Chapter 266

Chapter 266: I Am the Mommy!

Oh right… we still need to issue a formal declaration.

While ordinary monster sieges wouldn’t require such formalities, our goal is to claim the town without bloodshed. To achieve this, we must negotiate with the human race as representatives of the ant colony, correct?

We could present surrender terms during the declaration – spare their lives in exchange for peaceful capitulation!

Hmm, this approach does sound somewhat like street thugs exchanging threats before a brawl…

But who should deliver this ultimatum?

Wait? As the Queen Ant, does this duty fall to me?

Not that I particularly mind, but… I’m more like the timid student who freezes when called upon in class.

Alright, not just timid… downright pathetic.

Just as Lin Yu wrestled with this dilemma—

"Mother, allow me to handle the war declaration on your behalf."

Magic Rainbow offered with a perceptive smile, having seemingly read her mother’s thoughts.

The white-haired girl exhaled in profound relief.

This felt precisely like when a teacher’s questioning finger hovers near you in class, only to mercifully land on your neighboring deskmate who proceeds to deliver a flawless response – thereby avoiding that terrifying moment when "Let’s hear from the student beside you" might shatter your fragile composure.

Such a dutiful daughter!

When we return for the New Year celebrations, this mother shall pamper you thoroughly!

"However, I require Mother’s assistance with three matters."

"What do you need?"

Hehe~ Should I prepare kisses or embraces? Your mother can provide either in abundance!

"First, I need you to bestow the ‘Psychic Call’ skill upon me."

"Psychic Call? Certainly."

That nearly-forgotten ability – I might have completely overlooked it had you not mentioned.

Indeed, formal declarations would typically require either written correspondence or this very skill.

The Psychic Call skill can target multiple recipients simultaneously and, much like Identification, operates without Magic Value consumption.

Theoretically, it should allow simultaneous communication with all forty thousand inhabitants of the town.

Distance constitutes the sole limitation for Psychic Call – too far from the settlement, and the psychic message won’t reach every human mind.

Fortunately, Magic Rainbow’s current position within the town negates this concern.

"And the second requirement?"

"I require the two adventurers currently imprisoned in Foggy Castle’s underground dungeon."

"…Those two? What purpose do they serve?"

You mean Sylvestre and Martina?

Truth be told, I’d nearly forgotten about those captives.

After all, these two had initially cried out intermittently to be released, but eventually fell silent.

Hmm… Are they still breathing?

I do have my daughters feed them daily with offal and scraps – they should still be alive, no?

Shifting her perspective to an Iron Armored Ant daughter guarding the underground prison cells.

Through the ant’s vision, Sylvestre and Martina appeared haggard in their cell, garments caked with grime, unkempt hair cascading to the filthy floor like matted spiderwebs.

They resembled disheveled vagrants left to rot.

At the faintest sound of movement, they merely lifted listless eyes toward their armored jailer before lowering them again, their gazes devoid of any spark.

"Mother, shouldn’t we grant them release?"

"Release?"

Lin Yu paused briefly before understanding dawned on her.

Of course. For a formal declaration of war, they needed plausible justification.

Those adventurers would serve as their casus belli.

"They initiated hostilities," she murmured. "Our retaliation becomes justified."

This would also serve as an effective warning.

Though aiming for bloodless conquest, they couldn’t afford to let the human race underestimate antkind.

Moreover…"Those wretches have made the cells reek worse than a slaughterhouse pit. Dispose of them promptly."

"Very well. Have the workers retrieve them."

Originally sentenced to life imprisonment, their verdict now shifted to execution.

"Scum deserves no better anyway."

"The third matter?"

"Regarding the third…"

Magic Rainbow’s voice carried uncharacteristic hesitation.

"Mother… might find this displeasing…"

"Oh?

Displease me?

What outrageous request could this be?"

"But I’m a benevolent mother. No demand could anger me."

"Speak freely."

"Then…"

After receiving Lin Yu’s nod, Magic Rainbow straightened.

"I… intend to formally declare war against the human race as Queen Ant."

She inhaled deeply before continuing.

"In other words, if the Queen Ant’s presence is required hereafter, I shall represent Mother in negotiations with the human race."

「…」

Lin Yu required several moments to comprehend Magic Rainbow’s implication.

So… you’ll play Mother’s role in public?

That’s too much! I’m the real Mother!

If you aspire to be Mother, you’re ten thousand years too early – even as pretense!

Yet… perhaps this can’t be helped?

Ah…

After all, no one would mistake me for maternal material.

Were Magic Rainbow and I to stand before the human race, even if perceived as relatives, I’d inevitably be viewed as the daughter…

Moreover, diplomatic negotiations… such matters clearly lie beyond my capabilities.

Thus, this arrangement must suffice.

"I’ll entrust this to you."

"Mn."

This marked merely the initial phase.

A vision flashed through her mind – a dark-haired child with crimson eyes, echoing words once spoken:

"We are all Mother’s possessions… extensions of Mother…"

Then I shall become Mother’s grandest embodiment!

Though she struggled to suppress it, the corners of Magic Rainbow’s lips betrayed a faint upward curve.

…

Following Magic Rainbow’s declaration, Lin Yu commenced gathering ant forces from the forest and southern hill regions.

After over three months of the daughters’ diligent egg-laying, the colony had swollen by nearly sixty thousand members, reaching an astonishing total surpassing one hundred thousand.

This doubled Aowenduo Town’s entire population.

Though Aowenduo boasted fifty thousand inhabitants, its combat-ready forces paled in comparison:

A military contingent comprising one thousand infantry and two hundred cavalry.

The Guard Knights – fifty to sixty elite Class C warriors safeguarding the lord and his estate.

The fledgling Flying Beast Army: forty-two Reifon-riding Class D aerial monsters and their knights.

Over five hundred adventurers.

Even accounting for noble and merchant guards within the inner walls, total defenders scarcely reached two thousand.

Militarily, the ant tribe held overwhelming superiority.

After stationing sufficient forces to protect key nests, the remaining eighty thousand ants advanced upon Aowenduo Town and surrounding villages.

This host included not merely battle-hardened Iron Armored Ants and Acid Ants, but Class D Worker Ants and Weak Ants.

While ineffective against knights and adventurers, these lesser ants could effortlessly overwhelm civilian populations.

Moreover, their sheer numbers served psychological warfare purposes.

Numerical superiority often translates to perceived dominance – the greater the disparity, the faster human resistance crumbles, enabling bloodless conquest.

The extensive underground networks beneath town and countryside, combined with snowstorm concealment, allowed discreet movement provided adequate distance from human settlements.

Nevertheless, mobilizing eighty thousand creatures would require considerable time.