Chapter 46: Isn't This a Basic Skill for an Architect?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: Isn't This a Basic Skill for an Architect?
[Demigod-Level Chaos Seed]
Looking at the object Xie Bai had produced, Thanatos couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
"My Lord, this is...?"
Xie Bai tossed the Chaos Seed casually in her hand.
"Just a Chaos Seed that absorbed a demigod's power. It’s no big deal."
A Chaos Seed that absorbed a demigod's power?
Even though the words came directly from Xie Bai’s mouth, Thanatos was still struck by a wave of shock.
Not long ago, that Chaos Demigod had beaten him and Julius within an inch of their lives. Now, seeing such a dangerous item appearing so nonchalantly in Xie Bai’s hand, Thanatos felt a lingering sense of surrealism.
No, how could I question My Lord’s strength? Nothing in this world can compare to even a fraction of her majesty. If anyone wants to challenge her status, they’d probably have to wait for the True Gods to awaken. No, by then, My Lord probably won't even give the True Gods a second thought.
With that thought, Thanatos turned back to Xie Bai.
"May I ask what My Lord intends to do with this Chaos Seed?"
Faced with Thanatos’s inquiry, Xie Bai spoke with an air of indifference.
"I want you to install this into the new Gold-Devouring Insect Hive. We’re going to create a Demigod-level Chaos Gold-Devouring Insect Hive."
Thanatos: "?"
What? A Demigod-level Chaos Gold-Devouring Insect Hive?
Thanatos was suddenly at a loss for words.
In his memory, Demigod-level hives had indeed existed. However, even during the Age of Gods, they were considered terrifying entities.
Once a hive itself reached the Demigod level, every single insect it produced would be at least a Demigod-level unit. At that point, one wouldn't be facing a single Demigod-level hive, but tens of thousands of Demigod-level insects.
That level of horror was simply incomparable to a single Chaos Demigod.
Then again, if it was Xie Bai, perhaps it really wasn't that big of a deal.
Suddenly, Thanatos realized a problem.
"My Lord, a hive is not the same as a standard unit. If you want it to reach the Demigod level, I’m afraid a single Chaos Seed won't be enough..."
"What about two?"
Xie Bai pulled out another identical Chaos Seed.
Thanatos: "??"
Looking at the second Chaos Seed, Thanatos could clearly feel the demigod power pulsing within it.
A Chaos Demigod could only possess one Chaos Seed at most. Where did Xie Bai get this second one?
After a brief moment of contemplation, Thanatos could only attribute it to Xie Bai’s mysterious and grand power.
"My Lord, with these two Chaos Seeds, creating a Demigod-level hive will indeed be no difficult task."
"Good. Then I’ll leave this matter to you."
"As you command, My Lord."
After taking the Chaos Seeds, Thanatos asked another question.
"My Lord, shall I handle this immediately?"
Xie Bai lowered her head, thinking for a moment.
"Hmm... let’s wait until Atoris finishes dealing with the Chaos Church. In the meantime, go into the city and observe the situation. Report back if you find anything."
Thanatos bowed slightly. "Understood, My Lord."
As he spoke, Thanatos remembered something else.
"By the way, My Lord, Melos has finished constructing the buildings surrounding the palace. Would you like to go and take a look?"
Xie Bai blinked in surprise.
"Melos finished that quickly? I remember the surrounding area was still completely barren when we just got back."
Feeling somewhat perplexed, Xie Bai followed Thanatos out of the palace.
There, she saw rows of commercial streets, densely packed with shops—all of which were selling food.
"This... was all built while I was sleeping? I only slept for eight hours, didn't I?"
Looking at the masterpiece Melos had erected in a mere eight hours, Xie Bai couldn't help but marvel at the man's terrifying efficiency.
After wandering around for a bit, Xie Bai pushed open the door of a bakery that was already open for business.
Inside, she saw Melos instructing a group of Void Soldier Insects on how to knead dough by hand.
Xie Bai: "?"
What was she seeing? Void Soldier Insects kneading dough?
How could something this ridiculous be happening?
"Oh, you've arrived, My Lord."
Seeing Xie Bai, Melos stopped what he was doing.
"Take a look. Don't these pastries look just as good as the ones sold outside?"
Following Melos’s gesture, Xie Bai actually saw shelves filled with pastries. They were all steaming hot, clearly fresh out of the oven.
"So... how exactly did you pull this off?"
"Oh, this? It was simple, really. Whenever I lacked materials, these Void insects would just haul them in from outside the hive. Although there were many materials I’d never seen before, it didn't stop me from putting them to use and building these shops. I’ve even set up several farms and ranches nearby. I only built some simple ripening devices, but the yield is more than enough to supply your personal consumption, My Lord. You don't need to worry about—"
Xie Bai cut him off mid-sentence.
"While I’m impressed you built a self-sustaining food chain, what surprises me more is how on earth you taught these Void insects to make pastries..."
In Xie Bai’s memory, Void insects were mindless creatures with barely any intelligence, capable only of following simple commands.
When Melos had previously guided them to build the massive palace, Xie Bai had attributed it to his genius as an architect. But this situation was clearly outside the realm of architecture.
"Is there something strange about that? If a bakery can't produce pastries, can it even be called a bakery?"
Xie Bai immediately interrupted him again.
"I’m not asking if a bakery can make pastries. I’m asking how you know how to make them, and how you taught the Void insects to do it. I thought you were an architect..."
Faced with Xie Bai’s confusion, Melos looked even more puzzled.
"Aren't these basic skills that every architect should possess? If the building I construct cannot fulfill its intended function, then hasn't my construction been in vain?"
Hearing Melos’s explanation, Xie Bai’s lip twitched.
Since when was this an architect's responsibility?
Xie Bai suddenly felt like she had transmigrated into a management simulation game. As long as the relevant building was constructed, it would immediately produce the corresponding resources, with no need to consider the actual internal logic.
Looking at the Void Soldier Insects working diligently, Xie Bai still felt a sense of surrealism.
"Melos, you truly are talented. It was a waste of your potential that you didn't achieve fame in the outside world."
Hearing Xie Bai’s praise, Melos became visibly emotional.
"My Lord, so you also feel that my talents were wasted out there? For the past hundred years, everyone only focused on my failure at the Royal Alchemy Academy. No one ever noticed my true brilliance. Now that you understand me, I truly..."
As he spoke, Melos wiped away a tear and began to recount his tragic experiences over the last century. By the end, he looked like he was about to drop to his knees and declare that he had spent half his life drifting, only regretting that he had never met a worthy master until now.
"Alright, alright, get up already."
Xie Bai forcibly pulled him up before he could finish his lament.
"Yes, yes, My Lord. I got a bit carried away."
Melos wiped his face and composed himself.
"By the way, My Lord, I don't know what brings you here today. If you’d like to sample our craftsmanship, I can have these insects whip up dozens of servings for you in no time!"
Listening to Melos, Xie Bai realized she actually was a bit hungry, so she gave it some serious thought.
"Hmm... alright. In that case, can you make three hundred servings in five minutes?"
Melos: "?"
"How... how many?"