Chapter 257

Chapter 257: The Plan

Among the one hundred reincarnators, including Mom, four have emerged thus far.

One is a Dead Spirit Reincarnator capable of transforming corpses into Dead Spirit Puppets and endowing them with undying attributes.

Another is a Goblin Reincarnator who can subjugate goblins to bolster their own strength.

Then there’s that swift hound… While likely genuine in her loyalty to Mom, she proves more troublesome in certain aspects than the previous two.

Though Sister Red Pupil should manage her… After all, even I…

Collectively, these three possess formidable combat capabilities.

While the ant clan subdued them with minimal losses, the Dead Spirit Reincarnator’s defeat hinged on fortunate discovery. Had he continued unchecked, converting corpses into an ever-growing army of Dead Spirit Puppets, the consequences would have been catastrophic once critical mass was reached.

The same logic applies to the Goblin Reincarnator – without uncovering his weakness, he’d have posed persistent challenges.

As for the hound, her velocity makes kidnapping Mom alarmingly feasible unless sisters maintain constant vigilance. Moreover, her potential harassment of our colony, akin to her tactics against the Goblin Reincarnator, presents a significant problem.

Ninety-six such threats theoretically remain.

Yet… reality likely differs.

Over three years, attrition must have occurred through three primary paths:

First, fatal defeats in battles between reincarnators, mirroring our own conflicts.

Second, rebirths in perilous zones ending in death by monsters or malicious human hands.

Third, skill-induced crises – like Mom’s post-oviposition ravenous state where delayed nourishment triggers Health Value decline…

Incidentally, Mom has endured all three scenarios…

But her uniqueness enables effortless survival, unlike ordinary reincarnators.

Thus, actual adversaries likely number fewer.

…

Four reincarnators surfacing near Aowenduo Town – a frontier settlement barely housing 50,000 – seems disproportionately high.

This town merely belongs to the Duchy of Ma’ika within the Rollo Kingdom, which contains numerous larger cities.

The kingdom itself is but one component beneath the Eastern Deta Empire’s sprawling eastern territories and southern nation-clusters.

Vast forests and aquatic domains further fragment the continent.

Even assuming the hound migrated here tracking Mom’s scent, the two remaining local reincarnators still exceed statistical expectations. Concentrated rebirths defy probability – a fifth in Aowenduo seems improbable.

Yet vigilance remains imperative.

Returning to strategy:

Antkind must urgently strengthen against potential hostile reincarnators.

Critical to this is Magic Value acquisition. Though Mom possesses ample Magic Recovery Potions, their diminishing returns upon excessive consumption necessitate cautious rationing.

Disregarding this limitation, our current stock remains insufficient – perpetually so.

Moreover, expansion beyond our current territory inevitably draws the human race’s attention through Aowenduo Town…

Therefore—

We must seize control of this town.

Moreover, we must accomplish this with minimal harm to the human race.

There are two reasons for this approach.

The first pertains to potential future diplomatic stances we may need to adopt.

The second arises from consideration of Mother’s sentiments – having once been human herself, she would naturally oppose large-scale slaughter of her former kin.

Our strategy requires comprehensive control from leadership to citizenry, spanning both visible institutions and shadow operations. Concurrently, we must prevent external forces from detecting the Ant Tribe’s involvement.

As monsters, our occupation becoming known would inevitably provoke severe repercussions from surrounding territories. Moreover, significant disturbances might draw attention from other reincarnators, potentially exposing our connection to such entities.

This containment of information remains our paramount concern.

Regarding implementation…

All Ant Tribe members operating within and around the town – excluding those in the forest stronghold – are currently executing this very objective.

Magic Rainbow herself proves no exception to this effort.

Night descended.

After mentally reviewing her plans, the ant queen returned to her inn chamber. Lying beneath coarse linens, she surrendered to uneasy slumber.

…

Dawn broke.

Cloaked and masked, Magic Rainbow departed the lodging.

Her first destination: the municipal library in the town’s heart.

She scoured every tome, not limiting herself to common magical treatises. For days she hunted clues that might facilitate the town’s subjugation. The exhaustive study confirmed prior theories while revealing unexpected insights.

Next phase: the inner district.

A hired carriage conveyed her through guarded checkpoints. Alighting before her target, she faced:

The Engraving Shop.

This exclusive emporium dealt in arcane implements and Magic Crystals. The tower’s resonance bell with its amplification enchantments, the central square’s crystalline monolith etched with protective wards – all bore the shopkeeper’s distinctive craftsmanship.

Creating magic arrays, like potion-brewing, demanded specialized skills. The establishment also rumored to stock Transfer Magic Crystals – emergency devices teleporting users 500 meters randomly. Though pricey, these always sold swiftly, often preempted by nobility.

While curious about translocation magic, Magic Rainbow sought different artifacts:

Contract Scrolls.

These binding instruments enforced agreements between parties through magical compulsion. Whether mutual or unilateral, breach incurred lethal backlash – a failsafe against betrayal.