Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire - Chapter 165

Chapter 165: The season of storms
Three hours after I waved goodbye to Beehounds and wished them luck in their mission, nature told me another, “fuck you and everything you do”.

Clouds covered the sky in what felt like minutes, and a wall of water poured on the ground.

Another storm, and right in the middle of the day!

I’ve never seen such outrageous weather in my life! If there was a god of weather, I’d already be filing a formal complaint!

The storm lasted until the next morning, and a few hours later, I got first reports about flooding in Hive Hornet’s Nest and a few others. Thankfully, no one died, but a third of our aphid tunnels have collapsed!

“Bring the aphids to the surface, then. They can be fed from the trees out there—just make sure the aphids and their handlers have appropriate protection,” I ordered Workharder.

“Will do, Father! What about the tunnels? If storms continue like that, more of them will collapse.”

I ran the numbers in my head.

Aphids bred quickly. The last time I got their population report, we had approximately 300 thousand of them spread over the Bee Empire, mostly in Hive Hornet’s Nest. There could’ve been way more if we weren’t limited by an available space for them.

They were a substantial source of honeydew, leather (since they regularly shed their skins), meat (less tasty and more disgusting than caterpillar meat, but still edible) and eggs.

Despite my hopes, aphids never fully replaced flower nectar as a food source, but they supplemented it nicely.

“I will ask Researchina to think about a better way to build aphid tunnels or pastures… There’s a lot to consider. But in the meantime, abandon the flooded tunnels. Feed aphids on the surface; if there are not enough handlers or trees of them, slaughter extra aphids for meat. Keep at least 30 thousand, and it will be enough to quickly recover their numbers later.”

“Got it, Father! Just like a stormy time economy should be, I think! Well. I think, usually there wouldn’t be so many bees?”

Workharder frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then shrugged and grinned.

“Me and my sisters can feed them all without problem, though, so you nave nothing to worry about. Oh, and I meant to add that despite the storm, construction of the railroad and wagon-train progresses according to schedule! Tabletina curses about all the bees who caught cold, but don’t listen to her. They all really wanted to finish everything on time. They wouldn’t sit lazily inside just because of some water!”

I gasped.

“What? My daughters worked under *that* storm? Those are outright hazardous conditions, Workharder!”

I’ve been under exactly *one* of these storms, and it was enough. I couldn’t imagine someone wading ankle-deep in water, shivering from the cold, carrying heavy, slippery rails on their shoulders…

It was a recipe for a work accident, which already happened more often than I’d like (and I’d like them to *never* happen).

Worse, I imagined Beehounds who were stuck in this storm, carrying their mission. They had clothing and survival skills, but if something bad happened, there would be not a single helper for miles and miles.

“Yes, Father, so I took care to request extra clothing and protective gear for all the workers beforehand!” Workharder puffed out her chest. “Incredible foresight, right, Father? If bees put on enough leather clothing, they almost don’t get wet! And since they work on things on the ground, they don’t need to fly, anyway.”

I sighed.

Storms were happening more and more often, leaving heavy hits on our logistics and pausing work outside the hives.

“I wish my daughters didn’t have to work in these conditions… But you did well, Workharder.” I patted her head encouragingly. “If all bees stop working every time a storm hits, then with the way weather changes, nothing will be done at all.”

Workharder puffed her chest out even more… no, she was actually standing on the toes of her feet from sheer pride!

“Damn yes, Father! But everything will be done on schedule—in two more days. Just you wait! Things-Things had already talked my ear off about what a magnificent wagon-train her subordinates are making. With Worriesgone’s help, of course.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“The train upgrade was Worriesgone’s idea, though.”

“It was? Well, I never heard of it.” Workharder shrugged. “I know Artists were unlucky and all, but they can’t even lift a hammer.”

“Don’t talk about them like this, Workharder,” I said in my sternest voice. “They are still your sisters and nieces. As for who did most work on the train, we will see when they complete it.”

Workharder deflated like a popped balloon.

“Yes, Father…”

I almost felt bad for her—but a good father had to be stern sometimes. And if Things-Things was taking others’ achievements, then I’d better have a serious talk with her!

***

Like Workharder claimed, the train was complete in two days—and on the same day, the last rail was placed on the length of the railroad.

On this sunny day, dozens of thousands of bees gathered at the foot of Hive Supremo to look at the grand opening of the first and grandest wagon-train. There were all the workers involved in the building, the entire Empire Council, and many more bees who were just around and free enough to watch.

The dozens of carts looked ordinary: solid wood structures with leather roof covering and metal parts for strengthening. But the front wagon was covered from rain by a massive leather tarp.

The onlookers—me included—could see only a massive silhouette standing on the rails. It looked like a caterpillar with a strange horn in the front.

Worriesgone told me she wanted the look of the train to be a surprise, so I didn’t peek at the work and progress.

Now this “horn” made me incredibly curious.

Worriesgone, Things-Things and several dozen Artists and Craftsmen gathered around the front wagon.

“This is it!” Things-Things shouted, raising her hands. “Behold the great work of Craftsmen and Artist Bees! Which worked *equally*, and not anyhow else!”

I was glad to see that my preventive talk with Things-Things was working.

“Sisters, remove the leather!”