healthy."
The Ant Queen paused for a long time, seemingly in thought. Finally, she touched her antennae to Shire’s forehead. "Alright. Although I can’t fully comprehend what you’re saying right now, you don’t seem evil. I agree to this trade with your people. I will issue a command to my subjects so you can communicate with them. Please be kind to my children. They may be the last members of my colony."
"No problem. I will treat them well. In fact, their first mission will be to ensure your colony’s survival and help you all live on. You’ll have news soon." Shire steadied the antennae touching his forehead, completing the "ritual."
He didn’t tell her that he had seen on his Domain map that this entire eastern region had already fallen under his Control. The borders of the area on the map were entwined with green vines, symbolizing the Blessing of the God of Earth and Life.
’This means the ant colony will also receive some benefits, since the trees in this area will grow stronger.’ Shire scanned the entire map. The numerous herb gathering points on it annoyed him. ’Still, I have to wipe out these two predator species completely. The ants at least know to only gather from one side of a tree, not to drain the pond to catch the fish. These predators, however, are completely reckless. Plus, there’s a watchtower basement to the east. I’ll have to get rid of all these big guys before I can truly take Control of the whole area.’
"If it’s alright, I’m ready to go hire some Worker Ants now." After he finished looking at the map, Shire immediately made his request.
"Of course, goblin. I will send out the command immediately." The Ant Queen shook her antennae, then touched the Worker Ants around her. Shire then watched as the Worker Ants passed the new command along, tapping their antennae one after another like a game of telephone.
In the forest, what was once a lush, dense woodland was now filled with rising dust and smoke. Trees swayed constantly from the impacts.
The BUZZZZ of flapping wings mixed with screeching roars, leaving the entire area with no peace.
A Giant Spider’s thick, black chelicerae snapped down, completely ignoring the Burrow Bee’s stinger piercing its own abdomen. It had pinned the annoying Giant Bee beneath it and was viciously tearing at the bee’s abdomen.
The two predator species battled in the middle of the forest, clashing like a black tide. Giant Bees constantly dove from the sky, while the Burrow Spiders below reared up, raising their first pair of forelegs in anticipation of the impact.
The battle between the two sides had been raging for a long time. Near the entrances to their respective lairs, they continuously dragged the corpses of their enemies inside. It seemed they had both grown accustomed to the taste of the other.
In the center of the "battlefield," many spiders and Burrow Bees were already twitching and curling up, their bodies turning into black corpses. But this "meat grinder" was still operating at full tilt.
A dozen or so meters beneath the battlefield, deep within the earth, several Worker Ants were digging with all their might. After clearing away the dirt, they would spray a special formic acid from their bodies onto the tunnel walls. This acid wasn’t very lethal, but it mixed with the soil and would form a hard shell after drying, thus ensuring the tunnel’s stability.