Chapter 265

Chapter 265: Winter Has Arrived

More than three months later.

Winter has descended.

The snowfall lay thick, blanketing both the stone-and-earth houses of Aowenduo Town and the verdant forest trees beneath pristine whiteness.

When snowflakes began dancing through the sky, members of the human race—whether in towns or villages—largely chose to remain indoors, venturing outside only sparingly.

Farmers’ crops proved vulnerable to the cold, driving them to spend winters mending tools and repairing dwellings. They processed their pre-winter grains into food reserves—setting aside a portion for the winter and selling the remainder at the market.

Yet this year’s early frost found the farmers unprepared; their meager harvest left faces etched with anxiety throughout the countryside.

Adventurers too curtailed their expeditions beyond town walls. Instead, they congregated in taverns where raucous laughter echoed alongside clinking tankards, embracing warmth and revelry.

Winter’s arrival had slashed commission numbers by more than half regardless.

Most monsters entered hibernation during the cold months, naturally ceasing their assaults on human settlements—thus reducing combat-related requests dramatically.

Merchant caravans suspended operations entirely, with those already en route to remote Aowenduo Town opting to winter there. Few traders dared brave the monster-haunted roads leading to this isolated settlement.

The town gates now saw such sparse traffic that queues became unnecessary. Patrol guards and gate sentries emerged as winter’s most dutiful souls, their grumbles about snow-filled boots and bitter winds occasionally piercing the frozen silence.

Even the Ant Tribe slowed its perpetual motion. Pre-stocked provisions and monster meat, combined with Magical Soil’s climate-defying agriculture, ensured their anthill colonies faced no hunger despite the season.

Only Worker Ants and Earth Digging Ants continued expanding subterranean tunnels, while Iron Armored Ants and Military Ants suspended hunting activities—until an incident stirred dormant tensions…

…

"Mother, one of our outposts has been assaulted by the human race."

Midway through a "phone call" summoning her far-flung daughters home from "work studies" and "foreign apprenticeships" for winter celebrations, Lin Yu received this dire report from Magic Rainbow.

Anthill attacked?

Her daughters had always exercised utmost caution. How?

"What happened exactly?"

"The targeted watchpost lies near town borders. Three Class C low-tier adventurers launched fire attacks—incinerating over twenty Weak Ants stationed there."

Incinerated… twenty Weak Ants?

Lin Yu’s initial fury gave way to cold suspicion.

Ordinary flames couldn’t breach the fire-resistant Special Mucus coating their Class C Weak Ants. Even magical fire from three low-tier adventurers shouldn’t overwhelm two dozen defenders—the ants should’ve counterattacked successfully.

Which meant only one conclusion…

"Why are you lying to me?"

"Mom is so clever. As expected, there’s no deceiving you."

Magic Rainbow confessed without hesitation.

"But hasn’t Mom considered the possibility of such a scenario existing? The Engraving Shop sells attack Magic Crystals of not insignificant power, including formidable fire magic capable of large-scale assaults. This situation could indeed arise."

"To eliminate potential threats and ensure the Ant tribe’s enduring prosperity, the time to act has come, Mom."

She paused briefly before continuing, not waiting for Lin Yu’s response.

"The arrival of winter has driven all members of the human race back to their villages and towns. This presents our optimal opportunity."

"By eliminating the majority while preserving a manageable minority for our purposes—individuals easily controlled—what would Mom think of this approach?"

"No!"

Even if the human race hasn’t provoked us, and even if some individuals did, it’s merely a handful!

Slaughtering innocents for the actions of a few… that’s pure villainy!

"Then what if we claim the entire town without shedding a single drop of human blood? Would that satisfy Mom?"

"Huh?"

From advocating mass slaughter to complete restraint—what sudden shift is this?

Though… if achievable…

"Will this suffice, Mom?"

"It… will."

Though sensing something peculiar in the proposition, Lin Yu acquiesced under Magic Rainbow’s persistent gaze.

Upon reflection, her daughter’s reasoning held merit. Should the Ant tribe’s expansion continue unchecked, eventual discovery by the human race becomes inevitable. Far better to seize the initiative than face chaotic retaliation when that day arrives.

Wait—!

Does this mean launching an offensive against human settlements?

Me, engaging in such antagonist behavior… why does this notion spark unexpected exhilaration? No, no! I’m a virtuous ant! No wrongdoing permitted!

Yet… promises made cannot be broken.

A mother must exemplify proper conduct for her daughter.

Moreover, bloodless conquest might not qualify as true wickedness?

But how to accomplish this? And after conquest?

The tribe certainly couldn’t parade openly through town without risking exposure. Controlling all townsfolk to prevent information leaks becomes essential—feasible temporarily, but maintaining such control indefinitely? The mere contemplation wearies the mind.

Surely Magic Rainbow has considered these challenges too?

"How do you intend to proceed?"

"Simply observe what follows."

"First, we require Mom to mobilize our forest-dwelling sisters. Aowenduo Town and its twenty surrounding villages must be encircled."

"And then?"

"We declare war."

Magic Rainbow’s lips curved in a subtle smile.

This winter, the Ant tribe is bustling with activity, while the human race appears destined to forgo the tranquil winters they once knew.