Chapter 426
by post_apiChapter 426: Space Magic Circle
Through the space magic circle, Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight instantly returned to Foggy Castle in Granville Monster Forest.
The first space magic circle was situated within a spacious room on the underground level of Foggy Castle.
After stepping out of the space magic circle, the two girls exchanged glances.
“Let’s find Mom first.”
“Indeed, we must report this incident to Mom immediately.”
Instantly reaching consensus, they departed the spacious room.
Due to the material and food warehouses, the castle’s underground level bustled with ant tribe members traversing the corridors—either storing hunted monster materials and provisions, or confining captured advanced monsters in the underground prison.
Unlike three years prior, however, many ant tribe members now moved about in human form.
“Sister, sister!”
Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight halted a Worker Ant clad in a maid outfit.
“Ah! Sisters Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight! What brings you here?”
Worker 21 recognized them, offering a cheerful greeting.
Over the past three years, Worker Ants born with B Qualifications had begun to emerge. Like Worker Liquor, some acquired the skill “Culinary Talent” and thus apprenticed under her to study cooking.
Worker 21 was among them.
Her presence in the underground level stemmed from selecting ingredients for that evening’s meal from the food warehouse.
As for the maid outfit…
Currently, all human-form ant tribe members within the castle wore maid outfits.
This resulted from the enthusiastic proposal by the human seamstress Encore—a suggestion Lin Yu had “reluctantly” approved.
Consequently, daughters wearing identical-style maid outfits now populated nearly every corner of Foggy Castle.
Yet ant tribes like the Stealth Ants, frequently operating outdoors, could not don such conspicuous maid attire.
Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight cast envious glances at Worker 21’s outfit before inquiring:
“Is Mom in the castle?”
“Mom? She was here this morning and afternoon, but departed later.”
“Departed? Where did she go?”
“Hmm… I believe she went to the villa at the dragon’s lair. Sister Red Pupil accompanied her.”
“Understood. Attend to your duties, sister.”
Having obtained the needed information, the pair resolved to reuse the space magic circle to reach the dragon’s lair deep within the forest.
Granville Monster Forest housed two space magic circles: one at Foggy Castle, the other at the dragon’s lair.
“Dinner hour approaches. Won’t you stay to eat? An ant’s birthday is tonight—Sister Little Liquor plans to showcase her culinary mastery!”
“Apologies. We bear urgent matters for Mom’s ears.”
Besides… with the ant population now exceeding one million, hundreds—even thousands—of birthdays occurred daily within the colony.
Stealth Seven shook her head and muttered to herself internally.
After this mental complaint, a realization struck her.
Come to think of it, if memory served, wasn’t today both her and Stealth Eight’s birthday?
She instinctively exchanged glances with the long-haired woman beside her, who seemed to share the same thought.
…
After bidding farewell to Worker 21, the two women arrived at the dragon’s lair via the spatial magic circle.
Located deep within the cavern, the magic circle deposited them where they could hear the distant *clanging* of goblins mining tunnels from the lair’s depths.
As they walked toward the exit, they passed several Earth Dragons slumbering on the ground.
Nearby lay a cluster of dragon eggs, guarded at their center by a few Earth Dragons.
Three years had passed, yet the eggs showed no signs of hatching—though all hundred-odd Earth Dragons had been revived.
The Earth Dragons lazily lifted their massive heads, acknowledged Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight with a rumble, then settled back into repose.
Years of coexistence had familiarized the Earth Dragons with the Ant Clan, fostering a peaceful rapport between them.
Upon emerging from the lair, the landscape opened before them.
A flagstone-paved path stretched from the cave entrance, flanked by rows of buildings. Beyond lay lively streets and a bustling square.
Three years of labor by the construction team had significantly advanced the Ant Clan’s town development.
Though not yet matching Aowenduo Town’s scale, it had taken impressive shape.
Ant Clan members now inhabited completed structures, traversing streets mostly in their natural forms, having not yet taken human form.
Storefronts lined the avenues—primarily eateries and boutiques, the latter stocked largely with garments from Aowenduo Town.
But while open for business, these shops charged nothing since their only patrons were their own sisters.
For the Ant Clan, this town functioned as a private “resort.”
Beyond the shops, the builders had replicated Aowenduo’s arena, creating a space for sparring matches among the Ant Clan—and even the Earth Dragons.
Daughters occasionally wagered “treasures” related to Lin Yu during these bouts: red fruits nurtured by her watering, garments she’d worn, or even…
Admittedly, some “treasures” might have questionable origins.
…
Returning to the moment.
After exiting the lair, Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight approached the nearest villa.
As they neared the door, Stealth Eight’s keen ears caught faint, peculiar sounds from an upstairs room.
Her ear tips flushed pink as her mind conjured vivid scenarios, freezing her in place momentarily.
Before she could speak, Stealth Seven knocked firmly on the villa’s door.
*Thud… thud…*
The upstairs noises ceased abruptly, replaced by hurried footsteps.
After a pause, the door opened.
A stunning girl with silken snow-white hair appeared, accompanied by a petite, delicate-looking girl.
Both wore slightly flushed cheeks, as if still coming down from some lingering afterglow.
*How lovely…*
Stealth Eight gazed enviously at Red Pupil.
Though Stealth Seven noticed their state, she avoided sensitive remarks to spare them discomfort.
“Mom, something terrible has happened.”
“The palace attack? I’m already aware.”
“No—it’s more. Sister Magic Rainbow suspects the mastermind is a reincarnator from the Deta Empire.”