Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire-Chapter 171: Chaotic Evolution
It sat there, all innocent, between 'Quiet Flight I' and 'Perfect Swarm Coordination', taking the place of someone I could've actually considered taking.
It was 'Chaotic Evolution I'. A gene that had a 5% chance to give my daughters a random tier V gene.
"Alright, that 'Quiet Flight' will be a real asset for the Beehounds. So unless you have good arguments why we need swarm coordination more, although our swarms seem to be fine already, I will pick it—"
"Father, wait," Worriesgone interrupted me. "But what about the third gene? You didn't even consider it, although it looks good to me. Like free four tiers of genes!"
Researchina shook her head.
"Statistically speaking, this gene will only give one fifth of a tier on average. It's more useless than taking any other gene. But as I recall, the Council discussed this gene before, and Father rejected it."
"That's right, Researchina. The 5th tier isn't even that good, especially compared to morphotyping." I sighed. "Or so someone *rational* and *sensible* would say. But someone with an even higher intelligence will add that there's such potential for amazing genes… Genes that I would never even *discover* on my own, because the system keeps giving me the same ones over and over."
Worriesgone blinked.
"When you speak, your voice carries this feeling… A love for a dream you don't dare to hold. But you are our Father, Nectus Stingprince! All your dreams should be realized. Why not take this gene? You said that it has a lot of potential."
"I support this question," Tabletina said. "Mathematics aside, the potential, including research potential, is immense. With our population size, new genes will be discovered every day. The amount of genetic knowledge we can find!.."
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"True, and I fully agree," Researchina said. "I had to point out the facts earlier, but Tabletina is right."
I shook my head.
"I said it again, but I will repeat it. What if the genes are something that will only make it worse for these bees? Like those thick bones or chitin carapace that will make my daughters slow. Especially on the 5th tier. I don't want them to be hurt, even if risks are minuscule."
Worriesgone smiled sweetly like only she could.
"You shouldn't fear this, Father. You worked so hard to give place to every bee in the Bee Empire—they can choose their jobs, go to hospitals… Even if someone gets crippled by a wound, instead of accepting death, they can still live and help the hive. Be someone important in her own way."
The way Worriesgone spoke left the entire Council enchanted, including me. Her soft voice had a cadence that rang of absolute truth and belief that only came with deep personal experience.
She smiled wider, happier.
"So, Father, I know that no matter what genes bees will have, they won't be unhappy with them. And soon, they will realize that they had their own special path that brought them to places that no one but them could enter."
I was struck speechless.
'Is this the depth of my daughters' devotion? How—when did this even happen? What do I do with it?'
I jolted at a sudden clap.
"Well said, Worriesgone!" Things-Things said cheerfully. "I'm even more glad that you are on this Council, yes-yes! Father worries too much all the time—he *really* needs a person like you sometimes!"
Other Advisers nodded in unison with solemn faces.
"This is our Nectus. As great as he is, he wouldn't have gone far without us all," Ambrosia smiled at me like I was some adorable little critter… Like a mouse!
Or perhaps something else instead.
Mice of this world were the bane of aphid tunnels, and the Empire's ranchers had to fight them in narrow hallways, fearing a roof collapse every moment.
They had a lot of meat on their bones, though.
"Amby, this all is true, but… what's with this smile? Why are you smiling like that?"
She chuckled.
"This is just a smile. There's nothing special about it." Ambrosia turned away from me and tapped her sizable tier 3 claws on the table. "This was enough chatter. Let's return to work. Nectus, what is your choice of gene, after all? The Council gave its opinions."
I took a deep breath.
I could argue that the Council said nothing about genes besides 'Chaotic Evolution I', but I could tell that even Bloodhero wanted to see this gene in action.
And Things-Things was right. I was worrying too much.
"Chaotic evolution it is. But relaying it to my little princesses will wait until I heal fully. And then some more…"
With all the new colonies, keeping the Empire's genes all up to date took more and more blood. But as long as the Bee Empire wasn't destroyed by humans or hornets, I could donate this blood without hurry.
***
Compared to genes, updating morphotypes was a straightforward task. All morphotypes got the 'Slow-Twitch Muscles' for extra stamina. Beemarines now reached the 15th tier of venom potency for 750% damage bonus (they still needed more gene points). Beehounds got 5th tier of 'Thick Skin'.
Meanwhile, even with 'Reduced Sleep I' and 'Slow-Twitch Muscles' as extra genes in my personal morphotype, I reached 30st, the maximum tier of venom potency gene!
〔Increased Venom Potency XXX (MAX): increases damage of venom by 32000%.〕
The sting of 320 regular bees! Enough to kill a human with a single strike!
The numbers were insane. The last five tiers added me 5000% each.
Then I put the remaining point into the next tier of detachable stinger.
〔Detachable Stinger III: allows stingers of bees to be detached from the body without a trauma. Lost stingers regrow based on regeneration speed.〕
The description was vague, and the system was of no help, so I assumed it was better than before. The previous tier said, "slowly regrow", after all.
By then, the Council had lasted long enough that we all took a lunch break.
"The genes will definitely help with the diplomacy, at least the ones in my personal morphotype. But the *real* preparations will have to be done with our—alright, mostly your—hands. Researchina, I have a special task for you."
