Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire

Chapter 58 - 58: The Grand Strategist

"I want my name to be Bloodhero! It's the most fitting, since all Warrior Bees are heroes and there's always blood." Military Adviser exclaimed.

I blinked.

"Huh?"

"My name should be 'Re

"Father? Are you alright?" a voice from outside made me jump. Someone was hovering outside of the wax flap of my room.

I quickly switched the title back to the 'Homeland Protector' one. Immediately, it was like a cool, fresh cotton blanket fell over my thoughts.

"Who's there? Ah, it's just you, Researchina… I'm fine, I'm fine now!"

'Fucking hell… I almost had an anxiety attack just now. What a dangerous power. I must learn to control it if I want to use it to the fullest.'

"Father, are you free? The Research Bees need your advice on something interesting we've found."

I gladly took the distraction.

***

The Research Workshop met me with sounds of loud voices and things hitting other things. In just the first room of the workshop, a dozen bees were arguing over some strewn around junk; in another, bees tried to do something with a clump of… dirt?

An acrid stench of something animal-like was in the air, mixed with the normal smells of bees and honey.

"I smell that leather-tanning is happening," I said, grimacing.

"Yes, but it's taking a while, Father, as I've reported already," Researchina said. "Our first experiments failed. We think we hadn't been soaking the hides in piss long enough, so I've ordered to leave the current batch for longer. But away from here. They stink. In the meantime, we work on other technologies you've pointed us at, like the slings and bows."

I nodded and followed Researchina to the dirt-digging one.

"Here, Father. Some Material Foragers found interesting soft rock outside that can be shaped into things! We've already tried to make jars out of it instead of wax. However, they aren't waterproof… I wonder if it can still be used for something else."

I looked closer at the dirt clump, and my eyebrows rose.

"This is clay! It's great—you can make waterproof and fireproof containers. But for that, you must bake them in an oven. Very carefully, or clay will just crack. I think… I think the temperature should be even all over? And the clay must dry first!"

The Research Bees were listening intently. One even scribbled something on a wax table.

"If we have pottery, perhaps we can even cook proper porridge… Anyway, let me try sketching an oven for you."

I spent the rest of the day with the Researcher Bees, turning my Grand Strategist title on an and off. To train my mental fortitude, and to get the most out of my intelligence.

And next day, I was finally told that all the aphids were moved to their new home. I had to explain how to keep them for food!