Chapter 370

Chapter 370: Mommy Carries You Down

Though maintaining a composed expression, the guard walking ahead moved with perceptible rigidity, his tension evident through body language.

This reaction proved understandable, for the town’s true ruler wasn’t Lord Simon but rather the ant tribe’s Queen Ant.

The guard dispatched a messenger to inform Simon of Her Majesty’s impending visit while hastily preparing a noble-class carriage. Only when the carriage bearing the two women disappeared from view did he exhale deeply in relief.

“Why would she come personally without apparent entourage…”

Wait—perhaps not entirely unattended.

His gaze flickered to the gate’s elongated shadow, recalling the elusive Stealth Ants. A shiver coursed through him.

“Tell me,” a comrade tapped his shoulder, “who was that silver-haired maiden?”

“Can’t recall ever seeing her before.”

The fellow guard stared vacantly. Though both Lin Yu and Magic Rainbow wore half-masks, their visible features upon first meeting had left both men momentarily entranced.

The first guard studied his companion.

“Likely the Queen Ant’s recently born daughter. Who’s to say?” he ventured after contemplation.

…

Some time later.

The luxurious carriage conveyed the pair to a castle within Simon’s estate.

Magic Rainbow descended first, her movements fluid as she stepped from the carriage’s small ladder. With a casual kick that sent the ladder askew, she turned with a smile to Lin Yu.

“Little Yu, come. Mommy will carry you down.”

The white-haired woman spread her arms invitingly.

Mommy? Still exploiting that joke…

A blush warmed Lin Yu’s cheeks. Her eyes darted to the watching coachman, the two sentries at the castle doors, and Simon himself standing beside butler Philid to greet them.

My maternal dignity’s crumbling, the girl fretted silently.

Her gaze returned to the smiling figure before her – this daughter with cascading ivory curls and outstretched arms. For an instant, the present vision merged with fading memories of another form, giving Lin Yu pause.

“Something wrong?”

“N-no, nothing.”

The silver-haired maiden shook her head briskly before launching herself into those waiting arms, allowing herself to be lifted from the carriage. Once grounded, Magic Rainbow seamlessly captured the girl’s hand, leading them toward the castle entrance.

“Queen Ant.”

The gate sentries bowed with military precision, their lowered heads conveying utmost respect.

“Hehe, why have you come so suddenly this time without informing me? I would have personally come to greet you,” Simon said with a courteous smile.

He stepped aside, gesturing for the two women to proceed ahead. Magic Rainbow unceremoniously grasped Lin Yu’s hand and strode forward, leaving Simon and Philid trailing a respectful step behind.

“Does my arrival in this town now require prior notice to you?” Magic Rainbow tilted her head, her half-smile carrying an edge as she glanced at Simon.

“Not at all! That wasn’t my intention,” the middle-aged man stammered, beads of sweat forming on his brow under the beauty’s piercing gaze.

He truly harbored no hidden agendas—not when countless Ant Tribe members lurked beneath every corner of the town, his own estate likely housing more than most. Though the Ant Tribe had scrupulously avoided harming the human race since their takeover, Simon could never erase the memory of their siege’s apocalyptic terror, nor the phantom-like Stealth Ants that once infiltrated his castle.

Moreover, whether as warning or morbid ritual, the Ant Tribe daily displayed mangled human corpses in the streets—all convicted murderers and rapists, yet their grotesque exhibition unmistakably served as public admonishment.

Then there were the spies: those attempting to flee and expose the town’s subjugation, agents from neighboring duchies… All were swiftly incapacitated by the Ant Tribe and delivered to Simon’s doorstep. After consulting Philid—his steward in title but strategist in truth—Simon had extracted every shred of intelligence from the captives before discreetly eliminating them. Their compiled reports now rested in Ant Tribe hands, binding the men’s fates irrevocably to their insectoid overlords.

…

Present time

“I have matters to discuss,” Magic Rainbow stated flatly, her gaze lingering on Simon before turning away.

The group soon entered the Parlor.

“My lord, please be seated.” As Simon motioned toward the head seat, Magic Rainbow waved off his attempt to position Lin Yu in the adjacent chair.

“Xiao Yu stays with me.”

At Magic Rainbow’s beckoning, Lin Yu resignedly settled by her daughter’s thigh. The white-haired woman drew the girl into a half-embrace, fingers combing through silken silver locks.

“Good child.”

“Mmm…”

Simon’s eyes flickered toward the masked girl. Though her features were obscured, his experienced eye discerned the beauty beneath—a favored daughter of the Queen Ant, he surmised, recalling her absence during their Foggy Castle visit.

As Simon and Philid took their seats, Magic Rainbow’s attention shifted from the blushing Lin Yu to fix upon them.

“Your recent work pleases me. You’ll receive increased trade rights for monster materials and Magic Stone Mine resources.”

The men blinked, then brightened.

“However,” she continued, “your merchant corps must prioritize acquiring specific goods elsewhere. First, potions—especially high-grade and supreme-grade Magic Recovery Potions. Secure every available vial.”

“Supreme-grade?!” Simon’s brow furrowed. “Only metropolitan cities boast Pharmacists capable of high-grade brews. As for supreme… such potency likely exists solely in the capital.”

“Be watchful regardless,” Magic Rainbow dismissed. “Next, procure magical texts—preferably those documenting intermediate or advanced spells.”