Chapter 67
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Chapter 67: Sweet and Sour Delicacies
[Red Fruit: Bitter when unripe. Upon maturation becomes sweet-sour with intense fragrance that attracts monsters. Consuming restores Health Value; repeated consumption accelerates recovery.]
"Health restoration properties? Whatever! I’m eating this!"
"My palate’s been deprived too long – figuratively speaking! No crude implications here!"
*Crunch*
Juice exploded across her tongue as she bit into the crimson sphere, releasing tropical aromas.
The flavor blended citrus and apple notes with mango-like fragrance intensified tenfold.
"Divine… My ant existence knows no regrets! Though actually, it’s just beginning! More! I need more!"
"Transplant those trees immediately!"
Three sapling-sized trees required two Iron Armored Ants each for transport.
Lin Yu had initially opposed stationing 10 Iron Armored Ants and 10 Acid Ants at Second Ant Nest, but Red Pupil’s insistence prevailed.
She dispatched 6 Iron Armored Ants with 6 Acid Ants as escort.
During relocation, the trees attracted boars and small monsters – predictable Harvest Point phenomena like the pond’s ecosystem.
Current food surpluses made transplantation imperative rather than maintaining the outpost.
Guard details of Military and Weak Ants easily dispatched interlopers.
The convoy reached the orchard within an hour via forced march.
Iron Armored Ants excavated entire root systems with soil clumps intact, then clamped trunks between powerful mandibles for transport.
Through their compound eyes, Lin Yu glimpsed branches heavy with scarlet fruit, swallowing involuntarily.
The magical ripening process – green to red in seconds – demanded constant surveillance to prevent monster theft.
Though the fruity scent attracted creatures en route, northern Granville Wolves kept wary distance after months of failed confrontations.
Only desperate herbivores like wild boars and mountain deer dared challenge the armored procession.
They were naturally taken down.
However, during the next stretch of the journey, the transport group encountered troublesome opponents.
It was a flock of wild birds.
Upon detecting the scent of the fruits, the birds swooped straight over, snatching them with their beaks before flying off.
"Ah! My fruits!"
"Damn these filthy birds! Spray acid! Melt them! Ah—careful not to hit the trees!"
Reacting swiftly, Lin Yu commanded the Acid Ants to attack the wild birds.
To avoid splashing acid onto the fruit trees, the Acid Ants’ strikes became hesitant and restrained.
Still, the fan-shaped acid spray managed to hit several birds.
Struck, the birds screeched and plummeted lifelessly from the sky.
Yet the remaining birds showed no fear—or perhaps the red fruit’s aroma was too irresistible. After devouring their stolen prizes, they returned for more.
Fortunately, the trees bore abundant fruit, and the birds didn’t waste food, finishing each piece before taking another. By the time they reached the Second Ant Nest, plenty of fruit remained.
Even within the ant-dominated territory, the deranged birds recklessly pursued their feast.
Lin Yu directed the Iron Armored Ants to lay the trees flat while Military Ants from the Second Ant Nest climbed onto the branches, ambushing any bird that descended to snatch fruit.
Gradually, the Military Ants picked off the birds one by one.
Finally free to indulge, Lin Yu flung herself onto a tree, gleefully gorging on red fruits until her belly bulged. She sprawled across a branch, sighing contentedly.
"What should we do with these trees next?" she mused. "Leaving them exposed will just attract more birds."
"Let’s move them underground. The existing Magical Soil patches can sustain them—height is the only issue. Our diligent Worker Ant daughters can expand the chambers!"
"Magic truly is convenient. Anything planted in Magical Soil thrives even without sunlight or fresh air underground…"
…
While instructing Worker Ants to begin renovations, Lin Yu ordered Weak Ants and Military Ants to harvest some fruits.
The plucked red fruits formed a small hill inside the cave. She left most fruits untouched—without preservation methods, excess harvests would rot. Unripe fruits stayed safest on branches.
Each transport-team Iron Armored Ant and Acid Ant received one fruit.
Acid Ants nibbled methodically, while hulking Iron Armored Ants gulped theirs whole, barely tasting them.
"One per ant—fair and square!" Lin Yu declared. With only twelve ants involved, leftovers abounded.
She divided the mound into four equal shares: her own, Red Pupil’s, Little Tear’s, and a portion for hunting-party ants.
"Now no one can say Mom plays favorites!"
…
…
Anticipating future crops, Lin Yu dubbed the Magical Soil chambers growing wild vegetables and mushrooms the "Herb Garden." By dusk, Military Ants had relocated all three trees there.
The Exploration Team Ants returned as darkness fell.
Lin Yu rushed to greet them.
"Mom! I’m back!"
"Mom, we’re home."
"Welcome back."
Though faced with two terrifyingly large black ants, Lin Yu no longer feared their size—not since these reunions had begun feeling like… family. The kind she’d seen on TV long ago.
"Oh! Would you like something to eat?"
"Little Tear is full!"
"Little Tear and I ate earlier during our hunt."
"What about sweet things? Want some?"
"Sweet things?"
"Mhm, come see for yourselves."
