Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire

At this, Amby showed me her true colors.

"None of that, Nectus." Her hands grasped me tighter. "I want you… and your seed… at your absolute best. You are too impatient."

That must've been what a fly caught in a web felt when she saw a hungry spider approaching… Then the "spider"'s expression softened and mirth appeared in her eyes.

"But I will make the patience worth your time. If just knowing that our numerous daughters will grow stronger than they could've been isn't enough for you anymore."

***

So I was at the Empire Council Chamber again, surrounded by a dozen bees eager to take part in the Grand Ceremony of Picking New Genes.

In the time it took to gather every Adviser (an entire day—they were busy bees), the Attendants not just prepared a celebratory feast waiting for us at the main table, but also decorated the chamber.

After the rebuilding and expansion of Hive Supremo, what once was just several wax cells with removed walls became a spacious hall with several tables: not just for Advisers, but also for snacks, extra documentation and whatever else the Council needed.

The main decoration here was, and always has been, the wall map. But today the free walls had new paintings placed on them, and feather garlands were hanging from the ceiling.

My girls have all congratulated me with the new development level. I knew Worriesgone was already preparing a draft for another large country-wide celebration.

Of course, everybody was also eager to take part in choosing the genes, even if they were here only to give their opinions and the final decision was always mine. And they also threw curious glances at a Beehound I invited to sit near the Oracles today. They didn't ask anything yet, though.

"Today, girls, genes aren't all I will be picking. There's also a new Empire Council position open, and before we start picking genes, I want to introduce the position and announce whom I want to put there."

My girls looked at me expectantly and curiously—all except Ambrosia, who was told all my plans first. They threw even more glances to the invited Beehound, naturally wondering if she was the new Adviser. If they tried to understand who the bee was by her identity necklace or other signs on her clothes, they would easily see that she was just a common signaler—a telepath who specialized just on carrying messages back and forth.

I thought long and hard about what Adviser position to create and whom to place here. This wasn't a decision for one day, but I thought about it even before I got eleventh development level. I expected to get more Council positions, eventually.

And the answer was simple.

"We work closely with humans now. Countless Researchers, Commandos and, of course, Agents are working among them… And Bloodhero is coordinating most of them," I nodded at my Military Adviser, who straightened up at the attention. "It's time to place that burden on someone else. I'm creating the Foreign Affairs Adviser!"

<Congratulations, you've created a position of the Foreign Affairs Adviser, user. It's currently empty.>

"Foreign… Affairs?" Bloodhero asked in confusion. "But the humans are *ours*!"

I shook my head.

"This Adviser will deal with all humans and their countries. And non-human countries if they ever appear on our horizon. The signalers that work on creating telepathic chains outside of the Bee Empire will be under her control, too. And before you ask—the Naregan Kingdom is not fully a part of the Bee Empire yet. Its infrastructure is too human-centered, and its humans are not entirely subservient to bees despite worshiping us."

Bloodhero nodded in understanding, and the gesture was echoed by other Advisers. Workharder let out a loud sigh of relief.

"Oh, I hope this will make dealing with resources coming from and requested by the Naregan Kingdom somewhat easier! Sister Bloodhero can be so wood-headed sometimes!"

Bloodhero threw a steely glare at the Economics Adviser and snorted. However, an even more stern look at both from Ambrosia made them fold their wings and back off.

I shook my head, chuckling. My smile grew even wider when I saw Things-Things almost vibrating in her seat.

"Yes, my girl?"

"And who will be the Foreign Affairs Adviser? Her? Her-her?" Things-Things asked, pointing at the signaler Beehound.

I shook my head and raised my palms.

"Too bad, but the person I picked for the position is dealing with foreign affairs in a foreign place! She couldn't come here, but I've arranged the most clear and short telepathic link between her and this place as I could. Beehound Listener will speak for Agent Whisper, the new Foreign Affairs Adviser!"

<Congratulations, user, you've installed a Foreign Affairs Adviser. The position bonus has changed.>

〔Foreign Affairs Adviser〕: increases espionage by 5%. Reduces penalty to logistics from empire sprawl.

Simple, but nice.

It took a moment for my girls to realize whom I was talking about. Bloodhero was the first one who found the name in her memory and spoke up.

"Agent Whisper? The personal agent of the human king Farini? Oh, yes, I see why she can't leave! But—but how can she be present at Councils like that?"

"With a delay. But Listener sends her everything that's being said here."

Confirming my words, Listener nodded and added, "The current message delay is… a hundred and five breaths."

"Researchina, please add to the research queue—we gotta invent proper clocks at some point. I can't measure time in hours and 'around this much' anymore," I muttered.

My Research Adviser made a note in one of the papers sitting in front of her between two plates of honeyed pancakes.

"Noted, Father. Congratulations to Agent Whisper with her promotion—you can deliver them whenever appropriate, Listener."

Listener just nodded again, then suddenly perked up.

"Thank you, Father! I knew you will notice my talents one day, even from this far. And you can't be wrong, so I must be incredibly talented—even more than I can see! Can't wait to help you with picking the new genes." Listener made a long pause. "Whisper said."

"Yeah. Let's do that! And afterward, we will see what new morphotype to choose."