I had to excuse myself from Chera after that revelation.

She probably thought I was distraught at the consistency of the deeper layers, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

An adamantium mine.

A goddamned adamantium mine!

Believe me, I know what I'm talking about.

Not few nobles sent me all kinds of gifts while I was on the surface, and whenever adamantium was involved, the ones bringing it were very particular about pointing that out.

This is because adamantium is so ridiculously valuable that they just had to do so!

Okay, okay, I need to calm down.

This is important and I need to properly process it.

The adamantium is just one point in the picture.

The other is the nature of the black stone.

I could be wrong, but I think something might be mixed into it to make the ground so hard.

I got to use some of the respective knowledge pods in preparation for the deals with Olira, so while I'm not totally sure about it, the black layer could have come into existence because there's black iron ore mixed into the earth.

I'm simply no expert, but there's a huge chance that Chera could have built her hive directly into the mine of all mines.

It's almost ironic that Chera is in this position.

Yes, naturally, this isn't the best environment to establish a settlement that's only focused on natural expansion, but from an industrial viewpoint, the gambler just got the big win.

Now there's just the question of how to use this knowledge.

(K)

(E)

(K)

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It's a good thing that Chera has assets we can work with, but how we are going to get anything practical out of them is a completely different question.

So she has hit a stupidly rich deposit of valuable resources but doesn't realize it.

Naturally, because Formicea don't have any usage for such stuff.

Which is where the error lies.

If she knew what it was and had a method to process it, she could mine the ore for the simple purpose of making tools.

Already a metal pickaxe would help.

Some of the stuff Olira delivered to us so we could keep our part of the mining bargain was specially made for drones.

In the long run, no rigid obstacle can prevail against human ingenuity.

So it might be for the best if Chera could benefit as well from this.

But I have to play my cards carefully.

First, I need to convince Chera that what I have to offer is better than keeping me here.

Herein lies the difficulty, as I'll essentially be using the information to buy my freedom.

This necessitates the kind of diplomatic talent that I definitely don't have, as recent events profoundly showed.

But the second part is maybe the more difficult one.

So how would I be able to enlist their help?

(E)

(K)

Oh my, I didn't mean it like this.

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(K)

Kyska is right. Tarsona is in a dire state.

Taking aside our current, mildly put, "strained relationship" the country is currently losing a war.

There's no way they can support Chera's whole hive while dealing with their own issues.

While I'm at it, I don't really want Tarsona to lose.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm pretty furious at Lord Zion, and the king didn't make a great impression either for allowing such a thing to happen, but this doesn't mean I want the crazy supremacist slavers from Koreso to win.

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(K)

Sigh.

Do other swarm princesses feel as I do about their nurses?

How she's basically my confidant?

Well, she's kinda my nanny.

(E)

I already talked with Kyska about what happened back then, and it's gonna be difficult to tell the Koresoans that those were all unfortunate accidents...

Where we completely annihilated them.

Nope, I don't think peaceful coexistence with Koreso will be possible, and if I remember right, Ceranis, the country to the south, is pretty dogmatic, which doesn't make for a good foundation to establish relations.

Especially, with the bad precedent Tarsona poses now.

So yes, Tarsona is still our biggest chance.

(K)

I'm quite sure she's not particularly speaking about the loss of human lives.

(E)

If we use that and offer... well, something to help them persevere in this war, then this might mend the issue.

Yet it should be something where we don't have to actively fight.

At least not much or otherwise I could've just agreed with Lord Zion.

If there'd just be a way to stop the fighting without resorting to violence.

Wait a moment!

Naturally, there is a way.

It's called intimidation!

If the swarm, as another party in this conflict, would start forcing negotiations, then I'm sure we'd be heard out.

Tarsona, as the attacked party, certainly wouldn't mind if it just ended at this, and well, basically they were already subdued.

This leaves Koreso.

While I can't be too sure if that country's leaders would be susceptible to threats, a giant insect army consisting of horrish nightmare creatures, from the viewpoint of the unassociated, would be something I would at least pay some mind if they threatened to literally "swarm" over my country.

I'm sure we have at least enough of a position of strength to force a ceasefire.

And maybe from there on out we could further solidify this position.

I mean, we control a gigantic underground tunnel system that theoretically allows us to access any place in their whole country.

That must be good for something.

I'll need to think about this further.

Yet I might've found a starting point.

(K)

(E)

For sure, we would need some tools, maybe armor or weapons.

Anything that would help Chera expand her territory.

This includes digging and, naturally, fighting those giant monsters.

Hold that thought!

If I think about it, Tarsona hired quite a number of mercenary groups to prevail.

Once the war is over, they wouldn't want to pay them when there's no need to anymore.

On the other side, I know a certain someone who has quite a need for experienced soldiers and conveniently more than enough wealth to pay them.

Oh my god, I need to check this out!

If we can get a production going on here, then we might be able to raise a defense here.

If what I saw is right, those "Crusteans" aren't too smart.

Just strong.

A professional human troop might be able to take them down safely if they have the experience, equipment, and time to prepare.

Adventurers do that all the time, I've heard.

Chera is just going about this wrong because Formicea don't use tools, and this while having such stupidly vast resources at her disposal.

(K)

(E)

I know, Chera doesn't want to ask for help.

However, what if I provide her with a way to circumvent the issue entirely?

Wait, why not?

All we have to do is to lie.

Formicea aren't good at this, but considering how hard she was trying to pretend that everything is fine, I'd say she has the basics down.

A little bit of coaching and we probably could get through with this.

(K)

(E)

(K)

(E)

(K)

Guess she's right.

(E)