Chapter 283

Chapter 283: Recovery

Glug, glug, glug…

Phew…

It’s truly awful—the flavor is off and the scent burns my nostrils.

While medium-quality Magic Recovery Potions taste significantly better, their scarcity means I often resort to gulping down low-grade and inferior variants.

Hmm… I can tolerate the bitterness, but enduring this for months on end… Even for someone like me who’s consumed raw meat and organs, this is pushing my limits.

If I keep this up, I might just throw up!

Yet stopping isn’t an option—my Magic Value remains perpetually drained.

The solution? Have the town Pharmacists prioritize crafting medium-quality or better Magic Recovery Potions. Those wretched low-grade brews are unbearable, though medium ones still go down passably.

High-quality?

I’d love to try them, but they’re nowhere to be found—not in military stockpiles nor the Apothecary shelves.

Manfel claims to be researching high-tier concoctions, yet his efforts remain fruitless. Perhaps he lacks the aptitude for advanced alchemy…

Given that possibility, I’ve delegated the high-quality potion task to five other Apothecaries. They’re even supplied with premium ingredients cultivated through Magical Soil!

Previously, Manfel received Class D ant-nurtured materials, but now all Pharmacists get Class D+ resources. His sulking means little to me.

Craving overnight fame as the town’s top Pharmacist through high-grade potions? Admirable ambition—but dreams demand sweat, not shortcuts. Good luck with that, chuckle…

Besides, I never pledged exclusive material rights to him… Or did I? Doesn’t matter—we’re hardly acquaintances.

Since Army Lady routinely purchased potions from these Apothecaries, prolonged contact risked exposing her and Stealth One’s Ant Clan ties. Hence, confidentiality contracts were enforced.

Oh, their shocked faces were priceless! Two Pharmacists actually idolized Army Lady and Stealth One.

Imagine discovering your heroes are invading Ant Clan members—their expressions? Pure clownery!

Yet truthfully, the Ant Clan deserves hero status! What did the town truly lose from our attack?

Casualties? Only five scoundrels publicly executed. Simon confirmed their crimes warranted death, though protocol demanded his jurisdiction. Still, no real loss occurred.

The human race suffered mere fright… Honestly, Darkling Stalker overdid it. Even I shuddered at the execution’s brutality—nightmares haunted me that evening.

Afraid of my daughter? Guilty! But can you blame me? Her shadow once… [trails off]

So, during this period, I didn’t dare pay too much attention to her…

Ahem, returning to our main subject.

Beyond causing some fright, during the town’s siege I had my daughters discipline the resisting human race—though they merely subdued them through physical blows and temporary unconsciousness, resulting in nothing more than minor injuries. The subsequent imprisonment actually provided them with ample prison rations.

Therefore, the human race in this town suffered no substantial losses.

The only genuine loss within the town was experienced by its lord, Lord Simon.

Though nominally the settlement remains his domain, it’s effectively under my control now.

Now regarding benefits:

The impoverished received relief provisions of food and clothing, while merchants obtained purchasing rights for monster materials, mineral resources, and similar commodities.

Next comes the Ant Tribe’s protection—with their patrols through surrounding forests and mountainous areas, monster attacks on both the town and neighboring villages will dramatically decrease.

Moreover, Magical Soil will be sold at limited quantities and reduced prices to local farmers.

This extraordinary soil not only cultivates medicinal herbs and fruit trees, but also enhances crop growth even under severe weather conditions.

Once distributed to farmers, increased agricultural yields will naturally lower food prices, significantly improving townspeople’s living standards.

However, Magical Soil’s potency gradually diminishes over time without Worker Ant maintenance—essentially reverting to ordinary earth after prolonged use. Continued benefits would require farmers to periodically request fresh supplies from the Ant Tribe.

…

Considering all this, the Ant Tribe shouldn’t be perceived as invaders. If anything, they’re heroic saviors!

Through demonstrations of power—the town siege, public executions, breached defenses, defeated champions, and threats of underground networks—they instilled awe in the human race.

Simultaneously, through merchants’ public voice manipulation, paupers’ relief, protective guardianship, and Magical Soil provisions, they displayed benevolence—cultivating gratitude and eventual dependence among townspeople.

Magic Rainbow executed this flawlessly, proving herself truly my daughter! She’s splendidly inherited my wisdom.

Ah, speaking of which, my Magic Value has replenished again.

Recently, most Magic Value was expended granting skills—bestowing potent abilities like "Immortality," "Magnification," "Identification," "Dispel," and "Berserk" upon daughters of A Qualification and higher.

Regarding oviposition…

While Red Pupil, Weak Sound, Army Lady, Stealth One, and Lvzi remain stationed in town, Magic Rainbow returned earlier.

Throughout the siege, she only communicated with humans via "Psychic Call" without physical appearance.

Having completed most duties, she commenced her homeward journey.

This presents the perfect opportunity to properly reward her upon arrival.

The reward?

Oviposition, naturally.

What? Not consider that rewarding?

Hmph, that’s not necessarily true.

Previous daughters always rejoiced when selected for egg-laying—it feels somewhat akin to… receiving favor?

Ah, my thoughts wander oddly.

Regardless…

Lin Yu connected with Magic Rainbow through her Unique Skill, conveying intentions.

"Laying eggs for Mother… What supreme honor for a daughter."

Magic Rainbow’s mellifluous voice resonated.

"Incidentally, Mother, prior to departing I extended invitations to Lord Simon and select merchants and nobles for castle negotiations. I intend to meet them as Queen Ant for crucial discussions."