Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire

The best research lab was prepared for the task. Researchers in protective leather clothing watched me and Researchina spread pieces of gold, ore, and coal on the floor.

She picked a gold nugget the size of the baby fist and examined it from all sides.

I was watching her earnestly.

Although I was the smarter one thanks to the Grand Strategist title (which *almost* didn't give me anxiety anymore!), she had more experience with researching specifically.

"Well, what do you think? Too bad this isn't a video game and a golden axe or shovel will be way worse than stone ones. But can you make some nails out of this?"

Researchina hummed thoughtfully.

"The scales you've found were more exciting from a practical standpoint, Father, but I will see what can be done here."

She raised a free hand.

"Assistant, a carving knife!"

"Yes, Adviser Researchina!"

A moment later, a knife was in her hand.

"Wow, smooth! You organized the process well, Researchina," I admired.

She nodded with quiet pride.

Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

"Of course. Everything must run just right… Let's see now." She nicked the gold nuggets in several places with the knife. The hard rock easily left scratches on the soft metal.

"The cutting test is complete. Assistant, write it down—the material is tougher to cut than wood, but it's possible."

Researchina put the knife aside and raised two free hands.

"Assistant, a pair of smashing stones size 3 and tongs!"

Size 3 stones comfortably fit in Researchina's hands. She took the gold nugget with tongs and raised it up, then spread two arms with rocks apart.

"Wait, are you going to—"

CLANG!

The strike was so hard that the gold nugget flattened into a gold plate!

Researchina put it on the ground and nodded with satisfaction.

"The smashing test is complete. Assistant, write it down—the material is less malleable than clay, but very malleable. Making those 'nails' you suggested earlier should go easily enough."

I nodded eagerly.

"With some raw gold, we don't even need to melt it… let's go!"

It took a lot of rock-smashing and knife-cutting, but after a few hours, the gold we had turned into 10 large, crude golden nails and a small golden knife.

The nails were then used to make a very simple wooden stool with 3 legs. It wobbled when I carefully sat on it, and gave me a splinter when I touched it, but it was a stool!

I put a piece of flatbread on it and used the golden knife to cut a piece. The knife bent a little. But then I only had to smash it with a couple of stones to straighten it again, so it wasn't a problem.

<Congratulations! You've unlocked 'Cold Metalsmithing' technology!>

〔Cold Metalsmithing〕

Brainpower requirement: 4000

Allows crafting primitive items out of soft metals (gold, lead, copper and others).

Allows unlocking more advanced metalsmithing technologies.

〔〕〔〕〔〕

<Congratulations! You've unlocked 'Advanced Furniture' technology!>

〔Advanced Furniture〕

Brainpower requirement: 5000

Increases storage volume by 100%.

Reduces spoilage rate of stored items by 10%.

Increases production rate of buildings that are using furniture by 100%.

Logistics: +10% to the total amount.

Resilience: +0,1 per 1 thousand affected populace.

〔〕〔〕〔〕

<Congratulations! You've unlocked 'Nails' technology!>

〔Soft Metal Tools〕

Brainpower requirement: 4000

Give no special bonuses compared to existing technology.

〔〕〔〕〔〕

<Congratulations, for creating the first metal tool you got a new achievement: "Cutting Edge of Progress"! Your reward: "Claws II" and "Claws II->III" genes.>

〔Claws III: gives sharp multipurpose claws.〕

<You can now update your existing morphotypes.>

I gasped as my nails, which were already black and tough, became slightly longer and got an extra edge on the inner side. Although not written out by the system because it confusingly didn't show baseline bee genes, I knew I had 'Claws I'. Those were only really useful for cutting wax, unlike 'Claws III', but…

'What kind of thematic reward is this?!'

My nose itched, and I automatically reached to scratch it, only to almost poke out my eye.

'Shit! I can't even scratch myself in peace! I won't be able to grab Amby's curves properly, either… This is a nightmare, and I never asked for it! How do girls with super-long nails ever manage?'

I turned to curiously watching Researchina and stuck all my 20 fingers in her face.

"Quickly, Researchina! Only you can save me—we must invent nail-cutters!"

"As you say, Father. Assistant, a cutting knife! We will proceed with a cutting test first. Stay still…"

"Wait, no! Shit, Destroyer—" but Destroyer wasn't here, because she wasn't guarding me inside my hive. "Researchina, I don't trust you with sharp things near me. You and Tabletina are too much alike…"

Researchina put the knife away, but her reluctance was visible.

"Just work on smelting this ore. I will send you more instructions later, but you got the gist, right? Melt the ore in a kiln, pour somewhere, wait to cool, and gold should settle on the bottom. Oh, and I'm stealing this rock–it looks like just the right size of grain!"

With this, I fled the lab.

Eventually, after a lot of cursing, I filed my claws with the grainy rock. They were still uneven, but way shorter.

I scratched my balls and sighed.

'Ah… What a bliss!'

Finally, I could relax and inspect my successes so far.

New technologies were waiting. At the moment, the Bee Empire was at 〔842/1500〕 development points, and I felt like implementing better furniture would make the number skyrocket.

As long as the next two development levels won't suddenly become super expensive, I could achieve them way before I could get a limp dick again!

Earlier, when the siege of the gold mine was over, I asked Ambrosia to start preparing the next brood of 30 Queen Bees. They were going to emerge and finish their primary education in a couple of weeks.

One of them will be given the rule over the mine camp; as for others, now that we had thousands of Warriors and Beemarines not busy with guarding or patrols and eager to smash a few skulls.

Standing in the empty Council Chamber, I looked at the wall map.

'I could send them off to capture more territory for us. Thanks to the efforts of the scouts mapping out natural resources for the last months, there are a lot of discovered places that will make good grounds for colonies. And thanks to the metal and coal, the efficiency of our production should offset the logistical nightmare of moving things over the growing empire.'

I smiled, and it was decided.

The numbers had to grow!