Chapter 438

Chapter 438: Reward

The matter has concluded.

Though the Deta Empire’s joint assault with the two duchies against the Rollo Kingdom felt somewhat sudden, the Ant Tribe wasn’t entirely unprepared. After all, not only in the capital Sinirka, but across all three duchies under the kingdom’s rule, daughters had long been stationed there.

Three years had sufficed for the Ant Tribe’s spies to permeate every major city within these duchies. Any stirrings within the duchies were nearly impossible to hide from the ant race.

Yet such thorough surveillance remained unattainable within the Deta Empire.

For prudence, the Ant Tribe’s network expansion across the continent had always progressed steadily. Thus, beyond the western continent encompassing the kingdom and three duchies, sufficiently scaled nests hadn’t yet been established in the southern nations or the eastern continent under Deta Empire’s dominion.

In these regions, only nests equipped with space gates existed, alongside outpost nests in select major cities.

Well… this limitation currently hindered identifying the war’s mastermind.

If no accidents occurred, this mastermind was likely a reincarnator.

Moreover, one who—like myself—had survived in this world for over seven years…

The Ant Tribe’s current might and alliances with powerful monsters like the Dragon Tribe led by Dragon Mother Flossie mustn’t breed arrogance.

A sense of crisis is essential—yes, crisis!

Reincarnators’ skills stem from their “wishes,” meaning theoretically any skill could manifest.

Imperial soldiers and commanders alike displayed a “Mark” status on their panels—a condition shared by all sixty thousand troops. Contemplating this evoked profound unease…

A silver-haired girl sat pondering at the edge of a plush bed, her brow lightly furrowed…

*Knock, knock…*

The sound from beyond the door shattered Lin Yu’s reverie.

A subtle mental probe revealed the visitors’ identities.

Her heart instantly raced.

They’d arrived.

“One moment.”

Her voice remained cool and unreadable. Rising from the bed, she paused before the room’s full-length mirror. Gazing at her perpetually stunning reflection, she tucked stray strands behind her ear and smoothed her attire.

*Hmm.*

Nodding in approval, she glided toward the door.

The latch clicked open.

Two gray-haired beauties stood outside, faces taut with nervous excitement. Both appeared around twenty.

One sported medium-short hair, her bright silver eyes radiating lively energy—reminding Lin Yu of the equally vivacious and sociable Little Liquor.

The other wore long tresses, exuding a calmer, more reserved aura—some might say detached? Her presence felt closer to Little Shadow’s.

The medium-short-haired daughter was Stealth 3000; the long-haired one, Stealth 3001.

By birthdate, they’d soon turn two. Lin Yu recalled Little Shadow bearing them through her skill assistance…

*Hmm… To me, they’re daughters—or perhaps granddaughters? For Little Shadow, they’d be daughters… or sisters?*

Although the relationships are somewhat intricate, there exist even more convoluted connections elsewhere, so I’ve grown accustomed to such complexities.

Eh? What? My fault? It’s my fault… not! Hmph! As Queen Ant, what possible error could lie in diligently laying eggs?

*Ahem*, anyway, let’s return to the matter at hand.

Regarding why these two daughters came to visit me this time…

*”The sister who slays the most imperial soldiers in this human race war shall receive Mother’s reward.”*—No one knew exactly when this rumor emerged, but shortly after the war concluded, it began circulating within the ant clan.

Spreading from one to ten, then ten to hundreds, what was once a whisper among few soon echoed across half the ant clan.

Even initially skeptical daughters came to believe it.

While I certainly could step forward to clarify, I feared crushing these daughters’ enthusiasm… Besides, it’s hardly a harmful rumor—is clarification truly necessary?

Amidst these whispers, the daughters who slaughtered the most imperial soldiers were identified.

These two before me.

Their kill counts not only surpassed other daughters by a significant margin but also matched each other perfectly. Moreover, they had slain the two leading generals of the imperial army.

…

“Mother.”

“Mother…”

Upon seeing the silver-haired girl, their faces momentarily blanked. Struggling to contain their pounding hearts, they greeted Lin Yu while suppressing overwhelming excitement.

Their fervor was understandable—with the ant clan now exceeding a million members, merely glimpsing Lin Yu had become a rarity. Let alone standing close enough to touch her with an outstretched hand.

Fortunately, neither succumbed to their primal urges, restraining their twitching limbs.

“Mhm.”

Lin Yu nodded.

Though her social anxiety had eased considerably over recent years through conversations with some daughters, facing unfamiliar offspring still unsettled her… the girl mused while studying them.

“Enter.”

She sidestepped to clear the path.

The girls nodded obediently. Yet as they passed the silver-haired figure, her delicate fragrance enveloped them—a scent that plucked at their heartstrings like fingertips gently strumming a lute.

They inhaled deeply, unable to resist.

Finally inside the chamber.

“So, what reward do you seek?”

Uncertain what to discuss with these unfamiliar daughters, she cut straight to the point.

Lin Yu settled back onto the bedside, lifting her gaze to the pair.

As she sat, her skirt hem rode up, unveiling exquisitely pale, delicate feet.

…

What reward indeed?

Truthfully, they’d never expected tangible rewards, suspecting the rumor’s origins were dubious at best.

Yet like lottery dreamers envisioning jackpot fantasies…

They’d pondered this “reward” endlessly beforehand, conjuring countless answers that flushed their cheeks and raced their hearts.